Top 15% at Emory -- chances for BigLaw? Forum

[Anonymous User]

Class rankings just released, and I finished just outside the top 10% cutoff, well within the top 15% range. Have ties to Atlanta and would really like to work at one of the big firms here (Kilpatrick, Alston & Bird, McKenna, King & Spalding, etc.) or one of the solid mid-sized firms (Rogers & Hardin, Miller & Martin, etc.). I am also willing to work in some other areas in the region (i.e. Charleston, Research Triangle) and also in NY. I had originally considered transferring to somewhere in the T14 to try to open some more doors (I was top 10% first semester), but I'm not sure my class rank lends itself to great transfer odds anymore.

Given my class rank and a pretty decent resume (good undergrad, highest grade in a few law school classes, some decent work/internship experience), what firms am I likely to have a good shot at? Any suggestions on what firms in Atlanta and elsewhere that I should target and any advice in general for the area would be greatly appreciated.

[Anonymous User]

Isn't there a job fair scheduled in Altanta sometime soon? That should be a good barometer.

[Anonymous User]

Isn't there a job fair scheduled in Altanta sometime soon? That should be a good barometer.

SEMJF is for minorities.


OP I would target Mckenna Long, Troutman Sanders, Burr Forman, Parker Hudson, Arnall Gregory, and Bryan Cave.

[Anonymous User]

Rising 3L who did a lot of Southern callbacks last year (but not from Emory)...

Atlanta- I would guess that while it might be worth a shot, K&S and A+B are probably out for you. Kilpatrick probably on the upper end of your targets I would think. I agree with the poster above. Regarding the firms you should be targeting.

Triangle- tough market. Know people close to top 10% at T14s who struck out in the Triangle (doing very well elsewhere). Really solid connections might help, but would still be a longshot I think.

Charleston- extremely insular. Hire very few people. Without solid connections this will be very hard to get the "big" firms.

That said, apply everywhere. It isn't going to hurt anything.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone have any thoughts about odds in NY and/or of transferring to a T10?

[Anonymous User]

Anyone have any thoughts about odds in NY and/or of transferring to a T10?

Transferring to a top 10 won't help for the Southern markets (and in fact it may hurt you). I think you have a legit shot at NYC firms that are less selective--think Linklaters etc. Transferring to a top 10 would help you--probably substantially--for NYC firms (especially if you can get into Columbia, NYU, Penn, or Cornell).

[Anonymous User]

Anyone have any thoughts about odds in NY and/or of transferring to a T10?

Transferring to a top 10 won't help for the Southern markets (and in fact it may hurt you). I think you have a legit shot at NYC firms that are less selective--think Linklaters etc. Transferring to a top 10 would help you--probably substantially--for NYC firms (especially if you can get into Columbia, NYU, Penn, or Cornell).

I don't see how transferring to UVA or Duke would hurt in the South. He is at Emory competing with everyone and their dog for Atlanta right now, whereas a much smaller percentage of the class at either UVA or Duke is looking to ATL. I am not saying this is necessarily a good move, but not one that would hurt.

[Anonymous User]

What type of chances would I have to transfer to Duke or UVA with no real ties to either area? I've heard UVA is notoriously difficult to transfer to from outside VA. I'm assuming top 15% isn't good enough to transfer to a T6 school as well.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone have any thoughts about odds in NY and/or of transferring to a T10?

Transferring to a top 10 won't help for the Southern markets (and in fact it may hurt you). I think you have a legit shot at NYC firms that are less selective--think Linklaters etc. Transferring to a top 10 would help you--probably substantially--for NYC firms (especially if you can get into Columbia, NYU, Penn, or Cornell).

Could you by any chance elaborate on some of the NYC firms that are less selective? I've tried to do a bit of research but I really know nothing about the NYC market, and would love to hear of some good firms to target.

[Anonymous User]

the deciding factor for you is going to be LR and whether you can interview well. Make sure to do emory in NY, bid on every firm, and do as many interviews as possible. If you have ATL ties, you'll be as good coming from emory than anywhere else.

There were people with your grades that got big law jobs for this summer. Your grades will get you in the door at at least a couple of places, you just have to know how to impress beyond your grades. One of the secondary journals would be better than moot court (firms care about writing experience), but LR will really help seal the deal.

[Anonymous User]

I would be surprised if you aren't able to land at least midlaw in Atlanta. Top 15% + good UG record + strong Atlanta ties is a good mix. And if you make ELJ, it would be very unusual for you to not get a firm job. Are you social, outgoing? A lot of people I know summering at big Atlanta firms have good but not stellar grades (like yours), but are super friendly, engaging, funny. That goes a long way here.

Did you get a B- or something in several classes? If you have the highest grade in "a few" classes, as you say, I'm surprised you're only top 15%. I assume you did write-on? When do you find out? I don't know any of those kind of details. Grading write-ons was the most painful thing I've ever done

My advice is apply for every single firm job that is on OCI. Do the New York program. And mass-mail (followed up with phone calls) to any firms in cities you're interested in that aren't doing Emory OCI.

