American vs. George Mason vs. Washington and Lee?

[Buddy]

Hey I was just wondering everyone's opinion - i'm having a real hard time with making a decision between these schools. I know Wash and Lee is much better ranked, well-respected, etc. but i dunno if I want to go to law school in the middle of nowhere.  DC is ideal for lawyers and am actually leaning towards american bc of its nationally recognized name. But i dont know if i should give up wash and lee. 

[adviseme]

Hey I was just wondering everyone's opinion - i'm having a real hard time with making a decision between these schools. I know Wash and Lee is much better ranked, well-respected, etc. but i dunno if I want to go to law school in the middle of nowhere.  DC is ideal for lawyers and am actually leaning towards american bc of its nationally recognized name. But i dont know if i should give up wash and lee.  Altho, wash and lee did gimme $.

W & L. 

[midjeep]

All three schools are very different, so if I were you, I would visit. W&L is in the middle of nowhere, is small, and has a smaller alumni base in the DC area. American is the largest of the three, has more courses to offer, and is probably the best established law school in the DC area (of three you are considering of course). GMU is considerably new, conservative, and will be cheaper if you are a Virginia resident. Like I said, it is hard to advise you on the best school for you without knowing what you are looking for in a law school environment. W&L is the higher ranked school and has a stronger national rep of the three, but Lexington is not DC. I work in a national top 20 law firm (per vault.com) in DC and we have one summer associate from W&L, none from GMU, and two from American. Ten were from GULC and two from GW (the rest are top 10 schools).

[hammer101]

I don't see how this is a difficult decision at all, unless you think you'd hate Lexington VA. You won't be there a day over 3 years anyway, so it's not like you'll get stuck there...

If you really think living in a sleepy college town isn't for you however, I'd go visit both AU and GMU and make a decision from there. The two are roughly equal so I think it comes down to which you'd be happier at.

But W&L is far and away superior to the other two.

[ASNetlenov]

W&L is by far the best choice. If you do not think that you will like Lexington, then go to GMU.

[blindmouse]

I am biased because I am going to AU this fall, but GM gets no respect from me. Unless you are super conservative and wanting to save some money don't go there. If you go want to live in DC after  school your life might be alot easier if you went to AU. If you want to live elsewhere (esp. the south) go to W+L.

[hammer101]

W&L is by far the best choice. If you do not think that you will like Lexington, then go to GMU.

Just curious why you'd recommend GMU over AU...I know you did your homework on GMU cause I remember you were thinking of attending. Looking at USNWR alone GMU looks marginally better at best. Do they have better biglaw placement? What makes them better in your opinion?

[waitingsucks]

I would put W and L significantly above both AU and GMU.

That being said, I think AU might be better for DC proper, while GMU would be better for Northern VA. From my experience, alot of the smaller and medium sized NVA firms are peppered with GMU grads. Try a martindale search for both schools in VA and DC firms to confirm. Either way, you are better off at W and L.

[cannotpick]

Did anyone offer you $?

[hocuspocus]

Not American.  A tossup between GMU and W&L, but W&L has the edge.