Law School Discussion

Quote from: "Legapp" Stands for "Legal Application" on January 08, 2009, 07:51:04 PM

Quote from: Craig Finn on January 08, 2009, 06:32:55 PM

Quote from: "Legapp" Stands for "Legal Application" on January 08, 2009, 05:28:14 PM

Quote from: Craig Finn on December 30, 2008, 09:08:11 PM

Quote from: "Legapp" Stands for "Legal Application" on December 29, 2008, 08:18:35 AM

Would have gunned harder for a Law Review board position (although I would probably have regretted it).

Why?

Why would I have regretted it?  Because LR board would have overwhelmed my entire 3L year, prevented me from reaching my other goals, and made me hate my life in general.  It probably would not have helped with getting a clerkship, since LR seemed to be enough for most judges.

Why do you regret not having gunned for a board spot, then?

Because it would have been nice for my resume, and a high position would have opened up a lot of doors.

What doors do you think are now closed?  Sorry for all the questions. 

It's not that they're closed--it's that in some instances it would have helped to open them.  Now I have to try to do other things to push those doors open!  Most important would be a CoA clerkship.  I'm a good candidate, but not great, so I think it could have bumped me up a bit.  Secondly, there is a small boutique firm I am interested in that appears to value a board membership (almost every attorney on their website has one).  Lastly would be academia, which I suspect is not for me anyway. 

I dunno.  Free alcohol and food.  On the other hand, I doubt that any associate or partner in the history of the legal field has ever hired on the basis of a reception.  I doubt it's that useful for networking, either, because they meet you for one night.  Why should they want to hire you?

Any thoughts?  Any suggestions?  It's all the way downtown.  The firm itself is based in Portland or Seattle; I've never been to that part of the country, so I don't see much of a difference.

Davis Wright Tremaine?  If so, go.

Would have gunned harder for a Law Review board position (although I would probably have regretted it).

Would have / will work harder to get at least one of my many articles published... and to finish my two unfinished pieces.

Will not be taking any classes with a timed final exam next semester. 

On multiple occasions during law school, the Dean provided exam taking arrangements for me
when I had extentuating circumstances.   This was within her professional role.

I am graduating now - is thanking her inappropriate? 


You can write a quick (vague) thank you letter for all of her help during your law school career, sure. 

ok this is not the typical response but... you leave the exam room asap, do NOT talk to any law students, and get your a** to a bar.  drink about three beers over the course of the afternoon.  go out to eat with a non-law student friend.  if you like, sober up and study that night--but i liked to declare test day a no-study zone.  (during my first semester, i learned that even if i tried to study on a test day, i really got nothing done.)  i prefer to watch a movie.  if you must hang out with a law student, make a pact to NOT discuss exams.

basically, this helps in three ways:

1.  you don't burn out over the course of the exam period.
2.  you don't worry about things you can't change.
3.  you have something to look forward to.  instead of your inner dialogue saying, "damn, after this torts exam then there's civ pro..." you say "after this torts exam i'm having margaritas and watching Hoosiers [NOTE:  movies about overcoming adversity are always good for this time!]."

good luck, especially for the 1Ls.  remember, once you're an upperclassman you can arrange your course load so that you never have an exam period like this again.