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I know grades are crucial for getting big law positions, but what about other firms? I've heard some folks suggest that they almost don't matter at all; that firms just care about your "story." I have a hard time believing that, though. Do the firm reach lower in the class as they get smaller in size?

Mid, no. Small, it depends. Depends on what school you go to, how late the firm is to interviewing, and what exactly they do. Boutique firms, from my experience, still almost require top of the class. For your 1L summer, grades are pretty much everything when it comes to law firms unless you have connections. If you have connections, anything is possible. Don't stress yourself out now though. Focus on school. If you don't come out on top, you still have tools you can use to get something. Your main goal for 1L summer should be to simply get experience. If you don't get a firm job, then go PI, work on grades, and then you can come back 2L summer in a much better position to get a firm job.

thisismyname wrote:Mid, no. Small, it depends. Depends on what school you go to, how late the firm is to interviewing, and what exactly they do. Boutique firms, from my experience, still almost require top of the class. For your 1L summer, grades are pretty much everything when it comes to law firms unless you have connections. If you have connections, anything is possible. Don't stress yourself out now though. Focus on school. If you don't come out on top, you still have tools you can use to get something. Your main goal for 1L summer should be to simply get experience. If you don't get a firm job, then go PI, work on grades, and then you can come back 2L summer in a much better position to get a firm job.

I generally agree with the above, though I think I can offer some perspective as a 2L currently working in midlaw. The tough thing about midlaw is that you need both grades and luck. At least from what I've seen, midlaw firms reach deeper into the class so much as they hire top students at less selective schools. Since these firms don't have the same capacity as biglaw to make commitments to associates well ahead of time, hiring getting a job in midlaw tends to be something that people stumble into. It was for me as well as the couple other students I know that work in midlaw.

The other thing to remember is that some midlaw firms don't really hire out of law school. These firms prefer lateral hiring, as it gives them associates and partners that are already trained and can bring in business. That takes a lot off the table as far as midlaw is concerned.

Since I don't have any experience in the area, I can't really speak to small law, though I have a feeling a lot of it is luck-driven. Feel free to shoot me a PM if you have questions about midlaw.

What is a midlaw