Law School Discussion

I finally got my grades back, and they seem to land me around the 35th percentile of a 4th tier.  I made the decision a while ago that I would quit if not in the top 20% because the chances of advancing my finances (over and above my current career) would be slim.  My entrance statistics of having a 161 and 158 on the LSAT and a 3.0 in an engineering undergrad curriculum boosted my confidence that I would do well.  It seems, however, that my talents don't include taking timed essay tests. 

I did best (B+) in legal writing which is graded on multiple choice tests and long-term written assignments.  I did worst in CivPro (C+), in which the professor writes analytically easy exams, but obsesses over how accurately you state obvious facts.  Got a B in Contracts and a B- in Torts.  I felt I knew all the material very well.  At the end of the day, it's what you get on the paper that counts.

I'm a part time student with an established career, so this definitely isn't the end of the world, but it's a little depressing none the less.  The worst part is that my plan for the next 3.5 years vaporized, and I have to figure out what to do next. 

I'm thinking an executive MBA program is in my future.

I've taken two exams so far.  In both cases I've been more concerned with dumping everything I know onto the page instead of formulating my answers to conform to the 'call of the question.'  For example, my contracts test asked us to predict what kind of arguments the parties are likely to make.  I didn't phase my answer like, "so and so will make this argument, and alternately so and so will make that argument."  Hopefully it won't hurt me that much, but I was more worried about showing what I knew than crafting my answer to a particular format.

At the end of the day, I want to be a partner in a 20 lawyer or less firm, or a solo practicioner.  Of course, I don't want to starve in the process.  For starters, I'll try to get into the largest firm that will take me to get the brand recognition, but I have not desire to fight to the top to become a partner at a 200 lawyer firm.  In a few years, I would like to scale down. 

My intelligence is genetically limited to the point where I will probably never be one of the top 50 lawyers in the state, and as a result I will probably never be a 'superlawyer' executive large firm partner type.  I've decided that it is more lucrative being in a position where you can be the best in your field, rather than just getting by in a "higher tier" field.  For example, I would make a damn good plumber.  I could probably be one of the top 10 plumbers in the state.  As a result, If I started my own plumbing company, I could probably become a millionaire working at a lower tiered blue collar occupation.  As a large-firm lawyer, I probably would be about average and be relegated to slaving away as an associate indefinitely.  I don't want to be a plumber, and it's too late in life now anyway to start over at $10/hr, so I'll go for being a lawyer.  As a small-firm attorney, I could probably be above average, and do quite well as a big fish in a small pond.

I'm at the point in the semester where we get our main legal writing assignment.  My outlines are not up to date.  My practice exams are written in a Hemingwayesque format, meaning that the professors seem to want to see every point, no matter how painfully obvious.

I have to make time for outlining, practice exams, and the legal paper.  I think the days of formal case breifing are numbered.  Aside from being the class superstar when called on, there is really no incentive to knowing cases front to back.  The professor will cover any relevant points or developments in class discussion. Hopefully book breifing and skimming before class will carry the day.

I have received two salary data sheets from Widener Harrisburg during the application / admissions process. 
2004 Priv. Pract. Salary:
Range 42.5k - 90k
Mean 61875
Median 57500

2005 Priv. Pract. Salary:
Range 40k - 80k
Mean 54940
Median 48500

The only redeeming factor is that in 2004 there were 92 graduates v/s 149 graduates in 2005.  This leads me to believe that less qualified people are being admitted to boost revenue.  However, the top salary shouldn't vary by 10k!  I hope this trend doesn't continue.