Fordham sticker or CUNY/NYLS full ride? Forum

[Jaydee]

I am a non-trad, with guaranteed employment working/partnering in a small firm. I have no desire to work for a firm. Should I just pick the cheapest option or pay 150k for a somewhat better pedigree?

[usn26]

Follow the money.

[ballcaps]

...guaranteed employment working/partnering in a small firm. I have no desire to work for a firm.

huh?

[Jaydee]

...guaranteed employment working/partnering in a small firm. I have no desire to work for a firm.

huh?

I should clarify: I have no desire working for a LARGE law firm (i.e. biglaw, midlaw, insurance, etc)
Not to give too much details, but I'm in my 40s with no debt/decent money saved/rental properties, etc. The guaranteed employment would be helping out my gf/wife/significant other. She has a solo practice (immigration, divorce, etc). She's somewhat busy--45-60 hour weeks. She needs help/wants to cut down her hours to spend with our child....

[BigZuck]

I guess I'm curious why you would even contemplate the more expensive option at all?

[Johann]

Take the free school.

[Mack.Hambleton]

I guess I'm curious why you would even contemplate the more expensive option at all?

[Jaydee]

I guess I'm curious why you would even contemplate the more expensive option at all?

There is a large gap in the rankings between Fordham and CUNY/NYLS. I'm just wondering if the better name is worth the premium. Maybe down the road for marketing purposes? Will the Fordham JD get me more clients/make clients feel more comfortable hiring me?

[usn26]

I guess I'm curious why you would even contemplate the more expensive option at all?

There is a large gap in the rankings between Fordham and CUNY/NYLS. I'm just wondering if the better name is worth the premium. Maybe down the road for marketing purposes? Will the Fordham JD get me more clients/make clients feel more comfortable hiring me?

Thank God you came to TLS

[TasmanianToucan]

Your wife's established practice will bring you clients. Don't pay 150 grand for a job you know you can have for free.

[MurdockLLP]

Thank God you came to TLS

Unless your client is a major corporation, the average client could care less about where you went to school. Most people in the New York market still think that St. John's has an excellent law program and that New York Law School is NYU. Save yourself the money and go with the free option.

[Blueberrypie]

Thank God you came to TLS

Unless your client is a major corporation, the average client could care less about where you went to school. Most people in the New York market still think that St. John's has an excellent law program and that New York Law School is NYU. Save yourself the money and go with the free option.

OMG this is so true. I know NYU law students get mildly upset. I mean the names are way too close. It is severely misleading at a few quick glances. I remember when I first started working at a law firm a year ago. A paralegal told me she attends NY Law. I automatically assumed NYU. I mean NYU is NYL technically.

[AReasonableMan]

If you aren't married then you might want to create a contract that the firm is joint property if you're making major life decisions based on this.

[timbs4339]

Fordham at 150K would literally be an insane option. That's money that is going to be going out of shared resources that could be going into a firm that is going to operate on low margins anyway. You're a lawyer dealing with middle or lower net worth individuals- they think any lawyer is prestigious so log as you are doing decent work.

Of the two sane choices, what are the stips?

[Jaydee]

COA for NYLS would be ~37k CUNY ~30K Fordham ~155K

[BigZuck]

COA for NYLS would be ~37k CUNY ~30K Fordham ~155K

And once again:

I guess I'm curious why you would even contemplate the more expensive option at all?

Seriously, don't go to Fordham. It's a non-starter.