Law School Discussion

With a scholarship tied to a specific GPA, it's always good to check out the grading policy of the school to see if the requirement is achievable.

I looked through Chapman's website and found their Student Handbook that outlines their grading policy (see below). Whether a 3.0 is achievable there, I can't say. You might want to talk to some current students to get their take. There might be some floating around, on this board.

Just something else to take into consideration when making your decision.

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Section 4.1.4 (B)

B. MAXIMUM MEDIAN GRADING STANDARDS
A faculty member shall not assign grades in a course with a median average in
excess of the following standards, except as otherwise provided in the “Application of
Standards in Special Circumstances.” Faculty members may and are encouraged to
assign grades below the maximum median when appropriate in any course.

All courses required to be taken by full-time students in the first year are
subject to a 2.8 maximum median, subject to the following mandatory and
appropriate grade distribution:

Grades Required Range of Grades
3.7 – 4.0 0 – 15%
0.0 – 1.9 At least 10%

For all other courses, the mandatory maximum median grade is a 3.0; exam courses with
twenty (20) or more students require a cumulative 20% of grades to be a 2.4 or lower and
10% to be a 2.2 or lower.

Source: http://www.chapman.edu/law/_files/students/full-pdf-handbook-11-11-16-11.pdf

From an administrative standpoint (registration, financial aid, etc.) along with classes are handled in the loop. Everything you need is right there.

For starters, having a business related degree in addition to a JD isn’t going to magically open doors. What it does is separate you from others, particularly if you have work experience. If you want to practice at a firm, it still boils down to grades/class rank and, depending on the firm, which school you went to. However, your experience in financial services coupled with a good academic record in law school would put you in a good position. You can position yourself as someone who knows (1) how the business world works in general, (2) has an understanding of financial markets and securities and (2) can professional handle clients, along with any other strengths you view yourself as having.

Regarding areas of focus, estates & trust work is a good fit, but from a legal perspective would involve more tax, wills and trust work rather than investment selection. Also don’t overlook compliance work. For wealth management, this would involve areas such as AML/KYC and the various securities laws that play a role in that area. I had a classmate who now is a regional compliance manager for a global investment bank. She has an MBA in addition to her JD. This is also a potential way to move in house where you are at, as a lawyer.

The CFA track would also be beneficial in private equity and M&A. Having an understanding of valuations, its impact on financial statements and how impacts the dynamics of the deal go a long way in this area. The key in this area is having an understanding of the economics of the deal. Only then can you accurately assess the legal ramifications that the deal will entail. A CFA track would also be beneficial in capital markets work because of the basic knowledge of financial instruments you would have gained. Depending on whether you at a firm or in house, this would involve a lot of ’33 act work and other regulations such as Reg M. 

Finally, if you do pursue a JD begin networking with those layers you interact with. They may provide a door to future employment.

If you are looking for supplements, may I suggest the below:

http://www.amazon.com/Civil-Procedure-2nd-Richard-Freer/dp/0735578303/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1318878525&sr=1-1

It is written with 1Ls in mind. In my opinion, it explains Civ Pro in a manner that helps ties everything together - particularly his discussions on personal jurisdiction. He also conducts the Civ Pro lectures for NY BarBri (at least when I took the course), which are also clear and concise like the book.

If you use the Marcus casebook for class, relevant cases are also discussed in some detail.

It has a hefty price tag, but you might be able to find it in the library.

First, you should contact your financial aid office to see if they can provide you specifics concerning your current loans.

Generally repayment begins 6 months after your last enrollment, at least part-time, in school. Check with your loan provider or look at your promissory note and other loan documentation for your lender's specific policy. 

As for your second question, generally you must be enrolled in classes to receive your loan money, as the checks are cut to the school directly. I'm not sure how private loans work, because I don't have any so it may be different for them.

I also believe that if you enroll and latter withdraw from all your classes that any funds received have to be returned. Again, that a generalization I have heard. Your financial aid office would be able to provide the specifics.