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[SD-Ness]

Anyone currently in law school (or applying to them) or a practicing lawyer here? I'm currently a philosophy major at Boston College, graduating in May. I'm getting a master's degree in philosophy next year (May 2010). I'm sure many of you consider that a waste of time but I don't. At the least, it gives me an extra year to take interesting coureses.

Anyway, I'm thinking about law school after I get my M.A. I've been considering it for a while but am starting to get serious about it now -- already purchased a couple of LSAT books a while back. My questions aren't very specific but if you have anything to add, your input is appreciated.

1. What was your experience with the LSAT like?

2. What is law school like compared to undergraduate or graduate experience -- academically and socially?

3. If you're already a practicing lawyer, how do you feel about your job? I had someone tell me recently that he hated being a lawyer and quit because he was sick of dealing with sad, angry, demanding people all day. Is that cliche or is there some truth to his advice?

4. How is the income? Is it worth all the work or do you think other jobs would be more enjoyable?

Yes I know this is heavy stuff for a video game forum but there are a lot of smart people here so I don't think it can hurt to ask.

 

[pxleyes]

Just a general precaution, though I'm sure you're aware of it, but pick your law school wisely. If you end up going into a more local oriented law field (say real estate) then you will probably want to to pick a school in the state you will be practicing.

 

[Phoenix]

Anyone currently in law school (or applying to them) or a practicing lawyer here? I'm currently a philosophy major at Boston College, graduating in May. I'm getting a master's degree in philosophy next year (May 2010). I'm sure many of you consider that a waste of time but I don't. At the least, it gives me an extra year to take interesting coureses.

Anyway, I'm thinking about law school after I get my M.A. I've been considering it for a while but am starting to get serious about it now -- already purchased a couple of LSAT books a while back. My questions aren't very specific but if you have anything to add, your input is appreciated.

1. What was your experience with the LSAT like?

2. What is law school like compared to undergraduate or graduate experience -- academically and socially?

3. If you're already a practicing lawyer, how do you feel about your job? I had someone tell me recently that he hated being a lawyer and quit because he was sick of dealing with sad, angry, demanding people all day. Is that cliche or is there some truth to his advice?

4. How is the income? Is it worth all the work or do you think other jobs would be more enjoyable?

Yes I know this is heavy stuff for a video game forum but there are a lot of smart people here so I don't think it can hurt to ask.

1) The LSAT isn't THAT bad, but you do want to prepare for it.
2) Its extremely different from undergraduate or most of my MBA courses. When I was doing pure law courses, there is a lot more emphasis on reading, getting together with people who you can stomach and trying to ingest assloads of cases.
3,4 ) can't answer these

 

[mre]

Anyone currently in law school (or applying to them) or a practicing lawyer here? I'm currently a philosophy major at Boston College, graduating in May. I'm getting a master's degree in philosophy next year (May 2010). I'm sure many of you consider that a waste of time but I don't. At the least, it gives me an extra year to take interesting coureses.

Anyway, I'm thinking about law school after I get my M.A. I've been considering it for a while but am starting to get serious about it now -- already purchased a couple of LSAT books a while back. My questions aren't very specific but if you have anything to add, your input is appreciated.

1. What was your experience with the LSAT like?

2. What is law school like compared to undergraduate or graduate experience -- academically and socially?

3. If you're already a practicing lawyer, how do you feel about your job? I had someone tell me recently that he hated being a lawyer and quit because he was sick of dealing with sad, angry, demanding people all day. Is that cliche or is there some truth to his advice?

4. How is the income? Is it worth all the work or do you think other jobs would be more enjoyable?

Yes I know this is heavy stuff for a video game forum but there are a lot of smart people here so I don't think it can hurt to ask.

1. LSAT wasn't too bad. Take it seriously. The Logic Games section is oddly... fun.

2. Law school is about 2 things: reading and drinking. You will read more than you ever did in undergraduate school, and you will probably drink more as well.

3. Still a 2L, but I think this would depend upon the field of law you are in.

4. Depends upon your market and what type of law you are interested in practicing.

I didn't know you had a law degree, Phoenix.

