Quote:
Originally posted by lawskirt
I'm deciding between going to Temple with a half-scholarship or George Washington with $9000 a year in grants. I'm most interested in IP (not patent), government, or appellate work.
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I'm really not qualified to speak of Temple, except to note that I've never actually met a Temple Law grad, so that may speak to how many manage to move south on I-95 (my practice leads me to contacts with both Baltimore and DC).
As to GW, however, I know some things. It is certainly known for its IP program and is a nationally well regarded school. It has also had recent physical renovations that make it a much better place to spend three years. On the other hand, at GW IP = Patent. I don't think it is especially better than many other schools for soft IP. While the soft IP profs are great (TM is particular), the course offerings aren't particularly diverse, so there may be little advantage to a GW degree in that respect, except that when most lawyers between DC and NY hear "GW" they think "IP" (and not necessarily just "patent").
For appellate work, this really just devolves to the straight reputation of the school; it's not really a specialty that certain schools are better known for (except maybe Harvard and Yale). An appellate-only practice is really a pretty rare thing anyway.
For government work, if by that you mean working for the government, by all means go to the cheapest school possible. GW's expense will make it almost impossible to enter government service for an extended period of time, at least right out of law school. If you mean private practice working in government contracts, GW is quite possibly the best school in the country, although it still might not pay for itself.
GW has great professors and gives a great education. But damn it's expensive.
Just some things to think about.
