Top Law Schools

Okay I'm REALLY torn here: I want to practice in a big law firm in Cali (north or south, doesn't matter) and I'm concerned about Pepperdine's reputation vs. a school like Hastings or Davis which are T1. Pepperdine is offering me $23k/yr. and as of yet, neither Hastings or Davis has made me any offers (though they are public schools, so tuition isn't as bad anyway). I need advice as to what I should do here, as I certainly want to work at a prestigious law firm but I don't want to graduate burdened in debt.

Also, if anyone knows how Cali's laws for establishing in-state residency work (i.e. can I claim in-state tuition after my first year?) then PLEASE let me know. Thanks!

I don't know how the law for residency works...but if you want to work in biglaw...DONT GO TO PEPPERDINE. They are way overshadowed by Loyola, and you will have a much easier time getting a biglaw job from either Hastings or Davis (maybe even more so from Hastings).

Did you apply to Loyola? They'd probably give you similar $$...and give you a better, although not great, show at biglaw.

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Pepperdine is a great option. If you work your arse off and finish in the top 30% of your class, you'll be fine. Regarding Pepperdine vs. Loyola, a lot of threads on this board about that already. My feeling however is that Pepperdine is on the rise and Loyola is kind of stuck where it is.

from what i have learned, hasting has a much bigger network of alumni around the state and is easier to get into big law than through davis.

I would try aim at Hastings. It seems like it has the best reputation overall. The COL may be high and the location may be a bit "rough" however.

aaaah, the ghetto. it will remind me of my schoolboy days.

Pepperdine is a beautiful school...great community, ect... It's a fine school if you're not gunning for biglaw...which is what the OP wants.

Just look up the NALP interviews for Pepperdine vs. Loyola. Loyola beats Pepperdine by a landslide. Pepperdine might be on the rise, but LA firms really aren't taking note of it.

If you're looking to do something other than biglaw, then Pepperdine might totally be worth the money.

but you will have to hang out with kenneth starr. that would keep me out of any law school.

kevsocko wrote:but you will have to hang out with kenneth starr. that would keep me out of any law school.

TITCR (my first use of the acronym!)

publicservant101 wrote:

kevsocko wrote:but you will have to hang out with kenneth starr. that would keep me out of any law school.

TITCR (my first use of the acronym!)

at the risk of sounding really dumb, what does TITCR stand for?
.

don't worry hope, after seeing it all over TLS i finally gave in and looked it up...it stands for "this is the credited response" ...good ol' LSAT references, gotta love 'em.

I wouldn't be concerned about being "too liberal" at Pepperdine. They don't reject liberals. In fact, their faculty is split about 50-50. Few colleges can come close to claiming an ideological balance.

It is certainly a unique school, not for everybody.

hope wrote:

publicservant101 wrote:

kevsocko wrote:but you will have to hang out with kenneth starr. that would keep me out of any law school.

TITCR (my first use of the acronym!)

at the risk of sounding really dumb, what does TITCR stand for?

And yes, I am a bit concerned that I'm too liberal, even though I'm Christian.

Well Loyola is in the hood, and I didn't apply there anyway so that's out of the question. Does anyone know what UC Hastings or Pepperdine are like? Any law students in Cali or pre-law hopefuls that know the region well? I'm trying to gauge how important this whole "reputation" factor really is.

I do know that Pepperdine told an LGBT applilcant that they dont accept their kind...

sjkarlina wrote:I do know that Pepperdine told an LGBT applilcant that they dont accept their kind...

They did? That's unforntunate

To the OP, go to Hastings.

loyola over pepperdine

Davis over loyola generally

but Loyola over Davis for biglaw LA

Hastings over all that

Davis over Hastings for PI

And not going to law school over pepperdine

mrbuckfutter wrote: Davis over Hastings for PI

Why Davis over Hastings for PI?

because as many hippies as there are in SF, even more go to davis

mrbuckfutter wrote:
And not going to law school over pepperdine

Haha, I love you man.

kevsocko wrote:because as many hippies as there are in SF, even more go to davis

Both Davis and Hastings 3Ls have called me to talk and they confirm that Hastings OCI recruitment in general is not geared toward PI while Davis 3L talked up a storm about all the PI they do and admitted they aren't geared toward biglaw.

mrbuckfutter wrote:Both Davis and Hastings 3Ls have called me to talk and they confirm that Hastings OCI recruitment in general is not geared toward PI while Davis 3L talked up a storm about all the PI they do and admitted they aren't geared toward biglaw.

Hastings actually hosts a career day with formal OCIs specifically for public interest. I spoke to a couple of public interest attorneys in the Bay Area in the past week, and while they both had good things to say about Davis, they made it clear that they felt Hastings offered stronger opportunities (one was a public defender, the other works in employment law). One of the things they stressed was Hastings advantage of being based in San Francisco where many of the top PI jobs are. They both have excellent LRAP programs.

What is Hastings' campus life like? Does anybody know if its a very strong community atmosphere, or is it more of a commuter school?

it has no real campus, just a coupe of buildings. i've heard its what you make of it.