Winning at a Regional Law School
Posted: Fri Mar 20, 2015 12:44 am
Long time lurker wishing to give back. I am a 2L at law school ranked somewhere in the 20 to 40 range in a large secondary market that I chose over T14 and T20 law schools at sticker. I am on close to a full ride. I came here because I wanted to live in this market long term, but I had serious doubts my 1L year. I have lined up a SA position at a big law firm here , a district court clerkship in a flyover market not too far from here, and am getting to argue motions in court at the local prosecutor's office. I am probably somewhere in the top 10-15% of my class and that does make hustling easier. Grades matter, but here are a few things that have helped:
1. Pick your regional powerhouse wisely. Are you comfortable living in that market for your entire career? Expect 0 portability... Also, come to terms with the school's pecking order in the community. Hastings doesn't compete with Boalt or Stanford. Nor does Cardozo or Fordham with Columbia and NYU. Ask yourself if the regional school is the big dog in town. If it is, graduating towards the top of your class puts you in good shape for strong career outcomes.
2. Network like crazy. Create a hometown advantage for yourself. I go to every bar association event I can make. I don't really go to bar review or any self righteous on campus activity where people just get together and bitch on the plight of x group or y cause. If you don't like the idea of networking, you probably won't like building a book of business and you will hit a ceiling in a service profession. I landed my 1L paid position at a bar event, and the managing partner of my 2L firm loved the fact I go to the events for the organizations he belongs to. Get to know who matters in your legal community. This is the best advantage you have over someone who has a better school behind their name--you are local and one of the community. use this to your advantage. No you are not that awkward. Go to the events. Have a beer or some wine. And if you are aspie, figure out how to be really good at researching on westlaw or drafting so you can service someone else's clients. Friends with shitty grades (sub 3.0) who have done the same landed decent paying boutique firm jobs in the area as well.
3. Get good grades.
4. Negotiate your way up to a full ride. The only price worth going for is free or close to it. Use your full price offers from more prestigious schools as leverage.
5. Work part time your 2l and 3l years. I work 25 hours per week, and don't mind it. It actually keeps me sane as I despise law school and the general sense of entitlement students have about jobs, the lack of hustle, and complete break from reality that exists in my fishbowl of a school. Working teaches you how to practice, it builds a better resume than bs clubs or activities no one cares about. And as the top dog in town, you are a small firm's most desirable candidate. It gives you talking points for post grad hiring as well. You can use your earnings to finance COL and not take out loans (winning).
6. Don't be like me and beat yourself up for settling for a lesser law school for free. Laugh all the way to the bank. I will graduate with my savings intact.
7. A clerkship is possible if you figure out which faculty and administrators are important for going to bat for you. You need to be smart about who promotes you internally at the school. See number 3 though--this is the most important. Faculty can help you out with jobs in the area as well. Adjuncts can hire you as well.
8. Extern for class credit at local DA/USAO/PD offices. Many upper level classes teach you nothing useful (law and society, please). Getting to know local prosecutors (aka future judges) and others in the community builds your network out. Internal clinics may give you the same experience but not the network.
Happy to help in any way I can
1. Pick your regional powerhouse wisely. Are you comfortable living in that market for your entire career? Expect 0 portability... Also, come to terms with the school's pecking order in the community. Hastings doesn't compete with Boalt or Stanford. Nor does Cardozo or Fordham with Columbia and NYU. Ask yourself if the regional school is the big dog in town. If it is, graduating towards the top of your class puts you in good shape for strong career outcomes.
2. Network like crazy. Create a hometown advantage for yourself. I go to every bar association event I can make. I don't really go to bar review or any self righteous on campus activity where people just get together and bitch on the plight of x group or y cause. If you don't like the idea of networking, you probably won't like building a book of business and you will hit a ceiling in a service profession. I landed my 1L paid position at a bar event, and the managing partner of my 2L firm loved the fact I go to the events for the organizations he belongs to. Get to know who matters in your legal community. This is the best advantage you have over someone who has a better school behind their name--you are local and one of the community. use this to your advantage. No you are not that awkward. Go to the events. Have a beer or some wine. And if you are aspie, figure out how to be really good at researching on westlaw or drafting so you can service someone else's clients. Friends with shitty grades (sub 3.0) who have done the same landed decent paying boutique firm jobs in the area as well.
3. Get good grades.
4. Negotiate your way up to a full ride. The only price worth going for is free or close to it. Use your full price offers from more prestigious schools as leverage.
5. Work part time your 2l and 3l years. I work 25 hours per week, and don't mind it. It actually keeps me sane as I despise law school and the general sense of entitlement students have about jobs, the lack of hustle, and complete break from reality that exists in my fishbowl of a school. Working teaches you how to practice, it builds a better resume than bs clubs or activities no one cares about. And as the top dog in town, you are a small firm's most desirable candidate. It gives you talking points for post grad hiring as well. You can use your earnings to finance COL and not take out loans (winning).
6. Don't be like me and beat yourself up for settling for a lesser law school for free. Laugh all the way to the bank. I will graduate with my savings intact.
7. A clerkship is possible if you figure out which faculty and administrators are important for going to bat for you. You need to be smart about who promotes you internally at the school. See number 3 though--this is the most important. Faculty can help you out with jobs in the area as well. Adjuncts can hire you as well.
8. Extern for class credit at local DA/USAO/PD offices. Many upper level classes teach you nothing useful (law and society, please). Getting to know local prosecutors (aka future judges) and others in the community builds your network out. Internal clinics may give you the same experience but not the network.
Happy to help in any way I can
Still unsure if you know what bar review is.
