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lawschool..amiright?

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Rankings...

Post by lawschool..amiright? » Fri Jan 10, 2014 7:13 pm

Ok. I probably already know the answer to both of these questions, but after a semester in law school I've decided that it's never a bad idea to still ask.

Rankings just came out. I have a 3.26 and a class ranking in the top 25% for my first semester of law school. First, what is a good competitive transfer ranking? I'm sure it's not 25%, but I was just curious. Second, if a specific law firm advertises that it prefers top 20%, 15%, etc. Is it even worth applying to these firms for a summer internship? I've talked to my CSO about all this, I'd just like some TLS knowledge and experience.

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brotherdarkness

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Re: Rankings...

Post by brotherdarkness » Fri Jan 10, 2014 7:15 pm

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Last edited by brotherdarkness on Sat Jun 28, 2014 1:28 pm, edited 1 time in total.

lawschool..amiright?

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Re: Rankings...

Post by lawschool..amiright? » Fri Jan 10, 2014 7:20 pm

brotherdarkness wrote:
First, what is a good competitive transfer ranking?
Depends entirely upon what school you're coming from and what school you're aiming for.
T50 to a T20

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thesealocust

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Re: Rankings...

Post by thesealocust » Fri Jan 10, 2014 7:29 pm


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buckythebadger

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Re: Rankings...

Post by buckythebadger » Sat Jan 11, 2014 1:21 am

lawschool..amiright? wrote: T50 to a T20
You would need to get into the top 20% to have a fighting chance at the t14, top 15% for a reasonable shot. I just don't see the point in transferring to a school like Minnesota from another T1, unless your gunning for Minneapolis job. Even then your paying sticker at a non-t14 school for 2 years, which is never a safe bet. The marginal prestige bump is not worth the extra cost.

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OneMoreLawHopeful

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Re: Rankings...

Post by OneMoreLawHopeful » Sat Jan 11, 2014 3:16 am

This seems like crap advice in this situation because the OP is in the top 25%, at a T50 (I.e. not TJSL/Cooley/etc.), and has said nothing about disliking law school and/or no longer wanting to be a lawyer.

From where the OP is now, there's a fair shot at transfer, or for top 10% -> biglaw with a small grade improvement in the second semester. The difference between top 25% and top 10% for 1Ls can come down to a single grade, so the OP is not out of the running, and at most T50 schools you can get regional biglaw with top 10% grades.

There are people for whom "drop out" is the clear choice, but the OP hardly seems like one of them.

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Re: Rankings...

Post by micwrecka45 » Tue Jan 14, 2014 11:07 am

OR ... Apply as a transfer. Get into higher ranked school. Threaten to transfer. Get scholarship or more scholarship at your current school. Profit.

Transferring to a t20 if you have to pay sticker or close to it is not a good idea. At a T50 you'd need to better than top 15%, most likely top 10% to have a good shot to transfer to a t14.

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jbagelboy

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Re: Rankings...

Post by jbagelboy » Wed Jan 15, 2014 6:02 am

Damn thats a low-ass curve. 3.26 at top 25%? Do you have closer to B medians?

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guano

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Re: Rankings...

Post by guano » Wed Jan 15, 2014 8:50 am

jbagelboy wrote:Damn thats a low-ass curve. 3.26 at top 25%? Do you have closer to B medians?
The shittier the school, the lower the median

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BaiAilian2013

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Re: Rankings...

Post by BaiAilian2013 » Wed Jan 15, 2014 8:59 am

lawschool..amiright? wrote:Second, if a specific law firm advertises that it prefers top 20%, 15%, etc. Is it even worth applying to these firms for a summer internship?
Absolutely. Don't take that shit seriously.

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Black Hat

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Re: Rankings...

Post by Black Hat » Mon Jan 20, 2014 2:41 am

!
Last edited by Black Hat on Thu Jan 23, 2014 5:01 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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thesealocust

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Re: Rankings...

Post by thesealocust » Mon Jan 20, 2014 2:59 am

Black Hat wrote:
lawschool..amiright? wrote:Ok. I probably already know the answer to both of these questions, but after a semester in law school I've decided that it's never a bad idea to still ask.

Rankings just came out. I have a 3.26 and a class ranking in the top 25% for my first semester of law school.

