Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 3, Tier 4, is there a list for each ? Forum

(Rankings, Profiles, Tuition, Student Life, . . . )
Post Reply
User avatar
jrwhitedog

New
Posts: 97
Joined: Fri Mar 20, 2009 12:34 am

Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 3, Tier 4, is there a list for each ?

Post by jrwhitedog » Tue Feb 09, 2016 5:51 pm

How do I know what tier each law school belong to?

User avatar
Mrs Featherbottom

New
Posts: 78
Joined: Fri Sep 18, 2015 8:08 pm

Re: Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 3, Tier 4, is there a list for each ?

Post by Mrs Featherbottom » Tue Feb 09, 2016 6:12 pm

My understanding is:

Tier 1: 1-50
Tier 2: 51-100
Tier 3: 101-150
Tier 4: Everything else

User avatar
jrwhitedog

New
Posts: 97
Joined: Fri Mar 20, 2009 12:34 am

Re: Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 3, Tier 4, is there a list for each ?

Post by jrwhitedog » Tue Feb 09, 2016 6:31 pm

Mrs Featherbottom wrote:My understanding is:

Tier 1: 1-50
Tier 2: 51-100
Tier 3: 101-150
Tier 4: Everything else
Thanks, I assume the ranking is based on USNEWS & World Report ?

User avatar
Mrs Featherbottom

New
Posts: 78
Joined: Fri Sep 18, 2015 8:08 pm

Re: Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 3, Tier 4, is there a list for each ?

Post by Mrs Featherbottom » Tue Feb 09, 2016 6:39 pm

Affirmative. Although most people on TLS will tell you that tiers are a pretty arbitrary distinction to make decisions on where to apply or attend. For example, you shouldn't attend the school ranked #45 over the #55 school because one's a first tier and one's a second tier.

In fact, outside of the top 20 or so schools, you could argue that geographic location is a much more important factor than where in the rankings/tiers a school falls, but that's kind of oversimplifying things.

User avatar
trebekismyhero

Silver
Posts: 1095
Joined: Fri May 22, 2015 5:26 pm

Re: Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 3, Tier 4, is there a list for each ?

Post by trebekismyhero » Tue Feb 09, 2016 6:50 pm

Someone posted on here a couple months ago the best breakdown of schools that I have seen, but can't find it.

Basically there are 13-16 schools that give you a very good chance of a good outcome (Big Law, FedClerk, BigFed, etc.) and almost certainly a job as a lawyer. Your T-14

Then the next tier are schools that have some chance of BigLaw, etc. And a good chance of landing a job as a lawyer. Your T1, 40-50 schools.

Then there are schools that give you a small chance at the prestigious jobs and 50-50 shot of becoming a lawyer. Those are like the next 100 schools.

Then the T4 dumpsters that have no chance at prestigious jobs and like 1/3 chance of becoming a lawyer.

After the t14 focus on geography and job numbers. Those are the most important things not US News Rankings

Want to continue reading?

Register now to search topics and post comments!

Absolutely FREE!


User avatar
jrwhitedog

New
Posts: 97
Joined: Fri Mar 20, 2009 12:34 am

Re: Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 3, Tier 4, is there a list for each ?

Post by jrwhitedog » Tue Feb 09, 2016 10:31 pm

trebekismyhero wrote:Someone posted on here a couple months ago the best breakdown of schools that I have seen, but can't find it.

Basically there are 13-16 schools that give you a very good chance of a good outcome (Big Law, FedClerk, BigFed, etc.) and almost certainly a job as a lawyer. Your T-14

Then the next tier are schools that have some chance of BigLaw, etc. And a good chance of landing a job as a lawyer. Your T1, 40-50 schools.

Then there are schools that give you a small chance at the prestigious jobs and 50-50 shot of becoming a lawyer. Those are like the next 100 schools.

Then the T4 dumpsters that have no chance at prestigious jobs and like 1/3 chance of becoming a lawyer.

