f_m (or anyone else who has gone through the law school process and gotten a job afterwards)

 

i've already turned in my applications, heard back from many schools, and i've got a pretty good idea of my options. my question to you is whether or not it is better to take a ton of money, in some cases a full scholarship, at a t3 or t4 as opposed to borrowing all the money at a t1 or t2. the t3/t4 that have given me scholarships are in cities i want to work/live in (minneapolis and milwaukee) whereas the t1 and t2 are much better schools (miami, ohio st, indiana) but in areas that i'd rather not live if necessary. this all becomes moot, i guess, if i get into iowa or wisconsin but i don't think that's gonna happen, or at least before i get waitlisted. basically i'd like to know if from your experience it's nearly impossible to get a good job as a lawyer in a reputable firm straight out of law school coming from a t3/t4, as i've heard from some people, or if it's still quite possible if you're located in a big city and finish towards the top of your class (which i believe i can do at these t3/t4's). if you've got any insight on this i'd appreciate it. thanks.

 

In terms of just getting a look from firms, the T3 and T4s arent as bad if you want to absolutely stay in those cities. But then you really need to be in the top half of your class without much leeway for screw-up. Those two cities are better in the sense that there arent too many big time schools in the city trumping you for the law firm jobs but there arent that many law firms in those two states either. For example, in DC, a T3 and T4 top of the class grad is still competing with the middle of the class grad from Georgetown, UVA, GWU, and numerous other schools and their middle of the road students. In New Orleans, Loyola(a T4 in Nola) grads found jobs at firms because they only had to worry about Tulane and 80% of Tulane students leave the state. I think it depends also on the school. Some T4s really are not going to get you anything even if you succeed. Others have the history and the alumni in that city which Loyola has. Also, if you're sure you can be top of the class at the T3s and T4s, you might be able to transfer to Wisconsin or Minnesota law schools.

 

But the huge risk again is that if you arent near top of the class, you're pretty much not getting a look at a firm job despite your best efforts. Of course it might not matter because the investment ends up being next to nothing so your financial risk is less.

 

Similiarly, Miami and Indiana aren't assurances at jobs but top of the class there gets you in much better shape to expand your field. I really wouldn't recommend going to those schools unless you're sure you want to work in the markets they specialize in or you're positive you can beat out everyone else to be top class. The problem is if you don't end up tops there, you've invested a ton of money and now have to be extremely aggressive to get back to the cities you want to get into. And even if you are top of the class, there is still a certain degree of competition to get back into the cities you want.

 

If you're positive you want to work in those two cities, Id look up firms in the area and see where their lawyers come from. If in general you don't see attorneys from a particular school T3/4 school in the city, then that school is not going to get you in even if you do well. But if you see a good chunk from a school, then that T3/T4 school will.

 

One good source for you is the NALP directory.

http://www.nalpdirectory.com/

 

Click on advance search, then click law firms, enter the city you want to be in, and then search. Then look at the bigger firms (70+), and go to the bottom and see what schools have on-campus interviews. If you tend to see your T3 and T4, youre in good shape. Also go to the law school and see what firms do on campus interviews there and youll get a good picture.

 

Hope that helps.

that helps alot - thanks

No problem.

 

And btw Das, UT-Austin is an outstanding school. Very good reputation.

No problem.

 

And btw Das, UT-Austin is an outstanding school. Very good reputation.

 

 

thats what i hear about UT-Austin.