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Messages - wustl3l

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1
Transferring / Re: SMU v. WUSTL
« on: July 28, 2008, 04:04:23 AM »
Big thing you need to ask is how well SMU transfers do at OCI. I know transfers in my class who got Dallas interviews so it's not unheard of at all but there aren't tons of people heading down there primarily due to self selection. If you are dead set on Dallas then I'd probably go to SMU but if there is even a faint idea that you might want it I'd go to WashU.

And, I do know some classmates who don't have jobs or are working small law but would say that are more the exception than the rule.

2
Non-Traditional Students / Re: Is anyone NOT in it for the money?
« on: July 25, 2008, 06:53:59 PM »
I posted this in another thread (http://www.lawschooldiscussion.org/prelaw/index.php/topic,4012932.msg5148038.html#msg5148038) but I would guess that of my friends in school only about 20% are in law school because they actually love the law. Most of the others just didn't know what else to do and/or were drawn to the money and/or to the prestige and/or because they thought it would be like on law and order. I'm certain a good portion will stick it out despite it not being their dream job but I am already seeing (I just graduated) people starting to second guess going into practice or already trying to figure out their exit strategy.

3
Law Firms / Re: A question for people working in Biglaw...
« on: July 25, 2008, 05:38:58 PM »
Quote from: CA. on July 25, 2008, 10:59:08 AM
tag.

What type of people love it?  Good writers who are fond of detail?

Also, I would love to hear some discussion of BigLaw salaries in Chicago.

Personally I, at this point, really enjoy the practice of the law. I love digging into the minutiae to found something obscure and just frankly love reading and research the law. And I don't mind spending a lot of my days and nights devoting my energies towards doing those things. Obviously, the money is a nice by product.

But I have several classmates who after last summer (we just graduated) are already second guessing doing this for a living because those chose law school because they didn't know what to do with their life and heard the law made good money. One friend has already said that she is out after a year of practice (she obviously didn't tell the firm), another friend a year ahead of us is already talking about quitting and going into the peace corps, and another friend is studying for the bar and afterwords will immediately start applying for MLS programs because she can't imagine actually practicing.

It's not like on TV and for a lot of people (like my aforementioned friends) it's just not for them. I probably think of my friends and acquaintances, that less than 20% actually love the law and can't imagine doing anything else. Not to say that others won't stick it out but I do think a good chunk of the remaining 80% won't be attorneys 10 years from now. 

4
Law Firms / Re: A question for people working in Biglaw...
« on: July 25, 2008, 10:54:03 AM »
I'd say to really think this through if you only want to go into the law for financial security. The law is not for everyone and most who leave the profession do so because the money is not worth the sacrifice especially when the law can be really tedious and boring for those who don't love it.

5
General Board / Re: Is a secondary law journal worth the trouble?
« on: July 22, 2008, 01:37:18 AM »
I'd probably suggest to only do the secondary journal if I was actually interested in the subject. Journals are a pretty huge time suck and the minimal resume boost you get from it probably isn't worth it for that reason alone.

6
Transferring / Re: A diff. reason to transfer,
« on: July 22, 2008, 01:34:25 AM »
Everywhere that I know of do indeed reset your grades after you transfer but for the purposes of 2L fall OCI, you use your ranking from your 1L year. However, beginning in the spring of 2L you only use the new school's gpa.

Also would concur that 3L hiring is hit or miss even at top schools. Very few (and when I say very few I mean probably less than 10) get biglaw jobs in their 3L year at WUSTL, for example.

7
Transferring / Re: WashU v. Ohio St.
« on: July 18, 2008, 01:39:47 AM »
Given the firms you will be able to be bid on, which school has more firms that interest you and what are the odds that transfers get offers from such firms?

8
Acceptances / Re: Wash. U./St. Louis or Wisconsin/Madison? Help!
« on: July 18, 2008, 01:38:18 AM »
Quote from: Davinw on July 17, 2008, 05:15:59 PM
I'll be more specific: I really liked the school, program, and atmosphere at Wisconsin, but I'm concerned that turning down a better-ranked school like WUSTL would be a bad mistake. In other words, the only reason I'd go to WUSTL is because of the rank (I'd be happy there too, though). Thoughts anyone?

But you left out the most important part. What do you want to do and where do you want to do it. That's infinitely more important than "atmosphere".

9
2L job search / Re: Law Review - How stupid was it not to petition for law review?
« on: July 15, 2008, 12:22:15 AM »
Quote from: goaliechica on July 14, 2008, 11:57:03 PM


So what reason for not doing law review beyond "I tried but failed" would you find compelling?

Probably something like needing the time to do significant pro bono work. It'd obvious be a case-by-case basis.

10
2L job search / Re: Law Review - How stupid was it not to petition for law review?
« on: July 14, 2008, 11:40:32 PM »
Quote from: Sell Out on July 14, 2008, 11:27:35 PM
Are you interested in clinics, moot court, or mock trial?  These help tremendously.  Also, do you work outside of school?  Smaller firm work during the school year can really help, or so I've heard.  I would rather take someone who's been drafting MSJs or writing briefs for two years over the kid from the International Law of Hot Dog Vending and General Snack-Dog Practices Journal any day of the week.  Possibly they'll know what they are doing when they get there.

I'm going the clinic route.  I had an easy decision in front of me though.  I don't want to do big law and would like to study in Canada for a semester.  Journals at my school are a two year commitment.  Thus, I'm no longer eligible.  So long as you look like you did something, you should be fine.  I wouldn't rule out a successful career just yet.  Employers are going to care about grades more than anything else.  Boost the GPA, but that's standard advice regardless of the circumstances.

I should clarify that I don't care about secondary journals, I'm only referring to the primary journal.

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