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Hello,

I currently attend Pepperdine in Malibu. I absolutely love the school. However, I grew up in the midwest (probably wont return) and am still exploring areas to determine where I would want to settle for long term. I have developed a recent interest in living and practicing in Texas. My question is:

What grades does one need to laterally transfer to a school in a different geographical location but is ranked similar if not only a few spots higher or lower?

If (after I visit) I decide that Texas is where I want to practice, is it advantages to transfer to a school similarly ranked or ranked lower, but that is actually in Texas? (i.e. SMU, Baylor, UH)?

Thanks for any input.

Regarding your question about whether it's advantageous to transfer down if you decide you want to practice in Texas - I think it's a good idea, in this very specific case.

Your most prestigious law school if you want to practice in Texas is certainly UT, but SMU and Baylor are also highly respected within the state. You'll probably find that the local alumni networks for either school (which are extensive and active) will even out the loss in purely-rankings based prestige that you'd incur by trading down. And especially in a state like Texas, which has downright bizarre property laws, and is a huge good ol' boy place even today, you'll want to be seen as a 'local' lawyer, instead of someone who studied out of state.

These are my purely speculative views, but they're based on two summers I spent interning at Texas firms. I'm also a Texan born and bred. Good luck!