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How does a newly graduated law school student find their way into a big name law firm within a year of graduating?

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Matthew’s Answer

For students aiming for a career in big law, the journey starts in law school. Usually, this begins in the summer after the first year, when students start clerking or externing. Employers often conduct on-campus interviews, leading to summer associate positions at firms. Based on their performance in these roles, students may receive job offers before they graduate and take the bar exam.
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Terri’s Answer

To get a job at a big law firm, having good grades is crucial. If you're at the top of your class after your first year, you might get a summer clerkship with a big firm, which could lead to a job after graduation. However, don't ignore small and mid-sized firms! While in law school, think about what you want in your career and which first job will help you succeed. Big firms usually offer high pay and let you work on complex cases. Smaller firms might let you lead cases sooner and gain more practical experience. Use your time in law school to talk to attorneys from different types of firms. If possible, participate in clerkships, externships, or shadowing programs to learn what daily work in those practices is like. That will help you understand what type of practice will be personally rewarding for you, and you can then work with your professors and the career development office at your school to consider the best pathway to that rewarding career.
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Emily’s Answer

Hi Nicholas! I started at a big law firm after law school and later moved in-house. From what I've seen, law firms pay a lot of attention to grades and extracurricular activities. Your first-year grades are crucial because many big firms recruit for 2L summers. They also love to see campus involvement, whether through an organization, journal, or clinic. These experiences can make your resume stand out and serve as great conversation starters in interviews. Remember, big firms aren't the only path—exploring firms of different sizes and specialties can be really beneficial!

Focus on your grades early on and dive into activities that interest you on campus. You've got this! Good luck!
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Cliff J.’s Answer

Hi Nicholas, your journey to a big law firm should start right about when you start your first year in law school. It is however not too late if you have not started this. For now, you should focus on networking with the partners and senior associates in the law firms you wish to target. From there you can request for internship/clerking opportunities during your vacation breaks. This should set you apart from your classmates. You will also need to ensure that your grades are good and competitive so that your hands on experience gained during your internship/clerking, sets your apart from your peers. You could also consider opting to write articles on your preferred areas of interest and publish them in your LinkedIn profile or social media profiles. This would help develop your writing and reasoning skills as well as set you on the part of being considered as a subject matter expert with good research skills.
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