Top Law Schools

Hi all,

I need some advice. Here's the situation:

Berkeley has offered me 22K a year, UC Davis has offered a full tuition scholarship. They are the only two schools I am considering. Up until yesterday, I was all in for UC Davis, but Berkeley just awarded me this merit aid.

UC Davis Total COA: 80K (without interest)

UC Berkeley Total COA: 140k (with interest)

I am from Fresno and would like to live there (or in the area) ultimately. I am highly debt averse, just married and I would like to ultimately work in human rights law. I wouldn't mind do immigration law back home in Fresno.

I have a lower LSAT score and doubt that I can do much better; I have a high GPA from a top school. Waiting another year is not ideal but I won't necessarily rule it out.

Thanks for any and all advice.

When you say "human rights law", are you talking about international law?

somethingElse wrote:http://top-law-schools.com/forums/viewt ... 1&t=206299

I've provided almost all that information. Thanks

Berkeley without hesitation and I'm extremely debt adverse.

cavalier1138 wrote:When you say "human rights law", are you talking about international law?

Not necessarily, civil rights law also applies

lesalexander wrote:

somethingElse wrote:http://top-law-schools.com/forums/viewt ... 1&t=206299

I've provided almost all that information. Thanks

Your total COA and how you will be financing your lawl school education is the main shit that is missing and is arguably some of the most important information you can provide.

Goldchain wrote:Berkeley without hesitation and I'm extremely debt adverse.

Ok, I guess my main concern is whether I will find work in civil rights law/human rights law that pays well enough out of school. I am unwilling to work in biglaw because the hours are unfeasible considering my familial situation.

somethingElse wrote:

lesalexander wrote:

somethingElse wrote:http://top-law-schools.com/forums/viewt ... 1&t=206299

I've provided almost all that information. Thanks

Your total COA and how you will be financing your lawl school education is the main shit that is missing and is arguably some of the most important information you can provide.

I will be financing law school by taking loans... Or UC Davis will finance it for me. UC Davis cost of attendance is quite obviously lower than COA at Berkeley. I can't anticipate how much I can mitigate the cost of living just outside San Francisco. I also don't know exactly how much I would be spending in Sacramento, just that it would be less.

Thanks again for your help.

lesalexander wrote:

Goldchain wrote:Berkeley without hesitation and I'm extremely debt adverse.

Ok, I guess my main concern is whether I will find work in civil rights law/human rights law that pays well enough out of school. I am unwilling to work in biglaw because the hours are unfeasible considering my familial situation.

If you can't find it from Berkeley you sure won't find it from UC Davis. Berkeley would connect you to leaders in the legal industry much easier making it worth the cost difference.

lesalexander wrote:

Goldchain wrote:Berkeley without hesitation and I'm extremely debt adverse.

Ok, I guess my main concern is whether I will find work in civil rights law/human rights law that pays well enough out of school. I am unwilling to work in biglaw because the hours are unfeasible considering my familial situation.

So you're looking for a job that pays "well enough" (whatever that means) right out of school, is a lifestyle position, and specializes in civil rights/human rights law? Have you seen such a position advertised or a particular attorney that fits the profile you are trying to achieve? Also, not all biglaw has unfeasible hours. There are quite a few posters who say they enjoy their biglaw job except for maybe one or two months out of the year due to trial prep, fire drills, etc.

lesalexander wrote:

somethingElse wrote:

lesalexander wrote:

somethingElse wrote:http://top-law-schools.com/forums/viewt ... 1&t=206299

I've provided almost all that information. Thanks

Your total COA and how you will be financing your lawl school education is the main shit that is missing and is arguably some of the most important information you can provide.

I will be financing law school by taking loans... Or UC Davis will finance it for me. UC Davis cost of attendance is quite obviously lower than COA at Berkeley. I can't anticipate how much I can mitigate the cost of living just outside San Francisco. I also don't know exactly how much I would be spending in Sacramento, just that it would be less.

Thanks again for your help.

You still haven't answered the most important question.

What is the total COA of each???? Do the math so that the people here can be more helpful to you

Nachoo2019 wrote:

lesalexander wrote:

somethingElse wrote:

lesalexander wrote:

somethingElse wrote:http://top-law-schools.com/forums/viewt ... 1&t=206299

I've provided almost all that information. Thanks

Your total COA and how you will be financing your lawl school education is the main shit that is missing and is arguably some of the most important information you can provide.

I will be financing law school by taking loans... Or UC Davis will finance it for me. UC Davis cost of attendance is quite obviously lower than COA at Berkeley. I can't anticipate how much I can mitigate the cost of living just outside San Francisco. I also don't know exactly how much I would be spending in Sacramento, just that it would be less.

