Page 1 of 1

Waitlisted @ Dedman- what to do

Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2017 6:01 pm
by hurticulture
Just got my waitlist notification from SMU. My other two options are Houston and Lewis and Clark, which both have a seat deposit deadline of 4/15. Is it worth getting on the waitlist? Is it worth getting a deadline extension? Is life worth living anymore? Help me.

Re: Waitlisted @ Dedman- what to do

Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2017 6:44 pm
by cavalier1138
Well, do you want to work for a small firm/local government in Texas or a small firm/local government in the Pacific Northwest?

Re: Waitlisted @ Dedman- what to do

Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2017 6:58 pm
by hurticulture
cavalier1138 wrote:Well, do you want to work for a small firm/local government in Texas or a small firm/local government in the Pacific Northwest?
Yes. I'm not interested in big law.

Re: Waitlisted @ Dedman- what to do

Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2017 6:59 pm
by cavalier1138
hurticulture wrote:
cavalier1138 wrote:Well, do you want to work for a small firm/local government in Texas or a small firm/local government in the Pacific Northwest?
Yes. I'm not interested in big law.
That was an either/or question, not a litmus test. Where do you want to work? And while we're at it, what's the COA at each school?

Re: Waitlisted @ Dedman- what to do

Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2017 7:01 pm
by Thomas Hagan, ESQ.
hurticulture wrote:
cavalier1138 wrote:Well, do you want to work for a small firm/local government in Texas or a small firm/local government in the Pacific Northwest?
Yes. I'm not interested in big law.
LOL you thought it was a yes or no question

Re: Waitlisted @ Dedman- what to do

Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2017 7:12 pm
by hurticulture
cavalier1138 wrote:
hurticulture wrote:
cavalier1138 wrote:Well, do you want to work for a small firm/local government in Texas or a small firm/local government in the Pacific Northwest?
Yes. I'm not interested in big law.
That was an either/or question, not a litmus test. Where do you want to work? And while we're at it, what's the COA at each school?
I understood your intent with the question; I guess the tone of my response didn't translate. I'm open to either. I've lived in TX my whole life. Wouldn't mind staying, wouldn't mind leaving.

I got scholarships from both. Barring rate hikes, COA AT LC would be 15k/y, UH would be 23k/y. I imagine if SMU accepts me, it would be sticker.

Re: Waitlisted @ Dedman- what to do

Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2017 7:30 pm
by Rigo
So you have almost full rides at L&C and Houston? Or is that how much you are paying in TUITION a year?

Do you live in Houston? Would you be able to live at home and save on living expenses?

Re: Waitlisted @ Dedman- what to do

Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2017 7:42 pm
by ponderingmeerkat
Raised in the PNW. Have a handful of friends practicing law there.

Even though you'd only be paying 45K + COA, I struggle to recommend Lewis and Clark given your situation. The PNW legal scene is small and incestuous as shit. Not saying ties are the be all and end all of the hiring situation back home, but I've heard repeated "which high school you graduate from matters as much if not more than which law school." Just know that's the environment you're trying to crack. Not good.

Now, I'm not saying getting a low-level, low-velocity legal job couldn't be done from Lewis and Clark, but you'd always be an outsider, that "guy from Texas", and perceived as a possible (probable??) flight risk. This is exacerbated by your never ever ever having lived there. If you'd bounced back and forth while growing up and had some distant family in the area...ok. But, no ties at all?? Dude... :D

So, as I see it, it really comes down to UH for you. Problem here is your COA for UH is too damn high. Well over 100K. Yikes.

So, I'm going to just go ahead and say you have zero good/defensible options here. Just the honest truth partner. (That's what you say in TX right?) I'd retake and reapply next year. Try again to get an LSAT that'll bring you $$$$ at SMU/UH (if you want to work in Dallas/Houston respectively) or $$ from UT if you want state-wide portability.

Re: Waitlisted @ Dedman- what to do

Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2017 8:01 pm
by guynourmin
Thomas Hagan, ESQ. wrote:
hurticulture wrote:
cavalier1138 wrote:Well, do you want to work for a small firm/local government in Texas or a small firm/local government in the Pacific Northwest?
Yes. I'm not interested in big law.
LOL you thought it was a yes or no question
cmon, that response is totally valid. I appreciate it, at least. lol

Re: Waitlisted @ Dedman- what to do

Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2017 8:53 pm
by Thomas Hagan, ESQ.
guybourdin wrote:
Thomas Hagan, ESQ. wrote:
hurticulture wrote:
cavalier1138 wrote:Well, do you want to work for a small firm/local government in Texas or a small firm/local government in the Pacific Northwest?
Yes. I'm not interested in big law.
LOL you thought it was a yes or no question
cmon, that response is totally valid. I appreciate it, at least. lol
Upon review, I guess you're right. I think I've just about internalized the "pick a school where you want to practice law" mantra so the correct answer seemed obvious lol

Re: Waitlisted @ Dedman- what to do

Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2017 8:56 pm
by hurticulture
Rigo wrote:So you have almost full rides at L&C and Houston? Or is that how much you are paying in TUITION a year?

Do you live in Houston? Would you be able to live at home and save on living expenses?
I have 28k/y scholarship from LC, and 9k/y scholarship off in state tuition from UH. I am married, so my husband/sugardaddy is taking care of other expenses. I don't live in Houston currently so no matter what, I'm moving.

