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[PBY]

Would love to get into HYS but I don't know how realistic that is. I might reconsider and say T14 or bust. Guess I'll know more this June.

I would say t14 shd be ur absolute floor; it sounds snooty, but unless you go anywhere else free dont go

 

[Pollux]

Would love to get into HYS but I don't know how realistic that is. I might reconsider and say T14 or bust. Guess I'll know more this June.

Good luck. And again it does depend on if you're able to go for free. If you have a guaranteed job. Etc.

 

[mre]

I would say t14 shd be ur absolute floor; it sounds snooty, but unless you go anywhere else free dont go

Jesus Christ. Quit reading ATL.

 

[Bay Maximus]

Jesus Christ. Quit reading ATL.

What would you say is a good floor?

Good luck. And again it does depend on if you're able to go for free. If you have a guaranteed job. Etc.

Thanks. Not free, but subsidized somewhat. No guaranteed job.

 

[PBY]

Jesus Christ. Quit reading ATL.

I actually don't read ATL; posting from my limited experience as a 1L at #6. Talking to 2Ls, it seems like at if you're top 1/3 of the class your golden, middle you have to hustle, but bottom 30-40% youre kinda screwed a if you want biglaw. I'm not a biglaw or bust believer, but you have to take that into account when you're taking in huge loans. As someone whos paying full price, I kinda need biglaw- I'm just below median of my class and from what 2Ls have told me I'm pretty nervous. Talking to other kids at T14s, biglaw is a coin flip- top 50% your fine, bottom 50% then who knows.

Just my thoughts. One semester has made me real jaded haha.

 

[Bay Maximus]

I actually don't read ATL; posting from my limited experience as a 1L at #6. Talking to 2Ls, it seems like at if you're top 1/3 of the class your golden, middle you have to hustle, but bottom 30-40% youre kinda screwed a if you want biglaw. I'm not a biglaw or bust believer, but you have to take that into account when you're taking in huge loans. As someone whos paying full price, I kinda need biglaw- I'm just below median of my class and from what 2Ls have told me I'm pretty nervous. Talking to other kids at T14s, biglaw is a coin flip- top 50% your fine, bottom 50% then who knows.

Just my thoughts. One semester has made me real jaded haha.

Thanks for the more in-depth write up. This alleviates my fears ever so slightly. Being in the top 3rd of the class shouldn't be an issue.

 

[mre]

What would you say is a good floor?



Thanks. Not free, but subsidized somewhat. No guaranteed job.

There is no correct answer to that. If you want to go to a firm on the V100 list, then he's right in that the T14 schools carry a certain amount of requisite prestige. And, of course, that prestige will carry over and make you marketable across the nation.

Once you get past the T14 schools, then you need to consider what you want to do and where you want to practice law once you graduate. After the T14, then law school reputations are going to be very regional. If you want to practice law in Georgia, for example, you'd be better off going to UGA than, say, Minnesota, even though Minnesota is ranked significantly higher. Firms in Georgia will be significantly more familiar with UGA's law school than Minnesota's.

To address your question of Emory vs. UGA, then I would look at cost of attendance more than anything, and select the option that gets you out with the least amount of debt.

 

[mre]

Thanks for the more in-depth write up. This alleviates my fears ever so slightly. Being in the top 3rd of the class shouldn't be an issue.

Yeah, about that. If you go to a top-notch law school, say in the top 50, then keep in mind that everyone in your class is saying the same thing, and everyone in your class is used to being near the top of the class in their previous academic endeavors.

 

[Cagey]

I actually don't read ATL; posting from my limited experience as a 1L at #6. Talking to 2Ls, it seems like at if you're top 1/3 of the class your golden, middle you have to hustle, but bottom 30-40% youre kinda screwed a if you want biglaw. I'm not a biglaw or bust believer, but you have to take that into account when you're taking in huge loans. As someone whos paying full price, I kinda need biglaw- I'm just below median of my class and from what 2Ls have told me I'm pretty nervous. Talking to other kids at T14s, biglaw is a coin flip- top 50% your fine, bottom 50% then who knows.

Just my thoughts. One semester has made me real jaded haha.

Even after all of that, which is indeed spot on, one must ask themselves: do I even want to do what attorneys at mid/large sized private firms do? Do I even know what they do? Most people applying to law schools don't.

