National Jurist has published a ranking of the Best Value Law Schools. It doesn't include any big names, but may be worth checking out if you have a tight budget:

1. University of Alabama
2. Georgia State University
3. Louisiana State University
4. University of Nebraska
5. University of Georgia
6. University of Kentucky
7. University of Montana
8. University of New Mexico
9. University of North Carolina
10. University of Wisconsin

http://biglaw.org/news/6476/new-law-school-rankings-weights-for-employment-stats

No big names? Alabama, Georgia, Wisconsin and North Carolina are all in the Top Tier of US News ranking.

No big names? Alabama, Georgia, Wisconsin and North Carolina are all in the Top Tier of US News ranking.

Check out University of Houston Law Center

Just want to point out that the University of Georgia was ranked 35 for 2012, not 58!

If you want to live in the region where any of those schools named are located, then it's a smart move to go to one of them UNLESS an elite school offers you a full-tuition scholarship. For example, if you graduate in the top 10% from the University of Houston, you can work anywhere in Houston - including Skadden. And the firms in Houston pay very, very well, especially considering the cost of living. The pay BLOWS New York firms out of the water.

People need to quit buying into the law school "prestige" nonsense. Yes, it matters to an extent, but these "elite" schools aren't worth what they charge for the average student. I loved my time at Michigan, but there is no way I would have paid the tuition. Nor would I have paid my Stanford tuition. $100k in student loans makes you an indentured servant - NO THANKS.

And don't even get me started on the LL.M. Unless you are doing tax, why would anyone in the US (domestic student - not foreign) bother with an LL.M.? It's ridiculous. It's time for people to get smart about school. In fact, I say don't even bother with law school unless you want to litigate.

Good luck to everyone. Peace.

I agree Cayman!

I actually did my LLM at the Law Center in Energy and I did not pay for it but it was a bargain! at the time my tuition was around USD$25,000 and some of my friends that had resident permits in the USA are actually working in Houston and get paid extremely well.
Today, I would never pay USD$50,000 to attend Berkeley or Stanford as I think it is not worth the money and the headache after it.