UF v. Duke Forum

[sflyr2016]

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[Backload]

tell UF you are going to transfer unless they give you a sizable scholarship.

[sflyr2016]

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[Hutz_and_Goodman]

The fact that you're paying sticker at UF makes this hard

think through how you will answer the question "You want to join our office in Miami, you were at UF, why did you transfer to Duke?"

it won't be easy to answer this and I'm assuming a lot of the miami firms have UF grads

basically, if you are dead set on miami then top grades at UF may actually be better than Duke and whatever grades you get there

[sflyr2016]

The fact that you're paying sticker at UF makes this hard

think through how you will answer the question "You want to join our office in Miami, you were at UF, why did you transfer to Duke?"

it won't be easy to answer this and I'm assuming a lot of the miami firms have UF grads

Most. This makes it difficult. Then again, they're mainly partners who began working down here before Miami grew and became a secondary market for t14 grads. Now, these UF partners who hire, at times, become prestige whores themselves. Not sure which actually gives me the edge.

[timmyd]

I dunno man tough call. I did something similar to this last year and it really hurt me in terms of getting back to my target market. Duke is a great school and I think that it's defensible here. Just be wary of transferring out of your target market. My situation was a little different in that my school was in the city I wanted to ultimately practice in and I underestimated the hometown bias of an insular market. I say go. Maybe Miami won't work out but then again, is it a definite where you are right now? I don't think so.

[Hutz_and_Goodman]

The fact that you're paying sticker at UF makes this hard

think through how you will answer the question "You want to join our office in Miami, you were at UF, why did you transfer to Duke?"

it won't be easy to answer this and I'm assuming a lot of the miami firms have UF grads

Most. This makes it difficult. Then again, they're mainly partners who began working down here before Miami grew and became a secondary market for t14 grads. Now, these UF partners who hire, at times, become prestige whores themselves. Not sure which actually gives me the edge.

If I were in your position I would honestly sit down for at least an hour and brainstorm how I would answer this question. Because if you can come up with a plausible and convincing answer--ex. "I wanted to be in Miami. However, relatives at major firms here told me that the market was so competitive that I needed to be at a T14 to compete, so I went to Duke. At this point I still want nothing more than to come back and stay here etc etc etc"--then transferring to Duke probably makes sense.

[heavoldgotjuice]

Tough decision, but I'd proly stay at UF only if you could get some type of scholarship ... even $5k/yr

[sflyr2016]

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[Jaxjaguar]

Fellow UFer here. Have some words from a friend at GT in Miami re: transferring out of UF and coming back to Miami. PM me and I'll send.

[philippian413]

If you want to work in Miami and Florida for sure, stay at UF. I know Duke is the Yale/Harvard of the south but for some reason Florida shows more love to UF than Duke.

[sflyr2016]

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[Jchance]

If you are still paying sticker at UF, I'd say to transfer, not sure how this was a hard decision.

[tlsdreamer]

Duke.

Going to Duke won't give you -less- of an edge in So.Fla. BigLaw market. It'll give you more. Of course, that's under the presumption that you'll do equally well at Duke as at UF. I spoke to a couple of hiring attorneys in BigLaw firms in FL and their bias against T-14 grads seems to be predicated on the fact that these candidates aren't really serious about wanting to work at this firm/this location and/or aren't likely to stay. So if you can convince them that you really want to work in Miami and you have ties there to prove it, I don't see why going to a top school decreases your chances at BigLaw. Smaller firms? Probably a different story.

I've also spoken to a couple career services at T14 schools. They told me that their students (transfers or not) with FL ties are typically very competitive in the FL BigLaw market. The employment statistics that the schools collect back up their statements.

Clerking, however, is a different story. If you want to work in Miami, ideally I would think you would also want to clerk there. That's difficult if you transfer to Duke, unless you can convince your judge now to hire you even if you transfer. In fact, consider talking to the judge about your situation. Getting his/her input on your situation can help you, if you feel comfortable doing so.

As for your professors now, maintain those relationships. If they're willing to bat for you and recommend you for clerkships now, why would they change their minds because you're now at a better school? Yes, I know loyalty plays a role so I hope those professors aren't the blindly loyal type, for your sake. I'm on the same boat at my school and my professors at my old school are -still- willing to recommend me for clerkships because they care about the student, as opposed to unnecessarily equating the student's decision to transfer as a negative act against the current school.

All that said, I don't think you can really go wrong. UF is the school in FL and you want to work in the FL market. Tuition is low, even at sticker, assuming in-state. LR/RA positions are already set. If you feel you can get the same job through UF OCI as Duke OCI, then stay at UF. Best of luck.

[sflyr2016]

Wow. Thank you! That was incredibly thought out, geniune advice. I sincerely appreciate it. If I can keep those relationships, particularly with this judge, then I would go. I am going to take your advice and ask the judge his input on it. I hope it doesn't hurt me, but if I did stay perhaps he would respect my loyalty all the more; if I left then perhaps he would understand my reasons. I

Again, thank you.

[Nebby]

Go be a Blue Devil dog! Gators are chumps.

[pgiboney]

Are the marginal benefits gained in attending Duke instead of UF - benefits that may never materialize - worth carrying an additional 100k debt load? Debt peonage sucks.

You're a top student at UF on Law Review. You want to practice in Florida. You're currently competitive for a Big Law position in Florida. You have resources at UF - professors and students willing to assist you in your studies. Transfer to Duke however, and these all become possibilities instead of realities.

How confident are you in your ability to write-on to law review a second time? How confident are you in your ability to claw your way back into the top 10th percentile? The 25th? The 50th? Should you find yourself positioned as a mediocre law student at Duke, would you regret your decision to transfer? What effect will being an average Duke student versus being a top student at UF (on law review) have on your career aspirations? Even if the answer is none, would the transfer be worth the price of a BMW M6 convertible (~104k)?

You should also consider the ramifications of being on your own next semester - at least until you can establish new relationships - relationships that will not come as easily as they did the previous year. What affect will that have on your ability to succeed?

The decision amounts to a choice between a reserved/reasonable certainty and a 100k gamble at the roulette table.

Looking at the situation objectively and as a friend . . . don't do it.