Seriously considering Alabama over T-14... am I crazy? Forum

[thickfreakness]

RMFT

Indeed, but T14 is going to rammer jammer all day against Bama in FL, and in Alabama too if you have ties.

[duckmoney]

When I was applying they put GPA stipulations on those scholarships. If that's still the case, you need to think long and hard about that. Being below median/top third and paying sticker is not a fun position.

No gpa stipulation at all

[Veyron]

Does Birmingham biglaw even PAY 90k?

[thickfreakness]

Does Birmingham biglaw even PAY 90k?

100-110, with 6 to 7 year equity partner tracks and bonuses.

[Veyron]

Does Birmingham biglaw even PAY 90k?

100-110, with 6 to 7 year equity partner tracks and bonuses.

Not too shabby. How many SA slots a year?

[Grizz]

Does Birmingham biglaw even PAY 90k?

100-110, with 6 to 7 year equity partner tracks and bonuses.

Not too shabby. How many SA slots a year?

More than you would think, and they hire 1Ls.

I'm praying I get one right now actually.

[flcath]

I'd seriously recommend Bama. I wish I'd taken my Bama full scholarship right now (though I'm only paying 25% at ND, so it's not all that bad).

People always say "don't assume you'll do better at [lower-ranked school] than you would at [higher ranked school]." This is fucking retarded, as are the people who say it. You will do well enough at Bama to land a decent job at a mid-sized firm in the southeast...

oh and if you don't, who gives a fuck? Go do something else; no biggie. It turns out you don't like the law? Oh well, take a mulligan.

[thickfreakness]

Does Birmingham biglaw even PAY 90k?

100-110, with 6 to 7 year equity partner tracks and bonuses.

Not too shabby. How many SA slots a year?

More than you would think, and they hire 1Ls.

I'm praying I get one right now actually.

Good luck. I've had like 5 or 6 screeners with firms in the last two weeks. Callbacks should start up next week.

And, to keep it relevant, I'm at a T14 and rad law's at Vandy, and I can guarantee that our grade cutoff is much lower than a Bama student's would be.

[KMaine]

I don't really understand all of those recommending Vandy, etc. I think you are better off going with Alabama. Alomst no debt, you want to work there. You are MORE likely to do well at Alabama than at the other schools. If you don't get the job you want, who cares? You can do something. You may not get the job you want coming out of the other schools either.

[Veyron]

[/quote]

Not too shabby. How many SA slots a year?[/quote]

More than you would think, and they hire 1Ls.

I'm praying I get one right now actually.[/quote]

Good luck. I've had like 5 or 6 screeners with firms in the last two weeks. Callbacks should start up next week.

And, to keep it relevant, I'm at a T14 and rad law's at Vandy, and I can guarantee that our grade cutoff is much lower than a Bama student's would be.[/quote]

How mysterious, I don't think the posters on this site will EVER be able to guess which one. Your identity remains secure.

[TommyK]

If you don't get the job you want, who cares?

Um, I'm guessing that the person who wanted the job would care that they didn't get the job they wanted.

[20160810]

Firms in Miss/Bama/LA (the area you'd be looking at) don't tend to start at $90K (some do, but I think $70K is probably a better figure), however the COL is so low and you won't have loan payments that... meh, not a huge deal. So if you're willing to relax the 90K goal (since it doesn't make sense anyhow - taking a 90K job in DC or NYC over $75K in Birmingham would be a pretty poor choice, fiscally speaking) and work in the South, then yeah, Bama with $$$ isn't a bad choice at all.

Full disclosure: I took $ at a school more or less the same quality as Bama and managed to snag a firm job. I got kinda lucky in OCI, so my experience isn't a one-size-fits-all... but the ability to walk out of law school with a minimal debt load (my full debt load for the JD will be about the cost of a new Volvo) and the freedom that goes with that is... really nice.

