Excellent observation OP. It might interest you to know that several firms have stopped campus recruitment entirely. They only take assessment interns on a long term (3 month - 1 year) basis and thereafter decide whether to hire or not. Many of the interns I have seen are very good - bright and diligent and hardworking. And none from an NLU.

As a private law college student (not the known ones), I have given 3 ppo interviews so far - nothing. It took my blood, sweat and tears to even get here without any support. After many violent meltdowns I have been desensitized.

I'd rather go back to the hopeful times where I thought that my CV was the problem - turns out its just me :)

Because these tier 1 firms don't want good resource, they want to show a lie to their clients that the best talent, from the best law schools in the country are working on their matter. They can't justify their bill if a brilliant A0 from some random law school is working for them.

Because only interns from some law colleges can afford to keep interning at the cost of classes and theoretical knowledge. Just because some interns have not yet had as much time as the others to become good because of the constraints of their academic schedule etc., it does not mean they cannot become as good (or better) given a little time.

This is a question for law firm hrs and Partners,

I saw a lot of my batch mates get offers from big firms, i also got placed in the same cycle. Honestly - I have interned at corporate law firms, but I am not the corporate material. Infact I don't like the job. I have performed poorly during most of my corporate Internships.

During my Internships I have seen extremely competent, skilled and hard working Co interns who are often from schools with not so good placement scene and reputation. Now most of them are staring at Litigation as the option as they say they don't have a chance at a corporate law firm.

Why do firms hire from campus when they can hire the best interns. Attracting interns is also quite easy. And interns can't fool recruiters with a fancy cv and grades.

If any of the firms who came for placement decide to do an assessment internship - I would never break it to any firm, neither would some people I know in my batch.

If firms hired through Internships, I felt that quality of the batch they are hiring would be better, and they can get to know incoming Associates better.

If now Internships, they can also get good quality Associate if they hire laterally from tier 2 or 3 firms.

Even now why are firms still hiring a majority of Associates via campus placements?

As a side note - most of those who got hired from campus are really good. Its just that I felt there were better candidates I encountered during my Internships.