Top Law Schools

Okay, so I am interested in BigLaw, maybe in the West (CA) or the South (Houston/Atlanta). However, I don't want to be stuck in these locations by going regional. No specialization right out of law school, but would eventually like to go into entertainment law.

Here are my (perspective*) options:

UVA ($20k/year)
Mich ($15k/year -- can probably negotiate more)
Georgetown (no scholly info yet, will likely be > $20k/year)
Texas (In state tuition + $10k/year)
Chicago* (had interview, pending. For the sake of the post, let's say sticker)
Duke* (pending, for the sake of the post, let's say $10k/year)
USC* (pending, for the sake of the post, let's say $25k/year-- an option because of location/networking and my eventual goal of entertainment law)

Any feedback would be GREATLY appreciated!

lawyergirl94 wrote:Okay, so I am interested in BigLaw, maybe in the West (CA) or the South (Houston/Atlanta). However, I don't want to be stuck in these locations by going regional. No specialization right out of law school, but would eventually like to go into entertainment law.

Here are my (perspective*) options:

UVA ($20k/year)
Mich ($45k/year -- can probably negotiate more)
Georgetown (no scholly info yet, will likely be > $20k/year)
Texas (In state tuition + $10k/year)
Chicago* (had interview, pending. For the sake of the post, let's say sticker)
Duke* (pending, for the sake of the post, let's say $10k/year)
USC* (pending, for the sake of the post, let's say $25k/year-- an option because of location/networking and my eventual goal of entertainment law)

Any feedback would be GREATLY appreciated!

Wait until all your options are final. Right now Michigan would be the no brainer. If UVA gives you enough money to be closer to Michigan or UChi gives you a scholarship that would change things. USC, Georgetown, and Texas probably don't make sense if you want big law. Even Michigan isn't a sure thing but with that scholarship it makes it worthwhile.

What do you mean by entertainment law? Which specific firms do that type of work in Houston and Atlanta?

trebekismyhero wrote:

lawyergirl94 wrote:Okay, so I am interested in BigLaw, maybe in the West (CA) or the South (Houston/Atlanta). However, I don't want to be stuck in these locations by going regional. No specialization right out of law school, but would eventually like to go into entertainment law.

Here are my (perspective*) options:

UVA ($20k/year)
Mich ($45k15k/year -- can probably negotiate more)
Georgetown (no scholly info yet, will likely be > $20k/year)
Texas (In state tuition + $10k/year)
Chicago* (had interview, pending. For the sake of the post, let's say sticker)
Duke* (pending, for the sake of the post, let's say $10k/year)
USC* (pending, for the sake of the post, let's say $25k/year-- an option because of location/networking and my eventual goal of entertainment law)

Any feedback would be GREATLY appreciated!

Wait until all your options are final. Right now Michigan would be the no brainer. If UVA gives you enough money to be closer to Michigan or UChi gives you a scholarship that would change things. USC, Georgetown, and Texas probably don't make sense if you want big law. Even Michigan isn't a sure thing but with that scholarship it makes it worthwhile.

Sorry, lol. $45k total ($15/year) @ Michigan. However, with more money from UVA, I should be able to negotiate more from Michigan.

BigZuck wrote:What do you mean by entertainment law? Which specific firms do that type of work in Houston and Atlanta?

I mean represent clients in the entertainment industry. There are no large firms to my knowledge that specialize primarily in entertainment law in those areas.

lawyergirl94 wrote:

BigZuck wrote:What do you mean by entertainment law? Which specific firms do that type of work in Houston and Atlanta?

I mean represent clients in the entertainment industry. There are no large firms to my knowledge that specialize primarily in entertainment law in those areas.

This is a very specialized practice area, and the odds of you working in it are infinitesimal. It also requires giving up a significant amount of salary, as most of the firms in that space pay less than market. (To the extent you work for a bigfirm representing clients in the entertainment industry, you will do the same work you do for clients in other industries.) That is ESPECIALLY true if you are planning on working in any city other than LA or NYC.

wons wrote:

lawyergirl94 wrote:

BigZuck wrote:What do you mean by entertainment law? Which specific firms do that type of work in Houston and Atlanta?

I mean represent clients in the entertainment industry. There are no large firms to my knowledge that specialize primarily in entertainment law in those areas.

This is a very specialized practice area, and the odds of you working in it are infinitesimal. It also requires giving up a significant amount of salary, as most of the firms in that space pay less than market. (To the extent you work for a bigfirm representing clients in the entertainment industry, you will do the same work you do for clients in other industries.) That is ESPECIALLY true if you are planning on working in any city other than LA or NYC.

