Attending a non-T14 law school doesn't mean you're at a disadvantage—but it does mean you need to be more strategic in how you position yourself. The legal job market can be competitive, especially when some firms prioritize graduates from elite institutions. However, countless successful attorneys have built thriving careers without a top-tier school on their résumés. Even if you’re at a non‑T14 law school, federal internships can provide a competitive edge — see our Ultimate Guide to Federal Legal Internships for top programs.
If you’re determined to break into BigLaw, land a federal clerkship, or build a standout legal career from a non-T14 school, here’s how to do it.
Excel Academically—Grades Still Matter
When you're attending a non-T14 law school, one of the most powerful ways to stand out is through academic excellence. While all law students know grades are important, they become even more critical when your school's name doesn't carry automatic prestige. Strong academic performance can help level the playing field—and in some cases, even tilt it in your favor.
Why grades matter more from a non-T14:
- Objective metric: Employers use grades as a quick, quantifiable way to evaluate candidates, especially when they're unfamiliar with your school.
- OCI and clerkship eligibility: Many law firms and judges use GPA cutoffs for interviews. Excelling academically can put you in the top pool of candidates, even at competitive firms.
- Scholarships and academic honors: High grades can open up financial aid, merit-based awards, law review opportunities, and class rankings that boost your résumé.
- Signals discipline and potential: Academic success shows you can handle pressure, think critically, and meet high standards—key qualities law firms seek.
How to excel academically:
- Treat your first-year classes as your top priority. Your 1L grades carry the most weight in job searches and OCI selection.
- Master time management. Create a study schedule that balances reading, outlining, review, and practice exams.
- Don’t hesitate to ask for help. Use office hours, study groups, or academic support programs to reinforce your understanding.
- Practice active learning. Engage with the material through outlining, applying concepts to hypotheticals, and taking old exams under timed conditions.
- Avoid distractions. Stay focused, limit social media, and set clear boundaries around your study time.
A strong GPA from a non-T14 school can unlock doors to BigLaw, judicial clerkships, government roles, and more. It’s one of the few factors you can fully control—and one of the most effective ways to prove your potential.
Build a Strong Legal Writing Portfolio
In the legal profession, writing is everything. Whether you're drafting memos, motions, contracts, or client communications, your ability to write clearly, persuasively, and professionally is essential. For law students from non-T14 schools, showcasing exceptional legal writing skills is a powerful way to stand out, especially when competing against candidates from more prestigious institutions.
Why legal writing matters:
- It demonstrates your ability to think like a lawyer. Legal writing requires logical analysis, precision, and a clear understanding of the law—all traits that employers value.
- It’s often used to evaluate candidates. Many employers request writing samples, and a well-crafted one can elevate your application or compensate for a lesser-known school.
- It creates long-term career value. Great legal writers become trusted advisors, litigators, and brief writers—skills that translate into client trust and long-term success.
How to build a strong legal writing portfolio:
- Excel in your Legal Research and Writing (LRW) courses. These foundational classes teach you how to draft memos and briefs, and your performance here sets the tone for future legal writing. Save and polish your best work as potential writing samples.
- Join law review or other journals. Many law firms and judges consider journal membership a mark of academic and writing excellence. If your grades don’t qualify you for automatic acceptance, participate in the write-on competition.
- Submit articles for publication. Publishing in legal journals—whether student-run, school-affiliated, or professional—can boost your credibility. Even short notes or case comments show initiative and thought leadership.
- Work as a research assistant. Assisting a professor with academic writing or legal scholarship gives you exposure to high-level legal analysis and improves your writing in the process.
- Enter legal writing competitions. Organizations like the ABA, Inns of Court, and national practice groups sponsor contests with cash prizes and publication opportunities. These are résumé gold and show you’re serious about your craft.
- Create a writing portfolio. Keep a clean, edited version of your best writing samples. Have one memo and one persuasive brief ready for job applications—tailored, if possible, to the role you’re applying for.
