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Old 02-22-2007, 12:41 PM
 
7 posts, read 26,288 times
Reputation: 10

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NY is exciting and fun and there is a lot of culture here, but there are 3 huge drawbacks. 1. It's ultra-expensive. 2. The status-hungry people are driving me insane. 3. There's no space. I've been considering getting out of here for a little while now. A friend of mine is moving to San Diego and trying to get me to go with him. Although the weather is much nicer, rent is not much cheaper and I would need a car. I just graduated from law school so I'm in a lot of debt. The fact that there is no state income tax in TX is extremely attractive. I'm just wondering what the market is like down there for legal jobs. Are the salaries at all deflated due to no state income tax? I'm open to temping for a while as I would need to sit for the TX bar, but when I look on Monster, or Craigslist the legal jobs in Austin seem to be pretty sparce. I like Dallas, but Austin seems more my style and I have a couple friends there already so it will be easier for me to start a social network.

Feel free to chime in with whatever you want. I don't think I need much convincing about the city itself, my main concern is finding work.
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Old 02-22-2007, 12:49 PM
 
Location: Austin, TX
15,269 posts, read 35,633,631 times
Reputation: 8617
No idea what the pay is, but there are all sorts of law offices filling up those buildings downtown....
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Old 02-22-2007, 01:22 PM
 
2,269 posts, read 7,333,088 times
Reputation: 1839
You will probably want to factor having a car into your decision too. It's not easy getting around without a car in Texas.
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Old 02-22-2007, 01:45 PM
 
Location: Austin, TX
15,269 posts, read 35,633,631 times
Reputation: 8617
If you want to spend the bucks to live downtown, you can get by without a car. Even somewhat near downtown, you can get by without one (my brother has for years). However, you will be limited to a semi-efficient bus system and a non-existent rail system (proposed, by will be years in the making). Probably cheaper to own a car than live downtown, too, but I have not tried it myself....
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Old 02-22-2007, 02:40 PM
 
7 posts, read 26,288 times
Reputation: 10
Thanks for the responses. Yes, I realize that (most likely) I will need a car. I am planning on renting when I first move, and right now I pay 875 in an old sort-of 2br apt in Brooklyn. And let me tell you, for the sq. footage that I share, 875 is a steal. I've just started scoping out some of the neighborhoods and such, but it seems like I should have no trouble finding a really nice 1br apt. for 700/mo or less. Factor in roughly 125-150/mo for my MetroCard and taxis, I will have 300-325 to put toward a car just to break even on my rent and transportation here. I know that doesn't include gas, but 300-325 is a good start.
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Old 02-22-2007, 04:07 PM
 
Location: Irvine
257 posts, read 946,136 times
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I graduated law school a few years back, but because I was living out of the country mostly since graduation, my main experience is the clerkships I did during law school. I have been applying for jobs in Austin for a couple weeks now, and have only heard back from one recruitment agency that basically said with limited experience I need to go to employers directly.

I think you are right that the jobs advertised thru traditional means seem sparce, but according to the recruiter a large percentage of jobs are filled by word of mouth/networking. Kind of hard to do if you are not living in Austin.

I passed the Texas Bar on my first try - not something I ever want to repeat. You are brave to take the bar again - to me it is pure torture.

I am currently living just outside Denver by the way. Because of my husband's work, we have lived all over the country - Orange County, Denver 3 times, Phoenix, Kansas City, Chicago, Houston, Dallas, Austin, Baltimore, New Jersey. Those are the cities I remember.

After sampling the country, we have decided Austin is the place for us, and are very anxious to move back once either of us finds a job there. We find it appealing because the weather is mild, the cost of living cheap, the houses the best in the country, and the lifestyle low-stress, schools are good. We are a family of five though, so we have different priorities I am sure.

I wish you luck in your job search, and in passing the bar.
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Old 02-23-2007, 08:27 PM
 
Location: Austin TX
1,207 posts, read 6,279,897 times
Reputation: 420
What kind of law are you looking to practice?

Or is your debt such that you'll take anything (coming someone who just paid off her $80K in law school debt about 5 years ago)
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Old 02-25-2007, 02:29 PM
 
7 posts, read 26,288 times
Reputation: 10
Hi gigi. Yes, I am looking to practice anything right now. I'm at a bit off a crossroads here...ideally I would like to do sports/entertainment law which I know NYC would be ideal for. But I just don't know how much longer I can take this place. Another thing is that there is a lot of contract (temp) work available here. Once admitted, I should have no trouble finding work for 35/hr + OT. That's really good money, but I don't know if it's enough to entice me to stay.

Does anyone know what the legal temp work climate is in Austin? It's really easy to get temp work in NY, but I can't imagine it will be this easy everywhere.
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Old 02-26-2007, 10:20 PM
 
Location: Irvine
257 posts, read 946,136 times
Reputation: 114
Gigi, not sure if your question was meant for Joe, myself, or both of us. In case it was meant for me as well, I am wide open actually. I think any experience is a good learning experience.

P.S. Am happy to report I have surpassed the half-way mark in paying off my student loan.
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Old 02-26-2007, 10:23 PM
 
Location: Irvine
257 posts, read 946,136 times
Reputation: 114
Gigi, just read your profile, and it would seem we have run in similar circles (both lived in Arizona, Orange County, and Chicago). I am currently a stay-at-home mom too, but am anxious to get back to work now that my daughter is almost 3.

I am a huge reality show freak too.
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