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Is it unlikely to work your way up in to BigLaw?
Posted: Tue Nov 02, 2010 12:10 pm
by reaisan
Hello,
There are so many aspects of law that interest me. State, pro-bono work for a non-profit, and BigLaw. Is it possible to pursue my PI out of law school for a few years and then work my way in to BigLaw-- or is it really "by 3L or bust?"
Re: Is it unlikely to work your way up in to BigLaw?
Posted: Tue Nov 02, 2010 12:13 pm
by 4for44
reaisan wrote:Hello,
There are so many aspects of law that interest me. State, pro-bono work for a non-profit, and BigLaw. Is it possible to pursue my PI out of law school for a few years and then work my way in to BigLaw-- or is it really "by 3L or bust?"
From what I understand there is one on ramp(SA, maybe some 3L)... and Plenty of off ramps...
Unless you do a federal clerkship, then the on ramp comes later
Re: Is it unlikely to work your way up in to BigLaw?
Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2010 6:31 pm
by Anonymous User
reaisan wrote:Hello,
There are so many aspects of law that interest me. State, pro-bono work for a non-profit, and BigLaw. Is it possible to pursue my PI out of law school for a few years and then work my way in to BigLaw-- or is it really "by 3L or bust?"
Do big law then PI if you want. Or do big law and be very active on pro-bono committee. Once big law train passes 2L OCI, it's extremely difficult to catch. If you do a couple of years of PI it will be damn near impossible.
edit: didn't mean to be anon, sorry
Re: Is it unlikely to work your way up in to BigLaw?
Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2010 9:17 pm
by LurkerNoMore
Four basic routes to BigLaw:
1. 2L Summer (and sometimes 3L hiring)
2. Prestigious Federal Gov't work (clerkship or a couple of years at DOJ, SEC)
3. Economy turns and BigLaw is understaffed and desperate for laterals (happened in late '90s)
4. Make a name for yourself so that you come in as an actual expert in an area of law the firm needs or as a rainmaker.
I'm guessing you can see the path of least resistance here.
Re: Is it unlikely to work your way up in to BigLaw?
Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2010 9:36 pm
by vamedic03
LurkerNoMore wrote:Four basic routes to BigLaw:
1. 2L Summer (and sometimes 3L hiring)
2. Prestigious Federal Gov't work (clerkship or a couple of years at DOJ, SEC)
3. Economy turns and BigLaw is understaffed and desperate for laterals (happened in late '90s)
4. Make a name for yourself so that you come in as an actual expert in an area of law the firm needs or as a rainmaker.
I'm guessing you can see the path of least resistance here.
What about:
5) starting your own BigLaw firm?
Re: Is it unlikely to work your way up in to BigLaw?
Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2010 9:40 pm
by reaisan
vamedic03 wrote:LurkerNoMore wrote:Four basic routes to BigLaw:
1. 2L Summer (and sometimes 3L hiring)
2. Prestigious Federal Gov't work (clerkship or a couple of years at DOJ, SEC)
3. Economy turns and BigLaw is understaffed and desperate for laterals (happened in late '90s)
4. Make a name for yourself so that you come in as an actual expert in an area of law the firm needs or as a rainmaker.
I'm guessing you can see the path of least resistance here.
What about:
5) starting your own BigLaw firm?
Ha!

Start yours then hire me, please.