Thanks for the more in-depth write up. This alleviates my fears ever so slightly. Being in the top 3rd of the class shouldn't be an issue.

Wrong attitude for law school.

 

[PBY]

There is no correct answer to that. If you want to go to a firm on the V100 list, then he's right in that the T14 schools carry a certain amount of requisite prestige. And, of course, that prestige will carry over and make you marketable across the nation.

Once you get past the T14 schools, then you need to consider what you want to do and where you want to practice law once you graduate. After the T14, then law school reputations are going to be very regional. If you want to practice law in Georgia, for example, you'd be better off going to UGA than, say, Minnesota, even though Minnesota is ranked significantly higher. Firms in Georgia will be significantly more familiar with UGA's law school than Minnesota's.

To address your question of Emory vs. UGA, then I would look at cost of attendance more than anything, and select the option that gets you out with the least amount of debt.

Even after all of that, which is indeed spot on, one must ask themselves: do I even want to do what attorneys at mid/large sized private firms do? Do I even know what they do? Most people applying to law schools don't.

^Yes x100; there is wisdom here.

 

[Rage Kage]

Recently found out I got into Law School! I am nervous and excited at the same time. I've only heard back from one of the schools that I applied to, but if they don't accept me, I'd be happy going where I've been accepted.

I got accepted to

Spoiler

University of Missouri-Columbia AKA Mizzou

Please don't scare me too much

 

[Pollux]

Recently found out I got into Law School! I am nervous and excited at the same time. I've only heard back from one of the schools that I applied to, but if they don't accept me, I'd be happy going where I've been accepted.

I got accepted to

Spoiler

University of Missouri-Columbia AKA Mizzou

Please don't scare me too much

Congrats! Welcome to Law-GAF.

Guys, we need a t-shirt...

 

[Attackthebase]

I'm more into criminal law, specifically prosecutor. Working my ass off in my undergradate, so I can get into a T1 school. But, I'll be satisfied somewhere in the top 30s. As long as I can get out of the south.

 

[PBY]

Recently found out I got into Law School! I am nervous and excited at the same time. I've only heard back from one of the schools that I applied to, but if they don't accept me, I'd be happy going where I've been accepted.

I got accepted to

Spoiler

University of Missouri-Columbia AKA Mizzou

Please don't scare me too much

Congrats! Just curious, what are your goals?

 

[brucewaynegretzky]

Anyone else filling out these lovely bar exam applications this week? If the applications suck this much, I can't imagine how much I'm going to hate taking the actual test.

Not much news on the job front. Didn't get any of the few things I was waiting to hear back from, so I've tried to kick everything up a notch. Got only mildly discouraged when I mailed 30 judges my app packet, and received 15 rejections from them within 3 days. Got more discouraged when I reached out to three alumni who all basically said, "job market sucks. We have no jobs here. Just keep sending stuff out." Got yet even more discouraged when I found out my top 5% of the class, law review editor friend has nothing yet.

But I'm still plugging away at this. Obviously, it's going to a bitch soon with finals coming up relatively fast, but it's not like someone is just going to walk up and hand me a job.

Been there, done that. Had literally the EXACT same experience. I even had a big deal prof recommending me to people he knew... Shit sucks. I also kinda feel like it's a sign that there's something wrong with me. My OCS advisor seems to think I'm just in a somewhat unique position because my experience is rather niche and hard to market. She's usually straight forward with me and tells me when I'm fucking up so I at least feel ok hoping she's right. (O and my GPA is just mediocre) Seriously, first one of us to find a job is sending the other one cookies.

I've been overwhelmed with two research papers plus the job search this semester. Right about now I'm basically just REALLY hoping this job in my old office comes through. (It really seems like it should, but it's not like that's the first time something SHOULD have happened...) Spent most of spring break outlining papers and doing job apps though.

