Law School - Do Tiers Matter?

When I first got into my 4th tier school, I thought I was going to be professionally cursed. I constantly hear that tier 4 schools never feed into Big Firms or do not offer the high paying jobs one hopes to obtain as a J..D grad. Yet despite the statistics, the firm profiles, and the constant reminders from legal professionals, I have found that where there is a will there is definitely a way.

The only difference really becomes- can you network? Can you make connections with the right people who will put you in well paying jobs? This isn't Harvard, so you can't rely on the reputation. This becomes about you. Can you, in any given situation, be the best. Did you work while in law school? Because it makes a difference. Whether you are competing with Hastings or NYU, the resume speaks for itself. The name has a lot of weight, lets not kid ourselves, but if you mitigate that by working/volunteering/interning your soul away at any and every chance you had while in school- then you have the advantage. The one answer I got from when I asked: "what do I need to do to get a job at your firm?" was not transfer to Yale or Harvard or UCLA, it was "show me your skills, show me your legal reasoning, your research abilities, your in-school work experience". So it does not all depend on what tier you were valued at.- It depends on what you made of your time there. Did you make a difference, were you the president of PILF, were you on law review, on the ADR team, did you do clinic work...endless things that show the world that you are created equal to that Harvard grad.

I knew that being at a 4th tier would have its disadvantages. I knew that at times, I'd be ashamed of saying I went to the no-name school. Yet times are changing. I have never been so compelled to succeed, so driven, and so motivated by my 4th tier status. Of the bat, I started going to any and all law-related community/national events I could afford (both financially and time wise due to 1L demands). I networked my butt off to anyone who would listen. What did it prove? That a 4th tier law student can get the Federal Clerkship over the summer- compete against the Harvards of the world and compete against the top of the class. I sell myself as a law student with passion and drive and I put my law school name second to myself. The great thing about my 4th tier is that it knows it is 4th tier. What does that mean for you? That they give scholarships, that they are brining in really good students from across the nation. Be it, so does Yale, Boalt, and any other tier one contender but here, you have the backing of a staff/faculty/student body that is working extra hard to succeed together. It is pretty amazing to see.

Point is, law school should not be about tier status. It is what you make of your experience. Yes, Tier 1 has it a bit easier, but being 4th tier is not the end of the world. You can do many many things to boost your resume and sell yourself. Stay focused and know it is a competition against your own abilities, your classmates are there to make it fun and enjoyable.

So if you get into a 4th tier, be proud. You are about to embark on a wonderful adventure. Exploit every opportunity you get as a law student and by the time you know it, you will have that dream job you thought you'd never get.