The older lawyers came into the legal profession at a different time.  Biglaw isnt the same thing it use to be in the 70's 80's.  Very different.

BIGLAW was still BIGLAW...regardless of the time.  Everything is relative when it comes to the financing of law school and lawyering.  Back in the day, law school was cheaper and wages were lower for new associates, but cost of living was also considerably lower.  If you take a look at the trends of wages for first year associates and compare it to the rising cost of law school, you'll see that market wages are increasing to match the cost of LS.  BIGLAW in DC and NY are offering a starting salary of $160k + a $30k bonus = $190k.  Even if AU grads aren't super competitive in BIGLAW (many of them are), the rising market rate for BIGLAW still affect the starting rate for MIDLAW firms.

It's simple economics.  If top firm A has raised their billable rate from $500/hr to $600/hr, then mid firm B is going to raise as well.  It's a simple trickle down affect.  Much like your leading markets for law are NYC and DC, cities like Baltimore, LA, Miami, SF are beginning to up starting salary to become more attractive and competitive to graduates.  Supply and Demand my friend.  Even MIDLAWS are offering a salary package of $130-150k now.

So yes, American is expensive...but the opportunites that abound from there are endless.  Whether it be private, public, Gov't, NPO or whatever - DC is one of the best cities in American to network for law students.

Christiney - I have to disagree with you.  Take a look at the money that Temple is throwing around on lawschoolnumbers.com.  They are attracting students with numbers approaching GW's (165+ / 3.6+) with near-full rides.  GMU does the same thing and this no doubt catapulted them past AU over the past few years.  AU should emulate this approach, even if little by little.  For example, why not let in 10-15 rock stars for free?  Spread them out over the sections, it's an additional 3 people per section.  This would cost AU nothing.  The only cost AU would absorb with these students is an additional legal writing instructor, and what are they paid, 5k per semester? If you work in admissions, which you may have mentioned in a previous post, I strongly urge you to broach this topic with them.

As an aside, this poster agrees that AU would climb in the rankings by taking this approach.  AU is an excellent school that offers opportunities in DC that are on par with Georgetown and GW.  It has really carved a niche for itself as a top school in clinical training and international law, and if you look at firm websites, AU grads are very well represented.  It just REALLY needs to work on making law school a more affordable venture.

Cheers to the poster above

Not to be a buzz-kill, but Hofstra doesn't compete so well with BIGLAW in the NY area.  Not terrible, but not the best either.  Atleast top 10% of your class would do it tho.  Good Luck!!

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