Top Law Schools

Looking at LST it seems like UF is the better choice for those wanting firms, while FSU tends to place more of its class in Govt/PI. Any thoughts here? Personally, I'm looking for a firm career in Nashville, but am going to apply to the best regionals I can realistically get into along with UTenn. Is it wise to go to a top 50 like UF or FSU over UTenn (~72), or does moving out of state negate that? Assuming I don't hit Alabama or UGA, are these are the two best candidates? Thanks for any advice you have to offer.

Don't go to UF or FSU if you want to return to Tennessee. The fact that they're top 50 is practically meaningless.

I do to know why you aren't considering Vanderbilt. Retake the LSAT if your score isn't high enough.

If you want Nashville, mark off UF, FSU, Bama and UGA. None have great placement in Nashville. Ignore the rankings. No employer in Nashville knows or cares that FSU is ranked higher than UT.

UT for (practically) free, Vandy with big scholarship or T-14 w/scholarship (preferably UVA/Duke) for Nashville.

I really wouldn't shoot for Nashville, though. It is one of the hardest markets to crack. If you miss big law there, which there really isn't too much of, you will be competing with a plethora of Nashville SOL grads for small firm & gov't jobs where they surprisingly do quite well. Are you from Nashville at least?

Dirigo wrote:Don't go to UF or FSU if you want to return to Tennessee. The fact that they're top 50 is practically meaningless.

I do to know why you aren't considering Vanderbilt. Retake the LSAT if your score isn't high enough.

GPA too low for Vandy (3.0). I spoke to the Admissions Director over there, and he said transferring would be my only option. He did say that I was a really strong candidate for that, though. Local vet with the GI Bill.

deadpanic wrote:If you want Nashville, mark off UF, FSU, Bama and UGA. None have great placement in Nashville. Ignore the rankings. No employer in Nashville knows or cares that FSU is ranked higher than UT.

UT for (practically) free, Vandy with big scholarship or T-14 w/scholarship (preferably UVA/Duke) for Nashville.

I really wouldn't shoot for Nashville, though. It is one of the hardest markets to crack. If you miss big law there, which there really isn't too much of, you will be competing with a plethora of Nashville SOL grads for small firm & gov't jobs where they surprisingly do quite well. Are you from Nashville at least?

Thats what I was thinking. I figured the walls around Nashville are high enough that regionals outside the state weren't placing. I am from Nashville with a significant legal network. Several family/friends/HS alum/etc., so I've got a fallback if the big office aspirations don't turn out. Using GI Bill, so they're all free. Just trying to decide between Tennessee schools, or higher ranked, southern state schools. Vandy is out due to dropping 4 courses in 2007, resulting in 4 LSAC F's.

Also, you don't think Bama grads are doing well there? I feel like that would be the next best thing to Vandy or UVA.

I would go to UT over Bama if I wanted Nashville. Bama is not a horrible choice for Nashville but will place more in, of course, Alabama. The rankings are truly meaningless when you are talking about state flagships. Employers in Nashville are going to be, by and large, UT grads, not Bama grads.

If the GI bill covers it all, go to UT for free.

deadpanic wrote:I would go to UT over Bama if I wanted Nashville. Bama is not a horrible choice for Nashville but will place more in, of course, Alabama. The rankings are truly meaningless when you are talking about state flagships. Employers in Nashville are going to be, by and large, UT grads, not Bama grads.

If the GI bill covers it all, go to UT for free.

Agree

Go to ut for free

You seem deadset on not retaking so just apply to Tennessee (and Tennessee only) and be done with it if you're Nashville or bust

Thanks, all.