The Extent of Geographical Ties

[Rigo]

I commend these trap schools on marketing. So many misinformed 0L's wanting to go to Fordham and GW.

[starry eyed]

I wouldn't stay past my first year if my grades were below median but if after the first year I'm above median, the outcome could not be that bad could it?

[Rigo]

I wouldn't stay past my first year if my grades were below median but if after the first year I'm above median, the outcome could not be that bad could it?

Merely top half is precarious depending on your goals. Biglaw is more like top 30% at the very least and even that's tenuous.

[starry eyed]

39% of grads were either employes in 50-500+ firms or fed clerks. And I must assume some of them wanted gov't or PI. I am a very solid interviewer with previous work experience. Seems like a good deal. Plus I'd only have to spend 100k out of pocket for everything, Col included. Also, I would not have to worry about ties as much. (For Fordham)

[Rigo]

39% of grads were either employes in 50-500+ firms or fed clerks. And I must assume some of them wanted gov't or PI. I am a very solid interviewer with previous work experience. Seems like a good deal. Plus I'd only have to spend 100k out of pocket for everything, Col included.

Firms with less than 100 employees generally aren't considered biglaw.

[starry eyed]

My definition of "biglaw" may be broader than most of y'alls' though. I would be happy in 50+ firm. I would graduate with zero debt as well.

[Rigo]

My definition of "biglaw" may be broader than most of y'alls' though. I would be happy in 50+ firm. I would graduate with zero debt as well.

Well your definition is off in your own little world then.
You have a great gpa and are retaking the lsat. I don't get why you're fixated on regional schools in regions you're not even from.
Get that 168 or higher and use that trust fund + gi bill to go to a T13.

[starry eyed]

I know. My big thing is nerves on the test. If I can relax, I know I can get a 170. I also took it as a freshmsn

[AT9]

I disagree slightly with some of the advice here.

If being in Dallas is your top priority above practice types/areas, then SMU for cheap (you'll get probably a 2/3 or so tuition discount with your stats as is...I would want more to make it "cheap") may be your best bet judging by what another UT poster said about the Dallas market and ties (though I still assume T14+UT may be better).

But obviously if you're shooting for biglaw or something specific and Dallas just sounds cool, then perhaps not such a good option.

[Louis1127]

Hi everyone, I use to lurk on this site a couple years ago. Well, until i took the LSAT and underperformed, and then pursued the medical school route and now I'm back lol.
Stats: 163, 3.81 --- retaking in december

My question is concerning geographical ties. I have my heart set on SMU, however I am concerned as to how insular that market is.
I love Dallas. I could really see myself living their the rest of my life. My goals are biglaw/midlaw/fed clerk.

My undergrad is located in Louisiana close to Baton Rouge area. My older sister lives in New Orleans. The rest of my family lives in rural MS. My girlfriend's family lives in a town about 90 minutes away from Dallas. I apologize if I'm being a bit neurotic here, but I've read posts mentioning that if you don't know people in Dallas, you aren't getting a job there. My general question: is having ties to the "South" good enough for firm interviewers in Dallas.

As far as the bolded, I know that feel, bro. Also, I'm assuming that you are from there? If so, those ties will help with anywhere in the state, even Jackson and their fancy ass suburbs. Have you considered that? Why are you so stuck o Dallas, in particular?

[starry eyed]

Because Jackson is ghetto lol. I sent you a pm Louis.

[starry eyed]

Being in Dallas is not my top priority, biglaw is. Dallas seems attractive because $ goes way further there than nyc/dc. And I feel the competition in law school be lighter at SMU. That's another point though, and a controversial one lol.

[Rigo]

Being in Dallas is not my top priority, biglaw is.

Then you really need to go to a T13.

Lower-ranked schools are often MORE competitive because everyone knows jobs are scarce.

[Mack.Hambleton]

Being in Dallas is not my top priority, biglaw is. Dallas seems attractive because $ goes way further there than nyc/dc. And I feel the competition in law school be lighter at SMU. That's another point though, and a controversial one lol.

competition is lighter at a school where less than 25% of students can land jobs to pay off their debt? hmm..

[starry eyed]

It's ok bungles. I know you need the last word. You got it.

[BigZuck]

I really do think you need to find better trees to bark up if you want big law. A school like UT is pretty iffy for big law, SMU, GWU, and Fordham doubly so. You can find actual grads of those schools on this site who can tell you how tough it is to get. Also, students at those schools will be, by and large, just as capable as you and even if they weren't law school grading can be frustratingly random at times. At schools with a very thin margin of error, the difference between a B+ and an A on one test (aka one bad afternoon) can essentially foreclose you from big law forever.

The T14 is for biglaw, not these schools.

[starry eyed]

Thank you for that BigZuck. I guess i'm largely ignorant of the grading process of law schools. That makes a lot of sense.

[Rigo]

The T14 is for biglaw, not these schools.

I echo everything BigZuck says, but I'm going to qualify this by saying Georgetown is not a good school either if deadset on biglaw.
Not trying to start a debate with angry Hoyas, but BL+FC placement numbers speak for themselves.
You should really look be looking at Yale thru Cornell.

[BigZuck]

The T14 is for biglaw, not these schools.

I echo everything BigZuck says, but I'm going to qualify this by saying Georgetown is not a good school either if deadset on biglaw.
Not trying to start a debate with angry Hoyas, but BL+FC placement numbers speak for themselves.
You should really look be looking at Yale thru Cornell.

Yeah, I mean maybe. Probably? I dunno. I love making fun of GULC and, the true red-headed stepchild of the T14, Michigan. But I am willing to at least be agnostic as to whether or not there might be some self-selection bias at GULC (but certainly not nearly as much as its apologists give it credit for). If someone said it's Cornell+ or bust for big law I wont argue with that, I personally wouldn't choose GULC unless it were significantly cheaper because even if there is self-selection, it's impossible to quantify. And that is what makes it the true festering TTTT that it is: GULC is almost always prohibitively expensive.

tl;dr=#t124lyfe

[Rigo]

That Michigan sentiment is new. Care to explain a bit?

[BigZuck]

That Michigan sentiment is new. Care to explain a bit?

I don't care if Dean Z is the cool aunt of the law dean world, it's pretty obvious that Michigan is a degree mill that should be shut down. GULC and Michigan fanboys will finally get it when UT and Vandy take their rightful place in the T14.

But yeah, people make fun of it because it's employment stats have been lagging lately, Dean Z's schtick is obnoxious, and Michigan students on here get SUPER butthurt when you point out its deficiencies. They are worse than GULC apologists IMO.

[Mack.Hambleton]

Why aren't you including Boalt? They have lower Fed clerk plus biglaw percentage than Michigan

[anonamich]

Just curious BigZuck, but why do you care? Did you get denied at Michigan and are holding a grudge? Or you just really don't like emails from Dean Z?

[BigZuck]

Just curious BigZuck, but why do you care? Did you get denied at Michigan and are holding a grudge? Or you just really don't like emails from Dean Z?

There it is

Ok, now I know someone is getting WHOOSHed. Is it me? I bet it's me.