| zeroL – Prelaw Advice |
| Prelaw Advice |
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I’m headed to Tulane in the fall and one day hope to practice in Atlanta. A partner at a smaller local firm just offered me the opportunity to work for him this summer, with the chance of coming back during my 1L summer. The pay is decent and I think it could turn into a job down the road. On the other hand, I was also chosen for a prestigious research opportunity in Egypt. The research position comes with free tuition, room, and board – and would last through the summer. The program has nothing to do with law but I have never been abroad – and I would like to go before law school. What do I do? - GPA: 3.5 LSAT: 164 |
Corey:Brutal. It kills me to say it, but you have to take the firm job. The job market is too unstable to pass up the chance at a potential post-JD job. All is not lost, though, Tulane has a wide variety of summer study abroad programs that could quench your thirst for travel. Try to spend eight weeks of your 1L summer at the firm and four weeks studying in Europe or Asia.
Jane:I knew Corey was going to tell you to take the job and I was ready to put up a fight for your Egyptian summer, but I did not consider Tulane’s massive study abroad program. Work the heck out of that firm this summer and plan on returning your 1L summer … after you spend a month in Greece! (or wherever you decide)
If you have a locker, you can get by with a double pocket standard backpack. So long as the dimensions of the bag are large enough to fit your laptop, you will be able to fit everything you need for one class in this type of bag. Check out this Jansport
Messenger Bag
Nope. Don’t do it. A fifteen pound casebook and a five pound laptop coupled with the terrible weight distribution of a messenger bag will leave you with an aching back. If you insist on buying one, get something heavy duty like the Tank
Laptop Sling
If you have a locker and, for some reason, hate having two straps on your bag – go with a sling. With more support than a messenger bag, this Targus Grove Sling
Wheeled Backpack
Often the most practical solution, especially if you do not have a locker, these bags come with a “gunner” stigma. Still, being labeled a “gunner” is better than throwing out your back. This High Sierra Wheeled Backpack
Attaché Case
Do you possess the upper body strength to carry a laptop and legal textbook by a single handle? If so, the attaché case is for you. Perfect for situations where a backpack is inappropriate, like an on-campus interview, this U.S. Luggage case
Laptop Purse
The trendier cousin of the attaché case, the laptop purse keeps you professional and feminine. Try this Solo Tote
Duffel Bag
Plan on practically living at law school? Too cool for a wheeled backpack? The duffel bag has room for your books, your laptop, and a change of clothes. Try the traditional adidas Elite Duffle
For those of you who asked, we hope this helps. For those of you who didn’t, we will have a normal question/answer tomorrow.
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I chose Ohio State University over Depaul, Loyola LA, and Northeastern because I thought that the more recognizable name would give me more portability and I felt lucky to have gotten in. Originally I wanted to do public interest and policy law, but I didn’t want to lock myself into one field prematurely. I’m still having doubts though with people constantly telling me that where I go to law school will determine where I will practice. I won’t mind spending a year or two in Ohio, but I really want to work in DC, California, or internationally. How will this affect my future? - GPA: 3.7 LSAT: 159 |
Corey:Obviously, when you are choosing between similarly ranked schools, you should pick the school in the market you want to work. This is not the case here. Ohio State is significantly more prestigious than your other acceptances. Ohio State out-places the other three law schools in DC and out-places all but Loyola in California (see here). Even though Loyola places more graduates in California, Ohio State sends 3-5% of its class to California every year – not an insignificant number. You will have to do a lot of extra legwork, but you can take your more-prestigious Ohio State law degree to DC or California.
Also important to note, Ohio State will give you in-state tuition after 12 months. Your cost of attendance will be significantly less at Ohio State than the expensive, private Loyola. In your case, Ohio State offers the perfect balance of prestige, placement, and cost – you made the right choice.
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My school, Loyola in Los Angeles, dropped in the new rankings. I turned down USD which is now ranked higher than Loyola. Did I make a mistake? - GPA: 3.2 LSAT: 160 |
Corey:The 2010 US News rankings were leaked today (found here) and the prelaw message boards have exploded with debate. Now, I know we have said this before, but it won’t hurt to say it again – never make your law school choice based solely on the US News rankings. While the rankings correlate to the general prestige of each law school versus their peers, they are not definitive. Your law school decision should be based primarily on placement in the market where you would like to work versus your cost-of-attendance. Sometimes this corresponds with the US News rankings, sometimes it doesn’t. So long as you didn’t make your decision based solely on the rankings to begin with, your decision is still valid.
