Law School - Page 7 - The Lounge Discussion and Review on Literature, Arts, Culture

Despite being accepted to a T14, articles such as http://online.wsj.com/public/article...780835602.html still scare me. I don't know what to make of all the differing opinions regarding employment =/

See that worries me, but then I realize I'm going to law school to do what I like, not to make big bucks.

It won't matter if I'm making 50k or 500k, as long as I love going to work (nearly) every day, I'll be a happy man. I just want to make enough to comfortably live and take care of my (future) family.

Obviously, I'll take more $$ if it's there, but it's not a necessity.

And I've been told the cliche "the cream rises to the top" holds true more in law than many other professions. If you are good at what you do and work hard, then success will find you.

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01-14-2009 , 05:00 AM

#152

MaliceUW

banned

Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 5,490

Quote:

Originally Posted by Karak567

Ya...I hope those guys that get stuck doing doc review for $25 an hour were at/near the bottom of their class...but who knows...

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01-14-2009 , 06:07 AM

#153

MaliceUW

banned

Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 5,490

On a side note, what do you guys know about deferrals? At first I wasn't really considering it, but now that I've got into a T14 and I'm still in UG...the idea of taking a year off is growing on me...but...

-How easy is it to get a deferral? Do I need really good reason such as a job or volunteering opportunity? How could I get one without saying "I'm lazy and wanna play poker for a year?"

-Are most of them binding (i.e. I couldn't apply for any new schools the following year)?

Any insight is appreciated.

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01-14-2009 , 03:48 PM

#154

Karak

ELIte

Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 62,726

I'm no expert, but I assume they are going to want to know why and what you are going to do. I'm not sure a year off to play poker is going to cut it, but you never know.

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01-14-2009 , 04:16 PM

#155

eviljeff

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depends on the school. mine would grant 1 or 2 year deferrals to anyone. I think Boalt's policy was only for an extraordinary opportunity like a fellowship or something.

call up the admissions office.

as for applying to other schools while on deferral, that sounds like trouble. I'd look into it very carefully before attempting. could be an ethics violation that could come back to bite you.

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01-14-2009 , 04:58 PM

#156

MaliceUW

banned

Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 5,490

Ya, I would definitely need to look into the terms of the deferral, but I've heard it can vary from school to school...i.e. some don't say that you can't apply to other schools the next cycle...

Of course, my biggest concern is convincing them to give me one without some amazing reasong like Teach for America....what if I said something along the lines of 'I'd like to get into Americorps...'

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01-14-2009 , 05:17 PM

#157

FlyWf

It's the other way

Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 58,097

eviljeff is right. Your reason doesn't really matter.

Some schools give them out if you ask, other schools don't absent incredible (true) reasons. So just ask. It's not insulting, they won't yank your offer.

Do not start your legal career by lying to your law school. I'm not joking, that **** could come back and **** you up on the character and fitness section.

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01-14-2009 , 06:25 PM

#158

MaliceUW

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Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 5,490

Ya...I found this link: http://www.deloggio.com/hearing/deferral.htm

looks like you're right, it just varies from school to school -- some don't offer them regardless, some don't care what you do, and some want a good reason.

Hmmm...I don't know, I just feel like taking a year off might be what I need to re-motivate myself for 1L...I can't even make myself try anymore in UG with only 2 quarters to go hah

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01-14-2009 , 08:00 PM

#159

schundler

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 3,640

A girl I know got into Yale and deferred for 3 years, without a reason other than she didn't want to go to law school yet.

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01-14-2009 , 09:17 PM

#160

Noah.

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Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 20,057

Quote:

Originally Posted by schundler

A girl I know got into Yale and deferred for 3 years, without a reason other than she didn't want to go to law school yet.

That girl's name? Malia Obama.

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01-14-2009 , 09:22 PM

#161

Noah.

banned

Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 20,057

(for each semester, not cumulative)

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01-14-2009 , 09:55 PM

#162

Karak

ELIte

Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 62,726

does it get harder as you move along?

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01-14-2009 , 09:58 PM

#163

Noah.

banned

Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 20,057

Quote:

Originally Posted by Karak567

does it get harder as you move along?

no, it gets easier (also realized graph is actually a little wrong and i shortchanged myself, i was going off memory). Also of note is that I had P/F credits towards the end so 1L year was 33 graded credits which is more than 2L and 3L combined)

Last edited by Noah.; 01-14-2009 at 10:03 PM.

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01-14-2009 , 10:04 PM

#164

Karak

ELIte

Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 62,726

What is considered a "good GPA" in law school?

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01-14-2009 , 10:08 PM

#165

Riverman

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Karak567

What is considered a "good GPA" in law school?

whatever gets you the job you want

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01-14-2009 , 10:09 PM

#166

Noah.

banned

Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 20,057

depends entirely on your school's curve and your school's rank.

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01-15-2009 , 04:22 PM

#167

SBR

old hand

Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 1,625

Quote:

Originally Posted by Karak567

What is considered a "good GPA" in law school?

Along with everything else you need to know, you'll find out in your first week of school.

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01-15-2009 , 07:02 PM

#168

Hey_Porter

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Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 5,896

Quote:

Originally Posted by SBR

Along with everything else you need to know, you'll find out in your first week of school.

How so? At my school you could always find out what GPA landed you in what percentile (for that semester and cumulative), but it actually changed quite a bit each semester while maintaining the same curve.

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01-15-2009 , 07:49 PM

#169

SBR

old hand

Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 1,625

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hey_Porter

O I wasn't aware schools changed their averages. Mine just sets a required range for the average so grades can be compared across years etc.

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01-15-2009 , 09:47 PM

#170

Noah.

banned

Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 20,057

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hey_Porter

right, but at least you'll know that 10% get As, 15% A-, 15% B+, etc... You should be able to get a fair guess after that.

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01-15-2009 , 10:01 PM

#171

Riverman

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My school's percentages/class ranks are a joke b/c seminars don't have to abide and everyone gets A's in those. But its good for people who don't have jobs 2L/3L as it allows them to artificially inflate their GPAs.

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01-15-2009 , 11:21 PM

#172

Noah.

banned

Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 20,057

Quote:

Originally Posted by Riverman

this is why interviewers have explicitly told me they don't really bother with 2L/3L grades. although i guess it might help for the initial resume gpa bump.

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01-16-2009 , 04:57 AM

#173

eviljeff

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third night in a row I thought I was going to take off before 6 and ended up staying past midnight. biglaw trifecta?

still happy w/my career/job decisions, though.