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FeedlyAnyone interested in a waiting thread? Just to discuss frustrations, concerns, questions, or just to blow off steam and waste time until July? I am part of the thread on TLS, but it is mostly picwhoring now, and good posts are lost in the flow. Anyway, if interested, post below.
June 2012 Test Score Waiting Thread?
Jun 14 2012
#1
ether.n
June 2012 Test Score Waiting Thread?
Jun 14 2012
#2
Deevan
I'll be here. For some reason the entire subnet I'm on was banned from TLS. (Instead of banning just one IP, someone banned THE WHOLE RANGE.)
Jun 14 2012
#3
ether.n
That is messed up, it's okay, TLS is a crapshoot for good conversations. From Arrogant losers to Helpful people with good stories - To idiots arguing semantics like Law school depends on it.
Anyway, how do you think you did? Anything exceptionally hard for you? Any qualms about your test center/ test? Any funny stories?
Jun 14 2012
#4
Deevan
I'm amazed at the amount of people who are snobby about LS' in particular some of the better T3/4 schools on TLS. For some the purpose of LS is to get a ticket to the bar exam, not a prestigious resume and 160k job in biglaw...
I think I did really well. I'm sure I hit some traps and stuff but there were only a few questions I squared off and came back to reexamine. I've worked in IT for 10 years so triage comes natural at this point. The RC was boring but I think I got through it, and I had 3 LR's, which I wasn't too happy about...
One guy kept complaining the lights weren't bright enough, like constantly, even after the break. I took it at a college campus, in a classroom, where there were bright florescent every two or three ceiling tiles. Guy was on crack... A couple people left visibly shaken, like they weren't expecting the test to be hard... And were commenting on it on the way out.
At the end the proctor told us all to have a good day, and she hopes that we all got 100's on the test. I laughed. :)
Jun 14 2012
#5
ether.n
Sounds like you did better than me, I'm just hoping I didn't embarrass myself and scored at LEAST a 168.
as for the lower 75 LS' ...I have to disagree, while I don't think HYS are required, with the Job market the way it is, I would like any boost in outcome I can get. While I hate Big Law, knowing it is an option (for financial reasons) is a good feeling. I have a wife, with big dreams, who is going to be a doctor. I don't want to go to a weak school to be a public attorney making $50k a year while she pulls in $200k (have to pull some of my weight.) If finances go well, I would gladly take a public job and use the loan forgiveness program, but I would also like the option of working big law for 2 years just to pay off our debt and save some money, then switch to public.
Also, there are some amazing clerkships available fresh out of T14s that are right in the middle and would be nice. Ideally I would then (after a few years) "retire" by opening my own practice, but I may move out of the country (rendering a JD moot, mostly). So a T14 is mostly for options, not to say a lesser school isn't hard work, just not hard to get into. And the free money can be great!
Unfortunately these days Bar admission isn't always enough.
Note: I feel T30 could be good too depending on the above information and how it applies to you.
Jun 14 2012
#6
Deevan
More along the lines of already having a job lined up, and eventually an independent practice.
Plus WSJ recently published a report on the LS myth about tier. There are some exceptions, like Yale/Harvard etc which offers some prestige, but the percentage difference slope is almost negligible after that. I'll have to find that...
However, looking at part time programs (my target) the only ones that jump out at being a very "good" school are George Mason and maybe American University...
edit: And of course Georgetown - but I'm thinking around 170 would put me on the edge for their PT program...
Jun 14 2012
#7
ether.n
Have to say, have not heard of GM or AU.
I am not great at school names. People mention Ivy league UGs and I'm all like "Am I supposed to be impressed? Because I have no idea what you are talking about.
The only schools I know are the T30 in Mass and some in Cali. (The only two places I am willing to go to school.)
Jun 14 2012
#8
Deevan
GM and AU are 39 and 48 respectively, Georgetown is T14... I just don't know if I'm willing, knowing my goal isn't biglaw. A lower tier school I could probably get a full ride to, and stil work, you know?
Plus the wife and I want to be in DC... I have an IT and business background, so it's also contingent on finding employment out there. (She already works with the federal court, so it won't be too hard to find a job up there for her, just me.)
I've heard the CA bar is crazy hard.
Jun 14 2012
#9
ether.n
I've heard that too, but the wife's south Asian blood can't stand the Northeast.
Plus, I LOVE Stanford's campus. At least from the pictures, plus I read stories that make the time there sound amazing (I think that is my choice school, though I will probably stay in Mass and settle for Hahvaad.
Jun 15 2012
#10
Deevan
Point taken... I'm the opposite, I can't stand the south and I'm in Orlando right now. I've been to Stanford once, and it's a great campus, but I don't like CA as a whole, it's kind of like a sinking ship right now. (Though I suppose they need more bright people to right it.)
Not that DC is any better, it's just a different kind of ship sinking.
LOL - "Settle for Harvard." :)
Jun 15 2012
#11
ether.n
I'm not a fan of the south either, or heat in general lol. But you know how it goes.
And by settle, I mean I don't like Harvard, not that I think I'm better than it lol
And DC has some great opportunities too, but I HATE that city. It is the most disorganized place I've ever been.
Jun 15 2012
#12
detherton
I lived in Georgia, Texas and Oklahoma the heat is crazy with the humidity. I would like to stay here in Colorado, I already have my internship and law job lined up after school.
Jun 15 2012
#13
ether.n
That must be a great feeling. I'm so worried about the job market that I'm taking the MCAT's next year so I can choose between med and law school
Jun 15 2012
#14
detherton
That must be a great feeling to have choices. I hope I do well enough on the LSAT to get into CU or DU, if not I am going to go to the school that costs me the least.
