Career & Grad School Advice (Law Related)

[Kevin]

Why is it not an option that he goes off to the Tier 1 school, which in any event, he probably should, and you move to wherever you want to move? It's only two years, and he isn't going to be worth too much being a law student.

If you are definitely staying physically together, I wouldn't pass up the opportunity to graduate from a Tier 1 law school. These next 2 years are going to dictate how the rest of your married life with this guy is going to unfold, and the Tier 1 option probably has a lot of upside.

[bigquestions]

Originally Posted by Kevin

Why is it not an option that he goes off to the Tier 1 school, which in any event, he probably should, and you move to wherever you want to move? It's only two years, and he isn't going to be worth too much being a law student.

Thanks for your response, Kevin! This option is not off the table. We would really prefer to stay in the same place since we've been living together for years, but I'm currently applying to a number of opportunities in other cities and if I get a really good one I would go.

[Leslie Anne]

Originally Posted by Kevin

If you are definitely staying physically together, I wouldn't pass up the opportunity to graduate from a Tier 1 law school. These next 2 years are going to dictate how the rest of your married life with this guy is going to unfold, and the Tier 1 option probably has a lot of upside.

^^^ This.

I know nothing about law school so all I can offer is the perspective of someone old and the Queen of Regrets. I'd strongly recommend leaving. Your current city isn't going to let either one of you reach your potential career-wise. Why settle? You're young and your life is full of promise. Putting down roots can wait. Trust me, you do not want to look back 15 or 20 years from now and wonder why, when you could have done anything, you let the opportunity pass you by. The only thing that seems to really be standing in your way is the cost of moving, a new place, and his law school. Yes, it adds up and it may not be easy for a while. But remember, a life lived without regrets is priceless.

Good luck!

[ADqtPiMel]

I speak from experience here -- my husband stayed at his lower-ranked (Tier 2) law school because he had a scholarship, rather than transferring to a Tier 1 school. Despite graduating in the top 10% of his class, law review, etc., he was unemployed for a full year after graduating and is about to be unemployed again (the judge he clerks for is retiring). His classmates are mostly in the same situation.

The answer is always, always, graduate from the best possible law school you can. We may have less debt, but the job prospects are limited.

[AnotherKD]

Originally Posted by ADqtPiMel

I speak from experience here -- my husband stayed at his lower-ranked (Tier 2) law school because he had a scholarship, rather than transferring to a Tier 1 school. Despite graduating in the top 10% of his class, law review, etc., he was unemployed for a full year after graduating and is about to be unemployed again (the judge he clerks for is retiring). His classmates are mostly in the same situation.

The answer is always, always, graduate from the best possible law school you can. We may have less debt, but the job prospects are limited.

YES @ bolded.

Especially now, with lots of people who have already graduated with law degrees from good schools with no opportunities in the field of law. No joke. I am not a lawyer, but about 90% of my friends in the area are, and we talk about things like this regularly.

Calling KDDani!