Which Louisiana law school? Forum

[newyorktonola]

Hi all, here's my situation. I just moved from NYC to New Orleans with my fiancee, and I'm applying to Tulane, LSU, and Loyola. I am pretty sure we won't be in the area forever -- we're both Northerners and would prefer the Northeast, Minnesota, or Washington State or something. I'd like to work in something public-interest related, and you prefer to go to a school with a more "portable" degree without paying too much out of pocket. My GPA is 3.4 (but 3.8 for a master's) and I'm expected a 165+ on the OCT LSAT. Currently 25K in previous loans but can go back to teaching (high school English) if necessary. Looking for any advice you guys are willing to give! I've heard that Loyola is the way to go if I were to stay Local, but I'm pretty sure Tulane or LSU are better choices for leaving.

Another option would be to wait to see where I end up in a few years and go then (I'm 26). Studied for about 6 weeks but I was only working part-time so I put a good amount of hours in and feel reasonably confident about the test (and was getting 164-168 on practice tests).

[mvp99]

you wont be able to find work in the north east coming out of any of those schools. hell youre probably not getting any job in new orleans. You masters gpa doesnt matter for admission purposes.

[rpupkin]

None of the Louisiana law schools will give you a national/portable degree. If your medium-term goal is to practice outside Louisiana, I'd wait a few years and then either attend school in a region in which you want to live/work in or go to a T14 law school.

[Lawdork]

you wont be able to find work in the north east coming out of any of those schools. hell youre probably not getting any job in new orleans. You masters gpa doesnt matter for admission purposes.

Can you provide any evidence for this statement or are you just talking out of your ass?

[Lawdork]

you wont be able to find work in the north east coming out of any of those schools. hell youre probably not getting any job in new orleans. You masters gpa doesnt matter for admission purposes.

Can you provide any evidence for this statement or are you just talking out of your ass?

OP: there are a combined 150 fewer students enrolled now(class of 2018) at tulane and loyola than the class of 2014. That's 150 fewer people competing for new orleans jobs. Loyola and Tulane predominantly place in nola, while LSU places in Baton Rouge and the rural parts of the state. So if your goal is to work in nola or LA in general, these would schools would let you do that.

Tulane does send around 10% of its grads to NY (mainly the ones who have ties there), but i don't think it's easy for them to get back up there. If i were you, i would go to a school in the NE or a T14. If i'm a NE employer i would be wondering why you went to tulane instead of the local TTT or a T14. You would also be at a networking disadvantage due to the school's physical location if the goal is to work in the NE

Tulane ppl seem to be typical millenials (travel-whores) who love to live in a different place every few years, without considering its detrimental effect on job prospects.

[newyorktonola]

Thanks for the advice, people. The reason I'm in New Orleans is that my fiancee is attending Tulane for a PhD program, so I'll be here for about 5 years. I figured it would make more sense to go to school while I'm parked here.

Are different concentrations more portable, like environmental or maritime law?

Why is it so important to go to school in the region you want to work when it seems like law school curriculum is so generic and seems to have little to do with the bar? Is it mostly a networking advantage/disadvantage?

Since my goal is to move north eventually, would working in New Orleans for a couple of years first make it easier to find a job elsewhere?

Thanks!

[newyorktonola]

None of the Louisiana law schools will give you a national/portable degree. If your medium-term goal is to practice outside Louisiana, I'd wait a few years and then either attend school in a region in which you want to live/work in or go to a T14 law school.

I might just be fishing for what I want to hear, but what about something in maritime, environmental, or admiralty law? Would that help me be more marketable when I move, or are they a bit gimmicky?

[rpupkin]

None of the Louisiana law schools will give you a national/portable degree. If your medium-term goal is to practice outside Louisiana, I'd wait a few years and then either attend school in a region in which you want to live/work in or go to a T14 law school.

I might just be fishing for what I want to hear, but what about something in maritime, environmental, or admiralty law? Would that help me be more marketable when I move, or are they a bit gimmicky?

Sorry, I don't know anything about those areas of law.

[A. Nony Mouse]

I think the issue with maritime/admiralty law is that you have to be on a coast (I sort of know someone who went to Tulane I think actually does some admiralty law, but she's in Mobile, AL.) otherwise, a lot of it is networking/connections - and to some extent, depending on what kind of jobs you're targeting, knowledge of state law (as well as being barred in a particular location).

