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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I'm going to go against the grain on this thread and say prestige is for the birds. I know DCUM is obsessed with it but you can have a completely lucrative career having gone to a public law school. The vast majority of lawyers in this country are not employed at big law and did not attend a top 10 law school.

In fact, most of the attys that I know who started up their own firms and now make $$$ went to public, no name schools. DCUM is a weird place for advice because it slants in one direction only - private, prestigious, big law, money, did I say prestige? In truth, there a multitude of avenues for success.

I went to a public, not highly ranked school[b]. I started up my own practice because I wanted more freedom to raise my kids. I don't make big law money but at $400-500K, I'm doing just fine in a dual income home. [/b]

There are lots of ways to make a living in law, OP, more than gov't and big law. Chances are when your DC gets to law school interests will change. [/quote]
This is really good. Is that your net? What practice area? Are you a solo? Any employees or associates? Any office overhead? ~~Another Lawyer[/quote]

I agree with all of what the first PP said. If you want BIGLAW, then prestige matters. But there are LOTS of ways to have a path in law that involves other than BIGLAW. Government (Federal is a tough entry but not impossible, but state government too). Nonprofit or public interest. Small or solo practitioners. The other options may not be as lucrative at first  but it is doable. And nonprofit/public interest may have some loan replacement.

I'm in government but my experience will not be representative now as I got in 25 years ago. That said, my intent was on one practice area but I took what I could get at the time (BigLaw was not a good fit for me). And I ended up not in the practice area I thought but with a phenomenal mentor (and friend) who set me on a path that was good enough (if not the one I wanted initially). [b]Be flexible.[/b] [/quote]

+1. This. Or just be open to all possibilities. Lawyers, for some reason, have the most narrow views for what their career paths should look like. Maybe we're more rigid and not as creative as other fields but I'm floored by rigidity of the response here. [/quote][b]The system is remarkably rigid for  entry level employment [/b] That's reality, not DCUM bias.  Once you have 3-5 years of experience under your belt, there are more options.[/quote]

No, it is not. It is only rigid if you are vying for one of the very few big law/government spots. There are thousands of law firms in this country - most small and mid size. The supersized firms are in the minority. You all scratch and claw for those positions.

I graduated from a law school that does not break top 50. Everyone that I went to school with is currently employed and many making good money, myself included. DC attorneys just have tunnel vision as to what constitutes an acceptable entry-level position. [/quote]Many, many small and mid sized firms prefer to take attorneys who leave larger firms after a few years.  There's a steady stream and they come well trained.  Smaller firms often can't afford to train someone from scratch.

There are far, far more law grads than there are entry level spots every year.  That's the fundamental issue.[/quote]

I have worked for small firms with no experience. I also have helped small firms hire attys with no experience. Out of curiosity, have you every worked for, started up, or been involved in a small firm? Or just read about them?

And saying that an employer prefers to hire someone with at least 1-2 years of experience would not distinguish law from any other industry. You could say the same for HR, IT, marketing, or literally any other industry. Nobody likes to hire green.

The only point posters above are making is that there are many avenues to law if you want to pursue them. If you don't - which is the feeling that I'm getting here - you can stay the traditional path. [/quote]

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