UC Hastings VS UC Davis Forum

[tabletop]

They're both good schools. Davis is a great town, and Hastings is in an awful part of SF. That said, I think Hastings has quite a bit more prestige at least as far as older attorney's (read: the ones that are likely doing a lot of the hiring at firms) go. Hastings is a lot more competitive, which works for some people and not for others.

Bottom line, I think Hastings might give you a slight edge in the jobs department. But its close enough where its worth visiting and seeing which one is a better personality fit for you.

[Rotor]

They're both good schools. Davis is a great town, and Hastings is in an awful part of SF. That said, I think Hastings has quite a bit more prestige at least as far as older attorney's (read: the ones that are likely doing a lot of the hiring at firms) go. Hastings is a lot more competitive, which works for some people and not for others.

Bottom line, I think Hastings might give you a slight edge in the jobs department. But its close enough where its worth visiting and seeing which one is a better personality fit for you.

Davis is a hick town and the area around Hastings isn't nearly bad enough to consider not going there. Truth is they're both good schools. Just depends whether you want an urban experience (Hastings) or not. That said, Hastings seems to have a better rep in CA. Both are fairly regional, but in that region Davis is known as the AG school then the vet school then the law school. Hastings is law or law. It just suffers a bit from not having an undergrad rep to sustain through the LS.

Biographical edit. I grew up in NoCal and until I started researching LS, I didn't know Davis had a law school. McGeorge was better known than Davis.

[Action Jackson]

Hastings is solidly ranked higher than Davis, too. Hastings used to be in the top 25, wasn't it?

[ChrisCiolko]

I needed to bump this thread to get some more opinions.
I was just accepted at Hastings and am still waiting to hear from Davis, although I think my mind is already set on Hastings.

[20160810]

I personally prefer UCD and as such only applied there, but I am beginning to wish I'd applied at both since one key difference is this: UCH actually notifies applicants of their acceptances or rejections, whereas the folks at UCD evidently just cash your $75 check and head for Cabo.

[dlm2100]

Isn't San Fran like a 20 min train ride from Davis on Amtrak? It's not like you're stuck there all the time (just 96% of it).

[UandIaresplittsville]

It's like an hour and a half train ride.

I'm biased toward SF but I will say this: I believe hastings has experienced a dip but in a few years will probably be above 30 in the rankings. Well, in the low 30s at least. Unless you are focused on Sac I would pick Hastings. SF is a big market and Hastings students with good grades are getting the same jobs as lower T14 in SF.

[leron]

i'm going to say hastings due to rep and location. also... wtf is taking davis so long to get back to people? especially since i was supposed to be in at hastings and out at davis. seems like it's going to turn out the opposite.

[dolcevita11]

I live in SF and work in a firm where there are lawyers from both Davis and Hastings. They're all pretty intelligent, but Hastings seems to have a stronger reputation.

However, it is important to note that the quality of life at Hastings is much lower. People there seem to be really competitive, stressed out... I know a couple of people who are students, and they hate it. It is in the ghetto, where there are a ton of homeless people.

The lawyers who went to Davis seem to have loved their experiences in law school way more.

Just important to think about...

[ChrisCiolko]

I guess it really just depends what you're looking for. A TON of people mention the homeles situation around the Hastings campus, but really how big of a deal is that? I just don't see that as something that would have substantial effects on my day to day life. Unless you have to wreslte with them to make it to class. For me living in SF (or even Oakland) is a huge benefit over the quaint and charming but painfully small Davis. I definitely want to be living and eventually practicing in a bigger city. In terms of academic rep I'm feeling like Hastings has a smallish, but appreciable, edge. The worries anout ultra-competitiveness should subside with a revised grading curve, that allows for more As and Bs and less Cs, which will implemented this year.

[deadatheist]

I can def contribute to OP's inquiry, as I attended Davis for UG and have visited the LS numerous time, and I have spent months at hastings with an internship.

On the outside, the schools are very diff and appeal to diff people, Hastings feels much larger than Davis, in part bc the Hastings campus is spread out across an intersection/block in SF (including the tower), whereas Davis is in the tiniest law school building (I was really surprised by just how small it felt, and how teeny the law library was at Davis -felt like 6 levels of cramped basement. bad). No shocker or anything but the urban rural vibes are totally distinguishable for the LS environments.

