San Diego Job Prospects Forum

[YourAWizardHarry]

I was curious about what the pros/cons would be to attending San Diego Law School (with a full ride) versus going to like UCLA/USC (with a little $$)? What type of jobs would be available to me assuming I graduate towards the top of my class at SDLS and network well throughout my 3 years. Would I even have an easier time getting a job if I went to one of the other schools? Can I even get a job in San Diego without going to Berkley/Stanford?

I'm pretty new to what the job market is like for lawyers so I'm trying to educate myself. I don't really care about the prestige of my school. I do care about a decent education, good networking opportunities, and HAVING a job when I graduate. I have no interest in living anywhere outside of California and I would LOVE to stay in San Diego. I know that in general, the school you go to will determine where you will work, but if that school happens to be where I want to spend my life (friends, family, great weather all near SD), perhaps it's not such a bad idea? What kind of job opportunities would I have (Biglaw, etc.)?

As a disclaimer, I'm not an idiot. I know how to network, meet people, and such, so I'm just here to see if you guys think it's worth it in the long run to gain a little debt (at a better school) or would I be better off going to a lower ranked school with no debt in the area where I want to end up living? Thanks!

[Tiago Splitter]

Native San Diegan here. San Diego is flooded with law students, although it's gotten a little better in recent years. Still, there are far more students than jobs. To make matters worse, there is an extremely limited supply of big law jobs, to the point that even someone with good grades at a top school can't count on something in San Diego.

That said, if your goal is just to be in San Diego in any kind of legal job, you're probably best off taking the USD full ride and hustling for something local, whether in a small firm or government position. Maybe 5% of USD students will get big law these days, so don't count on it. Ideally you'd at least get a full ride or close to it from USC/UCLA, but depending on your GPA this may not be possible.

[whats an updog]

Native San Diegan here. San Diego is flooded with law students, although it's gotten a little better in recent years. Still, there are far more students than jobs. To make matters worse, there is an extremely limited supply of big law jobs, to the point that even someone with good grades at a top school can't count on something in San Diego.

That said, if your goal is just to be in San Diego in any kind of legal job, you're probably best off taking the USD full ride and hustling for something local, whether in a small firm or government position. Maybe 5% of USD students will get big law these days, so don't count on it. Ideally you'd at least get a full ride or close to it from USC/UCLA, but depending on your GPA this may not be possible.

Another Native San Diegan here. I would say that the above is pretty accurate. I have met USD grads in biglaw, but they were almost all on law review there.

[KevCon]

'YourAWizardHarry',

I was in the same situation. If the 'alternative' Law School happens to be Harvard / in the very Top Tier, it would be worth spending the money. If not, lack of debt and all associated benefits of that Free Ride are compelling opportunity and you should grab it with both hands.

Like you, I was offered a generous Free Ride to a very good Law School. I was also admitted to a couple excellent schools I and the 'Rankings' considered superior. If you've not been accepted into, say, Harvard Law School then going where they offer lowered or no Tuition is absolutely an excellent choice, especially if you plan to stay in the area where that school is known and has an Alumni population.

I was immensely fortunate because I was offered complete Tuition remission, plus a monthly Stipend so I did not need to borrow for Law School; my classmates graduated with an average of about $100,000 in debt. That debt is subject to very high interest rates, front-end loaded - repayment is a massive undertaking that takes over a decade of sacrifice each and every month - each dollar borrowed is compounded. Conversely, Tuition remission or a Free Ride is tantamount to investing $1 and getting a Return of at least $2, given all involved in that direct comparison.

Because I went where my Tuition was paid, I was "Free" compared to my classmates / peers. My choices were not dictated by money or being trapped, painted into a corner where one decision was all-but made for me. I avoided the massive insecurity, never to be underestimated, of having a huge debt load for an intangible asset that cannot be sold with a loan that can not be bankrupted, etc., and will stay with you until paid off. An excellent job right away does not mean it will always be that way - what will you do if you owe huge debt and lose that awesome job? Imagine that carefully, because it happens all of the time.

Take that Free Ride - hands down. It also provides you with an excellent Fact on your Resume - everyone is properly impressed by the notion of a Free Ride (which is far more impressive to many employers and peers than having a degree from that better school). Hope that is helpful - if you're smart enough to obtain a free ride, you're smart enough to make the best decision about this.

[BigZuck]

'YourAWizardHarry',

I was in the same situation. If the 'alternative' Law School happens to be Harvard / in the very Top Tier, it would be worth spending the money. If not, lack of debt and all associated benefits of that Free Ride are compelling opportunity and you should grab it with both hands.

Like you, I was offered a generous Free Ride to a very good Law School. I was also admitted to a couple excellent schools I and the 'Rankings' considered superior. If you've not been accepted into, say, Harvard Law School then going where they offer lowered or no Tuition is absolutely an excellent choice, especially if you plan to stay in the area where that school is known and has an Alumni population.

