I start PT at IU-Indy in August (8/24/05 but who's couting) Other thoughts, IU-Indy is the largest law school in the state with some 850 students. School started in 1894 but did not become part of IU until 1944. It shares the campus with IU/Purdue Univesity Indianapolis (IUPUI) which has some 28K students. The law school has two day sections and one evening section of about 100 each. Stats, tuition, etc. canbe easily found at
http://indylaw.indiana.edu/For 2003, Avg salary of 112/217 grads was 55K ranged from 100K+ to 35K. The Dean just quit so there's a search going on for a new one. The last Dean (Tarr) appeared to be pushing the school to grow in programs / areas offered. Let us hope the next one will continue.
One huge advantage IU-Indy offers is that it is located in the state capital, across the street from the capital building. It is the only law school in town so students have a real advantage in getting involved with the government and the big firms in town.
The law building is about 3 years old. Classrooms are pretty plush, very roomy. Every seat wired for broadband and power. Wireless throughout the building, but I'm told it's crowded and tough to hold a connection. There's Ethernet ports everywhere you look so this seems like a moot point. Library is nice, study room looks a bit small for 800 students but the main campus library is nearby so maybe theres better space there.
IU-I pushes their International Law program and offers a lot of overseas study. Again, hit their website.
IMHO, IU-I is on the way up if they get in a good replacement Dean. There's talk of expanding the campus, but land is at a premium so this problably won't happen by the time I graduate. IU-B appears to have suffered some in the last several years, but is still a T1 school with a good reputation in the Midwest. Last ranking for IU-I was 63, but new results come out 4/1 so I am waiting to see if they move.
Personally, I like Indy, but it could be a bit warmer, sunnier, and closer to the ocean (as could EVERYWHERE in the midwest!). COL is pretty cheap when you look at housing. It is very easy to get in and around the city, traffic never seems that bad and no parking lot interstates like Chicago. Northwest corner can backup though with all the people going towards I-69. Downtown has been drastically improved in the last 15 years. Canal area around campus is nice, near home of NCAA and a couple museums. AAA baseball, NBA, NFL, and some small league hockey are all in town. Indy can pull major concerts between indoor and outdoor venues. Then there is racing of course - IRL, F1, NASCAR, and NHRA, take your pick.
For 2003 graduates, 61% ended up in Indy, 23% elsewhere in Indiana so you better be comfortable in the state and the city before you start.
Other questions?
Tuition for instate is pretty cheap and will end up only about $45K for me by the time it is all done.
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