 

[Akim]

http://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?threadid=3077610

Edit: pretty informative thread

 

[OnkelC]

http://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?threadid=3077610

Edit: pretty informative thread

this applies like 90% for the german law and study system as well. good read.

 

[SD-Ness]

http://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?threadid=3077610

Edit: pretty informative thread

Well that was sort of depressing. :lol

 

[Barrett2]

LSAT is stressful, its worth it to study like crazy

Law school isn't too bad. The material is often boring, and you read a lot, but what makes it hard is grading on the curve and your entire grade being determined by a single exam. Some classes you will have no idea WTF the professor is talking about on the exam question, you write a bunch of bullshit, and get a B. In another class you are convinced you have a natural gift for the material, you know everything you could possibly know for the exam, your answers are 100% on-point and you feel like you aced the bitch, and you get a B. So, its all sort of a wash.

The job thing is situational. I know dopes who get great jobs and very sharp people who have a hard time even getting shitty jobs. If you can get into a top 20 law school, getting a job doesn't seem like much of a challenge. Any other school, it all depends.

 

[Pollux]

I know I shouldn't bump this thread however I just finished BU and the OP went to BC so i'm curious as to where he ended up.

Also any other GAF-ers starting law school this year? and if so where are you heading?

So how bout it law-GAF, where you heading and what are you doing now?

 

[genjiZERO]

Starting my 3rd year. I'm really looking forward to being done.

Personally, I really detest law school and wish I hadn't gone. I find law students mostly to be atrocious fratty immature drunkards with little interesting to say. There is almost no cultural diversity amongst students. I also find legal thinking cumbersome, logically soft, antiquated and baroque. Grading is unfair and borders on being arbitrary. You are almost never rewarded for knowing anything, and are positively never rewarded for working hard. There is no real incentive to do the readings and participate in class because it gets you no points and shows your hand to the other students who you are pit against anyway. Success is nearly always won by playing the "law school game". Professors are too often dismissive and paternalistic. This is particularly uncomfortable if you have just come from graduate school (as I did) and are used to being treated like colleagues by professors. The field is also entirely over-saturated, and it's difficult to get a job good enough to pay off your loans unless you are in the top half of the class or come from a really prestigious school.

Don't go to law school

 

[brucewaynegretzky]

Starting my 3rd year. I'm really looking forward to being done.

Personally, I really detest law school and wish I hadn't gone. I find law students mostly to be atrocious fratty immature drunkards with little interesting to say. There is almost no cultural diversity amongst students. I also find legal thinking cumbersome, logically soft, antiquated and baroque. Grading is unfair and borders on being arbitrary. You are almost never rewarded for knowing anything, and are positively never rewarded for working hard. There is no real incentive to do the readings and participate in class because it gets you no points and shows your hand to the other students who you are pit against anyway. Success is nearly always won by playing the "law school game". Professors are too often dismissive and paternalistic. This is particularly uncomfortable if you have just come from graduate school (as I did) and are used to being treated like colleagues by professors. The field is also entirely over-saturated, and it's difficult to get a job good enough to pay off your loans unless you are in the top half of the class or come from a really prestigious school.

Don't go to law school

This is kind of close to how I feel. Exception being I really do enjoy the work I've done outside of school in internships and I've found a few professors who are really great. You really should take what us 3Ls say with a grain of salt though. We're in the "desperate to find a job" stage. I honestly can't imagine ever NOT being broke and hating my life in the future. It genuinely crosses my mind about 10 times a day how I can't find a job and how big a failure I am. If anything changes I'll try and give you a more updated view.

 

[Pollux]

Starting my 3rd year. I'm really looking forward to being done.

