Tulane Law Applicants 2012-2013 Cycle Forum

[kuttlefish]

In today, 20k/yr conditional on 3.0, numbers in profile.
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I also just had lunch with a local attorney to talk about different options and he had this to say:

Local firms tend to treat Tulane with some suspicion since it attracts a lot of out-of-state students who decide to "settle" for New Orleans only if they strike out at big-law and whatever home state they came from. That's not to say you're disqualified or anything, but if you're from out-of-state and you plan on staying here after graduation, be sure to start building ties and commitments to the area as soon as you can. A local who went to school out-of-state and came back home would probably do better than an out-of-stater who decided to stay after a couple of years at Tulane. NOLA is an insular city and has some "abandonment issues."

He also cautioned about their partial scholarships. He said they give out a ton to 1L's and then hit you with a strict curve so a bunch of people end up losing them or getting downgraded. They want to bring in as many people as they can, then see where the chips fall. It's not like they're the only law school that does this, just something to consider.

Again, this is one person, so anecdote disclaimer, grain-of-salt, etc. And I'm not trying to troll against Tulane. They are one of the most respected schools in the Gulf Coast. If you want to specialize in Maritime law / long-shore cases / litigation dealing with oil rigs and drilling - there's no better school for that. Just a precaution, prestige in a small market =/= guaranteed positive outcome.

[Jredelman15]

congrats

jdredelman, i think ive seen you on the smu threads. I live in dallas, and I have apps to both schools as well. I didnt consider Houston. I figure if i'm gonna be in Texas, it's either for UT or SMU Congrats on Tulane. My appl updated 1/31....really hoping for some movement this week. I figured it wouldnt move because of Mardi Gras, but Im glad to see you guys getting admits (with some money too)

Yeah I was accepted to SMU in the PT program. I hope they send some scholarship monies.

[Aberzombie1892]

Tulane has changed its rules on scholarships since the attorney you talked to graduated. 75%+ of the class will have a 1L GPA above 3.0. If you are in the bottom 25% and not well connected or wealthy, I would at least considering dropping out regardless of your scholarship situation.

Most students who attend Tulane end up returning to where they have ties to. That being said, it's not exactly uncommon for someone to end up in a market that they didn't have pre-existing ties to.

[Psib337]

Also in today, $25k/year as long as my GPA is 3.0 or higher, my LSN is in my profile.

[kuttlefish]

Tulane has changed its rules on scholarships since the attorney you talked to graduated. 75%+ of the class will have a 1L GPA above 3.0.

That's good to hear. Do you know what median is?

If you are in the bottom 25% and not well connected or wealthy, I would at least considering dropping out regardless of your scholarship situation.

I definitely agree and that goes for any law school outside of HSY

Most students who attend Tulane end up returning to where they have ties to. That being said, it's not exactly uncommon for someone to end up in a market that they didn't have pre-existing ties to.

I was referring mainly to the New Orleans market. A better way to summarize the meeting would have been that local firms would take top 25% from Loyola/LSU over median at Tulane even though Tulane is ranked much higher. If someone strikes out at NYC big law, the locals aren't going to be any more forgiving just because of the USNews Ranking. That said, if someone wants NOLA Law, Tulane will certainly get you there, you just have to aim for it like anything else.

The main take away I got from this lunch was going into law school blind is a terrible idea. Make sure you have a plan and choose the best school that will make that plan a reality. I don't think anyone at TLS is going to disagree with that advice.

[JayJones78]

Tulane has changed its rules on scholarships since the attorney you talked to graduated. 75%+ of the class will have a 1L GPA above 3.0.

That's good to hear. Do you know what median is?

If you are in the bottom 25% and not well connected or wealthy, I would at least considering dropping out regardless of your scholarship situation.

I definitely agree and that goes for any law school outside of HSY

Most students who attend Tulane end up returning to where they have ties to. That being said, it's not exactly uncommon for someone to end up in a market that they didn't have pre-existing ties to.

I was referring mainly to the New Orleans market. A better way to summarize the meeting would have been that local firms would take top 25% from Loyola/LSU over median at Tulane even though Tulane is ranked much higher. If someone strikes out at NYC big law, the locals aren't going to be any more forgiving just because of the USNews Ranking. That said, if someone wants NOLA Law, Tulane will certainly get you there, you just have to aim for it like anything else.

The main take away I got from this lunch was going into law school blind is a terrible idea. Make sure you have a plan and choose the best school that will make that plan a reality. I don't think anyone at TLS is going to disagree with that advice.

Is there such thing as NOLA big law? If so what's its median salary?

