4 answers
Nicholas
Student
West Palm Beach, Florida
2
Questions
Updated
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When someone is?
trying to enter the legal field, do law firms truly care as much as it is advertised what law school a potential job candidate went to?
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4 answers
George Zou, M.S.
Academic Advisor
36
Answers
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Updated
George’s Answer
Hi Nicholas,
Great question! From my understanding, some law firms really do pay attention to the name of the law school you went to, but it is not as important for every type of job. The biggest and most famous law firms, often called “Big Law,” care a lot about school names because they receive thousands of applications and serve high profile clients. They use the school’s reputation as a quick way to choose who they want to interview. This helps them sort through many candidates fast. However, not everyone wants to work in a giant law firm, and not every job works this way.
Many mid-sized and small law firms do not focus as much on the school name. Instead, they look at what you actually did during law school. They want to know if you worked hard, if you earned good grades, and if you showed strong writing and research skills. They also care about real-world experience, like internships, clinics, or volunteer positions. These experiences show that you can handle actual legal work and help clients.
Government jobs and public-interest organizations care even less about school prestige. They want to see passion, reliability, and a real desire to help people or serve the community. They look for someone who can write clearly, follow rules, and be dependable.
After someone works for a few years, the school name becomes much less important. By then, employers care more about what cases you handled, how you treat clients, and how well you work under pressure. A lawyer with strong experience from any school will be respected. So even though the school name matters at the very beginning, it does not control your whole career. Hard work, good skills, and real experience matter much more in the long run.
Great question! From my understanding, some law firms really do pay attention to the name of the law school you went to, but it is not as important for every type of job. The biggest and most famous law firms, often called “Big Law,” care a lot about school names because they receive thousands of applications and serve high profile clients. They use the school’s reputation as a quick way to choose who they want to interview. This helps them sort through many candidates fast. However, not everyone wants to work in a giant law firm, and not every job works this way.
Many mid-sized and small law firms do not focus as much on the school name. Instead, they look at what you actually did during law school. They want to know if you worked hard, if you earned good grades, and if you showed strong writing and research skills. They also care about real-world experience, like internships, clinics, or volunteer positions. These experiences show that you can handle actual legal work and help clients.
Government jobs and public-interest organizations care even less about school prestige. They want to see passion, reliability, and a real desire to help people or serve the community. They look for someone who can write clearly, follow rules, and be dependable.
After someone works for a few years, the school name becomes much less important. By then, employers care more about what cases you handled, how you treat clients, and how well you work under pressure. A lawyer with strong experience from any school will be respected. So even though the school name matters at the very beginning, it does not control your whole career. Hard work, good skills, and real experience matter much more in the long run.
Thanks so much George!
Nicholas
Brian O'Connell
Legal Director (Negotiate Software Contracts)
4
Answers
Herndon, Virginia
Updated
Brian’s Answer
Hi Nicholas - there's a lot of good information in George's, Steven's, and Wong's answers. From my personal experience of going to law school and then working at a large firm, their answers generally are true, from George's insight that name becomes less important over the course of your career to Wong's advice that law school isn't the only factor law firms consider.
But there are a few other things that you should consider when looking at law schools and their job prospects:
1. It's true that the world's biggest law firms hire most of their students from the "T14" (the U.S. News & World Report's "Top 14" law schools). But they still may interview students from other schools, particularly students who have done well. So being the top student in your class at a school ranked in the 30s may make you more competitive than being at the bottom of the class at the top law school. And consider that a lot of other students also want to go to these top schools, so there may be tougher competition.
2. How much will you be paying for tuition? If you have the opportunity to receive a scholarship at a less well-known/lower ranked school, that could be a better opportunity than going to a "top" school without any financial assistance - particularly if you combine that with doing really well in school.
3. What kind of firm do you want to go to, and why? Having worked at one of the largest law firms in the world for a few years, I now always recommend people think through why they want to go. It is a great learning experience, and you learn a lot and receive good training. But it's a lot of work and a lot of stress. Don't set your sights on just going to one of these big law firms just because they're well known or prestigious. Depending on what you may want to do, there might be smaller/more regional firms that offer better opportunities for you personally, or have better connections in your region (which you might be able to use later on to get other jobs).
For more information, I'd recommend checking out top-law-schools.com. It has a lot of great information, and has forums where law students/lawyers share advice based on their experiences. People can be a little harsh/cynical, but they may also give a more unbiased/realistic view of your plans and next steps.