Personally, I really detest law school and wish I hadn't gone. I find law students mostly to be atrocious fratty immature drunkards with little interesting to say. There is almost no cultural diversity amongst students. I also find legal thinking cumbersome, logically soft, antiquated and baroque. Grading is unfair and borders on being arbitrary. You are almost never rewarded for knowing anything, and are positively never rewarded for working hard. There is no real incentive to do the readings and participate in class because it gets you no points and shows your hand to the other students who you are pit against anyway. Success is nearly always won by playing the "law school game". Professors are too often dismissive and paternalistic. This is particularly uncomfortable if you have just come from graduate school (as I did) and are used to being treated like colleagues by professors. The field is also entirely over-saturated, and it's difficult to get a job good enough to pay off your loans unless you are in the top half of the class or come from a really prestigious school.

Don't go to law school

If you don't mind me asking, where did you go? Also what area of the country are you looking for a job in?

This is kind of close to how I feel. Exception being I really do enjoy the work I've done outside of school in internships and I've found a few professors who are really great. You really should take what us 3Ls say with a grain of salt though. We're in the "desperate to find a job" stage. I honestly can't imagine ever NOT being broke and hating my life in the future. It genuinely crosses my mind about 10 times a day how I can't find a job and how big a failure I am. If anything changes I'll try and give you a more updated view.

Any advice you have that isn't..."drop out and don't go"?

 

[brucewaynegretzky]

Any advice you have that isn't..."drop out and don't go"?

I wouldn't advise that to anyone actually. I think law actually can be a great field if you have an actual reason to go into the field other than "I like to argue," "I want to make money," "I like legal drama," "I don't have any other options," etc. Like I said I enjoy the work I've gotten an opportunity to get involved in. Problem it feels literally impossible to find a job. I'm at what I consider a great school in the middle third of my class (I honestly don't know WHERE in that third. They only give us a top 1/3 cutoff and I can reasonably conclude I'm not in the bottome 1/3.) and like I said I can't picture in my head why anyone would ever want to hire me.

EDIT: Looking back at the previous post. I think it may be generally more negative than my feelings towards school. I do genuinely enjoy many of my classes. But I also despise some of them more than any other classes I've taken. Law school deals in extremes, and mostly low extremes. Though the classes that I've enjoyed have been much more rewarding than any other classes I took in UG. Though I can say that at no time has law school actually provoked a genuinely positive emotion from me other than, "thank god its done" for any given semester.

 

[SapientWolf]

Are you planning on paying off your philosophy debt before taking on law school, or are you going to add it on top? Because the worst case scenario is a mountain of debt with no way to pay it off.

 

[mingus]

Starting my 3rd year. I'm really looking forward to being done.

Personally, I really detest law school and wish I hadn't gone. I find law students mostly to be atrocious fratty immature drunkards with little interesting to say. There is almost no cultural diversity amongst students. I also find legal thinking cumbersome, logically soft, antiquated and baroque. Grading is unfair and borders on being arbitrary. You are almost never rewarded for knowing anything, and are positively never rewarded for working hard. There is no real incentive to do the readings and participate in class because it gets you no points and shows your hand to the other students who you are pit against anyway. Success is nearly always won by playing the "law school game". Professors are too often dismissive and paternalistic. This is particularly uncomfortable if you have just come from graduate school (as I did) and are used to being treated like colleagues by professors. The field is also entirely over-saturated, and it's difficult to get a job good enough to pay off your loans unless you are in the top half of the class or come from a really prestigious school.

Don't go to law school

Rising 2L here. Coming from an engineering background in undergrad, I thought I just needed to adjust. Did pretty terribly my 1L year, decided to read Getting to Maybe, and found out there was still so much I didn't know. (Side note: Getting to Maybe was published in '99, is it still relevant? Anyone wanna comment on this?) My approach to studying/exam taking strategy has been mostly trial and error up to this point, but one thing I can say is you should do the reading and you should at least pay attention in class. Hard work is rewarded, but only if you're working hard in the right direction.

I love law school and don't regret coming here. Some trepidation about OCI though; I actually have a decent lineup, but since bidding is gpa-blind, I feel like I'm gonna be destroyed at the end of the process.

