Top Law Schools

Quick question:

I currently attend a T2 school in an area with no major market anywhere remotely close, and where the vast majority of students stay in state. I have NO interest in staying in this area/state after law school, and quite frankly, I want out now. I didn't realize I would feel this way about it, and I am not thrilled with the decisions which landed me in this situation, so please, do not lecture me about how I made a stupid decision. I realize this. Moving on...

After 1st semester, rankings aren't out, but based on grades, it seems I should be well-off enough to possibly have a chance at transferring to a top 30-ish school. I have a minimal scholarship at my current school. My question is whether transferring to a school within this range is worth it?

I thank you all, in advance, for your advice.
Additionally, I hope everyone has a [good] crazy New Years Eve and a wonderful New Year!

It'll obviously depend on grades but you'd likely be best off transferring to a t14 school if you can. If you don't have the grades for t14, I wouldn't worry as much about ranking. Do you know what you want to do after graduating? I'd recommend looking for a school with positive stats for your goals in a market you want to practice in (it's even better if you have ties to that market).

lawman84 wrote:It'll obviously depend on grades but you'd likely be best off transferring to a t14 school if you can. If you don't have the grades for t14, I wouldn't worry as much about ranking. Do you know what you want to do after graduating? I'd recommend looking for a school with positive stats for your goals in a market you want to practice in (it's even better if you have ties to that market).

Thanks for your response. I'm really not sure if I'd be able to transfer to a t14, but if not, my undergrad has around a t20 law school. It's in the area in which I would like to work, so I was going to try that. I'm hoping maybe having gone there for undergrad would make me stand out in the transfer applications.

Thanks and Happy New Year!

What are your grades?

Nebby wrote:What are your grades?

Obviously, I can't be certain until rankings are posted, but looks like I'm in the top 20% currently. So definitely not t14 material...

I imagine that you're competitive, at the very least, for Georgetown. With 100+ matriculating transfers, they probably accept people with stats worse than yours. Even CCN accept quite a few T2 kids.

Also, T30 is a meaningless distinction, and it makes no sense to try to transfer "up" to a school like that.

n1o2c3a4c5h6e7t wrote:I imagine that you're competitive, at the very least, for Georgetown. With 100+ matriculating transfers, they probably accept people with stats worse than yours. Even CCN accept quite a few T2 kids.

Also, T30 is a meaningless distinction, and it makes no sense to try to transfer "up" to a school like that.

I disagree here because you have a minimal scholarship, and don't want to be in the market where you current school places. I think a top 30 in the market you want to end up in is better than a T2 in a market where you don't want to end up any day as long as the debt is equivalent (assuming it will be due to minimal scholarship at your current school).

Anonymous User wrote:

Nebby wrote:What are your grades?

Obviously, I can't be certain until rankings are posted, but looks like I'm in the top 20% currently. So definitely not t14 material...

some 20%ers from TT made gulc

futago wrote:

n1o2c3a4c5h6e7t wrote:I imagine that you're competitive, at the very least, for Georgetown. With 100+ matriculating transfers, they probably accept people with stats worse than yours. Even CCN accept quite a few T2 kids.

Also, T30 is a meaningless distinction, and it makes no sense to try to transfer "up" to a school like that.

I disagree here because you have a minimal scholarship, and don't want to be in the market where you current school places. I think a top 30 in the market you want to end up in is better than a T2 in a market where you don't want to end up any day as long as the debt is equivalent (assuming it will be due to minimal scholarship at your current school).

+1

Thank you all so much for the input.

As far as Georgetown, in my situation should I try applying there early decision? I believe Vanderbilt or WashU also has an early decision for transfers. Or is applying early decision binding?

Anonymous User wrote:Thank you all so much for the input.

As far as Georgetown, in my situation should I try applying there early decision? I believe Vanderbilt or WashU also has an early decision for transfers. Or is applying early decision binding?

It's called early action, and it's not binding.