Chances of Landing Big Law position Forum

[abramsj7]

If someone is not accepted into a T-14, should they give up hopes of ever working for one of the big law firms? Sorry if this question has been posted already, I'm new to the site.

[dabbadon8]

If someone is not accepted into a T-14, should they give up hopes of ever working for one of the big law firms? Sorry if this question has been posted already, I'm new to the site.

This is generally passed out at orientations at non-t-14 schools from what I hear.

[abc12345675]

The key is to not get your hopes up or come in with expectations. It is POSSIBLE, but not probable. In fact its not even a guarantee at the lower end of the T14.

[dingbat]

In this economy, there are a number of non-T14 schools that place over 20% of their students in biglaw. It's just more of an uphill battle

If you get into Harvard, a Biglaw spot is yours to lose, while at any of the T14, median should get you plenty of interviews (at some schools, anything short of bottom 10% is good enough)
At, say, BU, on the other hand, realistically you've got to be in the top 1/3 of your class, while at some lower schools, like Brooklyn, we're talking maybe top 15%, which is bad, but not impossible.
It is school specific, and there are schools where not even being top 5% is enough, but T14 is not a requirement

[abramsj7]

If someone is not accepted into a T-14, should they give up hopes of ever working for one of the big law firms? Sorry if this question has been posted already, I'm new to the site.

This is generally passed out at orientations at non-t-14 schools from what I hear.

Lol thats unfortunate

[abramsj7]

In this economy, there are a number of non-T14 schools that place over 20% of their students in biglaw. It's just more of an uphill battle

If you get into Harvard, a Biglaw spot is yours to lose, while at any of the T14, median should get you plenty of interviews (at some schools, anything short of bottom 10% is good enough)
At, say, BU, on the other hand, realistically you've got to be in the top 1/3 of your class, while at some lower schools, like Brooklyn, we're talking maybe top 15%, which is bad, but not impossible.
It is school specific, and there are schools where not even being top 5% is enough, but T14 is not a requirement

Okay, that clears up a lot of confusion. So what schools would you suggest that are not necessarily T14, but if someone performed in the top 1/3 of their class, would have a decent shot at a big law firm?

[20130312]

In this economy, there are a number of non-T14 schools that place over 20% of their students in biglaw. It's just more of an uphill battle

If you get into Harvard, a Biglaw spot is yours to lose, while at any of the T14, median should get you plenty of interviews (at some schools, anything short of bottom 10% is good enough)
At, say, BU, on the other hand, realistically you've got to be in the top 1/3 of your class, while at some lower schools, like Brooklyn, we're talking maybe top 15%, which is bad, but not impossible.
It is school specific, and there are schools where not even being top 5% is enough, but T14 is not a requirement

Okay, that clears up a lot of confusion. So what schools would you suggest that are not necessarily T14, but if someone performed in the top 1/3 of their class, would have a decent shot at a big law firm?

GULC.

[NoodleyOne]

In this economy, there are a number of non-T14 schools that place over 20% of their students in biglaw. It's just more of an uphill battle

If you get into Harvard, a Biglaw spot is yours to lose, while at any of the T14, median should get you plenty of interviews (at some schools, anything short of bottom 10% is good enough)
At, say, BU, on the other hand, realistically you've got to be in the top 1/3 of your class, while at some lower schools, like Brooklyn, we're talking maybe top 15%, which is bad, but not impossible.
It is school specific, and there are schools where not even being top 5% is enough, but T14 is not a requirement

Okay, that clears up a lot of confusion. So what schools would you suggest that are not necessarily T14, but if someone performed in the top 1/3 of their class, would have a decent shot at a big law firm?

GULC.

[dingbat]

In this economy, there are a number of non-T14 schools that place over 20% of their students in biglaw. It's just more of an uphill battle

If you get into Harvard, a Biglaw spot is yours to lose, while at any of the T14, median should get you plenty of interviews (at some schools, anything short of bottom 10% is good enough)
At, say, BU, on the other hand, realistically you've got to be in the top 1/3 of your class, while at some lower schools, like Brooklyn, we're talking maybe top 15%, which is bad, but not impossible.
It is school specific, and there are schools where not even being top 5% is enough, but T14 is not a requirement

Okay, that clears up a lot of confusion. So what schools would you suggest that are not necessarily T14, but if someone performed in the top 1/3 of their class, would have a decent shot at a big law firm?

USC/UCLA
Vandy
UT
Fordham
BC/BU
GW

[20130312]

Almost forgot Cornell.

[abc12345675]

Minnesota if you count big firms in Minneapolis.

Emory.

I honestly think Tulane, as well.

[lawyerwannabe]

In this economy, there are a number of non-T14 schools that place over 20% of their students in biglaw. It's just more of an uphill battle

If you get into Harvard, a Biglaw spot is yours to lose, while at any of the T14, median should get you plenty of interviews (at some schools, anything short of bottom 10% is good enough)
At, say, BU, on the other hand, realistically you've got to be in the top 1/3 of your class, while at some lower schools, like Brooklyn, we're talking maybe top 15%, which is bad, but not impossible.
It is school specific, and there are schools where not even being top 5% is enough, but T14 is not a requirement

Okay, that clears up a lot of confusion. So what schools would you suggest that are not necessarily T14, but if someone performed in the top 1/3 of their class, would have a decent shot at a big law firm?

