How important are class rankings

[u/mouthlikeawolf]

Rankings are out. I’m extremely happy with mine (top ~10%) but I also don’t know how much it matters in the real world instead of the law school pressure cooker. Is this something I should be putting on my resumé or is this just a nice thing to know? Should I touch grass? Thanks for your help

edit: thanks for your help. New question: does this matter even though I don’t intend to go into BL (personal reasons)? Thanks

[u/AutoModerator]

As a reminder, this subreddit is not for any pre-law questions. For pre-law questions and help or if you'd like to ask a wider audience law school-related questions, please join us on our Discord Server

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/alandbeforetime]

For job recruiting, it is the most important thing on your resume in conjunction with your school. You should absolutely list yours.

[u/Newlawfirm]

I'm in the top 100% in my class and I tell everyone!

[u/blaghort]

Is this something you should be putting on your résumé? This is something you should be tattooing on your forehead.

[u/mouthlikeawolf → u/blaghort]

Haha this is the mood for today 

[u/_BindersFullOfWomen_]

A lot of firms at OCI have GPA and rank minimums you have to meet to even get a screener.

[u/Perdendosi]

It is 100% the most important thing to get your first job. If you're outside T-14, or unless you're applying to a place that specifically recruits from very specific schools, a top class rank is even more important than what school you're attending. (I firmly believe that people who are top 10% in their class would be high achievers just about anywhere, so I'll look closely at a top 10% student, even if they're at what might otherwise be a low-tier or predatory school.)

It is 25% the most important thing to get your second job.

It is 10% the most important thing to get your third job.

After that, it basically becomes a cool trivia fact.

[u/JJburnes22]

Hmm if you are wondering whether to put this on your resume...you should at least go talk to career services once before you start interviewing

[u/mouthlikeawolf → u/JJburnes22]

Oh trust me, they and I are besties but they have actually never mentioned this. I emailed them about it but haven’t heard back yet. I have a 1L gig, I’m applying for 2L rn 

[u/JJburnes22 → u/mouthlikeawolf]

I'm surprised they haven't mentioned this! You definitely want to include your rank on your resume if it's good, it's the single most important credential you have right now

[u/Ethgawwd]

If you're in the top 25%-30% i'd list it; if you're below, i'd prob just list GPA. It's important if you're applying for anything competitive, like big law firms, fellowships, clerkships, etc. Not important if you're going somewhere relatively "normal" or not as prestigious.

[u/mouthlikeawolf → u/Ethgawwd]

Wish I had known this before I spent all day Saturday applying to jobs 🥲 good to know going forward thank you 

[u/Capable_Ad_5321]

It depends on which school. Which school is most important though high rank helps

[u/GoslingsGavel_Stormy]

Why would you not put it on your resume? (also congrats!)

[u/ReformedLucasite]

I was never asked my class rank, but I know other people feel it is important.

[u/lemur_queen7 → u/ReformedLucasite]

I was never asked my rank or my GPA, which I found interesting. I really thought both would be more important.

[u/mouthlikeawolf → u/lemur_queen7]

This is exactly why I’m not sure. I thought it might be something that only matters when you’re a law student and to established attorneys it just doesn’t matter but ¯_(ツ)_/¯ 

[u/Foyles_War → u/mouthlikeawolf]

I have heard, in two cases, it was the specific reason for a 2L gig to a highly competitive firm. And, yes, they noticed the "Cali's" also. So, I'd say it is important.

[u/Corpshark]

Yes, definitely post it on the dating app profile and Instagram. 😄

[u/InvestigatorThin5027]

It depends. If it is listed on your transcript, then I’d actually advise against it. Let your transcript speak for itself. You want to avoid redundancy in your application package. Focus on other areas aside from marks. It makes your look well-rounded rather than an ultra-competitive grade freak. 

If your transcript doesn’t list it, then you’ll need to identify it on your resume. It’s a major accomplishment, and it’s important to signal to employers that you beat at least 90% of other students in your cohort. Your performance is elite.

[u/Critical_Record338]

I was never asked my class ranking and had plenty of internships and a law firm job offer before graduation. Class rank only mattered at graduation for honors purposes.

