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Near the bottom of my class at a T14 (think MVP). Do I have any shot whatsoever at a 2L SA in NYC big law? I interview pretty well, am URM, and have ~5 years of law firm work experience. Can these factors overcome the bad grades?

Anonymous User wrote:Near the bottom of my class at a T14 (think MVP). Do I have any shot whatsoever at a 2L SA in NYC big law? I interview pretty well, am URM, and have ~5 years of law firm work experience. Can these factors overcome the bad grades?

Yes, MM everyone and hustle like crazy. Practice interviewing. Leverage your URM status/UG/WE/anything else you can think of to get in front of people who might be able to get your foot in the door. There are great networking and MM guides at the top of the forum, read and abide.

Caveat: just because it's possible doesn't mean you should bank on it. Apply everywhere.

I was bottom of my class in a T6, URM, with 3 years of work experience (though in finance), and converted 9/23 screeners into call backs and had multiple offers.

Note: I MM like 50+ firms but didn't get even one interview through that. You should still do it for peace of mind.

If your career services is any good, they will be able to help you construct a bid list that will maximize your chances at getting an offer. If they aren't, make a bid list and submit it to your school's OCI thread for feedback from people who have done this before.

What GPA?

URM's typically do very well. You have a decent chance.

OP here - thanks all. GPA is 2.95 (it hurts to even write). Should I add anything in my cover letters about my performance (was going through a major health crisis) or just try to focus on the positive/what I can contribute to the firm?

Anonymous User wrote:OP here - thanks all. GPA is 2.95 (it hurts to even write). Should I add anything in my cover letters about my performance (was going through a major health crisis) or just try to focus on the positive/what I can contribute to the firm?

Did you have to leave school for a period of time that shows up on your transcript?
Even with that, probably the latter.

Its possible, but not guaranteed. Below 3.0 will be difficult for most firms to stomach. Prepare an extremely conservative bidlist that includes especially firms with connections to the URM affinity groups at your school (those that donate to BLSA, for example) and mass mail the NLJ250, not just the V100

I posted this in another thread. Might give you some perspective even though you're at a better school.