AM Law 100 EP here. I’ve had to fire and hire new associates. We take too 10% in T1 LS for summer clerks. However, I’ve started to dip lower for a well rounded candidate. The top 10% can be somewhat stunted socially (broad brush, I know). Yes some practices need brains on a stick, but I’ve found most all successful rain makers have a well rounded experience to offer and know that as an EP more than half you time is spent developing and maintains relationships. You are presumed to know the law and can hire a brains on a stick and put them $300k to do the hard work. But to be successful ($1M plus per year), you need clients. And that requires relationship building.
Point in case, our board is made up of the most successful in our firm. There is only 1 person on our Board from an Ivy. The rest are not.
My advice: study what interests you. Yes, in case you decide not to do LS. But still, if you do go to LS, go into LS with a purpose. You like studying the stars? Ok, go practice space law (developing but still obscure field). You like saving the environment? Great, study environmental science and then go to LS to be the best environmental attorney.
DONT go to LS to be a “lawyer” or someone who plays lawyer. People get sucked into the lifestyle and money and end up hating their career and burn out. Find something you love, whatever it is, and then layer LS on top of that.
One last point: lawyers need to stop saying they are bad at math. When compared to engineers, yes, we don’t use math often. But lawyers are on the inside of ALL complicated financial transactions. And, even more basic, counting damages. We all use math, sophisticated math, all the time. Ok, off my soap box.