Graduating Top of Law Class Forum

[LawSchoolHopeful1108]

Hello everyone!! Long time browser and first time poster here. First of all, I want to thank everyone ahead of time for taking time out of their day/night to respond to my question(s). I really appreciate any help and advice that will be shared here.

So my question... (some background info first)
For a variety of reasons, some in my control and others not, I will be attending Law School in South Florida. My schools of choice are Stetson, St. Thomas and Nova Southeastern Law. I understand that these schools are lower tier schools and that it is much better to attend higher tier schools but I had trouble with my undergrad and as a result, my grades are not flattering. (3.0 gpa, 152 LSAT).

So for that question:
What difference does graduating top of my class make in terms of employment opportunities? I never expected a 100,000/yearly salary to start but could only hope to one day be rewarded with such a salary due to my high work rate.
Now I really mean graduating top of my class. I'm not talking not even top 10% or top 5% but more around the top 2%. I want to stay local, Miami is where I live and where I want to grow as a person and lawyer. I understand that it is impossible to predict where one will place in class rankings but assuming such predictions were possible and I graduated top 2% at St. Thomas/Nova Southeastern, would it be reasonable to expect to be able to find a job that pays around 50,000/yearly?

Thanks for your time and I wish you all the best during 2014.

[Mal Reynolds]

This should end well.

[d cooper]

Now I really mean graduating top of my class. I'm not talking not even top 10% or top 5% but more around the top 2%.

If you're capable of that you should instead focus your energy towards a top 2% LSAT. That will open up a lot more options for schools, including ones with much better employment outcomes, or enable you to attend the schools you've listed with a full ride.

[Danger Zone]

Do we even have to point out obvious flames anymore?

[Mal Reynolds]

I suggest looking in to Barry Law. Far superior to Nova.

[daryldixon]

Retake your LSAT or don't go to law school.

All the schools you mentioned are TTT traps. There is no guarantee you will have a job from anyone of those schools even if you graduate in the top 2%.

[20141023]

.

[worldtraveler]

He reminds me of the FOB guy, just not as long-winded.

[Blumpbeef]

Seriously though, what is the deal with people who did horribly in undergrad and their insane confidence that they will crush the competition in law school?

All about dat IQ.

Also, is this really flame? It seems almost too obvious, and I can't believe someone would go through all this trouble...

[nebula666]

Retake.

Also, you need to check dat privilege. 144 IQ but you scored lower than what many people get when they take the LSAT cold. But please, go pay sticker at Nova and come back when you are in the Top 2%. You can do it!

[rickgrimes69]

Do we even have to point out obvious flames anymore?

Apparently.

On the off chance this is legit, OP, just don't go to law school.

[ggocat]

I understand that it is impossible to predict where one will place in class rankings but assuming such predictions were possible and I graduated top 2% at St. Thomas/Nova Southeastern, would it be reasonable to expect to be able to find a job that pays around 50,000/yearly?

The answer to OP's question is "yes," despite his/her assumption about graduating top of the class being unrealistically optimistic.

[unodostres]

You should go. Don't listen to these people!!!!!

[stillwater]

is this john1990's alt?

[holdencaulfield]

Definitely go. Even with a 2-3k student loan payment, $50,000/year is a great salary.

[LawSchoolHopeful1108]

I did not mean to offend anyone or annoy anyone, as it seems that I have. =\ I am sorry. It seems as if I have really struck a negative chord with some of you guys/girls.

I was just asking because the Law Firm in Miami that I want to work for has 7 Attorneys working for them. One of them went to Cornell, two went to UMiami, two to St. Thomas, and two to Nova. Am I just wishful thinking? Are those attorneys who went to St. Thomas and Nova just really lucky that they got these jobs?

[unodostres]

Yes. Unlike them you'll probably finish at median at one of these festering piles of shit.

[rpupkin]

I was just asking because the Law Firm in Miami that I want to work for has 7 Attorneys working for them. One of them went to Cornell, two went to UMiami, two to St. Thomas, and two to Nova. Am I just wishful thinking? Are those attorneys who went to St. Thomas and Nova just really lucky that they got these jobs?

Have you considered asking one of the attorneys at the firm you want to work at? They might give you a better answer than, you know, a bunch of anonymous posters who have no knowledge of the idiosyncratic hiring practices of an obscure seven-lawyer firm in Miami.

[californiauser]

I did not mean to offend anyone or annoy anyone, as it seems that I have. =\ I am sorry. It seems as if I have really struck a negative chord with some of you guys/girls.

I was just asking because the Law Firm in Miami that I want to work for has 7 Attorneys working for them. One of them went to Cornell, two went to UMiami, two to St. Thomas, and two to Nova. Am I just wishful thinking? Are those attorneys who went to St. Thomas and Nova just really lucky that they got these jobs?

What makes you think you'll graduate in the top 2% of Nova? Seriously, explain your reasoning.

[LawSchoolHopeful1108]

Well, my grades suffered during my first four years of college undergrad because I had to help support my elderly parents with a full-time job while going to school full-time as well. My final 1.5 years, I made Dean's List each semester and did not get a GPA lower than 3.98 because I was able to help my mother find a job (Which could take over supporting roles) and I was finally able to focus on school. I know that Law Schools look at the whole body of work and even I admit that my grades are not strong. However I feel like I proved that I could really turn things around if I have the time and chance to focus on my school work and not on extra-curriculars.

I know this is cliche and I am sure EVERYONE has thought the same thing at one time or another but I feel like I proved to myself that I have the drive to receive top grades if I can focus on doing so.

And no, I am not someone else. I am a first time poster/long time lurker. (reference to the comment a few posts above)

Once again, thanks for your time guys/girls. All these responses (even the distasteful ones) are appreciated.

[Tiago Splitter]

Put that same level of effort into your LSAT and you may be able to get into a school worth attending. As it stands, there is no law school worth attending anywhere for someone with your numbers. Grades are far too unpredictable to make any decisions based on where you think you'll end up in the class. The only way to make any kind of prediction is to compare your LSAT/GPA combo to other people in your class, and yours wouldn't stand out at any of those schools. Go prove to yourself and others that you can really do this by bumping up your LSAT 10-15 points or forget about the whole idea altogether.

[rad lulz]

n

[FluffMonster]

I'm also from South Florida and I've never even heard of two of those schools. So that must be a bad sign. I would suggest a more rigorous study plan and a retake. If you are set on staying in Fl, then set your sights on Stetson, UF, FSU, and Miami. But I would caution that all of these schools still place pretty miserably. If you can pull off 167-170+, then i would look at Emory. It places well in Fl and would give you a better shot at finding a job after graduation.

[nebula666]

I suggest looking in to Barry Law. Far superior to Nova.

No way man. Nova is way better especially if you want to get into international law man

If you want international law, then you should obviously go to Florida International University Law.

[FluffMonster]

Good luck, btw.