Thanks again for your help.

You still haven't answered the most important question.

What is the total COA of each???? Do the math so that the people here can be more helpful to you

21K/year at UC Davis

56K/year at UC Berkeley

1) GPA/LSAT
2) What happens if you're unable to find a job in "human rights" law? Are you ok with the alternatives that either school provides?
3) Show your work in calculating 56k COA.

pancakes3 wrote: 3) Show your work in calculating 56k COA.

By my count, it's 56k per year, and it's a pretty low estimate and/or doesn't include interest.

lymenheimer wrote:

pancakes3 wrote: 3) Show your work in calculating 56k COA.

By my count, it's 56k per year, and it's a pretty low estimate and/or doesn't include interest.

It is per year and does not include interest.

Total debt from tuition (7pct interest): 111K

pancakes3 wrote:1) GPA/LSAT
2) What happens if you're unable to find a job in "human rights" law? Are you ok with the alternatives that either school provides?
3) Show your work in calculating 56k COA.

Pretty sure those are yearly totals.

OP, 150k from Berkley is not a bad decision for someone who knows what they want. But with your goals that is simply too much debt. What is your GPA/LSAT?

And Davis should be out completely with your goals.

lesalexander wrote:

lymenheimer wrote:

pancakes3 wrote: 3) Show your work in calculating 56k COA.

By my count, it's 56k per year, and it's a pretty low estimate and/or doesn't include interest.

It is per year and does not include interest.

Total debt (7pct interest): 111K

How does 56k per year total to 111k after interest? You know law school is 3 years long right?

Nachoo2019 wrote:

pancakes3 wrote:1) GPA/LSAT
2) What happens if you're unable to find a job in "human rights" law? Are you ok with the alternatives that either school provides?
3) Show your work in calculating 56k COA.

Pretty sure those are yearly totals.

OP, 150k from Berkley is not a bad decision for someone who knows what they want. But with your goals that is simply too much debt. What is your GPA/LSAT?

And Davis should be out completely with your goals.

Sorry for the unclear numbers. I guess it's 32K/year non-tuition expenses and then 111K total tuition debt.

Comes out to a bit over 200K total COA? I am not the most experienced poster here so thanks for bearing with me.

Total COA UC Davis:

63K

Total COA UC Berkeley:

210K

I have edited the original post to reflect what should have been there to start. Thanks again everyone

210k seems high - but then I saw that you're just "from" fresno and not "in" fresno. Maybe you should move back to Fresno for a few months while you retake so you can cop the in-state discount.

My quick and dirty calculations: *in-state tuition of 49k, less your 22k scholly, spread over 3 years is like 90k after fees/interest. With the wife chipping in but not covering living expenses, you're looking at 120-150k debt.

Also:
1) Still need your GPA/LSAT
2) Not kidding about a sizable chance you won't be working in civil rights

pancakes3 wrote:210k seems high - but then I saw that you're just "from" fresno and not "in" fresno. Maybe you should move back to Fresno for a few months while you retake so you can cop the in-state discount.

My quick and dirty calculations: *in-state tuition of 49k, less your 22k scholly, spread over 3 years is like 90k after fees/interest. With the wife chipping in but not covering living expenses, you're looking at 120-150k debt.

Also:
1) Still need your GPA/LSAT
2) Not kidding about a sizable chance you won't be working in civil rights

Yes 120-150k for just tuition, but total should be about 210k

LSAT is below 25th at Berkleley, GPA above 75th

lesalexander wrote:Total COA UC Davis:

63K

Total COA UC Berkeley:

210K

Who is paying the cost of living portion of COA? Your spouse or you (via loans)

lesalexander wrote:

pancakes3 wrote:210k seems high - but then I saw that you're just "from" fresno and not "in" fresno. Maybe you should move back to Fresno for a few months while you retake so you can cop the in-state discount.

My quick and dirty calculations: *in-state tuition of 49k, less your 22k scholly, spread over 3 years is like 90k after fees/interest. With the wife chipping in but not covering living expenses, you're looking at 120-150k debt.

Also:
1) Still need your GPA/LSAT
2) Not kidding about a sizable chance you won't be working in civil rights

Yes 120-150k for just tuition, but total should be about 210k

LSAT is below 25th at Berkleley, GPA above 75th

If you can get your LSAT up to their 50th you'll be looking at a Bunch more scholarship money. Why not do what was mentioned earlier? Take some time off to regain that CA residency while retaking the LSAT then go to Berkley with minimal debt.

You are in a great position here! Don't waste it!

Also, I apologize for coming off "snarky" it's been a long morning at work.