Penn Vs. Berkeley Forum

[Mr_Manager]

As I wait for responses from Harvard/Stanford/NYU I have a looming scholarship decision date. Of the schools that I have been admitted to, I am between Penn and Berkeley. I have about a 50% scholarship at Penn and waiting for a response from Berkeley to see if they match. I'll be paying for school with a combination of family and loans, leaning heavily on family.

I'm from the DC area and would prefer to work in the DC area, but I'm also open to working in the west coast (family in DC and California). Ideally I would like to work Big Law with a sports law focus.

-Your LSAT/GPA numbers: 170/3.86 (3.93 recalculated)
-How many times you have taken the LSAT: Just once, but it was higher than any of my practice tests.

What would you do?

[globetrotter659]

If cost will be the same then the question is whether you want to work in CA or DC/NYC. Berkeley will give you the leg up for SF/LA. Penn performs better with Big Law especially in NYC. A good chunk of your class at Penn will also be going to DC. However, I'm not really sure there is much of a sports law practice in DC. NYC seems to be the place to do that.

[Mr_Manager]

However, I'm not really sure there is much of a sports law practice in DC. NYC seems to be the place to do that.

You're right. I was looking at the USN firm rankings for Sports Law and of the tier 1 and tier 2 firms only two are in DC. Five of these firms are in NY. None are on the west coast. Other rankings I've found show a majority of the best firms for sports law are in NY like you said, but there are also plenty in LA/SF and DC.

Should I be focusing on schools that have better placement in NY?

[globetrotter659]

However, I'm not really sure there is much of a sports law practice in DC. NYC seems to be the place to do that.

You're right. I was looking at the USN firm rankings for Sports Law and of the tier 1 and tier 2 firms only two are in DC. Five of these firms are in NY. None are on the west coast. Other rankings I've found show a majority of the best firms for sports law are in NY like you said, but there are also plenty in LA/SF and DC.

Should I be focusing on schools that have better placement in NY?

Penn has better placement into NYC but that is in part due to self-selection. People go to Penn because they want to do NYC Big Law. I'm sure Berkeley does just fine for NYC big law. I'm a believer that you should go to school near where you want to work. Unless you have strong ties to CA or really want to do tech, I do think Penn forecloses you from the California market. But it sounds like your preference is for the east coast. And Penn does great at putting people into NYC big law.

[L’Étranger]

If B matches, then B for edge in CA.

If B doesn't match, P.

[Mr_Manager]

However, I'm not really sure there is much of a sports law practice in DC. NYC seems to be the place to do that.

You're right. I was looking at the USN firm rankings for Sports Law and of the tier 1 and tier 2 firms only two are in DC. Five of these firms are in NY. None are on the west coast. Other rankings I've found show a majority of the best firms for sports law are in NY like you said, but there are also plenty in LA/SF and DC.

Should I be focusing on schools that have better placement in NY?

Penn has better placement into NYC but that is in part due to self-selection. People go to Penn because they want to do NYC Big Law. I'm sure Berkeley does just fine for NYC big law. I'm a believer that you should go to school near where you want to work. Unless you have strong ties to CA or really want to do tech, I do think Penn forecloses you from the California market. But it sounds like your preference is for the east coast. And Penn does great at putting people into NYC big law.

I think that I really need to think hard about where I want to work. I really have been focused on DC/West Coast. I know there are a lot of great opportunities of NY but I will probably be looking to work elsewhere. Your answers have helped a lot thank you.