USC Gould has one massively good thing going for it: its placement into California Big Law. The percentage of students going to large corporate firms from USC beats out even several T14 stalwarts. What you sacrifice, to some degree, is flexibility. The Trojan alumni network is ravenously supportive, but pretty much everyone stays in Southern California. If you're looking for national portability, USC probably shouldn't be on your list. But if you're open or eager for a long-term stay in the golden coast, you might even consider USC with $$$ over paying sticker to more nationally-focused schools.

People apply to USC because they want to live and practice in California. Once you're there, most of the class is competing for Big Law placement and, even if you're not corporately-minded going into your 1L, it can be hard to swim against such a hard current. But there is actually a public interest community at USC--perhaps even a good one. It has one of the oldest LRAP programs, plenty of clinics, and options for public interest summer funding. Perhaps a fitting counterbalance to the corporate mainstream, USC has secret strength in labor law. It was two USC alumni who founded the Wage Justice Center and current students report opportunities to get involved in labor law as early as 1L.