Top Law Schools

I am a Los Angeles native and plan on doing corporate, transactional work at a big law firm in LA after law school (shoot me now). I am torn between the two and this is where I am at: I definitely like the California lifestyle more but am willing to "sacrifice" 3 years of that lifestyle for a better ranked and more prestigious law school if the advantages it confers are better than minimal.

All thoughts and opinions welcome

elliotmosh wrote:I am a Los Angeles native and plan on doing corporate, transactional work at a big law firm in LA after law school (shoot me now). I am torn between the two and this is where I am at: I definitely like the California lifestyle more but am willing to "sacrifice" 3 years of that lifestyle for a better ranked and more prestigious law school if the advantages it confers are better than minimal.

All thoughts and opinions welcome

Straight P's from Boalt with connections to LA tend to get offers just as easily as anyone else. I had straight P's and got callbacks; I lost all my offer opportunities to other Boalties who were from LA.

I wouldn't worry.

What's your COA at both schools? The "prestige" NYU has does not apply to CA biglaw.

Although cost of attendance information would be helpful, Berkeley is the obvious answer here. NYU is not going to help you get back to California over Berkeley.

elliotmosh wrote: am willing to "sacrifice" 3 years of that lifestyle for a better ranked and more prestigious law school if the advantages it confers are better than minimal.

All thoughts and opinions welcome

Two Points:

1) While better ranked in USNWR, NYU is not more prestigious than Berkeley.
2) Keep in mind that the Northern California lifestyle is just one version of the California lifestyle. The LA lifestyle is quite different.

To echo what the poster above me said, NYU is not more prestigious than Berkeley. If there is anything in US NEWS which has even an ounce of insight beyond admission stats, it is the lawyers and judges assessment scores of the schools since that shows a little bit into what the legal community thinks. NYU is on par with Berkeley in this aspect and lags behind HYSCC. If you want Cali, go Berk if the cost is equal. NYU places really well, but it also heavily feeds into NYC which is the biggest legal market in the country.

Also, So Cal >>>> Nor Cal.

Thanks for all the opinions guys. Just some more info: thankfully, money isn't an issue for me so I'm not factoring in COA into my decision. Nyu is also ranked higher in lst and above the law rankings whose methodology relies heavily on employment outcomes. I've also talked to a former recruiter from Latham and he said that nyu/Columbia grads raised in la are a novelty for la firms and they seek it out when the opportunity arises. He also said that there is far less competition for big law in la from NYU thank berk for obvious reasons which makes it easier. Yes firms have more spots for Berkeley and even ucla but you have to be in the top 15-25% to get big law in la where as you have more of a "cushion" at nyu.

Thoughts?

elliotmosh wrote:Thanks for all the opinions guys. Just some more info: thankfully, money isn't an issue for me so I'm not factoring in COA into my decision. Nyu is also ranked higher in lst and above the law rankings whose methodology relies heavily on employment outcomes. I've also talked to a former recruiter from Latham and he said that nyu/Columbia grads raised in la are a novelty for la firms and they seek it out when the opportunity arises. He also said that there is far less competition for big law in la from NYU thank berk for obvious reasons which makes it easier. Yes firms have more spots for Berkeley and even ucla but you have to be in the top 15-25% to get big law in la where as you have more of a "cushion" at nyu.

Thoughts?

The bolded just isn't true. LA is probably the easiest place for Boalt to get biglaw. People with straight P's aren't top 25% in any event.

Tanicius wrote:

elliotmosh wrote:Thanks for all the opinions guys. Just some more info: thankfully, money isn't an issue for me so I'm not factoring in COA into my decision. Nyu is also ranked higher in lst and above the law rankings whose methodology relies heavily on employment outcomes. I've also talked to a former recruiter from Latham and he said that nyu/Columbia grads raised in la are a novelty for la firms and they seek it out when the opportunity arises. He also said that there is far less competition for big law in la from NYU thank berk for obvious reasons which makes it easier. Yes firms have more spots for Berkeley and even ucla but you have to be in the top 15-25% to get big law in la where as you have more of a "cushion" at nyu.

Thoughts?

The bolded just isn't true. LA is probably the easiest place for Boalt to get biglaw. People with straight P's aren't top 25% in any event.

+1

Although the bit about being a novelty has a kernel of truth to it, the placement outcomes of the two schools are similar and I'd rather have the networking opportunities. Plus while it's great to visit, I would not want to live in NYC. But if you want to live someplace else for a while, that might be a reason to pick NYU.