Advice for Aspiring Biglaw 3L w/ 3.1 GPA + other factors? Forum

[BrokenMouse]

lol

[brazleton]

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[rad lulz]

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[OneMoreLawHopeful]

Your title says "aspiring biglaw" but it's not as clear from your post that you are looking for biglaw. Is that what you are looking for?

Insofar as your list of qualifications, you seem to have one good one: you have done actual work for a biglaw firm. If there's one thing that biglaw trusts, it's the recommendations of their peer firms (hence why 3L OCI is much easier if you have an offer after your 2L summer), so if you have a way to leverage your biglaw contacts (and those contacts have seen your work product and like it / like you as an employee), that could turn into something. Ideally you want to be open about a desire to do public interest work which fell through, and see if they have heard of any places that are hiring, and would be willing to put you in contact with them/write letters of recommendation.

However...you also have a massive problem in terms of your grades, and what those grades represent. In your own words, your grades are not great because, given the choice, you repeatedly chose your personal/family/social life over school. A firm that wants you to bill 2400 hours a year is not going to want to hear this. Your grades, and the reason for those grades, are a direct proxy for the kind of employee they absolutely do not want. They want the people who "compete for the top 10%" because those people are more likely to be billing time at 2am on a Tuesday.

Realistically, you should ask yourself if you would even want the biglaw lifestyle - your decisions in law school suggest that, even if you had a good shot at biglaw (which, to be clear, without a SA position, you do not), you probably wouldn't be happy working in an office that expects from you exactly the kind of behavior you are not interested in displaying.

To that end, you may be in a good position because not having any debt means that you could be open to lower paying jobs that may fit your lifestyle better. Jobs in state or local government may give you very reasonable hours, as well as the litigation work that you desire, but without knowing which state you are in, exactly how difficult those are to get is tough to judge. In some states it's easy to get a job with a local office, in others the budget freezes of 2009 never really ended - which state you are in really matters here.

Also, as others said above, PLEASE apply to other positions with smaller firms - if you want to continue litigating those may be your best option.

I know you said you want a job that "pays well" - but would you really be willing to change your whole lifestyle for a shot at that? I'm not trying to be mean here, but you had 3 years to live a lifestyle equivalent to billing 2100+ hours a year, and you just didn't want to do it. What makes you think things have changed for you?

[BrokenMouse]

lol

[brazleton]

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[BrokenMouse]

lol

[Kikero]

Please help crush my fantasy so I can move on with my life or give me some advice as to what I should emphasize IF I were to land an interview.

Your situation is like a guy who got out of shape in college and didn't make the football team asking for advice for getting into the NFL. You're not going to land a big law job. The bright side is that you have 0 debt and a good education. You have plenty of opportunities. Don't be the guy pining after a pipe dream. Be the guy who realizes he's in a pretty good situation compared to the general public. Take advantage of it.

[MarkRenton]

Please help crush my fantasy so I can move on with my life or give me some advice as to what I should emphasize IF I were to land an interview.

Your situation is like a guy who got out of shape in college and didn't make the football team asking for advice for getting into the NFL. You're not going to land a big law job. The bright side is that you have 0 debt and a good education. You have plenty of opportunities. Don't be the guy pining after a pipe dream. Be the guy who realizes he's in a pretty good situation compared to the general public. Take advantage of it.

This. And honestly, like the poster above said, if you prioritized family and friends over law school, you'll hate biglaw. You mentioned that you didn't want the rat race, but this quality is only magnified in the firm. It's bill X many hours and do great work at hours when you don't want to be working, and do it better than your classmates, or you're out. So I hope to crush your fantasy because your odds of big law are zero but take some solace in the idea that you'd hate every second of it more than you could imagine.

[sparty99]

I don't know why people consistently post these scenarios. It is 3L year. You are below median and did not have a 2L Summer. You are not completely fucked with regards to Big Law, but you are right there. Like, 99% fucked. Why are you wasting your time and everyone elses, asking this question. By all means, apply to Big Law. There is that slim chance.....However, your best option is to apply to jobs that will look past your grades.

Additionally, most law students spend the first 2-3 years (at best) paying off their big debt. They don't even get to enjoy that money until year 3 or longer. Thus, you should be fortunate that you are graduating debt free. I, perhaps, would much rather be in that position then making $160,000 in NYC and staring at $200,000 non-dischargeable debt which I know some people to have.

[rad lulz]

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[oblitigate]

Op, go to bar associations & ish, & try to make some connections. Whether you're a personable person or not, learn how to be. Don't let your grade insecurities make you lose focus or eff up your confidence, and keep moving forward. If you utilize cle/bar association-esque events (bring resumes, but don't be a total kiss ass and/or seem desperate), you will likely get something eventually. It may not be six figs, but it may lead to those positions or more if you develop mad skills.

Maybe also publish a piece or two on a niche area of law to show that you're a good writer and/or interest. Good luck dude

[dead head]

To throw in some context, part of my crappy grades could also be attributed to my socioeconomic status.

srry dude no one gives a shit irl

Sure they do; it puts one at even more of a disadvantage.

[JCougar]

Your situation is like a guy who got out of shape in college and didn't make the football team asking for advice for getting into the NFL. You're not going to land a big law job.

Best advice so far.

OP, your chances of getting Biglaw at this point are zero. You need to start networking with the shitlaw firms in your home state and just cross your fingers that you can even be employed at all after you graduate.

[JCougar]

I don't know why people consistently post these scenarios. It is 3L year. You are below median and did not have a 2L Summer. You are not completely fucked with regards to Big Law, but you are right there. Like, 99% fucked. Why are you wasting your time and everyone elses, asking this question. By all means, apply to Big Law. There is that slim chance.....However, your best option is to apply to jobs that will look past your grades.

I actually don't even think there's a slim chance. OP has a 0% chance.

The only people I knew that managed to get Biglaw during 3L year were people in the top 10% that for whatever reason didn't click in any of their interviews, but had Biglaw grades nonetheless.

[oblitigate]

Your situation is like a guy who got out of shape in college and didn't make the football team asking for advice for getting into the NFL. You're not going to land a big law job.

Best advice so far.

OP, your chances of getting Biglaw at this point are zero. You need to start networking with the shitlaw firms in your home state and just cross your fingers that you can even be employed at all after you graduate.

Not exactly advice

[Kikero]

The advice is for OP to stop worrying about big law and focus on things that can actually happen.

Having no debt and a law degree is a position a lot of people would envy. OP can pursue a lot of options that are more difficult when you have to make monthly loan payments.