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I am currently deciding between UCLA and GULC. I'm from the Bay Area and would like to return to CA to work.

-The total COA at UCLA would be 135K and the COA at GULC would be 200K.
-I will be financing primarily through loans.
-Ties are strong in California and I do have family in NY as well. I want to work in California, but am not too picky as to where. Went to school in SoCal and have strong ties to NorCal.
-Career goals are to work in environmental law, preferably in some sort of gov/PI format. Water, energy, and climate law fascinate me. Also, I understand how competitive the fed gov. positions are and that environmental law is considered to be somewhat of a naïve ambitious goal on here.

With your GPA, TCR is retake and come back. UCLA at 135k COA is not a terrible choice, but your chances of biglaw are too low to justify taking out that much debt, and you're above the 100k~ COA area where a smaller law firm would be acceptable.

If you can squeeze UCLA up to 105k, I'd do that. Otherwise, sit out the cycle.

GULC at 200k is too high.

200k for Georgetown is always the wrong decision. UCLA at 135k is also too much, especially for someone who doesn't even want biglaw. 135k for someone pinning for a 45k job at earthjustice with limited upward earning potential doesn't make sense. Your goals put you in a tough place you need to go to a great school AND you need to keep your costs down.

I'm pretty sure that climate law isn't a real job.

Thanks for the input Nomo and Twenty.

empirep wrote:I'm pretty sure that climate law isn't a real job.

I said that area of law fascinates me, not that climate law is a job. And there's absolutely law that pertains to climate change. AB 32 for one.

g-radical wrote:I am currently deciding between UCLA and GULC. I'm from the Bay Area and would like to return to CA to work.

-The total COA at UCLA would be 135K and the COA at GULC would be 200K.
-I will be financing primarily through loans.
-Ties are strong in California and I do have family in NY as well. I want to work in California, but am not too picky as to where. Went to school in SoCal and have strong ties to NorCal.
-Career goals are to work in environmental law, preferably in some sort of gov/PI format. Water, energy, and climate law fascinate me. Also, I understand how competitive the fed gov. positions are and that environmental law is considered to be somewhat of a naïve ambitious goal on here.

Nah, you can work in environmental law. Plenty of big firms have environmental law practice groups. The thing is, they all represent the polluters like Chevron, etc. (*hint.. they are the ones with the money to pay you)

But you probably mean fighting for the "good guys," huh? Meaning, you want to work for the DOJ, which works with the EPA to enforce the regulations. Ironically, the best path to these jobs is to get experience by representing the bad guys. Sad, I know. Enjoy the moral conundrums of your future.

As to your choice, try to haggle UCLA up a little more. I would recommend retaking instead, but most people are too stubborn to listen to reason. DO NOT go over $100k in debt at UCLA, it's way too risky. If you have savings and can live cheaply, this may be possible on your current scholarship. If you want CA, stay the fuck away from GULC, especially at that price.

empirep wrote:I'm pretty sure that climate law isn't a real job.

it is, it's just not one that requires a JD or 135k in debt

"climate law" is generally just policy writing and reporting/doing research for state or fed govt agencies

None of the above.