After the t14 focus on geography and job numbers. Those are the most important things not US News Rankings
Thanks, does law specialty matter ? Cause I heard patent lawyers usually do better than their peers. Schools like U of Houston(59th) and Santa Clara(94th)(both ranked top 6 in IP) seem to have a higher percentage of graduates who got 160k jobs in biglaw IP firms.

http://tippingthescales.com/2014/03/the ... ghest-pay/

sjp200

Bronze
Posts: 394
Joined: Tue Oct 20, 2015 5:54 am

Re: Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 3, Tier 4, is there a list for each ?

Post by sjp200 » Wed Feb 10, 2016 1:34 am

Mrs Featherbottom wrote:My understanding is:

Tier 1: 1-50
Tier 2: 51-100
Tier 3: 101-150
Tier 4: Everything else
Your understanding is incorrect:

Tier 1: T-14
Tier 2: 15-50
Tier 3 (Third tier Toilet) 51-100
Tier 4: 100+, SERIOUSLY don't consider going at all or retaking the LSAT
jrwhitedog wrote:
trebekismyhero wrote:Someone posted on here a couple months ago the best breakdown of schools that I have seen, but can't find it.

Basically there are 13-16 schools that give you a very good chance of a good outcome (Big Law, FedClerk, BigFed, etc.) and almost certainly a job as a lawyer. Your T-14

Then the next tier are schools that have some chance of BigLaw, etc. And a good chance of landing a job as a lawyer. Your T1, 40-50 schools.

Then there are schools that give you a small chance at the prestigious jobs and 50-50 shot of becoming a lawyer. Those are like the next 100 schools.

Then the T4 dumpsters that have no chance at prestigious jobs and like 1/3 chance of becoming a lawyer.

After the t14 focus on geography and job numbers. Those are the most important things not US News Rankings
Thanks, does law specialty matter ? Cause I heard patent lawyers usually do better than their peers. Schools like U of Houston(59th) and Santa Clara(94th)(both ranked top 6 in IP) seem to have a higher percentage of graduates who got 160k jobs in biglaw IP firms.

http://tippingthescales.com/2014/03/the ... ghest-pay/
IP is hard to throw in with the rest of biglaw because people who graduate in IP are a rare commodity that are very much in a sink or swim environment as far as salary goes. Even if you wish to do IP, I recommend sticking to tier 1 or the top of tier 2 so that you have your options in other areas as well.
Last edited by sjp200 on Wed Feb 10, 2016 1:37 am, edited 1 time in total.

User avatar
trebekismyhero

Silver
Posts: 1095
Joined: Fri May 22, 2015 5:26 pm

Re: Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 3, Tier 4, is there a list for each ?

Post by trebekismyhero » Wed Feb 10, 2016 1:35 am

jrwhitedog wrote:
trebekismyhero wrote:Someone posted on here a couple months ago the best breakdown of schools that I have seen, but can't find it.

Basically there are 13-16 schools that give you a very good chance of a good outcome (Big Law, FedClerk, BigFed, etc.) and almost certainly a job as a lawyer. Your T-14

Then the next tier are schools that have some chance of BigLaw, etc. And a good chance of landing a job as a lawyer. Your T1, 40-50 schools.

Then there are schools that give you a small chance at the prestigious jobs and 50-50 shot of becoming a lawyer. Those are like the next 100 schools.

Then the T4 dumpsters that have no chance at prestigious jobs and like 1/3 chance of becoming a lawyer.

After the t14 focus on geography and job numbers. Those are the most important things not US News Rankings
Thanks, does law specialty matter ? Cause I heard patent lawyers usually do better than their peers. Schools like U of Houston(59th) and Santa Clara(94th)(both ranked top 6 in IP) seem to have a higher percentage of graduates who got 160k jobs in biglaw IP firms.

http://tippingthescales.com/2014/03/the ... ghest-pay/
No, specialty law does not matter.

User avatar
magnum_law

Bronze
Posts: 224
Joined: Wed Sep 30, 2015 5:32 pm

Re: Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 3, Tier 4, is there a list for each ?

Post by magnum_law » Wed Feb 10, 2016 1:58 am

sjp200 wrote:
Your understanding is incorrect:

Tier 1: T-14
Tier 2: 15-50
Tier 3 (Third tier Toilet) 51-100
Tier 4: 100+, SERIOUSLY don't consider going at all or retaking the LSAT
Nah, you're incorrect.

