Vanderbilt ($$) vs GW ($$$) PI in DC Forum

[bciara96]

I've posted a couple of times on here and received some great feedback but I'm still really torn and deadlines are approaching. I would greatly appreciate any feedback/advice.

Main Questions:
1. Does ranking matter for what I want to do or is it better to minimize debt?
2. Is it worth it to move away from where I want to practice just to move back in three years?
3. Do summers really have to be this inconvenient/expensive or am I missing something?

I currently live in the DC area and I would like to practice in this area. I'm interested in Public Interest, specifically criminal law, although I'm undecided on the specifics within that. I've had a general preference towards defense but I'm open to prosecution as well. Career ideas include PD/prosecutor office to eventual private defense firm or perhaps federal public defense or a federal prosecutor. I'm not sure what the recommended path is for the latter two and I'm having a hard time finding general career path information so insight on that is welcome as well. I'd also be interested in a clerkship but that's not a deal breaker.

I'm currently deciding between Vanderbilt and GW. Vanderbilt is offering $35k/year which puts COA at ~$155k over three years. GW is offering $50k/year which puts COA at ~$130k over three years (factoring in tuition, transportation, and living expenses). I've also put in a request for scholarship reconsideration at GW.

I know Vanderbilt is the better school. My concern is centered around moving away from DC just to move back to DC. I'm trying to figure out if it's worth it to go to Vanderbilt when I'm not interested in Big Law and GW is already located where I want to practice.

I'm also concerned about trying to work summers in DC if I attend Vanderbilt. I'd have to either A) Pay double rent over the summer or B) Get 9 mo lease in Nashville, summer lease in DC and pay to move all my stuff back and forth every summer. This seems pretty expensive and/or inconvenient.

Thank you so much for any help you can provide! I've never been to Nashville so I've planned a trip to explore the area. Coronavirus has shut down law school specific events but I think it's still important to check it out.

[cavalier1138]

GW.

To answer your main questions:
1. It's better to minimize debt. Ranking matters somewhat, but not between these two schools.

2. Not in this case.

3. You aren't missing anything.

[Anon-non-anon]

GW. You should know federal defender / prosecutor positions are not easy to get and (at least prosecutors) are quite prestige driven. That said, being in DC all year and summer makes networking / internships easier at GW and the large US Attorneys Office (they also are the equivalent of a DA office) in DC gives you a better shot than other places. Plus you could always go elsewhere in surrounding DMV area where GW is well recognized. I think this is fairly easy choice, especially since you already live in DC.

[BansheeScream]

I agree with all of the the above that GW is probably the right call here but I think it’s worth keeping in mind how difficult a lot of the positions you mentioned in the DC area are very hard to get.

The USAOs for DC, EDVa, and DMd are all very competitive. Furthermore, DC’s Public Defender Service is one of the best PD offices in the nation and FPD generally only hires experienced attorneys so you’d need a starting ground. That’s not to mention that most of those opportunities will heavily emphasize a federal clerkship and clerkships in those districts are also extremely competitive.

There are certainly GW grads at those USAO, DOJ Main, and DC (or at least surrounding areas) PDS, but it’s not guaranteed. If you actually want a solid shot at these jobs I would strongly recommend retaking and reapplying aiming for a t13 or consider working in similar roles in other areas that you may have ties to.

[bciara96]

There are certainly GW grads at those USAO, DOJ Main, and DC (or at least surrounding areas) PDS, but it’s not guaranteed. If you actually want a solid shot at these jobs I would strongly recommend retaking and reapplying aiming for a t13 or consider working in similar roles in other areas that you may have ties to.

I've been accepted to a T13 but I've mostly ruled it out because I can't wrap my head around the amount of debt I'd incur. All the schools also just released their 20-21 tuition numbers and I didn't expect them to go up that much so I'll have to take out more than I originally planned.

What do you mean by working in similar roles in other areas that I may have ties to? Just picking a different location?

Thanks for your insight!