Top Law Schools

Anyone attending Miami and available for questions?

I also have questions for Miami students. Specifically ones that might be paying sticker price. Anyone willing to chat?

SixStrings11 wrote:I also have questions for Miami students. Specifically ones that might be paying sticker price. Anyone willing to chat?

+1

For example:

1. I can somehow justify Miami over higher ranked schools, right?

2. Can I offer to pay more than sticker because its in the best location ever?

3. Can I start school now and/or live on your couch?

4. Why is it so cold here?

Thanks a bunch!

Does anyone know if Miami negotiates scholarships?

There has to be someone on here who's going to Miami or is a Miami grad. Any thoughts on the school and job prospects?

Preferably a 2L or 3L, because I would like to know what employment prospects are in southern Florida currently, I have heard some pretty unflattering things about the current market for Miami grads in south Florida and would like to get a feel for if there is any truth to this. People usually respond by saying "like everywhere else, the economy has affected job prospects", but I would like to know how bad they are, if they are bad at all, or if they are relatively normal.

Guess this pretty much decides that I won't be attending the U

I went to Miami undergrad, so I can answer questions about the school/city.

I've heard some people say that living in the Miami area feels like living in South America, any truth to that or is it easy to feel comfortable there if you are from other places in the United States?

How are the campus facilities?

Are there affordable housing options close to campus?

Do you need a car to be able to get around efficiently?

Any crime near campus?

MNHockey09 wrote:I've heard some people say that living in the Miami area feels like living in South America, any truth to that or is it easy to feel comfortable there if you are from other places in the United States?

How are the campus facilities?

Are there affordable housing options close to campus?

Do you need a car to be able to get around efficiently?

Any crime near campus?

I'm an undergrad at Miami currently, so I can answer these questions despite not being a law student.

Living in South America?:

You're going to find people that speak Spanish.. yes. But it's not that bad.

Campus facilities:

The law school itself is really nice. Large law library, nice classrooms, and a courtyard with a fountain and tables in the middle.
The main library (Richter Library), is also a great building located right next to the law school and a starbucks. Some of the other classrooms, which I don't know if law students use often, are a little dated.. but overall ok.

Housing:

The apartment I live in now is right across the street from campus. It's a little expensive ($1800/month for a 2/2.. I'm paying $900). If you move a little further away, housing gets cheaper. Unfortunately Coral Gables is not a cheap area, though.

Transportation:

A car is helpful, but the metro can take you most of the places you need to go. I'd say make friends with someone who has a car though, just in case.

Crime:

Not a lot. But recently one of the banks close to campus had a hostage situation. It's mostly ok though.. I've never had any issues with crime, nor has anyone I know. There are some areas that I wouldn't suggest walking alone at night in, but I'm sure a lot of places are like that.

Overall:

The school and the city aren't cheap. If you're looking for a relatively low cost of living, UM isn't your school. But with that said, I've loved spending four years here. There's always something to do.

MNHockey09 wrote:I've heard some people say that living in the Miami area feels like living in South America

You heard right. It's stereotypically (and historically Cuban), but there's tons more Hispanics-lots (and I mean A LOT) of Venezuelans. And Haitians. Food's great though. No, don't worry, the really Hispanic neighborhoods can feel like another country, but there are plenty of gringos. Wouldn't hurt to learn Spanish, though.

RE Transportation-Metrorail is a joke, at least compared to any subway system in the country. Good news is, the stop is right across the street from campus.

It'll take you, if you go south a couple stops, to Dadeland North-which stops right outside a vertical mall (with a Target, Best Buy, Bed Bath & Beyond, Sports Authority, and a couple good restaurants-a short walk from the *real* Dadeland Mall-which is a pretty decent mall-and probably the most accessible one by public transit from UM's campus). Dadeland South is about a block from a pretty nice Publix, the grocery store for those not familiar (the Gables Publix is closer to UM, obviously, but the Dadeland Publix you can get to via metrorail). Outside the campus-right across US-1 is a mall called Sunset Place-mostly a teeny bopper place but they have some decent stores there. Across US-1 from the main entrance, next to Ponce de Leon Middle school and a Starbucks is Book Horizons-an independently owned bookstore for UM books.