Define "decent shot" and "biglaw". Even assuming "biglaw" means NLJ250 and not V100, no school outside the T14 seems to place a third of their class into biglaw ITE.

[dingbat]

http://blogs.wsj.com/law/2012/06/20/law ... /comments/
http://www.law.com/jsp/nlj/PubArticleNL ... slreturn=1

[dingbat]

Define "decent shot" and "biglaw". Even assuming "biglaw" means NLJ250 and not V100, no school outside the T14 seems to place a third of their class into biglaw ITE.

In my opinion, a decent shot means getting an interview. For the schools I mentioned, top 1/3 is a reasonable cutoff for most of what is considered biglaw (V10 would obviously have stricter criteria)
From what I've learned, grades (and law review) are all that matter for getting an interview, but after that you're on your own (the mysterious "fit")

[BruceWayne]

USC/UCLA
Vandy
UT
maybe Fordham
BC/BU
GW

[dingbat]

USC/UCLA
Vandy
UT
maybe Fordham
BC/BU
GW

This year GW has been very scary.

I should have mentioned that all these schools are regional schools. How well they do from one year to the next is directly related to the economy of that legal market.

[admisionquestion]

OP

I think you should take a look at this:

http://www.law.com/jsp/nlj/PubArticleNL ... slreturn=1

it directly answers your question in full.

[abramsj7]

In this economy, there are a number of non-T14 schools that place over 20% of their students in biglaw. It's just more of an uphill battle

If you get into Harvard, a Biglaw spot is yours to lose, while at any of the T14, median should get you plenty of interviews (at some schools, anything short of bottom 10% is good enough)
At, say, BU, on the other hand, realistically you've got to be in the top 1/3 of your class, while at some lower schools, like Brooklyn, we're talking maybe top 15%, which is bad, but not impossible.
It is school specific, and there are schools where not even being top 5% is enough, but T14 is not a requirement

Okay, that clears up a lot of confusion. So what schools would you suggest that are not necessarily T14, but if someone performed in the top 1/3 of their class, would have a decent shot at a big law firm?

Define "decent shot" and "biglaw". Even assuming "biglaw" means NLJ250 and not V100, no school outside the T14 seems to place a third of their class into biglaw ITE.

When I say "decent shot" I mean that if someone were to be top 1/3 of their class and part of the Law Review for that school, would they have a realistic chance at landing employment in the NLJ250?

[abramsj7]

http://blogs.wsj.com/law/2012/06/20/law ... /comments/
http://www.law.com/jsp/nlj/PubArticleNL ... slreturn=1

Thanks! These pretty much summed up my entire question

[JusticeHarlan]

maybe Fordham
BC/BU

BC placed a higher percentage of its grads into NLJ250 jobs than Fordham did each of the past 4 years on record (2011, 2010, 2009, 2008), and BU did so in two out of four. And the numbers are close enough that it's clear these three are peer schools.

Are you being NYC centric, or do you not know what you're talking about?

To OP: don't go to any of these schools if you're biglaw or bust. Retaking the LSAT and aiming for a better placing school is a more realistic chance.

[BruceWayne]

maybe Fordham
BC/BU

BC placed a higher percentage of its grads into NLJ250 jobs than Fordham did each of the past 4 years on record (2011, 2010, 2009, 2008), and BU did so in two out of four. And the numbers are close enough that it's clear these three are peer schools.

Are you being NYC centric, or do you not know what you're talking about?

To OP: don't go to any of these schools if you're biglaw or bust. Retaking the LSAT and aiming for a better placing school is a more realistic chance.

BC/BU's advantage won't matter for you if you're not from Boston. Fordham's will even if you're not from NYC.

[rad lulz]

http://blogs.wsj.com/law/2012/06/20/law ... /comments/
http://www.law.com/jsp/nlj/PubArticleNL ... slreturn=1

Thanks! These pretty much summed up my entire question

Worthless without adding federal clerkships.

[dingbat]

http://blogs.wsj.com/law/2012/06/20/law ... /comments/
http://www.law.com/jsp/nlj/PubArticleNL ... slreturn=1

Thanks! These pretty much summed up my entire question

Worthless without adding federal clerkships.

Not worthless, but definitely more meaningful to include it. I'm on my cell phone, can someone please link in Rayiner's thread that shows this?

[AllTheLawz]

maybe Fordham
BC/BU

BC placed a higher percentage of its grads into NLJ250 jobs than Fordham did each of the past 4 years on record (2011, 2010, 2009, 2008), and BU did so in two out of four. And the numbers are close enough that it's clear these three are peer schools.

Are you being NYC centric, or do you not know what you're talking about?

To OP: don't go to any of these schools if you're biglaw or bust. Retaking the LSAT and aiming for a better placing school is a more realistic chance.

BC/BU's advantage won't matter for you if you're not from Boston. Fordham's will even if you're not from NYC.

This isn't really true. The key to Boston is understanding the practice areas that are there. Dont be an out of towner going to Boston firms talking about how much you want to be a killer litigator, project finance, or environmental lawyer (with a few firm exceptions). Boston is mostly a corporate/IP market and as long as you play up your interest there, and have good grades, you should perform fine even without lifelong ties.

[morally0bese]

Think you are referring to this post: http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 1&t=181415