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Graduated From a Tier 3 Law School: There’s much you can do with your degree

published June 26, 2012

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By CEO and Founder - BCG Attorney Search left

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What you do with your tier 3 law school degree depends on you

Graduating from a tier 3 law school does not automatically qualify you as a sure shot disaster, though that is the myth a section of the legal industry would like to establish – because, otherwise, there would be few takers for high-cost law schools. While no one would claim that a tier 1 law school and a tier 3 law school are on the same footing – the difference is based and stressed on average expectations and average results. Neither the founding fathers of the nation, nor the people who were the best lawyers of yesteryear's needed law degrees and employer brands to make them who they were. The lack of a law degree also did not make anyone incompetent to draft the U.S. Constitution, the bedrock of all statutes, law schools and law degrees. What you make of your tier 3 law school degree, or of yourself, depends largely upon you, and the going may be difficult in the beginning, but a tier 3 law school degree is not going to prevent you from having a great life.
 
J.D. from a 3rd Tier Law School

The real problem with a tier 3 law school degree

The only real problem with a tier 3 law school degree is if you happened to encounter poor learning, and failed to develop yourself. No one can help you if you did not learn the law, regardless of whether you graduated from a tier 1 or a tier 3 law school. But, if you did manage to learn the law, then your only real problem is that at preliminary screenings, hi-fi law firms would not treat you kindly. That does not mean the end of the world.

The origin of most lawyers

From where do all those traffic lawyers, divorce lawyers, personal injury lawyers and real estate lawyers come? Are all the small county prosecutors and public defenders from tier 1 law schools?

Well, you can be sure that they mostly don't come from tier 1 law schools. Students from tier 1 law schools are destined usually to end up in the academia, or in a life in big law firms. But for you, with a degree from a tier 3 law school, the entire world except a small coterie of law firms is wide open. If you choose to go into a non-lawyer profession, or apply for working in-house, no one is going to raise an eyebrow. Your degree from a tier 3 law school is a genuine reason to non-law firm employers for you to seek a life outside law firms. A graduate from tier 1 law schools does not have any advantage over you outside big law. They would receive the call for interviews alright, but few non-law firm employers or small law firms would employ a tier 1 law graduate, because they know he has little reason to stay on with them and he is actually looking for a stopgap arrangement.

Why you have better prospects unless you refuse to recognize prospects beyond big law

Actually, the opportunities are far greater, and the career options are more flexible for graduates from tier 3 law schools who do not need to substantiate their reasons for seeking alternative options to that of a life in a law firm. So, here are your options – small law firm, local employers, local state government, local court jobs, going solo, in-house jobs, real-estate, insurance, and any employment that is local or regional in nature. The employers have a greater chance to opt for you than for a tier 1 law school graduate.

Understand that even as a lawyer striking out solo, somebody out there has to work for the great numbers of low-income people, somebody has to do DUI defenses, personal injury claims, estate planning and work for ordinary citizens – which few graduates from top law schools can afford to do with the genie of non-dischargeable student loan debts riding on their shoulders. Believe it or not, there are plenty of solo practitioners in small courts who earn more than the average big firm attorney, and do it with lesser stress.

You can have a life, create it, and enjoy it

Only thing is, you have to keep in mind that success does not come in a day. Unless you are stressed out with a heavy student loan debt of course, keep patience and keep working. And if, in spite of studying in a tier 3 law school, you happened to incur a heavy debt – start looking for a job as fast as you can, and that does not need to be a job for a lawyer. Then manage your debts and bring your life back on keel.

You might be surprised to learn that millions of U.S. citizens have great lives outside law firms and without working billable hours. In fact, for every lawyer out there, there are about 250 ordinary U.S. citizens, and out of the thousands of lawyers in the nation, only a handful is engaged in big law firms. It's those poor souls slogging in the law firms who have a hard time of it, actually. If you graduated from a tier 3 law school it might be safe to assume that you have not incurred the high-student loan debts that cannot be discharged and which turn new graduates witless if they don't get entry into big law. You have a life, those in big law don't. Now make it work.

Please see the following articles for more information about law school, the bar exam and succeeding in your first year of practice:
 

About Harrison Barnes

No legal recruiter in the United States has placed more attorneys at top law firms across every practice area than Harrison Barnes. His unmatched expertise, industry connections, and proven placement strategies have made him the most influential legal career advisor for attorneys seeking success in Big Law, elite boutiques, mid-sized firms, small firms, firms in the largest and smallest markets, and in over 350 separate practice areas.

