Underrated Law Schools Forum

[danidancer]

Fordham.

[fugitivejammer]

IIT

[thexfactor]

case... Case actually places pretty well as compared to peer schools.

[Patriot1208]

case... Case actually places pretty well as compared to peer schools.

Case is getting worse HTH.

[Spinozist21]

case... Case actually places pretty well as compared to peer schools.

Case is getting worse HTH.

It seems like it still places better than its peer 65-70 ranked schools.

[Patriot1208]

case... Case actually places pretty well as compared to peer schools.

Case is getting worse HTH.

It seems like it still places better than its peer 65-70 ranked schools.

This may be true, but considering it's losing ground in Ohio I would never attend there. The difference in admissions criteria between Case and Ohio State isn't that far off. And Ohio State will cost you half of what Case will and offer you better job opportunities.

[Spinozist21]

case... Case actually places pretty well as compared to peer schools.

Case is getting worse HTH.

It seems like it still places better than its peer 65-70 ranked schools.

This may be true, but considering it's losing ground in Ohio I would never attend there. The difference in admissions criteria between Case and Ohio State isn't that far off. And Ohio State will cost you half of what Case will and offer you better job opportunities.

But, for example, Case offers a joint degree in bioethics, while OSU does not...and their philosophy department (OSU that is) is overly analytic...which would mean I wouldn't want to do a joint degree with their philosophy department.

[General Tso]

But, for example, Case offers a joint degree in bioethics, while OSU does not...and their philosophy department (OSU that is) is overly analytic...which would mean I wouldn't want to do a joint degree with their philosophy department.

troll

[kalvano]

I'm going to troll a bit and say SMU. It's stuck at the bottom of the T50, but it does damn well in Dallas and in Texas.

[Veyron]

I'm going to troll a bit and say SMU. It's stuck at the bottom of the T50, but it does damn well in Dallas and in Texas.

Justice Miers FTW?

[kalvano]

I don't know about FTW. For the mention, maybe.

[EasternSeaboard]

BYU. LSAT scores and Biglaw placement are way better than all their "peers" in the USNWR rankings. Should be in the T25. LSAT and GPA-wise, it should be like 17th.

Yes! And their tuition is great even before financial aid!

[Ersatz Haderach]

BYU. LSAT scores and Biglaw placement are way better than all their "peers" in the USNWR rankings. Should be in the T25. LSAT and GPA-wise, it should be like 17th.

Yes! And their tuition is great even before financial aid!

I don't know about T20, but it's definitely underrated. Tuition is lower if you're LDS, also. Ridiculously low - around 10k a year. 20k if not. Utah isn't expensive, either.

Here's one I've heard from a number of DC people - George Mason. Has risen significantly in rankings. 20k in state tuition.

[DieAntwoord]

University of houston resident: $21,030, non-resident: $28,440
Boulder
Tulane
UVA

[eandy]

I think Howard is really underrated based on what I have heard. George Mason too but it is generally moving up, even if it went down last year, so it is hard to complain about that. With the educational quality ranking of 26, and the good job prospects in VA and DC I think it should probably rank around in the upper 20's as the Alumni network grows. I'm sure there are others too but these are the two I know of around my area.

By the way, I'm probably not applying to either one of these schools bust still think they are better than their rankings.

George Mason is stingy as hell with $$. Not as bad as American, but pretty bad.

[LurkerNoMore]

These threads have been played to death on this forum. Short answer: Any school which is reasonably priced and places reasonably well within its respective region.

This, basically. There is really no such thing as an underrated law school. There are too many graduates for the demand. Some schools are better deals than others, but that is a personal calculus that takes into account scholarship money and desired location, and can't be universalized.

[TT09]

SMU, UofH, GMU, BYU

[deakon10]

I think that schools that charge in-state tuition (even for out-of state people once they become 2L) that have a good regional reputation are underrated schools.

[Veyron]

I think that schools that charge in-state tuition (even for out-of state people once they become 2L) that have a good regional reputation are underrated schools.

Credited, as long as you want to work in the market. Still, if you can't get a full ride out of one of these schools it probably isn't worth it (and you probably didn't work hard enought [b, v, m excepted obvi]).

[tttlllsss]

These threads have been played to death on this forum. Short answer: Any school which is reasonably priced and places reasonably well within its respective region.

This, basically. There is really no such thing as an underrated law school. There are too many graduates for the demand. Some schools are better deals than others, but that is a personal calculus that takes into account scholarship money and desired location, and can't be universalized.

LOL "There is no such thing as an underrated law school"

Based on the quality of its program, BYU is an objectively underrated law school. Given its placement (7th in clerkships, 10th in low debt) and selectivity/medians (165, 3.73), it certainly deserves to be ranked higher than 42nd.

The reason why it's there at 42nd is for reasons outstanding the quality and placement of the program. Seriously, BYU places like a T30 school, at least, and the student body has numbers similar to those in most T30s.

[nealric]

Based on the quality of its program, BYU is an objectively underrated law school. Given its placement (7th in clerkships, 10th in low debt) and selectivity/medians (165, 3.73), it certainly deserves to be ranked higher than 42nd.

The reason why it's there at 42nd is for reasons outstanding the quality and placement of the program. Seriously, BYU places like a T30 school, at least, and the student body has numbers similar to those in most T30s.

The issue with BYU is that is serves a very specific niche. If you are not a member of the LDS church or are at least a religious conservative, the school is not for you. If you are a member of the church, the school would likely be on your radar regardless of what the rankings say.

[tttlllsss]

Based on the quality of its program, BYU is an objectively underrated law school. Given its placement (7th in clerkships, 10th in low debt) and selectivity/medians (165, 3.73), it certainly deserves to be ranked higher than 42nd.

The reason why it's there at 42nd is for reasons outstanding the quality and placement of the program. Seriously, BYU places like a T30 school, at least, and the student body has numbers similar to those in most T30s.

The issue with BYU is that is serves a very specific niche. If you are not a member of the LDS church or are at least a religious conservative, the school is not for you. If you are a member of the church, the school would likely be on your radar regardless of what the rankings say.

I agree, BYU probably shouldn't be ranked higher, given the purposes of the USNWR rankings. Nevertheless, if schools were ranked solely on the strength of their programs and placement, BYU would almost certainly be T30.

[Concept]

University of houston resident: $21,030, non-resident: $28,440
Boulder
Tulane
UVA

I agree, UofH is definitely underrated at that price

[TLSanders]

I think this is the wrong question. The answer varies depending on what you're looking to do, and where. Some regional schools may actually be better than a T10 for particular niche areas, and in some cases it just won't matter. The preparation one receives at different law schools can differ dramatically, as much in substance as in quality, and how much of a difference that makes (and whether it's a positive or negative) depends on your goals.