GULC v. T2 (With Poll!)
Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2010 10:50 pm
Now that the elation of being accepted to at T14 has almost worn off, I'd like help from the brutal honesty that is TLS. I'm the (authorized) alt of a long-time poster who has attempted to help others with similar decisions in the past, and I'm pretty sure I have my mind made up. I want to make sure I'm not missing something obvious and/or important.
Where I'm At
Right now, I'm exactly top 5.64% at my mid-T2. Sorry for the anonymity, but I know for a fact my main username is being monitored by the career services office. I really like it here. Lots of friends, graded onto law review, great schedule this fall full of courses I'm interested in.
OCI has about 25 unique employers interviewing, and I'm fairly confident that (at number 11 in my class) I'll be able to land something paid for next summer, though probably not doing what I want (see below).
Kicker #1: I'm all but assured (through my school's externship placement program) that I will have the option of interning for a federal judge this fall. Obviously, if I transfer, this option will disappear.
Kicker #2: I'm from the neighboring state than the one in which my law school sits. I have no problem staying in the state where my law school is located. I came here fully intending to graduate. I was shut out as a 1L at spring OCI. Not unusual ITE, I realize, except for those who were 15-20 spots lower than I am in my class (but from the home state) securing paid gigs. However, I had more than one firm tell me at callbacks that they liked me, but were sure I would use them for a SA gig and then jump ship back to my home state. The dispositive question seems to be "Where in [state x] does your family live?" Not "What are your connections here?" or "Can you convince us you want to stay here?" Frustrating, but whatever. Long story short, I'm worried about being able to secure the type of position I'm interested in (market midlaw) because I'm not from this state.
Kicker #3: our career services website is utterly, completely and incompetently useless. Words cannot describe my frustration. I would rather have every tooth pulled from my mouth with out anesthesia than deal with them.
I'm currently paying around $18,000 per year to live here and the cost of living is average. Current T2 is completely unwilling/unable to negotiate scholarships, which is understandable, since I'm not technically the top of the class.
Where I Could Go
Basically, I'd be looking at a T14 education at a 2 year price. Difference would be a little more than $50k in student loans, total, for both years. No debt from UG, thankfully. At this point, it's $80k in student debt at GULC v. $30k in student debt at my current T2.
Unfortunately, OCI deadlines have passed at GULC for transfers, I think. I would be working with CSO to place me, a transfer student. I've also been told that I would be viewed as a slightly-above-median student at GULC by potential employers.
Where I Want to End Up
1) Dallas biglaw. I'm from Dallas, know the legal market, and have a few (read: 3) contacts at big law firms which pay market rate. I want to practice in Employee Benefits/ERISA or a tax-related field.
2) D.C. big/midlaw. I don't care. I love the city and would happily work here for the rest of my career, but want to be able to pay debt back.
3) DOJ/DOL/A-US-A. Particularly the civil division. Solid job security, interesting work, fantastic work-life balance. Or so I'm told.
What Route I Want to Take to Get There
Straight out would be nice. However, I really want to clerk for a year or two at the federal level and then move to biglaw. No illusions of grandeur (SCOTUS or COA).
Sage wisdom of TLS: should I transfer to GULC or stay at my T2?
Where I'm At
Right now, I'm exactly top 5.64% at my mid-T2. Sorry for the anonymity, but I know for a fact my main username is being monitored by the career services office. I really like it here. Lots of friends, graded onto law review, great schedule this fall full of courses I'm interested in.
OCI has about 25 unique employers interviewing, and I'm fairly confident that (at number 11 in my class) I'll be able to land something paid for next summer, though probably not doing what I want (see below).
Kicker #1: I'm all but assured (through my school's externship placement program) that I will have the option of interning for a federal judge this fall. Obviously, if I transfer, this option will disappear.
Kicker #2: I'm from the neighboring state than the one in which my law school sits. I have no problem staying in the state where my law school is located. I came here fully intending to graduate. I was shut out as a 1L at spring OCI. Not unusual ITE, I realize, except for those who were 15-20 spots lower than I am in my class (but from the home state) securing paid gigs. However, I had more than one firm tell me at callbacks that they liked me, but were sure I would use them for a SA gig and then jump ship back to my home state. The dispositive question seems to be "Where in [state x] does your family live?" Not "What are your connections here?" or "Can you convince us you want to stay here?" Frustrating, but whatever. Long story short, I'm worried about being able to secure the type of position I'm interested in (market midlaw) because I'm not from this state.
Kicker #3: our career services website is utterly, completely and incompetently useless. Words cannot describe my frustration. I would rather have every tooth pulled from my mouth with out anesthesia than deal with them.
I'm currently paying around $18,000 per year to live here and the cost of living is average. Current T2 is completely unwilling/unable to negotiate scholarships, which is understandable, since I'm not technically the top of the class.
Where I Could Go
Basically, I'd be looking at a T14 education at a 2 year price. Difference would be a little more than $50k in student loans, total, for both years. No debt from UG, thankfully. At this point, it's $80k in student debt at GULC v. $30k in student debt at my current T2.
Unfortunately, OCI deadlines have passed at GULC for transfers, I think. I would be working with CSO to place me, a transfer student. I've also been told that I would be viewed as a slightly-above-median student at GULC by potential employers.
Where I Want to End Up
1) Dallas biglaw. I'm from Dallas, know the legal market, and have a few (read: 3) contacts at big law firms which pay market rate. I want to practice in Employee Benefits/ERISA or a tax-related field.
2) D.C. big/midlaw. I don't care. I love the city and would happily work here for the rest of my career, but want to be able to pay debt back.
3) DOJ/DOL/A-US-A. Particularly the civil division. Solid job security, interesting work, fantastic work-life balance. Or so I'm told.
What Route I Want to Take to Get There
Straight out would be nice. However, I really want to clerk for a year or two at the federal level and then move to biglaw. No illusions of grandeur (SCOTUS or COA).
Sage wisdom of TLS: should I transfer to GULC or stay at my T2?