What should my target be? Forum

[CPAlawHopefu]

160 & 165 are vastly different. One puts you competitive at schools ranked 40-50, the other one puts you as a contender for T25 schools. Just 3 points more and you are competitive at T20, and at 170 you should even gain admission to some T14.

Don't worry too much about GPA. 3.59 isn't even bad and it can easily be offset with high LSAT scores.

[A. Nony Mouse]

Specialty rankings are evaluations of faculty scholarship, not how well the school places students in that field.

I do actually think that employers focused on environmental stuff are somewhat aware of which schools are ranked highly in environmental work, in that I think a somewhat disproportionate percentage of L&C or Vermont students who get jobs are employed in environmental law. But when a school has poor overall employment numbers, that specialty isn't going to get you a job - I would suspect the fact of the matter is that you get a lot of self-selection, in that people who are interested in environmental law and *have relevant experience in that field* may choose the "environmental" schools, and get their jobs more because of their experience/what they do during school, not their school name. Someone at a top school without the environmental ranking, who has relevant interest/experience is going to be just as employable in environmental stuff - and also much more employable in any other field.

If you're determined to rush off to law school soon you're not going to get enough additional work experience in something law related to really tip the scales. And you can't go back and do the internships etc that others did in undergrad, so there's no point worrying about that.

[jrass]

Specialty rankings are evaluations of faculty scholarship, not how well the school places students in that field.

I do actually think that employers focused on environmental stuff are somewhat aware of which schools are ranked highly in environmental work, in that I think a somewhat disproportionate percentage of L&C or Vermont students who get jobs are employed in environmental law. But when a school has poor overall employment numbers, that specialty isn't going to get you a job - I would suspect the fact of the matter is that you get a lot of self-selection, in that people who are interested in environmental law and *have relevant experience in that field* may choose the "environmental" schools, and get their jobs more because of their experience/what they do during school, not their school name. Someone at a top school without the environmental ranking, who has relevant interest/experience is going to be just as employable in environmental stuff - and also much more employable in any other field.

If you're determined to rush off to law school soon you're not going to get enough additional work experience in something law related to really tip the scales. And you can't go back and do the internships etc that others did in undergrad, so there's no point worrying about that.

To the extent OP's follow up question was directed to me, I'd sign off on this entire post, and in particular the portion about self selection.

[lark17]

160 & 165 are vastly different. One puts you competitive at schools ranked 40-50, the other one puts you as a contender for T25 schools. Just 3 points more and you are competitive at T20, and at 170 you should even gain admission to some T14.

Don't worry too much about GPA. 3.59 isn't even bad and it can easily be offset with high LSAT scores.

Thanks for the reply. This was helpful. Just need to get there on the June LSAT.

[lark17]

Specialty rankings are evaluations of faculty scholarship, not how well the school places students in that field.

I do actually think that employers focused on environmental stuff are somewhat aware of which schools are ranked highly in environmental work, in that I think a somewhat disproportionate percentage of L&C or Vermont students who get jobs are employed in environmental law. But when a school has poor overall employment numbers, that specialty isn't going to get you a job - I would suspect the fact of the matter is that you get a lot of self-selection, in that people who are interested in environmental law and *have relevant experience in that field* may choose the "environmental" schools, and get their jobs more because of their experience/what they do during school, not their school name. Someone at a top school without the environmental ranking, who has relevant interest/experience is going to be just as employable in environmental stuff - and also much more employable in any other field.

If you're determined to rush off to law school soon you're not going to get enough additional work experience in something law related to really tip the scales. And you can't go back and do the internships etc that others did in undergrad, so there's no point worrying about that.

If I did an internships on top of my job this summer and fall before applying, you do not think that would help my apps enough to be worth it? It would be tough doing 50-60 hours a week but I've done it before back when I was making less.

[lymenheimer]

If I did an internships on top of my job this summer and fall before applying, you do not think that would help my apps enough to be worth it? It would be tough doing 50-60 hours a week but I've done it before back when I was making less.

Scoring high on the lsat will outweigh anything a 10-15 hr/wk internship can provide as far as admissions goes.

[lark17]

If I did an internships on top of my job this summer and fall before applying, you do not think that would help my apps enough to be worth it? It would be tough doing 50-60 hours a week but I've done it before back when I was making less.

Scoring high on the lsat will outweigh anything a 10-15 hr/wk internship can provide as far as admissions goes.

Good to know. I'd rather use that time to study anyway.

[jrass]

If I did an internships on top of my job this summer and fall before applying, you do not think that would help my apps enough to be worth it? It would be tough doing 50-60 hours a week but I've done it before back when I was making less.

Scoring high on the lsat will outweigh anything a 10-15 hr/wk internship can provide as far as admissions goes.

Good to know. I'd rather use that time to study anyway.

I'd also suggest getting a part time job. It's not so useful for admissions or even for the money which will probably suck, but you'll learn more about yourself and the world than you would interning, and this could provide intangible growth that will help you later.

[lymenheimer]

I'd also suggest getting a part time job. It's not so useful for admissions or even for the money which will probably suck, but you'll learn more about yourself and the world than you would interning, and this could provide intangible growth that will help you later.

OP has a FT job...