According to the Loyola career services office, ~16% of the 2007 graduating class obtained employment at a large firm (100+ attorneys). According to the USD career services office, ~13% of the 2007 graduating class obtained employment at 100+ attorney firms. Loyola has historically held a placement advantage over USD and the rankings will not change this. Law firms do not pay attention to yearly changes in the US News rankings and neither should you.
Jane:Like Corey said, cost and placement are key in your law school selection. While I’m a fan of rankings in general, and I like to read the US News rankings each year when they are released – they change nothing. USD is the same law school it was yesterday and all the reasons you chose not to attend continue to be reasons not to attend. You made the right choice!
| Title: Editors: Pages: zeroL Rating: |
Planet Law School II Atticus Falcon 858  |
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Atticus Falcon hates the structure of the American legal education and Planet Law School II is his 858 page (!!!) guide to fixing our apparently flawed system. To be fair, Falcon occasionally finds time to impart useful advice for prospective law students. Unfortunately for the reader, the useful advice is scattered and splintered across the entire book. It’s as though Falcon knew that no one would read an 850 page law school rant and threw in 8 pages of advice at the last second in order to market the book to prelaw students…
Bottom line: Read Law School Confidential instead.
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I’ve made my law school decision, how do I withdraw from my other acceptances? - GPA: 3.6 LSAT: 165 |
Jane:Even if the first seat deposit has past, it’s a good idea to send a short email to the Dean of Admissions and withdraw. Simply write that you appreciate the admissions offer but you have decided to attend another law school. You can go into more detail if you like, but it isn’t necessary. Good luck next year!
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I’ve decided on my law school and I’m very excited about starting. Still, I’m already worried about finding a job! With the economy in its current state – how can I best maximize my chances at finding a summer job as a 1L? - GPA: 3.8 LSAT: 172 |
Corey:The NALP does not allow member firms to contact law students before December 1st, so this date has become the “go” date in regards to first year hiring. For large firms, judicial clerkships and government internships is a very good idea to have your cover letters and resumes ready to go on December 1. Very few 1Ls, even at top schools, are landing summer associate positions at large firms right now, but you might as well maximize this small chance by applying early. Some will argue that you should wait until you have first semester grades before sending out these resumes, but if the firm is interested in your application, they will reply to your resume with a request for your grades.
Also, sometime between the beginning of December and the end of February, your school will open up on-campus interview (OCI) applications. Be sure to submit your resume to as many potential employers as your law school will allow.
The above is directed at summer employers who have a very structured application procedure (the government, large firms, the judiciary.) Small/Medium sized firms are a different beast entirely. Your small/medium sized firm job search started yesterday. Immediately start contacting your friends, family, colleagues, ex-frat brothers, etc – ask each of them – “Hey, do you know a lawyer?” No matter who you are or what your background, your network of attorneys will balloon. Don’t ask any of these attorneys for a job – yet. Simply talk to them about law school and the legal profession. I’ve never encountered a lawyer who doesn’t have a great law school story that they love to tell prospective law students! Don’t worry too much about keeping these contacts open during the school year, you will be consumed by school. Once December 1st rolls around, though, start contacting these attorneys. If they don’t need someone for the summer, odds are good that they know someone who does…
As for the traditional “backup” summer jobs, those that involve you working for/at your law school (primarily as a research assistant), each school has a separate policy regarding these positions. Keep your eyes open for career services office emails early in your second semester.
This analysis is oversimplified and your career services office will unload tons of more detailed information upon you during the first semester. The most important advice I can give is to apply early and often. Get your resume in front of as many people as you can and see which opportunities arise.
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I’m thinking about taking a course pass/fail but I’ve already taken a P/F course in the past. Is taking a couple of classes pass/fail going be detrimental for my admission chances? - GPA: 3.6 LSAT: None. |
Corey:This question was posed to a panel of adcoms at last year’s Houston LSAC forum and the consensus was that a few pass/fail courses scattered throughout your undergraduate career was going to have little-to-no impact on your admissions chances. One adcom pointed out, though, that if you have multiple pass/fail courses in one semester, it might merit an addendum explaining the situation. As for your LSAC GPA, pass/fail courses are not computed into your average.
Jane:I think it is important to note that we are not encouraging you to take classes pass/fail. While a few pass/fail courses will not necessarily hurt your application, they also will not help it. That said, I have never advised a prospective student who did not have a pass/fail course or two on their transcript and they have all fared quite well.