 

[Pollux]

I wouldn't advise that to anyone actually. I think law actually can be a great field if you have an actual reason to go into the field other than "I like to argue," "I want to make money," "I like legal drama," "I don't have any other options," etc. Like I said I enjoy the work I've gotten an opportunity to get involved in. Problem it feels literally impossible to find a job. I'm at what I consider a great school in the middle third of my class (I honestly don't know WHERE in that third. They only give us a top 1/3 cutoff and I can reasonably conclude I'm not in the bottome 1/3.) and like I said I can't picture in my head why anyone would ever want to hire me.

EDIT: Looking back at the previous post. I think it may be generally more negative than my feelings towards school. I do genuinely enjoy many of my classes. But I also despise some of them more than any other classes I've taken. Law school deals in extremes, and mostly low extremes. Though the classes that I've enjoyed have been much more rewarding than any other classes I took in UG. Though I can say that at no time has law school actually provoked a genuinely positive emotion from me other than, "thank god its done" for any given semester.

What sort of law are you studying for, b/c I've been skimming the 1L books and contracts and IP look fascinating. After first year I hope to stay as far away from criminal law as possible.

 

[genjiZERO]

If you don't mind me asking, where did you go? Also what area of the country are you looking for a job in?

Any advice you have that isn't..."drop out and don't go"?

I'd rather not say where I go to school because I know there are some Gaffers at my school, but I go to a first tier school in the far South. I'm looking for jobs in the DC area though. I personally shouldn't have too much of a difficult time getting a job because I'm going into patent law and have a pretty extensive science background. If you can go into a specialised field then you should be ok on a job.

I was pretty negative in my first post, but I don't always tell people they shouldn't go to law school right off the bat. I think it's a great choice for some. I think graduate school is a better choice, and I usually advise people to go for the PhD over a JD, but law school can be a very good option if you want to go into the business or governmental world, or if you just want to be a plain lawyer. It's not for academics though - so if academia appeals to you then law school isn't the place.

Rising 2L here. Coming from an engineering background in undergrad, I thought I just needed to adjust. Did pretty terribly my 1L year, decided to read Getting to Maybe, and found out there was still so much I didn't know. (Side note: Getting to Maybe was published in '99, is it still relevant? Anyone wanna comment on this?) My approach to studying/exam taking strategy has been mostly trial and error up to this point, but one thing I can say is you should do the reading and you should at least pay attention in class. Hard work is rewarded, but only if you're working hard in the right direction.

I love law school and don't regret coming here. Some trepidation about OCI though; I actually have a decent lineup, but since bidding is gpa-blind, I feel like I'm gonna be destroyed at the end of the process.

I did average to terrible my first year. First semester 2L I did average to above average. Then second semester 2L I did terrible in a class, above average in a couple more, a solid A in another, and I booked a class. The classes I did the best in were paper classes and classes that were more "graduate school like". Strongly "law-schoolish" classes are the ones I do the worst in. It's still trial and error for me as well because there's no uniformity to how you are supposed to answer exams and it's about giving the professor what he want's not what you think the best answer is. I've also read that book to no avail (I was always a straight A student before I got to law school - even taking graduate level science classes).

Also, truth be told the classes I do the most reading and prepping for are the ones I do the worst in. My best classes are the ones I slack off in. Strangely the more slack I get in law school the better I do.

 

[brucewaynegretzky]

Also, truth be told the classes I do the most reading and prepping for are the ones I do the worst in. My best classes are the ones I slack off in. Strangely the more slack I get in law school the better I do.

I find this applies to me to, for the most part... Though my definition of "slacking" has seriously changed since undergrad. Slacking now means a week of "light prep" just before finals begin and 48 hours of "intense studying" right before the actual exam. Preparing means detailed outlining beginning a month out.

EDIT: O and I'm "studying" (aka trying to find a job in/have some experience in) labor law. I've taken some IP courses too, but I don't have a science background so its mostly just for enjoyment.

 

[commish]

EDIT: O and I'm "studying" (aka trying to find a job in/have some experience in) labor law. I've taken some IP courses too, but I don't have a science background so its mostly just for enjoyment.

Don't let your lack of a science background prevent you from going into IP if that's what you really want to do. A science background is not required for many (most?) areas of IP law.

