Top Law Schools

I'm at a T20 and have a significant scholarship. We don't rank, but I finished 1st semester with a GPA well above the NALP cutoff for the top 3%. Of course, this doesn't translate perfectly since the NALP stats aren't for my class, but it's the best approximation I have for my rank. Assuming I'm in the top 1-2% right now, and I want BigLaw, does it make sense to ED Chicago? What would my odds be?

Anonymous User wrote:I'm at a T20 and have a significant scholarship. We don't rank, but I finished 1st semester with a GPA well above the NALP cutoff for the top 3%. Of course, this doesn't translate perfectly since the NALP stats aren't for my class, but it's the best approximation I have for my rank. Assuming I'm in the top 1-2% right now, and I want BigLaw, does it make sense to ED Chicago? What would my odds be?

Obviously if you rock this semester you should be set for HYS. Your chances of getting into UChicago are very high, though.

Also, the T20 transfers at Chicago this year did incredibly well at OCI, pretty much all landing V10.

Which T20

Why Chi

rad lulz wrote:Which T20

Why Chi

ED presumably. Don't need to worry about 2nd semester grades.

rad lulz wrote:Which T20

Why Chi

I'm at one of USC/Minn/GW. Probably should have said this from the outset, but I want Chicago BigLaw/have strong ties to Chicago, though I would be perfectly happy with BigLaw in LA, SF, Minneapolis, NY, Boston, D.C., etc. My issue is that I'd be giving up a lot of $ when the odds are high that I could land a BigLaw job from my current school if my grades hold steady.

So, I guess my question is: will the firms at Chicago OCI, or really any T6 OCI, make the extra debt worth it? And to what extent does having a T6 degree affect future job outcomes, when compared with a T20 degree?

Anonymous User wrote:I'm at one of USC/Minn/GW. Probably should have said this from the outset, but I want Chicago BigLaw/have strong ties to Chicago, though I would be perfectly happy with BigLaw in LA, SF, Minneapolis, NY, Boston, D.C., etc. My issue is that I'd be giving up a lot of $ when the odds are high that I could land a BigLaw job from my current school if my grades hold steady.

So, I guess my question is: will the firms at Chicago OCI, or really any T6 OCI, make the extra debt worth it? And to what extent does having a T6 degree affect future job outcomes, when compared with a T20 degree?

Absent a GPA train wreck spring semester, you're going to get a job.

The question is really more about "where" than "if" for you. And I mean where in a geographic sense, you'll be able to interview at the same caliber firms whether you transfer or not.

The difference in OCI between a T6 and T20 school is mostly how deep in the class firms will pull candidates from. Should you remain at the top of your class, the only real benefit you would gain would be the concentration of employers from a particular city.

Personally, I don't think it's a lock that transferring to a T6 always makes sense, even if you're sticker at a T20. Giving up law review and top-dog status hurts a lot for clerkship potential and other super selective positions. The only reason I'd advise someone to give those up is a strong geographic preference.

I went through a similar decision last year deciding whether or not to leave GW. FWIW, I stayed at GW and did very well at OCI. Feel free to PM if you want more specifics.