Tuesday, August 30, 2005

Lucky Me

So it just so happens that I'm going home for a visit over Labor Day. I figured that I'd call up the University of Michigan Law School and see if they have any events going on, since the students are back in town. Lo and behold, there is an Admissions Tour of the Law School being conducted the day after I arrive. I even get bonus points because the tour is being conducted by the Associate Director herself--yesssss, perfect brown-nosing opportunity! ;p

Now yes, I did indeed grow up in Ann Arbor.
Yes, I did attend the University of Michigan as an undergraduate.
And yes, I've been in the Law Quad many a time during those carefree days. Then why do I need a dang tour, you ask? (In fact, this was exactly what a friend of mine said when I told her of my plans. She is not understanding at all of why I'd return to Michigan--and some days I even wonder myself.)

Well the fact is, undergrad was more than a few years ago; and the chance to take a guided tour of all the secret areas that weren't a part of my UG life, *while* having access to the brain of the Assoc. Director, *and* while in the mindset of actually seeking to attend law school this time around, makes the whole experience a brand new enterprise, and an opportunity not to be missed.

I do have fond memories of the Law Quad. I remember wandering through the campus in the wee hours of the morning and watching sunrise hit the towers of the majestic Reading Room.

I remember tramping through the snow blanket that covered the Law School grounds, while taking a shortcut to the Student Union and savoring the peace and old world charm of the gothic architecture.

I remember spreading a blanket on a sunny day and lounging about with my friends, watching law students throwing a frisbee around and biking through the quad.

I remember wandering through the quad in the Fall when Ann Arbor's magnificent trees were turning colors and strewing leaves across the ground in a thick pelt of orange, red, and yellow. Growing up in Michigan, Fall has always been my favorite season, and you just don't see all those colors out here.

Whether I go to the University of Michigan again or not, I hope to hold onto those uncomplicated memories of an outsider looking in. Next year at this time, I'll be just getting started, and my idealistic memories will be threatened by the knowledge of what learning the law actually entails. I am truly looking forward to gaining that knowledge and building those new memories, but at the same time I know that once I enter that hallowed hall, everything I thought it was will be replaced by what it actually is. I just want my old memories to be able to live comfortably alongside my new ones.

Tuesday, August 23, 2005

The Next Ten

I received my practice test book from the LSAC today. (As an aside: when linking to this title on Amazon.com, I also discovered that I paid $10 more than I could have for it. Grrr. I was worried that not buying it from the LSAC might mean it wasn't authentic, but comparing them now, the coverwork appears to be the same. Grr.) Anyway, this edition contains prep tests 29-38. If anyone out there in cyberland has other tests to trade, shoot me a message. You can also shoot me a message if you'd prefer to trade my book for Neil Gaiman comics instead. Its about time I see what all the hubbub is about--while I still have time for pleasure reading. :P

Tuesday, August 16, 2005

Here We Go

Its official. I am now registered for the October 1st LSAT.
I am also now out $251 bucks.
Lol, oh well. Might as well start the law school debt accumulation now!

There is a lot going on with the LSAC website, I'm still picking my way through it, getting familiar with all its nooks and crannies. I started filling out my 1st application (Umich), and I'm also re-drafting a letter to a past professor whom I previously tapped for a recommendation. The University of Michigan Law School bulletin was also waiting for me when I came home from work today. I expect the other school's info packets will start rolling in soon too.

Yep--here we go!

Thursday, August 11, 2005

Advice from the Greedy Law Students Board

Opinions on the Importance of the LSAT, the First Year, and Picking a Top 14 School

"#1: the LSAT is THE most important thing. i wish i had realized that before. everything else is details. your Ivy name should help (names always help), but forget about "science and engineering" being held in higher regard. "

1. True. True. True. A great LSAT can even overcome a not-so-stellar (but above 3.0) GPA, as it did for me. Schools talk about how they take the whole person into account when selecting from among candidates for admission, but the truth is, for the vast majority, it's LSAT, GPA and nothing else. There's just no time for them to carefully dissect every applicant, especially nowadays when everyone and their step-mom is applying to law school. I got into a better law school than several of my friends who went to Ivy-league schools (and who outperformed me GPA-wise) simply because my LSAT score blew theirs' away.


#2:
Basically any of the top 14 (HYS down to Georgetown) can get you a job anywhere you want. Granted if you go to NYU, are from New York, and all of a sudden decide you want to live/work in Los Angeles you'll have to answer some questions about why you want to live there as firms want people who aren't coming for a summer/1-2 years of fun before bailing back home, but very few firms in any market will turn their noses up at any of these schools. The rule is if you can't go to a top 14 school go to a school near where you want to practice. If you get into a top 14 and aren't a complete social retard you will be able to get a job wherever you want. Period.