I didn't realize that this GPA could put you in the top 25%. Our class ranks haven't been released yet, I have a 3.25 however. I was hoping for at least top half. So I have been worried that I wasn't there! This makes me feel a little better though!
Uh, it depends entirely on the school. There's a rough correlation between school and median, so at a T10 school a 3.25 might be below median while it's near the top of the class at a third tier school.

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Black Hat

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Re: Rankings...

Post by Black Hat » Mon Jan 20, 2014 3:12 am

lol
Last edited by Black Hat on Thu Jan 23, 2014 5:01 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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FKASunny

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Re: Rankings...

Post by FKASunny » Wed Jan 22, 2014 12:12 pm

Black Hat wrote:
thesealocust wrote:
Black Hat wrote:
lawschool..amiright? wrote:Ok. I probably already know the answer to both of these questions, but after a semester in law school I've decided that it's never a bad idea to still ask.

Rankings just came out. I have a 3.26 and a class ranking in the top 25% for my first semester of law school.

I didn't realize that this GPA could put you in the top 25%. Our class ranks haven't been released yet, I have a 3.25 however. I was hoping for at least top half. So I have been worried that I wasn't there! This makes me feel a little better though!
Uh, it depends entirely on the school. There's a rough correlation between school and median, so at a T10 school a 3.25 might be below median while it's near the top of the class at a third tier school.

I understand that. But it still made me feel better. lol
You could just tell me where you go and I can calculate the rank for you based on historical data :D

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Black Hat

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Re: Rankings...

Post by Black Hat » Wed Jan 22, 2014 1:18 pm

.
Last edited by Black Hat on Thu Jan 23, 2014 5:01 pm, edited 1 time in total.

shock259

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Re: Rankings...

Post by shock259 » Wed Jan 22, 2014 1:28 pm

T50 to T20 is probably not a good transfer choice. Not enough improved employment prospects to justify the costs of transferring ($$, loss of 1L contacts, wiped 1L GPA, etc). Just because the school is ranked 30 spots higher doesn't mean you are more likely to get a job there if you transfer.

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Bikeflip

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Re: Rankings...

Post by Bikeflip » Wed Jan 22, 2014 2:02 pm

shock259 wrote:T50 to T20 is probably not a good transfer choice. Not enough improved employment prospects to justify the costs of transferring ($$, loss of 1L contacts, wiped 1L GPA, etc). Just because the school is ranked 30 spots higher doesn't mean you are more likely to get a job there if you transfer.

Agreed. The only reason to go T50 to T20 is because the T20 is in the OP's target market. Even then, that's a crap reason once the extra debt is factored in. Doing either a semester in practice in the target market or doing a visiting semester/year at the T20 are far better options.

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mr.hands

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Re: Rankings...

Post by mr.hands » Thu Jan 23, 2014 1:27 am

Black Hat wrote:
thesealocust wrote:
Black Hat wrote:
lawschool..amiright? wrote:Ok. I probably already know the answer to both of these questions, but after a semester in law school I've decided that it's never a bad idea to still ask.

Rankings just came out. I have a 3.26 and a class ranking in the top 25% for my first semester of law school.

I didn't realize that this GPA could put you in the top 25%. Our class ranks haven't been released yet, I have a 3.25 however. I was hoping for at least top half. So I have been worried that I wasn't there! This makes me feel a little better though!
Uh, it depends entirely on the school. There's a rough correlation between school and median, so at a T10 school a 3.25 might be below median while it's near the top of the class at a third tier school.

I understand that. But it still made me feel better. lol

Given that it could be the difference between bottom third and top third, i don't know that you do. That's easily the difference between getting a job and being unemployed...

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Black Hat

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Re: Rankings...

Post by Black Hat » Thu Jan 23, 2014 7:39 am

.
Last edited by Black Hat on Thu Jan 23, 2014 5:02 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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FKASunny

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Re: Rankings...

Post by FKASunny » Thu Jan 23, 2014 8:26 am

Black Hat wrote:
mr.hands wrote:
Given that it could be the difference between bottom third and top third, i don't know that you do. That's easily the difference between getting a job and being unemployed...

You are stating an obvious fact unrelated to the conversation and then boldly declaring that I don't understand. Clearly sir, it is YOU that does not understand.
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