below median at lower T1's
I've got finals in 2 weeks am I'm just now starting to study, if I end up below median after 1st semester, what should I do. Is it worth it to continue? No debt/looking for small/mid-sized firm job. Go to SMU. I'll be studying non-stop for the next 2 weeks and just by observing everyone else in my section I'm pretty confident I can get median/above median grades, but just in case.
What happens to people Forum
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xael
- Posts: 7548
- Joined: Tue Feb 24, 2015 5:18 pm
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ManoftheHour
- Posts: 3486
- Joined: Tue Jan 22, 2013 6:03 pm
Re: What happens to people
Identify a realistic area of practice you want to go into. Do clinics, internships. Take the right classes. Do whatever it takes to separate yourself from the pack. Also, network and haul ass. Shitty grades isn't the end of the world (especially if you have no debt and really want to be a lawyer and isn't big law or bust), but you cannot be passive.
EX: Let's say you want to do tax. Some realistic options: government tax agencies and Big 4...both of which hire your 3L year or post bar. Great. You identified some potential employers that well...hire. What can you do to to make yourself a prime candidate? Start taking tax classes, do tax internships throughout your 2L and 3L year. Do Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program. Stuff like that. This way, when these employers look at your resume, it's going to scream tax rather than you just looking like another 3L applying cuz you don't have a job.
I know some people that landed jobs at labor and employment firms mostly by virtue of showing genuine interest. These people went all out and took those courses, did internships/clinics throughout the year.
Also, go talk to some people in those fields. Do mock interviews.
Anyway, this is WAY too early to be worrying about this. Even if you bomb this semester, still have 2nd semester to pull your grades up. Just work hard and hope for the best.
Also, you have no way of knowing if you're going to end up above median/median/below. Seriously. I was shocked to see some people at OCI and shocked to see some people who I thought would do well that weren't invited for screeners at all. You do you, and hope the chips fall in the right places.
EX: Let's say you want to do tax. Some realistic options: government tax agencies and Big 4...both of which hire your 3L year or post bar. Great. You identified some potential employers that well...hire. What can you do to to make yourself a prime candidate? Start taking tax classes, do tax internships throughout your 2L and 3L year. Do Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program. Stuff like that. This way, when these employers look at your resume, it's going to scream tax rather than you just looking like another 3L applying cuz you don't have a job.
I know some people that landed jobs at labor and employment firms mostly by virtue of showing genuine interest. These people went all out and took those courses, did internships/clinics throughout the year.
Also, go talk to some people in those fields. Do mock interviews.
Anyway, this is WAY too early to be worrying about this. Even if you bomb this semester, still have 2nd semester to pull your grades up. Just work hard and hope for the best.
Also, you have no way of knowing if you're going to end up above median/median/below. Seriously. I was shocked to see some people at OCI and shocked to see some people who I thought would do well that weren't invited for screeners at all. You do you, and hope the chips fall in the right places.
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kalvano
- Posts: 11951
- Joined: Mon Sep 07, 2009 2:24 am
Re: What happens to people
If you'll have no debt and don't want a large firm, you'll do alright from SMU in the Dallas area.
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