International application with LSAT 160, which school? Forum

[lifeaway1985]

With my poor LSAT score, I have no chance to go those schools that I have ever heard of. For those schools that I have never heard of, I have no idea which is proper for me (I can only get ranking info from US news which is somehow snobbish). Please give me some advice about safety school and reach school.

Here is my basic information:

GPA: 3.6ish after evaluated from LSAC and got above average.
WE: I have almost five year working experience in a US law firm in my country-the position is like translator.
Career: After legal education in the US, I plan to go back to my own country to practice. So I guess I have no location preferences in the US.
Living expense: the lower the better.

Thanks!!!

[3ThrowAway99]

Wow- interesting question. Do you have a pretty much guaranteed job when you get back to your country? If so, I think there is a lot less pressure as to what school you choose (in terms of both prestige and region). However, even in that case I would research U.S. cities and see where you might want to live, and then from there you may want to make decisions based on how debt averse you are. It's nice to have a higher quality education than otherwise, but I think- in general terms- you will get a decent education at most ABA approved law schools. The main reason I think low tier schools are hated is that they charge a lot and then can't deliver the jobs in the U.S. But if all you need is an ABA law school degree to practice in your country, some of the disdain may not apply. However, if you are looking to go to the best school possible and can afford to pay for it, I think you have a shot at some lower T1 schools such as American, George Mason, U of Arizona, etc. You probably have a good shot at many of the schools listed 50-100.

If you don't have a more or less guaranteed job upon graduation, then I think you really need to carefully research the costs and benefits of getting a U.S. law degree. The market is really bad right now, and you would probably have some risk going to a 50-100 or even lower T1 (maybe 30/35-50) I think if you go paying full tuition and end up performing toward the bottom of your class. That is for U.S. employment prospects though, which may not apply to you. Bottom line is that I would do a lot of research on the schools out there (check out their websites, data, LSAC info, this site etc).

[bk1]

Curious as to why you are going to a US law school if you are planning to practice in a foreign country.

Retaking the LSAT is worth it if you want a prestigious degree.

If that prestige is irrelevant for hiring wherever you are going then just go to the cheapest school you can possible find.

[Grizz]

Curious as to why you are going to a US law school if you are planning to practice in a foreign country.

Retaking the LSAT is worth it if you want a prestigious degree.

If that prestige is irrelevant for hiring wherever you are going then just go to the cheapest school you can possible find.

+1

[lifeaway1985]

Curious as to why you are going to a US law school if you are planning to practice in a foreign country.

Retaking the LSAT is worth it if you want a prestigious degree.

If that prestige is irrelevant for hiring wherever you are going then just go to the cheapest school you can possible find.

First of all, my decision to get US legal education is mainly because I have worked in a US law firm and know how such education turns out and how the work is like, and domestic legal education is not as good as that in the US. Besides, I may not practice corporate law and may dedicate to the legal refom in my own country, which I know sounds too difficult and unrealistic.

I like my current job and do not want to take sometime off to prepare. My current job is very time and energy consuming. Therefore, I am pretty sure I will not score higher if retaking.

Prestige is quite tricky here. If I could get in a better school, I may have the chance to get an associate position secured in my current firm. Therefore, prestige does matter. However, I do not have very deep pocket and may depend on loans. If I choose a not-so-good school, I may have less stress on tuitions, but I cannot get a job easily in my current firm...

[bk1]

First of all, my decision to get US legal education is mainly because I have worked in a US law firm and know how such education turns out and how the work is like, and domestic legal education is not as good as that in the US. Besides, I may not practice corporate law and may dedicate to the legal refom in my own country, which I know sounds too difficult and unrealistic.

I like my current job and do not want to take sometime off to prepare. My current job is very time and energy consuming. Therefore, I am pretty sure I will not score higher if retaking.

Prestige is quite tricky here. If I could get in a better school, I may have the chance to get an associate position secured in my current firm. Therefore, prestige does matter. However, I do not have very deep pocket and may depend on loans. If I choose a not-so-good school, I may have less stress on tuitions, but I cannot get a job easily in my current firm...

I'm still a little lost, what does the quality of the legal education matter here?