 

[brucewaynegretzky]

Don't let your lack of a science background prevent you from going into IP if that's what you really want to do. A science background is not required for many (most?) areas of IP law.

I like IP and would gladly work in the field, but I can honestly say I enjoy the labor stuff just as much. Either one would be cool with me. I just want a job. Preferably one that allows me to pay my loans and live simultaneously.

 

[Angry Grimace]

Don't go, there are no jobs, you'll die alone

[/SA]

There really are no jobs, though.

 

[bsb]

Go to law school if at least one of of the following things apply to you:

1)Being a lawyer is really what you want to do in life, your dream profession.

2)You can get get through it without debt, get a full ride scholarship, etc.(unlikely, but I do know one classmate who did this, so I thought I'd mention it)

3)You can get into a top tier school.

If none of these things apply to you, you're better off not going to law school. Too much debt, too few jobs, and few people are cut out to handle the actual workload without going nuts in the process.

 

[entremet]

Starting my 3rd year. I'm really looking forward to being done.

Personally, I really detest law school and wish I hadn't gone. I find law students mostly to be atrocious fratty immature drunkards with little interesting to say. There is almost no cultural diversity amongst students. I also find legal thinking cumbersome, logically soft, antiquated and baroque. Grading is unfair and borders on being arbitrary. You are almost never rewarded for knowing anything, and are positively never rewarded for working hard. There is no real incentive to do the readings and participate in class because it gets you no points and shows your hand to the other students who you are pit against anyway. Success is nearly always won by playing the "law school game". Professors are too often dismissive and paternalistic. This is particularly uncomfortable if you have just come from graduate school (as I did) and are used to being treated like colleagues by professors. The field is also entirely over-saturated, and it's difficult to get a job good enough to pay off your loans unless you are in the top half of the class or come from a really prestigious school.

Don't go to law school

Don't you have a MD too? I remember your advice wasn't too rosy then, at least for non-trads. LOL

 

[brucewaynegretzky]

Go to law school if at least one of of the following things apply to you:

1)Being a lawyer is really what you want to do in life, your dream profession. As long as you have some logical reason to think this. Seriously you'd be amazed at some of the reasons people end up in law school. You can love Law & Order all you want. You still have no idea what the actual work is like.

2)You can get get through it without debt, get a full ride scholarship, etc.(unlikely, but I do know one classmate who did this, so I thought I'd mention it)

3)You can get into a top tier school.

If none of these things apply to you, you're better off not going to law school. Too much debt, too few jobs, and few people are cut out to handle the actual workload without going nuts in the process.

.

 

[RandomDancing]

EDIT: O and I'm "studying" (aka trying to find a job in/have some experience in) labor law. I've taken some IP courses too, but I don't have a science background so its mostly just for enjoyment.

I'm a 3L too, a Flyers fan, and thinking about going into labor/employment law because it's where I have most of my experience. I'm guessing you're not a woman, so you're not my doppelganger, but now I wonder if we're at the same school. Do you attend a Philly-area school?

 

[Puddles]

I started studying for the LSAT too. My undergrad GPA was pretty low (to be competitive for law school), so I'm shooting for a 168, or ideally, a 170. We'll see how that goes. It's just an option I'm keeping open.

Good luck to all of you guys.

 

[dave is ok]

I know a lawyer who went to BU/Suffolk Law. Does Real Estate mostly

 

[Pollux]

Out of curiosity is there anyone on GAF practicing in the Boston area?

 

[reggieandTFE]

I find this applies to me to, for the most part... Though my definition of "slacking" has seriously changed since undergrad. Slacking now means a week of "light prep" just before finals begin and 48 hours of "intense studying" right before the actual exam. Preparing means detailed outlining beginning a month out.

EDIT: O and I'm "studying" (aka trying to find a job in/have some experience in) labor law. I've taken some IP courses too, but I don't have a science background so its mostly just for enjoyment.

Labor law on the corporate or Union side?