Really it's

Tier 1: t14 (elite distinction) + 15-50
Tier 2: 51-100
TTT: 101-150
TTTT: everything else

eta : typo
Last edited by magnum_law on Wed Feb 10, 2016 2:20 am, edited 1 time in total.

Want to continue reading?

Register for access!

Did I mention it was FREE ?


sjp200

Bronze
Posts: 394
Joined: Tue Oct 20, 2015 5:54 am

Re: Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 3, Tier 4, is there a list for each ?

Post by sjp200 » Wed Feb 10, 2016 2:07 am

magnum_law wrote:
sjp200 wrote:
Your understanding is incorrect:

Tier 1: T-14
Tier 2: 15-50
Tier 3 (Third tier Toilet) 51-100
Tier 4: 100+, SERIOUSLY don't consider going at all or retaking the LSAT
Nah, you're incorrect.

Really it's

Tier 1: t14 (elite distinction) + 15-50
Tier 2: 51-100
TTT: 101-150
TTT: everything else
I don't think you can lump T14 and 15-50 ALL in the same category. T14-20ish maybe, maybe even 25 or 30 if we're being generous, but definitely not all the way down to 50. The drop off in employment numbers warrants a break, may as well make it where the distinction is seen as far as the aspirations of the people on this particular medium are concerned.

User avatar
Clearly

Gold
Posts: 4189
Joined: Sat Feb 11, 2012 4:09 pm

Re: Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 3, Tier 4, is there a list for each ?

Post by Clearly » Wed Feb 10, 2016 2:17 am

sjp200 wrote:
magnum_law wrote:
sjp200 wrote:
Your understanding is incorrect:

Tier 1: T-14
Tier 2: 15-50
Tier 3 (Third tier Toilet) 51-100
Tier 4: 100+, SERIOUSLY don't consider going at all or retaking the LSAT
Nah, you're incorrect.

Really it's

Tier 1: t14 (elite distinction) + 15-50
Tier 2: 51-100
TTT: 101-150
TTT: everything else
I don't think you can lump T14 and 15-50 ALL in the same category. T14-20ish maybe, maybe even 25 or 30 if we're being generous, but definitely not all the way down to 50. The drop off in employment numbers warrants a break, may as well make it where the distinction is seen as far as the aspirations of the people on this particular medium are concerned.
It isn't up to you. tls didn't invent these tiers, they are described as such by usnwr. 1-50 is tier one. Its not a community thing. There's a right answer and that's what it is.

User avatar
stego

Platinum
Posts: 5301
Joined: Thu Apr 30, 2015 3:23 am

Re: Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 3, Tier 4, is there a list for each ?

Post by stego » Wed Feb 10, 2016 2:34 am

Are the differences in outcomes between, say, 20 and 50 really all that big? I didn't think they were.

User avatar
trebekismyhero

Silver
Posts: 1095
Joined: Fri May 22, 2015 5:26 pm

Re: Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 3, Tier 4, is there a list for each ?

Post by trebekismyhero » Wed Feb 10, 2016 10:48 am

stego wrote:Are the differences in outcomes between, say, 20 and 50 really all that big? I didn't think they were.
Not to the point that you should choose between them based on ranking. Employment numbers and location should be the main determination after you get outside the t14

Register now!

Resources to assist law school applicants, students & graduates.

It's still FREE!


User avatar
mornincounselor

Silver
Posts: 1236
Joined: Sun Apr 21, 2013 1:37 am

Re: Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 3, Tier 4, is there a list for each ?

Post by mornincounselor » Thu Feb 11, 2016 12:33 am

For Big Law:

HYS
Chi-Cor (and M)
GULC, T, UCLA, USC, V
BU, BC, F, GWU
ND, WUSTL, Emory, UIUC (Howard?)
Others

(Blanket tiers are silly.)

californiauser

Silver
Posts: 1213
Joined: Sun Jul 01, 2012 1:10 am

Re: Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 3, Tier 4, is there a list for each ?

Post by californiauser » Thu Feb 11, 2016 1:58 pm

Irrelevant. It's T-14 and the rest, i.e. the regional/local schools.

Get unlimited access to all forums and topics

Register now!

I'm pretty sure I told you it's FREE...


Post Reply

Return to “Choosing a Law School”