C student @ T3 ... what do I do?

[craven]

I think we can assume that gratif isn't hoping for biglaw.  I think it would help us all out a little if we didn't all automatically assume that everyone going to law school wants to go to biglaw.  That said, OP, a lot of this depends on what your hopes are for post-graduation.  The working through school thing is fine if you're going to go work in your dad's firm, but if you're looking to get hired by someone, grades should be a priority.  Someone has to be at the bottom, but that someone doesn't necessarily get a job.  If that's your attitude, law may not be the profession for you.

[Lloyd]

I'd recommend being an extern for something like a state judge who then can in turn give you a good recommendation for after graduation. This might also lead to a clerk position after graduation.

My other thought would be to try to extern for a government agency that interests you (e.g., DA, PD, etc) so as to begin making connections there and see if you like it or work for a small firm that may be willing to take you on after you pass the bar.

All of the above are pretty happy to get students to work for free/cheap regardless of grades and would be great networking opportunities. As the others mentioned, forget about BigLaw.

2.08 GPA. 

I'll be keeping my full scholarship, but I can't/won't finish at the top of the class.  Someone has to finish bottom.  If there are any non-1L-wannabe-law-review posters with some pragmatic advice that'd be great. 

My "big idea" was to take the summer courses so I would be able to work DURING 2L and 3L.  I have no idea what kind of work, what it entails, or if it would pay.


As for study abroad, I'm not going over there.  I'd have to pay for classes.

[smujd2007]

Yes, everyone does not want to do biglaw. 

I will say, as I went through a similar experience (except at a bottom tier 1 school) and once I started working in a law office and saw how the law was applied practically, my grades actually came up.  There is something powerful in working and learning at the same time--I think it actually improves your ability to do both well.

That being said, though my grades came up significantly--by the end of 2L I was performing at the class curve or better in almost every class--even got a handful of A's--its hard to dig yourself out of that hole.

I'm not saying that working is a good idea or a bad idea.  But in my case, it helped. I think its best if you find somewhere to work after 1L.  I have friends who work in DA/prosecutors offices that don't have the best grades but they picked up lots of practical experience by working and doing clinics.  I think that's probably the best way to make yourself marketable for a job after graduation.  Good luck.

I think we can assume that gratif isn't hoping for biglaw.  I think it would help us all out a little if we didn't all automatically assume that everyone going to law school wants to go to biglaw.  That said, OP, a lot of this depends on what your hopes are for post-graduation.  The working through school thing is fine if you're going to go work in your dad's firm, but if you're looking to get hired by someone, grades should be a priority.  Someone has to be at the bottom, but that someone doesn't necessarily get a job.  If that's your attitude, law may not be the profession for you.