Where You Should Go to Law School | T14 v. Regional Law School!!

[@AngelaVorpahl]

👉🏻 Download the FREE GUIDE: “Best Questions to Ask in Law Firm Interviews": launch.angelavorpahl.com/best-questions-to-ask-visit Have any other questions about T14 law schools v. regional law schools? Let me know in the comments below and I'll be happy to answer them!!

[@عبدالعزيزمحمد-و2و]

why the is sparkling !? 😅

[@jimeager2339]

I’ve followed this channel for over a year at this point. I’m am now a rising 2L at a fantastic law school. Not a T14 school, but a great one. I’m nowhere near the top of my class (for the first time in my life). My LSAT was mediocre. And here’s the deal: I’ve had an amazing time so far. I’ve learned so much so fast that I can’t believe it. I prepared for every class, engaged with the material, chose good friends, and landed a great internship this summer (my top choice). My advice: get over the numbers (LSAT, class ranking, GPA, etc.), and just do your best. It’ll be so much more enjoyable that way, and you WILL succeed! Law schools want people - real people - in the classroom, not perfection. So, go to the school you really want to attend, and strap yourself in for an amazing and humbling experience. If you really want to be there, you’ll love it. And you’ll succeed. Plenty of my peers who wanted big law have had those opportunities. The rest of us just want to change our corner of the world, and that’s enough for us. PS - When choosing my law school, I asked myself this question: Which is the better school…the one that only takes the top test takers and then boasts that 95% of its graduates pass the bar; or, is it the school that takes mediocre test takers but produces similar results on the same test?

[@AngelaVorpahl]

Jim, I'm so glad that you've had such an awesome first year! You're totally right that perfection is not only unnecessary, it's not actually real. And you can build a law school career and legal career that's aligned with your goals and desired lifestyle, whatever that looks like for you. Thank you for sharing such a transparent look into you experience so far!

[@VicandWes]

This is the first video I’ve seen of yours! I graduated from undergraduate with not the greatest GPA (2.99) I am currently studying for the LSAT

[@AngelaVorpahl]

That's so exciting that you're starting on your journey to law school! I actually host a free FB group for new and aspiring law students looking for clarity and support in their law school journey, would you like the link to join?

[@VicandWes]

@@AngelaVorpahl That would be great, thank you!

[@AngelaVorpahl]

@@VicandWes Great! Here's the link to join: facebook.com/groups/lawtribenetwork See you inside!

[@G-DoubleB]

First I would like to say your channel definitely deserves more subscribers. Very great insight throughout. I am currently an undergrad and was wondering if I attended a top 100 Law School in NY, what would be chances of getting a job in Big Law? Thanks

[@AngelaVorpahl]

Hi, Brandon! Thanks so much for watching!! I'm glad the videos are helpful! With respect to the question of where to go to law school, it’s definitely a decision with a lot of considerations and moving parts. If your goal is to get a job in BigLaw after graduation, then going to a highly ranked law school nationwide, or a well-respected law school in your particular region, is your best bet. With respect to New York specifically, it’s a very competitive legal market and you’ll be competing not only with graduates from New York but also from all over the country. That being said, if the law school you attend is well-known in the community, and you do really well (i.e. top 10-15% of your class at the end of your 1L year), then you’re going to give yourself a good shot of getting a BigLaw job. One way to get a better idea of your odds is to reach out to the admissions or career services department of the law school you’re interested in and ask them if BigLaw law firms generally participate in on-campus interviews at that particular law school, what class ranking you generally need in order to be competitive for those jobs, and a list of law firms where alumni currently work (you can also go about this by searching individual law firm websites for the law school name but that will take more time). When you get this information you will be able to get a better idea for the market and the law school’s presence in the market. Without a doubt, the alumni community is the most important “in” for graduates from lesser-known law schools because alumni tend to be more inclined to hire law students from their alma mater ;) I hope this helps!

[@aalegalfocus]

Not that great if we're talking about schools like Syracuse, Fordham, Brooklyn, etc.

[@susancox1310]

@@aalegalfocus Hi, can you please explain why it is not great if we are taking about Fordham, e.t.c

[@aalegalfocus]

@@susancox1310 those schools are so overpriced with no guarantee of a good outcome. A friend of mine who graduated from Fordham law could not find a job, and her parents have to help her pay back her loans. She is now a stay-at-home mom trying to do a gift box business, but who knows how much money she still owes. Plus the cost of living around New York is so much higher. I feel that if people cannot get into the absolute top schools, ranked #1-6, then the better option is to go to a school where they can pay public school tuition. If a person still can't even get into their state public law school, then they should take it as a sign that they shouldn't go to law school. Lower ranked private schools are just hungry for federal student loan money & will let in almost anyone.

