Top Law Schools

Really struggling with this decision. I grew up in Boston and went to UG there - was accepted into BU as a transfer and did not miss the OCI deadline (I was offered a spot the last day of bidding, so I frantically applied to a few and was invited to some interviews after the prescreening).

Currently at 60-70's school in Midwest; top 15%; Moot Court. My wife and I realize that we want to live in Michigan after law school (where she is from), and are struggling to determine if BU might give us an edge to work in Michigan. I would love to be near my family for two years before packing and living in MI. My wife's job is flexible location so that is not a huge factor.

Not 100% sold on Big Law, but my gut is telling me that because BU is a better ranked school there is an edge - even in finding employment in Michigan (eRRR which I know does not have the most robust job market right now).

Thoughts? Thanks!

I really don't think BU has much presence, if any, in Michigan. Look around at Michigan firms and see if there are BU alums there. I don't really recall seeing Michigan firms coming to BU at OCI aside from 2 or 3.

kaiser wrote:I really don't think BU has much presence, if any, in Michigan. Look around at Michigan firms and see if there are BU alums there. I don't really recall seeing Michigan firms coming to BU at OCI aside from 2 or 3.

Warner Norcross and Judd dropped out. Either way, BU is an awesome school. However, I'm on a few oci alt lists so if you choose not to come, more power to you.

Cupidity wrote:

kaiser wrote:I really don't think BU has much presence, if any, in Michigan. Look around at Michigan firms and see if there are BU alums there. I don't really recall seeing Michigan firms coming to BU at OCI aside from 2 or 3.

Warner Norcross and Judd dropped out. Either way, BU is an awesome school. However, I'm on a few oci alt lists so if you choose not to come, more power to you.

Warner Norcross was at BU OCI? That's real surprising considering they don't have one current attorney (at least in Grand Rapids) that's a BU alum. They do have one from BC. They don't even OCI at ND (and several partners are alums).

To OP: Why didn't you try to transfer to ND or UIUC if you wanted to work in Michigan? We have quite a few Michigan firms at OCI, both Detroit and Grand Rapids.

Cupidity wrote:

kaiser wrote:I really don't think BU has much presence, if any, in Michigan. Look around at Michigan firms and see if there are BU alums there. I don't really recall seeing Michigan firms coming to BU at OCI aside from 2 or 3.

Warner Norcross and Judd dropped out. Either way, BU is an awesome school. However, I'm on a few oci alt lists so if you choose not to come, more power to you.

if you want to be in Michigan, I think it would be a mistake to transfer to BU. They're pretty much a regional school when it comes to law firm hiring. They place very well in Boston and the northeast, but you want to be in Michigan, so it doesn't make sense to go there. You're right that it would probably give you an edge in terms of biglaw hiring, but this would mainly be biglaw in the northeast.

in short, if your heart's set on Michigan, then stay in the Midwest, where you'll actually have a better chance.

WNJ had 1 BU alum at the other office

Anyway, I would stay. Keep in mind most Michigan firms require some Michigan ties. Go through attorneys at the big Grand Rapids firms (Varnum, WNJ, Miller Johnson) and count how many didn't do their undergrad at UofM, MSU, one of the Grand Rapids area schools or go to law school in the state at least. It's not too many. I am working in Lansing this summer and still worried I don't have enough ties for Grand Rapids.

Thanks for the thoughts so far. Really helpful. My wife travels a lot for work, so we really need to be near a big city airport (no dice with a transfer to NW or UofM). It definitely resonates with me that connections and networking are key to working in Michigan.

We will keep thinking...

mcroger14 wrote:my gut is telling me that because BU is a better ranked school there is an edge - even in finding employment in Michigan

Absolutely not. If you want to work in MI you are much better off staying at a local T2. You should only consider this move if you want to work in Boston or NYC.