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Hi,

I would appreciate any comments or advice on choosing between Duke and Northwestern.
I'm still waiting on the Scholarship package so lets say the cost is equal for now.

Looking to get into Big Law Firms in either NY or Chicago.
It seems like NU places mostly in Chicago but has decent placement into NY law firms too.
However, it seems Duke's Chicago presence is almost non-existent but places well in NY and DC.

Any comments are appreciated.

If you think you'd prefer to work in Chicago, then Northwestern would be the better choice, all other things being equal. But the real answer is whichever one offers you the most money.

Just follow the money. If you want a crack at Chicago, I'd lean Northwestern.

Rigo wrote: If you want a crack at Chicago

That is to say, Chicago is reputably much harder to break into without ties than NYC and DC. If you want Chicago and aren't from Chicago, NU >>> Duke. Money trumps all here, though, and you should follow it.

guybourdin wrote:If you want Chicago and aren't from Chicago, NU >>> Duke. Money trumps all here, though, and you should follow it.

Thanks for the replies guys.

If I have ties to Chicago (Undergrad in Chicago, Worked 2 years in Chicago before Law school), do you think I can crack Chicago from Duke?

Thanks

brightyside wrote:

guybourdin wrote:If you want Chicago and aren't from Chicago, NU >>> Duke. Money trumps all here, though, and you should follow it.

Thanks for the replies guys.

If I have ties to Chicago (Undergrad in Chicago, Worked 2 years in Chicago before Law school), do you think I can crack Chicago from Duke?

Thanks

Yes.

brightyside wrote:

guybourdin wrote:If you want Chicago and aren't from Chicago, NU >>> Duke. Money trumps all here, though, and you should follow it.

Thanks for the replies guys.

If I have ties to Chicago (Undergrad in Chicago, Worked 2 years in Chicago before Law school), do you think I can crack Chicago from Duke?

Thanks

Possible. But look at what firms interview at Duke's OCI. My guess is very few Chicago firms interview there, so you will have DRAMATICALLY fewer opportunities to crack into the Chicago market. Generally, I would choose whoever gives you the most money if it is a signifigant amount more than the other. Otherwise, go to NU if care about getting Chicago

Chrstgtr wrote:

brightyside wrote:

guybourdin wrote:If you want Chicago and aren't from Chicago, NU >>> Duke. Money trumps all here, though, and you should follow it.

Thanks for the replies guys.

If I have ties to Chicago (Undergrad in Chicago, Worked 2 years in Chicago before Law school), do you think I can crack Chicago from Duke?

Thanks

Possible. But look at what firms interview at Duke's OCI. My guess is very few Chicago firms interview there, so you will have DRAMATICALLY fewer opportunities to crack into the Chicago market. Generally, I would choose whoever gives you the most money if it is a signifigant amount more than the other. Otherwise, go to NU if care about getting Chicago

At least at Penn we have some Chicago firms at OCI along with a specific Chicago interview program, and I'd assume Duke has something similar. Also, I'd think spending 1L summer in Chicago + mass mailing would be very effective if you have strong ties.

I definitely lean NU here, but if there's any kind of serious cost difference I think Duke is probably the play.

Edit: Which I now realize is basically what you said anyway.

Rigo wrote:Just follow the money. If you want a crack at Chicago, I'd lean Northwestern.

Yup. I think you could get Chicago from Duke, but most people at Duke don't seek it out. Take the bigger scholarship, and let NU's location be the tiebreaker.

Duke did have a bunch of chicago firms at OCI and I know a few going back there with biglaw gigs lined up. I believe none of them had a hard time getting gigs there, but all had some ties before.