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I am worried about the fact that these people are my law school network, now and beyond. I had one Bay Area PI summer employer tell me straight-up they don't really hire from SLS -- they prefer to keep a "Berkeley feel."

Though I love law school and I have an ideal public interest summer internship lined up in the Bay Area, I really hate SLS's conservative corporate culture. I just do not connect to my classmates at all and I don't feel that I have a lot of support here.

abl wrote:Give SLS more of a chance (or talk with some 2Ls and 3Ls)--to the extent there's a corporate culture at SLS I am sure that it's very influenced by the 1L-OCI mess (that will almost certainly feel similar at Berkeley). My sense is that SLS has far less of a "corporate" culture than just about any other law school (including UCB) other than possibly Yale.

romothesavior wrote:I also think a lot of public interest-oriented students suffer from a complex where they feel disrespected by their big firm-bound peers while simultaneously feeling superior to them.

romothesavior wrote:The feeling that CSO isn't supportive enough of public interest students (or any non-big firm trajectory) is shared at almost all schools. Schools expend most of their efforts on private firms, and the OCI process makes it seem like that's all CSOs care about. That said, I highly doubt Stanford is screwing over its public interest folks. I'm interested to hear about your experiences.

zombie mcavoy wrote:

romothesavior wrote:I also think a lot of public interest-oriented students suffer from a complex where they feel disrespected by their big firm-bound peers while simultaneously feeling superior to them. Not saying this is you, but if you really feel like you can't relate to any of your classmates, the issue is probably you and not all of them.

legends159 wrote:Not unheard of - had a few classmates who transferred down from SLS. I think one went to Boalt too but it was because of location I believe - they didn't want to keep commuting from the east bay. Will they match your aid?

CounselorNebby wrote:

legends159 wrote:Not unheard of - had a few classmates who transferred down from SLS. I think one went to Boalt too but it was because of location I believe - they didn't want to keep commuting from the east bay. Will they match your aid?

Not likely. Applying to transfer to any school tells admissions, "I'll gladly attend here w/o any financial aid."

Anonymous User wrote:

abl wrote:Give SLS more of a chance (or talk with some 2Ls and 3Ls)--to the extent there's a corporate culture at SLS I am sure that it's very influenced by the 1L-OCI mess (that will almost certainly feel similar at Berkeley). My sense is that SLS has far less of a "corporate" culture than just about any other law school (including UCB) other than possibly Yale.

OP here.

I certainly recognize this possibility and have thought about it a lot. But in sharing stories with 1L friends at other law schools (definitely including, but not limited to, Boalt), other law students seem floored by my experiences, both with my classmates and with the administration. Everything is subjective so it's hard to say. I really feel (from my limited vantage-point) that SLS, and perhaps especially my graduating class, is a special case. PI goals aren't just the minority -- they are really looked down upon by others. Whereas at other schools (Boalt being the school I'm most familiar with and the best geographic choice for a transfer) I get the feeling it is much more embraced and supported.

romothesavior wrote:Can you give some specific examples of these slights. It seems like something that is in your head.
I also think a lot of public interest-oriented students suffer from a complex where they feel disrespected by their big firm-bound peers while simultaneously feeling superior to them. Not saying this is you, but if you really feel like you can't relate to any of your classmates, the issue is probably you and not all of them.

Anonymous User wrote:

romothesavior wrote:Can you give some specific examples of these slights. It seems like something that is in your head.
I also think a lot of public interest-oriented students suffer from a complex where they feel disrespected by their big firm-bound peers while simultaneously feeling superior to them. Not saying this is you, but if you really feel like you can't relate to any of your classmates, the issue is probably you and not all of them.

OP here.
You know, I'm willing to assume I have a complex and it's all in my head, or at least to acknowledge that as a real possibility. But I'm not sure it's relevant to the question I'm asking. This is my experience (even if it's irrational) and I think just having a larger and more established community of PI-bound students, plus more express institutional support, would make a world of difference for me.

CounselorNebby wrote:The decision is not rational, and as long as you admit it then you're free to transfer. With regard to employment, though, SLS certainly opens many doors. Do you have an idea what you want to practice; what are you doing 1L summer? What is SLS's LRAP? I assume it's pretty good.

Anonymous User wrote:OP here.
You know, I'm willing to assume I have a complex and it's all in my head, or at least to acknowledge that as a real possibility. But I'm not sure it's relevant to the question I'm asking. This is my experience (even if it's irrational) and I think just having a larger and more established community of PI-bound students, plus more express institutional support, would make a world of difference for me.

Anonymous User wrote:I'm currently a 1L at SLS, and I'm seriously considering applying to transfer to Berkeley. Though I love law school and I have an ideal public interest summer internship lined up in the Bay Area, I really hate SLS's conservative corporate culture. I just do not connect to my classmates at all and I don't feel that I have a lot of support here. I am worried about the fact that these people are my law school network, now and beyond. I had one Bay Area PI summer employer tell me straight-up they don't really hire from SLS -- they prefer to keep a "Berkeley feel." I don't blame them!

I was initially won over to choose SLS because of its ranking and clerkship rates (+ great fin aid), but I wonder if I made the wrong choice. Would it be insane to transfer, or should I suck it up? I'm not miserable and I could get through 2 more years, but I'm not sure it's worth it, or that it's even an advantage to be here for Bay Area PI.

If it's not insane to transfer: a) would I need to be top of my class? (I'm not, but I'm above median) and b) do transfers ever get scholarships?

sd5289 wrote:

CounselorNebby wrote:The decision is not rational, and as long as you admit it then you're free to transfer. With regard to employment, though, SLS certainly opens many doors. Do you have an idea what you want to practice; what are you doing 1L summer? What is SLS's LRAP? I assume it's pretty good.

And how is it compared to Boalt's? The PSLF program is great and all, but there's been chatter for a while about limiting the amount forgiven, cutting the program, etc.

CounselorNebby wrote:

sd5289 wrote:

CounselorNebby wrote:The decision is not rational, and as long as you admit it then you're free to transfer. With regard to employment, though, SLS certainly opens many doors. Do you have an idea what you want to practice; what are you doing 1L summer? What is SLS's LRAP? I assume it's pretty good.

And how is it compared to Boalt's? The PSLF program is great and all, but there's been chatter for a while about limiting the amount forgiven, cutting the program, etc.

You're free to plan your future on the speculation of congressional action. If it makes you feel better about your employment decisions, then more power to you. Not super relevant to OP though.