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Transfer. In the grand scheme of things $42,000 extra dollars to attend a T1 instead of a TTTT is probably worth it. Top 26% at a TTTT likely won't cut it for securing a job as a lawyer in your chosen market. If you strike out you can drop out and save yourself the money.

Don't do it. The increase in debt is not worth the still poor job prospects at the 45-50.

I'd drop out and get second semester's cash back.

What is top 26%? In all likelihood dropping out is the best option, because you started at a school that's looked down upon so profoundly that many schools don't take it seriously so you were disqualified from most jobs the day you enrolled. When people bash all lower tiered schools, they don't recognize that even the valedictorian of your school will likely never earn more than a janitor, which is unfair, but is the way it is.

From the tier 1's perspective, you're willing to pay sticker and are statistically very likely to pass the bar on your first try (by very likely, I mean >70%). That's why they're taking you, and they're likely well aware of what prospects are for students who transfer into their school. I wouldn't obsess over the tuition jump, because realistically your expected income is such that you're going to have to sign up for income based repayment anyway. I know this sounds harsh, but I'm just saying what happens to the majority of people in your situation. You could very well be the exception. However, in all likelihood, you should ask yourself if you will be happy living on $400-500 a week or roughly $8 or 9 bucks an hour.

I am leaning towards transferring, or trying to get tuition at my school under $10,000. My dad is a big influence on me and advises against the transfer and seems to think it means nothing in the big scheme of things. I am trying to get other opinions.

He practiced for 25 years, went to a T3, ran a storm damage insurance law firm and literally made millions in the hurricane period in the mid to late 2000's. (Firm is in the process of closing due to his retirement now). My uncle has also done decent in private practice with 2 offices doing PI and criminal defense. $250,000-$450,000 on average per year for the past 20 years.

I am by no means saying I can replicate their success, but they say people fail in law not because they aren't good lawyers but because they suck at running a business....Any truth? Are we just in a different era? He graduated in 1992 (the year I was born) from Stetson University.

My dad won't pay because he grew up dirt poor and wants to instill a "work hard mentality".

They seem to have completely different attitudes toward law than everyone on here and it really makes me question what is going on and what direction I should take....

Anonymous User wrote:I am leaning towards transferring, or trying to get tuition at my school under $10,000. My dad is a big influence on me and advises against the transfer and seems to think it means nothing in the big scheme of things. I am trying to get other opinions.

He practiced for 25 years, went to a T3, ran a storm damage insurance law firm and literally made millions in the hurricane period in the mid to late 2000's. (Firm is in the process of closing due to his retirement now). My uncle has also done decent in private practice with 2 offices doing PI and criminal defense. $250,000-$450,000 on average per year for the past 20 years.

I am by no means saying I can replicate their success, but they say people fail in law not because they aren't good lawyers but because they suck at running a business....Any truth? Are we just in a different era? He graduated in 1992 (the year I was born) from Stetson University.

My dad won't pay because he grew up dirt poor and wants to instill a "work hard mentality".

They seem to have completely different attitudes toward law than everyone on here and it really makes me question what is going on and what direction I should take....

Do you enjoy the law and do you even want to be a lawyer? Or is law school something you felt "pressured" or "inclined" to enter due to your family's success?

I wasn't sure if I was going to like it honestly. After my first semester, loved it. Love the attitude, material, research, memo and appellate brief writing style, and schedule. I am positive I can do better this semester. I took off school for a year so I had to get back into the swing of things. My lowest grade was a B last semester so my final G.P.A was a 3.199 on a 2.5 curve. I hope to get around a 3.4-3.5 this semester considering I understand the process and the curve jumps to a 2.67. My LSAT is what held me back, I took it once with no prep really (at the time decided not to go to law school) 2 years ago and got a 152 which held me back from going to any T1's in my state....

Second year I possibly can get in-state which would bring tuition to around $38,000 first year, $20,500 second at the school I am looking to transfer into.

Hurricanes aren't stoping. Why can't your Dad keep the firm going so you can have a job. Do you have contacts that will hire you? Will your Dad help you find a job?

I'm concerned youre not getting a job from either school.

Yes, he can get me a job but not any "big law job" sort of speak. About $65,000-$75,000 probably.

My little brother has just moved out and he has really only kept the firm open for the past few years to keep his "employees employed". He checked out about 4 years ago. Built the new house,travels, took up stupid hobbies. That old story.

The partners take the lions share (him and his partner) and he paid his associates around $60,000- $75,000 and his experienced two older lawyers who he hired from a large firm ~ $160,000 a piece who work WAY more than him. Other than the 6 attorneys, the other employees are office staff. His partner went to Rutgers and his older employed lawyers went to Nova, associates came from random schools.

Law school and legal practice aren't very similar. You don't have to be a legal whiz to be a good lawyer, because most people just need help navigating forms and statutes. Similarly, being a legal whiz isn't all that helpful unless you're a good lawyer.

So in previous generations it didn't matter as much what school you went to, because everyone got their shot, and prestige wasn't nearly as valuable, because at some point the market sorts itself out and the best people wind up at the top. Your father was probably a good lawyer so he moved up.

The issue is that 95% of people from your school today aren't going to get the chance to prove themselves. The lawyers who suck will be fazed out, but they will have a much smaller pool replacing them. The system today is largely set up to ensure those who are cut before they get a shot never get a shot so being a go getter simply isn't as valuable. It's possible if you were in your dad's generation you'd be one of the best lawyers in your field, but in this generation it's more likely than not that you never get the chance to be.

It's not that those who start off at good schools are in any way better. It's that they're much likelier to get a chance. That's all it is.

But if your dad could get you a job then it might be worth doing that, and staying put. You can't really know if something is x is worth more than y unless you have an idea of what options x adds to the table.

Anonymous User wrote:I wasn't sure if I was going to like it honestly. After my first semester, loved it. Love the attitude, material, research, memo and appellate brief writing style, and schedule. I am positive I can do better this semester. I took off school for a year so I had to get back into the swing of things. My lowest grade was a B last semester so my final G.P.A was a 3.199 on a 2.5 curve. I hope to get around a 3.4-3.5 this semester considering I understand the process and the curve jumps to a 2.67. My LSAT is what held me back, I took it once with no prep really (at the time decided not to go to law school) 2 years ago and got a 152 which held me back from going to any T1's in my state....

Second year I possibly can get in-state which would bring tuition to around $38,000 first year, $20,500 second at the school I am looking to transfer into.

I'm fairly sure I know what school you're referencing. You should be able to get in-state tuition your second year. You'd need to go meet with financial services immediately your first year and get the directions from them on how to establish your residency to make sure you have your ducks in a row.

As for transferring, hard to say since your dad can help you out with finding a job. You're unlikely to get biglaw as a transfer at the school you're considering. Not impossible but HIGHLY unlikely...especially as a 2L. You'd need to do some serious hustling. It's remotely possible you could pull it off if you do awesome as a 2L transfer and work hard to find something as a 3L. But again, I wouldn't transfer if it's solely to get biglaw because it's unlikely.

UF is prolly worth the price difference. FSU less so.

This might sound weird... but follow your intuition... your heart. Srs.