"#3: hit the ground running; the first semester in law school is the most important, and they decrease in importance from there. and yes, that is a bit twisted."

3. Unfortunately, this is very true. If you flub first semester, it's not pretty. It sucks, but so does law school. Of course, due to the intense competition, steep forced curve, and complete inigma that is law school teaching, most students will be sorely disappointed, and many who have spent their whole lives at the top of the class will suddenly find themselves merely average, or below average. I literally had to talk some friends off a ledge. If you dig yourself in too deep a hole after first year, no number of 3.6 semesters thereafter will save you, thus the sizeable attrition rates. To be honest, I don't understand why the whole bottom 1/3 of the class doesn't just drop out (not that I'm anywhere near the top 10% myself, but respectable). Case and point, my good friend from college, who just graduated cum laude from a top 20 law school. Sounds like a shoe-in for a big job, but he was in the bottom half of his class after first year and worked his ass off to recover the next two years. He's still jobless. Likewise, my friend, a 3rd year associate at NYC BIGLAW who made law review, but only graduated in the top 50% of his class from a 2nd tier school. In most professions, such a slacking-off after achieving top 10% after first year would be looked upon unfavorably, but such is the law. As grim as it sounds, the second two years of school don't matter to most recruiters. IF you do well first year, regardless of what comes after, you're golden. If you don't, forget it. Sounds like fun, doesn't it?

Wednesday, August 10, 2005

Not To Worry

Network execs just luuuv Lawyer shows, so right on the heels of the cancellation of NBC's "The Law Firm" comes Fox's "Head Cases":

Airs: Wednesday 9:00 PM
on FOX (60 mins)
Status: New Series
Premieres September 14, 2005
Show Category: Drama

Fox has given a thumbs-up to "Head Cases," from writer-producers Bill Chais ("The Practice") and Jeff Rake ("Boston Legal"). "Head Cases" centers on a successful lawyer who has a nervous breakdown and teams up with a mentally disturbed lawyer with an anger problem. Together, the two represent people with all kinds of issues, not just legal ones.

And this one sounds like a winner!

:P

Tuesday, August 09, 2005

NBC Recuses 'The Law Firm' After Just Two Weeks

Looks like NBC pulled the plug on this show.

On the NBC website, it says "New Episodes Now Airing on Bravo" however the Bravo schedule lists the show for horrible and completely random air times. NBC must be trying to wash their hands of it and seem to be just running out the episodes so Black can hire the 2 lawyers that he wants.

Not surprisingly, only one of these reality TV lawyers went to a top 20 law school. Someone on another message board did some research and came up with this. Now I better understand how these folks could take the time out (12 months ago) to film a reality television show :/

Thursday, August 04, 2005

"The Law Firm"

NBC's eight-episode alternative drama series "The Law Firm"; a show produced by David E. Kelley ("Ally McBeal," "The Practice") features real lawyers competing against each other while trying real court cases with real clients, in front of real judges and juries, resulting in outcomes that are final, legal and binding for the parties.

I wonder how all of these "real lawyers" were able to get time off to compete on a reality show?

I also wonder if other practicing lawyers will be watching the show. If you deal with this day in and day out, would you really want to be watching it in your free time? Which brings me to my next point.

What client in his/her right mind would agree to have his/her case litigated by reality show contestants, on national tv? Does "final, legal and binding" mean that the losers forfeit their right to appeal? I guess people have been doing it for years with the People's Court and Judge Judy. Still doesn't make much sense to me, but whatever floats your boat.

So I got home in time to catch most of the show (2nd Episode). The thing that surprised me was the fact that both dismissals were from the teams that won their cases. I liked the fact that just because you are on the team that wins the case doesn't mean you are safe. Roy Black seemed to be actually observing the contestants instead of just being a figurehead with Viceroys doing all the work (Cough, Trump!). I loved how one of the cases was about a dominatrix. The contestants were probably expecting high-profile cases, big corporate clients, and instead they get this Judge Judy stuff. Heheh.

Overall, I think I'll indeed add this one to the VCR schedule and watch it when I can (for as long as it lasts with the ratings its getting). Afterall, who better to learn from than lawyers? Even bad ones.

Wednesday, August 03, 2005

Blogging Blues

What is it about this particular blogging template that seems to attract the lawyer types? I've found this exact "shades of blue" theme in no less than 6 other law blogs during my recent forays. Must be some sort of hive-mind thing.

Also, I just finished reading the archives and current posts of Wings and Vodka. No wonder everyone links to him!