On the off-chance you want to go to the Grove, Metrorail stops there, but it's kind of a shitty walk. I can't imagine you wanting to go to Vizcaya. Brickell-pricey area, but if you have a posh internship you might be stopping there ( ). Government internships-you'll probably be stopping at Government Center. Other than Civic Center, I can't imagine you going North of Govt Center-that's where metrorail probably stops being useful for you.

So, basically, you can survive without a car. The Metrorail, shoddy as it may be, can get you to a couple of pretty decent malls, a grocery store, and downtown for internship-related stuff. The bus system is all right. Not the best option, but UM is situated pretty well. If you were going to, say FIU, I'd say a car isn't optional. That said, if finances allow, I would strongly recommend a car in Miami. The public transportation is serviceable, but the headache of insurance and car payments and all that crap is probably outweighed by the benefits. If you live in the UM area, going car-less your first year is probably very do-able, but beyond that you'll be wishing you had one.

Disclaimer: I am not a UM student, nor am I a law student, but I was born and raised near the Gables. As far as housing goes, you can definitely go cheaper than the Gables, but I wouldn't recommend it without a car. I think, technically, Gables residents aren't allowed to sublet to people, but they do it all the time. I saw someone in another thread talking about living in Kendall--don't do that to yourself-I wouldn't want to drive to UM from Kendall around rush hour, and parking at UM blows.

That's all I can think of right now.

MNHockey09 wrote:I've heard some people say that living in the Miami area feels like living in South America, any truth to that or is it easy to feel comfortable there if you are from other places in the United States?

How are the campus facilities?

Are there affordable housing options close to campus?

Do you need a car to be able to get around efficiently?

Any crime near campus?

1. I can see what they mean when they say living in Miami in like living in Latin America. Miami has the highest foreign born population of any major city in the world behind Dubai (about 60% - 70%). Especially in South Miami nearly everyone speaks Spanish and many struggle with English. There are even areas of the city (Little Havana / Hialeah) where even the street and business signs are completely in Spanish.

2. Personally I don't think think the architecture of the buildings on campus are very nice. But the inside of almost all the classrooms are renovated and modern. The campus also has a lot of natural beauty and the school spends a lot of money on landscaping - making the campus look almost like a tropical resort. The Library and Wellness center are also both very nice looking buildings.

3. Depends what you mean by affordable. Miami is an expensive city. I lived in a house with two friends about 2 miles south of campus in an okay area and paid $750 and month plus utilities. Ive heard of people paying anywhere from $600 to $1000 a month.

4. Absolutely

5. Campus is pretty safe but there are some rough neighborhoods near campus and beyond. It is easy to get lost and end up in a dangerous area. I haven't experienced any crime on campus but off campus friends have been jumped/mugged and had their cars broken into.

plug1 wrote:

MNHockey09 wrote:I've heard some people say that living in the Miami area feels like living in South America, any truth to that or is it easy to feel comfortable there if you are from other places in the United States?

How are the campus facilities?

Are there affordable housing options close to campus?

Do you need a car to be able to get around efficiently?

Any crime near campus?

1. I can see what they mean when they say living in Miami in like living in Latin America. Miami has the highest foreign born population of any major city in the world behind Dubai (about 60% - 70%). Especially in South Miami nearly everyone speaks Spanish and many struggle with English. There are even areas of the city (Little Havana / Hialeah) where even the street and business signs are completely in Spanish.

2. Personally I don't think think the architecture of the buildings on campus are very nice. But the inside of almost all the classrooms are renovated and modern. The campus also has a lot of natural beauty and the school spends a lot of money on landscaping - making the campus look almost like a tropical resort. The Library and Wellness center are also both very nice looking buildings.

3. Depends what you mean by affordable. Miami is an expensive city. I lived in a house with two friends about 2 miles south of campus in an okay area and paid $750 and month plus utilities. Ive heard of people paying anywhere from $600 to $1000 a month.

4. Absolutely

5. Campus is pretty safe but there are some rough neighborhoods near campus and beyond. It is easy to get lost and end up in a dangerous area. I haven't experienced any crime on campus but off campus friends have been jumped/mugged and had their cars broken into.

Little Havana is doable because tourists go there all the time. But Hialeah IS Latin America.

I'm Puerto Rican, but I have a great affection for good Cuban sandwiches. Seriously, they are like my favorite thing ever. I bet they are all over Miami, I'm getting fatter just thinking about it!