As far as where to go to school for people applying.... eh. I don't think the rankings are all that important. I'm a 3.3 student at my t14. I've always been a really good student and employee. I know I'm a competent person, but so is EVERYONE else. I don't think that's different from ANY other law schools though in my experience. They're all pretty full of generally smart people dedicated to success. At the end of the day you can't easily predict where you'll end up. I'm one of the few who has actually enjoyed my work actually practicing but keep in mind I've always known I wanted to do government service. (LRAP and IBR are awesome btw....) I know plenty of people at my school without jobs. NONE of them are people who should realistically be unemployed. I know far less competent people who found work after stumbling out of college and now make decent livings. My friends in law school could do all of their jobs relatively easily. Instead they are scrambling for whatever they can find. Going to a smaller school for less money makes a TON of sense if you feel confident you can find a job in the market. The name of my school has gotten me a few approving conversations from random people, but so far no job. If that does come it will be because I did good work in my outside work during summers/externship.

 

[Cagey]

As far as where to go to school for people applying.... eh. I don't think the rankings are all that important. I'm a 3.3 student at my t14. I've always been a really good student and employee. I know I'm a competent person, but so is EVERYONE else. I don't think that's different from ANY other law schools though in my experience. They're all pretty full of generally smart people dedicated to success. At the end of the day you can't easily predict where you'll end up. I'm one of the few who has actually enjoyed my work actually practicing but keep in mind I've always known I wanted to do government service. (LRAP and IBR are awesome btw....) I know plenty of people at my school without jobs. NONE of them are people who should realistically be unemployed. I know far less competent people who found work after stumbling out of college and now make decent livings. My friends in law school could do all of their jobs relatively easily. Instead they are scrambling for whatever they can find. Going to a smaller school for less money makes a TON of sense if you feel confident you can find a job in the market. The name of my school has gotten me a few approving conversations from random people, but so far no job. If that does come it will be because I did good work in my outside work during summers/externship.

This is what makes the law school job search experience so damn depressing.

 

[PBY]

To those thinking about taking the plunge, look this over.

THE GO-TO LAW SCHOOLS
http://www.law.com/jsp/nlj/PubArticleNLJ.jsp?interactive=true&id=1202543436520
The U.S. economy began to rebound in 2011, but that was not enough to convince law firms to ramp up associate hiring. Most law schools sent smaller percentages of their 2011 classes into first-year associate jobs at the nation’s largest 250 law firms than they did in 2010. Among the 50 schools most popular with hiring firms, 22 percent of 2011 graduates landed associate jobs — down from 27 percent in 2010.

We’ve ranked the top 50 law schools by the percentage of 2011 juris doctor graduates who took jobs at NLJ 250 firms, the nation’s largest by headcount as identified by The National Law Journal's annual survey. We've also identified firm favorites — the schools where NLJ 250 firms recruited the most graduates. Finally, we have identified the law schools that saw the most alumni promoted to partner in 2011.

— Karen Sloan



Rank  Law school  No. of first-year associates at NLJ 250 firms  No. of J.D.s in 2011  % of 2011 graduates at NLJ 250 firms 
1 University of Pennsylvania Law School 156 274 56.93%
2 Northwestern University School of Law 149 286 52.1%
3 Columbia Law School 235 455 51.65%
4 Harvard Law School 285 583 48.89%
5 Stanford Law School 87 181* 48.07%
6 University of California, Berkeley School of Law (Boalt Hall) 140 305 45.9%
7 University of Chicago Law School 92 203 45.32%
8 Duke Law School 89 219* 40.64%
9 New York University School of Law 187 466 40.13%
10 University of Virginia School of Law 150 377 39.79%
11 Cornell Law School 72 188* 38.3%
12 University of Southern California Gould School of Law 68 207 32.85%
13 University of Michigan Law School 119 378 31.48%
14 Georgetown University Law Center 198 637 31.08%
15 Yale Law School 63 205 30.73%
16 University of California at Los Angeles School of Law 78 344 22.67%
17 Vanderbilt University Law School 43 195 22.05%
18 Boston College Law School 62 285 21.75%
19 University of Texas School of Law 82 382 21.47%
20 Fordham University School of Law 84 429 19.58%
21 Boston University School of Law 48 269* 17.84%
22 George Washington University Law School 92 518 17.76%
23 University of Notre Dame Law School 26 190 13.68%
24 Washington University School of Law (St. Louis) 42 315 13.33%
25 Washington and Lee University School of Law 16 126 12.7%
26 Emory University School of Law 28 225 12.44%
27 Yeshiva University Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law 45 380 11.84%
28 University of Washington School of Law 21 182 11.54%
29 University of Minnesota Law School 29 261 11.11%
29 University of Illinois College of Law 21 189 11.11%
31 Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law 28 272 10.29%
32 University of Houston Law Center 27 281 9.61%
33 West Virginia University College of Law 12 126* 9.52%
34 Wake Forest University School of Law 15 158 9.49%
35 University of California, Davis School of Law 17 195 8.72%
36 University of North Carolina School of Law 21 246 8.54%
37 University of California Hastings College of the Law 35 412 8.5%
38 University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law 12 142* 8.45%
39 Seton Hall University School of Law 24 293 8.19%
40 Rutgers School of Law-Newark 19 248 7.66%
41 Howard University School of Law 12 157* 7.64%
42 Villanova University School of Law 19 252 7.54%
43 University of Maryland School of Law 20 281 7.12%
44 University of Wisconsin Law School 18 254 7.09%
45 Samford University Cumberland School of Law 11 157 7.01%
46 Temple University James E. Beasley School of Law 22 319 6.9%
46 University of Alabama School of Law 12 174* 6.9%
48 Brigham Young University J. Reuben Clark Law School 10 148 6.76%
49 Brooklyn Law School 30 455 6.59%
50 University of Miami School of Law 25 385 6.49%
Rank  Law school  No. of first-year associates at NLJ 250 firms  No. of J.D.s in 2011  % of 2011 graduates at NLJ 250 firms 
*Graduate class size based on latest data from the ABA/LSAC Official Guide to Law Schools.