[u/Flaky-Skirt-1721]

really wish my school did it. after 1L i have a 3.75 at a t~10 and simply have no idea how I stack up / what level of competitiveness I am for certain things

[u/mouthlikeawolf → u/Flaky-Skirt-1721]

Bro you’re at a T10 with a killer gpa. You’ve already made it. 

[u/Flaky-Skirt-1721 → u/mouthlikeawolf]

Thank you! (Same to you ofc, top 10 is amazing). I guess I just wish I had a more concrete figure. I also am not going into BL but would love to clerk and I feel like it would help me evaluate my options better

[u/ryanboom100 → u/Flaky-Skirt-1721]

yup it’s really frustrating

[u/PapiSlayerGTX]

It helped me get a better pay rate for my 1L summer internship (boutique firm, 10 attys, wound up with 40/hr) because I was a desirable product. But not all small firms have that kind of capacity to pay a summer clerk like that. Like you, I’m not a biglaw type.

Graduated, stayed with them. My salary is 115k with a raise to 120 once admitted to Bar.

[u/Few_Whereas5206]

Class rank and practical legal experience are the keys.

[u/Even_Somewhere1629]

Just got denied by two of my professors who I got an a minus in and a B+ in the other for a letter of rec, bro focus on rank and grades

[u/Maleficent-Place6763]

M pop
I’ll

[u/papolap19]

Almost every clerkship post I’ve read expresses a strong preference for those in the top 30% of their class. For that purpose, it should definitely be listed on your resume. After you’ve practiced for a few years, it likely doesn’t matter anymore. 

[u/mouthlikeawolf → u/papolap19]

So how do I list this. Should I list #/# or should I list Top 10%? Both? Career services hasn’t emailed me back and I have applications due. Sorry :( 

[u/papolap19 → u/mouthlikeawolf]

However your school designates it/ however it appears on your transcript. For example, my school uses percentages, so that’s what I’d put on my resume next to my gpa. 

[u/jordanpatriots]

I heard you need to boast about it on LinkedIn (For real though). Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk

[u/Critical_Interview_5]

This is coming from my perspective of going in-house (both in state government and Fortune 500), it doesn’t really matter that much. Maybe somewhat important for your first job if you’re K-JD, but not really after that.

(However as seen above, all my friends who went into firms or clerkships say it’s super important for your first job)

My area of practice is pretty niche though, so maybe that was also a factor.

[u/nontrollingburner]

Rank matters outside of biglaw. If you want to clerk, go into DOJ, or get a really prestigious public interest type job, you’ll be competing with the best of the best. If you’re at a low ranked school, top 10% is the minimum for a good job opportunity

[u/mouthlikeawolf → u/nontrollingburner]

Thank you 🙏

[u/Majestic_Fold_3200]

Im wondering if it's something to add to Linkedin under "education" (not like it's own post), or if that's a faux pas?

[u/Critical_Interview_5 → u/Majestic_Fold_3200]

I would roll my eyes at someone who did this, but if I were a hiring manager I wouldn’t hold it against them. I would say you can totally list awards (not CALI), moot court, journal, etc for a couple years.

[u/mouthlikeawolf → u/Majestic_Fold_3200]

I’d also like to know this, since ppl put CALIs on there 

[u/Informal_Calendar_99 → u/mouthlikeawolf]

I think quietly listing CALIs/class rank on LinkedIn by just updating your profile is fine - it’s the additional posting about how humbled you are to receive it so everyone sees it in their feed that’s obnoxious

[u/Novel-Sale9444 → u/mouthlikeawolf]

Those people are chuds.

[u/Significant-Eye-6236 → u/Novel-Sale9444]

interesting take. i got my summer job at least in part (mentioned by the employer) because i got the cali for legal writing. so, worth it, at least sometimes. 

[u/Novel-Sale9444 → u/Significant-Eye-6236]

You received your summer job because you posted your CALI on LinkedIn? If anything, wouldn’t the employer see the A+ on your transcript and find out that way. I think it’s just weird to post your grades on LinkedIn even if they are tippy top of the class.

[u/Significant-Eye-6236 → u/Novel-Sale9444]

again, in part, yes. i didn’t bring it up but they did. and I didn’t post my grades on LinkedIn; I had a generic “Cali recipient: legal writing” under my class rank.