How can I be as cool as you? 

You can't be.

How difficult is the coursework (measure that how you like...hours studying, for example. Just want to get an idea of what to expect)?

What's the curve like?

The first few weeks sucked - I studied for a few hours a day. As time went on, though, I read about 30 minutes a day per class for the next day and wound up doing just fine. Make sure you have a good outline, are following what is going on, read the cases (sometimes skimming is okay if you are not on call and you know the teacher will clarify it for you) and are not gunning for the top of the class. There are other Penners on here who can tell you what to do for top grades I guess.

It is difficult material and you don't want to make an ass out of yourself, but sometimes you will. Luckily, the curve at Penn rocks. I think like 3 1L's got C's and everyone else got a B- or above - there was even one elective where 50% of the class got A's, and 75% got A's or A-'s (i.e. there are no curves for second semester elective classes, which make up mostly half your schedule and teachers generally are nicer than the school's suggested curve). Employers have no clue where you are in your class a lot of time and neither do you.

Quote from: Towelie on November 04, 2007, 08:45:04 PM

Quote from: cls 2l taking question on November 04, 2007, 08:41:36 PM

Quote from: Towelie on November 04, 2007, 08:39:33 PM

Quote from: cls 2l taking question on November 04, 2007, 08:33:06 PM

have you picked a firm yet?

Sort of. My summer is all set - I'm splitting between two firms in northern California. But I may go back for a few weeks to my 1L firm (which is unsettled as of right now). As of now, I'm down to at least 2 firms for the summer and I am very excited about both of them.

was the split easy to get or did it take finnagling?

A little of both. Between the firms I am with it was very easy - they honestly made me feel like a super star. One firm told me I am the only person they have ever allowed to go to for only the second half (though I don't believe them), and the other one broke a few of their own rules to allow me to split, but they seemed absolutely thrilled to do so (I am starting a week early and they are letting me split within the same city, something they never do).

But I was in love with one firm in the area who wouldn't let me split because they wouldn't let me start a week early or split in the same city, which I thought was retarded. It sucked giving them up, but the prestige difference in Vault is only 4 spots higher than the firm I got to replace them (though locally it probably is significantly higher, which sucks, but I wanted to split because I am going to a large prestigious local firm and I wanted to compare that to a smaller national satellite office of a strong firm). Oh yeah, and at the higher ranked firm I would have had to do close to 80% litigation for the entire summer despite wanting to be a corporate lawyer (100% set on this), which was equally unappealing. Sorry, some sour grapes still!   

what drives one to want to be a corporate lawyer?

I did corporate and litigation at my firm this last summer and much preferred corporate. Though of course everyone has their reasons, I was a business undergrad major and was always interest in the business aspect of the law - as a result, I found transactional work more fascinating and enjoyed it more. I also like that it is less adversarial as I have the nature to be argumentative and I did not want to foster that in my work.

Quote from: Towelie on November 04, 2007, 08:39:33 PM

Quote from: cls 2l taking question on November 04, 2007, 08:33:06 PM

have you picked a firm yet?

Sort of. My summer is all set - I'm splitting between two firms in northern California. But I may go back for a few weeks to my 1L firm (which is unsettled as of right now). As of now, I'm down to at least 2 firms for the summer and I am very excited about both of them.

was the split easy to get or did it take finnagling?

A little of both. Between the firms I am with it was very easy - they honestly made me feel like a super star. One firm told me I am the only person they have ever allowed to go to for only the second half (though I don't believe them), and the other one broke a few of their own rules to allow me to split, but they seemed absolutely thrilled to do so (I am starting a week early and they are letting me split within the same city, something they never do).

But I was in love with one firm in the area who wouldn't let me split because they wouldn't let me start a week early or split in the same city, which I thought was retarded. It sucked giving them up, but the prestige difference in Vault is only 4 spots higher than the firm I got to replace them (though locally it probably is significantly higher, which sucks, but I wanted to split because I am going to a large prestigious local firm and I wanted to compare that to a smaller national satellite office of a strong firm). Oh yeah, and at the higher ranked firm I would have had to do close to 80% litigation for the entire summer despite wanting to be a corporate lawyer (100% set on this), which was equally unappealing. Sorry, some sour grapes still!   

what's the best area?  where do most 1Ls? live?

Rittenhouse Square. Half of 1L's live in the graduate dorms, but that is a big mistake. Move to Center City if you go to Penn - specifically, Rittenhouse. It's a lot more fun and it's where most of the bar hopping, shopping and social events are.