 

[Para bailar La Bomba]

To those thinking about taking the plunge, look this over.

THE GO-TO LAW SCHOOLS
http://www.law.com/jsp/nlj/PubArticleNLJ.jsp?interactive=true&id=1202543436520
The U.S. economy began to rebound in 2011, but that was not enough to convince law firms to ramp up associate hiring. Most law schools sent smaller percentages of their 2011 classes into first-year associate jobs at the nation’s largest 250 law firms than they did in 2010. Among the 50 schools most popular with hiring firms, 22 percent of 2011 graduates landed associate jobs — down from 27 percent in 2010.

We’ve ranked the top 50 law schools by the percentage of 2011 juris doctor graduates who took jobs at NLJ 250 firms, the nation’s largest by headcount as identified by The National Law Journal's annual survey. We've also identified firm favorites — the schools where NLJ 250 firms recruited the most graduates. Finally, we have identified the law schools that saw the most alumni promoted to partner in 2011.

— Karen Sloan



Rank  Law school  No. of first-year associates at NLJ 250 firms  No. of J.D.s in 2011  % of 2011 graduates at NLJ 250 firms 
1 University of Pennsylvania Law School 156 274 56.93%
2 Northwestern University School of Law 149 286 52.1%
3 Columbia Law School 235 455 51.65%
4 Harvard Law School 285 583 48.89%
5 Stanford Law School 87 181* 48.07%
6 University of California, Berkeley School of Law (Boalt Hall) 140 305 45.9%
7 University of Chicago Law School 92 203 45.32%
8 Duke Law School 89 219* 40.64%
9 New York University School of Law 187 466 40.13%
10 University of Virginia School of Law 150 377 39.79%
11 Cornell Law School 72 188* 38.3%
12 University of Southern California Gould School of Law 68 207 32.85%
13 University of Michigan Law School 119 378 31.48%
14 Georgetown University Law Center 198 637 31.08%
15 Yale Law School 63 205 30.73%
16 University of California at Los Angeles School of Law 78 344 22.67%
17 Vanderbilt University Law School 43 195 22.05%
18 Boston College Law School 62 285 21.75%
19 University of Texas School of Law 82 382 21.47%
20 Fordham University School of Law 84 429 19.58%
21 Boston University School of Law 48 269* 17.84%
22 George Washington University Law School 92 518 17.76%
23 University of Notre Dame Law School 26 190 13.68%
24 Washington University School of Law (St. Louis) 42 315 13.33%
25 Washington and Lee University School of Law 16 126 12.7%
26 Emory University School of Law 28 225 12.44%
27 Yeshiva University Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law 45 380 11.84%
28 University of Washington School of Law 21 182 11.54%
29 University of Minnesota Law School 29 261 11.11%
29 University of Illinois College of Law 21 189 11.11%
31 Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law 28 272 10.29%
32 University of Houston Law Center 27 281 9.61%
33 West Virginia University College of Law 12 126* 9.52%
34 Wake Forest University School of Law 15 158 9.49%
35 University of California, Davis School of Law 17 195 8.72%
36 University of North Carolina School of Law 21 246 8.54%
37 University of California Hastings College of the Law 35 412 8.5%
38 University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law 12 142* 8.45%
39 Seton Hall University School of Law 24 293 8.19%
40 Rutgers School of Law-Newark 19 248 7.66%
41 Howard University School of Law 12 157* 7.64%
42 Villanova University School of Law 19 252 7.54%
43 University of Maryland School of Law 20 281 7.12%
44 University of Wisconsin Law School 18 254 7.09%
45 Samford University Cumberland School of Law 11 157 7.01%
46 Temple University James E. Beasley School of Law 22 319 6.9%
46 University of Alabama School of Law 12 174* 6.9%
48 Brigham Young University J. Reuben Clark Law School 10 148 6.76%
49 Brooklyn Law School 30 455 6.59%
50 University of Miami School of Law 25 385 6.49%
Rank  Law school  No. of first-year associates at NLJ 250 firms  No. of J.D.s in 2011  % of 2011 graduates at NLJ 250 firms 
*Graduate class size based on latest data from the ABA/LSAC Official Guide to Law Schools.