Davis LS is fairly isolated from the UG campus (which is a fabulous UG campus layout central to the town, though I'm biased), but it seems so more than it really is (not like GULC is miles from the UG). Davis LS is walking distance through campus to downtown Davis, which has a small town feel but a quality selection of restaurants, bars, w.e. to chose from. I loved it. If you're over it go elsewhere to sac or SF or napa or tahoe... nothing's too far from Davis, really. When I've visited the law school, everyone seems to know everyone (the people I was with at least) so it felt close knit, and (surprisingly?) seemed to be a relatively eclectic group of 1, 2, 3Ls.

Hastings feels like a bigger school (idk if it even is, but I'd imagine). I def got that "Big Law" vibe at Hastings MUCH more so than Davis (maybe too I just noticed more preppy white guys at Hastings??), but I'd say in a lot of ways classes seemed the same and all people were equally social, friendly... not as tight knit as Davis, but different. Got a better feel for what a LS social life at Hastings is than I did at Davis (which I imagine is just a more mature version of the UG experience there). If you believe law students have social lives. But really, at Davis you will feel the UG presence, and there's no comparing that aspect to Hastings. Cow town, sure. Hick town, I'd say no. Davis has culture for its size, a pretty good looking student population, and is very liberal and well educated. You can come to love it if you have fun there, and partake in the small town festivities: like picnic day (maybe a bigger deal for UG that LS). Hastings is in a city, it has no distinct neighborhood of its own, vibe or social rep.

Hastings is a stone's throw from city hall, Davis is 15 minutes from the state capitol. If you care either way. But SF has waay more opportunities within a 5 minute radius with the FiDistrict, corps, nonprofits, and headquarters for all sorts of "real" movements (LGBT, health, environment thangs), etc than Davis. In that respect, for me, there's no comparing when it comes to considering nearby internship opportunities and job specs near your LS.

Davis has free public transportation, and it's a place many live without a car bc you can walk, bike, bus, w.e. to most places. I don't know a soul who would drive to Hastings, most BART bike or Metro from all over the city and bay area. Hastings is insanely close to BART at the Civic Center station... like you'd barely get wet walking to or fro on a rainy day close. (no that's an exaggeration!) I don't think Civic Cent Station is that bad either (lots going on around it some days), but it can be sketchy at times. or smelly.

Which leads me to safety. One of the biggest difference.
At Davis you feel safe, period. In all my UG experiences, I was always comfortable doing w.e. and going where.ever.when.ever. As a sexy sexy girl. jk. But seriously. Always.
Hastings is in the tenderloin, which if you're from SF you know is no desirable hot spot for many. Whether or not it is a safe place to be is subjective. During the day it's totally fine: at night, I think twice before meandering around and I've had some run ins with the crazies. Some Hastings students, esp the ladies I've known, don't really like coming and going to school there, let alone living there in the Tower (which is actually not bad and can have fabulous city views, if you're into that). But I've come to like the neighborhood and have this TOTALLY unsupported theory Gavin is trying to clean it up, like Giuliani did to Times Square. But that's just me.

Diff strokes for diff folks. I'll tell you what though, cost of living in davis triumphs trying to afford to be a student, get around, and have a life in SF.

Hope that helps

[CWF V]

Folks, wait it out for Davis. They might be lagging a bit, but I've had fantastic communication with their admissions office and office of fin aid. I get the feeling that they are there to help, an invaluable resource when you're scrambling to maximize aid money.

I'm pretty sure I'll be there in the Fall, unless a visit to Hastings blows me out of the water.

[DeseoQueSea]

too many cows in Davis for my liking. some people go for that kind of thing, though.

[deadatheist]

btw for what it's worth:

When I visited years ago, they used a lot of mobile home trailers for classrooms.

flame.

[CWF V]

Hastings is a stone's throw from city hall, Davis is 15 minutes from the state capitol. If you care either way. But SF has waay more opportunities within a 5 minute radius with the FiDistrict, nonprofits, and headquarters for all sorts of "real" movements (LGBT, health, environment thangs), etc than Davis. In that respect, for me, there's no comparing when it comes to considering nearby internship opportunities and job specs near your LS.

Great post. Quick question: do you think that there is a dearth of opportunity for public interest work in Sacramento? Though SF is strong, I would it and Sac on about the same level for PI opportunities.

[deadatheist]

^ IMHO, there's a palpable difference, at least for things I'd be interested in, though maybe not for you and your interests. I kinda dig Sacramento (don't hate it), but I feel like it doesn't have a TON of opportunity. And I've sought internship/job etc. opportunities in the Sac area throughout UG for these things, so I don't think it's too unfounded to say so.