 

[brucewaynegretzky]

I'm a 3L too, a Flyers fan, and thinking about going into labor/employment law because it's where I have most of my experience. I'm guessing you're not a woman, so you're not my doppelganger, but now I wonder if we're at the same school. Do you attend a Philly-area school?

Lol that is amazing, but no. I'm in DC, and hopefully will be able to stay here. My gf just got a job she really likes here so now there's even more pressure to find a job in this awful market.

Labor law on the corporate or Union side?

Actually neither .
Though I'd work either of those if I had a job offer.

 

[Seraphinianus]

1. What was your experience with the LSAT like?

long, arduous. do a ton of test problems..everything you can get your hands on. Get lots of practice with logic games. The other sections are not that bad.

2. What is law school like compared to undergraduate or graduate experience -- academically and socially?

Everyone is in competition. Everyone is trying their hardest to be serious and look professional and not stand out in a bad way. I find the conversation at law school to be a lot more stifled and boring. I haven't made ANY friends that I hang with outside of law school because what do law students talk about after a day at law school- more law school! Fuck that! but I go where I grew up, so I already had friends here.

And I'll echo the "it's all douches" remarks. You REALLY have to be patient with some people before you can get them to drop their "i'm a young professional whose going to be rich" front.

Not sure what other people think, but I find it hard to mention doing anything illegal (like smoking weed) to anyone at law school because anyone can just tell the Bar Association character and fitness test people and BAM! 3 years down the drain because you didn't tell them you smoked weed at some point in your life. YEP. look up "bar character and fitness test.")

3. If you're already a practicing lawyer, how do you feel about your job? I had someone tell me recently that he hated being a lawyer and quit because he was sick of dealing with sad, angry, demanding people all day. Is that cliche or is there some truth to his advice?

n/a, still in school.

EDIT: but I handled some divorce cases for my brother-- hahaha, oh wow. "angry, demanding" doesn't quite cover it. How about "about ready to blow the fuck up on you at the drop of a pin."

4. How is the income? Is it worth all the work or do you think other jobs would be more enjoyable?

also, n/a. all I'm gonna say is that I didn't do that great in 1L, managed to pick myself up in 2L, and went totally into "fuck being a lawyer" mode after realizing what a shitty deal it is. Even if you get into a great paying firm, your quality of life sucks. You'll spend your 20s on call and drafting shit 24/7. You might end up on the street years later, competing with recent grads for fucking internships.

The market is so competitive and overcrowded that I decided to become a legal librarian instead-- you need the JD, but you also have to go to grad school for a librarian degree. I'm piling on more debt, but it'll take me a year and a half to finish, which is a year and a half I'd be accumulating debt anyway. Probably more debt than the local tuition for the grad school I'm going to.

So, it's impossible to say "if you love it, do it" because I thought I would love it, got there, and hated it. And the law job market is as shitty as it gets.

TL;DR: Don't go.

 

[RandomDancing]

Lol that is amazing, but no. I'm in DC, and hopefully will be able to stay here. My gf just got a job she really likes here so now there's even more pressure to find a job in this awful market.

Ahh, well good luck! I had debated applying to some firms and federal agencies in DC but I feel like I have little to no chance with all the Georgetown, GW, George Mason, American, etc. students in the area (likely with better stats). I just sent out an app to some regional offices today (NLRB, EEOC, etc.), but I think I'd like to clerk if I don't end up in government. How is your job search going so far?

 

[brucewaynegretzky]

Ahh, well good luck! I had debated applying to some firms and federal agencies in DC but I feel like I have little to no chance with all the Georgetown, GW, George Mason, American, etc. students in the area (likely with better stats). I just sent out an app to some regional offices today (NLRB, EEOC, etc.), but I think I'd like to clerk if I don't end up in government. How is your job search going so far?

Haha I started all those apps last night. So far not so great. I've got to get my DC Superior Court apps together though. I think that's probably my best bet.

