Top Law Schools

Many people on TLS talk about the significance of law review, so I decided to start a thread about it. My question; How important is making law review? Is it pretty much essential for obtaining a clerkship? Are there any jobs that pretty much require law review?

Thanks in advance.

socraticmethodman wrote:Many people on TLS talk about the significance of law review, so I decided to start a thread about it. My question; How important is making law review? Is it pretty much essential for obtaining a clerkship? Are there any jobs that pretty much require law review?

Thanks in advance.

Depends on the school broham. Pretty much not essential at Yale unless you want SCOTUS or COA. Critical at most schools below the T-14.

It is ESSENTIAL for clerkships. The digital system that federal judges use for clerkships now allows them to screen all applicants simply by checking a box. Regardless of how qualified you are, your resume is unlikely to make it through to a human without it.

Important.

Surely you could have found this out by using the search function.

Depends on school rank. Below T14, Grades matter most between the top 10-20% ranks. At my T50, I would say that for getting non-clerkship positions, top 10% with secondary J. > top 20% with LR, by quite a big margin. Even if the latter is top 15%, I'd still take the former.

nigelfrost wrote:Important.

Surely you could have found this out by using the search function.

He could have found this out by using the search function. And don't call him Shirley.

socraticmethodman wrote:Many people on TLS talk about the significance of law review, so I decided to start a thread about it. My question; How important is making law review? Is it pretty much essential for obtaining a clerkship? Are there any jobs that pretty much require law review?

Thanks in advance.

It looks like you're going to be attending UVA.

Based on that, I have to say that you've posed a difficult question for a couple of reasons:

(1) Our LR has more grade on spots than write on spots. You're number one job in school is to get good grades. So, you should be trying to get good grades for the sake of good grades. If you get good enough grades (top 6% to 7%), you'll get LR.

(2) Even if you don't grade on to LR, it certainly has tremendous benefits. At any given grade range, employers will prefer LR member to non LR member.

(3) Plenty of people not on LR get district court clerkships at UVA; however, the vast majority of COA clerkships (and perhaps all this past year) were obtained by people on LR.

So, yes, LR is important, but it's also not something that you have very much control over. You should already be trying to get good grades and you should take the write-on tryout seriously. But, it certainly isn't the end of the world if you don't get it.

Cupidity wrote:It is ESSENTIAL for clerkships. The digital system that federal judges use for clerkships now allows them to screen all applicants simply by checking a box. Regardless of how qualified you are, your resume is unlikely to make it through to a human without it.

This is a huge exaggeration for the top schools, but probably true for lower ranked schools.

LR will open up a lot of options, no matter the school you're at.

Making Law Review at UVA is basically essential for circuit court clerkships, and thus, the opportunities that they can lead to (certain government positions, academia, appellate litigation practice, etc.), but it's certainly not necessary for "big law" jobs and district court clerkships. The nice thing about attending a top ten school is that you don't need to make Law Review to get an amazing job after graduation.

Important enough that after the 8.5 month rat race that is called "1L" I will start work the Monday after exams, and will start the write-on the same day.

I am so not looking forward to May.

Law review is the single most important activity you can do while in law school. With that said, it is only one activity, and a lack of law review won't end your chances.

As others have said, those in higher ranked schools can get clerkships without law review; however, even for them, law review can help with getting the more prestigious clerkships.


Law review is not a substitute for good grades, but in combination with good grades and internship experience, law review can make you stand out from the other applicants for any job.

It's good to have, but not essential. I personally ranked law review behind a 2nd journal. why? b/c it gave me the opportunity to work directly with people in the IP field and with students with a genuine interest in IP. it's all up to you, law review is overhyped IMO.

Law review is the third most important important variable, behind only the school you attend and your grades. Not being on LR will not close any doors outside of clerkships, but being on LR, by itself, can get you into the interview room with biglaw firms, federal government agencies, etc.