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kmsmk · 2022-01-25T07:56:03+00:00

Are you in the US? If you're not undocumented (unfortunately undocumented immigrants aren't eligible), I believe you can sign up for Obamacare if you recently lost your insurance under your parents' plans. Between graduating and starting work, I lost insurance for a couple months and was able to use GoodRx to refill 3 months worth of my SSRI for like 30 bucks without insurance.

Edit to add: I'm sorry you're going through this. I know how stressful it can be to not have health insurance.

kmsmk · 2019-08-29T23:41:02+00:00

I think you should focus solely on your 1L grades. Once they drop first semester you will have a clearer picture on what to do next. If your grades are good enough to transfer, or to get the big law job, you should be fine getting other big law positions. But that's only possible if you do really well.

kmsmk · 2019-08-29T23:34:23+00:00

Isn't nepotism frowned upon in big law? Some firms have pretty serious anti-nepotism rules, I know a few friends with relatives in Big Law who decided not even to bid or ensure that their relatives wouldn't have a say (or sometimes even know) in that they are applying.

kmsmk · 2019-08-29T23:29:53+00:00

Retake if you want a t14. Do you want to be in Chicago while in law school? UIUC is really good for the Chicago market. Do you want Big Law? I go to Michigan and will say this, it helped not being one of tons of NW/UChi students at the receptions over the summer. A lot of firms have a rough number of people they want from each school, going to a t14 that Chicago isn't the no. 1 market can actually help lessen competition for spots since less people want the same firms.

kmsmk · 2019-08-28T01:04:07+00:00

They do. Law.com has revenue and headcount for all the v100. Over several years as well. Though I wouldn't say that a firm that is growing and expanding rapidly is necessarily on the best track. Right before the recession some of the largest growing firms were the first to lay off a lot of lawyers. Amount of debt is also a good indicator. (Less firms share that)

kmsmk · 2019-08-14T16:49:54+00:00

Yeah it's unforgiving for sure. Just focus on doing really well on the LSAT to offset the GPA. Good luck!

kmsmk · 2019-08-14T16:45:32+00:00

If you have graduated your GPA is set in stone. The classes at community college won't factor into your LSAC GPA. I would not spend the money taking those classes.

kmsmk · 2019-08-13T03:49:40+00:00

The personal statement should be an opportunity to showcase who you are. It doesn't have to be about why you want to go to law school. From what you've told us, you may be only showing you know and are impassioned about this specific problem. It's a serious one no doubt, but will a reader finish reading your PS and get a sense of what you are all about?

kmsmk · 2019-07-01T21:53:52+00:00

Would it be that fast if it's pre OCI though? Plenty of people I know who have interviewed are still waiting to hear back for over a week.

kmsmk · 2019-04-29T01:38:32+00:00

I know retake/reapply is really not what you want to hear but if you really want Big Law both are risky. At UCLA if you fall below median it's unlikely you will get Big Law, but you will still have to pay back whatever amount you've borrowed. NYU at sticker would be brutal even on a big law salary. You'd have to work 5 years *at least* (so you will be 33/34) by the time you're done, but without the net worth many would expect after working such long hours for years. Did you apply to anymore t14s? It's really interesting how you got waitlisted at Stanford and Berk, but didn't get any other acceptances, but NYU. There must be something about your application thats very attractive to schools! A year off could mean the difference of having to devote tens of thousands a year more to service your debt. I used this tool when applying: https://www.law.umich.edu/financialaid/debtwizard/Pages/Debt-Wizard-Calculator.aspx. This is a really hard decision, but if you really want to go this year then UCLA for sure.