Justathought wrote:I'm Puerto Rican, but I have a great affection for good Cuban sandwiches. Seriously, they are like my favorite thing ever. I bet they are all over Miami, I'm getting fatter just thinking about it!

I'm Cuban, and it pisses my family and Puerto Rican friends off to no end, but I see no meaningful differences (aside from a few dishes) between Cuban and Puerto Rican food.

It sounds like attending Miami for the sticker price is a huge gamble, considering the modest employment prospects and huge debt that will be accumulated by their students, now if only someone who is currently attending Miami Law would be available...

great place dont worry. honestly, miami at ticket is not such a gamble. job prospects are better than you think and the humongous alumni base is worth the cost.

Do you go there? I think if I did go there I wouldn't want to work in Miami, I would want to work in Broward County or Palm Beach County, what are job prospects like there compared to the city of Miami?

no i think that from random people i know its very well regarded in all of s. florida. one of my neighbors in broward works as a superlawer for searcy... you do well there and make the right connections and youre golden.

MNHockey09 wrote:Do you go there? I think if I did go there I wouldn't want to work in Miami, I would want to work in Broward County or Palm Beach County, what are job prospects like there compared to the city of Miami?

THIS.

i live in palm beach now and i'd like to return. is it worth going to miami for the sofla connections (probably at sticker) or should i pay less to go to a higher ranked school that has no ties to florida (but i've been networking down here in the legal crowd for almost three years, so i'm fairly confident i could use a connection to come back as long as my grades are good...).

in the long run the debt will expire and youll be at a definite advantage having firm um connections in s florida. however, the decision is ultimastely yours. dont forget that from day one at law school your greatest networking will be in the city youre in. id hate to have to come back to a place without ongoing connections unless you feel those connections are solid and will trump the test of time and the notion of out of sight out of mind. thats just my opinion and im going for it ticket at um and all. i believe i will ultimately prevail. others will vehemently disagree with this line of action. but whats wrong with being a contrarian?

haha i thought you used to be one of those vehemently opposed to sticker at um, drummerboy? did you decide on miami for the networking and connections to ultimately stay in sofla? do you think there's a price point at which this theory no longer holds true? like, say, $75,000 over the three years?

i agree with the apparent discrepancy in my decision making. its that there have been numerous people in the field that have presented an opposing perspective. i guess it will ultimately come down to where i want to live and the subsequent initial financial burden im willing to tolerate. luckily, ive managed to get some help with books, room, and board. decisions decisions

Cut-and-pasted from another thread.


Sticker for Miami? Almost $200k? Surely you jest. If you're taking loans or aren't independently wealthy, biglaw is one of the only ways to effectively pay off this debt without becoming a pauper.

Miami is a highly desirable market for those from T25ish schools with connections to the city. Combine that with SA classes are down. Judging from NALP, there are maybe like 40-50 2L and 1L SA spots in whole city. A few firms still aren't hiring. The ones that do hire tend to be hiring 3, 4, 5 SAs maybe. Small classes, unlike years past when the economy was good. Firms love to have their pick of grads from highly prestigious schools and will take them over UM grads with regularity.

Even assuming that Miami snapped up all the SA's left in the city, that would be only 10%ish of the people getting Biglaw. But judging from Calton Fields's most recent class, nothing even close to this is happening. Not a single UM student hired at the Miami office (or in all of FL). Oh and by the way, Carlton Fields in one of the few firms that is actually doing well in the new economy. --LinkRemoved--

Recent hiring statistics confirm this, as UM does not even make the Top 50 for NLJ250 (rough approximation for biglaw) placement). The cutoff for #50 was 11%. What specific percentage we don't know, but judging from the state of FL's legal economy, it's horrendous. http://www.law.com/jsp/nlj/PubArticleNL ... hbxlogin=1 (for the record, for the class of 2009, they didn't make the cutoff when the cutoff was 13.2%, either).

UM doesn't even lock down the local market. UF's prestige is equal to or greater than UM's in South FL.

Debt should be the #1 issue for prospective UM students, as it will be sheer, dumb luck whether you land a biglaw SA. Anyone without full tuition or close to it needs to do some soul searching, as COL alone will put you close to $60k in the hole for three years. Small firms are available if you want to work for $35k-$50k in a high COL area. Making $40k when you have $60k debt is okay. But you may not even get a legal job. As for ASA, PD, City Atty., etc. positions, local govts. are cash strapped and aren't hiring many, if at all.