Also, and I doubt this even needs to be said, just make sure you are entirely truthful about the situation on every single application you fill out going forward and never deviate from the truth, because character and fitness may pick it up.

I would also notify your law school about it as well. I am sure they have some catch-all type of policy that says something to the effect of if you are arrested detained summoned while a student etc etc for any reason the school needs to be notified.

Hi all

I'm 25 year old and I'm finishing first year of law school.

I have genuine interest in becoming a lawyer and I'm willing to put in a lot of work. I'm really unsure about the steps towards landing a nice job after a few years (when graduating). Other then good grades of course.

I'm trying to land a summer job that will help to reach my goal, that is a nice job after a few years.

I'm meeting with a uncle of mine, whom I've never met, who is a lawyer and a co-owner at a law firm, this week. He is willing to give me some good tips, careerwise. He has no interest however in hiring a 1year law student.

How should I prepare for this meeting? Any tips?

And any tips in general towards improving my CV and increasing my worth as an law student?

Are you American? How are your grades? How good is your school?

Europe.

Grades could be better, top 25%.

School is top 2 available, small country.

Also, I'm finishing a BSc in software engineering this spring, not really interested in pursuing that as a career, although I'm ready to use it as an advantage in landing a job, since my computer skills are quite good.

Gotcha. I can't speak much to continental Europe, does your school not have a career services department? Can you talk to older students? There should be some resources you can tap into, hard to imagine that it's overly difficult to get into law with strong grades at a top school.

You need to have more details about the job you want other than "nice." What sort of law do you want to do?

[Obligatory sorry for the wall of text incoming]

Hey Everyone,

So a bit about myself - I'm an Ontario law school graduate who is a few months from being licensed (i.e. passed the bar and in the midst of what would be the equivalent of working as a U.S. 1st year associate) and I've been lurking this thread hardcore for a number of years.

I am looking to write the New York bar this July and I would love to get some insight from many of the American 2p2ers in this thread regarding the intricacies of the exam that undoubtedly have more intimate knowledge of it than myself.

I've conducted a bunch of research about the technicalities and structure of the NY bar but I couldn't say that I have an optimal view of the exam in regards to how I should actually approach it (i.e. how to pass it). On my end, it looks like I’ll likely have a fair bit of time to study for the exam as I am looking to start part-time prep work this month and can go fairly full-time from June forward (so at least that shouldn't be an issue).

My biggest question would be what you guys think is the best way that I should go about positioning myself to pass the exam (other than LOL study bro), especially due to the fact that I’d be sitting the exam as an outsider to US law (although the majority of our legal systems are seemingly similar, at least in principle). If it matters, I did graduate from one of the best schools in Canada (near the top of the class) and practice primarily in pharmaceutical patent litigation so I’d like to think that I will be able to make the leap towards passing the bar if I was given the right tools to do so. I do realize however how dumb bar/licensing exams can be and the fact that passing it will likely be more about rote learning and a tactical approach than actual knowledge or legal competency (i.e. the reason why I'm making this post).

Given my situation I figure that it would be best to take a bar prep course for the exam and I am currently leaning towards Themis due to its reviews, portability, and cost. I also have happened to get my hands on a 2014 Hawaii BARBRI course prep pack (with videos and prep materials). As my understanding of the NY bar is that they will soon be switching to the UBE, would it be at all useful to use this BARBRI course pack to supplement my studying if I ultimately go with Themis (without enrolling in the official BARBRI course itself)?

Anyway, I really would appreciate any insight that you fine gentlemen might have. I know there is undoubtedly a lot of information out there on the NY bar but I would really value the 2p2 perspective on the subject, especially given the fact that I don't have the quintessential law school hive mind to tap into. The advice I've gotten on this forum has been very useful in the past and I have no doubt that it would be very valuable now.

As far as my ambitions go and why I want to write the NY bar, perhaps I should leave that for another post.

Thank you all in advance for insight, and feel free to PM to get in contact if that's easier.