My law school > Harvard.

 

[brucewaynegretzky]

My law school > Harvard.

How's your federal clerkship placement? We all know HYS are too low on these lists for just that reason.

 

[Cagey]

Ish.

You know, those numbers make feel even worse haha. Ah well. Time to sleep instead of dwelling on it.

 

[Pollux]

You know, those numbers make feel even worse haha. Ah well. Time to sleep instead of dwelling on it.

Bah, my school isn't even on that list. I don't really care.

 

[brucewaynegretzky]

Bah, my school isn't even on that list. I don't really care.

So you don't bank on going biglaw.... nothing wrong with that. I know plenty of people who aren't. You have to bust your ass though doing work for free for people while you can get credit for it though. Do good work for people and they want to repay you. That's my experience. Now the tricking part is them being in a position where they CAN repay you.... fingers crossed.....

 

[Pollux]

So you don't bank on going biglaw.... nothing wrong with that. I know plenty of people who aren't. You have to bust your ass though doing work for free for people while you can get credit for it though. Do good work for people and they want to repay you. That's my experience. Now the tricking part is them being in a position where they CAN repay you.... fingers crossed.....

I think we all dream of big law to some extent...and yea it would be great for that salary, but honestly having talked to associates at huge firms...not for me. Even if I were at a school on that list. I like the person-person interaction at small -medium sized firms.

 

[brucewaynegretzky]

I think we all dream of big law to some extent...and yea it would be great for that salary, but honestly having talked to associates at huge firms...not for me. Even if I were at a school on that list. I like the person-person interaction at small -medium sized firms.

Yeah we all dream... I interviewed with 11 firms during OCI that has historically had a median hiring GPA below mine. Not a single callback. That stung. I keep telling myself things like "All your resume experience is gov't and they are pickier," but at the same time I can't help but feel like there's something HORRIBLY wrong with me as an applicant. I can't tell you how good I felt when my old boss said to me "You have a skillset that should be compensated" when I talked to him about potentially working for him for free if I don't have a job post bar exam. (My school has one of those USNews cheating programs where they pay you for 6 months. Supposedly 90% of those who enrolled in the program found full time legal employment before it was through though so that's a good sign.... I hope....) But yeah, just knowing that he liked my work enough to pay me if he could was a HUGE validation. More than anything I've gotten from school.

 

[Rage Kage]

Congrats! Just curious, what are your goals?

Private sector is where I want to be, but I have no idea what area yet. That's kind of why I'm nervous and excited. Obviously for now my next goal I want to meet is to graduate high in my class with a law degree, but beyond that, all I know is that I want to pass the BAR and start my career doing something that I would love doing.

Is this a poor mentality to have knowing that law school is 5 months away?

