<p>Connections always matter, even at a T14. They may matter more or less depending on what sort of work you want. If you are interested in BigLaw, then yes, firms come to the top schools (more than just the T14, but it gets a bit complicated). However, even at the top schools they’re still only recruiting out of the top of the class. At my T14 it seems like the top 1/3 of the class did well, above median had a shot, and below median did not. You have a 2/3 chance not to be in the top third. If you whiff OCI (where the big firms come), those connections will be very valuable. I have a friend who was a paralegal at a big firm before going to law school. They told her she could come back to them for employment when she was done. That’s a job secured through connections, not OCI, and it meant she didn’t need to do OCI at all. </p>
<p>If you’re not interested in big firms though, then connections can matter a lot. The legal market in CA is very saturated. Not only does CA have an absurd number of law schools, a lot of people going out of state to better schools intend to come back. That means there are a lot of Grade A resumes going through the door at every PD/DA. Knowing a person and having them put your resume on the top can go in a long way.</p>
<p>Now, as a freshman you have at least 5 years before you have to search for a legal job. There’s always the possibility that the legal market will rebound into another boom. But I doubt it, and you shouldn’t plan on it.</p>