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Focusing my main bids on more "realistic" NYC firms, but I'm wondering if I should add in a couple of very competitive firms (like Debevoise, Simpson Thacher, Davis Polk, etc) at the very bottom of my list? (so I wouldn't be "throwing away" any bids if I did this)

Thoughts? I know it would be a longshot to get a CB from one of these firms w/ my GPA. But would it even be a longshot? Or would it be a complete waste of time and energy?

Anonymous User wrote:Focusing my main bids on more "realistic" NYC firms, but I'm wondering if I should add in a couple of very competitive firms (like Debevoise, Simpson Thacher, Davis Polk, etc) at the very bottom of my list? (so I wouldn't be "throwing away" any bids if I did this)

Thoughts? I know it would be a longshot to get a CB from one of these firms w/ my GPA. But would it even be a longshot? Or would it be a complete waste of time and energy?

This is a good strategy, because those firms are often underbid. Many people find if they bid top firms at the bottom of their bidlist they get those interviews over big, unselective firms in the middle of their list.

IMO DPW, STB are probably a complete waste of time. But P+W, K+E, Debevoise are good reaches. I wouldn't do it (I'd try to ID some smaller NYC firms that won't fill their schedules) but some people have very good interviews when they go in without the pressure of knowing "this is my target firm, and I have to get a callback" and come off as loose and confident as a result.

Rounding out the bottom of your bid list with gigantic selective firms is smart. As the above poster noted, some V5/V10 firms are picky enough that it still won't be worth it, but plenty will. A lot of people make the mistake of taking their median grades and ignoring a huge swath of firms that hire MOSTLY from the top third or top quarter, but will seriously consider a ~median student. The result is massive competition for interview slots at less selective firms - essentially turning them into quite competitive firms from the point of view of any given student at the school.

OP here. Thanks so much! What about firms like Gibson Dunn, Latham, Cleary Gottlieb, Ropes & Gray, and WilmerHale? I only know their average GPAs. How comparatively selective/grades obsessed are they compared with the other big firms?

I'm already bidding on some of the less competitive smaller firms, just above where these gigantic reach firms would be on my bidlist.

1. Top bid slot for Cravath
2. Get offer
3. ????
4. Profit.