When I graduate law school, I would like to work in a general practice firm in a small town, is this feasible?

I am going to Ole Miss Law School and will graduate in the top third of my class. Most of my peers want to be hired by the biggest firm possible (because this usually means a higher salary), but I would like to work in a small general practice firm in a "small" town (about 40,000 people).

Is there any good* reason most law students don't want to do this?

*By good, I mean any reason concerning the actual job itself (not, for instance, the lack of entertainment options in a small town)

Also, I don't really care about the fact that I might be making considerably less in a small town.

Yes it's feasible. You can actually make pretty good money doing it. If you're a solo practitioner, you're also your own boss. I've got a friend who found a solo practitioner who was looking to retired in about 3 years, so he hired my friend, and my friend will get to take over then. That's the perfect scenario, imho.

Hate to say it, but a lot of your peers will pay off their student loans really fast, but they'll also be burned out. A lot of people leave the profession within a few years out of law school because they've been working such long hours.

I just graduated from law school. Due to the stress of all of that, I've decided to move back to my hometown in South Dakota, take the bar in February, and just be a mediator until then. (I charge $80-$100/hour doing that.)

With some networking, I'm sure I'll have a job after the bar in a small firm where the most interesting cases will be things like DUI's, divorces, and estates. It will be routine stuff, less stress, and I'll be able to work 8-5 and have weekends off :) Plus the cost of living is less.

It's generally money.

You just need to figure out, what small town you want to work in.

And find out what law firms are in that town.

Contract them, and see about getting a summer intern job with them.

That way, you will get to see the town, the law firm before you decide to move there.

And if you like it, you will also get to meet your future clients.

If this is your choice, so be it! I have a friend who is doing precisely what you're doing! He;s doing just fine. No, he doesn't have a Wall Street salary. but he doesn't have Wall Street expenses either.

his primary interest is real estate law.but he'll handle almost anything that walks through his door.( except medical malpractice)

mostly greed. The initial pay is better with a large firm, but the potential is great with a small firm. If you want to go on your own, or with just one pard, find a town within commuting distance of the county seats of 3 or 4 counties.

The main difference is the salary gap. If you're OK with significantly less pay for the same type of work, there's nothing wrong with it.