Gain Practical Experience Early and Often
As a law student from a non-T14 school, one of the most effective ways to stand out is by gaining real-world legal experience as early and often as possible. Employers love candidates who can hit the ground running, and nothing demonstrates that better than a track record of hands-on legal work.
While top-tier schools may open more doors through brand recognition, practical experience shows initiative, readiness, and a strong work ethic—qualities that resonate with all legal employers.
Why early legal experience matters:
- It builds real legal skills. Research, writing, client communication, case management—these can’t be learned from textbooks alone.
- It enhances your résumé. Multiple internships show progression and dedication, helping you compete with candidates from more prestigious schools.
- It sharpens your career direction. Exposure to different practice areas and work environments helps you discover what type of legal work and setting suits you best.
- It provides references and networking opportunities. Supervisors and attorneys you work with can become advocates and mentors.
Where to find valuable legal experience:
- Judicial internships: Working with a judge can be incredibly prestigious and enlightening. You'll learn how legal arguments are analyzed from the bench and how decisions are made.
- Law school clinics: Many clinics let you represent real clients under supervision, draft pleadings, and even appear in court. Employers highly regard this experience.
- Government internships: Positions with district attorneys, public defenders, or agencies like the EEOC or SEC provide robust training and often hands-on litigation or policy work.
- Legal aid and nonprofit organizations: Public interest roles offer meaningful work with vulnerable populations and often involve direct client interaction.
- Small or midsize firms: These often provide more responsibility than large firms, allowing you to develop practical skills early.
- In-house legal departments: Corporate legal teams give exposure to compliance, contracts, and business operations, especially helpful if you're interested in transactional work.
How to maximize your experience:
- Start as early as 1L summer. Don’t wait until after your second year to seek experience. Any exposure to the legal field helps build confidence and skills.
- Take on substantive tasks. Volunteer for writing assignments, research memos, or anything that gets you closer to the real work lawyers do.
- Ask for feedback. Learn from your supervisors and treat each role as a professional development opportunity.
Legal employers look for more than just a strong GPA—they want law students who’ve seen the inside of a courtroom, written legal documents, and worked with real clients. By gaining practical experience early and often, you position yourself as a candidate who’s not just smart, but capable, committed, and ready to succeed. Non‑T14 students can maximize their experience by strategically working part-time — see Working During Law School: The Pros and Cons of Working Part-Time as a Law Student for practical tips.
Network Intentionally and Persistently
Networking is essential, especially for law students from non-T14 schools. A strong network can help you access hidden job opportunities, land referrals, and build relationships that open doors far beyond what your school’s name can offer.
- Start with alumni. Reach out via LinkedIn or your law school’s alumni network. Most are happy to offer advice or share how they navigated the legal market.
- Attend legal events and bar association meetings. Introduce yourself, ask thoughtful questions, and follow up afterward to keep the connection alive.
- Request informational interviews. These low-pressure conversations help you learn about career paths while building rapport with professionals in your desired field.
Be consistent and genuine—people hire those they know, like, and trust. Networking with purpose can help overcome any perceived school-related barriers.
Specialize in a Niche Practice Area
Specializing in a niche practice area is a powerful way for law students from non-T14 schools to stand out in a competitive job market. While many of your peers may take a generalist approach, focusing on a specific, in-demand area of law demonstrates clarity, commitment, and expertise—traits that employers value highly.
Why a niche makes you stand out:
- It creates a unique personal brand. When you’re known for a particular legal subject, you become memorable, even more so than someone from a T14 school with no clear focus.
- It aligns you with specific market needs. Emerging or underserved areas of law (like data privacy, cybersecurity, cannabis regulation, fintech, or ESG compliance) are often less saturated, giving you a competitive edge.
- It makes networking and job hunting more targeted. A defined specialty helps you identify the right events, mentors, writing topics, and firms to pursue.
