Top Law Schools

Hey guys,

I've been lurking on here and was curious about your opinions about my admissions chances for a few schools.

LS in TX, half-tuition scholarship, no debt currently. Willing to take on debt for a better shot at what I think is best for my career plans. I prefer a fed clerkship upon graduating over big law (though big law is in my sights soon thereafter). I dunno if that's ill-advised; I am just a 1L.

Stats:
top 10% (.03 outside top5)
fall LGPA - 3.80
spring - tbd

Summer plans:
State judge internship
da internship

I know w/o spring grades this is merely speculation, but I feel like I was as prepared, if not more, for finals the second time. Also, once I get my spring grades I plan to send out apps ASAP.

Eventually I see my self back in TX, but I am open to practicing initially in DC, NY or some other place with potentially invaluable experience. I have family living in DC, ATL, and San Fran. None are in the legal field.

Schools: (from most favored to least generally)

UT
Vandy
Berkeley*
Duke*
Emory
W&L
SMU
CU* - not sure whether I'd want to live in CO for life, which is huge for them. Big question mark for me right now.
Wake forest*
UGA*
UNC*


Any thoughts or tips in applying to any of these schools in particular? Ease of qualifying for in-state for NC or GA? (CO's process is ez it seems)

Also, I may remove some T14s and some lower on the list (starred) because either I think too slim of chances or they're redundant. Then again, I am reluctant to eliminate schools before applying, because I feel I did not throw a wide enough net when I originally applied to law school. Thoughts?


Thanks in advance

Anonymous User wrote:Hey guys,

I've been lurking on here and was curious about your opinions about my admissions chances for a few schools.

LS in TX, half-tuition scholarship, no debt currently. Willing to take on debt for a better shot at what I think is best for my career plans. I prefer a fed clerkship upon graduating over big law (though big law is in my sights soon thereafter). I dunno if that's ill-advised; I am just a 1L.

Stats:
top 10% (.03 outside top5)
fall LGPA - 3.80
spring - tbd

Summer plans:
State judge internship
da internship

I know w/o spring grades this is merely speculation, but I feel like I was as prepared, if not more, for finals the second time. Also, once I get my spring grades I plan to send out apps ASAP.

Eventually I see my self back in TX, but I am open to practicing initially in DC, NY or some other place with potentially invaluable experience. I have family living in DC, ATL, and San Fran. None are in the legal field.

Schools: (from most favored to least generally)

UT
Vandy
Berkeley*
Duke*
Emory
W&L
SMU
CU* - not sure whether I'd want to live in CO for life, which is huge for them. Big question mark for me right now.
Wake forest*
UGA*
UNC*


Any thoughts or tips in applying to any of these schools in particular? Ease of qualifying for in-state for NC or GA? (CO's process is ez it seems)

Also, I may remove some T14s and some lower on the list (starred) because either I think too slim of chances or they're redundant. Then again, I am reluctant to eliminate schools before applying, because I feel I did not throw a wide enough net when I originally applied to law school. Thoughts?


Thanks in advance

Burn the $ and apply to the entire T13, minus Harvard and Stanford. Of the non-t13s on the list you gave, I'd only apply to UT, Vanderbilt, and maybe Emory. The other schools won't give you any better of a shot at a federal clerkship/biglaw as a transfer than being top 5-10% at your current T4. Good luck!

ETA: Upon re-reading, I see that you weren't exactly asking opinions re: whether transferring to somewhere like Wake Forest would be wise; you've always determined that it would be, given your goals. Fair enough. I still think you should cast a wider net to the T13, and you should look at the 509 reports (just google "[law school name] 509 report") to see how many transfers at your targt schools matriculate from law schools similar to yours in rankings

I think you've got a very good shot at Texas. I'll focus there, since that's your top choice.

A buddy of mine works in admissions at UT and tells me there's a quota on in-state transfers from each school. I know that cap is near capacity for South Texas, if that's where you're at. If I were you, I would submit my app now and update them once your final transcript arrives.

Congrats on your stellar grades and good-luck with this semester!