Top Law Schools

Sorry to add to the influx of "help me" threads, but any input would be appreciated...

Currently at a T4 in FL and Ive been accepted as a transfer student to Emory, UF and American (the latter of which I turned down).
I have lived in Florida my whole life and Im ready to get out for awhile. Id have no problem practicing in Atlanta, or anywhere in the Southeast for that matter. I interned for a federal judge this summer and loved it, which has sparked my interest in going after a clerkship either right out of law school or a few years after. I have no real interest in biglaw, and would be totally content with a midsized or smaller firm.
The only real kicker here for me is the cost. If I transfer to UF, I graduate without debt. If I transfer to Emory, I'd have about 50k - 60k in loans (im in a unique financial situation where I have a certain amount of cost covered). I went to undergrad at UF and as much as I loved gville for the 4 years I was there, I dont know how keen I am to returning to the town of fratting and football. On the other hand, the cost is pretty unbeatable.

Im just going to assume that nothing will come out of OCI at either school (I read the ATL article on emory's OCI the other day and I know 2L's in the top 10% at Florida that were struggling this summer). Ive seen a lot of stuff on here about emory but Id like anyone's opinion on how you think they size up against UF, especially if you know the southeast market well.
Thanks in advance for any advice

I'm in the exact same situation. I received my Emory letter two days ago. I'm agonizing over the choice and pretty much everything you said about yourself applies to me as well. I've tried a couple of threads on this over the past few months but never really generated much interest.

I've been leaning UF because of the low cost and poor outlook on the economy. It bothers me though, to have the chance to go to Emory and pass on it.

probably UF because of cost

given latest Emory OCI figures, looks like career prospects are fairly similar

Emory because of slightly better job prospects/portability with a manageable debt in a much better city.

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Thanks for all the feedback everyone!

Does anyone know what Emory's curve is for upper level classes? I know UF curves on a B scale...

Emory is worth it.

I'd say Emory, only because it's a southern ivy league university.

Take UF. The job prospects are are about the same in the current environment.

Emory is totally worth it. 50-60K really isn't that much in the grand scheme of life.

MartianManhunter wrote:Emory because of slightly better job prospects/portability with a manageable debt in a much better city.

transfermaybe wrote:Emory is totally worth it. 50-60K really isn't that much in the grand scheme of life.

Inclined to lean this way if you want to work outside of FL. If you want to work in FL then go to UF.

missvik218 wrote: Inclined to lean this way if you want to work outside of FL. If you want to work in FL then go to UF.

Agreed. I'm also inclined to give this advice.

OP, how much other debt do you have?

Tough call. The market is so incredibly lousy right now that neither is a golden ticket.

You said you wanted to leave for "a while." If you think that you'd want to return long-term to Florida, I'd say pick UF.

If by "a while" you mean permanently, I'd say pick Emory due to name recognition in the southeast. Emory also has the advantage of being in a large city with a growing economy (i.e. better long-term prospects). You also would get a nice ego boost, for what it's worth.

It all depends on how much debt you'd be comfortable with. $60k would be ~$700/month for 10 years. Are Emory's prospects worth $700/month?

OP, if you want to work outside of Florida go with Emory. if you ever want to come back to florida it won't be hard b/c of your connection to florida.

najumobi wrote:OP, if you want to work outside of Florida go with Emory. if you ever want to come back to florida it won't be hard b/c of your connection to florida.

This is a good point. There are several people I know at Emory that went back to Florida to work SA's this year (and last year). I work as an SA in Atlanta now and I haven't even heard of a UF student working in the market.

Emory got hit pretty hard at OCI but everyone on LR and within the top 20% or so was solid for 2L paid summer employment. I know at least two people at UF (one in top 10% and one ~top15%) who struck out with paid gigs. I don't think the employment prospects are the same.

All that being said, I am extremely debt averse. Hell, that's why I picked Emory. So I'm not sure where I lean. But if OP (or anyone else) has questions about Emory shoot me a PM.

I read all the replies to this and Najumobi stole my thunder. At first I was simply leaning Emory, but then when i saw that you went to UF for undergrad, I was absolutely for Emory. It is true that the employment prospects will be similar, however, Emory will give you the ability to get a job outside of Florida if you wanted it, and your undergrad experience at UF will give you an in when/if you want to come back to Florida. Also just 60K of debt is number many law graduates (including myself) would be jealous of.

And also, you would simply come across as a much more interesting person on paper to an employer.

JD, Emory > beats > JD, Florida
BA, Florida BA, Florida

Absolutely positively, go Emory, you in 20 years will thank you for the decision.

rando wrote:

najumobi wrote:OP, if you want to work outside of Florida go with Emory. if you ever want to come back to florida it won't be hard b/c of your connection to florida.

This is a good point. There are several people I know at Emory that went back to Florida to work SA's this year (and last year). I work as an SA in Atlanta now and I haven't even heard of a UF student working in the market.

Emory got hit pretty hard at OCI but everyone on LR and within the top 20% or so was solid for 2L paid summer employment. I know at least two people at UF (one in top 10% and one ~top15%) who struck out with paid gigs. I don't think the employment prospects are the same.

All that being said, I am extremely debt averse. Hell, that's why I picked Emory. So I'm not sure where I lean. But if OP (or anyone else) has questions about Emory shoot me a PM.

I am not quite sure that OP should be gauging his job prospects in terms of how either of the respective schools fared in terms of OCI, as I do not think it's likely that OP will be landing a job through that medium.

That being said, I second rando in saying that UF's OCI did not go extremely well last year.

^ Good point. Though it is really the only basic way to compare the two school's prospects.

OP did mention (and this is the right attitude to have) that he didn't expect anything from OCI at either school.

Emory ---> better market. And is worth 60K.