A Reach Unlike Any Other Legal Recruiter

Most legal recruiters focus only on placing attorneys in large markets or specific practice areas, but Harrison places attorneys at all levels, in all practice areas, and in all locations—from the most prestigious firms in New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., to small and mid-sized firms in rural markets. Every week, he successfully places attorneys not only in high-demand practice areas like corporate and litigation but also in niche and less commonly recruited areas such as:

  • Immigration law
  • Workers’ compensation
  • Insurance defense
  • Family law
  • Trusts & estates
  • Municipal law
  • And many more...

This breadth of placements is unheard of in the legal recruiting industry and is a testament to his extraordinary ability to connect attorneys with the right firms, regardless of market size or practice area.

Proven Success at All Levels

With over 25 years of experience, Harrison has successfully placed attorneys at over 1,000 law firms, including:

  • Top Am Law 100 firms such including Sullivan and Cromwell, and almost every AmLaw 100 and AmLaw 200 law firm.
  • Elite boutique firms with specialized practices
  • Mid-sized firms looking to expand their practice areas
  • Growing firms in small and rural markets

He has also placed hundreds of law firm partners and has worked on firm and practice area mergers, helping law firms strategically grow their teams.

Unmatched Commitment to Attorney Success – The Story of BCG Attorney Search

Harrison Barnes is not just the most effective legal recruiter in the country, he is also the founder of BCG Attorney Search, a recruiting powerhouse that has helped thousands of attorneys transform their careers. His vision for BCG goes beyond just job placement; it is built on a mission to provide attorneys with opportunities they would never have access to otherwise. Unlike traditional recruiting firms, BCG Attorney Search operates as a career partner, not just a placement service. The firm’s unparalleled resources, including a team of over 150 employees, enable it to offer customized job searches, direct outreach to firms, and market intelligence that no other legal recruiting service provides. Attorneys working with Harrison and BCG gain access to hidden opportunities, real-time insights on firm hiring trends, and guidance from a team that truly understands the legal market. You can read more about how BCG Attorney Search revolutionizes legal recruiting here: The Story of BCG Attorney Search and What We Do for You.

The Most Trusted Career Advisor for Attorneys

Harrison’s legal career insights are the most widely followed in the profession.

Submit Your Resume to Work with Harrison Barnes

If you are serious about advancing your legal career and want access to the most sought-after law firm opportunities, Harrison Barnes is the most powerful recruiter to have on your side.

Submit your resume today to start working with him: Submit Resume Here.

With an unmatched track record of success, a vast team of over 150 dedicated employees, and a reach into every market and practice area, Harrison Barnes is the recruiter who makes career transformations happen and has the talent and resources behind him to make this happen.

A Relentless Commitment to Attorney Success

Unlike most recruiters who work with only a narrow subset of attorneys, Harrison Barnes works with lawyers at all stages of their careers, from junior associates to senior partners, in every practice area imaginable. His placements are not limited to only those with "elite" credentials—he has helped thousands of attorneys, including those who thought it was impossible to move firms, find their next great opportunity.

Harrison’s work is backed by a team of over 150 professionals who work around the clock to uncover hidden job opportunities at law firms across the country. His team:

  • Finds and creates job openings that aren’t publicly listed, giving attorneys access to exclusive opportunities.
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This level of dedicated support is unmatched in the legal recruiting industry.

A Legal Recruiter Who Changes Lives

Harrison believes that every attorney—no matter their background, law school, or previous experience—has the potential to find success in the right law firm environment. Many attorneys come to him feeling stuck in their careers, underpaid, or unsure of their next steps. Through his unique ability to identify the right opportunities, he helps attorneys transform their careers in ways they never thought possible.

He has worked with:

  • Attorneys making below-market salaries who went on to double or triple their earnings at new firms.
  • Senior attorneys who believed they were “too experienced” to make a move and found better roles with firms eager for their expertise.
  • Attorneys in small or remote markets who assumed they had no options—only to be placed at strong firms they never knew existed.
  • Partners looking for a better platform or more autonomy who successfully transitioned to firms where they could grow their practice.

For attorneys who think their options are limited, Harrison Barnes has proven time and time again that opportunities exist—often in places they never expected.

Submit Your Resume Today – Start Your Career Transformation

If you want to explore new career opportunities, Harrison Barnes and BCG Attorney Search are your best resources. Whether you are looking for a BigLaw position, a boutique firm, or a move to a better work environment, Harrison’s expertise will help you take control of your future.

? Submit Your Resume Here to get started with Harrison Barnes today.

Alternative Summary

Harrison is the founder of BCG Attorney Search and several companies in the legal employment space that collectively gets thousands of attorneys jobs each year. Harrison’s writings about attorney careers and placement attract millions of reads each year. Harrison is widely considered the most successful recruiter in the United States and personally places multiple attorneys most weeks. His articles on legal search and placement are read by attorneys, law students and others millions of times per year.

More about Harrison

About LawCrossing

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