[CWF V]

I feel like a cheerleader for Davis but there are some points here that are invalid:

Davis is a hick town...

Huh? Dude, it's a super liberal town with ag facilities on the outlying parts of the university.

Both are fairly regional, but in that region Davis is known as the AG school then the vet school then the law school. Hastings is law or law.

Hastings has no other program but law. This is a misleading example.

I grew up in NoCal and until I started researching LS, I didn't know Davis had a law school. McGeorge was better known than Davis.

You must not have known any lawyers, or for that matter, done anything remotely related to law. Davis has a strong reputation in Northern California. It is well known (by most) and well regarded.

[Rotor]

I feel like a cheerleader for Davis but there are some points here that are invalid:

Davis is a hick town...

Huh? Dude, it's a super liberal town with ag facilities on the outlying parts of the university.

Both are fairly regional, but in that region Davis is known as the AG school then the vet school then the law school. Hastings is law or law.

Hastings has no other program but law. This is a misleading example.

I grew up in NoCal and until I started researching LS, I didn't know Davis had a law school. McGeorge was better known than Davis.

You must not have known any lawyers, or for that matter, done anything remotely related to law. Davis has a strong reputation in Northern California. It is well known (by most) and well regarded.

Just because my opinion and my experiences differ from yours does not make my points invalid. I will agree that my qualification of Davis as a hick town may have been a bit strong; the "cow town" that deadatheist used above is probably more appropriate.

I do know lawyers very well, some even in the family. Fact is, UCD and law never came up in the same sentence. I knew more about McGeorge than Davis. Doesn't make McG a better law school, just saying what the buzz was in my circle of family & friends.

As for claiming that Davis being known more for its world-class ag and vet programs is a misleading example, I disagree. It *is* better known for its ag and vet programs. (The school mascot is the Aggies) That doesn't detract from the quality of its law school; just an assessment of what UCD is better known for. If I were interested in taking a slant on Wine Law or Animal Law, I would pick Davis in a heartbeat. Sure Hastings can only be known as a law school because that's all there is. But in my mind, that can detract from its public awareness because there is no UG alumni base, no strong UG academic program/NCAA sports team to help bolster the law school's name recognition and so forth. Do those things have anything to do with the quality of the law school? Absolutely not. But we all know examples of where popular opinion of a school is influenced by unrelated outside factors.

Finally, you chopped up my quotes so that you missed the most important part of my post that I included in the biographical edit: "before I started researching LS...". I know now that it is well regarded and just because I was surprised at that fact should not dissuade anyone who wants to go from attending; neither should the fact that I prefer a more urban setting than Davis.

[fluffy]

Hastings feels much larger than Davis, in part bc the Hastings campus is spread out across an intersection/block in SF (including the tower), whereas Davis is in the tiniest law school building (I was really surprised by just how small it felt, and how teeny the law library was at Davis -felt like 6 levels of cramped basement. bad).

They are currently constructing a new building next door. I didn't see when it was slated to open, but I would guess this Fall if not in the Spring. The drafts looked sweet-- new classrooms, a court yard. It looks like it will be larger than the present building, which, yes, needs updating. The classrooms and moot courtroom are very 60's, replete with "earthy" decor like wood paneling, orange, and lime green chairs. I'm sure the new building will be nice though. It seems like a warm place, though, whereas Hastings students were quick to tell me to go somewhere with a less competitive enviro.

[CWF V]

Finally, you chopped up my quotes so that you missed the most important part of my post that I included in the biographical edit...

True dat. My bad.

[crib]

I would pick Hastings by far. A lot more prestige in the legal world, much better placement in both firms and judiciary. Hastings probably loses out on the rankings because it is just a law school and not a university. If you are looking at San Francisco jobs (and not Sacramento) top of Hastings competes well with even Stanford and Berkeley. UC Davis is a good overall school though.

[herewego]

As an FYI, Davis has stopped construction on the new building.
http://www.law.ucdavis.edu/news/news.aspx?id=1940

[bizzlemywizzle]

UC Davis is a good overall school though.

No, no it's not.

Hastings.

[20160810]

UC Davis is a good overall school though.

No, no it's not.

Hastings.

Well argued!

I know a large number of people who go to both UCD and UCH, as well as people who practice law in the Bay Area. Every single one of them has told me that the schools are regarded almost identically and to go to the one where you'd have the best time.

[CWF V]

^ what he said