Between Top 40%-Top 1/3 at DCN seeking bidding advice Forum

[Anonymous User]

First semester didn't go great or terrible, ended up at median. Second semester went better, ended up with grades that will likely put me between top 40% and top 1/3. Elected not to participate in a journal, but did make the trial team which is kind of competitive. Would prefer to stay in the midwest, so Chicago is likely what I'm gunning for. There are rumblings that the market in Chicago is experiencing an uptick, but who knows at this point. No biglaw relevant work experience prior to school, not sure if I can use the military in a way that would help. I would prefer lit, but I'll take what I can get.

Questions:

1. Where would you place your highest bids?
2. Do you think the no journal thing will be too damaging?
3. Any other advice you have is more than welcome

[koalatriste]

First semester didn't go great or terrible, ended up at median. Second semester went better, ended up with grades that will likely put me between top 40% and top 1/3. Elected not to participate in a journal, but did make the trial team which is kind of competitive. Would prefer to stay in the midwest, so Chicago is likely what I'm gunning for. There are rumblings that the market in Chicago is experiencing an uptick, but who knows at this point. No biglaw relevant work experience prior to school, not sure if I can use the military in a way that would help. I would prefer lit, but I'll take what I can get.

Questions:

1. Where would you place your highest bids?
2. Do you think the no journal thing will be too damaging?
3. Any other advice you have is more than welcome

So, you're at Northwestern. What's your WE like relative to your classmates?

[Anonymous User]

No professional save for a part time gig at a solo practitioner law firm. Other than that, military. So, not exceptional.

[Anonymous User]

I'll go ahead and bump this once, acknowledgin that if nobody answers that I should take the hint, stop being lazy, and research more.

[Anonymous User]

We're talking what, a 3.55 at NU or thereabouts? Just trying to get a sense of the range, as there is definitely data out there from past years linking callbacks to GPAs. Granted, much of that data predates ITE, but if the Chi market is rebounding a little, I would expect this fall's hiring to be slightly less GPA-sensitive than that for the classes of 11 and 12.

Assuming I am right about the above, I would eliminate the most selective Chi firms: Kirkland, Sidley, and Mayer. Probably Skadden too. This leaves the top of your range as roughly Baker, Jenner, JD, and those type of firms. No journal will hurt a little, but if you highlight the military experience and trial team stuff, you should be okay. That would work even better if you take ITA in the fall, as you would then have a very credible trial focus on your transcript/resume.

Anyhow, tl;dr is that I foresee you accepting an offer at Schiff Hardin. Just a wild guess.