Newsflash: this is exactly how law firms hire their juniors! Apart from the odd few who get in from family connections, which is more illusory than real in most big firms with highly professional hiring processes.

By the way, the kind of ultra-competitive, over achieving law student you meet in law school, is exactly the kind of ultra competitive over achieving junior associate you meet in law firms. Where do you think most of the graduating law cohort goes to every year? To Starbucks to become baristas?

Don't like it? Don't play the game. No one's forcing you. I'm not the one who did jack all in school and has now ended up with a chip on his shoulder whining about being underpaid in a Chinatown sweatshop.