Everything I have seen about law school is they all teach the same courses and the same requirements for each whether you go to YLS or the last Tier 4 school available. I think it all is in the perception of what you think your piece of paper is worth. You can go too the best law school and still be the crapiest lawyer around.
My humble opinion is to weed out the people that are just going to law school to make a bunch of money or whatever should have their undergrad emphasis on law and then law school would be like fine tuning the areas you wanted to practice. I think this might really make people think twice if they had to be immersed in law everyday before they even went to law school might cut down on the over abundance of lawyers be churned out by law schools.
I think for you being able to go to med school is great, what type of medicine are you interested in?
Jun 15 2012
#15
Deevan
To your point, in most countries, Law School is undergrad, or an LLM will suffice. It's only a 3-year affair in the US.
We do have the most laws, though, by far...
Jun 15 2012
#16
ether.n
"You can go too the best law school and still be the crapiest lawyer around."
I agree with this. I work in a court house and I have quickly learned that law school does not teach you how to be a lawyer AT ALL! It only teaches you to think in the context of the law. Most new BAR entrants have no idea how to file a brief or motion.
" I think it all is in the perception of what you think your piece of paper is worth."
True and yet...It isn't what I think it is worth. It is what employers think it is worth. With so many law students out there, employers have all the say because they have all the options. If you go to HYS You can go anywhere, in any field. If you go to a T30, you could certainly go anywhere a Yale graduate could, if you are at the top of your class, and have connections, and an award winning personality. However, you can also end up as an ADA in Kentucky making 36k a year.
So I think it is completely reasonable to aim for a T14.
"undergrad emphasis on law"
Actually, I think good lawyers need a liberal arts education (a good one, not some art program) however, I agree there should be a pre-law track like there is a pre-med track. With required courses every lawyer must take in UG. But my advanced law classes were so easy it was boring, because law is just discussion and reading. I actually switched to Bio because CJ was too easy (I was bored and wouldn't study for finals, which still turned out great. See my point, too easy)
"I think for you being able to go to med school is great, what type of medicine are you interested in?"
neurology and genetics, but those are complicated fields to go into. I would be happy being a General Practitioner and maybe specialize later.
Jun 15 2012
#17
detherton
Sorry for the long post I am 48 years old and when I get on a rant I am like the ever ready bunny (LOL).
Five years ago I was rear ended in my truck and had three major back surgeries in four months. That is how I am tied to an internship and job from my PI lawyer.
I agree wholeheartedly if one is choosing a law path then by all means go to the best you can. After my accident I received a certificate in paralegal studies through correspondence and I could not even get a callback for an entry level position that is how I got going on this law kick, but I do enjoy the hell out of it.
I checked into the schools around here (Colorado) and their pre-law are philosophy and stuff like that nothing pertaining to law, which is sad if not wrong.
Growing up when I was a kid I always thought you had to be really super intelligent, something I knew I was not. After owning multiple businesses and dealing with some sort of law (contract, employee,real estate etc) I figured out I could have been a lawyer. My car accident is what helped me decide on becoming a lawyer at this age.
Great choice, PLEASE do the neurology track. haha I have nerve pain in both of my legs from my surgeries. I have a nerve impingement at L5-S1. Surgery is the option they are telling me is the only thing to fix my issues.
See I did it again.
Jun 15 2012
#18
ether.n
TL; DR
Lol jk
I like how society believes you have to be smart to be a lawyer. Unfortunately not true.
Jun 15 2012
#19
detherton
UR 2 FNY
I had to look it up what the hell the shorthand was. HAHA
Hope you did well on the test from hell.
Jun 15 2012
#20
ether.n
Pffffffffft I kicked it's ass like I was Jesus. lol nah, I probably maxed at 165, I was not as prepared for test dy as I thought. But at least I will probably get 3 more months with Velocity! Bring on the podcasts! lol
Jun 15 2012
#21
detherton
I guess I should mark urban dictionary as a favorite. LOL
Jun 16 2012
#22
ether.n
lol what did I sy that time?
Jun 16 2012
#23
detherton
Pfffffft..... Urban dictionary. That is where I found out what TL;DR meant.
Have you checked out third tier toilet blog it is pretty funny, but sobering. I kinda freaked out when I saw they were blogging about the same crap we were discussing. About going to the best school you can afford and everything.
Just weird.
Jun 18 2012
#24
ether.n
Strange that there is a forum. I would keep to myself about that. Or go to TLS and pretend I could get into a tier 1 until I actually could
Jun 18 2012
#25
Deevan
1st- your reputation on the internet is at stake. (Panic!)
2nd- where did they find so many pictures of human feces???
Jun 18 2012
#28
Jamescmayo
What did they ban you for on TLS?
Jul 2 2012
#29
Nemo B
160 :(
Jul 3 2012
#30
ether.n
165 :/ But it seems EVERYONE hit 6-10 points lower than their Average PT on this test. So don't feel bad. I had -18 :/ So I'm sure we can do better next time
Jul 3 2012
#31
Deevan
161, and I am floored. Every PT I was doing 10 better on, at least. I wasn't nervous, I went in with a clear head, I have NO idea what happened.
Jul 3 2012
#32
Nemo B
same my PTs were all between 165-174. I was nervous as hell during the test though.. especially in the beginning and constantly felt rushed.
Jul 3 2012
#33
rallawatt
Really lame about the -10 curve. June tests are just so much harder to perform well on if you tend to make a couple careless mistakes here and there.