 

[Machine]

I always hesitate to discuss it because my experience was so atypical. I took the LSAT on a whim (zero prep, registered about 30 days before the actual test date). I applied to four schools within 50 miles of my home and received two full scholarship offers - one 3rd tier and one 4th tier. I ended up going with the 4th tier school since the hours were better. Also I really enjoyed law school (crazy, isn't it?). There was a lot of work, particularly the first year, but by the time I was a 3L, the workload had eased considerably. I passed the bar but haven't started practicing yet. Eventually I will open a solo practice but there's really no hurry since I have no debt and already have a decent job and I'm reluctant to lose the benefits. Everyone I keep in touch with from law school has managed to find work or else they opened solo practices which are doing well although none of them are with huge firms making six-figure salaries at this point.

 

[mingus]

(I was always a straight A student before I got to law school - even taking graduate level science classes).

Also, truth be told the classes I do the most reading and prepping for are the ones I do the worst in. My best classes are the ones I slack off in. Strangely the more slack I get in law school the better I do.

Same, my undergrad gpa was awesome and my 1L grades blow. I think us science majors do better in classes we slack off in b/c it just means we're in familiar territory? (Although I did the least work in civpro and did the worst in that class, even though I studied my ass off and felt the best about that final. wtf)

 

[Seraphinianus]

Same, my undergrad gpa was awesome and my 1L grades blow. I think us science majors do better in classes we slack off in b/c it just means we're in familiar territory? (Although I did the least work in civpro and did the worst in that class, even though I studied my ass off and felt the best about that final. wtf)

my friends laugh because i totally botched 1L after busting my ass off, then I started smoking weed again before 2L, then kicked ass in 2L. (of course, I just got better at reading and knowing what the profs want, but it's more fun to say I kicked ass because I was stoned.)

 

[brucewaynegretzky]

Same, my undergrad gpa was awesome and my 1L grades blow. I think us science majors do better in classes we slack off in b/c it just means we're in familiar territory? (Although I did the least work in civpro and did the worst in that class, even though I studied my ass off and felt the best about that final. wtf)

This is just typical. Almost all law students have really good grades before lawschool. 25% GPAs at 3.3 means 75% averaged above a B+, so basically A students. Then they take a bunch of good students and put them on a curve.

 

[RandomDancing]

Just to provide another viewpoint, I'm a 3L and I still really love law school. I applied after years of hating the idea, since I grew up with people telling me I should be a lawyer. It's a lot of work (if you're like me and need to do all your reading), but most classes are really interesting. Perhaps I've just been blessed with really good professors, but I've looked forward to attending the majority of my classes.

I do echo what other posters have said though...especially this: Law school creates overwhelming self-doubt in yourself. If you're not the top 10% of the class (and let's face it, 90% of us aren't), you're usually killing yourself for not doing better or trying to figure out how to improve or cursing that your entire grade is based off one stupid fact pattern. This only gets worse when applying for your post-graduation job, where you soon realize you're up against not just your classmates, but students from all over the country. I cannot quantify how much time I've spent wishing I spent a little more time on this brief, or spend a little more time making connections with these people or taken some other class that would look good to an employer. If you're not overwhelmingly confident/cocky/sure of yourself going in, you're going to struggle.

Haha I started all those apps last night. So far not so great. I've got to get my DC Superior Court apps together though. I think that's probably my best bet.

Yeah, same here. I have a lot of connections in the small-ish market I'm applying to, and I'm still terrified that I'm still going to be trying to find a job this time next year post-bar exam.

 

[Pie Lord]

All this talk about the rough job market has me wondering; it is a problem from people who went to a prestigious school, (Top 20 or something like that) or is mostly rough for people from Tier 2, 3 and 4?

 

[brucewaynegretzky]

I do echo what other posters have said though...especially this: Law school creates overwhelming self-doubt in yourself. If you're not the top 10% of the class (and let's face it, 90% of us aren't), you're usually killing yourself for not doing better or trying to figure out how to improve or cursing that your entire grade is based off one stupid fact pattern. This only gets worse when applying for your post-graduation job, where you soon realize you're up against not just your classmates, but students from all over the country. I cannot quantify how much time I've spent wishing I spent a little more time on this brief, or spend a little more time making connections with these people or taken some other class that would look good to an employer. If you're not overwhelmingly confident/cocky/sure of yourself going in, you're going to struggle.

