Dude after a while no one cares where you went to school, especially with the kind of jobs (small firm, state govt.) you will most likely get from last in the class from a T14.r6_philly wrote: 10/20 years out: T14 is T14, GPA/class rank gets forgotten.
Which is better? Being last in your class at T14 or #1 TTT? Forum
- Grizz
- Posts: 10564
- Joined: Mon Jan 04, 2010 6:31 pm
Re: Which is better? Being last in your class at T14 or #1 TTT?
-
- Posts: 10752
- Joined: Sat Dec 19, 2009 4:32 pm
Re: Which is better? Being last in your class at T14 or #1 TTT?
It is not wrong, at least in this market here. I have worked for 10+ years before law school, and an Ivy degree is an Ivy degree in most industries and remains a big selling point. Maybe not in biglaw, but since we are probably not discussing biglaw here...Grizz wrote:Dude after a while no one cares where you went to school, especially with the kind of jobs (small firm, state govt.) you will most likely get from last in the class from a T14.r6_philly wrote: 10/20 years out: T14 is T14, GPA/class rank gets forgotten.
-
- Posts: 10752
- Joined: Sat Dec 19, 2009 4:32 pm
Re: Which is better? Being last in your class at T14 or #1 TTT?
PDaddy wrote: The idea that someone can be at the bottom of a T14 and compete with the top TTT students is ludicrous. There's no way a responsible partner would want to hire what amounts to a potentially lazy summer intern or graduate - regardless of what school he comes from. Bottom ranks, for better or worse, rightly or wrongly, suggest that something is lacking. In reality, that may not be true, but it may be relatively true. I'd be even more leery because I would expect T14 students to be spoiled and self-entitled.
I guess this is a long-winded way of saying that it's generally better to be #1 no matter what, but there are other factors.
I thought we are discussing the SAME person with either choice.
- Grizz
- Posts: 10564
- Joined: Mon Jan 04, 2010 6:31 pm
Re: Which is better? Being last in your class at T14 or #1 TTT?
I didn't say anything about big lawr6_philly wrote:It is not wrong, at least in this market here. I have worked for 10+ years before law school, and an Ivy degree is an Ivy degree in most industries and remains a big selling point. Maybe not in biglaw, but since we are probably not discussing biglaw here...Grizz wrote:Dude after a while no one cares where you went to school, especially with the kind of jobs (small firm, state govt.) you will most likely get from last in the class from a T14.r6_philly wrote: 10/20 years out: T14 is T14, GPA/class rank gets forgotten.
-
- Posts: 10752
- Joined: Sat Dec 19, 2009 4:32 pm
Re: Which is better? Being last in your class at T14 or #1 TTT?
Well then I stand by my statement, mostly through professional experience and not prestige obsession.Grizz wrote: I didn't say anything about big law
Want to continue reading?
Register now to search topics and post comments!
Absolutely FREE!
Already a member? Login
- Grizz
- Posts: 10564
- Joined: Mon Jan 04, 2010 6:31 pm
Re: Which is better? Being last in your class at T14 or #1 TTT?
I'll stand by mine, based on my experience with a dozen odd small firms of various sizes and practice areas. New clients usually find the firms through networking, not looking online and being impressed by some sick Ivy bio. Laterals are hired based on the strength of their book and/or ability to develop that book. I don't see it.r6_philly wrote:Well then I stand by my statement, mostly through professional experience and not prestige obsession.Grizz wrote: I didn't say anything about big law
The only place that did care somewhat that I found was the USAO. Transcripts and school were a factor in hiring decisions in my district, if only a small one.
-
- Posts: 10752
- Joined: Sat Dec 19, 2009 4:32 pm
Re: Which is better? Being last in your class at T14 or #1 TTT?
I meant it on the client side. Since you will be at small size practices, you have to hustle for clients. Having the right degree and selling it properly, especially in the school's own market really helps a lot.Grizz wrote: I'll stand by mine, based on my experience with a dozen odd small firms of various sizes and practice areas. New clients usually find the firms through networking, not looking online and being impressed by some sick Ivy bio. Laterals are hired based on the strength of their book and/or ability to develop that book. I don't see it.
