<p>Just looking to find out why one is better than the other for someone that will go on to be a corporate attorney</p>
<p>Great question to ask!</p>
<p>Duke and Cornell are great schools, and clearly I will be backing one more than the other, but I will try to remain as unbiased and information-leading as possible. </p>
<p>First, since you are–I am assuming–sure you want to be a corporate attorney, Duke Law would be a great benefit to you. Duke Law, unlike many law schools, considers applicants regardless of work experience. Coming from Duke, you would certainly be able to have a competitive application for Duke Law. </p>
<p>On the other hand, if you choose perhaps to not go into law and stay “corporate”, Duke has one of the best business alumni networks, rivaling Notre Dame, UVa, and UPenn. This coupled with the fact that Duke programs in Economics and Mathematics are very competitive makes Duke a fantastic choice even if you don’t ultimately go to law school.</p>
<p>So to recap quickly: immediate matriculation to Duke Law having come from Duke, strong business network, strong potential avenues aside from corporate law. </p>
<p>Other random pros for Duke: student spirit; WEATHER (make no mistake how much this will affect overall campus mood and happiness); surrounding Durham area with proximity to UNC Chapel Hill, NC State, and Elon; and basketball.</p>
<p>}—The Blue Devil—{</p>
<p>@BlueDevil: I have a few friends who are pre-law, and they specifically told me that Duke Law does not give an advantage to Duke undergrads in the admissions process.</p>
<p>@ OP: Visit both campuses. Sit in on classes, meet with professors, and talk to current students. Compare the vibe of the schools when visiting (e.g. is it laid back or cutthroat? are students friendly?). Try to schedule an overnight visit at both schools (Blue Devil Days has an overnight visit included). Then, I suggest you go to which school you will be happier at. Being happy at your undergrad institution makes a big difference in your academic performance. You’ll have many opportunities coming out of either university. Best of luck!</p>
<p>For law school, I’d probably go to Duke. Cornell is amazing too, but I’m pretty sure Duke is stronger for business and law. </p>
<p>And usually, schools prefer their own undergrads for graduate/med/law school, so I wouldn’t be surprised if Duke’s Law School gives an advantage to Duke students. </p>
<p>Either way, both schools are amazing, so either way, you win.</p>
<p>Duke doesn’t have anything like Cornell’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations (ILR). I would look at that very seriously.</p>
<p>As much as Duke “doesn’t have anything like Cornell’s ILR”, I would be sure that you know exactly what the ILR specializes in which is “the fields of human resource management, labor relations, and dispute resolution.”</p>
<p>The ILR is a school focused on work and employment. Does this focus overlap with your choice of being a corporate lawyer? I’m not sure. Corporate law is about the determining the legality of commercial transactions–including but not limited to mergers and acquisitions–as well as advising corporations as a whole on their legal rights and duties. The ILR is a great school, but it would be as if you’re teaching Floridian orchard farmers about apples. </p>
<p>In response to the question about Duke Law, of course, the law school offers no advantages whatsoever to applicants from it’s undergraduate college. </p>
<p>All in all, I would take the advice of slik nik’s second post. It would be best for you to inform your opinions of the schools based on first-hand experiences and visits. </p>
<p>}—The Blue Devil—{</p>
<p>I remember having to make a similar choice back then, also between Cornell and Duke and a couple other schools. Which school in Cornell did you get admitted to? I was admitted to Cornell’s CoE for computer science. I think in terms of opportunities for getting into law school, both schools are pretty similar, and it will more/less come down to your GPA, networking, etc. , other factors which are pretty much independent of which school you go to in the first place. The best advice that everyone told me then, which still applies now, is just to go to whichever school you feel most comfortable in, and your performance will come naturally. It’s honestly not worth it to go to a school that’s marginally more prestigious / better for getting in law school, but end up hating the experience there and screwing over your college life.</p>