26 Feb, 2007
Good Times for 2Ls(?)
This Wall Street Journal Law Blog post discusses how great it is to be a 2L in law school right now. Indeed, big law firm salaries for starting associates are rising and it appears that most firms are hiring more associates than ever. Combine that with the drop in law school applicants from two years and a year ago and things are looking good for a lot of 2Ls.
But I think the most interesting part of the post is the comments. A few students from second-tier schools are pointing out that they don't have a lot of opportunities.
I think that's the hardest part that I have seen at a second tier law school. The divide between the top 15% or so of students and the rest of the class is pretty obvious. Most outside of the top 15% are completely shut out of even interviewing with even one big firm during on campus interviews. Firms are very picky about how deep into the class that they are willing to reach at second tier schools.
So while law review students at average schools and even low to middle of the pack students at elite schools may have offers rolling in from OCI, everyone else is left to find a job on their own. A job that is probably not going to pay close to six figures.
Would a more accurate post title be "Good Times for 2Ls at Elite Schools and/or 2Ls at the Top of Their Class?" In my limited experience, yes. But that is a rather long title.
I think many of those comments by the shut-out 2Ls are indicative of the frustration many 2Ls at non-elite schools feel when they know several people, probably a few who are friends, who are will start out with a six-figure salaries while the ones without those opportunities may not even get an interview for that type of job.
But if you're going to a non-elite law school, you just have to understand that this is the way it is. And you need to know that before you make a decision to attend a second-tier law school. There is a good chance you will not have a $100,000/year salary waiting at the tail end of law school. There will still be other opportunities. The fact that more people, overall, have opportunities with big firms means that there is less competition for the non-big firm jobs.
Just understand that law school at a non-elite school is not a ticket to an automatic six-figure salary. Also know that you may have to watch on as your classmates and peers from other more highly-regarded schools will have those type of opportunities while you look on and have none.