Top Law Schools

Fordham is clearly the third best law school in NYC and its reputation is surely higher than its 34 ranking. But how does it compare to the Wash U/GW/BU/Emory range? Is it viewed generally similarly if I want to practice in either NY or DC or is there a big difference?

username99 wrote:Fordham is clearly the third best law school in NYC and its reputation is surely higher than its 34 ranking. But how does it compare to the Wash U/GW/BU/Emory range? Is it viewed generally similarly if I want to practice in either NY or DC or is there a big difference?

Fordham is better for NYC, GW will place in DC (though not what I would consider "well"), the others aren't going to reach (maybe BU).

alexonfyre wrote:

username99 wrote:Fordham is clearly the third best law school in NYC and its reputation is surely higher than its 34 ranking. But how does it compare to the Wash U/GW/BU/Emory range? Is it viewed generally similarly if I want to practice in either NY or DC or is there a big difference?

Fordham is better for NYC, GW will place in DC (though not what I would consider "well"), the others aren't going to reach (maybe BU).

What do you mean by well? I work at a top dc firm and there are a lot of gw lawyers here.

username99 wrote:Fordham is clearly the third best law school in NYC and its reputation is surely higher than its 34 ranking. But how does it compare to the Wash U/GW/BU/Emory range? Is it viewed generally similarly if I want to practice in either NY or DC or is there a big difference?

Fordham for NYC, GW for DC. //Discussion.

CG614 wrote:

username99 wrote:Fordham is clearly the third best law school in NYC and its reputation is surely higher than its 34 ranking. But how does it compare to the Wash U/GW/BU/Emory range? Is it viewed generally similarly if I want to practice in either NY or DC or is there a big difference?

Fordham for NYC, GW for DC. //Discussion.

Okay, so for NY Fordham would place better than the GW/BU/Wash U range despite the ranking difference?

username99 wrote:

alexonfyre wrote:

username99 wrote:Fordham is clearly the third best law school in NYC and its reputation is surely higher than its 34 ranking. But how does it compare to the Wash U/GW/BU/Emory range? Is it viewed generally similarly if I want to practice in either NY or DC or is there a big difference?

Fordham is better for NYC, GW will place in DC (though not what I would consider "well"), the others aren't going to reach (maybe BU).

What do you mean by well? I work at a top dc firm and there are a lot of gw lawyers here.

If you want to work in DC then GW > Fordham.

Bildungsroman wrote:

username99 wrote:

alexonfyre wrote:

username99 wrote:Fordham is clearly the third best law school in NYC and its reputation is surely higher than its 34 ranking. But how does it compare to the Wash U/GW/BU/Emory range? Is it viewed generally similarly if I want to practice in either NY or DC or is there a big difference?

Fordham is better for NYC, GW will place in DC (though not what I would consider "well"), the others aren't going to reach (maybe BU).

What do you mean by well? I work at a top dc firm and there are a lot of gw lawyers here.

If you want to work in DC then GW > Fordham.

Thanks much! Hey, if I slip Harvard a fiver, will they let me in? (no need to answer)

username99 wrote:

alexonfyre wrote:

username99 wrote:Fordham is clearly the third best law school in NYC and its reputation is surely higher than its 34 ranking. But how does it compare to the Wash U/GW/BU/Emory range? Is it viewed generally similarly if I want to practice in either NY or DC or is there a big difference?

Fordham is better for NYC, GW will place in DC (though not what I would consider "well"), the others aren't going to reach (maybe BU).

What do you mean by well? I work at a top dc firm and there are a lot of gw lawyers here.

Placing "well" to me (and this is a very subjective term, I think), means that you have a good chance at getting work from the median, like UGA in Georgia or LSU in Louisiana.

I wouldn't be surprised if median at Georgia has a good shot at work (though what type?). But LSU? As beloved as the school is in the state, do its law grads have a great deal of success? Also, to address the question the OP posed, Fordham for New York, GW for DC. G'luck.

Thanks very much to all who responded!

I think Fordham is a mis-ranked school by USNEWS. I would place it on the same tier as BU and GW.

That said, it's placement is mostly in NYC- so don't go if you don't want to practice there.

pocket herc wrote:I wouldn't be surprised if median at Georgia has a good shot at work (though what type?). But LSU? As beloved as the school is in the state, do its law grads have a great deal of success? Also, to address the question the OP posed, Fordham for New York, GW for DC. G'luck.

To be honest, aside from New Orleans, the legal community in Louisiana is pretty tightly knit. If you are at LSU you will meet the network, if they like you, you are golden, if not...sucks to be you. There is also a large contingent of lawyers around here that hang shingle doing PI for the small towns and neighborhoods they come from, so the competition for the firm jobs isn't really intense, aside from out-of-state gunners of which there are very, very few (from what I understand.)