Law School Discussion

From what I saw when I was studying this varies every year--get a book of the most recent LSATs available to study from and see if there is one particular time of year that is easier for you.  Also, I think that June is easier just because you are less likely to have other things going on when you are studying.  Really though, there's no way to predict how "difficult" a given LSAT will be--the whole point of a standardized test is that IF it is an easier test you will have to do better on it to get the same score as you would on an "easier" test with fewer correct answers.  There's no real way to predict EXACTLY what will be on a given administration--like no one predicted that last year's June test would have fewer games questions and more reading comp questions than normal--because of that (only really a couple of questions difference) it was an "easier" test than me because I was awesome at RC and terrible at games--led to me winding up getting a higher score on the real thing than on any practices.  Just study your arse off and take it when you have the most free  time to study and you should be fine.

Its basically a matter of not improving quickly enough.  The were tied with GW and I think ND for 20 last year, and although all of the pertinent stats for wash u increased this year they did not increase as quickly as the schools in the 20-23 spots now.  That being said, the dean at wash u is really hopeful to shoot back up into position next year because apparently the class of 2004 had an amazing employment rate that won't be figured into the rankings until next year.  Besides, all of the schools in the 20s shuffle around a lot so a couple rankings spots dont really matter over the course of three years.

GW just seems to be way behind...I was complete there in January and just heard from them a couple of days ago.  As for Northeastern a good friend of mine had the same problem with them last year.  Go ahead and give them a call and see how much info you can get out of them.  Good luck.

A big part of it, ESPECIALLY if you want to go into BIGLAW is building connections early on.  Lets take your random school in Pennsylvania.  Most people who go to that school will get a job in the area surrounding the school after their 1L year, and then will get another job there for their 2L summer.  If they have good grades they will get a job with a good firm that 2L summer, and then if they do well at work they can either be offered a job for after graduation before the 3L year even starts or they will have solid connections to the people in that office when they are applying later on.  This is the same reason why people who do public interest jobs during their 1/2L summers have a more difficult job finding a non-public service job for after graduation. 

How is the 1L summer job hunt going?  Have you found it fairly easy to line something up or has the competition been too much?