Post removed... Forum

pleadthafif · Post by **pleadthafif** » Wed Oct 21, 2015 12:23 pm

Post removed...

Traynor Brah · Post by **Traynor Brah** » Wed Oct 21, 2015 1:34 pm

This should not be a factor worthy of much consideration. Consider debt load, placement strength, and placement into your preferred region. If you end up having a tie based on those three factors, then you can start to consider things like this.

gnomgnomuch · Post by **gnomgnomuch** » Wed Oct 21, 2015 1:38 pm

pleadthafif wrote:So I've been thinking about career goals after law school and how it will affect my choice of school to attend. I would like to start out as a ADA in the city/county I attend and move to an ASA a few years later if possible.

Since most state AG offices are in the capital, would it make sense to target schools in state capitals (or large cities with state attorney offices)? I am thinking as far relocation, networking, and summer internships while in school, it would just make sense to stay in the same city and build a reputation.

The downside is some of these schools would be T2 or T3. But for my desired career path, would it matter that much?

Does this make sense or am I overthinking it all?

Thanks for any responses!

If you go on a full scholarship then it can be a defensible idea. However, you'd have to make your resume scream that this is 'you' AND you very well might not get the job anyway. It's not necessarily a bad idea, if you're sure that you don't want big-law. (And, BL will only be available to you if you end up in the top 20 percent or so.)

pleadthafif · Post by **pleadthafif** » Wed Oct 21, 2015 1:40 pm

Post removed...

pleadthafif · Post by **pleadthafif** » Wed Oct 21, 2015 1:42 pm

Post removed...

ND2018 · Post by **ND2018** » Wed Oct 21, 2015 1:49 pm

OP what state are you gunning for? Florida State is a school that comes to mind located in a state capital, that has a reputation for placing well IN Tallahassee. Everyone in Albany; including the Governor went to law school at Albany. Some of these schools wont do much for you; but they'll give you a solid shot at those specific cities. You gotta go fo free though...

pleadthafif · Post by **pleadthafif** » Wed Oct 21, 2015 1:53 pm

Post removed...

Traynor Brah · Post by **Traynor Brah** » Wed Oct 21, 2015 2:04 pm

pleadthafif wrote:
Traynor Brah wrote:This should not be a factor worthy of much consideration. Consider debt load, placement strength, and placement into your preferred region. If you end up having a tie based on those three factors, then you can start to consider things like this.
I am debt-averse so I'd really only consider full scholarship offers.

That's fair and totally reasonable, but don't be completely hard-headed about it. For example, if you settled on Nashville--even if you didn't want biglaw for real--it would be a ridiculous mistake to take a full ride at e.g. Belmont over taking a reasonable amount of debt at Vandy.

And you say you don't want biglaw now. A strong majority of 0L/1Ls say that. Then a strong majority of them gun as hard as possible for it the next fall. You're probably going to be one of those people, FYI.

Companion Cube · Post by **Companion Cube** » Wed Oct 21, 2015 2:05 pm

pleadthafif wrote:
ND2018 wrote:OP what state are you gunning for? Florida State is a school that comes to mind located in a state capital, that has a reputation for placing well IN Tallahassee. Everyone in Albany; including the Governor went to law school at Albany. Some of these schools wont do much for you; but they'll give you a solid shot at those specific cities. You gotta go fo free though...
The Southeast, cities like Tallahassee, Atlanta, Nashville, Raleigh, etc.

Study hard for the LSAT and go to Emory or Vandy or UT

I think it's a misconception that ADA positions are "easy" to get. Just like any employer grades and school matter - even if to a somewhat lesser extent.