[Anonymous User]

I would be surprised if you aren't able to land at least midlaw in Atlanta. Top 15% + good UG record + strong Atlanta ties is a good mix. And if you make ELJ, it would be very unusual for you to not get a firm job. Are you social, outgoing? A lot of people I know summering at big Atlanta firms have good but not stellar grades (like yours), but are super friendly, engaging, funny. That goes a long way here.

Did you get a B- or something in several classes? If you have the highest grade in "a few" classes, as you say, I'm surprised you're only top 15%. I assume you did write-on? When do you find out? I don't know any of those kind of details. Grading write-ons was the most painful thing I've ever done

My advice is apply for every single firm job that is on OCI. Do the New York program. And mass-mail (followed up with phone calls) to any firms in cities you're interested in that aren't doing Emory OCI.

Yeah I'm really keeping my fingers crossed for ELJ. We are supposed to hear back in the next 1-2 weeks so I'm praying for at least a secondary journal. I am pretty social and outgoing for the most part, and tend to interview fairly well (although a little more practice wouldn't hurt).

Basically what happened with my grades was they were all or nothing. With a B+ (3.3) median and 10 classes, I got 5 A's and 5 B+'s. The B+'s were mainly in legal writing (1 each semester) and my spring elective. 5 of 7 doctrinal classes were A's, including the ones I booked.

Yeah I did write-on; like I said above, still waiting to hear. I know our grades are a decent part of journal decisions (33% of your total "score" I believe), so hopefully it will help. And yeah, I can't imagine how awful grading write-on must be; I don't envy you.

I'm definitely applying for all the OCI firms, and I'm making arrangements as we speak for a flight/hotel for Emory in NY. Have also started putting a firm list together for non-OCI firms in Atlanta, as well as NC, SC, FL, and NY. I'm going to be so happy when this whole process is over (assuming I get a job).

[Anonymous User]

Basically what happened with my grades was they were all or nothing. With a B+ (3.3) median and 10 classes, I got 5 A's and 5 B+'s. The B+'s were mainly in legal writing (1 each semester) and my spring elective. 5 of 7 doctrinal classes were A's, including the ones I booked.

Yeah I did write-on; like I said above, still waiting to hear. I know our grades are a decent part of journal decisions (33% of your total "score" I believe), so hopefully it will help. And yeah, I can't imagine how awful grading write-on must be; I don't envy you.

From what I understand the at least one of the secondary journals (or at least if you bid it as your #2 choice behind ELJ) automatically takes persons from the top 10% based on a GPA that doesn't include the spring elective. So considering that, you may be guaranteed at least a secondary journal

And OP how do you find out if you booked a class? Did the professors contact you directly?

[Anonymous User]

I believe you have to put the secondary journal as your first choice (which almost no one does) to grade on to a secondary journal if you are in the top 10%. Not positive though.

[Anonymous User]

Basically what happened with my grades was they were all or nothing. With a B+ (3.3) median and 10 classes, I got 5 A's and 5 B+'s. The B+'s were mainly in legal writing (1 each semester) and my spring elective. 5 of 7 doctrinal classes were A's, including the ones I booked.

Yeah I did write-on; like I said above, still waiting to hear. I know our grades are a decent part of journal decisions (33% of your total "score" I believe), so hopefully it will help. And yeah, I can't imagine how awful grading write-on must be; I don't envy you.

From what I understand the at least one of the secondary journals (or at least if you bid it as your #2 choice behind ELJ) automatically takes persons from the top 10% based on a GPA that doesn't include the spring elective. So considering that, you may be guaranteed at least a secondary journal

And OP how do you find out if you booked a class? Did the professors contact you directly?

I believe you are right about the secondary journal. I'm pretty sure I remember reading that the Bankruptcy Journal (which I put 2nd) will grade on people in the Top 10% (minus elective) if ranked 1st or 2nd in preferences. Without the elective my GPA is a 3.71; the cutoff for top 10% was a 3.725 I believe (including electives), so I should be close to the non-elective cutoff.

For the classes you booked, at least at Emory, you receive a Dean's Award certificate (which they give out along with the Dean's List certificates) with the name of the specific class that you had the highest grade in. I didn't know what it was at first so I checked with the registrar, and they confirmed it is for the highest grade. They just showed up in my mailbox along with the Dean's List certificate.

[Anonymous User]

Do you know if they've put the dean's list letters out already? And would they be in the law school mail folders or do they mail to it your home?

[Anonymous User]

Do you know if they've put the dean's list letters out already? And would they be in the law school mail folders or do they mail to it your home?

They put Dean's List certificates in your campus mail, but, there's nothing in them as of 11am today when I was on campus.

Dean's List is 3.45 and above anyway, you don't need the certificate in hand to put it on your resume.

