<p>Well said, MommaJ.</p>
<p>Cartera- I would never get hired if the employers looked at my transcript that way! :)</p>
<p>One of my clients years ago (Verizon, but don’t tell them I said so) required LSAT scores. I was always embarrassed to even ask. I don’t think they do that anymore.</p>
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<p>How pretentious and self-serving! Tell that to half the attorneys in CT! You have no clue as to where UConn grads have ended up including most of NYC biglaw firms, judges of Federal courts, as general counsels of insurance firms and Fortune 500 corporations. No wonder biglaw is in deep trouble with such attitude!</p>
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<p>What is the point of these anecdotes? That somehow experienced attorneys are hired on the basis of LSAT scores and undergrad transcripts? You must be kidding!</p>
<p>“What is the point of these anecdotes?”</p>
<p>The same as the point of your anecdotes re the two UConn grads you’re hiring at $100k plus. Are you accusing cartera45 of lying, or are you acknowledging that anecdotal evidence isn’t good support for statements about what 100k+ LSAT takers ought to do? If cartera’s anecdote is true, it’s as valuable as yours (actually more, because it’s offered as an exceptional story with a clear implication that it wasn’t the usual practice).</p>
<p>Hanna;</p>
<p>The two UConn grads at $100K were not my anecdotes. Check it. </p>
<p>I provided actual statistics as to how many UConn grads were hired by major law firms, medium size firms, federal courts and corporations in 2010. Not anecdotes. Sorry!</p>
<p>OK, my mistake – I assume that you assailed the poster of those anecdotes the same way you did cartera45?</p>
<p>I just don’t see what point was being made by the anecdotes. Please enlighten me!</p>
<p>I’ve spent years trying to get over my stereotyping of patent/IP lawyers, but I might have just lost the battle.</p>
<p>Okay, pay close attention. Postings on a forum sometimes mimic the give and take of a conversation, in which anecdotes and personal observations are interjected. If this isn’t clear, look up the definition of the words “anecdote” and “one.”</p>
<p>Cellar- I work in Fairfield County and I would love have you provide a breakdown of who these mythical law firms are that are hiring boatloads of U Conn law grads to do Bridgewaters legal work. This is possibly the funniest thing I’ve heard all week (but it’s only Thursday).</p>
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<p>Since I have only been a patent lawyer for 2 years, I must be pretty good to fit your stereotype! I think it is more a STEM/non-STEM thing!</p>
<p>Here’s an article in the Connecticut Law Tribune about UConn law school and employment. According to this, UConn isn’t getting flamed in law school scam blogs like many law schools, but the picture isn’t that great</p>
<p>[Law.com</a> - Law Schools Flamed in Growing Number of Graduates’ ‘Scam Blogs’](<a href=“http://www.law.com/jsp/law/article.jsp?id=1202472036425&Law_Schools_Flamed_in_Growing_Number_of_Graduates_Scam_Blogs]Law.com”>http://www.law.com/jsp/law/article.jsp?id=1202472036425&Law_Schools_Flamed_in_Growing_Number_of_Graduates_Scam_Blogs)</p>
<p>It quotes Karen DeMeola, assistant dean for admissions and student finance at UConn law school. “The reality is they may not get employed after graduation. It’s up to them to perform in law school.”</p>
<p>And there’s this: </p>
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<p>Blossom;</p>
<p>You are the one stating that all hedge funds were doing terrible in Fairfield County. I was just pointing out that Bridgewater, the largest of all, was doing just fine proving your point wrong.</p>
<p>You are also the one stating that no one at any of the big law firms was a graduate from UConn which was total BS. Just check on LinkedIn for your own comfort. </p>
<p>Now you are making up some story about who Bridegwater is hiring. Pathetic!</p>
<p>“I can assure you that the only UConn Law grads whose resumes would have been considered by any of those employers would have been those on law review–even in the headiest days of hiring. Average graduates of UConn law have zero chance at one of the “glamorous” jobs law students enter law school hoping for.” Apparently I was an exception to this rule–I was not on law review at UConn, and I landed a job at a major Wall Street firm. Admittedly after a federal clerkship. MommaJ, since you so strongly attack UConn, I can’t help but say this–frequently heard from partners at the Wall Street firm I worked at was their preference for us second (or even thrid) tier law school grad types, they were pretty tired of the people from the Ivies who thought they had nothing left to learn and wanted to be closing the big deals from day 1, rather than doing the grunt work. Among the associates in my department there was a UConn grad (me), a U. of Bridgeport grad (now Quinnipiac) and a Hofstra grad. The Hofstra grad and the U of B grad later made partner, they just worked harder than the others.</p>
