Reply to Seeking advice on Biglaw from lawyers: I'm below median at a T-30 school

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]You need to think of a long game.  You may want to end up in DC or NY, but try starting in another mid-sized city.  You will have a better shot at getting into a better firm.  P
Is bar associations in smaller markets are more active and permit you to actually network.  Then, after a year or two at that firm, apply for a federal clerkship.  You will the. Be on a better position to move to a large law firm.[/quote]

I don't really think this is sound advice. First, I think it's a common mistake to think it's easier to get into big law outside of NYC and DC. I started my practice in Atlanta and people from NY and DC would often imply it was easier to get a job at a top Atl for than a top DC firm. But basic logic doesn't bear that out. If you want to work at a top 50 firm in NY, something like 46 have an office there. In DC, it is something like 48. If you want to work at a top 50 firm in Atlanta, you have precisely one firm that can give you a job. There are more lawyers in NY than Atlanta, but nowhere near 46 times as many. The top firms can be insanely selective. Second, the federal clerkship thing seems like a pipe dream. Less than 50% of big law associates could obtain a Federal clerkship, so the idea of using a clerkship to get into big law doesn't really make much sense. It's like saying "if you want to be partner at a mid-size firm, you should become a partner at Cravath because then a ton of mid-size firms will hire you." That's true, but it's not really a helpful strategy.[/quote]

Well it did work for me. (Sorry for the typos in the earlier post).  Memphis to DC.[/quote]

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