Top Law Schools

so I am just now starting to understand what OCI is ...I kept hearing about it and dismissing the idea that it would be too soon to deal with but after looking at the forum and career services site, I am realizing the importance of OCI. I do have some questions though -(some background, straight out of undergrad, not truly familiar with the law job market requirements, or what law I even want to pursue - all I know is I'm most happy/excited/interested when I attend cases/visit courtroom) (not getting into why I went to law school, that answer is separate from my law school job market/fields ignorance)

1. Is this the "big law" people are talking about? I saw that some smaller firms also attend and some government jobs. (Just wanted to make sure I got it)

2. Does it matter what I do my 1L summer? Right now, I am looking at judicial internships just because that sounds interesting to me.

3. The GPA question...I go to GWU and have a 3.28 right now (I do admit it was my fault, despite reading all the advice on TLS I did not do what I was supposed to). I was reading the OCI thread and people seem conflicted about this, but how important is the GPA? I am hoping to bring up the GPA, but I do not know if it will be a significant enough improvement.

So, this post is happening with me frantically searching for jobs, and seeing summer associate jobs paying 2000 or more and yearning haha. So, is this what OCI is?

1. Mostly for biglaw, but you'll find a smattering of smaller firms and non-profits.
2. Eh, not really, as long as it's something legal and not overly controversial. A judicial internship is a good experience, and if you can get it, go for it.
3. GPA is extremely important for OCI. I don't know where 3.28 at GWU places you since I don't know the curve, but it can't be that bad since it's borderline B+ and I would hazard a guess that GWU's curve is slightly lower than a B+. At least you're not below median. Regardless, and this is still school-specific, you probably want to try and get into top 1/3 or top 1/4 if you can swing it.

GW's curve is a ~3.15, so you are slightly above median. That said, I know a lot of people who were shut out of OCI even with 3.3 and 3.4 GPAs. Try to bring it up, and make sure to bid on NY. DC/California/Chicago were brutal this year.