Re: Waitlisted @ Dedman- what to do

Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2017 8:57 pm
by hurticulture
Thomas Hagan, ESQ. wrote:
guybourdin wrote:
Thomas Hagan, ESQ. wrote:
hurticulture wrote:
cavalier1138 wrote:Well, do you want to work for a small firm/local government in Texas or a small firm/local government in the Pacific Northwest?
Yes. I'm not interested in big law.
LOL you thought it was a yes or no question
cmon, that response is totally valid. I appreciate it, at least. lol
Upon review, I guess you're right. I think I've just about internalized the "pick a school where you want to practice law" mantra so the correct answer seemed obvious lol
If you know the correct answer, let me know! Haha.

Re: Waitlisted @ Dedman- what to do

Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2017 9:01 pm
by zot1
hurticulture wrote:
Rigo wrote:So you have almost full rides at L&C and Houston? Or is that how much you are paying in TUITION a year?

Do you live in Houston? Would you be able to live at home and save on living expenses?
I have 28k/y scholarship from LC, and 9k/y scholarship off in state tuition from UH. I am married, so my husband/sugardaddy is taking care of other expenses. I don't live in Houston currently so no matter what, I'm moving.
Is he gonna be able to move with you? Does either state help/affect his employment?

Why would anyone want to be in Houston?

FWIW I have heard the same things about L&C being tight knit.

Re: Waitlisted @ Dedman- what to do

Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2017 9:03 pm
by Thomas Hagan, ESQ.
hurticulture wrote:
Thomas Hagan, ESQ. wrote:
guybourdin wrote:
Thomas Hagan, ESQ. wrote:
hurticulture wrote:
cavalier1138 wrote:Well, do you want to work for a small firm/local government in Texas or a small firm/local government in the Pacific Northwest?
Yes. I'm not interested in big law.
LOL you thought it was a yes or no question
cmon, that response is totally valid. I appreciate it, at least. lol
Upon review, I guess you're right. I think I've just about internalized the "pick a school where you want to practice law" mantra so the correct answer seemed obvious lol
If you know the correct answer, let me know! Haha.
I wish haha i meant correct answer as in either "small firm/local govt in Texas" or "small firm/local govt in the Northwest." Not Yes or no hahah

Re: Waitlisted @ Dedman- what to do

Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2017 9:06 pm
by hurticulture
zot1 wrote:
hurticulture wrote:
Rigo wrote:So you have almost full rides at L&C and Houston? Or is that how much you are paying in TUITION a year?

Do you live in Houston? Would you be able to live at home and save on living expenses?
I have 28k/y scholarship from LC, and 9k/y scholarship off in state tuition from UH. I am married, so my husband/sugardaddy is taking care of other expenses. I don't live in Houston currently so no matter what, I'm moving.
Is he gonna be able to move with you? Does either state help/affect his employment?

Why would anyone want to be in Houston?

FWIW I have heard the same things about L&C being tight knit.
He can and will move with me. He's slightly more employable in Texas because of professional registration, but only slightly.

Houston is not our fave place. We visited LC and LOVED Portland. Are you saying L&C is tight knit, or the PNW employment market?

Re: Waitlisted @ Dedman- what to do

Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2017 9:08 pm
by zot1
hurticulture wrote:
zot1 wrote:
hurticulture wrote:
Rigo wrote:So you have almost full rides at L&C and Houston? Or is that how much you are paying in TUITION a year?

Do you live in Houston? Would you be able to live at home and save on living expenses?
I have 28k/y scholarship from LC, and 9k/y scholarship off in state tuition from UH. I am married, so my husband/sugardaddy is taking care of other expenses. I don't live in Houston currently so no matter what, I'm moving.
Is he gonna be able to move with you? Does either state help/affect his employment?

Why would anyone want to be in Houston?

FWIW I have heard the same things about L&C being tight knit.
He can and will move with me. He's slightly more employable in Texas because of professional registration, but only slightly.

Houston is not our fave place. We visited LC and LOVED Portland. Are you saying L&C is tight knit, or the PNW employment market?
Sorry, employment market.

Re: Waitlisted @ Dedman- what to do

Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2017 9:12 pm
by Rigo
I'd just go with your ties and pick Houston over L&C. Houston and Texas in general is just a much bigger market.
Try to negotiate more money out of Houston though.

Re: Waitlisted @ Dedman- what to do

Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2017 9:17 pm
by cron1834
These are pretty bad options for someone with no connection whatsoever to PNW. It's a small and very competitive market. I think the insularity is exaggerated a little, but the competitiveness is not. Lots of people like it there, and you're at the back of the line if you've lived your entire life in Texas.

At the same time, that's too much money to pay at UH, unless your partner makes like huge dollars (in which case, whatever, just do what you want).

So, get better options. Retake or reapply or something.

Re: Waitlisted @ Dedman- what to do

Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2017 9:21 pm
by pancakes3
who's the guy who was a gunner 0L but now is a suicidal 2L at SMU?

Re: Waitlisted @ Dedman- what to do

Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2017 9:24 pm
by zot1
pancakes3 wrote:who's the guy who was a gunner 0L but now is a suicidal 2L at SMU?
Link.

Re: Waitlisted @ Dedman- what to do

Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2017 11:59 am
by pancakes3
zot1 wrote:
pancakes3 wrote:who's the guy who was a gunner 0L but now is a suicidal 2L at SMU?
Link.
Suicidal is hyperbole but he def regrets it.
eagle2a wrote:Don't go to law school unless you're 100% sure practicing law is what you want to do for a considerable period of time. I'm already fucking regretting it
http://top-law-schools.com/forums/viewt ... 4&t=265125