Alright, now I just got into the University of Hawaii School of Law (UH or Tulane??)

From everything you say: why are you even hesitating?

 

Go to Tulane for law school, vacation in Hawaii.

If you go to law school in Hawaii, you'll be vacationing at Six Flags for the rest of your life, on the chance that you can afford to get off the island when you graduate.

I wonder what Fall OCI looks like at UHawaii. What's the biggest firm in Hawaii? Swordfish, Tuna and Shark?

 

I have to endorse my Alma Mater, go to TULANE!!!

 

Hawaii

 

If money is no object go to Hawaii. Hawaii is incredibly expensive as far as living. That is the only real drawback.

 

How competitive is it to get into Tulane Law School ? Is it like UH (Houston, not Hawaii ) ?

 

I have no idea how useful an Hawaii law degree would be outside of Hawaii post graduation. Or in Hawaii for that matter.

All I can tell you is that I thought Hawaii was awesome when I visited. And I'm not a tropical island junkie - actually prefer mountains - but see, Hawaii has those, too. It's far enough out there, and maintains enough of its Polynesian culture that it does really feel different, on the other hand, it is Americanized enough that it doesn't feel totally different.

But again, those are just my thoughts as a vacationer.

 

You only live once and 5 years out of law school it won't matter one hoot where you got your education.

So by all means go to Hawaii........experience the life, and live a little.

You are only young once !

DD

 

Hawaii... and what DD said.
Man, do you really need to think about it?

 

What DD said. GO TO HAWAII!!!

 

I'd go to Tulane if you were more concerned about your career aspects coming straight out of school.

Going to Hawaii is going to present a pretty big obstacle, both mentally and geographically, between you and a future job in the states.

Just my two cents..

 

Hawaii. Man, the nugs they got down there... gorgeous

 

If it were me, the only reason I wouldn't go to Hawaii is leaving all friends and family behind on the mainland. Tulane might be better reputed (though I haven't even checked), but if the Hawaii law firms hire lawyers from UH, and you want to live there, than UH is the obvious choice.

 

Seems like both schools are well positioned for the future. Tulane grads will be dealing with Gulf Coast reconstruction issues for years and Hawaii grads will probably have lots of work with Pacific Rim economies and such, as well as unique Hawaiian issues. If you know what kind of law you want to end up doing, make your pick based on that. If you don't have a clue and just want to go learn until something strikes your fancy, go where you want to go.

 

This seems like good advise. Just going to the UH Law main webpage, they clearly emphasize different aspects of law:

"The William S. Richardson School of Law is located at the foot of beautiful Mānoa valley in Honolulu, Hawai'i. By providing excellence in legal education and scholarship, we aim to promote justice, ethical responsibility and public service. Our programs emphasize areas of particular importance to Hawai'i and the Pacific region, such as environmental law, native Hawaiian rights, ocean law, and Pacific and Asian Legal Studies."

It all sounds neat enough, if that's what you want to do, but I'd look at it as if you were making more than a decision to just attend Hawaii for law school, but to move to Hawaii for a fair amount of time. Which could be great.

It sounds, though, as if you truly are interested in making the move more permanent...and more power to that.

 

A few students joined my class from Tulane as refugee law students, they went back pretty quickly so it can't be that bad. I've met more than a few Tulane alum around NY, but I've never met anyone from UH (even though my parents are alum, not law school). From personal experience Tulane is better, but watch out! LA is the only state that doesn't use the Uniform Commercial Code!

 

do what you want to do.

if you want to live in hawaii you should do it. Who cares if Tulane is considered in the grand scheme, a better school? If it was a question of Harvard or Yale vs. Hawaii it woudl be a different question. But a Tulane law degree, especially if New Orleans continues to suffer, isn't going to get those 3 years you want to spend in Hawaii back. And with all due respect to Tulane, I don't know if it's going to open up so many more doors for you taht you'll be kicking yourself down the road.

if you want to live in hawaii - you should live in hawaii.

Very rarely do people regret doing what they want to do in life - more frequently people regret it when they do what they think other people want them to do.

 

Go where you are going to be happy. You sound very excited about Hawaii. If you don't like it, you can always transfer to the mainland (Tulane etc.) after your first year. However transferring to Hawaii may be difficult because like you said they don't accept many non-islanders. Reputation is something you are going to have to weigh and its a personal decision. Tulane will get your foot in the door to big firm interviews where the money (and pressure) is but if you're not interested in that then Hawaii won't limit you. I bet a lot of Hawaii grads practice in Cali.