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My question is which law school will give me the best chance of landing a job in the Southeast? I currently have a 3.63 GPA at a T3 and want to work in the Southeast, specifically Charleston, SC but am open to parts of Georgia and southern Virginia (my family lives in VA). I am mostly interested in working in trusts/estate and tax law. I have applied to Vandy (seems like a stretch), Emory, UGA, and will be applying to Florida and Washington and Lee.

If you want to work in Charleston, and don't have ties or a reason to be there, none of these schools will help. For working in Georgia, Emory/UGA gives you the best shot, and for working in southern VA, going to W&L is by far the best option (assuming you can't get in to UVA, which you probably can't). Going to Florida won't help you work anywhere but Florida.

Pennoyer v. Meh wrote:If you want to work in Charleston, and don't have ties or a reason to be there, none of these schools will help. For working in Georgia, Emory/UGA gives you the best shot, and for working in southern VA, going to W&L is by far the best option (assuming you can't get in to UVA, which you probably can't). Going to Florida won't help you work anywhere but Florida.

I do have minor ties in Charleston, such as friends who are young lawyers there. Is U of South Carolina the only school outside t14 and Vandy that has any shot at getting a job in Charleston?

These markets are big on ties. Is the T3 a good regional school in one of these markets? Did you study in undergrad in these markets?

Whether it makes sense to transfer would depend on the answers to those and also whether you are on a scholarship at your current school.

I'd add South Carolina to your list because it will give you credibility in SC, but the people I knew who made it to bigger firms from there were Law Review types. Honestly don't know how you'd stack up as a transfer.

Does your GPA give you a shot at a T14?

Trout et al wrote:These markets are big on ties. Is the T3 a good regional school in one of these markets? Did you study in undergrad in these markets?

Whether it makes sense to transfer would depend on the answers to those and also whether you are on a scholarship at your current school.

I'd add South Carolina to your list because it will give you credibility in SC, but the people I knew who made it to bigger firms from there were Law Review types. Honestly don't know how you'd stack up as a transfer.

Does your GPA give you a shot at a T14?

My current law school is not in the region and my scholarship is nothing I would stick around for.

I have thought about South Carolina Law but have second thoughts about transferring to a school ranked in the 90s. It is not possible to transfer to a T14 with my 3.63 GPA but have applied to Vandy.

Anonymous User wrote:

Trout et al wrote:These markets are big on ties. Is the T3 a good regional school in one of these markets? Did you study in undergrad in these markets?

Whether it makes sense to transfer would depend on the answers to those and also whether you are on a scholarship at your current school.

I'd add South Carolina to your list because it will give you credibility in SC, but the people I knew who made it to bigger firms from there were Law Review types. Honestly don't know how you'd stack up as a transfer.

Does your GPA give you a shot at a T14?

My current law school is not in the region and my scholarship is nothing I would stick around for.

I have thought about South Carolina Law but have second thoughts about transferring to a school ranked in the 90s. It is not possible to transfer to a T14 with my 3.63 GPA but have applied to Vandy.

You have a shot at Georgetown, it might have a slightly better placement than some of those schools - furthermore a good secondary choice if you don't get into Vandy. Looking at the 509's though you have at least a good shot at Vandy.

I guess I'd look at UGA mostly- it places about as well as Emory in Atlanta and better in the rest of the state. W&L is a good school and has placement throughout the south- but UGA will be better for GA. I wouldn't go to U of Fl unless I wanted to be in FL. None of these schools, aside from Vandy, will give you a huge leg up in Charleston unless you are from the area or have connections- it is a very insular market. I'd add UNC to your list though if it is possible to transfer there. They tend to place throughout the south also and NC is a beautiful state and has a decent market, and has more pull in SC (anecdotal) than the other schools. I wouldn't xfer to Emory or Wake purely cause of how expensive they'll be and UNC and UGA give you basically the same options but cheaper for your third year once you get instate tuition.
I also am not sure what you mean by southeast market- it is a big place - are you aiming for Atlanta or Charlotte (Big city stuff where ties are less important)? Or would you be cool with Memphis, NOLA, B'ham, or Jackson (mid-city where ties are more important)? Or more Tri city area like Bristol, Johnson City? Or a smallish city like Chatt? If you include the delta there's other schools I'd add and maybe some of my recommendations would change.
I think you should also consider adding U of Bama. They seem to be placing well as well.
If it were me, I'd pick UGA out of your choices though. Best of luck

How set on tax / trusts and estates are you? If you're committed those areas, you might want to plan now to doing a tax LLM at NYU or GULC. Firms in these markets generally really value the LLM for these practices.

If you're taking the LLM cost into account, along with the boost you will get from that credential, I think you just pick the cheapest regional school that places well in your desired market - whether thats Charleston, GA, or VA.

Also, you might be able to apply to GULC's joint JD / LLM in tax program and finish in 3.5 years as opposed to 4. If you're applying to Vandy, I don't see why you wouldn't have a shot at GULC.

Sounds like you have solid ties to VA so I would add W&M to your list.

Look around SC big firm websites at attorney profiles. A huge number of them went to USC. USC is not going to make sense over Vandy at equal cost, but if its substantially cheaper, and you're dead set on Charleston, it might make sense.

