Penn vs. Chicago vs. UVA for Texas Biglaw Forum

[cruxisfalcon]

Assume modest $$ at all three.

I know Chicago and Penn are ranked higher, but I've heard that UVA has some good connections to TX. Any suggestions? Texas is my main priority, although I haven't ruled NY entirely out.

[dr123]

What about UT?

[Emma.]

UT.

But if that is not an option I'd say Chicago. All the Texas kids have crushed it (1L SAs, etc) and there is a Texas Law Society specifically set up to help students who want to return to TX.

[Doorkeeper]

Definitely Chicago.

[SportsFan]

Assume modest $$ at all three.

I know Chicago and Penn are ranked higher, but I've heard that UVA has some good connections to TX. Any suggestions? Texas is my main priority, although I haven't ruled NY entirely out.

Whats your COA at each? Also, do you have ties to Texas? If you're from Texas, you'll be able to get biglaw there from below median at any of these schools.

[ihp12]

Penn.

I think all three have equal access to Texas, or at least no significant difference. And Penn is the best of those three for NY.

If UT is an option, its a tough choice. UT has half the big law placement of Penn, but UT gives you access to a bunch of quality but not national Texas firms that don't OCI at Penn and the like (think TK and Jackson Walker).

However, I think this is balanced somewhat by the fact that at UT everyone wants Texas, but there's very little competition at the others for Texas. For example at Penn, baker botts didn't even fill up all its OCI slots. That would never happen at UT.

[Mad Hatter]

UT.

But if that is not an option I'd say Chicago. All the Texas kids have crushed it (1L SAs, etc) and there is a Texas Law Society specifically set up to help students who want to return to TX.

[Greenandgold]

UT.

But if that is not an option I'd say Chicago. All the Texas kids have crushed it (1L SAs, etc) and there is a Texas Law Society specifically set up to help students who want to return to TX.

This. I'm at Chicago and from Texas. If you have any specific questions feel free to PM me.

Every member of the Texas Law Society that's a 1L and from Texas has a summer associate job lined up. 7 out of the 30 people in my section will be in Houston this summer at firms. 3 of them aren't even from Texas. Whatever the price difference between Chicago and the other 2 schools is, you need to take into account a 1L SA and the chances of getting them at those schools. As long as you're fairly normal and from Texas you'll get one out of Chicago.

[nonprofit-prophet]

I'm currently at UT and would be happy to answer questions about the school or the texas legal market. I assume you'd have a ton of money from UT. A lot of money and the fact that some great firms likely don't do OCI at chicago (not just the aforementioned TK, but I also assume a few of the good boutiques like Yetter and Gibbs don't either) could make up for the increased risk.