Career & Grad School Advice (Law Related)

[AlphaFrog]

This may be a ridiculous question, but can someone only get one law degree, forever and ever amen? I thought there were specialized degrees...could he get one at his current school and work for awhile, then when you've saved some money/finished grad school/whatever go back and get another degree from a better school?

[dekeguy]

Regarding the question of whether to transfer to the tier one school there is one important point that has so far been overlooked. What kind of law does your SO intend to practice. The area or areas of Law must be taken into consideration. Further, the 'where' is likewise important. In some sections of the country a strong regional or state law school could be seen as preferable to a top school like Harvard, Yale, NYU, Stanford, U of Chicago, etc. If most of the partners in regional firms graduated from Tulane, LSU, Mizzou, Arizona, Loyola-Chicago, etc one might be smart to carefully consider this. An 'Ivy' might be seen as great for the theory of the law but less so for nuts and bolts practice. On the other hand, if the SO wants a crack at a major national or international firm representing mega-clients then the top of the first tier is an important consideration. Does he want Corporate or Criminal? Private or Government practice? Sports law or Admiralty? (for admiralty I think Tulane is the top choice)* Anyway, I suggest that you target the end goal and be guided accordingly.


*My comment about Tulane is based on observation, not attendance. I went to law school in England.