Sometimes a story's worth a thousand data points. From the New York Law Journal:
I graduated from a Tier One law school (in the 35-40 range), albeit not in Massachusetts. I was in the Top 10% of my class, graduating magna cum laude and receiving Order of the Coif honors. I was a Managing Editor on my law review and received a Top Oralist award in Moot Court. I interned at the US Attorney's Office my 2L summer and currently clerk on the Massachusetts Appeals Court. Why can't I get an interview with any firms?
The NYLJ''s advice boils down to using your law school career services office, networking, and broadening the search. And also includes this downer:
The law schools in the 35-40 range are not always categorized as Tier One in the minds of all of the BigLaw firms (don't kill the messenger here – I'm not the one who makes up these rules). The further down the scale you go, the tougher the requirements are that are set up in the BigLaw firms. So, even though you graduated in the top 10% of your class, your specific law school might be categorized at the BigLaw firms as requiring top 5% graduates only.