First, you'd have to make sure you'd meet all of the requirements of sitting for the bar exam in New York. The rules most applicable to you would be section 520.6 of the Rules of the Court of Appeals for the Admission of Attorneys and Counselors at Law.

Next, the bar EXAM is UBE now, and the New York portion is only a 50 question multiple choice exam - that probably makes it a little easier for you since you do not have to write full length essays on specific areas of New York Law.

Honestly, if you just put in the work and give yourself enough time to study seriously over a 6-8 week period you will be able to pass it if you have at least average to above average intelligence. I know some really stupid people who have been able to pass the exam.

Hey Cohiba,

Thanks for the heads up. Perhaps I should have clarified that all Ontario graduates are able to sit the New York bar without any additional requirements (save for the extra $500).

I hope that you are right regarding the exam. In my mind, as soon as I actually sign up and pay the fees I have no doubt that I will put in enough effort to get the job done. The only concerning aspect is the fact that I am coming towards the exam as an outsider.

Thanks again and I sincerely appreciate the insight.

6 weeks left of 3L....I haven't opened a book this entire semester and plan on making it till the end. I've never been a part of something so useless in my entire life. (granted, I'm only 24)

But it's so much fun

Just wait until you spend 30 hours researching and drafting complaints that the client decides not to file.

Ah, 3L. I recommend taking notes in Wingdings.

Tbf, I'm having a great time hitting the driving range 2x a week and playing poker the other days. Ready to move on, but enjoying it while it's here, if that makes sense.

That never happens, clients are always reasonable and have well-thought out plans.


What are notes?

I don't understand why you all treat(ed) 3L like it is or was some big joke. Even if you have a job lined up, your grades and law school GPA will (or at least could be) on your resume for life and may matter at your next job or every job thereafter.

Sure I understand 20 years from now no one will care, and maybe even 5 years from now depending what you are doing. But there are many jobs where your grades will matter. Seems dumb to punt an entire year when law school isn't that hard to begin with.

I don't think it's punting as much as like, I can just do a 48 hr crash course and pull like a B+ at minimum now. I have a job post-graduation as well, so yeah. Like you say though, 5 years, nobody is probably going to care if you got a B+ or an A in agricultural law or whatever when I'm doing criminal work that has no connection at all.

Nobody GAFs about grades in the real world +10 years from graduation

agree that grades don't matter at all after you get hired for your first job, at least in private practice. i guess i could see it mattering for clerkships or something like that.

Grades don't matter after first job, but my thing is if you aren't getting anything out of 3L you're wasting YOUR time and money. Go do a clinic or volunteer or take classes you're interested in. You're cheating yourself. Grow up and stop acting like every choice has to be forced on you or you don't have to do it.

If you're going into big law, grades still matter after your first job. And some select employers also care about grades after your first job, but by and large, agreed that they matter less and less the longer you've been practicing.

If you're going into biglaw you will already have the grades for it.

got accepted for a criminal justice clinic for 3L year thank god. i feel completely unprepared to actually do real lawyer stuff so this should be helpful and make the 3L year less of a joke


fwiw i was pretty much under the impression that outside of looking for first job you don't even put your GPA or class rank on your resume unless maybe you were ranked like one or something

do you guys think CALI awards should be put on resume? I have two but think it seems kind of weird to put it anywhere and figure noone really gives a **** so i haven't been doing it but mebbe i'm wrong

It's pretty common to see grades and rank on resumes from young lawyers. More likely to from someone in the top 20% of their class.

Yes, put CALI awards on your resume.

Yes, put them on. Anecdotal support: my 1L year yielded unsuccessful grades overall, but I booked a couple of classes and put that on my resume, and it feels like more interviewers than not, including the one that hired me to the job where I'm still working, made favorable comments about those during the interview.

i guess i just figured if i'm applying to the prosecutor's office they probably wouldn't give a crap about a grade in education law

thanks