[MPMP]

Firms in Miss/Bama/LA (the area you'd be looking at) don't tend to start at $90K (some do, but I think $70K is probably a better figure), however the COL is so low and you won't have loan payments that... meh, not a huge deal. So if you're willing to relax the 90K goal (since it doesn't make sense anyhow - taking a 90K job in DC or NYC over $75K in Birmingham would be a pretty poor choice, fiscally speaking) and work in the South, then yeah, Bama with $$$ isn't a bad choice at all.

Full disclosure: I took $ at a school more or less the same quality as Bama and managed to snag a firm job. I got kinda lucky in OCI, so my experience isn't a one-size-fits-all... but the ability to walk out of law school with a minimal debt load (my full debt load for the JD will be about the cost of a new Volvo) and the freedom that goes with that is... really nice.

There are definitely jobs that pay 90-110k in those areas, including the "big" Birmingham firms. I have no idea how selective they are with Bama kids though .. I'd imagine you'd want to be top 10% or so.

Regarding the poll - I didn't vote, but I think you're in a pretty good position either way. Going to a better school obviously will be nice if your plans change down the road, which would be very understandable, but not having any debt would be fantastic. With a couple of nice summer jobs you could actually end up turning a profit during law school.

EDIT: OP, I sent you a PM as well.
Slightly off-topic, but does anyone know where to find out how much partners make at some of these regional firms?

[Aqualibrium]

[Aberzombie1892]

Firms in Miss/Bama/LA (the area you'd be looking at) don't tend to start at $90K (some do, but I think $70K is probably a better figure), however the COL is so low and you won't have loan payments that... meh, not a huge deal. So if you're willing to relax the 90K goal (since it doesn't make sense anyhow - taking a 90K job in DC or NYC over $75K in Birmingham would be a pretty poor choice, fiscally speaking) and work in the South, then yeah, Bama with $$$ isn't a bad choice at all.

Full disclosure: I took $ at a school more or less the same quality as Bama and managed to snag a firm job. I got kinda lucky in OCI, so my experience isn't a one-size-fits-all... but the ability to walk out of law school with a minimal debt load (my full debt load for the JD will be about the cost of a new Volvo) and the freedom that goes with that is... really nice.

Yeah Jackson, MS has a market rate of $95,000-$115,000. I'm not exactly certain as to how many summer associate positions there are, as a lot of things have changed in recent years including the fact that a few offices have gotten a lot larger and some firms seem to hire a lot less from MC and Ole Miss than they used to.

[Slevin Kelevra 2011]

If you got T14, you should be able to get a significant scholarship in a state where people don't marry their cousins.

[duckmoney]

OP Here:

Surprised this thread picked back up. Thanks for all the responses and advice. After a lot of consideration I'll be heading to CCN in the fall! I'm paying sticker, but with family support and potential of using LRAP it doesn't bother me. I figure I have enough ties to the south that the name school will be worth it.

[arhmcpo]

Congratulations! I think in your case it was a win-win if you went T14 or Bama

[fathergoose]

oh and if you don't, who gives a fuck? Go do something else; no biggie. It turns out you don't like the law? Oh well, take a mulligan.

I couldn't agree more.

But only if you really are certain you want to stay in Alabama.

[mths]

I'd take UT if you don't mind Texas

[thickfreakness]

OP Here:

Surprised this thread picked back up. Thanks for all the responses and advice. After a lot of consideration I'll be heading to CCN in the fall! I'm paying sticker, but with family support and potential of using LRAP it doesn't bother me. I figure I have enough ties to the south that the name school will be worth it.

Probably the correct decision, especially if you have someone else helping with the bill. You can go back down south with a T14 degree and ties. I landed two firm jobs this summer in Birmingham and had other offers, as well. They eat it up if you have the ties. Just make sure you let them know you're around. Reach out and network early so they'll be looking for you when recruiting season rolls around.

EDIT: Forgot to mention, the other 1Ls in my summer class breakdown as follows (at least at one firm, haven't seen the others). 6 T14s, 1 Vandy, 2 Bama, 1 Cumberland.

[Fred_McGriff]

Go to Alabama if you're cool staying in the South.