Considering law school in DC, don't know much about the area (apartments, rent)

[NSX1990]

Hi, I'm going to graduate in less than a year, and am considering different areas of the country for law school, like DC, North Carolina, and Chicago. I hate South Florida and am ready to move.

I really don't know much about DC- last time I was there was in 1995 on a school trip; the capital did NOT impress me at all. In fact, I vividly remember seeing a man taking a number 2 in a dumpster a block from the White House.

However, I hear over and over that DC is great for young people.

Anyway, I figure the major employer is the government, right?

Do most people live outside of DC itself? I'm kind of confused about the whole DC, Baltimore, Virginia deal. What kind of average rent am I looking at when comparing the three...?

Thanks for any tips.

[dullnboring]

The area around the White House has always been home to a higher than average number of crazies and homeless.

*strains to avoid making a joke about the Bush Administration*

DC has changed a lot though in the past 10 years, mostly for the better.

*again, strains to avoid making a joke about the Bush Administration*

The economy is terrific in the area and the area has a wide array of industries but it is indeed dominated by the government.

Cost of living in the Baltimore area is significantly cheaper than the DC area. In the DC area, rent on a decent one-bedroom apartment in the suburbs starts at around $1000/month, increasing the closer one gets to DC, and averaging probably around $1500/month in some of the more popular neighborhoods in DC, Arlington and other close-in Virginia and Maryland suburbs. The rents in Baltimore are several hundred dollars cheaper, so the further you move away from DC towards Baltimore, the cheaper the rents.

As far the divisions of the area, the city of DC itself is home to roughly 580K people. The metro area as a whole is home to over 5.2 million, and sprawls outward for miles upon miles in each direction, probably 40 miles of typical suburban sprawl, and then another 40 or so of what will eventually be suburban sprawl but is now somewhat rural with occasional towns and suburban developments scattered about, all the way out to West Virginia and Pennsylvania. The majority of the population though lives in the immediate suburban areas within 40 miles of DC (Fairfax, Arlington, Alexandria, Loudoun and Prince William counties in Virginia and Montgomery, Prince George's, Frederick and Charles in Maryland). These areas are home to roughly 75% of the area's population, DC itself roughly another 10% and then the remaining scattered in the far exurbs.

Baltimore is only 40 miles from DC and is a larger city itself, home to around 640K people (although its population is decreasing rapidly while DC's is increasing) and anchors a metro area that is home to 2.6 million people. Because of the close proximity to DC, the Census Bureau actually groups the DC and Baltimore areas together as one large metro area although both areas retain their own identities (i.e. their own local radio stations, local news, newspapers, character, accents, etc.), but the suburbs of DC and Baltimore do merge at points, notably in Howard County (considered as a whole suburban Baltimore but some points are closer to DC).

[NSX1990]

Thanks for all the info, you seem very well-read.

Dang, with prices like that Virginia-side, I can imagine either sticking to dorms or just rooming with a handful of people until I graduate...

[goldenmom7500]

Yeah, that is what you will want to do. DC is divided into four "quadrants"; the fancy addresses are in the NW, but also some of the neater places to hang around, nice restaurants. I had to work in the SW quadrant, home to some very boring federal buildings.

A lot of young people flock to Arlington, but if you're, say, at Georgetown Law you'd want to figure out what housing is offered and/or what other law students are doing.

If you weren't impressed on a class visit, I worry that maybe it's not the right place. Something like Chapel Hill (NC) would be a totally different environment from DC and might fit you right better. Or what about UVA - great law school.

[jonjj]

dullnboring wrote, "Baltimore is only 40 miles from DC and is a larger city itself, home to around 640K people (although its population is decreasing rapidly while DC's is increasing) and anchors a metro area that is home to 2.6 million people"

Better check the latest statistics: Baltimore's population is expected to actually have a small increase in the next census. There was just an article about this very topic in the recent Sun and Post newspapers.

[SmerkyGrl]

Originally Posted by jonjj

dullnboring wrote, "Baltimore is only 40 miles from DC and is a larger city itself, home to around 640K people (although its population is decreasing rapidly while DC's is increasing) and anchors a metro area that is home to 2.6 million people"

Better check the latest statistics: Baltimore's population is expected to actually have a small increase in the next census. There was just an article about this very topic in the recent Sun and Post newspapers.

Are you seriously, seriously going to nitpick over a statistic that will still support the original point--that Baltimore is bigger than DC?

[goozer]

DC is a GREAT place to go to law school. Not only are their lots of good law school programs there (Georgetown, GW, American, Catholic, George Mason, etc), but it is the place where LAWS ARE MADE. There are not many law school students who get the opportunity to visit Congress while it is in session or go watch oral arguments at the United States Supreme Court. As a law student in DC, you will have that opportunity (indeed, it may be a component to some of your classes). Furthermore, DC will have plenty of job opportunities for you when you graduate, should you decide to stay in the city after school.

I suppose the only downside to being a law student or lawyer in DC is that it sometimes feels like every other person you meet is either a law student or lawyer. And the ones who aren't are thinking about going to law school.

[kallie26]

Anyway, I figure the major employer is the government, right?

And law firms (as goozer said).

But, I agree it's a great city to live in for young people -- I've loved living here. The Metro makes it really convenient to get around and there's always stuff going on, including political, policy, and law-oriented events, which are great. They just don't host the kinds of speakers and events - on a regular basis - in the Midwest or the Carolinas as they do here. The biggest downside compared to a place like North Carolina is definitely going to be cost of living, though, as mentioned. There's hardly any way to make it work without roommates, but the flip side is it's easy to find other people in the same situation and lots of options.

Please don't forget to consider costs of schools when coming here, too. Georgetown and GW in particular are extremely expensive. Catholic, UMd., George Mason might be a bit better deals (though still not cheap ... and of course Georgetown has the most cache).

[PenguinSix]

It is a fun city to live in in your mid-20s, and there are more than a few good law schools in the area, but I wouldn't necessarily recommend choosing a law school based on the apartments available or where it is located UNLESS you are also looking at that area for your fulltime employment.

Yeah yeah, you can work anywhere after you get your law degree, but most lawyers will tell you with the exception of say the top 25 odd schools in the country (thought that includes GU, GWU and UVA), going to law school in the area or region where you want to practice is a pretty good idea.

Sure you may get a few New York firms come to NC for interviews, but you'll probably have 10x Mid Atlantic firms in NC as you do say California firms. Or if you want to go to Seattle, do you want to go to law school in American in DC or at UW in Seattle?

Of course if you are like many law students ('I'm not sure what the hell I want to do') then this might not apply as much, but if you are going to law school because you want to practice, then this should be something worth considering. The law firm hiring process if very structured, and the on-campus interviews play a large part in that process.

FWIW, I worked on Capitol Hill for a number of years before law school, but decided against even applying to schools in this area because I didn't really want an 'urban' law school / campus environment, and decided instead to head out to a school with a quad and grass and football and the whole nine yards. I also didn't want to be 'just a student' in DC where I had so many friends working (and distracting me by this party or that event). It was nice to take a little 'break' from my career and go back to school and enjoy a relaxing life that made academics a bit easier.

Your mileage may vary...

Good luck with your choice.

[dullnboring]

Originally Posted by jonjj

Better check the latest statistics: Baltimore's population is expected to actually have a small increase in the next census. There was just an article about this very topic in the recent Sun and Post newspapers.

I stand corrected. Baltimore's population has been plummeting for years. I hadn't realized that the trend had abated in the past year or two. It hasn't rebounded to the same extent that DC has yet, but I have high hopes for it. It's a great city.