Best Law Schools for BigLaw: 30+ Schools Ranked by $225k Placement Rate
"BigLaw" refers to large corporate law firms with 500+ attorneys that pay the industry-standard "Cravath Scale" salary — currently starting at $225,000/year for first-year associates, plus bonuses of $15,000–$115,000. These are the most financially rewarding jobs in law.
But not all law schools provide equal access. At the top schools, 70%+ of graduates land BigLaw jobs regardless of class rank. At regional schools, you may need to be in the top 10–25% of your class. Below, we rank 30+ schools by their actual BigLaw + Federal Clerkship placement rates using official ABA employment data.
65.9%
Avg. BigLaw Rate (Top 10)
14.2%
Avg. Clerkship Rate
80.1%
Avg. Elite Outcome
$225k
Starting Salary
How We Rank BigLaw Placement
We calculate these rankings based on Employment Outcomes reported to the American Bar Association (ABA).
The Metric
We combine the percentage of the graduating class employed in Law Firms (501+ Attorneys) and Federal Judicial Clerkships.
Why Clerkships Count
Federal Clerkships are highly prestigious positions that almost always lead directly to BigLaw with a signing bonus. Excluding them would unfairly penalize schools like Yale and Stanford.
The "BigLaw Factories" (NYC & Corporate Feeders)
Schools where 70%+ of the class heads directly into corporate practice. These are the ultimate pipelines to Wall Street and major corporate law firms.
The Elite All-Rounders
Schools with massive national reach. These institutions send graduates to every major legal market in the country with exceptional placement rates.
Chicago Market Owner + NYC Feeder
Chicago, IL
UChicago essentially owns the Chicago legal market while sending massive numbers to NYC. Its rigorous Law & Economics curriculum produces graduates who think about legal problems in terms of incentives and efficiency — exactly what corporate clients want.
Highest BigLaw Rate in the T14
Charlottesville, VA
UVA consistently posts the highest raw BigLaw placement percentage in the entire T14 — 71%. Its collegial culture, 99.1% bar pass rate, and strong D.C./NYC placement make it an exceptional value, especially with generous merit scholarships.
The "Overperformers" (Best Non-T14s for BigLaw)
You don't always need a T14 degree to get the job. These schools punch above their ranking and offer excellent BigLaw outcomes at potentially lower costs.
2025-2026 BigLaw Placement Rankings
Based on the Class of 2024 ABA Employment Summary Reports. Sorted by combined BigLaw (500+ firms) and Federal Clerkship placement rates.
Location, Location, Location
BigLaw is not evenly distributed across the US. It is concentrated in major legal markets. If you want BigLaw, you should generally attend a T14 school or a strong regional school in one of these hubs:
The largest legal market in the world with 50+ BigLaw firms. NYC firms dominate M&A, capital markets, and securities litigation. Starting salary: $225,000.
Regulatory, appellate, and government contracts hub. D.C. firms specialize in antitrust, lobbying, and white-collar defense. Strong demand for clerkship alumni.
Third-largest legal market. Corporate litigation, derivatives, and commodities law. UChicago and Northwestern dominate, but Notre Dame and Illinois also place well.
Tech law, IP, entertainment, and venture capital. Bay Area firms pay Cravath Scale; LA firms increasingly match. Strong demand for tech-savvy associates.
Energy, private equity, and real estate. Texas firms have rapidly adopted Cravath Scale salaries. V&E, Kirkland, and Latham have massive Houston offices.
Life sciences, biotech, and IP litigation hub. Ropes & Gray, WilmerHale, and Goodwin dominate. Strong demand for science-background associates.
BigLaw Salary Progression (Cravath Scale 2025)
BigLaw firms pay on a lockstep "Cravath Scale" — your salary increases automatically each year regardless of performance. Here's what you can expect at a major firm.
| Year | Base Salary | Typical Bonus | Total Comp |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Year | $225,000 | $15,000–$22,500 | ~$240,000 |
| 2nd Year | $235,000 | $22,500–$37,500 | ~$260,000 |
| 3rd Year | $260,000 | $37,500–$52,500 | ~$300,000 |
| 4th Year | $295,000 | $52,500–$67,500 | ~$350,000 |
| 5th Year | $330,000 | $67,500–$82,500 | ~$400,000 |
| 6th Year | $365,000 | $82,500–$100,000 | ~$450,000 |
| 7th Year | $390,000 | $100,000–$115,000 | ~$500,000 |
| 8th Year (Sr.) | $420,000 | $115,000+ | ~$535,000 |
Key takeaway: A BigLaw associate earns over $2 million in their first 7 years. Even with $200k+ in law school debt, the ROI is overwhelmingly positive for those who stay 3+ years. Use our ROI Calculator to model your specific scenario.