[kuttlefish]

Is there such thing as NOLA big law? If so what's its median salary?

Not really. Our biggest law is what most places would call mid-law. $80-100k. Most first year jobs are in the $45-75k range.

I'm just a paralegal trying to gather as much info as possible. Aberzombie is a practicing lawyer (I think) so he/she might have better info.

[cooldude87]

anyone try to negotiate scholly?

[rshw89]

Accepted today via status checker.

[midwestbest]

when did you apply? My status still says File Complete 12-8

[mmlennon]

Accepted today via email!

[geauxtigers2009]

Those accepted today, when did y'all apply?

[atay]

In today via email. App. Sent 12/1.

[rshw89]

Those accepted today, when did y'all apply?

Submitted 1/6/13 and complete on 1/11/13

[nolabound]

Tulane has changed its rules on scholarships since the attorney you talked to graduated. 75%+ of the class will have a 1L GPA above 3.0.

That's good to hear. Do you know what median is?

If you are in the bottom 25% and not well connected or wealthy, I would at least considering dropping out regardless of your scholarship situation.

I definitely agree and that goes for any law school outside of HSY

Most students who attend Tulane end up returning to where they have ties to. That being said, it's not exactly uncommon for someone to end up in a market that they didn't have pre-existing ties to.

I was referring mainly to the New Orleans market. A better way to summarize the meeting would have been that local firms would take top 25% from Loyola/LSU over median at Tulane even though Tulane is ranked much higher. If someone strikes out at NYC big law, the locals aren't going to be any more forgiving just because of the USNews Ranking. That said, if someone wants NOLA Law, Tulane will certainly get you there, you just have to aim for it like anything else.

The main take away I got from this lunch was going into law school blind is a terrible idea. Make sure you have a plan and choose the best school that will make that plan a reality. I don't think anyone at TLS is going to disagree with that advice.

Tulane 1l here. The curve is about a B+.

What you said about NOLA hiring is basically the conventional wisdom around here. Basically firms don't want to invest 3 years of training you to have you move back home right when you become profitable to them. But, that being said if you take the civil law classes and spend your summers in the city that shows you are committed to staying you have a better shot (at least that is the wisdom I have hear from Professors and a firm recruiter).

FYI if anyone is wondering about the civil law/ common law thing--you don't have to decide until the end of your first semester and then if you take civil law for spring semester you can always go back to common law track in the fall. Or vice versa, you can as a 2l or 3l take some civil law classes if you decide you are going to stay here.

[Aberzombie1892]

Is there such thing as NOLA big law? If so what's its median salary?

Not really. Our biggest law is what most places would call mid-law. $80-100k. Most first year jobs are in the $45-75k range.

I'm just a paralegal trying to gather as much info as possible. Aberzombie is a practicing lawyer (I think) so he/she might have better info.

The market rate is between $75,000-110,000. However, there are not a lot of jobs that pay that much here, as there are only so many large firm offices here that hire only so many students. In addition, their offer rates are usually fairly low too.

Fortunately, they usually allow split summers, and I would strongly suggest splitting your summer between one of them and a firm in a different state that has high offer rates (like a firm in Texas, NY, or another state).

[elliephant]

Given substantial scholarship to Tulane, but I have full-ride offers at slightly lower-ranked schools that I have friends attending. No debt seems better than $30,000 (not even including living expenses.) Worth it?

[Aberzombie1892]

Given substantial scholarship to Tulane, but I have full-ride offers at slightly lower-ranked schools that I have friends attending. No debt seems better than $30,000 (not even including living expenses.) Worth it?

What are the other schools? Where do you have ties to? Where do you want to work? What do you want to do your first year out of law school? Do you have any connections? What type of law would you want to practice long term?

As you can see, direct comparisons are hard to do, especially without more information.

[midwestbest]

In via email today. 10k a year

[nba101790]

Second complete date today, now with two deposit lines appearing under fees. This mean anything? Also, how does Tulane notify?

Thanks!

[Jredelman15]

Has anyone attempted negotiating with Tulane?

[elliejoon]

In today! Small scholarship amount, but I expected that since I have a super super low UGPA. Went complete 01/03.

[cnk]

Second complete date today, now with two deposit lines appearing under fees. This mean anything? Also, how does Tulane notify?

Thanks!

I have had the 2 deposit lines under the fees (I believe that appeared after my second complete date back in Dec.) I was denied last week (via status checker, letter is apparently in the mail too).

[rawaldru]

in today via email...went complete on 1/9 and 1/31

[magictheatre]

Has anyone attempted negotiating with Tulane?

I'd like to know too.