Top Law Schools

First, I'm aware my undergrad is pitiful relative to other law applicants.

I have a 2.3gpa w/ a BS in Accounting. I was not mature enough for college when I started & I spent most of my remainder recovering from 2 years of very poor performance.. the importance of grades never had any impact on me at the time, which has certainly come full circle. Ideally, I would like to attend UF to earn a JD/LL.M in international taxation simultaneously. I am a FL resident and I intend to stay in the SE region. I am a licensed CPA with 5 years of work experience. I have several niches of expertise within my field. I can most certainly write an outstanding addenda for my GPA and can obtain excellent LORs. I have a 175 LSAT. No other noteworthy accomplishments or involvements (e.g., volunteering, societies beyond AICPA, etc) apply.

Chances? Constructive suggestions? I was thinking about applying to 1 school in the top 5/10/15/20 as well for fun.

Edit: not URM

tmc wrote: Chances? Constructive suggestions? I was thinking about applying to 1 school in the top 5/10/15/20 as well for fun.

Is it fun to waste money?

The money isn't as important as the inexplicable chance of success.

Ragged wrote:

tmc wrote: Chances? Constructive suggestions? I was thinking about applying to 1 school in the top 5/10/15/20 as well for fun.

Is it fun to waste money?

Northwestern wouldn't be a waste of money.

tmc wrote: Chances? Constructive suggestions? I was thinking about applying to 1 school in the top 5/10/15/20 as well for fun.

App in top 5/10 would be a waste of money, though NW certainly wouldnt (still doubtful on chances though).

Wait a cycle and ED to Northwestern.

whymeohgodno wrote:Wait a cycle and ED to Northwestern.

Might as well spend the extra 112 dollars and apply this year too.

If you are interested in the AJD program Northwestern has, that will increase your chances if you apply to both. Get your JD in two years that way.

Thank you for the thoughts.

Based on the above, it sounds like I may have a pretty respectable chance at UF if my chances at NU are visible, yes?

I had picked UF because their LLM program is so highly ranked. That tax specialization is the reason I am pursuing a law degree. I have no interest in fields outside of tax/finance. Northwestern's LLM is also highly ranked.. however, I think the tuition savings from FL residency & slightly higher LLM rank makes UF far more attractive. Having said that, I would certainly goto NU if UF did not pan out.

Don't get an LLM now. Get your JD and let your employer fund your LLM. Chances are, you wont even need it

tmc wrote:Thank you for the thoughts.

Based on the above, it sounds like I may have a pretty respectable chance at UF if my chances at NU are visible, yes?

I had picked UF because their LLM program is so highly ranked. That tax specialization is the reason I am pursuing a law degree. I have no interest in fields outside of tax/finance. Northwestern's LLM is also highly ranked.. however, I think the tuition savings from FL residency & slightly higher LLM rank makes UF far more attractive. Having said that, I would certainly goto NU if UF did not pan out.

Can you apply directly to UF as a joint JD/LLM? Can any JD at UF just get into the LLM program or is there a separate admission?

I'm not sure how good a of chance you have at UF. They seem to reject people with your GPA in the past, but with good work experience who knows.

NU has a 3 year JD/LLM that is worth looking at.

Miami has a strong tax law program. Check out their LLM. I believe they offer a joint program versus separate application. Miami and UF should be your focus as it relates to FL. Either way, you need to turn your applications in as of tomorrow if you haven't done so already. With such a low GPA, you need all the little boost you can get. Good luck!

Forget about the LLM for now, the USNews rankings don't mean shit, school prestige and practice area lockdown is what counts (and for LLM in tax, that means going to NYU).

Apply to Northwestern, Georgetown, Illinois, WUSTL, Indiana, Iowa. Only school in Florida to consider should be UF (your GPA is shit, but your LSAT for them is the shit).