If you go to law school in the U.S., you will learn American law. If you want to practice in another country, wouldn't it be better to go to a school in that country and learn the law of that country? To me it seems like the content is a lot more important than the quality considering where you want to practice.

[lifeaway1985]

I think the methods that law schools teach you to analyze is more important than the content, to some extent.

[bk1]

I think the methods that law schools teach you to analyze is more important than the content, to some extent.

The other thing to note is that, at least for law in the US, the name of the degree is more valuable than the skills it confers. What I mean is that when choosing a law school in the US, it is best to choose one based on job prospects because they all teach roughly the same thing (because they are required to by the ABA).

[99.9luft]

Retake

[lifeaway1985]

I think the methods that law schools teach you to analyze is more important than the content, to some extent.

The other thing to note is that, at least for law in the US, the name of the degree is more valuable than the skills it confers. What I mean is that when choosing a law school in the US, it is best to choose one based on job prospects because they all teach roughly the same thing (because they are required to by the ABA).

I see. Thanks.

[tea_drinker]

However, if you are looking to go to the best school possible and can afford to pay for it, I think you have a shot at some lower T1 schools such as American, George Mason, U of Arizona, etc. You probably have a good shot at many of the schools listed 50-100.

You should think about this suggestion. Also, what country/continent are you from?

[lifeaway1985]

However, if you are looking to go to the best school possible and can afford to pay for it, I think you have a shot at some lower T1 schools such as American, George Mason, U of Arizona, etc. You probably have a good shot at many of the schools listed 50-100.

You should think about this suggestion. Also, what country/continent are you from?

Asia. Will the admission committee in those law schools consider non-native speakers to have obstacles to get in?

[CanadianWolf]

Based on your less than perfect command of the English language, a score of 160 on the LSAT is quite impressive.

USNews law school rankings should be a great resource for you. Consider Iowa, Indiana, Wisconsin, Wake Forest, George Mason, Tulane, and look over tier two law schools for locations (based on weather & urban, suburban or rural) & offerings of interest to you.

Is your country's legal system based on common law (English system) or civil law (French system) ? If civil law, then apply to LSU (Louisiana State University). If common law & you are paying full tuition, then consider Canadian law schools. If you apply to Canadian law schools, you must reregister with the Canadian version of LSDAS & your GPA will rise since many of your lowest grades will be discarded.

[lifeaway1985]

Based on your less than perfect command of the English language, a score of 160 on the LSAT is quite impressive.

USNews law school rankings should be a great resource for you. Consider Iowa, Indiana, Wisconsin, Wake Forest, George Mason, Tulane, and look over tier two law schools for locations (based on weather & urban, suburban or rural) & offerings of interest to you.

Is your country's legal system based on common law (English system) or civil law (French system) ? If civil law, then apply to LSU (Louisiana State University). If common law & you are paying full tuition, then consider Canadian law schools. If you apply to Canadian law schools, you must reregister with the Canadian version of LSDAS & your GPA will rise since many of your lowest grades will be discarded.

Just applied for George Mason and Wake Forest.

[tea_drinker]

How comfortable do you think you are living in non-, or should I say far way from, Asian communities? Since this plays a big factor in where you want to apply to/attend law school.

According to UIowa, it has a good international/comparative law, so you should look into that. You mentioned you are exposed to works at an US firm, but do you know which type of law you will be interested in?

Also, check out this article. http://www.top-law-schools.com/legal-work-in-china.html. It is on Practicing Law in China, but can provide some perspectives.

[CanadianWolf]

I recently read an article that found Iowa City to be the most educated city in the US based on the percentage of adults with bachelors degrees. This suggests that the University of Iowa might be an enjoyable place to spend three years in law school.

[Grizz]

I recently read an article that found Iowa City to be the most educated city in the US based on the percentage of adults with bachelors degrees. This suggests that the University of Iowa might be an enjoyable place to spend three years in law school.

No way I like to chill with people I can dominate intellectually.

[Jack Smirks]

I recently read an article that found Iowa City to be the most educated city in the US based on the percentage of adults with bachelors degrees.

Article please.

[lifeaway1985]

I have not taken TOEFL yet. Therefore, I cannot apply for U of Iowa.