UF Law or Houston?? Forum

[9531SchoolofLaw]

I have been accepted to both schools. Goal is to end up in Biglaw either in DC, FL, or TX. If anyone has some insightful information on either school please let me know!

[cavalier1138]

Cost of attendance at each?

UH shouldn't be in the running at all if you want biglaw. But neither of these schools is likely to put you in DC, so you should decide whether you'd prefer Florida or Texas for practice. And if you want Texas, then retake for a score that gets you UT or a T13.

[9531SchoolofLaw]

32k per year at Houston. Also, wouldn’t have to pay rent as I have a sister there.

About 38-39k at UF.

I would be coming in as a transfer. I like Texas and wouldn’t mind practicing there. Just don’t like the Houston area. I do enjoy Florida but not sure about how big the legal market is.

[BobLoblaw18]

Neither

[The Lsat Airbender]

Neither

If OP is transferring, they're presumably leaving a TTT behind, and I'd therefore go Florida because it gives OP a snowball's chance at a normal career and maybe, one day, paying their owns. Houston would be the better choice if okay with actually living in or near Houston, because it's a bit cheaper, but it's a wack choice if Houston is the one part of TX OP doesn't like.

[cavalier1138]

Neither

If OP is transferring, they're presumably leaving a TTT behind, and I'd therefore go Florida because it gives OP a snowball's chance at a normal career and maybe, one day, paying their owns. Houston would be the better choice if okay with actually living in or near Houston, because it's a bit cheaper, but it's a wack choice if Houston is the one part of TX OP doesn't like.

Yeah. I moved this to the Transfer forum, because that totally changes the calculus.

OP: Where do you currently go (general rank is fine), and do you have a scholarship? What's your class rank/GPA? Do you have ties to Florida or Texas?

[KPUSN07]

https://www.law.ufl.edu/law/wp-content/ ... -Grads.pdf

https://www.law.uh.edu/admissions/ABA/U ... 202019.pdf

I linked both UH / UF 509 employment reports - both place about 20-21% into big law (100+ attorneys); I actually considered UF, but the 20% for me against a class of 331 where they likely had a leg up in FL networking made me pause and reconsider my plans. There are 12 graduates who went to DC, but I'm willing to bet working in some govt agency, not big law. I just don't think the opportunity to work big law as a transfer to UF is that great - lack of networking compared to those already there and 1/5 get that type of opportunity - assumingly they these ppl are likely in the top 25% of the class.

UH is likely exclusively TX and probably even more just Houston - so if that's a preferred location then go for it, but again, big law is 20% - presumably bigger centralized market than UF, but you'll need to network your rear end off in Houston to get a foot in the door; 100 less graduates to compete with.

I'd be curious what the career development offices pitch to you regarding your goals?

[9531SchoolofLaw]

I attended a T4. Even though T4 schools aren’t ranked, this most likely would be at the bottom lol most people who apply get it. They allow people with 142s to get in. Super predatory school. No ties to Florida but I have a sister in Houston. I’d prefer to work in Dallas or Austin compared to Houston. The traffic is killer. I would have to pay any rent if I moved to Houston and her place is like 5 minutes from campus.

[9531SchoolofLaw]

I finished with a 3.68. Top 10% with law review and moot court

[decimalsanddollars]

If you're set on leaving your current school and have no other options, I'd go to UF. Just know that neither school has excellent biglaw placement, and you should only go to law school where you want to work. If you want DC and are willing to do anything to get there, transfer to UF, try to clerk, and then try for biglaw/bigfed. Despite your great law school performance so far, you've got a bit more ladder to climb than most people gunning for the DC market.

[hookem7]

I attended a T4. Even though T4 schools aren’t ranked, this most likely would be at the bottom lol most people who apply get it. They allow people with 142s to get in. Super predatory school. No ties to Florida but I have a sister in Houston. I’d prefer to work in Dallas or Austin compared to Houston. The traffic is killer. I would have to pay any rent if I moved to Houston and her place is like 5 minutes from campus.

The traffic is worse in Austin. Look if you don't want to live in Houston, you simply cannot consider UH. That is where it will carry the most weight. You need to seriously consider where you want to live as these are regional schools. And the UH "region" is Houston.

[lavarman84]

https://www.law.ufl.edu/law/wp-content/ ... -Grads.pdf

https://www.law.uh.edu/admissions/ABA/U ... 202019.pdf

I linked both UH / UF 509 employment reports - both place about 20-21% into big law (100+ attorneys); I actually considered UF, but the 20% for me against a class of 331 where they likely had a leg up in FL networking made me pause and reconsider my plans. There are 12 graduates who went to DC, but I'm willing to bet working in some govt agency, not big law. I just don't think the opportunity to work big law as a transfer to UF is that great - lack of networking compared to those already there and 1/5 get that type of opportunity - assumingly they these ppl are likely in the top 25% of the class.

UH is likely exclusively TX and probably even more just Houston - so if that's a preferred location then go for it, but again, big law is 20% - presumably bigger centralized market than UF, but you'll need to network your rear end off in Houston to get a foot in the door; 100 less graduates to compete with.

I'd be curious what the career development offices pitch to you regarding your goals?

One or two UF law grads end up in D.C. biglaw each year, but they're not transfers. Realistically speaking, it'll be difficult to get biglaw at UF or Houston. The one thing that could work in OP's favor is if OCI is in the spring and OP has a great first semester.

[KPUSN07]

If you're set on leaving your current school and have no other options, I'd go to UF. Just know that neither school has excellent biglaw placement, and you should only go to law school where you want to work. If you want DC and are willing to do anything to get there, transfer to UF, try to clerk, and then try for biglaw/bigfed. Despite your great law school performance so far, you've got a bit more ladder to climb than most people gunning for the DC market.

The bright side about UF - FL living is not bad! Get a nice firm job in Tampa / Clearwater and enjoy the beach

[texanslimjim]

lol @ liking Texas generally but just not Houston. Austin and Dallas are not better than Houston in terms of cost of living, weather, traffic, or anything like that. Austin is slightly better than the other two for nightlife, live music, and outdoors (proximity to hills and rivers). That's it.

So either you don't actually like Texas and you should go to Florida, or get over your Houston hate and go to UH.