 

[PBY]

Yeah we all dream... I interviewed with 11 firms during OCI that has historically had a median hiring GPA below mine. Not a single callback. That stung. I keep telling myself things like "All your resume experience is gov't and they are pickier," but at the same time I can't help but feel like there's something HORRIBLY wrong with me as an applicant. I can't tell you how good I felt when my old boss said to me "You have a skillset that should be compensated" when I talked to him about potentially working for him for free if I don't have a job post bar exam. (My school has one of those USNews cheating programs where they pay you for 6 months. Supposedly 90% of those who enrolled in the program found full time legal employment before it was through though so that's a good sign.... I hope....) But yeah, just knowing that he liked my work enough to pay me if he could was a HUGE validation. More than anything I've gotten from school.

More power to you, gl man- thats the right attitude. One of the best interviews I've ever had was just super personal, 1 on 1 talk- where the dude straight up told me that law school beats the shit out of you, makes you doubt yourself/abilities, and is 100% not reflective of your ability to succeed in a work environment. He said that once he started working he realized how much he had to offer, and just how petty the law school system actually is.

Private sector is where I want to be, but I have no idea what area yet. That's kind of why I'm nervous and excited. Obviously for now my next goal I want to meet is to graduate high in my class with a law degree, but beyond that, all I know is that I want to pass the BAR and start my career doing something that I would love doing.

Is this a poor mentality to have knowing that law school is 5 months away?

I did ZERO prep for law school before I entered, and I did wholly average- so maybe you don't need/want my advice- but I'm not sure it would help.

The more important thing I'd say is: what do you mean by private sector? Such a broad area, just make sure you know your odds/what your getting yourself into. The fucked up thing about law school is that EVERYONE wants to be near the top of their class, and regardless, the majority will mathematically be prevented from making it.

 

[brucewaynegretzky]

Private sector is where I want to be, but I have no idea what area yet. That's kind of why I'm nervous and excited. Obviously for now my next goal I want to meet is to graduate high in my class with a law degree, but beyond that, all I know is that I want to pass the BAR and start my career doing something that I would love doing.

Is this a poor mentality to have knowing that law school is 5 months away?

.... I want to say no. I really do.






But my gut says yes.... That doesn't mean it's uncommon.

 

[Pollux]

Yeah we all dream... I interviewed with 11 firms during OCI that has historically had a median hiring GPA below mine. Not a single callback. That stung. I keep telling myself things like "All your resume experience is gov't and they are pickier," but at the same time I can't help but feel like there's something HORRIBLY wrong with me as an applicant. I can't tell you how good I felt when my old boss said to me "You have a skillset that should be compensated" when I talked to him about potentially working for him for free if I don't have a job post bar exam. (My school has one of those USNews cheating programs where they pay you for 6 months. Supposedly 90% of those who enrolled in the program found full time legal employment before it was through though so that's a good sign.... I hope....) But yeah, just knowing that he liked my work enough to pay me if he could was a HUGE validation. More than anything I've gotten from school.

I hope it works out for ya. Sounds like things are looking up, compared to where you were earlier in the thread.

On a side note, I can't remember anything from the last month or so. I know I read the pages and highlighted and took notes, but I can't remember it. Can't remember going to class despite my notes. It's like I've been sleepwalking since the start of the semester and I'm now awake. Anyone else experience anything like this, or am I just going crazy?

 

[mre]

I hope it works out for ya. Sounds like things are looking up, compared to where you were earlier in the thread.

On a side note, I can't remember anything from the last month or so. I know I read the pages and highlighted and took notes, but I can't remember it. Can't remember going to class despite my notes. It's like I've been sleepwalking since the start of the semester and I'm now awake. Anyone else experience anything like this, or am I just going crazy?

It's been a long February, brah. I can't wait for March to get here.

 

[PBY]

I hope it works out for ya. Sounds like things are looking up, compared to where you were earlier in the thread.

On a side note, I can't remember anything from the last month or so. I know I read the pages and highlighted and took notes, but I can't remember it. Can't remember going to class despite my notes. It's like I've been sleepwalking since the start of the semester and I'm now awake. Anyone else experience anything like this, or am I just going crazy?

I feel exactly the same way. I also kinda have this feeling that I've kinda peaked in my abilities, ie that the kids who get the A's are just gonna get the A's again (because they "get" law school, and that I'm just fighting to keep my spot in the middle of the pack

 

[brucewaynegretzky]

It's been a long February, brah. I can't wait for March to get here.

