Mon 13 Mar 2006
Loading ...The title is a little deceiving, I suppose. I’m a little bit closer to the finish line, but I still have a ways to go. I received news of another acceptance last week to the University of Akron School of Law. I had received an offer to apply a few months ago, and thought I should give it a try since the application was free. In addition to my acceptance, I was awarded a full tuition scholarship worth more than $60,000 over the course of three years. Since financing law school has become a huge concern (it’s so damn expensive!!), this was a huge deal to me. The only offer even close to it was from Syracuse University, who offered me an 85% tuition scholarship (worth a little over $82,000 over the 3 years).
So now I have three schools in the running: Franklin Pierce Law Center, Syracuse University School of Law, and University of Akron School of Law. Luckily, I suppose, the schools will force me to make a decision in the next few weeks, because the seat deposits are due in early April:
- Franklin Pierce Law - $200 Deposit due by April 17th
- Syracuse University - $400 deposit due by April 15th
- University of Akron - $350 deposit due by April 3rd
One of the great things about Akron is that it has a Center for Intellectual Property Law and Technology, one of only about 17 IP law centers in the country. The school also offers offers an LL.M. (Master of Laws) in Intellectual Property, one of only 24 law schools in the United States to do so. And Akron has an excellent bar pass rate, typically 8% above the average from 1997 - 2004 for all takers from the nine Ohio law schools.
Unfortunately, although Syracuse University is ranked marginally higher than Akron, it does not have an IP program, a huge deterrent for me. And finally, although Franklin Pierce itself is a 3rd tier law school, the IP program is very highly regarded. Due to financial reasons, however, I doubt I’ll be able to attend the school. Truthfully, I think the decision has come down to Syracuse and Akron and I think I’ll probably go with the school that has the IP Center.
March 30th, 2006 at 8:57 am
Hi. I’m a current 2L, IP law student, and I thought I’d give you my two cents.
My old boss (an IP lawyer) told me “Go to the best school you get into” by which he meant “best ranked.” So if Syracuse is the best ranked, that would point to Syracuse.
However, if you know (really know) that you want to do IP (I assume patent law if you are a PhD biochemist), than the IP Law Center may be a better choice (especially with the nice scholarship).
But the one other question you need to answer is: Where in the country do you want to practice? Unfortunately, law firms (and Corporations, for that matter) tend to hire from local law schools. Thus, if you want to practice on the east coast (particularly in New York), you should go to Syracuse over Akron. If you want to practice in the midwest (Ohio or Michigan area), then go to Akron.
Also, from what I’ve seen, while its nice to have a good IP program at the law school you go to, it is far from necessary. I go to Minnesota (Top 20 school), and there is a school with an excellent IP Program here in town (William Mitchell, similar to Franklin Pierce in this respect), but I had a relatively easy time finding a job, while Mitchell grads have had difficulty. Plus, even with an IP focus, you will be taking mostly non-IP courses, so it doesn’t really matter how great the IP program is if you don’t understand Contracts (as Contract law actually is involved in every type of law practice).
One more thing. Tell the other schools you are considering about your scholarship offer from Akron. As stupid as it sounds, sometimes schools “hold back” their scholarship offers so they can get involved in a “bidding war.” So, if you were still considering Syracuse, and the only real sticking point is the money, send them a copy of your offer letter from Akron. They may match it, or at least make a larger scholarship offer.
Hope this helps, and doesn’t make things more confusing.