Law School Discussion

I thought I saw outlets, but I can't remember.  You should e-mail someone in admin.

If you're not sure you want to go to school this fall, you need to decide soon before you end up in debt for nothing. Of if you are on scholarship, you end up jobless for nothing.

I admire you wanting to do the right thing for your daughter... I think if you were seriously considering a legal career, Penn would be an obvious choice. You'd find the childcare help you needed and your daughter would adjust to a new place. It might be harder in the short term, but the long term rewards stand to be much higher.

Williamette is a good local choice, however, and a good choice for practicing law in your region, though. You and your daughter have the emotional benefit of being in a familiar place and local family support.

Once you have graduated and practiced for a good number of years, where you went to school matters a lot less. What you have done in the time since matters more. The opportunties coming out of Williamette will not be as great as Penn, but you certainly are in an under-served legal market. So the opportunities for a local grad in this market would be greater than a more saturated location like Chicago or NYC.

Good luck with your decision whether or not to attend Williamette this fall. That is the most important decision factor at this stage in the game-- and one you need to make for yourself.

I like this response I will increase your reputation.

Quote from: KrazyNazi on July 31, 2007, 01:02:22 AM

Quote from: SergioCQH on July 31, 2007, 12:44:49 AM

The best way to improve your writing is to increase your reading. You have to love to read before you become a truly good writer.

Disagree.  Reading is not the same as writing.  Reading involves recognition, whereas writing involves mostly "reproduction".  One cannot reproduce sometimes, even things he has perfectly memorized.  For example, one can easily distinguish between British and American accent, but often cannot produce both.

I disagree with this disagreement. I submit that writing is simply an extension of reading. And your example about accents is inapplicable because speech is a very different process than thought. Reading and writing occur entirely in our minds. The paper is just recording that process.

Reading a book about writing may be useful, and I can see why an engineer would be inclined to do so (since they learn everything mechanically). However, I am absolutely certain that the best way to improve your prose is to read, enjoy, and reflect upon the prose of others. Don't set out to "learn" how to write better; set out to experience great writing.

Read more and  practice writing.  Transcribing what you read can also help.  You got in with your personal statement, and (if they read it) your writing sample.  The admissions committee thinks your writing is competative with your classmates.  I still think you may be better at it than you think.

Reading the cases, and briefing them everyday may help you as well. 

Quote from: StevePirates on July 30, 2007, 04:22:23 PM

Both.

Pocket to use, hardbound full to sit on my shelf and impress people with how difficult the study of law is.

Exactly! 

Nice!

I think you made a good decision based on your needs, and your goals.  What they think on this board does not matter.  You really shouldn't concern yourself with snobbery.  That is the norm for any profession, and in all walks of life. If that bothers you you're going to have a tough time in everything you do.  I'm sure the rest of them could care less about what you think of thier choices. 

I didn't pay attention to the ranking until I got acceptances.  I based my choices on my personal goals.  I'd say about 10% of the Profs at my school whent to my school, and maybe 20% Harvard, and Yale.  Everyone where I live (Philly) went to Temple, Villanova, Dickinson, and Penn in that order of choice.  I was told by close friends who are practicing attorneys in big law, and solo to avoid Penn if I want to be a big shot in Philly.  Mind you I'm a non-trad as well, so my situation is somewhat unique.  I already have an established business, and a legal client list for when I graduate (If I go solo right away).

The best business managers will look beyond the school you went to, read your sample writing, and insist on meeting you.  I wouldn't want to work with or for someone who's dumb enough to assume I am intelligent just because I went to a T14 (or for non lawyers - L.S.).  That's bad mojo.