bear patrol wrote:as far as i can gather from this site, 1L OCI and big firm jobs are not the common option at many schools, even those much higher than unc in us news rankings
2L OCI is definitely where the job finding takes place. there are about 2-3 weeks where several big firms (don't have exact numbers but i'll try to pull those up for you once exams are done) come to campus. also a few weeks dedicated to non biglaw and more PI focused.
UNC also participates in a few off campus interview programs: nyc, dc, texas (UNC, w&L, w&m, and wake), and a few other minority fairs that are open to many schools. there is also the IP fair at loyola that i know some people attend.
the job bank also has a smattering of biglaw firms that don't come to campus. these firms can range from local small firms to some big nyc firms to secondary market firms. anecdotally, i had some success w/ the job bank by just casting a wide net.
personally, i was a little better than median after first year but thanks to some luck (can never be underestimated) and hustle (used the advice in this thread so much:
http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 23&t=87297), i had multiple biglaw offers and lucky enough to go to a V100 market-paying firm this summer. feel free to PM for any additional details or specifics.
exams: i got upperclassmen outlines, used supplements when i thought they would help, and made flash cards. i know this sounds like terrible canned advice, but i think you have to find what works best for you through some trial and error. that being said, there are several guides on this site (
http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 3&t=123092) and i think it would be worth it to go through a few to gather common techniques and think about how you learn. obviously, i was not at the top of the class but getting around median is where most people tend to end up.
going to unc for biglaw is for sure a risky move, given that 4 out of 5 do not end up with those positions. also, i think the numbers for >145k jobs shrinks to something like 5 or 6%, which is definitely something to consider given debt load and ability to repay.
for 1L class sizes: there are 3 colleges with 80 students in each. within each 80-student section, there are 3 small sections of 25-30 students for 1L fall semester. for the people in your small section, you will go to every class with them 1L year. i thought the class sizes and small sections were a pretty solid way to meet other people and get to know classmates.
edit: clarity