ND2018 · Post by **ND2018** » Wed Oct 21, 2015 2:11 pm

Ya, so your ideal option would be Duke with $$. Obviously saying "just go to duke" isn't great advice, so you gotta check out strong regional schools in those areas/cities as well: UNC, Georgia/ Emory, FSU; those schools will easily throw full rides at the right LSAT score, and they match up pretty nice w/your goals.

pleadthafif · Post by **pleadthafif** » Wed Oct 21, 2015 2:52 pm

Post removed...

carmensandiego · Post by **carmensandiego** » Wed Oct 21, 2015 3:02 pm

I think that it shouldn't be the first factor you consider, but it is still something of note. If you can intern at the ADA office of your choice (which happens to be in your school's vicinity) during the school year, and you do solid work - it could mean an advantage for post-grad work opportunities since they would clearly know your work, face, and you could even have a current attorney speak on your behalf.

While interning at this same office during the summer is great, most ADA offices have large summer classes and you simply wouldn't get as much "one on one" time with the attorneys as you would during the school year when they don't have as much clerks.

Traynor Brah · Post by **Traynor Brah** » Wed Oct 21, 2015 3:03 pm

pleadthafif wrote:Belmont seems to have very good employment stats for a school of its caliber, at least according to LSTreports. I just don't know how I could justify taking $60-70k of debt (arbitrary number) to make up for tuition gaps to attend Vandy when starting government salaries are like $40k/year.

Belmont is a very pretty dumpster fire; a vandy degree is worth far more than an additional 70K in debt, for effectively any legal career path.

I can very definitely say I don't want big law, as my motivations for attending law school are not monetary. I also place a much higher value on work/life balance of which is non-existent in biglaw.

Again, these are the things almost everyone says. I said the same things (and have pretty much the same long-term goals as you, then went biglaw. The best govt jobs are had by starting in biglaw and lateralling or/and getting a federal clerkship. Also you say you don't want to make lots of money but when you're in an actual position to turn that down, you're probably not going to. Also work/life balance is non-existent in pretty much any legal job; turn back now if that's something that is really important to you.

pleadthafif · Post by **pleadthafif** » Wed Oct 21, 2015 3:17 pm

Post removed...

Traynor Brah · Post by **Traynor Brah** » Wed Oct 21, 2015 3:22 pm

For sure, just don't be hard headed about any of this stuff and keep your options open; what you want now will very possibly not what you'll want in four years when you're ready to begin practicing, or even in a few years when you have gotten more exposure to the profession.

pleadthafif · Post by **pleadthafif** » Wed Oct 21, 2015 3:25 pm

Post removed...

cannibal ox · Post by **cannibal ox** » Wed Oct 21, 2015 3:41 pm

pleadthafif wrote:
Traynor Brah wrote:For sure, just don't be hard headed about any of this stuff and keep your options open; what you want now will very possibly not what you'll want in four years when you're ready to begin practicing, or even in a few years when you have gotten more exposure to the profession.
I'm all about options! Sincere thanks for your input, it's always good to talk with people on the ~~other side~~ dark side.

LafayetteJeff · Post by **LafayetteJeff** » Thu Oct 29, 2015 3:32 pm

The key consideration is cost and quality, but I think location generally is perhaps the most important consideration after that, particularly since it can relate directly to job outcomes and the amount of opportunities you get.

Just do not get too hung up on the state capital aspect. Some state capitals are extremely minor. Better to be in Springfield or Chicago? That's easy. Lansing or Detroit? Also easy. Albany or Manhattan? Harrisburg or Philly/Pitt? Easier still...

But the bigger consideration is urban v. non-urban, and the number of jobs (including government/judicial jobs for you to do summer and externship work at) in the law school's neighborhood. I went to Rutgers Law, Newark campus. NJ's capital does not even have a law school, and rightfully so. Little happens there. One R-N's strength is location in terms of jobs and firms and institutions/courts nearby. It's the largest city in the state, may have more state workers than the state capital (Trenton), and definitely had the best concentration of state-district-circuit-specialized courts and other government offices nearby. Not to mention the highest concentration of law firms. I could always walk to my work during school and in the summer. It helps, big time. I made the choice due to cost-quality-location, and if posed with a reasonably similar cost-quality alternative that was, say, in a suburb or in a part of a city less convenient to jobs and experience, I probably would not give the alternative much consideration at all.