Top Law Schools

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What's your total COA for each?

Also a lot of gov jobs are about connections, so I doubt where you go matters as much.

Chicago is $255k. NYU is $227k.

I don't think either blows the other out of the water for the work you're looking for. I think this can come down to cost and also personal preference between living on the east coast or chicago.

Less intra-class competition at Chicago and less debt at NYU probably even out. I'd choose based on city preference.

Does anyone think that Chicago's stronger placement in clerkships and academia would translate to better placement opportunities within competitive posts at the Department of Justice, State, etc...?

jbagelboy wrote:I don't think either blows the other out of the water for the work you're looking for. I think this can come down to cost and also personal preference between living on the east coast or chicago.

What jbagelboy said.

If you pick Chicago, during your first year you'll have to pay more than $1,500/month just to cover the interest on your loans. At NYU its 1.4k/month. You aren't going to pay off this debt working in private practice for "a few years." Though you could get it down to something manageable in 5 years.

PSLF/PAYE will help (assuming they aren't gutted) if you end up in the federal government, but you might not be able to get the type of federal job you're looking for. I think you're paying too much. I don't recommend either of these options.

SoCalTacos wrote:Does anyone think that Chicago's stronger placement in clerkships and academia would translate to better placement opportunities within competitive posts at the Department of Justice, State, etc...?

You pretty much need to be at the top of your class and clerk and last a few years in biglaw to get the "prestigious" fed gov jobs like DOJ. You're still going to have to do well at both schools to get a clerkship. I don't think Chicago (unlike HYS) place appreciably more into clerkships.

That said, I agree with Nomo - these are wayyyyyy too expensive.

Not going to law school is a better option.

SoCalTacos wrote:Does anyone think that Chicago's stronger placement in clerkships and academia would translate to better placement opportunities within competitive posts at the Department of Justice, State, etc...?

SoCal, PM me. Can offer you advice on this decision.