How to Get BigLaw from a Non-T14 School
You don't need a T14 degree to land a $225k job — but you need a strategy. Here's what it takes at schools ranked outside the Top 14.
Class Rank Matters — A Lot
At a T14, you can be median and still get BigLaw. At a T20–T30 school, you typically need top 25–30%. At a T50 school, you need top 10–15%. Law Review membership is almost essential outside the T14.
Location Is Your Leverage
Schools in major legal markets (NYC, D.C., Chicago) have a built-in advantage. Fordham in Manhattan places more into BigLaw than many T14 schools simply because firms recruit on campus. Choose a school in the market you want to practice in.
Network Before OCI
On-Campus Interviews (OCI) are the primary BigLaw hiring mechanism. But at non-T14 schools, fewer firms attend OCI. You need to supplement with direct applications, alumni networking, and cold outreach to hiring partners.
Target the Right Firms
Not all BigLaw is created equal. "V10" firms (Cravath, Wachtell, etc.) hire almost exclusively from the T14. But firms ranked 50–100 on the AmLaw list still pay Cravath Scale and actively recruit from strong regional schools.
Consider a Clerkship First
A federal clerkship after graduation is a "golden ticket" into BigLaw regardless of your law school. Clerks receive a signing bonus ($50k–$100k+) and are highly sought after. This path is available from any school if you have strong grades.
Lateral Moves Are Real
Many lawyers start at mid-size firms (100–500 attorneys) and lateral into BigLaw after 2–3 years of strong performance. This path is increasingly common and doesn't require a T14 pedigree — just excellent work product and a strong network.
Frequently Asked Questions About BigLaw
Common questions about BigLaw careers, salaries, and law school placement.
What is the Cravath Scale and how much do BigLaw lawyers make?
The Cravath Scale is the lockstep compensation model used by major law firms, named after Cravath, Swaine & Moore. As of 2025, first-year associates start at $225,000/year, rising to $420,000+ by year 8. Year-end bonuses range from $15,000 (1st year) to $115,000+ (senior associates). Total compensation for a 7th-year associate exceeds $500,000. Partners at top firms earn $1M–$10M+.
Do I have to go to a T14 school to get BigLaw?
No, but it makes it significantly easier. At a T14 school, you can often be in the bottom half of your class and still secure BigLaw. At a T20–T30 school (like Vanderbilt, Fordham, or Notre Dame), you typically need to be in the top 25–30%. At a T50 school, you generally need top 10–15% plus Law Review. Location also matters — schools in NYC, D.C., and Chicago have built-in advantages.
Why do Yale and Stanford have lower BigLaw percentages than Columbia or Penn?
This is misleading. Yale and Stanford graduates have the luxury of choice. Many choose prestigious Federal Clerkships (26% at Yale, 21% at Stanford), legal academia, or high-impact public interest careers over corporate law. If they wanted BigLaw, they could get it — that's why we include clerkships in our "elite outcome" metric. When you combine BigLaw + clerkships, Yale and Stanford are among the highest.
What is the difference between BigLaw and mid-law?
BigLaw refers to firms with 500+ attorneys that pay the Cravath Scale ($225k starting). Mid-law refers to firms with 50–500 attorneys that typically pay $100k–$180k starting. The work is often similar (corporate, litigation, regulatory), but BigLaw firms handle larger deals, have more international reach, and offer higher compensation. Mid-law firms often offer better work-life balance.
How long do people stay in BigLaw?
The median tenure at a BigLaw firm is approximately 3–5 years. Most associates leave for in-house counsel positions (at corporations), government roles, or smaller firms. Only about 10–15% of associates make partner (typically after 8–10 years). However, even 3 years of BigLaw experience is highly valued and opens many exit opportunities.
What GPA do I need for BigLaw at a non-T14 school?
At most regional schools, you need to be in the top 10–30% of your class. This typically means a GPA of 3.5+ depending on the school's curve. Law Review membership, moot court honors, and strong networking are almost essential. At schools like Fordham, Vanderbilt, and Boston College, the top third of the class has strong BigLaw odds due to location and firm relationships.
Is BigLaw worth the stress?
Financially, almost always — if you stay 3+ years. A BigLaw associate earns over $2 million in their first 7 years, making even $200k+ in debt manageable. The trade-off is demanding hours (60–80 hours/week is common) and high-pressure work. Many lawyers use BigLaw as a 3–5 year "sprint" to pay off debt and build skills before transitioning to less demanding roles.
Which practice areas pay the most in BigLaw?
All BigLaw associates start at the same Cravath Scale salary regardless of practice area. However, certain groups tend to generate more hours (and thus higher bonuses): M&A/Corporate, Capital Markets, Private Equity, and Restructuring are consistently the highest-billing groups. Litigation associates may bill slightly fewer hours but have more courtroom experience. At the partner level, rainmakers in M&A and PE earn the most.