Law school for the rest of us: Advice/questions for/from T2/3/4 students:

[Thistle]

I have nothing of value to contribute. Merely checking in to join the ranks of the T2/3/4.

Still waiting to hear from some places, but looks like I'm going to Seton Hall.

welcome, and feel free to chime in whenever.


"Law School:  So easy a caveman can do it."

[RN to JD]

I thought I'd bump this thread and join in (I'm hoping the OPs don't mind).  I'm currently a 1L at University of Mississippi.  Will be around for the next hour or so taking ?s about anything.

Hey somniferum, I was just wondering if you knew how old the oldest student in 1L is. I know the web site shows avg. age to be 25 or so but what do you actually see on campus? I do expect to be a good bit older than the avg. but it would be nice to have a few more around my age 

here at ualr, i'm 47, and the 2nd oldest.  was the 3rd, but #2 changed to night division.  there is a 53-yo doctor ahead of me.  i dont know where i'd be in the night division, i know there was a chiropractor and a business owner who were both older than me....  doesnt help a lot because it's not your specific school, but still

Thanks Rev, I kind of have the feeling that this is probably the norm. I'm not really bothered about being around the younger students, it's just that I don't want them to think of me as their MOM and expect to be taken care of lol (I have spent my life taking care of people).  A large majority of my friends now are at least 10-15 years younger than me and we actually have alot in common. Of couse, my 18 yo daughter and her friends love to hang out with me because I'm the "cool mom". I do know of a couple of physicians that have gone to LS at Ole Miss and I believe that there is an nurse there in 2L this year. So maybe I won't be the only token "old person". 

[Thistle]

I thought I'd bump this thread and join in (I'm hoping the OPs don't mind).  I'm currently a 1L at University of Mississippi.  Will be around for the next hour or so taking ?s about anything.

Hey somniferum, I was just wondering if you knew how old the oldest student in 1L is. I know the web site shows avg. age to be 25 or so but what do you actually see on campus? I do expect to be a good bit older than the avg. but it would be nice to have a few more around my age 

here at ualr, i'm 47, and the 2nd oldest.  was the 3rd, but #2 changed to night division.  there is a 53-yo doctor ahead of me.  i dont know where i'd be in the night division, i know there was a chiropractor and a business owner who were both older than me....  doesnt help a lot because it's not your specific school, but still

Thanks Rev, I kind of have the feeling that this is probably the norm. I'm not really bothered about being around the younger students, it's just that I don't want them to think of me as their MOM and expect to be taken care of lol (I have spent my life taking care of people).  A large majority of my friends now are at least 10-15 years younger than me and we actually have alot in common. Of couse, my 18 yo daughter and her friends love to hang out with me because I'm the "cool mom". I do know of a couple of physicians that have gone to LS at Ole Miss and I believe that there is an nurse there in 2L this year. So maybe I won't be the only token "old person". 

i was a youth/college pastor for a lot of years so i hang out with the kids as a matter of course.  geez, the kids in my band were all 25 years younger than me 

i do have quite a few kids here come to me for counsel/advice; however i'm used to that, and see it somewhat as a responsibility of just being older.

[RN to JD]

You are a good man Rev. 

[somniferum]

Well, of course the vast majority of people here are in their mid-20s, but there also a good bit of non-trads. Quite a few people in my section are married with kids, or are starting a 2nd career (including one nurse).  Hope this helps.

[Freak]

I'm T3 or wait we jumped to a T2..

I worked very hard the first semester, and gave up the second. It really boiled down to legal writing draining me and my time.

Welcome Freak!

Boy thats the truth. legal writing was a total time sink, I spent more time/effort on that class than any other 1L, and it was only worth 2 credits, I did however am jur it, but it hurt my other grades by not putting as much time into them. In retrospect, pick your battles, all that work on 2 credits was not a smart move on my part.

my scholarship only require successful academic progress as well.  i echo matthies and freak with respect to the time legal writing sucks up; as i've spent my entire spring break week on an appellate brief, as well as putting way too much time into it last semester.  i almost did as well, i was 3/131 in that class.  but, that is the only class i was asked about in any interview, besides one person who wanted to know about legal research - the 1 semester hour class.

i had an interview yesterday, and the first thing out of her mouth was 'we were impressed by your writing sample and grade"

so i dunno.  perhaps that is the right battle to fight.

and freak -- a 3.3?  jeebus, i only need a 3.25 to graduate with honors....

  oh well it all matters not, I have the end in sight, I will finish the race. If I pass the BAR in 2 tries or less I have a job.

[Thistle]

I'm T3 or wait we jumped to a T2..

I worked very hard the first semester, and gave up the second. It really boiled down to legal writing draining me and my time.

Welcome Freak!

Boy thats the truth. legal writing was a total time sink, I spent more time/effort on that class than any other 1L, and it was only worth 2 credits, I did however am jur it, but it hurt my other grades by not putting as much time into them. In retrospect, pick your battles, all that work on 2 credits was not a smart move on my part.

my scholarship only require successful academic progress as well.  i echo matthies and freak with respect to the time legal writing sucks up; as i've spent my entire spring break week on an appellate brief, as well as putting way too much time into it last semester.  i almost did as well, i was 3/131 in that class.  but, that is the only class i was asked about in any interview, besides one person who wanted to know about legal research - the 1 semester hour class.

i had an interview yesterday, and the first thing out of her mouth was 'we were impressed by your writing sample and grade"

so i dunno.  perhaps that is the right battle to fight.

and freak -- a 3.3?  jeebus, i only need a 3.25 to graduate with honors....

  oh well it all matters not, I have the end in sight, I will finish the race. If I pass the BAR in 2 tries or less I have a job.

that just seemed ridiculously high to me.  perhaps its because youre on a higher curve.  no offense intended

[Thistle]

You are a good man Rev. 

shhhhhhhhh! for god's sake, dont tell anybody!

[notmikejones]

I have seen alot of people get offers of 7,500$ or 5,000$ per year at Rutgers-Camden but you had to maintain a 3.5 gpa!!!  I think that they basically just give out a ton of these things knowing that only 10% or something will be able to maintain grades that high.  Hell when my dad went to law school he graduated 7th in his class (of around 160-170) with a 3.07gpa.  I think it is VERY important to evaluate the terms and conditions attached to a scholarship, I think some schools want to give people unrealistic expectations.

[Astro]

I lost a full scholarship as well....needed a 3.0 to keep it, had a 2.94.  I transferred soon after...came down to Case Western/Denver/Lewis Clark.  Chose the lowest ranked and am very happy.  I'm 38.

In that case, I'm posing the same questions to you that I posed to Freak: was it that difficult to keep it, or was it more a case of you not putting in enough work to do so?