Can low tier law school graduates even find a job? What will it take to transfer to a better law school?

[abisha]

I've been accepted to Thurgood Marshall and St. Mary's. From what I heard, these are all very bad law schools. If I attend any of these schools, will I even be able to get a job after graduation? Or should I just try and transfer to a slightly better (but still low tier) school like Texas Tech who have accepted some of my friends with lower GPAs or LSAT scores than me.

I've asked about law school online, but most people tell me to forget about transferring because it's virtually impossible, but of the 5 people I know who graduate law school 3 of them transferred to a much better school after their first year. So which is it? Is transferring impossible or is it common or somewhere in between? If I get straight A's in law school my first year at Thurgood Marshall or St. Mary's, can I transfer to a mid-tier school like South Texas (My dream school)?

Bonus question: Between Thurgood Marshall, St. Mary's and Texas Weslyan (who I haven't heard back from yet), which should I attend?

[bercnan72]

You obviously are a good student with good grades and LSAT scores for the regional law schools. I can offer suggestions on my experience in analyzing law school options. I found that there is a huge number of unemployed graduates. Even tier 1 law school alumni are having a tough time getting a job. The problem is that the recovery has not started for the legal field. As an engineer, I can tell you that the engineering jobs are coming back very strongly. Healthcare and accounting are also very strong. But law and finance trail other fields drastically for recovery. Every year, there are tens of thousands of law school graduates for a small set of jobs that in no way can accommodate even a significant fraction of them. You will join that list if you go to law school without a realistic strategy.

I studied law for healthcare and medical devices. I found that it is a wonderful field. The area of law that is still somewhat strong is in intellectual property (patents). But that generally requires a PhD or a master's degree in the sciences or engineering (i.e. like that guy "David Kidney" - lol). If you want to go to law school without a dual major or combined graduate degree then it will be very difficult to get a job - almost impossible. I would suggest a dual major like law and health economics or law and FDA regulatory affairs. I looked at Texas Tech and have a suggestion.
http://www.law.ttu.edu/acp/academics/jdp/

Wait a year and apply as a dual major at Texas Tech in one of the master's program or apply to that master's program 1st then to the law school. The legal field is in crisis right now, so you seriously need that dual credential to survive. Read the many online blogs and articles about unemployed graduate such as "Abovethelaw.com" or just google "unemployed law school graduates."

For example, you could apply to the dual master's of accounting and JD at TT or just the master's of accounting itself. The accounting degree is coming back strongly like engineering in the aftermath of the "Great Recession." So dual degree programs in law and a master's program feasible for the economy are your safest choices.
http://www.utexas.edu/law/sao/academics/degrees_msis.html

http://www.economicmodeling.com/2011/06/22/new-lawyers-glutting-the-market-in-all-but-3-states/

Since you have a good undergraduate record and LSAT scores, perhaps you can take the GRE and try to get admitted in the fall for a quick master's program at Texas Tech, UTSA or Texas Tech or UT Arlington, etc. That Texas Tech dual degree program looks great for accounting and law.

I know law school sounds harsh, but if approached correctly it can be feasible. You are very young with a bright future. Texas is great. I moved here from FL. You have a large state with a strong economy and many options for graduate school and law school. Just balance the facts of the economy with the choices. I actually work in San Antonio right now as an engineer. Prior to that, I worked in Austin for about 6 months. I don't think a tier 2 or tier 3 law school is generally a good idea. I think the dual JD program at Texas Tech or Texas are most realistic given the economy.

When I was in Florida they had two good law schools for in-state with some additional dual programs that are realistic given the horrifying job market. Here is one example at FSU.
http://www.law.fsu.edu/academic_programs/economics&law.html

UF is the flagship school of the state, and their law school is excellent. This is a huge list for dual degrees, many of which are viable for getting a job.
http://www.law.ufl.edu/programs/joint/degrees.shtml

The elite dual degree holders in intellectual property law often have a JD/PhD or JD/PharmD. A JD/MD is also viable in an era of healthcare reform. But if chosen properly, a JD/master's should be enough.

Here is a JD/PhD.
http://www.bdabramson.com/publications.htm