So, I'll be starting my second year at a low Tier 1 school (Catholic University) and am hoping to get into biglaw. I am in the top 20% of my class, and have already lined up a clerkship for the year after I graduate. My goal is to stay in the DC area.

So, to use the title of the post, am I delusional to think I can get a job that pays $140,000+?

Thanks,

piper dreamer is the right name for you--not gonna happen!

Fill in the blank: I want a job _. If you begin your answer, "paying $ . . ." then you are heading down the wrong path.

@ Anon (the second one): I understand where you're coming from, and I feel dumb for coming off that shallow. I really want to do corporate law, I actually find it interesting. I'm not in this profession solely for cash (if I was looking for that I'd either be an ambulance chaser or get my MBA). However, I don't feel that there is anything wrong in wanting to be well compensated for a job that I want to do.

Anon is a jealous idiot that went to a tier 4 school. You definitely would have a chance in a normal market. However, your chances today are slim due to the severely strained legal job market. Congrats on the clerkship; state court or federal? Which level? By the time you start your clerkship, things will almost certainly be better and you will be able to land a biglaw job.

I'm sure if you search the websites of DC area firms that pay what you're looking for you'll find plenty of Catholic alums, some of which did not have clerkships. You'll (we'll) be fine. I'm in a similar situation, appx. top 1/3 of the class at a T30 school, and I'm so grateful to be starting a 2 year clerkship right now. I feel pretty good about my chances when I start looking, but I'm glad that it won't be for a while.

I agree that you definitely have a shot. DC is one of the best markets right now because of all of the government money. The market is starting to loosen and will be better a year from now. Top half from a Tier 1 school; you will be fine. Best of luck to you.

I hate to break it to you, but you're a pipe dreamer on many fronts. First off CUA isn't a Tier 1 school. You're low Tier 2 ranked around 90 (Tier 1 is top 50), and have dipped into Tier 3 in recent years. Not only that, but remember, in addition to grads from all around the country that want to work in DC, you're directly competing against grads from the other local schools, Georgetown (14) GW (25-30), George Mason and American (both in the 40s). Top 20% at CUA probably isn't going to open very many doors for you in biglaw, and espicially not in this market, lest you have something else particularly impressive on your resume. If you have a federal clerkship, that may help, particularly if you turn around and get an federal appelate clerkship for the following year. Hopefully, by then, the job market picked up, and you will have a better shot.

Good luck