Top Law Schools

How does below median at UChicago fare in the job market? Prestigious PI, Clerkships etc? Not too interested in BL.

Just got 1L fall grades back.. top 60%. at least we are on the quarter system so some room to improve.

You have tons of room to improve. All options are still on the table. It's like 15% of your 1L grades or something. Just keep grinding.

To answer more directly, I know people who got clerkships from everywhere in my class. Better grades make life easier, however. No idea about PI. It seems like everybody who wanted PI something-or-the-other got it because it's about commitment to whatever cause (outside of like the top, top fellowships which can be akin to clerkships). Again, grades help.

Well, I feel like an idiot. Top 51% after doing the proper math..I guess that's treated basically as median.

You’re likely out of luck for highly selective clerkships, but most students are. You’ll be fine, but you should work to pick up your grades esp if you want to clerk, as the previous poster said grades always help.

I guess I'm a classmate of yours here. 175 average with three courses. How f'd am I??

With the new curriculum, it's more like 25% of your 1L grades, but not a bad spot to be in. Work hard the next two quarters if you're looking to go into Chicago or a similarly competitive market (and, of course, for clerking). Was about where you are last year, worked harder, and now have a nice 179+ with a biglaw gig in my preferred market. Warm up to NYC just in case.

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 21, 2022 8:09 pm

I guess I'm a classmate of yours here. 175 average with three courses. How f'd am I??

Do you want BL?

Don't want to rule it out. is a 175 out of the running? Confident I can get my average up to 176-177 by end of the year. As OP said- two more quarters for us this year.

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 21, 2022 10:03 pm

Don't want to rule it out. is a 175 out of the running? Confident I can get my average up to 176-177 by end of the year. As OP said- two more quarters for us this year.

175 is tough. 176.5+ is doable, but make sure you hit New York and are corporate.

Thanks. So any other market besides NYC is out? No Lit?

What do people who graduate with 175 do ? Obviously it happens

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 21, 2022 10:39 pm

Thanks. So any other market besides NYC is out? No Lit?

What do people who graduate with 175 do ? Obviously it happens

If you have exceptional softs, anything could happen. Lit is going to be harder in general and as risk adverse person I’d be more comfortable in the 178 range.

Realistically, not many people graduate with a 175 and those are usually the people who strike out. Keep on studying and if you’re not in the 177 range after two more quarters, hustle.

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 21, 2022 6:52 pm

Well, I feel like an idiot. Top 51% after doing the proper math..I guess that's treated basically as median.

What math did you do to determine you’re top 51%? There’s no way you can be nearly this precise. I’m assuming you have like a 176.9? Get over median and you’ll be more than fine. Only a handful of kids in the whole class won’t get big law

Anybody have a clue what the class median actually is? I assume it’s a bit higher than 177?

Ended with a 177.73 average. Curious what my options would be if I stayed around this number. Any v10 forms still in play? Should I expect NYC, or can I get into more competitive markets like Chicago or LA? Shooting for corporate, transactional practice groups (probably M&A)

Any success stories of people around median first quarter that ended top ~30ish%?

Ended up with an average of 177.73. Anyone have an idea of where I stand? I assume median for the class is somewhat above a 177.

What are my prospects if my grades remain around here? Are any V10 firms still on the table? Should I target NYC, or do I have a shot at some more competitive markets like Chicago or LA (no ties to either other than going to school in Chicago). Aiming for a corporate transactional practice group (probably M&A).

How common is it for someone to go from medianish to top ~30ish%? Any success stories?