Top Law Schools

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How much will you, personally, be in debt at both when all is said and done?

Duke is definitely worth $25k more. Especially with someone with ties to the South.

BigZuck wrote:How much will you, personally, be in debt at both when all is said and done?

Assume half of the stated amounts. I listed them as full COA figured because this will be a financial burden to my parents as well. I'm no trust fund baby, so they will absolutely be affected by the total cost. They will be contributing around half for either number, not just a flat amount.

meachum wrote:

BigZuck wrote:How much will you, personally, be in debt at both when all is said and done?

Assume half of the stated amounts. I listed them as full COA figured because this will be a financial burden to my parents as well. I'm no trust fund baby, so they will absolutely be affected by the total cost. They will be contributing around half for either number, not just a flat amount.

Definitely Duke. It's a 12k difference, which is really negligible.

Current GULC student here: Go. To. Duke.

That is to say: if you are committed to going to law school at all, will pursue a Biglaw job in a major market, and are a studious and hard working enough student to give it a real effort, then Duke. Otherwise, 'don't go to law school' is the right answer.

Your debt won't be as bad as many, but you want every edge you can get in hiring. Duke far and away gives that edge.

Is Duke really that much better?

How about compared to Cornell and Northwestern?

Duke placed 60.1, Cornell 68.4, Northwestern 63.3. Isnt this more important than Duke being ranked 8 this year?

canadianbrother wrote:Is Duke really that much better?

How about compared to Cornell and Northwestern?

Duke placed 60.1, Cornell 68.4, Northwestern 63.3. Isnt this more important than Duke being ranked 8 this year?

Who mentioned anything about the ranking being a factor?

canadianbrother wrote:Is Duke really that much better?

How about compared to Cornell and Northwestern?

Duke placed 60.1, Cornell 68.4, Northwestern 63.3. Isnt this more important than Duke being ranked 8 this year?

You listed two comparison schools but you did not list the school that the OP is actually considering instead of Duke. That's weird, dude.

zacharus85 wrote:Current GULC student here: Go. To. Duke.

That is to say: if you are committed to going to law school at all, will pursue a Biglaw job in a major market, and are a studious and hard working enough student to give it a real effort, then Duke. Otherwise, 'don't go to law school' is the right answer.

Your debt won't be as bad as many, but you want every edge you can get in hiring. Duke far and away gives that edge.

I actually don't agree that Duke "far and away" gives an edge over GULC. The schools aren't that different. But Duke has somewhat better employment numbers overall, and the difference is probably worth the extra $25K (or $12.5K or whatever).

rpupkin wrote:

zacharus85 wrote:Current GULC student here: Go. To. Duke.

That is to say: if you are committed to going to law school at all, will pursue a Biglaw job in a major market, and are a studious and hard working enough student to give it a real effort, then Duke. Otherwise, 'don't go to law school' is the right answer.

Your debt won't be as bad as many, but you want every edge you can get in hiring. Duke far and away gives that edge.

I actually don't agree that Duke "far and away" gives an edge over GULC. The schools aren't that different. But Duke has somewhat better employment numbers overall, and the difference is probably worth the extra $25K (or $12.5K or whatever).

80 gtown students employed by the university in c/o 2013. That's a red flag to me

for comparison, Duke had 2

I don't think any of the classic self-selection arguments can explain that disparity

Clemenceau wrote:

rpupkin wrote:

zacharus85 wrote:Current GULC student here: Go. To. Duke.

That is to say: if you are committed to going to law school at all, will pursue a Biglaw job in a major market, and are a studious and hard working enough student to give it a real effort, then Duke. Otherwise, 'don't go to law school' is the right answer.

Your debt won't be as bad as many, but you want every edge you can get in hiring. Duke far and away gives that edge.

I actually don't agree that Duke "far and away" gives an edge over GULC. The schools aren't that different. But Duke has somewhat better employment numbers overall, and the difference is probably worth the extra $25K (or $12.5K or whatever).

80 gtown students employed by the university in c/o 2013. That's a red flag to me

for comparison, Duke had 2

I don't think any of the classic self-selection arguments can explain that disparity

Where are you getting those numbers? LST states that 12.9% of GULC grads are in school-funded jobs, while 4.6% of Duke grads are. That's definitely a disparity, but it's not as wide as you're suggesting.

In any case, I agree that all the school-funded jobs should count against GULC. But even if you take all the school-funded stuff out, Duke just appears somewhat (but not "far and away") better than GULC. One's fortunes are unlikely to change dramatically by picking one over the other. But like I said, I would choose Duke were I the OP.

