Top Law Schools

How hard are these to come by? I've heard Birmingham firms are some of the last ones who still offer positions for 1Ls. Where would you expect to rank at UAlabama to secure one of these? What kind of pay?

Top 1/3 and you have a shot.

Top half if you're a URM.

If you have/can make some connections you're golden.

I should add that firms can be somewhat xenophobic, so you'd better have a good answer for the inevitable "Why Alabama" question if you're from out of state.

Pay is 1100 for 1L's at most firms in Alabama (Birmingham, Mobile, Montgomery, Huntsville are the major markets)

OP here.

GF is originally from Alabama.. will this be enough of a tie? Also I should say that I went to UG just over an hour away (though not in-state).

Go to UVA. The firms will literally fall all over themselves to hire someone from UVA. I'm talking bottom 1/3.

UVA.

I interviewed with 3 firms for 1L SA positions in Birmingham. I had only 1 call back and no offer.

But...I had absolutely no connections to AL, never even been there.

Stats:

Top 30 school, top 5% after 1st semester.

They still offer 1L positions in Birmingham, but not as many as before the recession. Firms used to bring in 50/50 1Ls and 2Ls, but now it's more like 1/3 or 1/4 of the class is 1Ls. The positions are still there, but not as numerous as they need to be. You need to have connections to Alabama or else be from the south to have a decent shot. The firms emphasize fit quite a lot, so you need to really make sure you relax and show interest during your screeners and call backs.