University of Arizona Jobs Prospect Forum

[dg6820a]

I was wondering if any U of A law grad (or anyone) could give an insight about the jobs prospects of graduates. It appears that their LST score is not too bad (71.5%) and their website claims that the 23.2% of the class of 2014 got judicial clerkship (but only 3.5% were federal). If anyone with insight or advice could share, I'd appreciate it

[Good Guy Gaud]

Unless you have connections elsewhere, a law degree from UofA is not going to be very helpful outside of Arizona. Clerkship numbers seem pretty accurate (most of those grads clerk at the state court of appeals, which has two divisions). Not sure how else I can help without more specific questions.

[reasonableperson]

Ding at Pearson Specter Litt.

[Harry_Pluxen]

Jessica Pearson just dissed them on suits two nights ago.

[Harry_Pluxen]

Ding at Pearson Specter Litt.

haha. Scooped!

[alohalaw]

Is the fact that University of Arizona is now accepting GREs in lieu of LSAT scores impacting anyone's decision to attend?

[FullRamboLSGrad]

Is the fact that University of Arizona is now accepting GREs in lieu of LSAT scores impacting anyone's decision to attend?

Personally, UAz has been circling the drain for years. Once ASU figured out the rankings game UA lost their ability to attract quality students as 4/5 of AZs legal market is in Phoenix. So I'd tread lightly at UA, their attorneys and judges have a, now unfounded, superiority complex.

As for jobs, BigLaw in AZ is 20+ attorney's it can't be compared to the east coast. Jobs pay less than peer cities/States but cost of living is cheap here and the market isn't AS glutted as other states.

If we're lucky the real scam artists as Summit will go away and UA can slide into TT mediocrity.

What am I getting at again? Do you know anybody in Tucson with any power? If you don't you'll never be a lawyer there, because you went to UA you also are disadvantaged in Phoenix thanks to the ASU/UA rivalry and lack of intermingling. If you want to be a lawyer in AZ go to ASU. UA was AZs top flight and since about 2010 it's lost itself and has moved comfortably into TT territory. Tucson tries to counterweight Phoenix, so if you are a Democrat with friends in the right places you might be able to find that (very small) pocket of wealth, if not nobody else has money in Tucson. I should know, I practiced there with one of these good ole boy firms for years before lateraling out.

[Harry_Pluxen]

Is the fact that University of Arizona is now accepting GREs in lieu of LSAT scores impacting anyone's decision to attend?

Doesn't the ABA require LSATs be used in the admission process in order for a school to maintain accreditation?

[alohalaw]

Is the fact that University of Arizona is now accepting GREs in lieu of LSAT scores impacting anyone's decision to attend?

Doesn't the ABA require LSATs be used in the admission process in order for a school to maintain accreditation?

No, it is the LSAT or another test which can sufficiently prove an applicants capabilities for law school.

That isn't the exact wording, but it is something along those lines.

[JGMotorsport]

Just a way for them to deal with their declining admissions standards in a way that for now doesn't hurt their rankings anymore than they are already experiencing.

[A. Nony Mouse]

Personally, UAz has been circling the drain for years. Once ASU figured out the rankings game UA lost their ability to attract quality students as 4/5 of AZs legal market is in Phoenix. So I'd tread lightly at UA, their attorneys and judges have a, now unfounded, superiority complex.

This is kind of silly and places way too much credence on rankings. The rankings don't reflect any difference in the schools except that ASU decided to game them. They're basically the same school and that doesn't change year to year as the rankings change.

The points about the difference between the Tucson and Phoenix markets are largely correct, although I don't think U of A grads are shut out of Phoenix.

[FullRamboLSGrad]

Personally, UAz has been circling the drain for years. Once ASU figured out the rankings game UA lost their ability to attract quality students as 4/5 of AZs legal market is in Phoenix. So I'd tread lightly at UA, their attorneys and judges have a, now unfounded, superiority complex.

This is kind of silly and places way too much credence on rankings. The rankings don't reflect any difference in the schools except that ASU decided to game them. They're basically the same school and that doesn't change year to year as the rankings change.

The points about the difference between the Tucson and Phoenix markets are largely correct, although I don't think U of A grads are shut out of Phoenix.

The thing is, they aren't anymore they're on two separate trajectories fulfilling two different paths. Not to say ASU is so much better, but they do have a significant advantage.

Nowhere was it said UA is shut out, they have a disadvantage in their own state though. Traditionally, they were the good school in AZs step child city, so the top students would go there and filter up, that's not true anymore, and it's becoming less true not by virtue of rankings by virtue of what ASU is doing right now and how much they are integrating themselves into Phoenixs business community. Not to mean ill toward Tucson, Tucson is a wonderful city but it acts as a counterweight to the state not as an integrated member and it does so without any economy to speak of. I actually went to UA FWIW, I am not happy with the direction they've been heading in the last 5 years, they have issues getting students.

You'd have to live/practice here to see how this actually works. Maybe it's being overstated but the theme is correct.

[JollyGreenGiant23]

Personally, UAz has been circling the drain for years. Once ASU figured out the rankings game UA lost their ability to attract quality students as 4/5 of AZs legal market is in Phoenix. So I'd tread lightly at UA, their attorneys and judges have a, now unfounded, superiority complex.

This is kind of silly and places way too much credence on rankings. The rankings don't reflect any difference in the schools except that ASU decided to game them. They're basically the same school and that doesn't change year to year as the rankings change.

The points about the difference between the Tucson and Phoenix markets are largely correct, although I don't think U of A grads are shut out of Phoenix.

Pretty much seconding everything you said. I'm just a 1L at UofA and went to ASU for undergrad. While there is a pretty fierce rivalry between the two schools (and cities for that matter), firms in Phoenix aren't going to favor ASU applicants just because of geography; if that were the case Summit Law school would be doing far better. Last semester UofA set us up with a fantastic trip to meet with two of the biggest firms in Phoenix, and the managing partner at one firm was pretty candid about weighing both schools pretty equally (maybe they were being nice but I don't see why they would bother to go out of their way to be).

For the most part both Arizona law schools are respected in the state, you go to ASU if you want a nicer building and ease of access to Big Law, you go to UofA if you want a more close-knit environment and want to get away from the craziness that is Tempe/UofA. ASU might have a slight advantage with placement in California but both schools are always going to be seen as respectable regional law schools just as Alabama and to a lesser extent Texas are. If you can't get a job in Arizona graduating from either school it's either an issue with your stats or you as a person, I feel people have far too much credit in how far their school's prestige will get them.