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(Message started by: KentorMSU? on May 16^th, 2006, 1:07pm)

Title: Chicago Attorneys - I need law school advice
Post by KentorMSU? on May 16^th, 2006, 1:07pm

I'm struggling to decide on which law school to attend. I can go to Michigan State on scholarship (and commute from home) for a fraction of the cost of living in Chicago and attending Kent. I'm not 100% sure I will want to practice in Chicago, but I am strongly entertaining the idea. I'm wondering how MSU College of Law is viewed by Chicago firms. I would be competing with six Chicago schools, five of which are ranked higher than MSU (although I really believe MSU will be a T100 school soon). What are my chances of getting a summer position in Chicago? What is the best way to go about it?

Another thought: If Chicago firms would rather hire from within the city, I'm wondering if going for Kent's LLM in International Intellectual Property would help. It would be cheaper for me to go to MSU and get an LLM at Kent than it would be to just get my JD at Kent. Problem is, I delay my career an extra year.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Title: Re: Chicago Attorneys - I need law school advice
Post by Jeff on May 16^th, 2006, 2:04pm

Go to kent and you don't need to bother w/ the LLM. Kent places VERY well in chicago for IP.
Though MSU has a good name for UG, the LS is still fairly new since merging w/ Detroit College of Law. They are also a 4th tier school, so that puts MANY schools ahead of you.

The main point is, if you want to work in chicago, go to Kent over MSU, that will be your best bet

Title: Re: Chicago Attorneys - I need law school advice
Post by Isaac on May 16^th, 2006, 2:16pm

I think the strategy of getting an LLM to compensate for a lower school ranking is a poor one. I'm not aware of any evidence that such a strategy works.

Title: Re: Chicago Attorneys - I need law school advice
Post by KentorMSU? on May 16^th, 2006, 3:37pm

I really appreciate the responses. My biggest question is with regards to how well MSU places in Chicago.

As for MSU being a 4th tier school, I read an interesting article in the student newspaper in which the dean stated:

"The change in the rankings was caused by a decrease in the reported employment rate of its graduates, Blackburn said.

The college must report the employment status of its alumni, but officials were unable to contact about 40 members of its spring 2004 graduating class, Blackburn said.

Three-quarters of the 40 graduates who could not be reached were then considered unemployed, based on the U.S. News & World Report scoring system, which caused the college's reported employment rate to drop by about 13 percent, Blackburn said."

http://www.statenews.com/article.phtml?pk=35797

I think MSU is definitely a law school on the rise. I just want to make sure I can get a job in Chicago if I ever desire one.

Title: Re: Chicago Attorneys - I need law school advice
Post by Isaac on May 16^th, 2006, 3:41pm

Do your own survey. Look for the bios of MSU grads on law firm web pages. Many alumni are happy to spend a small amount of time talking to prospective students.

Title: Re: Chicago Attorneys - I need law school advice
Post by jeff on May 16^th, 2006, 4:01pm

on 05/16/06 at 15:37:07, KentorMSU? wrote:

i looked into going there myself. My parents are good friends w/ some lawyers in chicago, so i had them ask around about MSU's rep in the city and didn't get an excellent response. needless to say, i am not at MSU

Title: Re: Chicago Attorneys - I need law school advice
Post by KentorMSU? on May 16^th, 2006, 4:13pm

on 05/16/06 at 16:01:38, jeff wrote:

Ah, thanks Jeff. Not exactly the news I wanted to hear, but I appreciate the response.

Isaac, I've searched many, many profiles, and while I've seen a couple MSU undergrads, I have yet to find an MSU Law/DCL grad. I guess that should tell me a lot.

Bummer.

Might just have to sack up the expenses and go to Kent.

Title: Re: Chicago Attorneys - I need law school advice
Post by IPW on May 17^th, 2006, 10:45am

I would go to Kent. Not only is it considered a better school nationally, but it places substantially better in Chicago, and has an IP focus.

I don't know your personal situation, but I think the best choice for your career would be Kent.

Hope this helps!

Title: Re: Chicago Attorneys - I need law school advice
Post by JAYC on May 22^nd, 2006, 2:22pm

How does Kent place in Chicago versus Depaul? I've gotten into both schools, but Depaul offered more scholarship money...which one do I go to!?

Title: Re: Chicago Attorneys - I need law school advice
Post by IPW on May 25^th, 2006, 5:39pm

It is my understanding that Chicago-Kent is more highly regarded in the Chicago market than DePaul.

According to the most recent USN&WR, Chicago-Kent is 60th nationally while DePaul is 80th.

Title: Re: Chicago Attorneys - I need law school advice
Post by June on Jun 7^th, 2006, 10:04pm

I think you should go to kent because I've found that the reputation of the school you attend is valuabe, especially for the field of law.