Wondering if folks think I might have a shot at the Oxford BCL or Cambridge LLM with the following qualifications: I am a 2nd year student at West Virginia University College of Law. It's a 3rd tier school according to US News (though I've had an excellent time here academically). My grades are at or near the top of the class -- GPA is 3.95 and I'm ranked about 3rd out of 160 students. Decent amount of work experience before and during law school and I know I can get good recommendations.

So, do these schools consider folks from lesser-known institutions with good grades?

A GPA of 3.95 certainly equates to a British 'First' so you meet the academic requirements - but does a 3.95 at a 3rd tier school involve the same rigorous academic standards as a 3.95 at a top tier? i.e., would you perform at the same level?

i was top 2% from a tier 4 school and got into oxford but not cambridge. see http://llm-guide.com/board/39671

Thanks for the responses. I am also applying for a couple (not a ton) of federal clerkships and if I get that would put the LLM off until afterwards. I hope to specialize in commercial law and eventually end up at least part-time in academia.