Is it true that you should go to Law School where you want to work (at first)?
I’ve been told by numerous professors and friends that you should go to law school somewhere that you think you may want to start your professional life.
1.) Is this really the case?
2.) How difficult is mobility after your first job?
There are a couple of things to consider in regards to your question.
First, a law degree is a law degree all over the country. However, you will have to pass the bar in order to actually practice law. The bar exam does contain state specific information, so theoretically, by going to school in the state you wish you work in, you would be learning the specifics relevant to your state. However, most state law (that they test on) is fairly similar and your bar exam prep course would probably take care of you. There are two exceptions: California and Louisiana. Louisiana is based on French common law, not English common law so it can be substantially different, and California is well…California.
Regarding mobility, again it is all about the bar. Some states have reciprocity, meaning if you belong to the bar in one state, then you don’t have to pass the bar in the other state, you are automatically in. If there is no reciprocity you will likely have to pass the state part of the bar exam (you won’t have to take the whole thing again.) This varies by state, so you’ll have to check. If you plan to eventually be in another state, you might want to look it up and go to a school in a state that offers reciprocity for that state.
Finally, the law profession is often about connections and who you know. By going to school in the state you want to be in, you will meet and know people who will eventually be the power players in your state. This is more important in some states than in others. For example, very important in Texas, not so important in Colorado.
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