Thanks! That's why I'm not hell-bent on entertainment law, especially if I don't end up in LA. It's just a long-term goal that I keep in mind.

Where are you from/what are your market ties?

I can't really offer much advice on which school you should go to because your offers aren't finalized yet. The schools you end up getting into/$ you end up getting from each school would really affect any input I would give. My rule of thumb is generally any T14 that gives you the most money.

I'm not sure any particular school would give you an advantage for entertainment law. You should look at Proskauer Rose if that's what you want to do - LA/NYC office. Probably LA since you expressed a preference for West Coast. Not sure if Atlanta/Houston really have many options in that area, but I don't know that much about it. I just know that Proskauer has a very good entertainment law practice.

hairbear7 wrote:Where are you from/what are your market ties?

From Michigan, go to school in and have a BigLaw internship in Atlanta.

kennethellenparcell wrote:I can't really offer much advice on which school you should go to because your offers aren't finalized yet. The schools you end up getting into/$ you end up getting from each school would really affect any input I would give. My rule of thumb is generally any T14 that gives you the most money.

I'm not sure any particular school would give you an advantage for entertainment law. You should look at Proskauer Rose if that's what you want to do - LA/NYC office. Probably LA since you expressed a preference for West Coast. Not sure if Atlanta/Houston really have many options in that area, but I don't know that much about it. I just know that Proskauer has a very good entertainment law practice.

Thanks! I figured that'd be most people's response, but I'm getting antsy waiting for these schools to give me a decision. lol.. Will update as I get solidified info.

I'd imagine that there are more entertainment lawyers than you'd initially think in Atlanta...all those Hip-Hop moguls I'm sure have some kind of representation.

As things are now, OP, I think this is easy, I'd take UVA @$20k/year and target Atlanta, but I'd still beg beg beg beg beg beg and beg Cordel for more money. You have Atlanta ties, I am going to guess that you attend a certain very famous women's college down there that will give you a great network. If you don't I'm slightly less enthusiastic, but I still think it's the right call.

Say it with me, UVA all the way...

$20k/year in scholarship still means like $185k in debt when you add interest & fees. That's A LOT of debt for very specific goals.

cron1834 wrote:$20k/year in scholarship still means like $185k in debt when you add interest & fees. That's A LOT of debt for very specific goals.

Odds are OP will just land in biglaw and learn to accept the lack of celebrities. Agree that COA at UVA is plenty steep as is, especially because market in ATL is $135k, but hopefully OP can keep negotiating that cost down.

cron1834 wrote:$20k/year in scholarship still means like $185k in debt when you add interest & fees. That's A LOT of debt for very specific goals.

Yeah

I thought maybe it was just me jumping the shark with the whole TLS debt aversion mania thing but I'm not sure UVA is worth it with only a 60K scholarship. Tuition is like 57K a year now, which is nutso.

Glad to hear it's actually cron jumping the shark and not me.

Okay, the title of the post is Help! So I'm going to throw this in here unsolicited.

OP, from your options and what I know about you from just seeing you pop in and around the neighborhood here, I think you should strongly consider sitting this year out and retaking the LSAT. You're in a tough spot of getting admitted to great schools like UMich and UVA, but not getting great money. You have a great GPA. If you can nudge yourself higher on the LSAT, you'll get really good money from UMich and UVA and then be able to add schools like Columbia and even HLS to your mix. You're young...don't rush this big life-altering decision.

fliptrip wrote:Okay, the title of the post is Help! So I'm going to throw this in here unsolicited.

OP, from your options and what I know about you from just seeing you pop in and around the neighborhood here, I think you should strongly consider sitting this year out and retaking the LSAT. You're in a tough spot of getting admitted to great schools like UMich and UVA, but not getting great money. You have a great GPA. If you can nudge yourself higher on the LSAT, you'll get really good money from UMich and UVA and then be able to add schools like Columbia and even HLS to your mix. You're young...don't rush this big life-altering decision.

Oh, whoa, 155????

Yeah, definitely retake/reapply if need be

Yes, definitely retake. Get in the 160s and as a URM you will go to these schools for free and probably in at HYS. Don't go now

If you go to the womens-HBCU in Atlanta, have good experience, and present a good GPA, you can definitely go to Mich or UVA on a Darrow/Dillard full ride with literally a handful more questions right on a test. Are your parents wealthy? If that's the case, then this is whatever. But if they're not, you owe it to yourself to get that LSAT in the 160s at least.

Look, TLS often demands that people score in like the 99th percentile in these retake threads ... it's just impossible for some people, I think. But 155 is like barely above average. There's no way you're incapable of doing better. Full rides at good schools should be an outcome here.