Hey yea! How's the new position treating you MRE? More client contact? Better assignment? Bitchier partners?

 

[Pollux]

It's been a long February, brah. I can't wait for March to get here.

I'm freaking out now. Take Civ. Pro. for example. I don't remember a damn thing from this semester. I went to class, read, took notes, etc. But I look at it and I have no idea what I'm looking at. It's basically like I have to reteach myself 5 chapters of Civ. Pro.

But it's like that for every class.

 

[mre]

Hey yea! How's the new position treating you MRE? More client contact? Better assignment? Bitchier partners?

Love my job, except for my 4 hour (total) commute each day. It's always interesting, that's for damn sure.

 

[PBY]

I'm freaking out now. Take Civ. Pro. for example. I don't remember a damn thing from this semester. I went to class, read, took notes, etc. But I look at it and I have no idea what I'm looking at. It's basically like I have to reteach myself 5 chapters of Civ. Pro.

But it's like that for every class.

Were in the same boat.

Love my job, except for my 4 hour (total) commute each day. It's always interesting, that's for damn sure.

Good to hear, thats awesome.

 

[Pollux]

Were in the same boat.

Thank God for Glannon supplements.

I dunno, I'm just discouraged. I didn't do as well as I would have liked first semester. Somehow I managed to hit every grade from a C+ all the way through an A-. That's not very good at all. Now I think stress and general melancholy is getting to my head. I have no idea what to do. Is it possible to basically relearn everything from Jan. and Feb. + keep up in all my other classes by the time finals role around?

If I couldn't come bitch to Law-GAF I probably would have gone insane by now. No way I'm saying this crap to anyone in my class, ya know?

 

[mre]

Thank God for Glannon supplements.

I dunno, I'm just discouraged. I didn't do as well as I would have liked first semester. Somehow I managed to hit every grade from a C+ all the way through an A-. That's not very good at all. Now I think stress and general melancholy is getting to my head. I have no idea what to do. Is it possible to basically relearn everything from Jan. and Feb. + keep up in all my other classes by the time finals role around?

If I couldn't come bitch to Law-GAF I probably would have gone insane by now. No way I'm saying this crap to anyone in my class, ya know?

Yes. If you make your own outlines for each class, now is the time to start putting them together.

 

[Balphon]

Thank God for Glannon supplements.

I dunno, I'm just discouraged. I didn't do as well as I would have liked first semester. Somehow I managed to hit every grade from a C+ all the way through an A-. That's not very good at all. Now I think stress and general melancholy is getting to my head. I have no idea what to do.

In my experience, law school grades don't mean much, so I wouldn't worry about it.

Is it possible to basically relearn everything from Jan. and Feb. + keep up in all my other classes by the time finals role around?

Isn't that what everybody does?

 

[Rage Kage]

.... I want to say no. I really do.






But my gut says yes.... That doesn't mean it's uncommon.

Heh, my gut says yes too, but I just really have no idea where I see myself five years from now. I want to be practicing law, but that's about all I know for sure.

When I was in undergrad, I didn't choose a major until junior year, and it set me back a semester. I really want to narrow down what I want to do before I get to law school so I have a plan, but I don't know what steps I should take to figure it out.

Any advice for prepping?

 

[Pollux]

Yes. If you make your own outlines for each class, now is the time to start putting them together.

Any suggestions?

In my experience, law school grades don't mean much, so I wouldn't worry about it.



Isn't that what everybody does?

Yes, except when I look at something I've already done, I legit don't remember it. At all. It's like I'm looking at completely new material.

 

[PBY]

Heh, my gut says yes too, but I just really have no idea where I see myself five years from now. I want to be practicing law, but that's about all I know for sure.

When I was in undergrad, I didn't choose a major until junior year, and it set me back a semester. I really want to narrow down what I want to do before I get to law school so I have a plan, but I don't know what steps I should take to figure it out.

Any advice for prepping?

Well, for one, what do you mean by practicing law? Also, kinda from personal experience/from talking to other people- law school is not the place to figure out what you want to do. Why don't you try and work in a firm for a year or two first? Thats what some of my friends did, and I regret not doing the same, if only that they know what the work entails and have the bonus of putting actual work experience on their resumes. Plus they had money saved up.

