Duke or UNC?

[keller]

I was all set to go to UNC in the fall until Duke called. Duke has always been one of my top choices for law school, so I was pretty thrilled. Yet the price difference between the two is giving me second thoughts. If I go to UNC, I'll come out $45,000 in debt, while I'll owe  $135,000 if I choose Duke. I'm not sure what kind of law I want to practice, and I'd like to choose the school that leaves open the most options. I have to decide quickly so any advice would be great!

[sassafrass]

I'd like to choose the school that leaves open the most options=Duke if you're pretty certain that you don't want to do relatively low paying PI/govt work (which Duke's giant debt load will preclude)

[supermario]

I think Duke is the easy call if you want the most options.  The placement opportunities so great that you will not have much difficulty paying back the extra debt.

http://pdfserver.amlaw.com/nlj/20080414employment_trends.pdf

[wiseowl]

i will be in the same boat next year hopefully.

consider that coming from Duke you've got a great chance at paid summer work 2L and a decent chance at even getting something 1L in the city of your choice.  at UNC it will be much harder to go to a big market for the summer and competition for local midlaw and small firm jobs will be fierce and unpaid even if you do get it in many cases.

summer work will go a long way towards quick debt repayment.  if you can get one biglaw summer it could cut 20-25K off your debt, and two would obviously do even more for you.

[Ninja1]

I'd take UNC for the lack of debt. The school still places better than about 90% of the other schools that exist and a lack of debt can also open a lot of doors.

I think everyone has kind of missed the point here that Duke places better, but you'll also have $90k more in debt, so you'll need it to place better. The only reason I'd take Duke in this situation is if I was 100% sure I wanted to do biglaw.

[asiangirl]

sigh ...
congrats.
how did they notify you? did they give you an interview before that?

[keller]

sigh ...
congrats.
how did they notify you? did they give you an interview before that?

They sent an email and then set up a phone interview. Thanks for the advice guys, I'm picking Duke!

[supermario]

They sent an email and then set up a phone interview. Thanks for the advice guys, I'm picking Duke!

Congrats!

[Dr. Raoul Duke]

sigh ...
congrats.
how did they notify you? did they give you an interview before that?

They sent an email and then set up a phone interview. Thanks for the advice guys, I'm picking Duke!

Good choice, my friend.  You'll be fine. 

Congrats on being a Blue Devil