[Anonymous User]

Sorry if this is a bit off topic - has anyone heard back from any Emory journals yet? Any idea when we will?

[Anonymous User]

Sorry if this is a bit off topic - has anyone heard back from any Emory journals yet? Any idea when we will?

Nothing yet I've heard beginning of July, and the last e-mail they sent about about extending the OCI deadlines to July 4 was to give the journal selection people time to get decisions out before people had to submit their resumes . . . so knowing Emory they will be released on July 4 at 4:59 pm

[Anonymous User]

OP here - for anyone who's wondering, at least some of the journal calls went out today. Got a spot on the Bankruptcy Journal; was hoping for ELJ, but happy for a spot nonetheless. Hopefully pretty solid resume, top 15% and a secondary journal will be enough to grab a pretty solid firm job. Best of luck to everyone else waiting for a journal spot.

[Anonymous User]

Do you know if they've put the dean's list letters out already? And would they be in the law school mail folders or do they mail to it your home?

They put Dean's List certificates in your campus mail, but, there's nothing in them as of 11am today when I was on campus.

Dean's List is 3.45 and above anyway, you don't need the certificate in hand to put it on your resume.

Former Conduct Court Prosecutor here. With respect to grades and honors/awards, you always need to wait for the numbers or award to be finalized or awarded before you make a representation about it. Beware: almost every action you make on Symplicity is recorded, and every document you upload is saved for administrators to review, even after you 'delete' it. I know from experience. Follow the school's official grade reporting guidelines -- if you're unsure about something, ask OCS or Celeste instead of making assumptions. Don't rely on your best buddy from your section or some anonymous dude from TLS to say what is OK -- it's easy to get the school to clarify this stuff. Sorry to sound preachy, but I didn't want somebody to get in trouble by generally adopting the above poster's casual attitude toward reporting an award. It's one of the things the school takes really seriously.

[Anonymous User]

Do you know if they've put the dean's list letters out already? And would they be in the law school mail folders or do they mail to it your home?

They put Dean's List certificates in your campus mail, but, there's nothing in them as of 11am today when I was on campus.

Dean's List is 3.45 and above anyway, you don't need the certificate in hand to put it on your resume.

Former Conduct Court Prosecutor here. With respect to grades and honors/awards, you always need to wait for the numbers or award to be finalized or awarded before you make a representation about it. Beware: almost every action you make on Symplicity is recorded, and every document you upload is saved for administrators to review, even after you 'delete' it. I know from experience. Follow the school's official grade reporting guidelines -- if you're unsure about something, ask OCS or Celeste instead of making assumptions. Don't rely on your best buddy from your section or some anonymous dude from TLS to say what is OK -- it's easy to get the school to clarify this stuff. Sorry to sound preachy, but I didn't want somebody to get in trouble by generally adopting the above poster's casual attitude toward reporting an award. It's one of the things the school takes really seriously.

Regarding the Dean's List, isn't it safe to go by the website's guidelines for requirements? I understand it being a problem to speculate on individual rank outside of the top 10%, Dean's Awards, etc., but the Emory Law website seems pretty clear about Dean's List. Is it inappropriate to still put that on a resume when the website seems to clearly list what is required? The Rules for Grade Reporting guidelines e-mailed the school did not mention Dean's List or other awards at all.

"Non-Joint Degree Students with a semester average of 3.45 or higher on at least ten graded law hours shall be placed on Dean’s List."
http://www.law.emory.edu/academics/acad ... ments.html

[Anonymous User]

Regarding the Dean's List, isn't it safe to go by the website's guidelines for requirements? I understand it being a problem to speculate on individual rank outside of the top 10%, Dean's Awards, etc., but the Emory Law website seems pretty clear about Dean's List. Is it inappropriate to still put that on a resume when the website seems to clearly list what is required? The Rules for Grade Reporting guidelines e-mailed the school did not mention Dean's List or other awards at all.

"Non-Joint Degree Students with a semester average of 3.45 or higher on at least ten graded law hours shall be placed on Dean’s List."
http://www.law.emory.edu/academics/acad ... ments.html

My view is that it's better to ask somebody 'official' for clarification than it is to make this type of assumption. Sometimes the administrators aren't aware that their policy isn't clearly stated -- or maybe they assume it goes without stating. The grade reporting guidelines were actually updated while I was at ELS because I raised to OCS a similar issue (about relying on GPA calculations from OPUS before Celeste 'finalized' grades). Anyway, you don't want to be put in the situation of having to make your case; the consequences are just too severe. Sure, maybe the risk is lower with something like assuming you'll get the Dean's List paper in your mail file. But it's almost certainly more reasonable to go ahead and fire off an email asking, "Hey, I had a 3.45+ GPA last semester. Can I go head and put Dean's List on my resume even though I haven't received the paper in my mail file?" You'll get your answer, and if the administrators get tired of getting a bunch of emails asking the same thing, then maybe they'll try a little harder to get those things out sooner... Win-win, really.