Best place to practice Law Forum

[NJ Devils 30]

What would any of you say the best area of the country to work in in terms of quality of life is. I really do not want to stay in the New York area because things are just way too fast paced for me. When I went to California a few years back I noticed the pace there was much more to my liking. I prefer warmer weather as I'm sick of these cold winters and being stuck inside 5 months a year. I also heard the NY firms work their associates harder compared to other locations across America. What area would offer the best quality of life in terms of a future job? I understand that firms want more than 40 hours a week but anything above 55-60 will make me go nuts. I take pride on being in shape and dont want to be consumed 24/7 by work and become a fat, emotionless slave of a huge law firm lol. But I do want to get paid .
Any suggestions would be helpful as I am in the process of LSAT studying.

[art vandelay]

What would any of you say the best area of the country to work in in terms of quality of life is. I really do not want to stay in the New York area because things are just way too fast paced for me. When I went to California a few years back I noticed the pace there was much more to my liking. I prefer warmer weather as I'm sick of these cold winters and being stuck inside 5 months a year. I also heard the NY firms work their associates harder compared to other locations across America. What area would offer the best quality of life in terms of a future job? I understand that firms want more than 40 hours a week but anything above 55-60 will make me go nuts. I take pride on being in shape and dont want to be consumed 24/7 by work and become a fat, emotionless slave of a huge law firm lol. But I do want to get paid .
Any suggestions would be helpful as I am in the process of LSAT studying.

Many TX firms pay the same (or nearly the same) as their counterparts in Cali or NYC biglaw, but the COL is far lower in TX. Warm weather. Our politicians still believe in the free market, so our economy is faring much better than the national average. Job market is better. Great cities in Dallas, Houston, Austin, etc.

One thing: 55-60 hrs/week in biglaw is pretty damn good. In other words, you'd be wayyyy lucky to work that little. Wayyyyy lucky.

[NJ Devils 30]

I'm referring to law firms in general, big law is a remote possibility for me anyway. I'm talking more about the average medium sized firm

[jetlagz28]

Its very objective. Not.

[art vandelay]

Its very objective. Not.

Truth.

[A'nold]

Detroit, Gary IN, Jacksonville FL.

[art vandelay]

Detroit, Gary IN, Jacksonville FL.

LOL +1

[galahad85]

Atlanta

[CE2JD]

Fresno, Compton, Van Noys

[iamluke20]

Colorado, IMO, has the highest quality of life in the country. I feel like people on the east coast don't really understand
how much better life is in the western US. You can live in an urban setting in Denver and be skiing in an hour.

Plus CO is supposed to double in population in the next 20 years. COL is low, not as low as the south however.

And its not nearly as cold as people make it seem, the sun shines almost every day.

I am an advertisement for CO. LOL.

[throughthewetgrass]

North Carolina... Wilmington is tops.

[pleasetryagain]

what is houston like? is there any diversity there? hows the food?

[coolkatz321]

Pittsburgh. Very cheap to live, and there's tons to do. The quality of living is excellent.

[SoxyPirate]

North Carolina... Wilmington is tops.

Please don't start telling people to do this. We have enough tourists here as it is...

[throughthewetgrass]

North Carolina... Wilmington is tops.

Please don't start telling people to do this. We have enough tourists here as it is...

oops.... waiiiit a second, did I say Wilmington? I meant Goldsboro..

[SoxyPirate]

North Carolina... Wilmington is tops.

Please don't start telling people to do this. We have enough tourists here as it is...

oops.... waiiiit a second, did I say Wilmington? I meant Goldsboro..

Haha...Fayetteville?

[SusanZ]

what is houston like? is there any diversity there? hows the food?

Humid. Extremely diverse. Great food- theres a reason why its one of the fattest cities in the country.

[Marmot]

Seattle. Beautiful city, laid-back atmosphere, excellent food, quite affordable, weekend sushi raids in Vancouver, amazing skiing just 45 minutes away.

[jawsome]

San Diego.

[jcl2]

Seattle. Beautiful city, laid-back atmosphere, excellent food, quite affordable, weekend sushi raids in Vancouver, amazing skiing just 45 minutes away.

+1

[Cal4future]

San Diego.

+1

[texaslawyer]

DC or Chicago IMO. Yeah the cost of evrything is high, but these are hustling areas. Also Austin, Tx or Charlotte, NC.

[crash90]

Seattle. Beautiful city, laid-back atmosphere, excellent food, quite affordable, weekend sushi raids in Vancouver, amazing skiing just 45 minutes away.

Too bad it rains like the next great flood is coming. Other than that Seattle is a great city, I have a few friends that I visit frequently and I am always tempted to live out there some day.

If your looking for the "urban" setting then I would put in a vote for CO. The weather is fantastic even in the winter. It rarely dips below zero and it offers all the ammenities of coast cities.

[Marmot]

Too bad it rains like the next great flood is coming.

Yep, sure does... horrible thunderstorms, torrential rains! It's monsoon season year 'round! Don't listen to anyone who tells you otherwise, that the "rain" is little more than fog and drizzle and that the summers are gorgeous. You'd better stay away.

If you've applied to UW, you should withdraw NOW. You'll hate it.

[sullidop]

Boston. Yes it's cold in the winter but the city is beautiful, the pay is equivalent to NYC w/o as many billables and the housing is affordable. Additionally it's in the biotech capital of the world so if you're interest in IP, IPTS, patents or PE/VC it's an exciting place to be. AND MA public schools are among the top in the country for those of you looking to have families some day.