With Charleston as the goal, UNC and USC should be your focus, and you should do whatever you can to intern/network/spend as much time as possible in the city. Echo above posters about LLM, and I'd almost consider UNC/USC JD-Gtown or Florida tax LLM as a good combo for the region. If your focus is Virginia, you should look into each top 40 school in VA and DC (you'd get in at GW, but it's expensive, although GULC would be worth the upcharge). UGA is the obvious choice for Georgia (including Atlanta, even over Emory). Vandy is a possibility for you and would theoretically keep all these possibilities open, including biglaw in the major cities in the area, but ties will still be key

crazywafflez wrote:I guess I'd look at UGA mostly- it places about as well as Emory in Atlanta and better in the rest of the state. W&L is a good school and has placement throughout the south- but UGA will be better for GA. I wouldn't go to U of Fl unless I wanted to be in FL. None of these schools, aside from Vandy, will give you a huge leg up in Charleston unless you are from the area or have connections- it is a very insular market. I'd add UNC to your list though if it is possible to transfer there. They tend to place throughout the south also and NC is a beautiful state and has a decent market, and has more pull in SC (anecdotal) than the other schools. I wouldn't xfer to Emory or Wake purely cause of how expensive they'll be and UNC and UGA give you basically the same options but cheaper for your third year once you get instate tuition.
I also am not sure what you mean by southeast market- it is a big place - are you aiming for Atlanta or Charlotte (Big city stuff where ties are less important)? Or would you be cool with Memphis, NOLA, B'ham, or Jackson (mid-city where ties are more important)? Or more Tri city area like Bristol, Johnson City? Or a smallish city like Chatt? If you include the delta there's other schools I'd add and maybe some of my recommendations would change.
I think you should also consider adding U of Bama. They seem to be placing well as well.
If it were me, I'd pick UGA out of your choices though. Best of luck

Thank you for the advice. I am looking more at mid-city such as Charleston, Savannah, Roanoke, Richmond, Wilmington or Knoxville. As far as big city, I would not mind working in Charlotte. I have applied to GULC and Vandy but am looking for other options if/when I am not accepted. I was accepted at GWU but am unwilling to pay that kind of money.

Additionally, what is the reputation of W&L outside of southern VA?

W&L I think does well in the midatlantic in general? I'm from the south/southwest so honestly can't tell you mcuh- the southwest doesn't care about w&l, the south does. The west coast or Northeast or midwest may have differing opinions but it is really more of a regional school. Can you still apply to some of these other schools?
Charleston, Savannah, Roanoke, Richmond, Wilmington or Knoxville-
Charleston- USC or ties- you might be able to clinch it with UNC or Vandy, but really not sure.
Savannah- UGA.

Roanoke- W&L or U of R, W&M
Richmond- W&L or U of R, W&M
For both of these I also think Vandy and UNC would be able to get you in here. Just not sure UGA has the network up here. You seem to have connections though so it is possible to get even from your uni if you are homegrown in the area.

Wilmington- gonna assume you mean wilmington NC and correct me if I'm wrong. UNC. I'd think Emory and W&L could get in here as well, but I think it is ties heavy as well.

Knoxville- Vandy or UTk. Maybe outside shot with UNC. It's a pretty insular market.
Chatt- UGA acctually can place here. Insular market as well.

Tennessee and SC are more ties heavy markets- at least from what I've heard. You'll run into this problem in Savannah too, unless you've got that UGA degree.

For your locations I actually think UNC would be the best choice, followed by UGA and W&L. I'd take vandy over all of them though if you got in. USC is the pick though if you're set on Charleston.

crazywafflez wrote:W&L I think does well in the midatlantic in general? I'm from the south/southwest so honestly can't tell you mcuh- the southwest doesn't care about w&l, the south does. The west coast or Northeast or midwest may have differing opinions but it is really more of a regional school. Can you still apply to some of these other schools?
Charleston, Savannah, Roanoke, Richmond, Wilmington or Knoxville-
Charleston- USC or ties- you might be able to clinch it with UNC or Vandy, but really not sure.
Savannah- UGA.

Roanoke- W&L or U of R, W&M
Richmond- W&L or U of R, W&M
For both of these I also think Vandy and UNC would be able to get you in here. Just not sure UGA has the network up here. You seem to have connections though so it is possible to get even from your uni if you are homegrown in the area.

Wilmington- gonna assume you mean wilmington NC and correct me if I'm wrong. UNC. I'd think Emory and W&L could get in here as well, but I think it is ties heavy as well.

Knoxville- Vandy or UTk. Maybe outside shot with UNC. It's a pretty insular market.
Chatt- UGA acctually can place here. Insular market as well.

Tennessee and SC are more ties heavy markets- at least from what I've heard. You'll run into this problem in Savannah too, unless you've got that UGA degree.

For your locations I actually think UNC would be the best choice, followed by UGA and W&L. I'd take vandy over all of them though if you got in. USC is the pick though if you're set on Charleston.

Thank you for the insight. What are my chances at getting in at UNC?

Idk what a 3.6 is at your school but I'd guess you are in the top 20%- so, based on that, I'll say, probs, yeah. I think you've got a real shot at UNC, UGA, Emory, W&L etc.