| Topic Name: |
Boalt's rep outside of California? |
| Message Name: |
Boalt or Georgetown |
| Date Posted: |
02/28/2002 |
| In Reply To: |
I hope you don't feel like this is being beat to death but one more, specific question. For practicing pubic interest law in DC, what would your advice be for a Georgetown vs. Boalt decision? Boalt could be so much cheaper (so important to go into public interest)- assuming I get instate tuition after 1st year, but contacts/experiences would be better in DC. And is a Boalt degree as highly regarded in major east coast cities as the local powerhouses? |
| Message: |
Either Boalt or Georgetown could work for a "public interest law" job. In your place, I'd always take the low tuition of Boalt, assuming you can get in-state after a year (I have not kept up with CA rules on this).
Your reasoning is sound--it's proximity v. cost/reputation. Georgetown is closer. Still, DC is not
Lake Woebegon (which is too bad, really)--they know about Boalt there. Boalt's overall rep is slightly higher, even on the east coast.
I hope you'll pardon the aside, but here goes--I see so many folks thinking that they must do institutionalized public interest law for an agency or non-profit to do good work in the public interest. In fact, a less demanding small firm job with a steady diet of pro bono can get you (a) slightly higher income; (b)
a much easier job search; and (c) an equivalent salvation of your soul/entry into nirvana/etc. I see folks lock themselves into "public interest" sometimes when they really want to do good.
You can do good in a lot of ways in law, if that's your goal.
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