Outside the top 10%, does your rank even matter?

[Outside the top 25 schools, what is the lowest rank that still matters/impresses?]

Outside the top 25 schools, what is the lowest rank that still matters/impresses?

Top 10%

 6 (25%)

Top 25%

 8 (33.3%)

Top 33%

 5 (20.8%)

Top Half

 5 (20.8%)

Anywhere above the bottom 25%

 0 (0%)

Total Members Voted: 24

[jack24]

Do employers care if you are ranked 60/160 rather than 90/160?
At what point should you stop worrying about grades and just focus on networking?
 

[TheDudeMan]

Depends where you go to school.

[TTom]

Do employers care if you are ranked 60/160 rather than 90/160?
At what point should you stop worrying about grades and just focus on networking?
 

For the most part, employers near your school are going to be drawing associates predominately from your school and any other nearby law schools. All things being equal, why would an employer hire the student from the local law school at the 56th percentile when he can hire the student at the 37th? Unless the student at the 56th is incredibly charismatic and has done some serious networking, he or she is at a serious disadvantage. For many school's OCIs, employers won't even consider students without a certain class ranking.

[M_Cool]

Yes, they matter.  In my area, the better firms have hard cutoffs that are usually either top 1/3 or top 1/2.  Thus, if you are in the bottom half or even bottom 2/3 you won't even have a shot at getting an interview.

[jack24]

I just ended up right at the 33% level.  I doubt I'll be able to move up very much, but I'm just curious as to whether or not getting up to the top 25% by the end of 1L would make any significant difference at this point.

[TTom]

I just ended up right at the 33% level.  I doubt I'll be able to move up very much, but I'm just curious as to whether or not getting up to the top 25% by the end of 1L would make any significant difference at this point.

Dude, you've only had one semester. There's still time to graduate in the top or bottom 10% of your class.

[Stole Your Nose!]

Depends where you go to school.

TITCR.

[TheDudeMan]

The OP said outside the top 25 schools..... Anyone that said top 1/2 is a moron.  If you aren't in the top 10-15% at a lower ranked school you are going to struggle to get Biglaw.

That being said, people need to quit paying attention to the statistics and apply and hope they are an exception.  Why would you sell yourself short before even trying?

[M_Cool]

Maybe I read it wrong but he said "employers" not "big law."  I'm assuming if you aren't in the top 10-15% you are still going to want a job.  Being in the top 1/2 is a lot better than the bottom half if you are just trying to get a job at a small-mid size law firm.

[TheDudeMan]

Maybe I read it wrong but he said "employers" not "big law."  I'm assuming if you aren't in the top 10-15% you are still going to want a job.  Being in the top 1/2 is a lot better than the bottom half if you are just trying to get a job at a small-mid size law firm.

My mistake, though I still tend to think top 1/2 isn't going to say much for any employer at a lower ranked school.  I'd say you still want top 1/3.