<p><strong><em>but without good grades networking won’t get you anywhere</em></strong></p>
<p>I agree with the posters above me. Having worked many years for large law firms, I can’t tell you how many incompetent lawyers with social connections (many of them fraternity connections) succeeded over extremely talented lawyers without those connections, because business development is where it’s at these days. Networking is crucial; grades aren’t always. The firm could always find talented young associates to do the work the connected partner brought in but wasn’t capable of doing properly.</p>