Should I even apply if I'm not in the top 20% of my class? All I've seen are top 5% and top 10% people being accepted. Any stories of the opposite? Thanks in advance :).

People who are only in the top 30-50% of their class can sometimes manage to get into programs that require great grades...

The only way to overcome your academic credentials is to:
- Get great tax experience, at a well known firm (law or accounting) - or clerking at a tax court, working on important mandates.
- Publish as much as you can in reputable journals - try to make original contributions to legal scholarship.
- Write a flawless personal statement.
- Network and get letters of reference from people that are connected to the law school you are interested in.

All this might take 2-5 years to put together, however it is still possible to get in to most programs with less than stellar grades.