Top Law Schools

A large amount of the employment advice given out recently seems to stress the importance of substantive WE for 1/2L and even post-grad hiring. Are n00b college grads SOL? Is this any more true for patent law hiring given the nature of the work?

Most people don't have any useful work experience, and most get jobs (at good schools). It's an advantage to have, but certainly not a big problem to lack - more of a default. I don't know much about IP law, but I'd guess at worst you wouldn't get as big an IP boost as normal.

I have been wondering for a while if a majority of the surprising "0 offer" folks at top schools came straight from UG. It seems a little too reductionist, though...

Hitachi wrote:Most people don't have any useful work experience, and most get jobs (at good schools). It's an advantage to have, but certainly not a big problem to lack - more of a default. I don't know much about IP law, but I'd guess at worst you wouldn't get as big an IP boost as normal.

This seems pretty accurate. I went straight from undergrad to law school and got a good firm job. I have a few other friends without WE, but with top 10% grades, that also got good jobs.

Nightrunner wrote:Personally, I think WE can do a great deal to offset any other potential negatives, for example mediocre grades. I don't think it is a killer, but I wouldn't want to be bottom-third straight out of UG.

From what I understand, a WE in patent/IP law is substantially important.

It's debtor's prison for me then

Work experience is my ace in the hole this OCI. Namely, work experience at the firm that is my #1 bid.