 

[brucewaynegretzky]

Well, for one, what do you mean by practicing law? Also, kinda from personal experience/from talking to other people- law school is not the place to figure out what you want to do. Why don't you try and work in a firm for a year or two first? Thats what some of my friends did, and I regret not doing the same, if only that they know what the work entails and have the bonus of putting actual work experience on their resumes. Plus they had money saved up.

This isn't an awful idea. Though not always feasible. I remember interning on the hill and meeting a few people who had law degrees who went straight there. I was able to tell myself, "Well at least I know I would like doing what they do and they're right out of law school." You have to see the shitty part of a job and know you won't mind it before you can know if you'll realistically like it.

 

[Balphon]

Yes, except when I look at something I've already done, I legit don't remember it. At all. It's like I'm looking at completely new material.

Think it may be stress related? In my 1L year I know a few people got so worked up about preparing for class that they'd just (perhaps unintentionally) purge all their carefully gathered information as soon as it was over.

Regardless, the outlining process is more about internalizing material than it is producing a study aid, so if you feel like you're not really learning anything before you outline, you're pretty normal.

 

[mre]

Any suggestions?

Sure: http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=34738244&postcount=746

Here's my method of studying: I'd read the assigned material. If I didn't understand it, I'd look it up in a commercial outline keyed to the textbook to flesh out the parts I didn't understand, but I "always" read the material first. Then I would either take the syllabus and turn that into a skeleton for my outline, or, if the professor was going pretty straight forward through the text, I'd take the table of contents and use that. About 1.5-2 months before the final, I started putting together my outline from my class notes, hanging them from the skeleton I'd drafted earlier. Once my outlines were finished (or up to date to that point of the year), I would read them every couple of days and gradually strip the outline of details that I knew and could repeat until I ended up with only a skeleton outline again.

 

[Pollux]

Sure: http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=34738244&postcount=746

Good advice. So back to the beginning then.

 

[Rage Kage]

Well, for one, what do you mean by practicing law? Also, kinda from personal experience/from talking to other people- law school is not the place to figure out what you want to do. Why don't you try and work in a firm for a year or two first? Thats what some of my friends did, and I regret not doing the same, if only that they know what the work entails and have the bonus of putting actual work experience on their resumes. Plus they had money saved up.

I'm not really figuring out what I want to do with my life, just trying to have a plan of attack for law school. For instance, do I try and emphasize ADR or Sports Law or Tax Law etc. I'm actually working for a CPA firm right now, and we are partnered with a tax lawyer, so I'm working under him/gaining some wisdom

Spoiler

and cash

My ultimate goal is to get my CPA (I was an accounting undergrad) and a JD.

How did you (or any other member of Law-GAF) approach law school? What were your plans? Did they pan out? What are you doing now?

 

[Dude Abides]

The way I studied was to take notes on my laptop about the reading as I went through it. Then I took lecture notes on my laptop as well. About halfway through the semester I started integrating the notes from the reading and the notes from lecture into a master outline.

 

[mre]

I'm not really figuring out what I want to do with my life, just trying to have a plan of attack for law school. For instance, do I try and emphasize ADR or Sports Law or Tax Law etc. I'm actually working for a CPA firm right now, and we are partnered with a tax lawyer, so I'm working under him/gaining some wisdom

Spoiler

and cash

My ultimate goal is to get my CPA (I was an accounting undergrad) and a JD.

How did you (or any other member of Law-GAF) approach law school? What were your plans? Did they pan out? What are you doing now?

Seriously, Clark? If you want to be a CPA/JD I think you should focus on Admiralty law.

 

[Rage Kage]

Seriously, Clark? If you want to be a CPA/JD I think you should focus on Admiralty law.

I don't see the connection between the three. Do explain please. (If in fact you are serious about the connection...lol)

 

[mre]

I don't see the connection between the three. Do explain please. (If in fact you are serious about the connection...lol)

The IRS litigates solely in admiralty courts.

 

[Rage Kage]

The IRS litigates solely in admiralty courts.

Ahhh, I see. Getting my CPA wouldn't mean that I would be solely attracted to tax, though. There's financial accounting, auditing & attestation, business concepts, and regulations (tax).

Any other focuses I should maybe look into judging by those four areas?