Top Law Schools

Hey everyone, I'm a current 1L at Florida State University, which is a great law school and I absolutely love the faculty and environment here. Unfortunately, I do no feel the same about Florida in general. I do not wish to remain in Florida long term, and I would prefer to move out west. The University of Colorado Boulder Law has a good program, but I'm not sure if I really want to transfer after building relationships with professors which can bring future recommendations and such. I know a lot of job prospects are developed by knowing others and building upon relationships. What steps should I take to practice out west in the future? Should I begin in Florida and then move once I'm established? How common is it for attorneys to relocate to other states? Do I take the bar in Georgia which honors reciprocity unlike Florida? I suppose much of it will also depend on the career field that I want to be involved in as well. I would appreciate any insight you all may have in this subject. Cheers.

Why did you matriculate at FSU if you don't want to be in Florida? It's concerning that you're a week or two into the semester and thinking about transferring.

I was accepted into their program before realizing my desire to practice elsewhere. I'm a lifelong Florida resident. There's nothing wrong with the law school, and I don't intent to give off that impression. The program is phenomenal. I'm more curious as to what prospects I would have post law school if I do not wish to practice in Florida.

espmma wrote:I was accepted into their program before realizing my desire to practice elsewhere. I'm a lifelong Florida resident. There's nothing wrong with the law school, and I don't intent to give off that impression. The program is phenomenal. I'm more curious as to what prospects I would have post law school if I do not wish to practice in Florida.

I would say grades will make any decision to practice elsewhere easier. For now forget about all of these concerns and get good grades.

espmma wrote:I was accepted into their program before realizing my desire to practice elsewhere. I'm a lifelong Florida resident. There's nothing wrong with the law school, and I don't intent to give off that impression. The program is phenomenal. I'm more curious as to what prospects I would have post law school if I do not wish to practice in Florida.

The bolded is a stretch. Assuming a phenomenal law school exists, it is one that offers you a significant scholarship and a degree which has national portability.

It is possible to network and find a job in another state from where your school is but obviously the logistics are more complicated and difficult. Focus on 1L grades and maybe try to do your summer internships in the place you hope to end up. Colorado may be a difficult state to break into without any ties.