The real lesson for the prospective students is if you screw up your first year, your chances of finding a top paying job drops significantly. The 1st year is the most important. The 2nd year is semi-important. By the 3rd year it's pretty obvious who already had jobs, who were probably never going to get a job (other than solo practice or tiny firm), and those who still had a chance with a medium size firm depending on how they did their final few semesters.
How important is the school you attend? For example, between a middle-of-the-road UT grad and a top notch SOuth Texas grad, who gets the better job? I know that with B-School, the school is everything. On the flip side, with med school, the school means nothing.
From what I hear, when speaking about big firm jobs, if you're in the top half at Texas you're golden. You need to be in at least the top quarter at UHLC, and top 5 percent at STCL, roughly. So yeah, schools matter. I don't think they matter as much as with MBAs, but it definately matters, especially for the first job. But again, that's just what I hear. Perhaps others have heard otherwise. I hear South Texas grads take care of each other, and Lord knows they're all over Houston.
I seriously doubt a big firm would hire a 50% grad from UT. My personal opinion is: If you graduate within the top 10% from UT, UH, SMU, Baylor, Texas Tech - you have a great shot at landing a big firm job in Texas- especially if youve been on law review or at least Journal. If you graduate between 10-25%, a UT law degree would serve you slightly better. 10-25% you have a mediocre to good shot (landing in a big firm)depending on: Your summer clerkships and what your undergraduate degree is, past work experience (for example a 2 year tenure at a Big 6 Accounting firm would serve you better than a history degree with no work experience), appearance (yes, appearance, age, etc.). 25-40% You're looking at a small-medium firm (Above factors apply) Once you fall below 40%, it's small firm (maybe mid- if you have connections or great past work history). If you went to South Texas, you better graduate within Top 10% (maybe 25%) or win some mock trial competition.
Was just coming in here for the sole purpose of posting that. Every time I see that thread title, that goes through my head.