The only place that did care somewhat that I found was the USAO. Transcripts and school were a factor in hiring decisions in my district, if only a small one.
I didn't imply to say that the degree will get you jobs directly. I meant that it will give you advantages for your practice/career and will net you better career opportunities indirectly.
- Grizz
- Posts: 10564
- Joined: Mon Jan 04, 2010 6:31 pm
Re: Which is better? Being last in your class at T14 or #1 TTT?
Ah I see. I don't have a lay preftigiouf school in my home market, but for small firms I'd definitely rather be #1 at Stetson (probably would actually hit biglaw) rather than last in the class at some rando Ivy like Penn. In central FL, Stetson has quite the network.r6_philly wrote: I meant it on the client side. Since you will be at small size practices, you have to hustle for clients. Having the right degree and selling it properly, especially in the school's own market really helps a lot.
I didn't imply to say that the degree will get you jobs directly. I meant that it will give you advantages for your practice/career and will net you better career opportunities indirectly.
-
- Posts: 10752
- Joined: Sat Dec 19, 2009 4:32 pm
Re: Which is better? Being last in your class at T14 or #1 TTT?
Grizz wrote:Ah I see. I don't have a lay preftigiouf school in my home market, but for small firms I'd definitely rather be #1 at Stetson (probably would actually hit biglaw) rather than last in the class at some rando Ivy like Penn. In central FL, Stetson has quite the network.r6_philly wrote: I meant it on the client side. Since you will be at small size practices, you have to hustle for clients. Having the right degree and selling it properly, especially in the school's own market really helps a lot.
I didn't imply to say that the degree will get you jobs directly. I meant that it will give you advantages for your practice/career and will net you better career opportunities indirectly.
Haha goes back to the original question: which T14 and which TTT. But I supposed you can always relocate to the home market to take advantage of the better degree, but if a TTT does not have a good network back home, then it's double no.
- PDaddy
- Posts: 2063
- Joined: Sat Jan 16, 2010 4:40 am
Re: Which is better? Being last in your class at T14 or #1 TTT?
We are, but we must discuss them as two separate candidates - which is what OP is in the given scenario.r6_philly wrote:
I thought we are discussing the SAME person with either choice.
Candidate #1: OP at TTT who is ranked #1 in his/her class
v.
Candidate #2: OP attending or graduating from the lower percentiles (or very bottom) of a T14.
-
- Posts: 10752
- Joined: Sat Dec 19, 2009 4:32 pm
Re: Which is better? Being last in your class at T14 or #1 TTT?
Your post above assumed that candidate #1 would be a good summer in the eyes of a partner and #2 would be a lazy summer. This can't be if they possess the same person quality. There are more that represent personal qualities than grades, so I don't think your assumption above was reasonable if both candidates are the same person.PDaddy wrote:We are, but we must discuss them as two separate candidates - which is what OP is in the given scenario.r6_philly wrote:
I thought we are discussing the SAME person with either choice.
Candidate #1: OP at TTT who is ranked #1 in his/her class
v.
Candidate #2: OP attending or graduating from the lower percentiles (or very bottom) of a T14.
-
- Posts: 103
- Joined: Fri Jan 06, 2012 6:25 pm
Re: Which is better? Being last in your class at T14 or #1 TTT?
In my conversations with a friend who has worked as a judge for the last 30 years, he suggested that a person should try to go to a school where he had a shot at being in the top 10%. I asked how one could assess such a thing, and he said, "there's the rub."
If only as an 0L you could KNOW whether you would be #1 at that TTT, these decisions would be so much easier.
If only as an 0L you could KNOW whether you would be #1 at that TTT, these decisions would be so much easier.
Register now!
Resources to assist law school applicants, students & graduates.
It's still FREE!
Already a member? Login