I voted for the US, because eventually I would like to practice over there, while also practicing over here... I agree you have to jump through less hoops over here (in the UK) to becomes a lawyer (both barrister or solicitor), but getting on the corporate or chambers ladder, is still daunting, regardless of the jurisdiction. Though on pure salary alone, the US corporate lawyers on a whole seem to make more money, even with the currency exchange rate in the favour of the UK