Does anyone know if non-trads can be at all competitive for selection as federal law clerks?  For me, that
is something so far the road that I need binoculars to see it (LS class of '15), but other non-trads may
be interested to know, too.

I visited the campus this past week during a trip to Miami.  Being a native Floridian, the call of South Beach clubs and the aromas of Cafe Cubano and cigars wafting from Calle Ocho were really not part of the equation for me.  I am pretty familiar with the positives and negatives (yes, there ARE those) of Miami.

I had a pre-planned visit to UM in which I was lucky to be given a tour with just one other prospective student, another non-trad.  The tour was given by a pleasant, intelligent, non-nerdy young 3L. 

As many of you may know, the Coral Gables campus of UM is downright beautiful and the facilities are excellent and plentiful.  The Coral Cables area itself is both vibrant and attractive.  The law school itself is a different story in terms of facilities.  The UM Law physical facilities (with the exception of the law library) reminded me of a rather "adequately" funded public junior college.  Why did I even mention this?  Well for tuition in excess of $38K per year, I think a few upgrades are in order for UM.

That said, the staff were absolutely wonderful, and I had a good impression just observing the interactions amongst the students in the quad.  I was fortunate to have a private meeting with the Assistant Dean of the School, who was both gentlemanly and encouraging.

UM's atmosphere was really laid back when compared to other law schools I have been exposed to.  That could be a plus for some folks.  Overall, it is definitely a school to be considered.  In my opinion, UM's closest competition in-state is FSU.

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[fade in]
Everest Dude: HEY! IMMA TALKIN TO YOU!  WHY YOU JUST BE SITTIN ON THAT COUCH, HOMIE?  YOU NEED KEEP IT REAL...INSTEAD
A GES' TEXTIN' ALL YO FRENS FOR BAIL MONEYWHEN YO COUSIN BEEBEE GOES TO COUNTY.....BE A LAWYER!  DEN YOU KIN GO TO DAT "RAIN THANG" WHERE DA JUDGE BE, AN GIT COUSIN BEEBEE OUT!  YA KNOW...YOU KIN GIT ALL YO HOMIES OUT, TOO.

Everest Dude:  YOU KNOW.  YOU SEE THEM FLY ASS HOMIES ON DEM TV LAW SHOWS?  THAS' RIGHT!  EVEREST IS NOW AFFLIATIN WIT MR. JERRY SPRINGER TA BRING DA LAW TO DA HOMIES!  DA JERRY SPRINGER COLLEDGE OF LAW WANTS YOU!

Everest Dude:  MAN...IT'S EASY.  WHAT YOU WAITIN FO?  YOU KNOW DA ONLIEST READIN YOU DO IS WEN YOU GOT TEXTED.  WHY NOT READ FO DA BIG MONEY, G?  LOOK---AT---THE--SCREEEN---HERE'S DA NUMBA.  CALL IT.  [under his breath] dumb mutha.....

1-800-LAWHOMY

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