Top Law Schools

I finished top ~20% at a T20, wrote-on to Law Review, and was recently accepted to Northwestern. I wouldn't mind practicing in the city of my current school for 2-4 years, but would eventually like to practice in Chicago. I've made good friends at my current school and strong connections with firms, and feel like I have a good chance of landing a 2L SA position from my current school.

I believe Northwestern's curve is higher than my current school's. I worry that during OCI at Northwestern, my GPA will be lower than students of a similar class rank at NU. That combined with me coming from a lower school and the tougher Chicago job market, I may strike out at OCI. I'd also have to write-on to Law Review again which would be painful and probably not successful.

Thoughts? Do any rising 2Ls at Northwestern have the GPA cutoffs for firms at OCI? Is the Chicago legal market really that bad?

Reasons for Staying
- happy here
- Law Review + other extracurriculars
- confident I will get a job for 2L summer
- heard Chicago market is tough, not sure I will get a job from NU's OCI
- wouldn't mind staying in current city for a few years after graduation

Reasons for going to Northwestern
- want to eventually practice in Chicago
- have friends/family near Chicago
- paying sticker at T20
- have work experience, wouldn't mind the older student body

Sounds like a stay to me.

TransferingQs wrote:I finished top ~20% at a T20, wrote-on to Law Review, and was recently accepted to Northwestern. I wouldn't mind practicing in the city of my current school for 2-4 years, but would eventually like to practice in Chicago. I've made good friends at my current school and strong connections with firms, and feel like I have a good chance of landing a 2L SA position from my current school.

I believe Northwestern's curve is higher than my current school's. I worry that during OCI at Northwestern, my GPA will be lower than students of a similar class rank at NU. That combined with me coming from a lower school and the tougher Chicago job market, I may strike out at OCI. I'd also have to write-on to Law Review again which would be painful and probably not successful.

Thoughts? Do any rising 2Ls at Northwestern have the GPA cutoffs for firms at OCI? Is the Chicago legal market really that bad?

Reasons for Staying
- happy here
- Law Review + other extracurriculars
- confident I will get a job for 2L summer
- heard Chicago market is tough, not sure I will get a job from NU's OCI
- wouldn't mind staying in current city for a few years after graduation

Reasons for going to Northwestern
- want to eventually practice in Chicago
- have friends/family near Chicago
- paying sticker at T20
- have work experience, wouldn't mind the older student body

I'm sure you've heard this before, but have you requested a scholarship from your current school in order to keep you from transferring?

bdubs wrote:
I'm sure you've heard this before, but have you requested a scholarship from your current school in order to keep you from transferring?

My school said some funds may open up in the future, but nothing for sure. I took it as a no.

Y'know, the market is kind of rotten. Schools in the NU range are placing about 60% through OCI- not all in Biglaw. Now, 20% at WUSTL is probably equivalent at least to 40% at NU, if not 30%. But still, that's not a done deal.