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I have been lurking around TLS for a while and many of you seem to have good thoughts on these “help me choose” threads. I am hoping you could give me your thoughts on my situation. Sorry for the length of this, but I wanted to put all the details out there.

I am an older student (30s) leaving a biglaw paralegal position and heading to law school this year. I’ve been accepted at several schools, but am currently stuck deciding between Tulane with $15k scholarship (3.0 academic year GPA requirement), American, Lewis and Clark, and Loyola LA (the latter three each at sticker). My situation is this: 1 -- I am undecided about whether I want biglaw, although I do not want to shut that door just yet, 2 -- I am interested in environmental law, although I am not wed to this concentration yet, 3 -- I would like to end up in SoCal after law school, but would be OK with DC, 4 -- would prefer to not graduate owing tons of money, and 5 – the firm I am leaving has a paralegal-to-attorney program which guarantees a 1L summer associate position if I am in the top half of my class at a law school at which the firm does OCI (of the above choices the firm only OCIs at AU).

My thinking is: eliminate L&C as it fits least well into my plans, leaving Tulane, LLS and AU. Living in SoCal sounds perfect, but I don’t really think I should walk away from possibly saving $45k at better-ranked Tulane, or a pretty much guaranteed 1L summer job if I were to go to better-ranked AU. Maybe I should for the long run?

What should I do? Should I try to negotiate $ at LLS or AU and run to whichever school offers it? Should I suck it up and pay sticker at AU because of an almost guaranteed 1L summer associate position? Should I be short-sighted and take the Tulane $ and deal with the job-market when I walk out a JD? Any other thoughts on my future?

You should definitely go to American. That 1L summer offer is amazing, and you shouldn't waste it. 1L summers lead to 2L summers which lead to jobs

+1 for American.

American, G! Try to leverage with that Tulane scholarship, and don't tell them about that summer internship deal!

You could also try getting in touch with people at Loyola LA and see what they have to say about their placement and support programs. I'm not from the West Coast so I don't know, but it seems like it's worth checking out since it sounds like that's your ideal place to live.

Dont go to AU. You're going to hate the weather and Im not too sure it's the right school for you. If you want to practice in SoCal I would recommend Loyola. Much better option for you.

Nola is the new SoCal. DUH. So don't worry about the placement issue.

Hating D.C. weather? HAHA! We get one bad winter every 15 years or so. Yeah its humid. So is the rest of temperate America.

Does a guaranteed summer 1L equate to great chances of a 2L SA at this firm? Do they pay a decent salary to their attornies? Those are two questions which should factor into your choice.

erniesto wrote:Nola is the new SoCal. DUH. So don't worry about the placement issue.

Hating D.C. weather? HAHA! We get one bad winter every 15 years or so. Yeah its humid. So is the rest of temperate America.

Does a guaranteed summer 1L equate to great chances of a 2L SA at this firm? Do they pay a decent salary to their attornies? Those are two questions which should factor into your choice.

Good questions. No, there is no guaranty of anything after my 1L summer, and Yes, they pay well (they pay market rate in NYC).