How to build niche expertise:
- Choose electives that align with your interests. Take every relevant course offered in your target area, and aim to earn top grades.
- Get experience in that practice area. Seek internships, externships, or clinic work that allows you to engage with your niche in a real-world context.
- Write and publish about it. Blog posts, law review articles, or LinkedIn commentary on niche issues can establish you as a thought leader, even while in law school.
- Attend specialized events. Conferences, CLE programs, and webinars related to your niche are excellent for learning and connecting with practitioners.
- Join relevant professional groups. Many practice areas have bar associations or focus groups where you can stay current and meet insiders in the field.
When you specialize, you signal to employers that you’re intentional about your career path and already invested in developing deep subject-matter expertise. That kind of focus can often outweigh school prestige, because it shows you're already thinking like a lawyer.
Polish Your Application Materials to Perfection
When you’re competing with graduates from T14 schools, your résumé, cover letter, and writing sample must do more than just check boxes—they must impress. Polished, professional, and strategically crafted application materials can help overcome any perceived disadvantages tied to your school’s rank and spotlight your unique strengths and accomplishments.
Why this matters:
- You may get only one chance to make an impression. Employers often scan applications, so clarity, formatting, and impact matter.
- It’s a way to control your narrative. Strong materials help tell a compelling story about who you are, what you offer, and where you’re going.
- It reflects your professionalism. Attention to detail and communication skills are essential in legal work, and your documents demonstrate both.
Key tips for polishing your materials:
- Tailor everything. Don’t send out the same generic résumé and cover letter to every firm. Customize your materials to match each employer’s values, practice areas, and recent work.
- Highlight your achievements. Use action verbs and results-focused language. Rather than “Worked on legal research,” say “Researched and drafted memoranda on employment law issues for pending litigation.”
- Make formatting clean and easy to scan. Use a professional font, consistent spacing, and clear section headings. Avoid clutter and unnecessary information.
- Showcase your legal writing. Include a writing sample that demonstrates your analytical ability, clarity, and understanding of legal arguments. Make sure it’s well-edited and relevant to the job you’re applying for.
- Proofread obsessively. Typos, formatting issues, or inconsistent punctuation can be disqualifying. Have multiple people review your materials—your career office, mentors, or trusted peers.
- Update regularly. As you gain new experiences—such as internships, awards, or published articles—add them promptly. Don’t let your documents become outdated or incomplete.
In a market where first impressions matter, perfectly polished application materials can make all the difference. They show you’re serious, prepared, and ready to perform at the highest level—no matter where you went to law school.
Leverage Your Law School’s Strengths
Even if your school isn’t in the T14, it likely has unique advantages you can use to your benefit. Whether it's strong regional ties, a respected clinic, a standout trial advocacy program, or a loyal alumni network, these assets can boost your visibility and credibility.
How to leverage them:
- Get involved in top programs your school is known for—like moot court, legal clinics, or specialty journals.
- Connect with engaged alumni who are often eager to support students from their alma mater.
- Use faculty relationships to gain access to job leads, research opportunities, or referrals.
Be Relentlessly Proactive
Finally, don’t wait for opportunities to come to you—create them. Students from non-T14 schools often need to send more applications, attend more events, and follow up more frequently. Persistence is not just admirable—it’s often the difference-maker. Regardless of your law school ranking, essential career strategies for all law students can help you compete.
Proactive strategies:
- Apply widely, including to firms that don’t participate in OCI.
- Reach out to employers directly, even if they’re not hiring.
- Ask for feedback and use it to improve.
- Keep building skills and growing your network, even if it means taking an unpaid internship initially.
| See Related Articles |
Final Thoughts
While a T14 law school may open certain doors faster, it doesn’t guarantee long-term success—and not having one doesn’t limit your potential. With smart strategy, strong academics, consistent networking, and a clear sense of direction, you can absolutely stand out as a law student from a non-T14 school and build a rewarding legal career.