[@susancox1310]

@@aalegalfocus Thanks

[@wenkaiyang1487]

I feel it’s very risky to go to law school. You will hardly to pay back your debt if you are not working as corporate lawyer. If you go to a private school and later become a public defender, you will struggle with life all the time. Hard to imagine used to be a prestigious career makes you struggling with life. But how likely are you able to find a job as a corporate lawyer? Very low. Is it really worth it going to law school?

[@ambientarty]

This channel has been life changing for me! Thank you so much for your wisdom and for how approachable/clear you make these videos. I’m taking the LSAT flex on this Monday and I can’t wait to use your videos to help me make the right call for myself (once I get that score back). Thanks again :)

[@AngelaVorpahl]

I love this comment so much!! I'm so glad the videos have been helpful and that they've given you some insight into the process and the industry. Best of luck on Monday and once you get your score back if you have any questions or want to bounce ideas off of someone about law schools just let me know! :)

[@shirleycarrillo23]

Hi Angela! I've been watching your videos for a few months now because I'm interested in attending law school. I'm trying to learn as much as I can about the legal profession and your videos and advice have been so insightful and valuable to me. Thanks so much for the work that you do!

[@AngelaVorpahl]

Yay! That's so awesome to hear! Haha and that totally answers the question I just asked you! I actually have a free FB group for law students and prelaw students looking to get clarity and support in their law school journey. Would you like the link to join? :)

[@shirleycarrillo23]

@@AngelaVorpahl Yes, I’d love to join. Sometimes, I have quick questions and I would like to hear others thoughts. Could you please share that link? Thank you so much!! 🤗

[@AngelaVorpahl]

@@shirleycarrillo23 Of course! Here's the link to join: facebook.com/groups/lawtribenetwork See you inside!!

[@pranavpillai7778]

T14 schools and other highly ranked law schools are pretty straightforward you get a job in Big Law and you are set. But schools that are lower in the rankings are fine to attend but pick based on cost and employment outcomes.

[@yourlifeisawesome]

'If you invented an App...or...a rocket ship..." Angela, your comment made me laugh... and think! My building experience with tech leans more towards hardware than software (I love building PCs, but have little coding experience), and my rocket-building skills are at their peak... in video games, so I don't know if meet these very specific "standards." However, I have served in several founding, leadership positions, both in my county and at my schools that have paved way for inclusive social change within our community. I also received a research grant, while still in undergrad, to study areas related to the social groups I helped find. I wonder, when it comes to law school applications, would these contributions qualify as on par with an "app or a rocket ship?"

[@AngelaVorpahl]

Heck yes!

[@njp101]

Hey Angela, thanks again for the great videos. I was just wondering if you go to a T14 law school, does that mean you're pretty much guaranteed a shot at biglaw if that's what you decide to do?

[@AngelaVorpahl]

So funny you ask that because that's exactly what I talk about in the video coming out tomorrow! ;) The short answer is, from what I've seen, yes. Of course the goal is to always do well and give yourself the best chance to go after the position you want, but since law firms across the country will always be interested in employing associates with T14 credentials (for the name recognition and prestige), even if you don't do particularly well at a T14 law school I believe that you have a good shot at finding a BigLaw job SOMEWHERE in the U.S., even if it's in a much more regional office of a firm headquartered in a larger market.

[@aalegalfocus]

My answer is no. You still need to be in the top 10% - otherwise they will toss your resume. Maybe Harvard/Yale are the exceptions.

[@stankakol5195]

@@aalegalfocus This guy is spot on!! Focus on grades, not buddies, if you want a job. "Contacts" are almost meaningless early on.

[@aalegalfocus]

@@stankakol5195 I'm actually a woman, but I appreciate your thoughts. It is so true, it's all about the grades. I went to a T14, but since I wasn't at the top of the class, there was no biglaw option. My career totally took a downward path, especially after I had to move to another state. The bigger firms around here would rather hire people from the top of a fourth tier in-state law school.

[@dathunderman4]

@@aalegalfocus what are you talking about? Cornell for instance has a 69% big law placement rate. Pretty much every t14 not named HYS have over 50% BL placement. You don’t need to place top 10% to get BL out of a t14, that’s just ludicrous. Maybe that’s how you perceived it to be when you graduated law school, Georgetown’s BL employment #s have been up and down for years and it’s no longer even a t14.

