Chances for Southern Schools/Markets 3.2/171 Forum

[sftsnwh]

GPA: 3.2
LSAT: 171

I am a recent graduate and originally from Chicago, but did my undergrad at the University of Alabama. I really do not want to stay in Chicago and would like to work in the South, preferably in Birmingham. Do I have any chance of breaking into the Birmingham market if I went back to Alabama for law school or are my ties to the market still too weak? Are there any other southern markets that are not as insular that I may have a chance at and what schools should I target for those? Thank you.

[BigZuck]

GPA: 3.2
LSAT: 171

I am a recent graduate and originally from Chicago, but did my undergrad at the University of Alabama. I really do not want to stay in Chicago and would like to work in the South, preferably in Birmingham. Do I have any chance of breaking into the Birmingham market if I went back to Alabama for law school or are my ties to the market still too weak? Are there any other southern markets that are not as insular that I may have a chance at and what schools should I target for those? Thank you.

Going to school in the market is probably your only realistic shot to convince them of your ties. But can I convince you to just go to a T14 and target NYC firms instead? Your life will probably be much, much easier.

What kind of law/firms are you gunning for?

[whitespider]

http://www.law.uga.edu/placement-statistics

Looks like last year Georgia placed 16/230 in biglaw, and roughly 90/230 in firms, overwhelmingly in Georgia.

Not a great option, not a horrible option (assuming full scholly).

If you head there, best get dem grades.

[ilikebaseball]

http://www.law.uga.edu/placement-statistics

Looks like last year Georgia placed 16/230 in biglaw, and roughly 90/230 in firms, overwhelmingly in Georgia.

Not a great option, not a horrible option (assuming full scholly).

If you head there, best get dem grades.

i dont understand, why would you recommend UGA over bama? especially for a gig in birmingham

[BigZuck]

http://www.law.uga.edu/placement-statistics

Looks like last year Georgia placed 16/230 in biglaw, and roughly 90/230 in firms, overwhelmingly in Georgia.

Not a great option, not a horrible option (assuming full scholly).

If you head there, best get dem grades.

I think that would be a disaster if he wants to get a job in Alabama. Unless he's gunning for a job in Birmingham, Georgia, I guess.

[whitespider]

ahahaha....whoops! I'm an idiot.

Heres the right link...

http://www.law.ua.edu/wp-content/upload ... ummary.pdf

3/166 in big law
72/166 in firms

A majority in Alabama.

Eh, maybe move to Georgia instead. Those numbers aren't great considering what you want to do.

[Mnav20]

University of Alabama looks pretty good if you can get scholly (your LSAT is six points higher than their 75% median) plus in-state tuition after year one. They have a 70% on LST so you would be in an okay position to take a lower paying small law firm job if you didn't do so hot on your exams. It is only a viable option if you want to be in Bama or another close-by state and you aren't committed to Biglaw. I see no reason to fully commit to NYC as a previous poster suggested.

[sftsnwh]

GPA: 3.2
LSAT: 171

I am a recent graduate and originally from Chicago, but did my undergrad at the University of Alabama. I really do not want to stay in Chicago and would like to work in the South, preferably in Birmingham. Do I have any chance of breaking into the Birmingham market if I went back to Alabama for law school or are my ties to the market still too weak? Are there any other southern markets that are not as insular that I may have a chance at and what schools should I target for those? Thank you.

Going to school in the market is probably your only realistic shot to convince them of your ties. But can I convince you to just go to a T14 and target NYC firms instead? Your life will probably be much, much easier.

What kind of law/firms are you gunning for?

I would be interested in big-law or whatever variant of big-law is in Alabama (mid-law?). I would definitely consider going to a T14 if it could place me into big law in Chicago/NYC, but would I even have a chance at a T14. I thought my low GPA would probably keep me out.

[sftsnwh]

ahahaha....whoops! I'm an idiot.

Heres the right link...

http://www.law.ua.edu/wp-content/upload ... ummary.pdf

3/166 in big law
72/166 in firms

A majority in Alabama.

Eh, maybe move to Georgia instead. Those numbers aren't great considering what you want to do.

I would consider going to Georgia, but I've always heard that the Atlanta law market is absolutely brutal.

[Mnav20]

Ignore my previous advice if the South is a secondary target. You need to look at the T14.

[sftsnwh]

Ignore my previous advice if the South is a secondary target. You need to look at the T14.

Sorry, I should clarify. The South is my primary target, but I was just responding to the other poster that if it didn't seem like I could break into a Southern market that I would consider going to a T14 for big-law in Chicago/NYC. I would much rather practice somewhere in Alabama if that would be possible.

[FKASunny]

.

[BigZuck]

University of Alabama looks pretty good if you can get scholly (your LSAT is six points higher than their 75% median) plus in-state tuition after year one. They have a 70% on LST so you would be in an okay position to take a lower paying small law firm job if you didn't do so hot on your exams. It is only a viable option if you want to be in Bama or another close-by state and you aren't committed to Biglaw. I see no reason to fully commit to NYC as a previous poster suggested.

Since you didn't like my advice, would you mind sharing your personal experience as someone not from the south trying to break into a southern market?

Also, as I expected, he wants BIG BAMA LAW. Any southern school outside of Duke/UVA and arguably Vandy/UT (if Texas is even in "the south," some would argue it isn't) would be a disastrous choice if you want big law.

[Attax]

Why not retake and go for Duke/UVa OP? Seems like your best bet b/c then if you don't get a Bama Biglaw at least you can target major markets.

[TheSpanishMain]

If Vandy offers decent money, that seems like a solid way to go, particularly if you'd be happy with the South in general versus just Birmingham

[Gregjames]

Go to Emory

[Louis1127]

Please be advised that the south- especially the deep south- is extremely nativist. And it's not just the good 'ole boy network (although that is a big part of it). People who likely have deep roots to an area, likely love college football, are likely religious, and who talk with accents that you probably think are funny tend to prefer people with those qualities.

Also be advised that the University of Alabama is NOT what living in the deep south is like (this totally ties in to what I'm saying above, as the south is nativist). Places such as Birmingham and Huntsville are not nearly as bad as Wilcox county obviously, but I assure you those places are still way, way more nativist than you think.

Please do not misunderstand me, I'm not saying on't go, and I'm not saying you can't hold statewide office in Alabama (well, you really can't, so bad example), I'm just telling you for your benefit.

[arklaw13]

Vandy does well in B'ham if you have either good grades or decent ties. Lots of those firms come to 1L OCI (most B'ham hiring tends to be 1Ls returning for 2L summer). I don't know if you'll be able to get a good enough scholarship to make it worthwhile to go. If you can go for less than $100k, it's not a bad option.