USC (35K) v. Michigan (25K) - SoCal Biglaw Goals

[ramosluis525]

Hi there!

I need help deciding between USC with a 35K annual scholarship and Michigan with a 25K annual scholarship.

I'm presently working at a biglaw firm in Boston and am setting my sights towards a biglaw career in LA after graduation. I'm originally from LA and am hoping to return each summer to work. My heart is telling me USC, but it's difficult to turn down a great school like Michigan especially with the scholarship offers being so close. I understand Michigan places better virtually everywhere, but that the LA biglaw market is more niche and tends to recruit heavily from the local schools (ucla/usc/uci).

For what it's worth: I have a little to no interest in clerking; I have over 6 years of full-time legal work experience; I'm a fluent Spanish speaker and a first generation American (both parents from Mexico); and I'm also still in the running for the SEO Law Fellowship, I have my second interview with the director this weekend. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[laanngo]

Hi there!

I need help deciding between USC with a 35K annual scholarship and Michigan with a 25K annual scholarship.

I'm presently working at a biglaw firm in Boston and am setting my sights towards a biglaw career in LA after graduation. I'm originally from LA and am hoping to return each summer to work. My heart is telling me USC, but it's difficult to turn down a great school like Michigan especially with the scholarship offers being so close. I understand Michigan places better virtually everywhere, but that the LA biglaw market is more niche and tends to recruit heavily from the local schools (ucla/usc/uci).

For what it's worth: I have a little to no interest in clerking; I have over 6 years of full-time legal work experience; I'm a fluent Spanish speaker and a first generation American (both parents from Mexico); and I'm also still in the running for the SEO Law Fellowship, I have my second interview with the director this weekend. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

I don't think LA is an insular market where a portable T14 degree would have difficulty placing. Michigan gives you a much better job guarantee overall - USC might place better in LA, but much of that might be self-selection.

[crazywafflez]

The costs are too close. Mich is the clear choice here. You're from Los Angeles, headed back with a T14 degree, which you got with a decent scholly package. The costs of these degrees will be substantially the same since SoCal is so gosh darn expensive. You'll make it back to Los Angeles since you're from the area and you'll be coming back from Mich. Worst case scenario from Mich you do biglaw a few years in NYC and then lateral. Worst case from USC, you strike out and don't get biglaw. Take Mich here.

[CanadianWolf]

Based on your preference for USC & on your clear desire to practice law in Southern California, either school is a reasonable choice since the COA is lower at USC.

[cavalier1138]

Based on your preference for USC & on your clear desire to practice law in Southern California, either school is a reasonable choice since the COA is lower at USC.

Except they want to practice biglaw in Southern California, not just any kind of law. And with the OP's ties to LA, Michigan will easily get them back home. Michigan is easily worth an extra $30k for the difference in biglaw hiring rates.

[omar.comin]

Michigan is TCR. This is easy.