Except that getting sued sucks. Getting deposed sucks. Answering interrogatories and producing documents sucks. And paying lawyers and taking time out of your day to deal with your litigation really sucks. I haven't done too many cases, but the ones where I was defending I felt really bad for the clients. When you are defending, you can never just drop the case. You can settle, but the "let's get this over with" tax is often going to be allocated solely, if not primarily, to you. People know this and use litigation as a negotiation tactic. On the transactional side, which is what I am doing exclusively now, the spectre of litigation drives a whole lot of decisions. Sometimes this results in procedures and contract provisions that represent best practices, and sometimes it forces inefficiencies and otherwise nonsensical actions.

I am never giving that idiot a cent and am specifically asking the judge to charge the defendants attorney fees to the plaintiff if I get the chance.

Kid, ya gotta look at the color photos. I know how gross it is, but if you have to try the case, you have to be able to convey those minutes those last minutes of life in a color filled way.
If you have to Cross-examine someone you have to have as much information as possible to let that witness know you know as much if not more about the scene as he does.

I know it is disgusting, I have represented many a sex offender and have had to look at hundreds of child porn images which make me wish I could scrub my brain with Brillo afterward, One of my famed clients killed six women over a number of years and chopped up their bodies. He then delivered these body parts all over Southern NY. Can't tell you what it was like to learn of the descriptions of these young women's last moments...

Point is, You need to know it and know it all. Trial law, especially Criminal, Family, and Personal Injury all require strong stomachs as well as a bright mind.

Good luck.

It is definitely a case. I would never take it to trial. If I did I would go non-jury or I would tell the client he must agree to Arbitration or Mediation then Take what you can get. It isn't a pretty case.

hey all, idk if you remember, but a few weeks ago i asked about biglaw v. plaintiffs litigation. turns out, i didnt have a hard decision to make after all. the plaintiffs firm said they couldnt promise me anything long-term, and i ended up getting an offer from the biglaw firm. i accepted it and will be starting on the 24th. even if i hate it, ill survive for a year and make some money. who knows, maybe ill like it.

Congrats and good luck! Don't forget that while your initial tasks are to learn your job and bill lots of hours, in the long run it is about developing your brand or niche and learning how to grow a business. Seek out mentors who can help you with both the short and long-term goals.

Haha I just had a former professor email me to ask me for a letter of recommendation in his academic job search

Congratulations! Good luck. Sure it is a lot of work but it is also a chance to see how things work. Will you be in NYC?

Excellent advice!!

thanks for the well-wishes. i'll be in DC.

interestingly, i became friendly with a (hot) first year (post-clerkship) associate at the plaintiffs firm. she was totally comfortable how much money she made: 125K, plus a sizeable bonus, plus a raise of some sort in january, six months after she started. no billing hours minimum. seems to get off work at like 6-7 most nights it seems. not a bad deal. they never really offered me a full-time spot though so i didnt have the option.

I'm a 3l at a TTT. I don't have to go to class, right?

No.

3L is such a gigantic scam. I've been to 3 classes so far, two of which were the same class. It's great, but also wtf is going on.

I know it's not the cool answer but I think you should generally try your best at everything you do, including 3L classes. To the extent you are taking subjects that are tested on the bar, you have a great opportunity to build that foundation of knowledge. Even for the other classes, developing a pattern (and reputation) as a smart, diligent guy who is cool to be around is never a bad thing, and you never know who you will encounter in your classes that will be in a position to help you someday, be it a classmate or a professor. Obviously there are opportunity costs w/r/t grinding it out and there may easily be more practical and efficient uses of your time than taking your classes super seriously, but I wouldn't make blowing off school the default. Instead I would try to enjoy having the opportunity to learn stuff without being under the gun and the burden of billable hour requirements.

Nerd

The most important thing, I think, is to completely stop thinking about women. Love, sex - these are just things that God throws at you to make you forget that the reason you're here is to further yourself in the study of the law.

Lol, I actually appreciate the response ajrenni, despite the quite predictable negative reaction.

I mean, I think you're right and I am going to try to make the effort to go to class when possible, I'm just busy and am going to have to miss a lot. I think you're probably right though, although it's difficult to find the motivation, ldo.

here's what most 3L years should and will consist of:

There are some valuable things you can do with your 3L time. With few exceptions, those things do not consist of trying hard in class. Those things are:
- job hunting
- developing skills you'll need early in your career
- building your network
- having fun and enjoying yourself before you enter a grueling professioin

Yeah, I mean I maintained the attitude that I will always work hard at things worth working hard at, so there was one class (litigation drafting) that I did put significant effort into during 3L. It had tons of practical application and I felt that it would make me better at the practice of law. Already in my capacity as a law clerk awaiting bar results, it has made me significantly better in my drafting of motions and arguments, so my feeling was right.

Basically absolutely everything else was whatever though. Working hard at entertainment law would have been masturbatory at best.

Yup. Clinics and practical skills courses are great.

yea im sort of full of **** since i went real try hard one semester of my 3L year and did a clinic

but other than that

The majority of my focus my last year was on my day job (law clerk), law review, and clinic. I took three classes that were on bar subjects and booked two - I have to think that paid off on the bar itself. The other four classes I tried in but tbh not much was expected of me. I will admit that some of my motivation (maybe a lot) was my attempt to chase down the number one rank, but even having failed in that, I don't regret the effort I put in. I still had time to coach my kid's T-Ball team, play a little poker, and make the odd happy hour, and by that time I was fully accustomed to living on five hours of sleep per night.

Karak,
Post your damn 1L guide.


to update, i haven't seen the light of day since august. i've been spending probably 12 hours a day in the library (i document all of this on facebook) and brief not only the cases assigned but also cases that they cite. i make sure to ask at least 5 questions per class as a rule to show the profs that i'm engaged and a go-getter. it's also getting kind of hard to keep all 8 study groups straight but i'm managing. oh well, gotta run and return this supplement to my friend before he thinks i'm claiming adverse possession of it. LOL!