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<p>That has been my point all along. Times are tough, but law school is still a viable choice.</p>
<p>Cellardweller, what some of us are saying is that law school is a viable choice for some people at this time. It will be a viable choice for others in the future, and there are people who should definitely go to law school after getting their finances in order.</p>
<p>No one is saying that no one should go to law school, but that it should be a considered, carefully planned decision, and people who have significant undergrad debt and will also need to take significant law school debt should base their decision on where they get accepted to law school and the realistic possibility of graduating high in the class. I stand by that.</p>
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And exactly where in their graduating class were these folks? I’m betting they were at the tippy top–and this was before the recent oversupply of graduates impacted the market. But the AVERAGE grad from one of those schools TODAY is facing a very steep uphill climb to find any decent legal job at all. As to why biglaw and major corporations would only consider law review members from lower tier law schools? Because they know that an average grad of Harvard or Cornell or UVA will be a better prospect than an average grad from a lesser school. I’m sorry if that makes a UConn grad feel bad, but it’s the case for law school grads and grads in every other field. More selective schools produce more desirable employees. (I’d say that principle is one of the basic ones underlying the very existence of CC!) I’d be interested to know how many AVERAGE grads–non law review, B or C average-- of Quinnipiac, Hofstra or UConn cellardweller’s firm has recently hired.</p>
<p>This thread has been heartening–it’s great to know the vast majority of lawyers and those working in legal placement have a firm grip on the grim reality of legal employment and are advising friends and family accordingly.</p>
<p>Zoosermom:</p>
<p>I don’t disagree with much of what you said. </p>
<p>I certainly don’t recommend all students to go to law school. Actually I spend most of my time trying to convince bright high school students (especially girls) to pursue STEM careers. But for bright liberal arts students, I still don’t see any alternative career paths that are significantly better. Most graduate programs are complete dead-ends. I do agree that some work in the field before law school is desirable for maturity and experience. </p>
<p>I agree with keeping school debt under control and firmly believe that public law schools can provide near identical job opportunities to 90% of law students compared to the vast majority of private law schools (even top tier) at small fraction of the cost. I happen to know from personal experience that UConn is one among many small gems in the rough, especially if one intends to stay in the New England/NYC area. </p>
<p>I don’t believe you need to be anywhere near the top 10% (even at UConn) to get a good legal job unless you want an associate position with biglaw and even there business acumen and drive are greater predictors of success than rank on graduation. A strong rainmaker from a second tier law school will beat even a top ranked candidate from a T-4 school for partnership who can’t bring in business at pretty much any firm. </p>
<p>From what I see on a daily basis, the mid-tier regional or boutique firms are doing better financially than many of the top tier firms. Their business model is more sound and they have less overhead. They pay reasonably well and will provide bridges to bigger firms for those who perform. Law is very entrepreneurial and for those with the stamina, confidence and communication skills it can provide a very fulfilling career, in private or public service.</p>
<p>In response to the quote from the Connecticut Law Tribune article…a 2L is in no position to say yet whether he’s made a bad decision or not…and for all we know, Mr. O’Day has a 4.0 or zero debt or both.</p>