Top Law Schools

I am currently considering UCLA, Duke, and MIchigan. Went to UCLA for undergrad and loved it, but I think it might be time to try something new. Visited Duke and was really impressed by the school and I'm visiting Michigan this weekend. Questions, are any of the options indefensible? Would it be better to stay local for a long term network? How do Michigan/Duke place in CA compared to UCLA with CA ties?

Schools:
Duke: $85K scholly, debt at repay=$102K
Mich: $90K scholly, debt at repay=$93K
UCLA: $70K scholly, debt at repay=$85K

School will be financed with savings, family contributions, and debt.

From the Bay Area (CA) and went to school/currently working in LA. I am looking to return to SoCal long term with preference for OC (weak ties) over LA. Not opposed to working in the SF Bay Area after graduation but I'm not a huge fan of Silicon Valley area.Would do NYC for a bit if I had no other options to repay debt, but I plan to end up in CA long term. Ideally, I would do a federal clerkship prior to starting at a big firm.

General career goals would be Biglaw or Midlaw for as long as possible, then either a smaller firm, in house, or government work. No PI goals.

170/3.67 1 take.

Any requests for more information are welcome and I appreciate any insights!

Pick which of Duke and Michigan you like better and go there. Duke and Michigan worth $10-15k more than UCLA in my opinion unless you're dead set on LA and would take LA non-big or mid law over Biglaw elsewhere.

If you are taking your Duke COL from the Duke website you are overestimating Duke's COL by a lot.

I also voted Duke for the reasons Rigo stated.

I voted Duke for better biglaw placement percentage and at that cost difference I'd personally go with a little bit more security, but it really doesn't matter between Michigan and Duke.
Pick whichever you liked more.

I wouldn't go UCLA since Biglaw is much less likely and the cost difference isn't even giving you an incentive to take on more risk.

PM me if you have questions about michigan.

Duke came back and offered me another $6K. Can anyone comment more on the schools' respective strength in SoCal? I really preferred the culture at Michigan but not enough to trade a market paying outcome for a non-market one. I've seen a lot of UCLA to Mich alums in SoCal but less Duke alums locally. Plz help internet.

Michigan all the way. You like the environment there more, it's cheaper, and they place more grads in CA than Duke (both on an absolute and percentage basis).

3-year averages:
56/358 (16%) to CA from Michigan
24/226 (11%) to CA from Duke

goldenbear2020 wrote:Michigan all the way. You like the environment there more, it's cheaper, and they place more grads in CA than Duke (both on an absolute and percentage basis).

3-year averages:
56/358 (16%) to CA from Michigan
24/226 (11%) to CA from Duke

Thanks for the input, is it possible to go from Michigan to CA at or around median with strong CA ties? Or is it more likely I will need to start in NYC and lateral?

TrynaLaw wrote:

goldenbear2020 wrote:Michigan all the way. You like the environment there more, it's cheaper, and they place more grads in CA than Duke (both on an absolute and percentage basis).

3-year averages:
56/358 (16%) to CA from Michigan
24/226 (11%) to CA from Duke

Thanks for the input, is it possible to go from Michigan to CA at or around median with strong CA ties? Or is it more likely I will need to start in NYC and lateral?

CA biglaw was easy to get from Michigan at or around median.

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 1&t=276503

Good thread where OP is convinced CA is hard to get from NU. Everyone disagrees. Same thing with Michigan. You'll be fine. That's a great price and if you liked the culture there's your answer. Duke also a good option

At those price differentials, it should be between Duke and Mich. Personally, I would choose Duke here because of their great biglaw/fed clerk percentage, reputation in LA is very good (Mich is good too), and basketball.

ambrajdurbra131313 wrote:At those price differentials, it should be between Duke and Mich. Personally, I would choose Duke here because of their great biglaw/fed clerk percentage, reputation in LA is very good (Mich is good too), and basketball.

This. There is a non-negligible difference in biglaw+fed clerk numbers between Mich and Duke. Plus Duke was basketball and MUCH better weather. But both are defensible options

TrynaLaw wrote:Duke came back and offered me another $6K. Can anyone comment more on the schools' respective strength in SoCal? I really preferred the culture at Michigan but not enough to trade a market paying outcome for a non-market one. I've seen a lot of UCLA to Mich alums in SoCal but less Duke alums locally. Plz help internet.

