Choosing a law school Forum

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Sciencemeetslaw

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Choosing a law school

Post by Sciencemeetslaw » Sun Apr 10, 2016 1:22 pm

Dear TLS forum members,

I am planning on attending law school this fall 2016, and I am in the process of choosing a law school. So far, I have only heard from my backup schools, and have been waitlisted on a match (top 50) and reach school (top 25). As the first deposit deadline is April 15th, I would need to make a choice among my backup schools now. So I want to hear from advice from you guys! Thank you in advance for the help and advice!

I want to study Intellectual Property Law, and my admitted schools are:

- Illinois Institute of Technology (Chicago-Kent law school) (3/4 scholarship)
- Penn state University (full scholarship)
- American university (with scholarship, haven't checked how much yet)
- University of Miami
- University of San Diego (with scholarship)
- Case Western University
- Santa Clara University

I personally prefer the east coast, and I like big cities. Paying up for the law school is not that important for me, if the law school can be better without the scholarship. Location is not important for me either, if the school is better in a certain location. For me, the most important factors, from most to least important are: 1) Ranking/reputation/employment prospects/starting salary, 2) Location (big cities+east coast/midwest), 3) Scholarship

I don't want to place multiple scholarships at multiple schools, I just want to pick one. Also, I am intending to visit law schools later, but I am currently in Europe, so I would like to wait and hear back from other schools first, and make a trip to the US to visit the schools altogether.

Thank you very much again!!

datenginedatcould

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Re: Choosing a law school

Post by datenginedatcould » Sun Apr 10, 2016 1:36 pm

In all honesty, none of these schools are good options. Please, look at their employment statistics. Santa Clara is in the best location for IP, but the vast majority (64.8%) of the class of 2014 did not have a full-time, bar passage required job (aka the job you want after law school). How can you reasonably expect a good IP job from them without significant connections and huge competition around you? (UC Berkeley has more than plenty students gunning for IP). I can say the same for any of the other schools on your list and even if you rather go into some other kind of law besides IP.

Don't go to a school where the odds are already against you. Your options should be: reconsider law school altogether, invest in a retake, or move to a location where you can develop significant ties to which your law school won't matter as much and then reapply (even that's a gamble).

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Clearly

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Joined: Sat Feb 11, 2012 4:09 pm

Re: Choosing a law school

Post by Clearly » Sun Apr 10, 2016 11:33 pm

Sciencemeetslaw wrote:Dear TLS forum members,

I am planning on attending law school this fall 2016, and I am in the process of choosing a law school. So far, I have only heard from my backup schools, and have been waitlisted on a match (top 50) and reach school (top 25). As the first deposit deadline is April 15th, I would need to make a choice among my backup schools now. So I want to hear from advice from you guys! Thank you in advance for the help and advice!

I want to study Intellectual Property Law, and my admitted schools are:

- Illinois Institute of Technology (Chicago-Kent law school) (3/4 scholarship)
- Penn state University (full scholarship)
- American university (with scholarship, haven't checked how much yet)
- University of Miami
- University of San Diego (with scholarship)
- Case Western University
- Santa Clara University

I personally prefer the east coast, and I like big cities. Paying up for the law school is not that important for me, if the law school can be better without the scholarship. Location is not important for me either, if the school is better in a certain location. For me, the most important factors, from most to least important are: 1) Ranking/reputation/employment prospects/starting salary, 2) Location (big cities+east coast/midwest), 3) Scholarship

I don't want to place multiple scholarships at multiple schools, I just want to pick one. Also, I am intending to visit law schools later, but I am currently in Europe, so I would like to wait and hear back from other schools first, and make a trip to the US to visit the schools altogether.

Thank you very much again!!
What are your stats?

Also please check out law school transparency, you might not realize how bad these options can be.

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