Top Law Schools

Want BL. Thoughts?

plaintiff-appellee wrote:Want BL. Thoughts?

Geographic preference?

If big law is your only goal, stay.

UNC easily. the only reason to go would be for more mobility that duke would give you, but i really don't think it's worth it.

i feel like there should be an unwritten rule that you cant transfer between these two schools...too much bad blood or something

People who said stay, am I missing something? Big law prospects still aren't that great with 10% at UNC.

Corwin wrote:People who said stay, am I missing something? Big law prospects still aren't that great with 10% at UNC.

He's in the top 10% + LR

blacklawboss wrote:

Corwin wrote:People who said stay, am I missing something? Big law prospects still aren't that great with 10% at UNC.

He's in the top 10% + LR

Yeah to 10% from UNC gets you a job at a NJ250, but last year you needed to be even better than that to get one that paid market rate (top 8%). He has the same prospects at Duke as long as he is above median and much better prospects if he manages to be in the top third of the class.

What's UNC costing you? If you're gonna be giving up a decent scholarship and/or instate tuition, I'd probably stay.

Corwin wrote:People who said stay, am I missing something? Big law prospects still aren't that great with 10% at UNC.

I was somewhat concerned, until I checked Corwin's profile, which advertises not only that he is a 0L, but also that he's only going to law school if he scores in the 99th percentile of the LSAT. Since, why bother with law school otherwise?

Corwin wrote:People who said stay, am I missing something? Big law prospects still aren't that great with 10% at UNC.

They won't be any better if you transfer to Duke, unless you want NYC. If you want the Triangle or Charlotte, Carolina all the way in this situation.

Thomas Sutpen wrote:

Corwin wrote:People who said stay, am I missing something? Big law prospects still aren't that great with 10% at UNC.

I was somewhat concerned, until I checked Corwin's profile, which advertises not only that he is a 0L, but also that he's only going to law school if he scores in the 99th percentile of the LSAT. Since, why bother with law school otherwise?

The reason why I'm not going to law school unless I get a 172+ is for two reasons (1) I have a low UG GPA and wont be able to afford the debt unless I score that well and (2) I have a good job as an engineer that I love and pays really well; no point in leaving it if I can't get into a law school that opens the doors that I want.

In regards to my original comment, I based my response off of the following graph:



You need to be top 8% at UNC to get a market paying biglaw job. If the OP wants big law at market and freedom to move where he wants, transferring to Duke is the right choice. If he has a scholarship at UNC and doesn't mind staying in the area, I can definitely see staying at UNC. He's clearly a bright guy and will do well either way.

Corwin wrote:

Thomas Sutpen wrote:

Corwin wrote:People who said stay, am I missing something? Big law prospects still aren't that great with 10% at UNC.

I was somewhat concerned, until I checked Corwin's profile, which advertises not only that he is a 0L, but also that he's only going to law school if he scores in the 99th percentile of the LSAT. Since, why bother with law school otherwise?

The reason why I'm not going to law school unless I get a 172+ is for two reasons (1) I have a low UG GPA and wont be able to afford the debt unless I score that well and (2) I have a good job as an engineer that I love and pays really well; no point in leaving it if I can't get into a law school that opens the doors that I want.

In regards to my original comment, I based my response off of the following graph:



You need to be top 8% at UNC to get a market paying biglaw job. If the OP wants big law at market and freedom to move where he wants, transferring to Duke is the right choice. If he has a scholarship at UNC and doesn't mind staying in the area, I can definitely see staying at UNC. He's clearly a bright guy and will do well either way.

UNC sent roughly eight percent to big law, but I doubt you had to be top 8%. Not everyone who finishes at the top of their class goes to big law, a lot go to gov, clerkships, etc.

Market in Raleigh is 130-135K. UNC was closer to 20% making 130K.

dr123 wrote: UNC sent roughly eight percent to big law, but I doubt you had to be top 8%. Not everyone who finishes at the top of their class goes to big law, a lot go to gov, clerkships, etc.

They send ~15% to NJ250, just around half are in markets that pay below 160K. I'm really not trying to rag on UNC. Being top 10% at a school like that and having the opportunities that go along with that is amazing. Not very many law students accomplish that.

I just thought I would close the loop on this very old thread. I am the OP. I decided to stay at UNC and landed an SA position (and, ultimately an associate position) with a V25 firm in a major market. I am not sure this can be considered a typical outcome--although almost all of my classmates in the top 1/3 or so seem to have found a place to land. A final thought: Even if you can go to law school for free and land a job making market, being a lawyer is kind of a shitty job. I would seriously investigate what your other options are before you commit yourself.

plaintiff-appellee wrote: A final thought: Even if you can go to law school for free and land a job making market, being a lawyer is kind of a shitty job. I would seriously investigate what your other options are before you commit yourself.

Care to expand?

Somehow I doubt it was necessary to resurrect a 4 year old thread for that comment. The OP has long since graduated from either Duke or Carolina.

ndirish2010 wrote:Somehow I doubt it was necessary to resurrect a 4 year old thread for that comment. The OP has long since graduated from either Duke or Carolina.

It was the OP that resurrected the thread. Dayum, read a little, son!

Whoops. Wow, totally missed that first quoted post. Sorry.

My reading skills have apparently declined since law school!

0Ls: the important take away is that it takes top 10% and LR at UNC to land just a V25 (not bad but nowhere near the tip of the spear). OP thinks most of his top third friends landed something (how encouraging). Avoid UNC and other T1 schools unless you have only local aspirations and will incur little to no debt.