Columbia Law School 2012! Forum

[frank_the_tank]

new question- biglaw vs. pi

why do so few people choose to pursue public interest after graduation (something like less than 6% of graduating class according to the most recent data on the CLS website)?

esp. if ppl have a ton of loans, the LRAP seems like a great deal. even accounting for self-selection (preference for biglaw), it seems like a puzzle why more ppl don't take advantage of it?

are pi jobs hard to get or undesirable?

additionally, is it difficult to transition from pi first then to biglaw?

I'm not sure if you meant Columbia in particular when you posed this question...but I just wanted to show some stats I found from a quick search of other LS websites.

Harvard 5%
chicago 2-3%
NYU 8%
Penn 2.76%
Berk 10%
(it's not just the top schools)
Univ. of Kansas 2.7%
Hofstra 4%

Everyone always says, "Columbia is SOoo Corporate!" Doesn't really seem to be true. These aren't super huge disparities.

[Skadden Stairs]

1) IDK... I've thought about doing government work post-grad, but never as a lifestyle choice. I think a lot of people like the idea of doing PI work for a few years fresh out of law school (while still young enough not to care about being poor).

2) I have no idea.

3) This would be taken care of by the raise adjustments at years 4 and 7, no?

1) I'm also thinking about doing gov't work for a few years before heading to a firm, but 0L consensus is that moving from PI to firm work is difficult, especially after just a few years (
http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... =2&t=71480).

2) I think the net asset requirement is one of the most scary aspects of NYU's program.

3) It depends on the size of the adjustments. Personally, I'd rather not ever worry about making too much money.

From looking at NYU's fact sheet, it looks like they require greater contributions from you at all income levels when compared to CLS.

I have 0 faith in the predictions of 0Ls, but that's just me. And at least in doylie's hypos, NYU comes out with bigger take-home and smaller contributions than NYU in 2/3.

[bermuda]

.

[sbalive]

I have 0 faith in the predictions of 0Ls, but that's just me. And at least in doylie's hypos, NYU comes out with bigger take-home and smaller contributions than NYU in 2/3.

+1 on the predictive powers of a herd of 0Ls. I don't think hypotheticals from the LRAPs Compared thread are accurate or relevant. Firstly, they include payments for other grad school debt, which I'm guessing the majority of LRAP participants won't have. Secondly, (s)he admits to being unsure about the Columbia policy regarding other grad school debt, but appears to have simply assumed the worst, skewing the CLS numbers.

Columbia has one of the best LRAPs, but the comparison to NYU is hard to make since there are several key differences. I think there are a few issues with doyleoil's analysis as well, but it's irrelevant. People can take a look at their documents and ask them questions on their own - I'd hate to give people inaccurate advice.

[prelaw]

Do I have to sign up for AdmitNet before I can do the housing app?

[sbalive]

Do I have to sign up for AdmitNet before I can do the housing app?

Nope. Just click on the link in the housing email. Put in lots of details.

[prelaw]

Do I have to sign up for AdmitNet before I can do the housing app?

Nope. Just click on the link in the housing email. Put in lots of details.

The main detail is cheapness is my preference. Did anyone get a chance to see the 400 Block? It's the only somewhat reasonably priced one.

[Skadden Stairs]

100 days.

[express01]

hey guys. when is the last day I can request to defer?

[MeTalkPrettyOneDay]

100 days.

Haha, woah woah woah woah woah! Hold on there, killer. I'm excited and all, but I fully plan to enjoy a stress-free summer between now and orientation... don't rush me!

Now back to (not) studying for finals...

[Skadden Stairs]

100 days.

Haha, woah woah woah woah woah! Hold on there, killer. I'm excited and all, but I fully plan to enjoy a stress-free summer between now and orientation... don't rush me!

Now back to (not) studying for finals...

Ha I only mentioned it because I noticed it on my countdown calendar on my dashboard today. Plus I've been done with school for almost two weeks.

[MeTalkPrettyOneDay]

100 days.

Haha, woah woah woah woah woah! Hold on there, killer. I'm excited and all, but I fully plan to enjoy a stress-free summer between now and orientation... don't rush me!

Now back to (not) studying for finals...

Ha I only mentioned it because I noticed it on my countdown calendar on my dashboard today. Plus I've been done with school for almost two weeks.

Congrats! I still have a week of finals, then a week of fun, then graduation. In two weeks, I'll be in your boat!

[frank_the_tank]

100 days.

eeeeeeeeee!

[imchuckbass58]

hey guys. when is the last day I can request to defer?

June 1st is the hard deadline.

I would advise starting the dialogue before then, however, as it might take a couple of days to work it out.

[aspasia]

100 days.

Haha, woah woah woah woah woah! Hold on there, killer. I'm excited and all, but I fully plan to enjoy a stress-free summer between now and orientation... don't rush me!

Now back to (not) studying for finals...

Ha I only mentioned it because I noticed it on my countdown calendar on my dashboard today. Plus I've been done with school for almost two weeks.

Congrats! I still have a week of finals, then a week of fun, then graduation. In two weeks, I'll be in your boat!

Same! Ahhh I have no motivation for finals whatsoever. It needs to be senior week pronto.

[express01]

hey guys. when is the last day I can request to defer?

June 1st is the hard deadline.

I would advise starting the dialogue before then, however, as it might take a couple of days to work it out.

thank you!!

[thrillhouse]

Aren't loan apps due this Friday? I haven't even heard back from financial aid yet.

[sbalive]

Aren't loan apps due this Friday? I haven't even heard back from financial aid yet.

You can ask them to email your letter.

[Estella]

This may be a dumb question, but does anyone know what we have to do to accept Perkins loans? The financial aid information says you have to sign an MPN, but I don't know how to get that.

[Skadden Stairs]

This may be a dumb question, but does anyone know what we have to do to accept Perkins loans? The financial aid information says you have to sign an MPN, but I don't know how to get that.

Instructions on completing the Perkins Loan Master Promissory Note will be emailed to you over the summer.

[aspasia]

Wait, loan apps are due this Friday? I didn't see a date on the letter. We're talking about federal (Stafford and GradPLUS) loans, right? Eek.

[frank_the_tank]

Wait, loan apps are due this Friday? I didn't see a date on the letter. We're talking about federal (Stafford and GradPLUS) loans, right? Eek.

Yep~

Oh and be careful, even if your lender says they sent your MPN to the school, Columbia still wants you to print it out and send it yourself.

[aspasia]

CRAP.

[sbalive]

Just to double-check - other than the chintzy Stafford form, there are no other forms.

Also, not sure if this was posted on this thread - but I learned from somewhere on TLS that there are sites like this that can help (I'm a current PA resident, so I hope this works for me): http://www.pheaa.org/

[SleekFire]

Could someone please explain in layman english what has to be accomplished by Friday...


Thanks!