Alabama(8k)yr, Wake(12k)yr, SMU (13k)yr Forum

[bergg007]

I am having a hard time choosing between these three schools. I want to live in a warm climate, i will not be going to New York or anywhere like that. The #'s that I have listed at the top are how much each schools tuition will cost me per year, not the amount of scholarship per year. I want to live in the south but I could care less about which state. Where should I go? Where will I get the strongest Job prospects from?

[rebexness]

[JazzOne]

SMU does fairly well in Dallas, and they offered you decent money. However, I know nothing about Alabama or Wake Forrest.

[bergg007]

Any more opinions?

[patrickd139]

Any more opinions?

Choose location first, then school.

[bergg007]

Any more opinions?

Choose location first, then school.

I just want to know what people think of theses schools because i like all of these locations. I chose the south to work in and these are the schools that have admitted me so far.

[TarHeel11]

I'd choose Alabama because it's significantly cheaper tuition and COL, I'd rather have Birmingham as my fallback market than the Triad and I have no interest in Dallas. Wake and UA carry better across the Southeast than SMU. Wake has the better reputation by a little, but Wake grads also face stiffer competition for jobs in NC than Alabama grads do in Alabama.

I would choose SMU if I was interested in Dallas or Texas in general

[patrickd139]

Any more opinions?

Choose location first, then school.

I just want to know what people think of theses schools because i like all of these locations. I chose the south to work in and these are the schools that have admitted me so far.

I understand what you're saying, but "the south" is not a legal market. SMU does not travel well to Miami, nor does Alabama travel well to El Paso. If you truly have no preference where you begin your career, then consider what ties you have to each of those legal markets, as those will heavily influence your ability to convince potential employers you are not a flight risk.

[bergg007]

What i mean is i have no preference for any specific market in the south, I'd be happy anywhere so long as I'm employed. I'm not a fan of Dallas but My wife is a native and I could most easily prove that i'm not a flight risk there and I have an established network.

That said, I really don't like Dallas, so I guess my question is, do these other schools place well enough for people without ties that I can justify them? My favorite right now is Bama because of how cheap it is, but the job situation worries me.

[CanadianWolf]

"But my wife is a native of Dallas, Texas...". Whether you realize it or not, "your mind" has already decided.

[bergg007]

"But my wife is a native of Dallas, Texas...". Whether you realize it or not, "your mind" has already decided.

She's actually pushing for Bama. She's just as conflicted as i am.

[ClutchCity24]

SMU would be my choice out of those. SMU has a strong hold on Dallas as well as the ability to travel somewhat throughout the state. Between Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and Austin there are alot of opportunities to find employment.

[patrickd139]

"But my wife is a native of Dallas, Texas...". Whether you realize it or not, "your mind" has already decided.

I lol'd. Srsly though, why 'bama? Other than being accepted there with money, do you have any other ties to the legal market it serves? The risk I see here is you choosing Alabama and riding the median, making it extremely difficult to come back to Dallas (since it's not a 'national' law school) and unable to get looks at employers who generally are more likely to look past flight risk to hire talent (aka firms).

[Moral_Midgetry]

Wake is slightly more portable than Bama. However, you are likely choosing between living in NC or Alabama for the long run. Pick a state. Draw it out of a hat, flip a coin, ect.

[JazzOne]

Any more opinions?

Choose location first, then school.

I just want to know what people think of theses schools because i like all of these locations. I chose the south to work in and these are the schools that have admitted me so far.

I understand what you're saying, but "the south" is not a legal market. SMU does not travel well to Miami, nor does Alabama travel well to El Paso. If you truly have no preference where you begin your career, then consider what ties you have to each of those legal markets, as those will heavily influence your ability to convince potential employers you are not a flight risk.

Whatever you do, forget about legal work in El Paso. ScottHulse sucks big time.

[patrickd139]

Whatever you do, forget about legal work in El Paso. ScottHulse sucks big time.

Bbbbbut...their attorneys have played a role in the growth and development of El Paso for more than a century!

[JazzOne]

Whatever you do, forget about legal work in El Paso. ScottHulse sucks big time.

Bbbbbut...their attorneys have played a role in the growth and development of El Paso for more than a century!

Yeah, until all their litigation partners started their own firm one story up.

[Nicholasnickynic]

Wake is slightly more portable than Bama. However, you are likely choosing between living in NC or Alabama for the long run. Pick a state. Draw it out of a hat, flip a coin, ect.

Actually, Wake Forest has pretty good ties to Bama.
-Some alabama law firm invited all wake 1Ls to go meet them at a x-mas party in birminghame this past winter
-A few alabama law firms visited wake looking to meet with 1Ls in some event thing
-1 possibly 2 law firms from alabama did 1L oci at wake (I imagine 2L oci has even more)
-2 or 3 different firms did resume collects looking for wake 1Ls.

Im sure alabama > Wake for working in alabama, but I'm just saying. Nit picky, but hey, I'm a wake student! Got to throw in a plug. But seriously, they are pretty comparable, and you will likely end up in the state where the school is located. So yeah, flip a coin.

[Nicholasnickynic]

Any more opinions?

Choose location first, then school.

I just want to know what people think of theses schools because i like all of these locations. I chose the south to work in and these are the schools that have admitted me so far.

I understand what you're saying, but "the south" is not a legal market. SMU does not travel well to Miami, nor does Alabama travel well to El Paso. If you truly have no preference where you begin your career, then consider what ties you have to each of those legal markets, as those will heavily influence your ability to convince potential employers you are not a flight risk.

+1. Law firms will turn you down despite being top 10% if they think you are a flight risk. Why bother losing money on a summer associate, not to mention waste time training her, if she is just going to leave for a different state? I did not realize how much of a factor this was going in, but it really is pretty big (although, the most important factor is still, far and away, grades and school rep).

What state are you from?
College?
Do you have any relatives that live in these areas?

Its not the most important thing in the world, but the job market is tough enough without adding unnecessary burdens.

[rose711]

Have you visited each of these schools? I think they are all different kinds of places -but I have never been to Alabama. I would go to the school with the biggest national appeal if you aren't sure.