Should i go to Tulane or Loyola Chicago? I don't know what i want to practice, and consider fun a factor (along with ending salary and career prospects). What do you think?
2007-03-05 06:33:06 · 3 answers · asked by Ghetto Blaster 2 in Education & Reference ➔ Higher Education (University +)
The question is not "what" you want to practice, the question is "where" you want to practice. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe Tulane is ranked higher in the US News ranking. Whatever. You're job prospects coming out of Loyola Chicago will probably be much better unless you want to practice somewhere in the New Orleans region. Chicago is a MUCH, MUCH bigger legal market and as such, has a large number of firms (ranging in size from the very small to the huge, multinational firms with dozens of offices throughout the world). If you perform well at Loyola Chicago (i.e. finish in the top 10% of your class...which is not easy at any school by the way) you will have your pick of jobs in the Chicago area. You will be able to find a job with a big firm if you like or a smaller firm if you like. Even if you don't do that well, there will still be many, many mid-sized firms who care less about grades that will hire you.
If you go to school at Tulane, many national firms do not recruit there. Or, if they do, probably rarely hire from there. In the end, both schools are regional schools that will hire better than the other in their respective areas. It would be very difficult to find a job outside of the region at either one of these schools, but Chicago's legal market job prospects are much better than New Orleans.
Bottom line, pick the city you can see yourself living in for at least 3-4 years (you can always find a new job after you have experience) and go with it. But keep in mind, if it's New Orleans that you choose, you might have more trouble finding the first job.
2007-03-05 10:35:12 · answer #1 · answered by dlewisdm 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Previous statements about post grad opportunities are true. But, although New Orleans is still recovering from Katrina, the opportunity to be a part of that recovery as a resident, law student, citizen is substantial and one will not get that experience anywhere else in US right now. Also, demand for professional services, like lawyers, is greater in New Orleans that it ever was due to the number of professionals that did not return. Salaries may be lower in New Orleans (in the South!) but your money still goes a long way. Last, I may be biased but New Orleans cannot be beat in the 'fun' department.
Good luck!
2007-03-08 06:02:19 · answer #2 · answered by sir velvet 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I totally agree with the person above. Neither has a national reputation. So, pick the city in which you'd like to work for the next few years. Do you like New Orleans or Chicago? Chicago looks a better bet since NO is still recovering from Katrina, so the job market likely isn't very good right now.
2007-03-05 12:16:54 · answer #3 · answered by Linkin 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