Duke's placement in California will be on par with Michigan's. Any difference in percentages is likely self selection. I had multiple biglaw offers to go back to the bay area and everyone I know that had ties to the area got offers back (whether you're at or below median). Same goes for SoCal - everyone I know that wanted biglaw there got it (both Los Angeles and San Diego) - including those without any ties.

Not that this matters at all but suggesting Duke over Michigan for sports is outrageous. Michigan made it further in the tournament AND has a top 10 football program. Duke has Coach K, who's one busted screen away from sending Grayson Allan to murder his teammates in their sleep. We have Harbaugh, who drinks milk at steakhouses when he's not too busy calling out trump for trying to defund PI.

These are both defensible choices, to be sure, but if for some silly reason youre comparing athletic programs, come to the Big House.

ETA: Hail.

grades?? wrote:

ambrajdurbra131313 wrote:At those price differentials, it should be between Duke and Mich. Personally, I would choose Duke here because of their great biglaw/fed clerk percentage, reputation in LA is very good (Mich is good too), and basketball.

This. There is a non-negligible difference in biglaw+fed clerk numbers between Mich and Duke. Plus Duke was basketball and MUCH better weather. But both are defensible options

nyu2019maybeplease wrote:Not that this matters at all but suggesting Duke over Michigan for sports is outrageous. Michigan made it further in the tournament AND has a top 10 football program. Duke has Coach K, who's one busted screen away from sending Grayson Allan to murder his teammates in their sleep. We have Harbaugh, who drinks milk at steakhouses when he's not too busy calling out trump for trying to defund PI.

These are both defensible choices, to be sure, but if for some silly reason youre comparing athletic programs, come to the Big House.

ETA: Hail.

grades?? wrote:

ambrajdurbra131313 wrote:At those price differentials, it should be between Duke and Mich. Personally, I would choose Duke here because of their great biglaw/fed clerk percentage, reputation in LA is very good (Mich is good too), and basketball.

This. There is a non-negligible difference in biglaw+fed clerk numbers between Mich and Duke. Plus Duke was basketball and MUCH better weather. But both are defensible options

LOL if you are delusional enough to think Michigan has better athletics. Maybe football, but LOL for even thinking Coach K isn't the GOAT. The evidence proves he is. How many national championships does Michigan have in bball? Right

grades?? wrote:

nyu2019maybeplease wrote:Not that this matters at all but suggesting Duke over Michigan for sports is outrageous. Michigan made it further in the tournament AND has a top 10 football program. Duke has Coach K, who's one busted screen away from sending Grayson Allan to murder his teammates in their sleep. We have Harbaugh, who drinks milk at steakhouses when he's not too busy calling out trump for trying to defund PI.

These are both defensible choices, to be sure, but if for some silly reason youre comparing athletic programs, come to the Big House.

ETA: Hail.

grades?? wrote:

ambrajdurbra131313 wrote:At those price differentials, it should be between Duke and Mich. Personally, I would choose Duke here because of their great biglaw/fed clerk percentage, reputation in LA is very good (Mich is good too), and basketball.

This. There is a non-negligible difference in biglaw+fed clerk numbers between Mich and Duke. Plus Duke was basketball and MUCH better weather. But both are defensible options

LOL if you are delusional enough to think Michigan has better athletics. Maybe football, but LOL for even thinking Coach K isn't the GOAT. The evidence proves he is. How many national championships does Michigan have in bball? Right

NC Basketball > Michigan Football

Past GOATness does not guarantee future results. Losing in the second round ain't GOAT, and that's what Duke did last year.

Duke might have more tiddlywinks championships than we do as well (although probably not). That doesn't mean they've got better athletics.

Also, delusional?
https://[link redacted]/images/EIWr5X

grades?? wrote:

nyu2019maybeplease wrote:Not that this matters at all but suggesting Duke over Michigan for sports is outrageous. Michigan made it further in the tournament AND has a top 10 football program. Duke has Coach K, who's one busted screen away from sending Grayson Allan to murder his teammates in their sleep. We have Harbaugh, who drinks milk at steakhouses when he's not too busy calling out trump for trying to defund PI.