[@chrisnease88]

Love your channel, my question is if I become a prosecutor out of law school will it be harder to get a big law job after I gain some experience? I've heard a lot of prosecutors end up in big law but couldn't find relevant information on the topic. Thank you

[@AngelaVorpahl]

Hi, Chris! It depends on what level of prosecutor you are, but generally speaking it's much easier to go from BigLaw to prosecutor than the other way around. That being said, there is a somewhat common trajectory for AUSAs (Assistant U.S. Attorneys) -- i.e. prosectors at the federal level -- whereby they work as an AUSA for 10-15 years and during that time if they've worked in a sector that has earned them experience that would allow them to recruit high-paying clients (like investment banks for example) they may be offered a position as a partner in a BigLaw firm. I wouldn't completely count out a BigLaw firm hiring a young AUSA if they want to come in as an associate, but it's much rarer and they would likely need some trial experience in the specific practice group they're looking to enter (like securities litigation or IP litigation) that has cross-over from the criminal to civil practice areas.

[@aalegalfocus]

Yes, it will be harder, but if you have a lot of experience working in the US attorney's office, you may be able to leverage that to doing white collar crime defense at a big firm. I've never heard of anyone being a county prosecutor (low paying, high stress job, btw) & then working for biglaw.

[@sampakpahan6749]

Hello I'm graduating next fall at UC Irvine and plan to go to law school the following year. Due to my circumstances I'm only looking at law schools in SoCal. So my top 3 choices are UCLA, USC and UCI. UCLA is ranked just outside of the top tier 14. I believe it's ranked 15. If I can get into one of these schools, will this be a disadvantage getting into a top law firm?

[@AngelaVorpahl]

Omg not at all!! Those are all AMAZING schools and doing well in any of those will put you in fantastic position to get a job at a top law firm! You can't go wrong with those choices! :)

[@OiVinn-eq1ml]

All are good schools

[@aalegalfocus]

I think your chances would be much better if you can get into UCLA. Good luck!

[@stankakol5195]

Angela, I am a new subscriber and I really enjoy your channel. How was the term "T14" derived? Is it because USN&WR grants so many ties?

[@justinc2413]

T14 became a thing because they are normally the schools that remain in that range of ranks. They might move around slightly, but they are generally always the same 14 schools.

[@kama6196]

Man's skin is glowing, wonder what he uses.

[@AngelaVorpahl]

Haha that's all natural SWEAT in all it's glory. It was SO hot that day and I was afraid turning on the AC would affec the audio! I have since learned a little buzzing in the background is much preferred to the glistening skin look ;)

[@jessies16]

Lee

[@nessawithsmiles]

Do you really have to be top of your class if you go to a regional law school? Like if I’m not top of my class, is big law probably out of the picture immediately out of law school?

[@AngelaVorpahl]

The short answer is that traditional BigLaw hiring is based almost exclusively on your class ranking after your 1L year and the ranking of your law school. If you want to check out the exact breakdown, I made a video on that here(!): kzbin.info/www/bejne/e6bVqJ-jn7Cmo9U. The longer answer is that depending on where your law school is located (i.e. how strong the legal market is in the city where you're attending law school), how successfully you can niche down in your 2L year and 3L years, and how strongly you can come back with 2L grades you can still have a shot. Feel free to DM me on Instagram if you want to talk more about your specific law school or class ranking privately @angelavorpahl :) Angela

[@jamielannister3627]

O Love yes, it’s over for you

[@aalegalfocus]

Yes, unless you have some connection to the hiring partners.

[@aalegalfocus]

@@jamielannister3627 yep, sad but true. Game over.

[@nessawithsmiles]

Jamie Lannister it’s not actually . I’m interning at an international tech Legal department and have met with many hiring partners at firms for opportunities. I’ve already secured a big law job at a top 30 firm before graduation. Feel free to Speak for yourself though. 😌

[@NomaswaziMadi]

What’s a “higher grade”? Like example

[@AngelaVorpahl]

Can you be more specific? I want to make sure I'm understanding your question so that I can answer it properly.

[@NomaswaziMadi]

In the video you talk about a higher grade referring to a gpa.

[@AngelaVorpahl]

@@NomaswaziMadi Hmm I don't quite remember what I would have been referring to, but perhaps needing to rank at the top of your class in a more regional law school (top 33%, top 25%, top 10%) but having a lot more flexibility ranking in the bottom of your class at a T14 law school and still being competitive for a job.