Which law school? Forum

[zzhangho]

Hi.

This is perspective law student who wishes to practice law @ big law.

I am interested in IP & patent law and currently have basically two options: 1) Santa Clara Law w $ 2) Northwestern Accelerated 2yr law.

Below is my basic info/stat

- BS (cum laude) & MS in Electrical & Computer Engineering from top 5 (e.g. UIUC, GATECH)

- 1.5 yrs working @ research lab

- 2 yrs working @ a High tech company (e.g. google, apple, etc)

I believe my engineering background is pretty solid, so I am wondering if attending santa clara law would be sufficient to help me get a spot @ big law. If not, how about NW Accelerated 2yr program?

Best,

[jbagelboy]

What kind of debt are we talking about at Santa Clara? I'll grant some of their grads snag great jobs with top firms in CA. However, there's also a very real chance of underemployment; you would wind up a patent clerk or paralegal if you fell outside top third.

Northwestern would be a great option, but again how much debt? SC for free vs NU AJD sticker for CA could lean SC with your credentials. If Northwestern came to a reasonable price I'd head there - it's also lower opportunity cost.

[papercut]

LSAT GPA?

I feel like there's something missing from your story if these are your only two options.

[zzhangho]

My GPA is ~3.5 (cum laude) & LSAT score is not so high (169). However, I applied to NW Accelerated program with GMAT which I scored "better". (NW Accelerated program does accept GMAT)

And I did not apply to many other T14 just because I know I wont get into T6...

What do you think of NW accelerated program thou? Would be it competitive compared to other T14 3yr program?

[zzhangho]

What kind of debt are we talking about at Santa Clara? I'll grant some of their grads snag great jobs with top firms in CA. However, there's also a very real chance of underemployment; you would wind up a patent clerk or paralegal if you fell outside top third.

Northwestern would be a great option, but again how much debt? SC for free vs NU AJD sticker for CA could lean SC with your credentials. If Northwestern came to a reasonable price I'd head there - it's also lower opportunity cost.

Thanks for your feedback.

Considering opportunity cost, NW is believed to be better option.

Yet, how does law firms view NW accelerated program vs. other T14 3yr program? Would be it a disadvantage just b/c it is 2yr program?

[papercut]

My GPA is ~3.5 (cum laude) & LSAT score is not so high (169). However, I applied to NW Accelerated program with GMAT which I scored "better". (NW Accelerated program does accept GMAT)

And I did not apply to many other T14 just because I know I wont get into T6...

What do you think of NW accelerated program thou? Would be it competitive compared to other T14 3yr program?

Yeah NU is a great school.

Have you been here: http://www.lstscorereports.com/national/

If they're giving you a decent scholarship NU will do just fine.

Personally, I would retake the LSAT and apply everywhere.

You have awesome work experience and with a higher LSAT you could get serious $$$ from NU, especially if you apply early decision.

Did SC give you 90k? Maybe try negotiating it up to full.

[Onomatopoeia]

What kind of debt are we talking about at Santa Clara? I'll grant some of their grads snag great jobs with top firms in CA. However, there's also a very real chance of underemployment; you would wind up a patent clerk or paralegal if you fell outside top third.

Northwestern would be a great option, but again how much debt? SC for free vs NU AJD sticker for CA could lean SC with your credentials. If Northwestern came to a reasonable price I'd head there - it's also lower opportunity cost.

Thanks for your feedback.

Considering opportunity cost, NW is believed to be better option.

Yet, how does law firms view NW accelerated program vs. other T14 3yr program? Would be it a disadvantage just b/c it is 2yr program?

i think they'll view the 2yr accelerated program just as they would the regular 3yr program -- both of which are very solid. Actually, if anything, they might be interested in hiring you even more as a lot less students went through the accelerated program.

[guano]

Hi.

This is perspective law student who wishes to practice law @ big law.

I am interested in IP & patent law and currently have basically two options: 1) Santa Clara Law w $ 2) Northwestern Accelerated 2yr law.

