Law School Discussion

Hey Isis,
class of 2008.

What was your major?

Isis *wink* (no homo) hey yourself Rattler! 

Far as the question on what schools, I was told having a WIDE selection of schools from all levels of selectivity (dream schools down to "everybody gets in here" schools)...so my choices range from top 10s like yale, harvard. and cornell (whose 25th percentile UG gpa i am above, so I am in their middle 50% range, unlike the others), good ones like Georgetown, average ones like American and mercer and ones that are strong regionally like UMiami and Georgia State, and others like Howard (although I don't want to go to another HBCU for law, just because I thought a different experience might be good for my health.

I know the name brand schools always look good when it's time to impress future clients, but i wonder if a solo is the end goal how much that really matters, cause with lawyers aren't people either going for the one with the lowest fees and best customer service...or the one all their friends and family use?

For practical experience I was thinking being a state attorney would be a good way to get experience, get some loans excused, and get exposure/make contacts.

If all these lofty plans go up in smoke due to a bad lsat etc...then hey, I go where I am accepted that is convenient and make the best of that, because I know people that went to what i believe are t3 or 4 schools and are doing quite well...it gets very hard though, trying to decipher how much of the name brand snobbery applies to what I will face as I go about MY plans for my legal future...and how much of it is only for those trying to get in with big corporate law firms. 

I also see a lot of doom and gloom predicted about too many lawyers on the job market...but as I really intend to do law for the specific purpose of not being forever looking a job but instead making my own...and since the fields i am interested in have an endless supply of clients (immigration and family law)...I am really feeling like a lot of what i am reading just does not apply to me.

Quote from: legalized on October 29, 2009, 11:11:42 AM

Quote from: Ninja1 on October 29, 2009, 12:16:34 AM

Quote from: legalized on October 28, 2009, 12:21:53 PM

Quote from: Ninja1 on October 27, 2009, 01:01:33 AM

Don't go to FAMU. Just don't. It's arguably the worst law school in Florida.

but it's also the only one in orlando...she appears to be a single mother of 3 (since she didn't say married with 3) so what do you propose as her alternatives?

Not go to law school. Or move.

Ouch.  Why so blunt?  And how come I never see you say anything nice on the boards?

Are you in FSU law or are you an FSU grad (from undergrad)?

If her support system to help with those 3 kids is in orlando she is going to need to stay put.  Unless she gets into/has relatives or friends committed to helping out near a better ranked school.

I am sure FAMU put that school there precisely because that is a gap in the law school geography, and to serve the folks who may have legal career aspirations but need to stay put.

Plus I notice they went from being provisionally accredited to fully ABA accredited so they must be doing something right.

I personally would not want to be bothered with FAMU's administrative and financial aid b.s. though.  lol But that's just me.

I'm generally blunt and to the point because that's how you have to be at this level. You don't have to be a total male private part to everyone, but you do have to realize that sugarcoating things helps no one and gets nothing accomplished. And I say nice things all the time, you just have to be in the right place at the right time.

Yes, I'm at FSU's law school. Tragically, I didn't go here for UG though.

FAMU probably did put their law school in Orlando because they saw a gap in the market, but I wouldn't be so sure about the other altruistic goals, Barry is already there to serve people trapped in Orlando (albeit at a price). And they did become fully accredited, but I don't see how. How the ABA isn't troubled by a bar passage rate that's consistently in the 50-60% range is beyond me. If they ever implement the 10% rule for continuing accreditation, FAMU Law is going to disappear.

Agree that OP should probably stay put where her support system is if that's indeed what's going on. But I don't think that's a particularly good reason to attend one of the worst law schools in the country. It's probably a bad idea to go to a bad UG because it happens to be where you live. It's definitely a bad idea to go to a bad law school because it's what's in the area.

Not to mention, how is the OP going to even kind of take care of 3 kids while in law school? Even with a good support system in place, OP is still not going to be able to work during 1L and isn't going to really have free time to spend with the kids. There's a reason a lot of people go the HS --> UG --> LS route and put off kids for later. Having 3 kids pretty much precludes you from going to law school until they're out the door or at least old enough to take care of themselves.

I see your points...I don't know what the appeal is with FAMU if one does not live in orlando but I went to FAMU for undergrad (only because they gave me a full scholarship, cause I had actually never heard of them before that)...but just for me personally it could be ranked higher than Harvard I've had enough of the folks in the foote-hilyer administration building. The school has great programs and I like everything else, and much like FSU, the parties are wicked...but I'm ready to deal with a school who delivers financial aid before I'm on the verge of being homeless. lol.

Not really sure how the OP plans to manage...I know my old OB/GYN and his wife sent their kids back home while they were in med school...but this is common for us folks for the Caribbean...split up for a few years to cement a solid future for all the rest of years.

I am definitely pondering sending my younger one back home to start school. If she stays up here and goes public she is forced to start in the year she turns 6.  That is bothering the hell out of me.

Because you are right people are going to need time outside of being in class to research, do homework, participate in what's going on in law school, aba conferences and other networking opportunities...

But somehow I doubt OP has that kind of option to consider.  I haven't finalized anything yet but I hope she's planning on going into public service or solo if she goes to FAM.  And most of the folks i saw in state gov't in Tally were UF and FSU grads...their alumni network is like a million strong. lol.

As a black female with dreads (I understand the gender bias for women with dreads) I am all for black men keeping their hair neat and professional. In order for the powers that be to be tolerant of other cultures, it may require black men with dreads to refuse to cut them if that's not their desire. I know a couple of my good friends who cut their dreads for a job they ended up hating anyway, and it was evident from the outset. If an employer has a problem with your hair during the interview process, best believe that's only the tip of the ice berg. That employer may STILL discriminate against you until you realize it wasn't ur dreads at all, its just the culture of that job does not embrace the diversity they may be advertising.

I personally cannot stand it when people only see dreads in the limited sense, the big Rass dreads that grow out like tumble weeds. There are a variety of ways dreads can be kept, and if you ever seen a professionsl man or woman with dreads, it adds a polish and poise to their look and demeanor.

Since we live in a tight job market, I understand the consequences of a man who refuses to cut his dreads for a job, we simply do not have the luxury right now. But, this problem will not go away once the economy gets better, you may still be confronted with individuals (black or white) who cannot get over your dreadlocks or have negative, LIMITED, connotations about it. My lil bro will be growing his dreads soon, my mom has dreads, and so do I. Just like gay rights and women's reproductive rights, people need to learn to accept and embrace individuality and its up to US dreadheads out there to demand our respect too.

dreads and gay rights are being compared now?  hairstyle vs. sexual preference?

oh boy.

discrimination based on hairstyle is not prohibited by law.  Law offices don't rush to hire brilliant white kids with neon blue mohawks either.  And law is one of the most conservative fields out there...there are always exceptions to the rule, but the rule remains...

Thank you Global Moderator!

Read the entire LSAC site as well...it can really answer a lot of questions.