yes, where you go to law school matters.

Comments · 410

• CE

  @CeceXie · 4 years ago · pinned

  addendum regarding biglaw placements from lower tier law schools (with input from a friend):<br><br>geography also matters for biglaw when you’re top of your class at a lower tier law school. your best bet for biglaw placement is always through OCI (on-campus interviews), and fewer biglaw firms send attorneys to OCI at lower tier law schools than the T14. (usually, it&apos;s partners who themselves went to the lower tier law schools and continue to advocate for recruiting from their alma mater.) biglaw firms that don&apos;t participate in OCI are open to receiving resumes from students at lower tier law schools, but they only really look at them if they end up having more space in their summer class than anticipated. (a friend got a call from skadden to interview in ~mid-september for their summer program, which is way after OCI occurs.) so even if you&apos;re top of your class at a lower tier law school in the midwest, NYC biglaw is likely not participating in OCI, which disadvantages you and means that you&apos;re banking on the likelihood of some NYC biglaw firms having extra space in their summer program and digging your resume out of their pile.

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• CH

  @Changeiscoming47 · 2 years ago

  As a 20 year practicing attorney this is the most important thing: where do you ultimately want to live? Most of us aren’t going to Harvard or Yale. Select the best school you can get into in the state you want to live.

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• AM

  @amateuroverlord8007 · 4 years ago

  My perspective. I went to FSU Law. It’s middle tier, but respected in Florida. I had no “prestige points” my first job was at the public defenders office. Loved it got a lot of trial experience but couldn’t live the life I wanted on $50k. Moved to private practice and hated my firm so much. I was depressed driving to work everyday and wish I never went to law school. Then moved to a mid tear firm, not big law but still making six figures. I love my job, and am happy I went to law school. I say that to say if big law isn’t your goal, your career path isn’t linear. If you like law and want to be a lawyer go to law school, make your own path.

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• HT

  @Htt09783 · 1 year ago

  So here I am….years later. Not sure why. I think because I am a retired lawyer….and I kinda miss it…but not enough to screw up my tail coverage. Anyway, I went to law school in 1980. Very modest gpa…but killer LSAT so had a few offers. I chose U. &nbsp;of Florida because I was given instate tuition (I had been living in Europe). Anyway, I think where you go to law school only matters to 10% or less of would be lawyers. My tuition was $21 per semester hour or $630 for a year (books not included). I wanted to do trial work. Almost any law school would have sufficed. Unless you have designs on big law, go where it is cheaper and enjoy life more. Anyway, thanks for the content. Oh yes, I tried lawsuits beginning 3 months as a lawyer through 41 years as a lawyer. So it worked.

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• MO

  @Mossystones5 · 8 months ago

  My uncle went to wvu law school, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/111">#111</a> in the country. He now is the CEO of encova insurance. He makes more than 90% Harvard graduates his age. So yes it does matter for the fist 3 years. You can go to the university of Kentucky and make more than someone who went to Michigan or UVA 5 years down the road.

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• MU

  @musabgunes1428 · 3 years ago

  “Law is an insiders’ industry” well said 👌👌👌

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• CO

  @coronasummerclassic · 4 years ago

  i never comment on stuff but i wanted to let you know that your advice is so on-point it&apos;s ridiculous. usually people say bs that you can find on admission pages or whatever but you dish out the real info and have a real understanding of the landscape.

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• WA

  @WaweruN.Gatimu · 1 year ago

  My sister went to NYU law school at the time #4 in the country. Yes it matters where you go to graduate school especially MBA and JD programs

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• DI

  @diesel761 · 1 year ago (edited)

  It really only matters if 1. You want to go to a big law firm in a metro area. 2. You let it matter. 3. If you are at the wrong fit for you. (Harvard, Stanford etc are top tier schools but if they aren’t a personal fit then you likely won’t be successful.) <br><br>Every single law school is named after someone for a reason. It means that at least one person that went there didn’t let their school define them and their greatness shined regardless. <br><br>After your first job your networking and performance is your vehicle at that point more so that what paper you have framed<br><br>However thank you for the video. Good content

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• TE

  @Teleodynamics · 4 years ago

  “But I’m not in charge… yet.” Love it!!! We need your powerful voice in redirecting legal culture in general 🔮💥

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• AL

  @alvertosb.p.9424 · 2 years ago

  Such a good communicator: You are clear, concise, and knowledgeable.

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• NI

  @nightstar827 · 4 years ago

  Ultimately prestige does not equate to actual success in the long term of your legal career. It is always going to be about how hard you choose to work towards your goals. I graduated Michigan State University College of Law cum laude in 2015 after already working in another career field for 3 years after undergrad. I picked this school because I absolutely did not want to take on tuition debt and draining my savings. During law school I interned for a local legal aid in Champaign IL, the law school immigration clinic, DOJ EOIR in Detroit, and DHS OPLA in Chicago. I did the Jessup Moot Court but did not do law review or anything else. I worked hard at all my internships and I had great mentors. None of my internships were paid but the connections I made in the federal government with my mentors were crucial to my understanding of a legal career in the federal government. I worked in private in Chicago for less than a year after law school and hated it because there is no life work balance no matter the pay. I started working for DHS in Seattle in 2016 and since then I have litigated fraud, national security, gang, and human rights cases. After moving to the DMV region I was promoted to a two year detail position as general counsel for Homeland Security Investigations in the entire DMV region. The federal government agencies each have its own legal divisions and acts like large law firms with subject matter expertise in all kinds of legal matters. The federal agencies&apos; legal departments have some of the best working environments for young families. I don&apos;t foresee myself quitting this career path anytime in the future because the pay is great (capping at Gs15 step 10 in many agencies and adjusted for locality), work life balance is great, and I still love what I am learning everyday. I strongly encourage anyone reading to consider a career with the federal government even if you haven&apos;t attended a prestigious school. You have so many options as long as you work hard towards your goal.

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