Top Law Schools

I've been seeing a lot of job postings including the words "top law school" with no reference to T50, T20, or T14. What does the term "top law school" mean in job postings? Is there a generally accepted definition for which law schools are included in that umbrella term or is it different based on the firm/organization?

T14

What kinds of jobs?

It varies a ton based on the job and market. In my market, jobs that require "top law schools" have tons of people with good grades from a T2. Anecdotally, I know an HYS grad whose former boss wouldn't interview people from the lower T14. Even for the same job, the standard can be different for someone two years out and someone 10 years out.

Apply first, ask questions later

Just make sure you apply and don't worry about it

Surely any Tier 1 or flagship state school in a market with no T14 would be recognized by the job posters as a "top law school" -- especially if there are other TT, TTT, TTTT or unaccredited schools around to compare it to.

Right?

Well, maybe not.

Ya nevah know. Once I thought I knew but I didn't, cuz ya nevah know.

KMart wrote:T14

No. Unless we're talking NYC or DC, the term top law school is never restricted to just the T14. No one keeps up with the USNWR rankings anyway. Of course, there are some boutiques that mean better than just T14 as well, and there are individual partners on the east coast that will only consider Harvard and Yale (and probably some in the west with Harvard and Stanford). It will always include good regionals as well (UCLA and USC for Cal, Emory and Vandy for the South).Depending on the market, it can go quite a ways down the rankings. In my home state, there's a school ranked as a top TTT, and it is considered one of the best.

OP, just apply to all those jobs. Worst they can do is say no.

KissMyAxe wrote:

KMart wrote:T14

No. Unless we're talking NYC or DC, the term top law school is never restricted to just the T14. No one keeps up with the USNWR rankings anyway. Of course, there are some boutiques that mean better than just T14 as well, and there are individual partners on the east coast that will only consider Harvard and Yale (and probably some in the west with Harvard and Stanford). It will always include good regionals as well (UCLA and USC for Cal, Emory and Vandy for the South).Depending on the market, it can go quite a ways down the rankings. In my home state, there's a school ranked as a top TTT, and it is considered one of the best.

OP, just apply to all those jobs. Worst they can do is say no.

there aren't individual partners who will only consider two schools, that's not how hiring works. there are judges that only hire from 5-6 schools but that's about as close as it comes.

I would agree that top school is somewhat regionally dependent, and if a job posting says top school in minneapolis or chicago that's different from southern california. I would read it as T14 + whatever the local flagship and strong regional school would be.