I live in Southern California and I’ve been accepted to South Texas College of Law. I think I’d really enjoy going there because they seem like a good school with a long reputation and one of the best mock trial temas in the nation!
I’m currently on the waitlist for Chapman Law, which is about 12 miles away from my house. Apparently the new law school rankings came out and they’ve moved up to Teir 3 (South Texas is Teir 4). I guess Chapman is a good school considering that it’s still veryyy new. I guess deep down inside, I dont want to go to Chapman because I want to move out of the house. (I’m Persian and if I just left home to move 10 miles away….well, let’s just say its kinda looked down upon in our culture).
Anyways, pleeeeease tell me what to do! If I get into Chapman, should I go there and stay home? The benefit could be that my future employers will be in the area and know the school. OR should I just stick with Texas? Or another possible school? HELP!
I REALLYYYYYY WANT TO MOVE OUT OF THE HOUSE! and I cant do that if I go to Chapman! 
\ BUt South Texas is a really good school too!
The answer largely depends on whether you want to come back to Southern California after graduation.
If you do, you should go to Chapman. It is VERY difficult to convince employers that you are going to stay at their firms long term (instead of quitting after 6 months) unless if you are geographically tied to the region. And since it takes a typical firm 3 years to recover its associate training costs, they will be very reluctant to hire someone who chooses to go to an out of state school (unless if you graduate from a top national program). That being said, if you go to Texas and decide to come back to Southern Cal after graduation, you can try saying that you are tied to the region because your family is here, but you should be prepared to answer tough geographical questions during your interviews because your interviewers will be very skeptical.
Ok, for now let’s assume you are coming back to California. Another reason why you should go to Chapman is its bar passage rate, which I believe is 72%. This pass rate is very good considering that California has the most difficult bar exam in the United States (historically, the average pass rate is a little bit over 50%). So if you go to Chapman, chances are that you will pass the bar if you study hard. On the other hand, more likely than not, a student who attends an out of state school will fail the California bar exam because different jurisdictions have different laws/rules. In other words, a school in Texas might not offer classes that you need to take in order to get a good grasp of the subjects that are tested on the Cal bar. And be careful about statements such as "Bar/Bri will prepare you for the Cal bar even if you go to an out of state school." While this is true for some candidates, learning new California specific subjects "for the first time" two months before the bar exam is definitely NOT a good idea. If you are going to commit a huge sum of money and 3 years of your life to get your J.D., I am sure you will want to pass the bar exam down the road, no?
Furthermore, I think Chapman’s reputation is very good in Orange County. While it’s a new school, I heard they have at least four professors who have clerked for the U.S. Supreme Court. I am not saying that these people can teach (I have no idea), but this number is certainly impressive. And believe me for now, in the law circle, reputation is everything.
Finally, please remember, this is your education that we’re talking about here, and it has the potential to shape your life/career. While some from your culture might look down upon your choice to stay local, you should not base your decision on what other people think. It’s YOUR life. Try not to let others tell you what you should or should not do because you are the one that will be most affected by your choice. By the same token, what I am saying here is only a suggestion, and you should not base your decision solely on what you read here.
I hope this response is useful to you. Good luck!
P.S. Some in the legal circle are speculating that Chapman has the potential to move into Tier 2. While this might not happen in the near future, it’s certainly possible and you should give this possibility some consideration.
Chapman since Texas is so far away. I don’t like moving, do you?
References :
I heard Harvard was the best…
References :
I have looked at several colleges in Texas while helping my son prepare for his college education. He is entering the law field as a paralegal, and I wanted to show him the various schools where he could advance that degree into a full-fledged law degree.
South Texas College of Law, while not an ivy-league school, is still a good school and, if you are interested in moving out of your parents’ home, I say go for it …
References :
Personally, I think most college students should go to school away from home at least one year. Even if you live in a dorm, you are going to come away from the experience with some valuable life lessons.
Sorry to burst your bubble, but very few people move off the waitlists anywhere, much less at T3/T4 schools. The waitlists are to protect the school not the applicant and with lower ranked schools less people give up their seats. It is more promient T1 where applicants with solid numbers apply to mulitple schools and are accepted to multiple schools. You are texas bound unless you get in somewhere else. I wish you luck, but don;t miss you seat deposit deadline in texas because your waiting to come off a wait list.
References :
The answer largely depends on whether you want to come back to Southern California after graduation.
If you do, you should go to Chapman. It is VERY difficult to convince employers that you are going to stay at their firms long term (instead of quitting after 6 months) unless if you are geographically tied to the region. And since it takes a typical firm 3 years to recover its associate training costs, they will be very reluctant to hire someone who chooses to go to an out of state school (unless if you graduate from a top national program). That being said, if you go to Texas and decide to come back to Southern Cal after graduation, you can try saying that you are tied to the region because your family is here, but you should be prepared to answer tough geographical questions during your interviews because your interviewers will be very skeptical.
Ok, for now let’s assume you are coming back to California. Another reason why you should go to Chapman is its bar passage rate, which I believe is 72%. This pass rate is very good considering that California has the most difficult bar exam in the United States (historically, the average pass rate is a little bit over 50%). So if you go to Chapman, chances are that you will pass the bar if you study hard. On the other hand, more likely than not, a student who attends an out of state school will fail the California bar exam because different jurisdictions have different laws/rules. In other words, a school in Texas might not offer classes that you need to take in order to get a good grasp of the subjects that are tested on the Cal bar. And be careful about statements such as "Bar/Bri will prepare you for the Cal bar even if you go to an out of state school." While this is true for some candidates, learning new California specific subjects "for the first time" two months before the bar exam is definitely NOT a good idea. If you are going to commit a huge sum of money and 3 years of your life to get your J.D., I am sure you will want to pass the bar exam down the road, no?
Furthermore, I think Chapman’s reputation is very good in Orange County. While it’s a new school, I heard they have at least four professors who have clerked for the U.S. Supreme Court. I am not saying that these people can teach (I have no idea), but this number is certainly impressive. And believe me for now, in the law circle, reputation is everything.
Finally, please remember, this is your education that we’re talking about here, and it has the potential to shape your life/career. While some from your culture might look down upon your choice to stay local, you should not base your decision on what other people think. It’s YOUR life. Try not to let others tell you what you should or should not do because you are the one that will be most affected by your choice. By the same token, what I am saying here is only a suggestion, and you should not base your decision solely on what you read here.
I hope this response is useful to you. Good luck!
P.S. Some in the legal circle are speculating that Chapman has the potential to move into Tier 2. While this might not happen in the near future, it’s certainly possible and you should give this possibility some consideration.
References :
Books, friends, and myself.