Law school- Yale vs UC Berkeley
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Anonymous
| Yale offers generous need based aid. If you are paying full price at Yale, your family is likely already loaded, in which case, it makes the most sense to go to Yale b/c the price won't make much of a difference to you. |
Anonymous
Not necessarily true. If you are under 29, they expect parental contribution and many parents don't pay for law school. I advise clients applying and many need to pay their own way. |
Anonymous
If your family is loaded, they will usually pay. If they won't, then sure it may make sense to go to Berkeley. I'd still go to YLS and work public service (including clerkship etc) for 10 years |
Anonymous
| While it is true that 90% of opportunities are probably available for both Yale and Berkeley law grades, the most "prestigious" of opportunities will be easier to pursue from Yale. As in, you can be middle of the pack at Yale and access these opportunities, vs. you'll need to be in the top 5% at Berkeley. The "average" YLS grad is significantly more impressive than the average Berkeley grad. |
Anonymous
| Take by far. Husband is an academic at a top 20 law school and it makes a huge difference. Berkeley is a good school, but Yale is a step above. I would only say that about Harvard, Yale, Stanford. Any others I’d take the full ride at Berkeley. |
Anonymous
| What would your husband say? |
Anonymous
| Family can pay but that would effect parent's retirement so hoping for an affordable option. |
Anonymous
You can take on debt. Lots of law students do it. |
Anonymous
| My DH had to choose between a full ride at Columbia (with generous mentorship perks) vs. paying full sticker price at Harvard. He chose Harvard and has zero regrets. |
Anonymous
|
Yale opens doors for years. I’m a Fed mid career attorney getting ready to start applying to jobs when they shut my agency down, and grateful to have YLS on the resume even though I kind of hated it when there and suffered through 4 years of Biglaw to pay off the loans.
That said if you plan to stay in CA your whole career, Boalt is quite respected. But it isn’t respected in the same way on the East Coast. (No idea about Midwest.) Whereas YLS is known everywhere. So factor that in too. |
Anonymous
| If you plan to practice in California, Berkeley. If not, Yale. |
Anonymous
This is categorically untrue for Yale Law School. Financial aid is rather stingy unless you’re one of the 15% of students who qualify for the Hurst Scholarship (coming from family that makes 2x the poverty level, or less) |
Anonymous
| I would choose Berkeley. There is a growing stigma against ivy law schools, especially Yale and Harvard - these days, they are viewed as elitist and out of touch with day-to-day practice. I have worked with a couple of Yale attorneys and understand why - super smart and super cerebral and academic, but not “street smart” or creative/saavy or willing to hustle. One in particular was kind of a laughing stock at the firm bc he was pretentious as hell. If you’re interested in being a law professor or going into politics or want that sort of ivory tower association, then go for it. But I think law schools like Berkeley, Georgetown, Columbia, Stanford produce better practicing attorneys. Some of the best attorneys I’ve worked with - the creative scrappy hustlers- went to second tier law schools. |
Anonymous
Yale has a loan repayment program if you work in public interest. I turned down a full scholarship at UVA for Yale. |
Anonymous
| Yale grad. I get lots of job offers just because I went to Yale, even 20 years later. |