Top Law Schools

LSAT (3rd try in the 2-year period): 162
LASC UGPA: 3.72
Graduate GPA: 4.0

Options:
1. UNC Chapel Hill - Admission with no scholarship before the 1st seat deposit; OOS;
COA: $39k/yr for tuition + $15k/yr expenses; roughly $55k/yr
2. Wake Forest - Admission with more than half tuition scholarship;
COA: $20k/yr for tuition + $15k/yr expenses; roughly $35k/yr
3. Loyola (L.A.) - Admission with almost full-tuition scholarship;
COA: $7k/yr for tuition + $15k/yr expenses (yes, that's possible for me); roughly $25k/yr

Background:
Family in NC (no residency for tuition purposes); Have studied and worked in L.A. for 5+ years; Legal experience in the immigration field; bilingual. Family will support for the tuition and fees.

Goal:
Less debt; small to medium-sized law firm jobs; would prefer staying in L.A. area

I need to make my decision by the end of May. Since I will need to wait until October at the earliest to retake the LSAT (3 times in 2 years), what is the most practically sound option out of these three offers if I want to attend law school this fall? I know retake would be the answer for many people. But I would like to hear some insights on my specific situation. Thanks.

Since you want LA and to save money, loyola is the natural choice.

Loyola is the only real option here, but you better be damn sure you can keep your COL that low and really want to be a lawyer.

i dont get these posts, they state a goal...of working in a certain area..name 4 different schools..one of them is in the market they want to practice, even better full tuition scolly. why wouldnt it be loyola? lol...come on man you went to grad school, with a 4.0 gpa?? ur smarter than this.

Loyola bc your other options don't make sense for your goals and are too expensive.

But you have a solid GPA and a mediocre LSAT. Consider retaking for more $$$.

If you studied your ass off for the LSAT and really don't believe you can improve, take Loyola. Otherwise make the LSAT your life for a few months, and if you can improve 4-5 points you've got a shot at USC/UCLA. Worst case scenario you'll have similar options next cycle.

As usual, I don't understand the OP's cost of attendance figures.

You'll be in 75K debt after scholarships/familial support is factored in? Or it's 75K minus family support on top of that?

Are you factoring in loan origination fees, tuition increases, and interest?

How much debt will you be in on the day you graduate? Use the Georgetown law calculator or another debt calculator if you have to.

What were your practice tests averaging? How much did you study?

Of these options, I'd pick Wake. UNC should obviously be eliminated becuase of COA. Wake's COA is too high for its employment stats, but I think you'll be more comfortable with its median employment outcome if your family is from NC. Do they have a good network? You can leverage that as well.

paayter wrote:i dont get these posts, they state a goal...of working in a certain area..name 4 different schools..one of them is in the market they want to practice, even better full tuition scolly. why wouldnt it be loyola? lol...come on man you went to grad school, with a 4.0 gpa?? ur smarter than this.

Wherever you choose to attend, understand that you will most certainly end up practicing in that region.

HRomanus wrote:What were your practice tests averaging? How much did you study?

Of these options, I'd pick Wake. UNC should obviously be eliminated becuase of COA. Wake's COA is too high for its employment stats, but I think you'll be more comfortable with its median employment outcome if your family is from NC. Do they have a good network? You can leverage that as well.

I have a full-time job so I can only study after work. Didn't really spend too much time on the preparation for LSAT, but started to feel better at it at my last shot in February. My PT LSAT average is around mid-160s. So I don't know whether 2-3 points increase will make a big difference.
UNC grads have a better shot at jobs at big cities in the east coast than Wake grads from what I've learned. But since I won't get a loan, UNC at sticker price is still too high. My family will not be that helpful in terms of networking for a job in the legal market.
So I'm considering 1) getting a Tax LL.M. degree within 3 years at Loyola; or 2) going to Wake and apply for an LL.M. (T-14 as my goal) in a specialized field after graduation.

BigZuck wrote:As usual, I don't understand the OP's cost of attendance figures.

You'll be in 75K debt after scholarships/familial support is factored in? Or it's 75K minus family support on top of that?

Are you factoring in loan origination fees, tuition increases, and interest?

How much debt will you be in on the day you graduate? Use the Georgetown law calculator or another debt calculator if you have to.

Bump

Also, LLMs are almost universally useless, definitely don't plan on getting one of those

BigZuck wrote:

BigZuck wrote:As usual, I don't understand the OP's cost of attendance figures.

You'll be in 75K debt after scholarships/familial support is factored in? Or it's 75K minus family support on top of that?

Are you factoring in loan origination fees, tuition increases, and interest?

How much debt will you be in on the day you graduate? Use the Georgetown law calculator or another debt calculator if you have to.

Bump

Also, LLMs are almost universally useless, definitely don't plan on getting one of those

There are exactly three LLMs in the country that have any worth on the job market, they are all in tax, and you still are better advised retaking and going to a T14 school if you want to do BIGTAXLAW.

BigZuck wrote:

BigZuck wrote:As usual, I don't understand the OP's cost of attendance figures.

You'll be in 75K debt after scholarships/familial support is factored in? Or it's 75K minus family support on top of that?

Are you factoring in loan origination fees, tuition increases, and interest?

How much debt will you be in on the day you graduate? Use the Georgetown law calculator or another debt calculator if you have to.

Bump

Also, LLMs are almost universally useless, definitely don't plan on getting one of those

All the cost will be paid by my family and my own savings. So no debt from a bank. But I will feel the financial pressure when I graduate and look for jobs.