Top Law Schools

I 100% want to practice in Los Angeles.

No ties other than spending 1L year near LA. (Is that a tie?)

Want big law.

NY big law comes in at a distant second to LA BL...followed by LA mid, small

As of now I'm going to Penn, but want to make sure I can get back to LA if I make a good effort.

Thanks!!

Penn... definitely not a regrettable decision

If you vote, please leave some sort of explanation. Thank you!

how does the line-up for Penn's LA day look? Can you ask them to send you the list of firms?

cusenation wrote:how does the line-up for Penn's LA day look? Can you ask them to send you the list of firms?

Good suggestion. I'm not sure, but will certainly be asking when I visit Penn this weekend.

If you're paying sticker at each, as I assume, this is barely even a question. Penn. Hurry and get your interviews set up though, because the remaining regional slots/waitlists are about to close IIRC.

I was on the phone with Penn about the Cali issue yesterday (I'm currently picking between them and Berkeley) - and the career office basically told me to choose Berkeley. Obviously not the same as UCLA, but both Cali schools are bound to have more contacts with LA employers than Penn.

MagicMike80 wrote:I was on the phone with Penn about the Cali issue yesterday (I'm currently picking between them and Berkeley) - and the career office basically told me to choose Berkeley. Obviously not the same as UCLA, but both Cali schools are bound to have more contacts with LA employers than Penn.

The difference in employment outcomes between Boalt and UCLA are so astronomical as not to be worth comparing. Obviously Boalt > Penn for Cali placement purposes. The same does not apply to UCLA.

A bit of anecdotal information which may be analogous though not directly on point because I was applying in the Bay Area. Disclosure: I have a tech degree, a good bit of relevant work experience, and applied in CA during 3L year.

I transferred to Penn a few years ago. I had no ties to CA. I was planning on practicing on the east coast and had an offer, but decided to apply to firms in the Bay Area at the start of 3L year. I ended up getting a good bit of interest from several reputable biglaw firms in SF and SV.

My assessment is that it is certainly possible to get back to CA from Penn, but you need to consider the likelihood by weighing the number and strength of factors which will help your application against those that would be unfavorable to your application. Here are generally relevant ones, listed according to my perception of importance (you can count on others to have several of these): patent (if applicable), relevant w/e, recommendation from prof, grades, offer from other firm (for 3L OCI), personality, other academic credentials, ties, 1L work (type, prestige of job), absence of lots of geographic movement.