Top Law Schools

Hi all,

I'm choosing between UCLA and Berkeley at this point.

COA
Berkeley: 210k
UCLA: 165k

LSAT: 168, GPA 3.4x

I want to go into international public interest work, and UCLA has the faculty and price, and Berkeley has the name. Berkeley might also have a better LRAP, if anyone knows more about this I'd love to know. I really like that UCLA has a CRS department as well that overlaps with the professors in international law.

Before you go into all the reasons my career won't work out, I've worked (not interned, not volunteered, worked) in sub-Saharan Africa, speak 4 languages including French, and have a network in ny field already. So I appreciate your concern but I know the risks/concerns/success factors.

Any thoughts? I feel like I change my mind every day.

zubizu100 wrote:Hi all,

I'm choosing between UCLA and Berkeley at this point.

COA
Berkeley: 210k
UCLA: 165k

LSAT: 168, GPA 3.4x

I want to go into international public interest work, and UCLA has the faculty and price, and Berkeley has the name. Berkeley might also have a better LRAP, if anyone knows more about this I'd love to know. I really like that UCLA has a CRS department as well that overlaps with the professors in international law.

Before you go into all the reasons my career won't work out, I've worked (not interned, not volunteered, worked) in sub-Saharan Africa, speak 4 languages including French, and have a network in ny field already. So I appreciate your concern but I know the risks/concerns/success factors.

Any thoughts? I feel like I change my mind every day.

berkeley

Berkeley, as long as you've actually considered your repayment plan under their LRAP (and the potential pitfalls of relying on PSLF, if their program does).

zubizu100 wrote:Hi all,

I'm choosing between UCLA and Berkeley at this point.

COA
Berkeley: 210k
UCLA: 165k

LSAT: 168, GPA 3.4x

I want to go into international public interest work, and UCLA has the faculty and price, and Berkeley has the name. Berkeley might also have a better LRAP, if anyone knows more about this I'd love to know. I really like that UCLA has a CRS department as well that overlaps with the professors in international law.

Before you go into all the reasons my career won't work out, I've worked (not interned, not volunteered, worked) in sub-Saharan Africa, speak 4 languages including French, and have a network in ny field already. So I appreciate your concern but I know the risks/concerns/success factors.

Any thoughts? I feel like I change my mind every day.

What was your major? I might be interested in the Berkeley grading system given your 3.4 undergrad, but I have no idea what public interest jobs value there.

LHS17 wrote: What was your major? I might be interested in the Berkeley grading system given your 3.4 undergrad, but I have no idea what public interest jobs value there.

Undergrad GPA has a very, very low correlation with law school GPA. That shouldn't even factor in to this decision.

Yeah, I think my ugpa won't really be reflective, as:

1. I was working part time, interning part time, and going to school full time
2. My school had grade deflation
3. It was 10 years ago

zubizu100 wrote:Yeah, I think my ugpa won't really be reflective, as:

1. I was working part time, interning part time, and going to school full time
2. My school had grade deflation
3. It was 10 years ago

I think my point was more that, regardless of the reasons for the GPA, I'd probably go for the Berkeley name and grading system over UCLA. To the extent your intended career path doesn't work out, you theoretically have a better cushion with national reach.

I'd go Berkeley. Really get to know the LRAP and talk to someone at the school if you don't get it though.

One potential concern might be debt relief for non-PLSF eligible jobs (international stuff). Talk to the schools and see if you would even qualify if you landed your dream job.

LHS17 wrote:

zubizu100 wrote:Yeah, I think my ugpa won't really be reflective, as:

1. I was working part time, interning part time, and going to school full time
2. My school had grade deflation
3. It was 10 years ago

I think my point was more that, regardless of the reasons for the GPA, I'd probably go for the Berkeley name and grading system over UCLA. To the extent your intended career path doesn't work out, you theoretically have a better cushion with national reach.

Yeah, that makes sense. I'm leaning more towards Berkeley right now. Thanks for the advice so far!

Berkeley LRAP is spelled it on the website but you definitely need to talk to them.
https://www.law.berkeley.edu/admissions ... e-program/

https://www.law.berkeley.edu/admissions ... 13-beyond/

They even have a PowerPoint:

https://www.law.berkeley.edu/wp-content ... slides.pdf

But still talk to them to really understand how the program will work in your expected career. You have to be a lawyer or substantially like a lawyer, at a 50(c)(3) or government,be on IBR and PSLF. After $65,000 gross income they reduce and you get nothing after $100,000. If married to someone who makes more than you they count your income as half.

You have to apply with 3.5 years of graduation.

Also, see what they do if PSLF goes away as mentioned.

I agree berkeley