Below is my basic info/stat

- BS (cum laude) & MS in Electrical & Computer Engineering from top 5 (e.g. UIUC, GATECH)

- 1.5 yrs working @ research lab

- 2 yrs working @ a High tech company (e.g. google, apple, etc)

I believe my engineering background is pretty solid, so I am wondering if attending santa clara law would be sufficient to help me get a spot @ big law. If not, how about NW Accelerated 2yr program?

Best,

If you go to Santa Clara, you are highly unlikely to land biglaw. Your chances from Santa Clara are so slim, you should just assume you won't get biglaw at all and plan accordingly.

[transferror]

Paying sticker at Northwestern is dumb when a extra few points (171+) on the LSAT will get you big money to at least a good regional school if not the T14. Going to Santa Clara at all is a bad idea since, if you end up outside the top 25%, you probably would have been better off sticking with your current career.

You should keep working, saving money, and drilling the LSAT.

[zzhangho]

I guess the overall/general consensus if that go to NW with $ or better LS with higher LSAT if possible and avoid going to SC law...

any other perspective on NW Accelerated program vs. regular 3 yrs program especially in career regards?

[transferror]

I guess the overall/general consensus if that go to NW with $ or better LS with higher LSAT if possible and avoid going to SC law...

any other perspective on NW Accelerated program vs. regular 3 yrs program especially in career regards?

You don't necessarily need Northwestern with $ or a better law school, you just need minimize risk. Going to a regional school with a big scholarship is fine, but it needs to be a strong regional in your target market with good employment numbers. Attending USC/UCLA/Vandy/UT/WUSTL on big scholarship is fine. The consensus on your current situation is 1) that's too much cost for NU, especially when factoring in opportunity cost of losing work in your current career, and 2) it doesn't matter is SC is free, it's still risky since you're throwing away 3 years for a about a 1/4 chance of improving your career.

Waiting and retaking the LSAT will give you far more flexibility and more opportunity to maximize your potential for a good outcome. This is especially a good idea since you have steady work in a professional field.

I can't speak to the differences in accelerated vs. regular program at NU.

[zzhangho]

I guess the overall/general consensus if that go to NW with $ or better LS with higher LSAT if possible and avoid going to SC law...

any other perspective on NW Accelerated program vs. regular 3 yrs program especially in career regards?

You don't necessarily need Northwestern with $ or a better law school, you just need minimize risk. Going to a regional school with a big scholarship is fine, but it needs to be a strong regional in your target market with good employment numbers. Attending USC/UCLA/Vandy/UT/WUSTL on big scholarship is fine. The consensus on your current situation is 1) that's too much cost for NU, especially when factoring in opportunity cost of losing work in your current career, and 2) it doesn't matter is SC is free, it's still risky since you're throwing away 3 years for a about a 1/4 chance of improving your career.

Waiting and retaking the LSAT will give you far more flexibility and more opportunity to maximize your potential for a good outcome. This is especially a good idea since you have steady work in a professional field.

I can't speak to the differences in accelerated vs. regular program at NU.

Thanks for your input.

I see your point.

I guess I will just work on LSAT more or at least GMAT for NW with $.

[transferror]

I guess the overall/general consensus if that go to NW with $ or better LS with higher LSAT if possible and avoid going to SC law...

any other perspective on NW Accelerated program vs. regular 3 yrs program especially in career regards?

You don't necessarily need Northwestern with $ or a better law school, you just need minimize risk. Going to a regional school with a big scholarship is fine, but it needs to be a strong regional in your target market with good employment numbers. Attending USC/UCLA/Vandy/UT/WUSTL on big scholarship is fine. The consensus on your current situation is 1) that's too much cost for NU, especially when factoring in opportunity cost of losing work in your current career, and 2) it doesn't matter is SC is free, it's still risky since you're throwing away 3 years for a about a 1/4 chance of improving your career.

Waiting and retaking the LSAT will give you far more flexibility and more opportunity to maximize your potential for a good outcome. This is especially a good idea since you have steady work in a professional field.

I can't speak to the differences in accelerated vs. regular program at NU.

Thanks for your input.

I see your point.

I guess I will just work on LSAT more or at least GMAT for NW with $.

That's a great plan and I wish you the best of luck.