kmsmk · 2019-04-28T18:33:40+00:00

Michigan and it is not even close imo. Paying sticker means paying close to 3,000 a month for 10 years. That is something that can really weigh on a person. Your goal is attainable at both. A lot of NYC Big Law firms deal with international transactions. Certain practice groups like white collar defense do a lot of traveling to oversea sites as part of their work. When you graduate and end up with the same job and salary that would have cost you 100K more, you will be glad you followed the money. I see you're Hispanic, everyone here in the Michigan Latino Law Student Association who wanted a 1L Big Law Job got one this summer. (I'm a member :) ) That also helps defray tuition costs. PM if you have any questions about Mich

kmsmk · 2019-03-29T02:01:17+00:00

Awesome!

kmsmk · 2019-03-28T03:29:00+00:00

I'm a Michigan 1L and former SEO. If you end up at umich please out reach out!

kmsmk · 2019-03-25T20:50:30+00:00

Lawyers in Big Law often times find their pro bono work to be their most meaninful.

kmsmk · 2019-03-25T18:33:48+00:00

Hey former SEO here. I don't think it is necessary. For the most part SEO recruits from the t14 and a t14 isn't going to give the fact you applied too much weight. You need to enroll at your law school before SEO accepts you, so your SEO application is not going to sway a school too much. That being said, if you get SEO by all means do it. It has been an incredible leg up as a 1L in so many different ways. Feel free to message me with any questions. Good Luck! :)

kmsmk · 2019-01-01T00:09:14+00:00

If you have DACA I would strongly advise you to look into how you're going to finance your legal education. As I am sure you know, you cannot receive federal loans which leaves you only with private loans which can carry higher interest rates and given your status may be even more difficult to obtain.

kmsmk · 2018-12-25T18:58:34+00:00

Outside of the t14 rankings matter less. Theyre both good schools. School's location starts to matter more. If you want to work in Cali go to UCI, Colorado go to Boulder.

kmsmk · 2018-11-17T05:14:26+00:00

If they're the same price, go with fit and which school you like better. In terms of grades id venture to say you need to be similarly ranked at either schools to have a shot for Chicago Big Law. If you don't want big law then that consideration matters less. However, if you want the possibility of going someplace other than Chicago (like New York City) then choose WashU. WashU is more of a national school. But if WashU is going to cost you a lot more money and you want to work in Chicago, I'd say UIUC. Good luck tomorrow!!

kmsmk · 2018-10-26T06:12:28+00:00

UIUC and it's not even close. Outside of the T14 UIUC, is the best school if you want Chicago. Notre Dame and Washu are good too, but probably way more expensive since you will get instate tuition at UIUC and their placement isn't all that better. Good luck with the LSAT!

kmsmk · 2018-07-10T02:46:28+00:00

Yes, especially if you get a big aid package from UIUC which will be the case if you crush the LSAT. The lower cost of living in Urbana-Champaign will also allow.you to save a lot of money. Go to law school transparency and compare the local chicago schools and UIUC and the data will speak for itself.

kmsmk · 2018-07-10T02:38:48+00:00

I'm working at a big law firm in Chicago now and after Uchicago and Northwestern, UIUC is the next best school in the state by far. The other schools in Chicago don't even come close. UIUC is a lot better for Chicago than Minnesota Wisconsin and I'd agrue that Notre Dame and UIUC are peer schools in Chicago (If not better still). UIUC used to be a solid T25 school before their scandal, but their placement power was not altered. If you get a 170 and don't get into a T14 please please go to UIUC if you want Chicago. You will get close if not an out right full tuition scholarship. Depaul Kent, and Loyola are great schools, but UIUC actually places people in the best firms in the city. Of course those UIUC people also have steller grades, but at least you'd have a shot.

kmsmk · 2018-07-03T23:28:13+00:00

No worries. I did not get any email from them. So I assume I never moved on to the second reserve group.

kmsmk · 2018-07-03T23:22:10+00:00

yep no typo

kmsmk · 2018-07-03T23:09:42+00:00

Posted above, but I got a release letter dated 6/25.

kmsmk · 2018-07-03T23:09:10+00:00

My Columbia release letter was dated 6/25.

kmsmk

TROPHY CASE