12 replies to this topic

[kiron]

I was wondering where would you go if you wanted to do corporate law in an energy sector, U Calgary or U of Toronto if given the option?

Another crappy chances question, I have a OLSAS cGPA of 3.64 (3.70 last 3 for Toronto) and LSAT of 165 on 4th try (before was 153, 156, 156). Is it even possible for me to get into Toronto with those marks?

I have a B.A, B.Sc. (Honors), and will have an M.Sc. by end of summer, varsity fencing for last 6 years, worked in student government for residence for 5 years, and CEO of half million dollar student corporation, research papers and conference presentations if it helps.

[kiron]

nothing?

[serdog]

Your are unlikely to get into U of T with those marks and 165(your under both medians), your softs could help if you were at one but under both, It seems unlikely.

[kiron]

and the original question? Calgary or Toronto?

[zzzzz]

I'd choose calgary. More of your professors are likely to have connections to the energy sector, and there's the practicability issue of being able to attend more events in calgary and alberta to get facetime with the right people in the energy industry.

[Falcon14]

Your chances at U of T are slim. That said, even if you get in I think you should still choose Calgary. UofT's name brand, in my opinion, doesn't carry much weight in Calgary. (Background: UofT student looking for employment in Calgary).

[kiron]

follow-up question, which firms pay more, energy law firms in calgary or bay street law firms in toronto on average?

[serdog]

Toronto Bay street but Calgary pay well also

[tortsforthewin]

Toronto places better in Calgary in BigLaw and is thus far better represented among BigLaw associates and partners. Regardless of in which market you wish to practice, U of T will give you an advantage. With that said, if your stats are beneath the U of T medians, don't write off schools like Queen's, UBC and McGill which also have well-established access to BigLaw jobs and offer an incredibly strong legal education.

[Falcon14]

tortsforthewin, on 11 January 2012 - 10:50 PM, said:

U of T will give you an advantage.

Having gone through the process of getting a Calgary job (from U of T), I would say this is wrong. The only ppl that perpetuate the myth of U of T's superiority are UofTers... and there aren't that many of us in Calgary.

Edited by Falcon14, 12 January 2012 - 07:05 AM.

[sauce]

tortsforthewin, on 11 January 2012 - 10:50 PM, said:

Toronto places better in Calgary in BigLaw and is thus far better represented among BigLaw associates and partners. Regardless of in which market you wish to practice, U of T will give you an advantage.

Not true. Example: Bennett Jones has 10 associates and partners in their Calgary office from U of T and 27 from U of Calgary. People in Alberta don't care about U of T as much as you like to think. U of C and U of A have a serious advantage over U of T in the Calgary market for a number of reasons: geography, network, energy-related coursework, etc.

[iheartbooks]

Sauce is right. A quick look at the students currently at Blakes, BLG, McCarthy's, Norton Rose, and BD&P (they didn't list their associate's schools conveniently) confirms that UofC (and UofA) students outnumber UofT students. The students are from all over the place really. Osler seems to have a bunch of UofT students though.

*I know some people might say "Who is BD&P"? They're only in Calgary, but they're a huge firm here.

[Denny_Crane]

Is this because people who want to work in Calgary typically go to U of C or U of A or potentially are mostly albertans wanting to stay close to home. I wouldn't have expected there to be even 10 U of T former students relatvei to 27 from U of C, considering most people that go to U of T probably stay or want to stay in Toronto.