Top Law Schools

Hello all, I am currently in the process of making my final decision on where I am going to attend next year. After all is said and done, I want to go to the school which will give me the best job prospects in the State of Florida after graduating, but I have not yet decided on a city that I would want to live in after graduation. (most likely orlando or st. pete/tampa area). I am in commercial real estate in orlando now, and may one day want to get into development law. I am also interested in entrepreneurship and may want to land in the realm of IP or patent law. I also may want to pursue a dual degree while in school as well. That being said here are my options:

Background (BS in Finance/Real Estate from FSU, 3.6 GPA, 164 LSAT)

FSU: $20k ladder scholly, 3.2 stip...may go for a JD/MBA here 4 yr program

UMiami: 75% scholly..3.2 stip..I would go for the triple degree JD/MBA/LLM in Real Estate Development 4 yr program.

UF: $21k, 2.8 stip.. JD/MSRE (Masters in Real Estate) 3 year program or JD/MBA 4 year program

Stetson: Full Ride + $14k/yr stipend (top 50% of class stip) JD/MBA 3 years.

Also, PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF I AM IN A POSITION TO NEGOTIATE BETTER OFFERS FOR MYSELF WITH THE NOTION THAT PEOPLE WITH SIMILAR NUMBERS TO MINE ARE GETTING BETTER OFFERS. From what I read, the offers I have received are pretty fair in terms of what others are getting. I may ask UMiami for 100%, I think I am getting close to the max from UF for applicants with my numbers, FSU's offer is pretty lackluster considering I went to undergrad there and UF is giving me MORE. I don't think Stetson could do anything more than the Full + stipend. Thank you all!

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What's with all the dual degrees?

Do you want to be a lawyer? If yes then a second degree will be useless. If no then you shouldn't get a JD.

bk187 wrote:What's with all the dual degrees?

Do you want to be a lawyer? If yes then a second degree will be useless. If no then you shouldn't get a JD.

Why would you question the man about that...He's intelligent enough to land significant scholarships and can be prepared for a shady economy if he wants to.

stefanpdt wrote:

bk187 wrote:What's with all the dual degrees?

Do you want to be a lawyer? If yes then a second degree will be useless. If no then you shouldn't get a JD.

Why would you question the man about that...He's intelligent enough to land significant scholarships and can be prepared for a shady economy if he wants to.

Non-responsive. Dual degrees are generally worthless unless both are strong programs, i.e. Harvard, Penn, etc.
As to the OP: I can't understand your options because you've inconsistently stated your scholarships. What is the cost of attendance at each school? Also, what is each school's median? Assuming you got the most money at UF (as a poster above stated) and its median is not near 2.8, that is obviously the correct choice.

I'd go to Stetson giving your preference for Tampa. You avoid debt, and have three years to network with everyone in Tampa. Stetson is the first law school in FL and is respected. UF can certainly open doors in Tampa, but it is going to cost you 100k more. I also think there is nothing wrong with getting a free MBA, and Stetson's program gets you through both in three years.

If you ran this poll to actual lawyers in FL, the results would be way different. People who don't know anything about FL but are on "top-law-schools" assume UF is the absolute best, and really it is much more complicated than that.

Before it comes up, I don't think the stips are a big deal. If you aren't in the top half at UF you will have to rely on hustling/networking 100%. You are going to want to be in the top half at any of these schools. If you lose your $$$ at Stetson, you probably don't have the stuff to make it in the legal market in FL. Unless you are independently wealthy and just want a JD, you should drop out.

I think UF is a good option too, generally speaking. I also think FSU is a good school depending on what route of law you would like to go down.

Congrats.

If you want I-4 do not go to Miami... I would go to Stetson simply because of the 0 debt and because most know nlj250 stats are pointless for I-4 legal market....

If you like Tampa, that Stetson offer is going to be really hard to pass up...

That said, UF is probably still TCR. I wouldn't even keep Miami and FSU on the list.

As much as it hurts me to say, (I am a FSU grad as well) UF is your best option. Bring your jorts and enjoy the douchebaggery.

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murray18 wrote:That said, UF is probably still TCR. I wouldn't even keep Miami and FSU on the list.

The dude abides

Dropping in to say I hate you for getting such an awesome scholarship from UF. /rant.

RodneyBoonfield wrote:

murray18 wrote:That said, UF is probably still TCR. I wouldn't even keep Miami and FSU on the list.

The dude abides

Takin' it easy for all us sinners.

FSU 2L here and lifelong FL resident. In your situation, TCR is UF, no question.

The FSU/UF awards are one-time, non-renewable amounts for your 1L year only, right?

Ant1her0 wrote:The FSU/UF awards are one-time, non-renewable amounts for your 1L year only, right?

Based on the fact that there's a gpa stip and that the amount is greater than the cost of one year of in-state tuition, I'd say they are three year totals.

Ant1her0 wrote:The FSU/UF awards are one-time, non-renewable amounts for your 1L year only, right?

The scholarship from FSU is over two years with $10k being given at the beginning of each year.

The UF scholarship provides $3500 each fall and spring semester for 3 years, hence $21,000.