I was immensely fortunate because I was offered complete Tuition remission, plus a monthly Stipend so I did not need to borrow for Law School; my classmates graduated with an average of about $100,000 in debt. That debt is subject to very high interest rates, front-end loaded - repayment is a massive undertaking that takes over a decade of sacrifice each and every month - each dollar borrowed is compounded. Conversely, Tuition remission or a Free Ride is tantamount to investing $1 and getting a Return of at least $2, given all involved in that direct comparison.

Because I went where my Tuition was paid, I was "Free" compared to my classmates / peers. My choices were not dictated by money or being trapped, painted into a corner where one decision was all-but made for me. I avoided the massive insecurity, never to be underestimated, of having a huge debt load for an intangible asset that cannot be sold with a loan that can not be bankrupted, etc., and will stay with you until paid off. An excellent job right away does not mean it will always be that way - what will you do if you owe huge debt and lose that awesome job? Imagine that carefully, because it happens all of the time.

Take that Free Ride - hands down. It also provides you with an excellent Fact on your Resume - everyone is properly impressed by the notion of a Free Ride (which is far more impressive to many employers and peers than having a degree from that better school). Hope that is helpful - if you're smart enough to obtain a free ride, you're smart enough to make the best decision about this.

I think there's probably a lot wrong with this post, but the last paragraph really stands out.

"Many" employers are NOT going to be more impressed with someone who was on a full ride at a school like San Diego vs a Harvard grad. Especially if that San Diego grad doesn't end up with tippy top grades.

If you can be top of your class at a school like San Diego (which is impossible to predict) then you'll hopefully be on decent shape, especially when looking for a job in San Diego. But the school name will always be on your resume, and you will probably be forever locked out of certain jobs that Harvard students can get fairly easily, regardless of grades.

OP-I agree with Tiago, if your heart is set on living in San Diego long term then USD on a full ride is probably your best bet (assuming you can't get Stanford/Berkeley/UCLA/USC for an appropriate cost). Just don't plan on getting great grades or getting a big law job. The former would be very hard to do and the latter extremely hard to do.

[unsweetened]

Does USD stack their scholarship students in the same section? I feel like options would be better from UCLA/USC, especially if San Diego doesn't work out.

[zot1]

Wondering why you're not considering UCI. We have tons of SD natives who got jobs back there (big law and government, that I know of).

On the other hand, I've only met three people who go/went to USD and two are unemployed (well, one is on a JD-preferred job doing non-legal work) and the other seems to think he'll graduate without prospects (though this is an incredible small sample size and maybe I don't have gunner friends from SD). I do happen to believe that maybe you can do better because you're a badass, but TLS would shut that down right away as giving out false hope.

[BigZuck]

Wondering why you're not considering UCI. We have tons of SD natives who got jobs back there (big law and government, that I know of).

On the other hand, I've only met three people who go/went to USD and two are unemployed (well, one is on a JD-preferred job doing non-legal work) and the other seems to think he'll graduate without prospects (though this is an incredible small sample size and maybe I don't have gunner friends from SD). I do happen to believe that maybe you can do better because you're a badass, but TLS would shut that down right away as giving out false hope.

Let's be real though: The "tons" of UCI students who got big law and government jobs in SD is an incredibly small sample size as well.

And whatever level of badassness one would need to have to assume amazing grades before ever taking a law school exam, the OP certainly hasn't conveyed it based on one TLS post.

OP- don't assume you'd be any better than the average USD grad.

[zot1]

Wondering why you're not considering UCI. We have tons of SD natives who got jobs back there (big law and government, that I know of).

On the other hand, I've only met three people who go/went to USD and two are unemployed (well, one is on a JD-preferred job doing non-legal work) and the other seems to think he'll graduate without prospects (though this is an incredible small sample size and maybe I don't have gunner friends from SD). I do happen to believe that maybe you can do better because you're a badass, but TLS would shut that down right away as giving out false hope.

Let's be real though: The "tons" of UCI students who got big law and government jobs in SD is an incredibly small sample size as well.

And whatever level of badassness one would need to have to assume amazing grades before ever taking a law school exam, the OP certainly hasn't conveyed it based on one TLS post.

OP- don't assume you'd be any better than the average USD grad.

Oh I never claimed UCI sample size is good either. I mean, this after all has been the great argument against UCI; great clerkship placement = who cares! They're small! Good employment figures = well duh! Because they're small. I get it. I've heard this for years now.

And yeah that was my point... TLS would never let me get away with telling people they could be different. You just proved that haha! It's fair though. I think it's better to go into bad situations with eyes wide open. I'm just a dreamer that things work out in the end. But this is certainly almost always not the case (see The Vale).