Where to go to school if I want to work in Houston Forum

[dcm3]

Hello,

I am in the middle of applying to law schools and I was wondering if I could get some advice. I am a senior at Rice University in Houston with a 3.8 GPA and a 172 LSAT. I have lived in Houston my entire life, and I did not plan on going to Rice for undergraduate; however, life happened and it was my best option. I know that I want to live and work in Houston when I get my career going; however, I am currently really looking to get away from Texas. Although I love it here and I love being close to my family, I have always really secretly envied my friends and siblings who went to schools on the east coast. I come from a family of attorneys, so I consider myself pretty knowledgable about the legal profession. My dad and my other lawyer relatives are really pressuring me to attend the University of Texas for law school (if I get in) because they say that it will open the most doors for me in the Houston legal market. Personally, I really want to leave Texas and I have applied to several schools on the east coast. My top three choices are Penn, Duke, and Georgetown (I LOVE D.C.). I know that my family is very biassed because they want me to stay close to home (all of my siblings were educated on the east coast and have shown little interest in returning to Texas). My family keeps telling me that my options will be very limited if I go to a school on the east coast. Is this true? Will the Houston market be accessible for summer clerkships and job placements in big law if I go to a school outside of Texas? Would going to UT make a huge difference? I appreciate any help that can be offered. I am very fortunate and costs should not be an issue, so I am not really weighing in-state tuition. Thanks so much!

[Danteshek]

It really doesn't matter, to be honest. The opportunities in Texas will be there for you if you go to school elsewhere... and it sounds you need to get some life experience outside Texas, and maybe even outside the country

[WokeUpInACar]

Hello,

I am in the middle of applying to law schools and I was wondering if I could get some advice. I am a senior at Rice University in Houston with a 3.8 GPA and a 172 LSAT. I have lived in Houston my entire life, and I did not plan on going to Rice for undergraduate; however, life happened and it was my best option. I know that I want to live and work in Houston when I get my career going; however, I am currently really looking to get away from Texas. Although I love it here and I love being close to my family, I have always really secretly envied my friends and siblings who went to schools on the east coast. I come from a family of attorneys, so I consider myself pretty knowledgable about the legal profession. My dad and my other lawyer relatives are really pressuring me to attend the University of Texas for law school (if I get in) because they say that it will open the most doors for me in the Houston legal market. Personally, I really want to leave Texas and I have applied to several schools on the east coast. My top three choices are Penn, Duke, and Georgetown (I LOVE D.C.). I know that my family is very biassed because they want me to stay close to home (all of my siblings were educated on the east coast and have shown little interest in returning to Texas). My family keeps telling me that my options will be very limited if I go to a school on the east coast. Is this true? Will the Houston market be accessible for summer clerkships and job placements in big law if I go to a school outside of Texas? Would going to UT make a huge difference? I appreciate any help that can be offered. I am very fortunate and costs should not be an issue, so I am not really weighing in-state tuition. Thanks so much!

Your parents are wrong and going to a t14 school will open more doors ANYWHERE, even in Houston. Your numbers are too good to attend UT (and Georgetown for that matter) with any less than a full ride. Apply to every t14 school, and once the deluge of acceptances and large scholarships come in, come back and ask us to help you choose.

-2L at UT

[BigZuck]

I'd probably roll with Duke here, hopefully they offer you a fully

I'd probably lean toward Duke/UVA over any non-HYS T14 (although anecdotally I've heard Chicago kills it in TX big law). Since you mentioned Duke specifically I'd do that.

Don't do GULC just cuz you love DC, I'd think you'd have an easier time at Duke. If you want to be in DC for a while just do the Duke in DC program.

eta: also a 2L at UT

[TheSpanishMain]

Assuming you do want to work in Texas and that's not just what your family is trying to foist on you, UT may well end up being your best bet...but it should be UT with a full scholarship, and only then if you don't get a full ride in the T14. Apply very broadly throughout the T14 as well as UT so you have leverage. Come back when you have all your offers.

[arklaw13]

Go to the best school you can get a full ride at.

[dcm3]

Thanks so much for all of the replies! I want to make one thing clear––I am in no way disparaging the University of Texas. I think that it is a great school and if I had gone to an out-of-state college, then I would have no qualms about attending it for law school. I really appreciate the advice, my personal advisors (aka my family and our close friends) are a little biassed. Will keep you all updated. This is a great community.

[Hutz_and_Goodman]

Go to the best school you can get a full ride at.

I would blanket the t14 and schools where you can get a full ride. If UT with a full ride is on the table I would do that in a heartbeat. Your parents are wrong about T14 coming back to Houston. But above posters are right that with your stellar numbers you should be accumulating minimal or no debt. Don't fall into the prestige trap.

[FutureSuperLawyer]

Go to websites of the top law firms in houston (e.g. Susman Godfrey, Baker Botts, Vinson & Elkins, Gibbs & Bruns). You can search for lawyers by the law school they attended. You'll see many of the associates and partners went to Yale, Harvard, Stanford etc.

[bizzybone1313]

I personally know of a Rice graduate that is now a 2 or 3L at Stanny Law. I am sure she has all doors open to her.

[gnomgnomuch]

With a 172 and a 3.8 you should have multiple large scholarships at t-14's.

UT is a fine school, but it doesn't beat the t-14. With your scores a full ride at lower t-14 isn't out the question, HYS isnt out of the question, and money at CCN isn't out of the question. Apply everywhere, take your best choice in terms of minimizing debt, maximizing job prospects and maximizing QOL and pick. If you end up with a full ride at UT no one can fault you for taking it... but it doesn't seem like you want to stay....

Also, outside of UT i'm pretty sure Harvard is the school to be for texas big law.