please help me decide: money/family vs. rankings Forum

[Pegopah]

Right now my inclination is energy law, DA's office or working on immigration/human rights issues.

W&M - Full-sticker price (non-resident) to go.

Fordham - PT program, so I'd be able to keep my job

Vermont - JD/MELP, 15k/yr - maintain a 2.5

Buffalo - Scholarship bringing it to 10k a year, no requirements.

UNLV - Full-tuition scholarship as long as I stay in top 33% of class. In-laws live there.

Edit: trimmed for brevity's sake

[Sauer Grapes]

....

[FunkyJD]

Right now my inclination is energy law, DA's office or working on immigration/human rights issues.

W&M - Full-sticker price (non-resident) to go.

Fordham - PT program, so I'd be able to keep my job

Vermont - JD/MELP, 15k/yr - maintain a 2.5

Buffalo - Scholarship bringing it to 10k a year, no requirements.

UNLV - Full-tuition scholarship as long as I stay in top 33% of class. In-laws live there.

Edit: trimmed for brevity's sake

My vote: Fordham

I'll let others talk more what's good for immigration law, and for working with a DA's office. As for energy law, of the choices given, the right answer is Fordham.

Energy law = corporate law + litigation + a few energy/environment electives to expose you to legal issues specifically pertaining to the energy industry.

NYC's pretty good for corporate law, and is probably a fairly good place to learn about litigation.

Studying corporate law in NYC > studying corp law in Williamsburg, Virginia.

Vermont has an exceptional rep for enviro law, and I see that they have some interesting energy law courses. But once you graduate, where will you work?

Markets of note for energy law (for traditional and for renewables/alternative energy) in no strict order would seem to include Houston, New York City, DC, Dallas, Oklahoma City, New Orleans, Chicago, San Francisco/Bay Area, Denver, Phoenix, Minneapolis, possibly even Seattle/Portland and SLC. (Someone correct me/amend as needed if that's not so, but I believe this is a good list.) I don't know if Vermont places very well in any of those markets -- regardless, it surely wouldn't be as good an option for you as Fordham would be in NYC, by comparison.

Ditto for Buffalo and UNLV. (Maybe UNLV places in Phoenix due to proximity, but I'm not sure/my instinct says don't bet on it. ASU and Arizona Law kids probably own the Phoenix market.)

Plus I wouldn't accept a scholly with a top 1/3 condition. Too risky. Assume that you'll place at median, for purposes of considering money.