This is the most true thing out of everything that has been said. I actually am a pretty confident person (mostly because I'm awesome) but like I've said, I just don't see how I'm going to live after law school.

All this talk about the rough job market has me wondering; it is a problem from people who went to a prestigious school, (T20 or something like that) or is mostly rough for people from T2, 3 and 4?

T14 here, B+ average. Its everyone. I think I'm gonna stop posting in these threads though for a while, getting way too easy to lose that whole "anonymity" thing.

 

[Pollux]

I cannot quantify how much time I've spent wishing I spent a little more time on this brief, or spend a little more time making connections with these people or taken some other class that would look good to an employer. If you're not overwhelmingly confident/cocky/sure of yourself going in, you're going to struggle.

Think I got the confident part down. The only thing I'm worried about is finding internships and summer employment at the moment. When should I start applying for those (1L here)?

Also are your grades just based off finals or are there papers as well?

What is law review (if that's what it's called)?

What can I do to set myself apart from the pack? I'm not going to the best school in the region or anything, but my school does have a very strong reputation within Boston.

 

[commish]

All this talk about the rough job market has me wondering; it is a problem from people who went to a prestigious school, (T20 or something like that) or is mostly rough for people from T2, 3 and 4?

As you would expect, getting a job gets easier as you go up the school ranks. But there are still people at the top schools who don't get jobs.

 

[Angry Grimace]

Tip #2: If your believe "international law" is an actual career where you ride a bike to work in Paris where you argue passionately in from Swiss tribunals to free refugees and bust war criminals, don't go law school. That job doesn't actually exist. Real international law tends to involve tedious translation of contracts and conflict of law disputes.

I always hesitate to discuss it because my experience was so atypical. I took the LSAT on a whim (zero prep, registered about 30 days before the actual test date). I applied to four schools within 50 miles of my home and received two full scholarship offers - one 3rd tier and one 4th tier. I ended up going with the 4th tier school since the hours were better. Also I really enjoyed law school (crazy, isn't it?). There was a lot of work, particularly the first year, but by the time I was a 3L, the workload had eased considerably. I passed the bar but haven't started practicing yet. Eventually I will open a solo practice but there's really no hurry since I have no debt and already have a decent job and I'm reluctant to lose the benefits. Everyone I keep in touch with from law school has managed to find work or else they opened solo practices which are doing well although none of them are with huge firms making six-figure salaries at this point.

The difference between Tier 4 schools and Tier 1 schools isn't the intelligence of the students, but the fact that the students at Tier 4 schools are fucking lazy shits who never study and do dumb shit like go to Vegas before finals. For the love of god at least wait until 2L year for that shit. Not like I can talk; I'm studying right now for finals (took summer classes.) I still have four of them in the next four days and I've done almost nothing all year in any of the classes and barely know the subjects, all of which are bar courses.

 

[Pie Lord]

As you would expect, getting a job gets easier as you go up the school ranks. But there are still people at the top schools who don't get jobs.

That goes with out saying. As a general rule though, I would assume the majority manage to find something, no?

 

[Seraphinianus]

T14 here, B+ average. Its everyone. I think I'm gonna stop posting in these threads though for a while, getting way too easy to lose that whole "anonymity" thing.

another shitty thing about becoming a lawyer -- that whole "public figure" thing, even though you're not famous or anything.

 

[BotoxAgent]

taking my LSATs this November

 

[Pie Lord]

T14 here, B+ average. Its everyone. I think I'm gonna stop posting in these threads though for a while, getting way too easy to lose that whole "anonymity" thing.

Georgetown University, I presume?

 

[elrechazado]

Actually neither .
Though I'd work either of those if I had a job offer.

wait...what else is there

 

[Pollux]

Georgetown University, I presume?

Avatar quote. Don't know why but you probably guessing right with your avatar and his last post about anonymity is hilarious.

 

[braves01]

What schools are usually considered top tier?