Urgent! Kansas v. Miami Forum

[fromshw]

Good afternoon all. I desperately need your opinion in choosing school. I am currently admitted to schools KU and UM, but having a hard time making a decision since I have no knowledge of both cities. I tried to research for the past week, but the pain goes on. I live abroad and have to make a decision by tomorrow.

I am an international student, have an urban design background abroad, did my LLM (Master in Laws) in financial laws at BU. If it matters, Kanas offered me a generous amt of schorlarship, slightly less than half, but I have the entire tuition prepared to cover the next three years, so money wouldn't need to be a priority. I am hoping to transfer after 1L, but I want to choose school based on an assumption that I can't make the transfer. In spite of research, I haven't earned not much knowledge of job markets for both cities. Also, one of my biggest considerations is a class size. Entering class of Kansas would have 100+ 1Ls with 7-8 sections, whereas Miami would have 340+ with 4-5 sections. Any advantage with class size for better GPA? It may sound odd, but the Miami weather is another concern since I have a slight allergic reactions to strong sunlight.

Any insight, advice, literally any information would be greatly appreciated!!!

[omar1]

Retake and reapply. Only go to either 1) on full scholly, 2) willing to live and practice in the city where the school is located, 3)willing to graduate from that school

[cavalier1138]

Neither. Never apply anywhere with the intent to transfer.

But where do you want to practice? Does that jurisdiction not allow LLMs to sit for the bar?

[fromshw]

Retake and reapply. Only go to either 1) on full scholly, 2) willing to live and practice in the city where the school is located, 3)willing to graduate from that school

Thanks for your opinion. I got very nervous during LSAT RC and one section of LR, the first two out of five sections, and I don't think I can bring tremendous difference even if I retake it. Do you have a thought if you only think of job markets of the two cities when I remain in the city to practice?

[fromshw]

Neither. Never apply anywhere with the intent to transfer.

But where do you want to practice? Does that jurisdiction not allow LLMs to sit for the bar?

I have no strong geographic preference. Either KC/Miami, I wouldn't care as long as I can practice.
Only with LLM, but not as a foreign trained lawyer, it is hard to practice in the U.S. so I decided to pursue JD.
Any thought between two school/two cities when you assume I don't have an intent to transfer?

[cavalier1138]

Neither. Never apply anywhere with the intent to transfer.

But where do you want to practice? Does that jurisdiction not allow LLMs to sit for the bar?

I have no strong geographic preference. Either KC/Miami, I wouldn't care as long as I can practice.
Only with LLM, but not as a foreign trained lawyer, it is hard to practice in the U.S. so I decided to pursue JD.
Any thought between two school/two cities when you assume I don't have an intent to transfer?

I think you haven't thought through this enough on your own, because these are radically different markets. And if you're not a US citizen, you'd be very unlikely to find a job that would give you the H1B visa required to stay here after graduation from either of these choices.

[LSATWiz.com]

Neither. Never apply anywhere with the intent to transfer.

But where do you want to practice? Does that jurisdiction not allow LLMs to sit for the bar?

I have no strong geographic preference. Either KC/Miami, I wouldn't care as long as I can practice.
Only with LLM, but not as a foreign trained lawyer, it is hard to practice in the U.S. so I decided to pursue JD.
Any thought between two school/two cities when you assume I don't have an intent to transfer?

I think you haven't thought through this enough on your own, because these are radically different markets. And if you're not a US citizen, you'd be very unlikely to find a job that would give you the H1B visa required to stay here after graduation from either of these choices.

Even a top school, the Visa thing messes people up. It's essentially a lottery.

[brlawyer]

Neither. Never apply anywhere with the intent to transfer.

But where do you want to practice? Does that jurisdiction not allow LLMs to sit for the bar?

I have no strong geographic preference. Either KC/Miami, I wouldn't care as long as I can practice.
Only with LLM, but not as a foreign trained lawyer, it is hard to practice in the U.S. so I decided to pursue JD.
Any thought between two school/two cities when you assume I don't have an intent to transfer?

Missouri allows LLM grads to take the bar as long as they determine that your previous law degree is JD equivalent. Do you have ties to KC/Miami? You might be able to entice a few local firms depending on your language skills/professional background (assuming you (i) are eligible to sit for the bar, and (ii) pass the exam).

I'm an international attorney working big law in KC and all I have is a T-13 LLM. I did work for 5+ years as an attorney in my home country before pursuing my LLM though. Additionally, I'm a permanent resident, so H1B lottery wasn't an issue.

[The Lsat Airbender]

Missouri allows LLM grads to take the bar as long as they determine that your previous law degree is JD equivalent.

OP's post above implies that they don't have foreign legal training - just the LLM. It's amazing how scammy these master's programs can be.

[notinbiglaw]

Even semi respectable LLM programs require LLB or equivalent. I think OP likely means he did LLB or some prelaw program but had no formalized training to practice otherwise.

I mean, seriously, how much training did you get in JD on how to practice as a lawyer?

OP, internationals NEED to get in big law firms’ big offices. Sponsorship and training are both very expensive and risky, especially for smaller firms. Big firms can temporarily transfer you to another office before bringing you back on L-1 visa and big firms don’t incur as much marginal cost to sponsor someone new because chances are they already have staff regularly doing immigration filings.

So the answer is neither. Get your LSAT and get in better law schools.