If BigLaw is a factor in your plans (as a stepping stone to a gov't gig or otherwise), answer has to be Duke.

That's a large price tag for either - though can't in good conscience recommend G'Town when the median Hoya doesn't land BL or clerkship.

ETA: can't spell for sht

Winston1984 wrote:Duke is definitely worth $25k more. Especially with someone with ties to the South.

This is the right answer, especially considering the ties to the South.

rpupkin wrote:

Clemenceau wrote:

rpupkin wrote:

zacharus85 wrote:Current GULC student here: Go. To. Duke.

That is to say: if you are committed to going to law school at all, will pursue a Biglaw job in a major market, and are a studious and hard working enough student to give it a real effort, then Duke. Otherwise, 'don't go to law school' is the right answer.

Your debt won't be as bad as many, but you want every edge you can get in hiring. Duke far and away gives that edge.

I actually don't agree that Duke "far and away" gives an edge over GULC. The schools aren't that different. But Duke has somewhat better employment numbers overall, and the difference is probably worth the extra $25K (or $12.5K or whatever).

80 gtown students employed by the university in c/o 2013. That's a red flag to me

for comparison, Duke had 2

I don't think any of the classic self-selection arguments can explain that disparity

Where are you getting those numbers? LST states that 12.9% of GULC grads are in school-funded jobs, while 4.6% of Duke grads are. That's definitely a disparity, but it's not as wide as you're suggesting.

In any case, I agree that all the school-funded jobs should count against GULC. But even if you take all the school-funded stuff out, Duke just appears somewhat (but not "far and away") better than GULC. One's fortunes are unlikely to change dramatically by picking one over the other. But like I said, I would choose Duke were I the OP.

The 2013 aba reports. I missed the short term school-employed number for duke, which brings their total to 11. My mistake.

Couldn't pass up the opportunity to shame gulc and I blew it

rpupkin wrote:

canadianbrother wrote:Is Duke really that much better?

How about compared to Cornell and Northwestern?

Duke placed 60.1, Cornell 68.4, Northwestern 63.3. Isnt this more important than Duke being ranked 8 this year?

You listed two comparison schools but you did not list the school that the OP is actually considering instead of Duke. That's weird, dude.

Im currently deciding between those schools (still waiting on NU) but wanted to see what you guys thought.

I wanted to see if your rational was D>NCG or DCN>G or D>NC>G.

canadianbrother wrote:I wanted to see if your rational was D>NCG or DCN>G or D>NC>G.

What's your target market (assuming BL or bust)? If aiming NYC, would honestly take Cornell over all (based on placement stats alone). If aiming Chicago, would take NU over all at equal price (though you're probably looking at marginally more $ at N/C than D despite their better placement stats).

Arbitrage those discrepencies in job placement relative to mag rankings.

Well for me its any big law, no real strong ties anyway. URM (AA) and a weak IP background (B.S. Biology) still patent eligible. Rather do corporate, but I'd also do IP if it means having a job.

Current offers are Cornell 35/year and GULC 45/year. Trying to get Cornell to match GULC, they havent responded yet, but if they dont, would Cornell still be worth 30k more than GULC? Would the URM + IP boost overcome the placement advantage of Cornell?

Thanks for the feedback everyone! Looks like there is a strong consensus for Duke.

Anyone else see OP's handle and think...



Also, for such a small difference in cost and your family helping out that much: Duke.

Ex Cearulo wrote:Anyone else see OP's handle and think...



Also, for such a small difference in cost and your family helping out that much: Duke.

Haha Glad you picked up on that! I created the profile while binge watching season 3 HOC and he's always been among my favorite characters. No clue if the spelling is accurate though.

meachum wrote: Haha Glad you picked up on that! I created the profile while binge watching season 3 HOC and he's always been among my favorite characters. No clue if the spelling is accurate though.

It's Meechum. Strongly recommend you contact a mod and have it changed immediately

Bro, definitely Duke... it has much better employment numbers than Georgetown which hires like 20% of it graduating class and since your from the South and likely to practice there, DUKE holds more weight in the southeast and would work better which your ties to the south.

Since the difference in the amount is so little it would be stupid to go to Georgetown to save $20k when you are already paying so much money anyways.

I think Duke is probably TCR. But, I think that is a good deal for Georgetown (in a scenario where Duke at that price wasn't the alternative). The cost of living difference is so extreme, though, and should be heavily considered.

If attending law school, Duke and not even close. Only way I'd choose GTown is if 110% committed to Gov./PI and willing to do multiple internships during 2L/3L since it's easy to get those in DC.