My goal with law school was big law. I graduated top 30% at a T50, are my chances at Big Law done?

I have mid-size firm offers, but it appears that significant big law hiring is done.

Does anyone have any suggestions for picking a firm that will get me there?

Any advice is greatly appreciated, thank you!

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Get a clerkship

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There is no “firm that will get you there” but if your goal is to get into biglaw then CRUSH it where you are to get the best training you can and build a reputation as someone who puts out quality work. After that, lateral. Happens all the time. Just pick a mid size firm with a strong reputation. Plenty of them out there.

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Fed clerkship would help if you want to litigate. Hiring has toned down. If you don’t want to litigate, taking a job at the best midsize firm that has ex-laterals TO biglaw would probably be your best best. And just wait a year or two and start applying. FWIW - biglaw ain’t all it’s cracked up to be, it’s really a money grab.

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^accurate advice. I went to my state school which I believe is *now* is ranked in the “top” 100 (lol). Worked a year at a local reputable shop, lateraled to Big Law.

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My goal was the same, and I didn’t get an offer. I went to midlaw and practiced M&A, ECVC, and general corporate for 18 months. I leveraged those skills and the market to join a market-paying BL firm.

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Tons of people from my graduating class (2019 and school now ranked between 20-30) who finished without honors have recently lateraled to large law firms which pay around market (maybe 10-15k less).

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Graduated mid-pack from T-75. Did trials at a small boutique. Now I’m biglaw. Focus on learning and getting good experience. Clerkships don’t hurt either (but I didn’t have one).

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I wouldn’t hold your breath, but you could always try your luck with informational interviews and see if anywhere may have an opening in their first year class. I had a handful. other classmates from c/o 2021 at a T30 land positions at biglaw firms in 3L year and right after graduation just by hustling

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Do you have any previous work experience?

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