These are both defensible choices, to be sure, but if for some silly reason youre comparing athletic programs, come to the Big House.

ETA: Hail.

grades?? wrote:

ambrajdurbra131313 wrote:At those price differentials, it should be between Duke and Mich. Personally, I would choose Duke here because of their great biglaw/fed clerk percentage, reputation in LA is very good (Mich is good too), and basketball.

This. There is a non-negligible difference in biglaw+fed clerk numbers between Mich and Duke. Plus Duke was basketball and MUCH better weather. But both are defensible options

LOL if you are delusional enough to think Michigan has better athletics. Maybe football, but LOL for even thinking Coach K isn't the GOAT. The evidence proves he is. How many national championships does Michigan have in bball? Right

nyu2019maybeplease wrote:Past GOATness does not guarantee future results. Losing in the second round ain't GOAT, and that's what Duke did last year.

Duke might have more tiddlywinks championships than we do as well (although probably not). That doesn't mean they've got better athletics.

Also, delusional?
https://[link redacted]/images/EIWr5X

grades?? wrote:

nyu2019maybeplease wrote:Not that this matters at all but suggesting Duke over Michigan for sports is outrageous. Michigan made it further in the tournament AND has a top 10 football program. Duke has Coach K, who's one busted screen away from sending Grayson Allan to murder his teammates in their sleep. We have Harbaugh, who drinks milk at steakhouses when he's not too busy calling out trump for trying to defund PI.

These are both defensible choices, to be sure, but if for some silly reason youre comparing athletic programs, come to the Big House.

ETA: Hail.

grades?? wrote:

ambrajdurbra131313 wrote:At those price differentials, it should be between Duke and Mich. Personally, I would choose Duke here because of their great biglaw/fed clerk percentage, reputation in LA is very good (Mich is good too), and basketball.

This. There is a non-negligible difference in biglaw+fed clerk numbers between Mich and Duke. Plus Duke was basketball and MUCH better weather. But both are defensible options

LOL if you are delusional enough to think Michigan has better athletics. Maybe football, but LOL for even thinking Coach K isn't the GOAT. The evidence proves he is. How many national championships does Michigan have in bball? Right

Yeah, the only college coach you can mention in the same breath as Coach K is John Wooden. You can miss me with the losing in the second round stuff when Duke just won a national title and was super injured all year. Classic Duke hating...

Don't let yourself get too tripped up by it

ambrajdurbra131313 wrote:

nyu2019maybeplease wrote:Past GOATness does not guarantee future results. Losing in the second round ain't GOAT, and that's what Duke did last year.

Duke might have more tiddlywinks championships than we do as well (although probably not). That doesn't mean they've got better athletics.

Also, delusional?
https://[link redacted]/images/EIWr5X

grades?? wrote:

nyu2019maybeplease wrote:Not that this matters at all but suggesting Duke over Michigan for sports is outrageous. Michigan made it further in the tournament AND has a top 10 football program. Duke has Coach K, who's one busted screen away from sending Grayson Allan to murder his teammates in their sleep. We have Harbaugh, who drinks milk at steakhouses when he's not too busy calling out trump for trying to defund PI.

These are both defensible choices, to be sure, but if for some silly reason youre comparing athletic programs, come to the Big House.

ETA: Hail.

grades?? wrote:

ambrajdurbra131313 wrote:At those price differentials, it should be between Duke and Mich. Personally, I would choose Duke here because of their great biglaw/fed clerk percentage, reputation in LA is very good (Mich is good too), and basketball.

This. There is a non-negligible difference in biglaw+fed clerk numbers between Mich and Duke. Plus Duke was basketball and MUCH better weather. But both are defensible options

LOL if you are delusional enough to think Michigan has better athletics. Maybe football, but LOL for even thinking Coach K isn't the GOAT. The evidence proves he is. How many national championships does Michigan have in bball? Right

Yeah, the only college coach you can mention in the same breath as Coach K is John Wooden. You can miss me with the losing in the second round stuff when Duke just won a national title and was super injured all year. Classic Duke hating...