3.low/mid, 172 T20 scholarship chances

For full transparency, posting this on behalf of someone as they don’t have enough karma

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Hey everyone, just want to say how helpful this sub has been for me so far.

I completed my undergrad at a top public US university in Engineering but did not finish with an ideal GPA (3.3-3.5 LSAC). I had some mitigating health circumstances during this time that tanked my grades for essentially 1 of my 4 years.

Did my masters in a related field at a top non-Oxford/Cambridge UK university (Imperial College London/UCL) and got a First Class (equivalent to 3.7-4.0, not that it matters or helps my LSAC GPA). I’m now working for the year in something related to my degree in research while I apply to law schools.

I studied for and got a 172 on the LSAT. I will be retaking it again in the fall because why not try for a 175+, but I’m generally very happy with my score.

My goals are exclusively Biglaw, and I don’t necessarily care where geographically. I have little to no interest in FC or PI.

I also would prefer to be a student in a large major US city (ie. NY/LA/SF/Chi), but would absolutely take the right offer in a different area (ie. think geos of WashU/Vandy/ND etc)

Ofc T14 would be my goal, but given how competitive these past cycles have been and my subpar GPA, I realize that some T20 options (UCLA, USC, Vandy, WashU, ND, Texas) + Biglaw ‘outliers’ like Fordham etc. may best fit my goals and could potentially give a scholarship.

What are my chances for T14 (with and without scholarship) and T20 (same) given my circumstance? I will be applying very early (right after the September LSAT results are released) and have a family friend who’s job is helping students write law school application essays, so hopefully those will be strong as well.

Thanks again for you time everyone!