Top Law Schools

I don't know what kind of response I'll get to this, but here goes nothing.

Background: Prestigious undergrad, worked at a name-brand firm prior to law school, rising 3L at a top 25 law school, member of Law Review (wrote-on), just above median GPA.

I have a paid position currently with a federal agency in the practice area that I am interested in. However, it is extremely unlikely that the agency will hire any recently graduated attorneys due to the specialized work of the office.

I am thinking about post graduation plans and don't know where I should be looking...I'll owe $12,000 in student debt (undergrad and law school combined) at graduation due to generous scholarships and am not tied down by a significant other. I know firms don't hire rising 3Ls, plus I don't have the grades for a firm. I would love to do federal work, but know that my GPA isn't good enough for any of the honors program. I'm willing to relocate for a position. What steps and career paths would people suggest?

Wanderlust89 wrote:I don't know what kind of response I'll get to this, but here goes nothing.

Background: Prestigious undergrad, worked at a name-brand firm prior to law school, rising 3L at a top 25 law school, member of Law Review (wrote-on), just above median GPA.

I have a paid position currently with a federal agency in the practice area that I am interested in. However, it is extremely unlikely that the agency will hire any recently graduated attorneys due to the specialized work of the office.

I am thinking about post graduation plans and don't know where I should be looking...I'll owe $12,000 in student debt (undergrad and law school combined) at graduation due to generous scholarships and am not tied down by a significant other. I know firms don't hire rising 3Ls, plus I don't have the grades for a firm. I would love to do federal work, but know that my GPA isn't good enough for any of the honors program. I'm willing to relocate for a position. What steps and career paths would people suggest?

Steps.

1) Send a resume and cover letter out to the firms in any city you have any ties to, no matter the strength
2) stop selling yourself short: law review, decent undergrad and prior WE + some federal gov internship experience with a median gpa at a T25 is by no means biglaw secure, but you're definitely better off than many other applicants.

idk about how you'd secure a gov't position tho

you know that "firms" refers to like all law firms, whereas, the hiring practices you're describing refer to a small sector of the legal industry called "biglaw firms." since you have like no debt, you can take the bar and then go to a city where you want to live and just find a job at a firm that isn't tied to the OCI thang. since i'm thinking you go to notre dame, iowa, or alabama, and you seem to like government stuff, I'd pick D.C. I think.

1) Go where you can get great lit experience, regardless of the area.
2) Work a few years.
3) Apply to the fed job(s) of your choice.
4) Be persistent.
3) Get fed through lateral hire.

I'd have to think the VAST majority of fed is lateral. And yeah, don't sell yourself short. You're better off than many others.