Top Law Schools

Hi,

I currently go to CUNY and am considering a transfer. I finished my first semester with a 2.88 GPA. We don't rank, but it is probably around median, or maybe a little above based, on what I've seen from each class' grade distribution. I really like learning the material and I am definitely interested in being a lawyer (even in a less than prestigious capacity-I am interested in Personal Injury, DWI/DUI defense, public defense), but I really feel that the school is a bad fit for me.

I have two major problems with the school. First of all, I find most of my classmates obnoxious and delusional. They all think they are going to "save the world" in some capacity or another, and they look down upon people who seem to be in law school for themselves. It's really disheartening to come to school every day just to be made to feel like a jerk for not wanting to occupy Wall Street or fight to make restrooms gender neutral. Not only that, but it's difficult to even feel comfortable speaking in class. One of my classmates read the word "retarded" directly out of a casebook, and another classmate freaked out and humiliated the other classmate in front of the entire class for not using "politically correct" language. Basically, everyone at my current school thinks that they're superior for (allegedly) not prioritizing their own interests. There is almost zero diversity in opinion, and there is no tolerance for even politically moderate opinion. These extreme opinions sound like total BS to me and have made me resent many of my classmates. My sense is that most of my classmates are extremely insecure, and are just into "public interest" and "fixing the world" so that they can feel better about themselves (which in reality is totally selfish, and therefore hypocritical, IMO).

Secondly, (and more practically), I do not want to work in NY, and I am not interested in most of the jobs that my school has connections to. Most of the career opportunities listed on the career services website are with non-profits that would probably be filled with people similar to the classmates I currently have. I don't think I could stomach working in an environment like that for the rest of my life. What I really want to do is work as a solo or in shitlaw in CA, AZ, NM, or TX. I am genuinely interested in just about every class I've taken so far at law school, so I would really like to finish law school and eventually work as a lawyer. This goal, combined with my mediocre grades, has led me to come up with the following list of schools:

Southwestern
Whittier
Western State
Thomas Jefferson
GGU
(I was accepted at all of the above but chose to attend my current school)

McGeorge
California Western
Chapman
Texas Tech
(I didn't apply to these)

I would really appreciate the feedback, and suggestions on where else I might want to apply. Thanks!

Why do you think the students and the lifestyle would be different elsewhere?

If you really want to get out of NYC, why not just look for work this summer elsewhere and try to work elsewhere after graduation?

Sorry if I'm not being helpful, but I can't give transfer advice.

Won't there a tremendous cost difference between CUNY & your targeted schools ? If so, your plan is somewhat non-realistic for one desiring to open a solo practice.

coolgrnmen: Thanks for the feedback. sorry I wrote so much, but thanks for reading. All of the CA schools I listed have way more people transferring out rather than in. I also assume that I would have a good shot at them because of that, but I don't have any hard evidence. Do you have any specific anecdotes?

Canadianwolf: Yes, I will probably be poor. I'd only do the solo thing if I worked for a couple of years first and had the necessary resources.

Tough it out bro. You did the right thing the first time by going to a cheap school.

scrowell wrote: All of the CA schools I listed have way more people transferring out than in.

breadbucket wrote:

scrowell wrote: All of the CA schools I listed have way more people transferring out than in.

?

Just spend your last 2.5 years there, get job elsewhere.

Do not transfer down unless you have something like a family member to care for as they fight cancer in said state... and even then I would think a leave of absence would be a better choice.

i hate to break it to ya, but law students at any law school are pretty damn annoying.

are you on any sort of scholarship at CUNY? Are you living with your parents there? It pretty much comes down to a cost issue. Transferring down or laterally is not a bad idea if you do it for the right reasons. also, as a transfer your gpa starts over and you can get a super high gpa by taking elective, uncurved courses : )

i'm sure most of the schools that you mentioned will be happy to take you.

Try transferring to U. of Idaho, Wyoming, ND, SD, U. of Montana, etc. These schools are the "best" in their respective states as they are the only schools in those states. Plus the tuition is still pretty low even for out-of-state students. Plus COL is low.