<p>I asked about this in another thread, but no one answered (the topic of that thread was completely different), so I thought I'd start a separate thread on this concern. ...This will be my absolute last thread, since classes start for me and I have to go to uni. bookstore and move in again, etc. ....</p>
<p>But here's what I'm wondering (and will leave the thread open to posters and won't be returning to post back for a while): If your law career DEPENDS heavily on connections and networking and you are simultaneously forced to compete for those same jobs via your grades in law school...then how does one make friends and network, while recognizing that there same peers in law school are your COMPETITION? ...Everyone will be working hard to be the top students of a law school (since from what others have said in another post ONLY the top few students of law schools..can be sure of a job....and even if you're like middle of the class at Columbia or middle of class at UPenn...you won't get a lawyer job nowadays....you'll be some temp worker....DEPRESSING..but that's another story...).....back to my thread....if you have to compete super super super hard to make TOP of the class to GET A JOB as a lawyer that only a few can get and majority won't get....THEN how do you NETWORK with these same folks and become friends with them, since networking and connections matter a lot in the legal field? </p>
<p>Is there a conflict of interest? Plus if law school rankings are made public....wouldn't only the top students have incentive to network with other top students?...since those are the likely job "getters" ??........does that then leave the bottom rung students to network with other bottom rung students...all of whom have litlte chance of legal employment (as a lawyer at least)? ....Yes....these are lots of hypotheticals...meant for educational purposes though. </p>
<p>Would be glad to hear your perspective and insights. THANKS!!!!</p>
<p>You can make friends and work hard without turning your classmates into enemies. In fact, law students often form study groups to work together. As long as you compete honestly there’s no reason to be at odds with your classmates.</p>
<p>And, if you get a job at the same law firm as a buddy, you’ll be competing again!</p>
<p>I’d worry less about strategic networking and more about developing a wide range of friendships and hanging out with people you get along with. First, grades usually aren’t a predictor of career success (though they can influence the initial hire). Second, if you start buying beers for the Law Review editor, your ploy will be transparent and backfire.</p>
<p>Roger - But it seems from what others have said that grades ARE a strong predictor of career success…not only for first hire, but throughout your entire legal career. I’ve been reading others’ posts who say that grades matter in law school and come up even 10 years down the line when applying for lateral hires or other positions in law …and that many many years later grades still matter.</p>
<p>Having said that, I agree with some of what you’ve saida bout attutide…I feel I should be able to compete against and still hang out with someone. It just stinks that the stakes are so high with law school. When you compete in the football field or in a game of monopoly, etc. there’s not $150K in debt at stake and a law job that can pay it off…your life finances aren’t usually at stake as much…it’s just taht with law school costnig so much and legal jobs so hard to get…that it does make me wonder about this situation. </p>
<p>Although, ultimately compeitition is usually good, b/c it makes every better and bring their A game and the economy works through competition. We get better services and products, b/c of competition. And those who bring inferior serivce, products, or skills, etc. can find a nother job if they aren’t good enough. It’s capitalism…it’s business…it’s a battle, lol…but a battle that ultimately does serve society in a good way. :)</p>
<p>***I’m officially done now, …bye everyone…been a pleasure to learn sooo much and will be sure to think about and use it wisely!!!</p>
<p>brownug, you should go and find all of the answers to your questions on TLS, as opposed to making a million threads on CC. They have information everything you’d ever want to know about law school and law school admissions.</p>