But there are a few other things that you should consider when looking at law schools and their job prospects:
1. It's true that the world's biggest law firms hire most of their students from the "T14" (the U.S. News & World Report's "Top 14" law schools). But they still may interview students from other schools, particularly students who have done well. So being the top student in your class at a school ranked in the 30s may make you more competitive than being at the bottom of the class at the top law school. And consider that a lot of other students also want to go to these top schools, so there may be tougher competition.
2. How much will you be paying for tuition? If you have the opportunity to receive a scholarship at a less well-known/lower ranked school, that could be a better opportunity than going to a "top" school without any financial assistance - particularly if you combine that with doing really well in school.
3. What kind of firm do you want to go to, and why? Having worked at one of the largest law firms in the world for a few years, I now always recommend people think through why they want to go. It is a great learning experience, and you learn a lot and receive good training. But it's a lot of work and a lot of stress. Don't set your sights on just going to one of these big law firms just because they're well known or prestigious. Depending on what you may want to do, there might be smaller/more regional firms that offer better opportunities for you personally, or have better connections in your region (which you might be able to use later on to get other jobs).
For more information, I'd recommend checking out top-law-schools.com. It has a lot of great information, and has forums where law students/lawyers share advice based on their experiences. People can be a little harsh/cynical, but they may also give a more unbiased/realistic view of your plans and next steps.
Hey Brian. Thanks for the response! I see you mentioned that you work at a big firm and you’ve already completed law school. Is there any way I can get into contact to have a one on one conversation with you?
Nicholas
Hi Nicholas - sorry, I've been busy! Unfortunately I don't think so, at least not without having my personal information publicly available, but feel free to leave some additional questions here!
Brian O'Connell
Steven Garman
Business Intelligence
2
Answers
Chico, California
Updated
Steven’s Answer
I'll give my perspective as a hiring manager, but I am not in the legal field. In short, yes, law firms care about where you went to school.
The longer answer is that they care a lot about the T14 schools, and then everything else is semi-regional. For example, if you are wanting to practice law in Hawai'i, the University of Hawai’i might be a better option than a higher-ranked school. This is not just true for law firms; companies in general also follow this behavior. San Jose State is a good example. On paper, it is a less prestigious school than most, but it has a very high hiring rate in the Bay Area compared to graduates of similarly ranked schools.
TL;DR: Go to a great school, and your odds of getting a job at a national company are better. Go to a local school, and your odds of getting a job in the local market are higher.
The longer answer is that they care a lot about the T14 schools, and then everything else is semi-regional. For example, if you are wanting to practice law in Hawai'i, the University of Hawai’i might be a better option than a higher-ranked school. This is not just true for law firms; companies in general also follow this behavior. San Jose State is a good example. On paper, it is a less prestigious school than most, but it has a very high hiring rate in the Bay Area compared to graduates of similarly ranked schools.
TL;DR: Go to a great school, and your odds of getting a job at a national company are better. Go to a local school, and your odds of getting a job in the local market are higher.
Wong Loke Yuen
Head of Programme cum Senior Lecturer
645
Answers
Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Updated
Wong’s Answer
Hi Nicholas. It's true that some top-tier law schools have strong reputations and can open doors more easily, especially at highly competitive firms. Big law firms, for instance, often recruit from a short list of prestigious schools because these institutions are known for producing candidates who are prepared for intense workloads and have strong academic credentials.
However, the law school you attend is not the only factor law firms consider. Your performance in law school, your internships, networking, and practical experience can weigh just as heavily or more than the name on your diploma. Firms want candidates who are not only smart but also capable, reliable, and ready to handle the realities of legal work. A candidate from a less famous school who has excellent grades, strong recommendations, and meaningful internship experience can easily compete with someone from a top-tier school who lacks real-world exposure.
It's also worth noting that your choice of law school can help you meet people who might support your career, like classmates, professors, and alumni. They can give advice, referrals, or job leads.
However, the law school you attend is not the only factor law firms consider. Your performance in law school, your internships, networking, and practical experience can weigh just as heavily or more than the name on your diploma. Firms want candidates who are not only smart but also capable, reliable, and ready to handle the realities of legal work. A candidate from a less famous school who has excellent grades, strong recommendations, and meaningful internship experience can easily compete with someone from a top-tier school who lacks real-world exposure.
It's also worth noting that your choice of law school can help you meet people who might support your career, like classmates, professors, and alumni. They can give advice, referrals, or job leads.