[Winter is Coming]

Why not teach HS in New Orleans for a few years to get a better idea of where your fiancee is likely to wind up? If its a 5 year program, you could start in 2 and be done at the same time and you could save money and retake the LSAT for more scholarship money (at better schools).

[CanadianWolf]

Since you'll be in New Orleans for the next five years, then attending law school during that period is understandable. If you are certain that you'll be leaving Louisiana after your spouse earns her PhD., then be sure to sit for the bar exam in an UBE (Uniform Bar Exam) jurisdiction. This is like sitting for the bar exam in 16 or 17 states at one time. Minnesota, Washington state, New York and several other states participate in the UBE. (Colorado & Arizona are, for example, UBE jurisdictions.)

If your wife, as a PhD. candidate is also a Tulane University employee, you may qualify for reduced law school tuition. And, of course, your housing should be covered if it's a funded PhD program.

Louisiana is a civil law jurisdiction (based on the Napoleonic Code). The other 48 states (not sure whether or not Mississippi is still a hybrid jurisdiction) are common law jurisdictions. At one time if I recall correctly, Tulane law students elected to get either a civil law degree or a degree in common law. Now, I think that all get the same degree covering both types of legal systems.

[A. Nony Mouse]

I don't think most PhD programs cover housing, and it's unlikely a grad student employee will get a spouse tuition benefits (it's definitely worth looking into, I just think it's unusual).

[Troianii]

Hi all, here's my situation. I just moved from NYC to New Orleans with my fiancee, and I'm applying to Tulane, LSU, and Loyola. I am pretty sure we won't be in the area forever -- we're both Northerners and would prefer the Northeast, Minnesota, or Washington State or something. I'd like to work in something public-interest related, and you prefer to go to a school with a more "portable" degree without paying too much out of pocket. My GPA is 3.4 (but 3.8 for a master's) and I'm expected a 165+ on the OCT LSAT. Currently 25K in previous loans but can go back to teaching (high school English) if necessary. Looking for any advice you guys are willing to give! I've heard that Loyola is the way to go if I were to stay Local, but I'm pretty sure Tulane or LSU are better choices for leaving.

Another option would be to wait to see where I end up in a few years and go then (I'm 26). Studied for about 6 weeks but I was only working part-time so I put a good amount of hours in and feel reasonably confident about the test (and was getting 164-168 on practice tests).

If you must go to law school in Louisiana, Tulane is the closest, but I don't think its really that portable. Tulane is supposed to be damn spiffy in the maritime/admiralty law area, but that's really niche, and definitely doesn't sound like what you're looking for.

[Justin Ross]

Why is it so important to go to school in the region you want to work when it seems like law school

It may be that the area where you have studied, you can get a personal touch with the people their and they better know about your abilities.

[law_dawg18]

you wont be able to find work in the north east coming out of any of those schools. hell youre probably not getting any job in new orleans. You masters gpa doesnt matter for admission purposes.

Can you provide any evidence for this statement or are you just talking out of your ass?

^^^^ THIS! I understand how difficult the market is and how much regional vs national reach is a huge deal, but sometimes the impression I get from these boards is that the ONLY way to get a decent job out of law school is to graduate T14 or top of your class (they certainly help, but come on). Anyone else frustrated by this?

[Stardust84]

Of the three Tulane would be the best for out of state employment. If you go to Loyola and want to work out of state you might as well plan to hang a shingle.

http://www.lstscorereports.com/schools/tulane/2014/

[BigZuck]

you wont be able to find work in the north east coming out of any of those schools. hell youre probably not getting any job in new orleans. You masters gpa doesnt matter for admission purposes.

Can you provide any evidence for this statement or are you just talking out of your ass?

^^^^ THIS! I understand how difficult the market is and how much regional vs national reach is a huge deal, but sometimes the impression I get from these boards is that the ONLY way to get a decent job out of law school is to graduate T14 or top of your class (they certainly help, but come on). Anyone else frustrated by this?

I would probably go back and reread all those posts if that's your take away

It really depends on you definiton of "decent" to some extent I guess. But yes, depending on your career goals, some schools make achieving those goals tougher sledding than others. And some schools make acheiving those goals next to impossible (if not impossible). Choosing a law school is super dependent on a lot of factors such as career goals, geographic goals, cost of attendance, and the school in question.

Building up that "T14 or bust" strawman is pretty ridiculous given the amount of time and effort people on this site expend to give law school advice that is specifically tailored to the OP.