Top Law Schools

So, say you get into a Top 25 school that's considered regional--does this mean that for example, if you get into Minnesota or Boston U, that you'll have to stay in Minnesota or Boston for the rest of your career? Or is there a strong/slim possibility of moving to...California (off the top of my head) and being successful there after a few years of work experience?

Thanks Sorry if this is a stupid question.

There's some mobility to almost any degree. If you look at a firm's website you'll find that have grads from all over. However, i would imagine if you finished in the top median at BU, getting a job in california would probably be through some sort of connection. Its not common but it happens.

I think when people say "regional" they mean that your best first job opportunity from that place is likely to be only in its region. Getting a job outside of a region when you're already working doesn't depend as much on your law school as it does on your legal work experience. Problem is, most people who move out of firms are likely lateral transfers to other firms, which is usually not the preferred outcome (that being partnership and big balla dollas.)

they're regional, duh

California is probably a bad example. Portability from the east coast to the west appears to be reserved for the more elite schools. Go to some of the top CA firms' websites and do a law school profile search. I'm guessing they'll be pretty heavy in Stanford and UC system grads.

thickfreakness wrote:I think when people say "regional" they mean that your best first job opportunity from that place is likely to be only in its region. Getting a job outside of a region when you're already working doesn't depend as much on your law school as it does on your legal work experience. Problem is, most people who move out of firms are likely lateral transfers to other firms, which is usually not the preferred outcome (that being partnership and big balla dollas.)

This. If you go to Minnesota you're going to have a much easier time finding work in Minnesota, or as far as Chicago, but that's about it. After that it gets a lot harder and you'll have to do a lot more to convince someone to hire you. BU is going to be well-recognized in Boston and New York, but you're not going to have many in-roads in, say, Florida or California with that degree.

You can eventually change jobs and use your work experience to go live somewhere else, if you want. But that's years down the road, and by then you're already making friends and connections in that region, so why leave? Most people thus grow roots and get stuck there.

It doesn't condemn you to living in that forever, but that's the most common path for people because it's far, far easier than leaving.

Haha, thanks guys. I was getting the impression that regional schools locked you down forever in one region....which wouldn't be great for me since the only schools I've gotten into are regional in places I have never been....:/ Any advice there? I'm working abroad so there's no possibility of me going to visit before deposit deadlines.

goblue1646 wrote:Haha, thanks guys. I was getting the impression that regional schools locked you down forever in one region....which wouldn't be great for me since the only schools I've gotten into are regional in places I have never been....:/ Any advice there? I'm working abroad so there's no possibility of me going to visit before deposit deadlines.

Well, don't go somewhere you wouldn't want to spend 10 years.

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