If you're top 10% at either of these schools, you have a decent chance at biglaw in Florida. If you're not, you're going to have to scramble to find legal employment with a small firm. I don't think either school will give you a significantly better shot at this with the other.

I'd take the money at FSU.

Jenna XOXO

I would. Job prospects are UF are scary, but at least most graduates get a job in some field of law. I'm not sure the same is true of Stetson.

If sticker at UF was 50k and not 20k, I might agree with you.

Jess XOXO

Do folks here really think UF and FSU are equals? The amount og Gators in big firms is so much more than FSU. FSU and Stetson are actually similar in numbers at large firms in Tampa Bay and Orlando.

Overall they're peer schools. FSU is a smaller school than UF, so sends a lower volume to big law. Many of their students also self-select into government work because of the access to Tallahassee. UF might have a slight firm placement advantage due to the alumni connections, but this difference is probably negligible for an FSU grad who's dead set on firm market in a market he has ties to.

The fact remains that outside the top 10 or 15% of the class, neither of the schools are going to send many people into big law firms.

Also, they are both a cut above Stetson. Look at recent graduates of Stetson and see how they're doing at large firms in Tampa and Orlando.

I would never go to Stetson ITE if I wanted a job afterward.

Stetson has just as large an alumni network as FSU.

Too bad that doesn't translate into great job placement

Really there are no more 09-11 graduates from FSU in tampa/orlando than 09-11 graduates from stetson on firm websites off martindale.... Of course this does not take into account FSU definitely having way more in Tallahassee, Jacksonville etc.

Well that is because you bash Stetson 24/7 but I do really hope you move to tampa and continue to bash stetson..

FSU class size: 245
Stetson class size: 337

So over a three year period, Stetson has flooded the market with 300 more grads.

Also the self selection you mentioned

Bingo; plus class size


No, it's because they have pathetic employment outcomes and high average indebtedness. One of my TLS bro bros goes there for cheap and has a job lined up with his pre-LS employer, that's a good call. Majority of applicants? Nope.

so if you had a big scholarship it's ok why would you say?

With the numbers you need to get a scholarship that makes Stetson worthwhile (I'd say about $50k-$65k debt) you can almost assuredly get into UF or FSU and pay in-state, or discounted even further than that.

not if you don't have state residency...

Don't go to a FL law school without strong preexisting ties to the state. The FL market is highly parochial. If that means you need to live in FL for a year or two before law school, so be it. The market is just that bad.

Just because you don't have state residency does not mean you don't have ties...

Bro, it's really obvious you are either attending or will be attending Stetson. Good luck to you, but stop white knighting the school. Employment stats, average indebtedness and class size speak for themselves.

maybe I am maybe I'm not but I always fight for the underdog.

LOL except this "underdog" profits from unsuspecting and uninformed students while leaving them high and dry

What do you want me to say? That Stetson might be a good idea for someone who has insanely strong I4 corridor ties (extended family lives there or something) but somehow has not gotten residency, but ALSO has scores good enough to bring the cost to about $50k, and ALSO has some situation (say wife's job in Tampa) that would make him unable to work in other parts of the state?

I'd still do my best to obtain residency and go to UF, but given my general background knowledge of people who go to Stetson and law school applicants in general, my educated guess is that this above situation applies to basically no one. This is sublime idiocy.

Stetson is a brilliant choice in this circumstance!

I'm really debt averse, but I voted UF. FSU places about 7% of its grads in firms with more than 50 lawyers while UF places 19% in firms w/more than 50 lawyers. http://placementsummary.abaquestionnaire.org/home.aspx. It's an arbitrary distinction to make, but one that gives you a better chance at a higher salary.

I might also add that this hypothetical person would also be unable to get a job in FL for a year or two to get residency in FL. In which case yes, Stetson would be a brilliant choice. Too bad it's extremely unlikely that someone will have ALL of these characteristics.