Top Law Schools

Hello,
So I've been a long time lurker here, but have never posted. I attend a state school, and know the usual, keep your GPA high and get a good LSAT score, don't study too early on the LSAT or you will overdo it/get burnt out. My question is with regards to soft factors. To be honest, I just don't know what to do, so I was hoping I could gain some advice from you all.

My interests:
Economics major
Politics
Stock Market

So what do you all recommend? I'm not trying to come across as 'fake' on any of my applications - after all I'll only do what interests me, but I'm interested to hear your suggestions. Do you know of any fun internships that involve politics besides the usual internships with a Senator?

Thanks for your help ahead of time, and for all those beginning your cycles, best of luck this year!

(Feel free to ask for more information, I'll be happy to provide you with any gap you see in this post!)

It really doesn't matter what you do, though doing anything that is related to law might help you figure out if law is a career that is right for you.

It might help to be able to show dedication to something for four years, and I would encourage you to strive for a leadership position somewhere, but what organization that is will not affect your application that much.

Also you may think Econ is fun and fulfilling now, but intro to Macro/Micro is completely different than upper level Economics. Prepare for much more math and obscure models and theories. Some people obviously still enjoy it, but the picture you have of it after a semester is probably not accurate.

Alcohol. Lose virginity. Keep getting good grades. Make friends with kids likely to be well placed in large corporations after college. Start studying early for the LSAT. After losing virginity, random sex from time to time is good. Alcohol. Did I mention sex and alcohol?

Just go to school. Pick some random stuff that interests you. Keep doing well and study hard for the LSAT. Significant game changing soft factors are years of work experience between UG and LS, founding a small egalitarian nation, singlehandedly saving at least 3 endangered species and/or housing 4 to 6 endangered whales at your dorm. Beyond that, softs are just that; "soft." Just do well and be involved in what you like.

The best way to not appear fake in regard to softs is to do stuff you genuinely enjoy. If you are passionate about your activities, it will come through in your application. Don't put too much thought into this, you still have 3 1/2 years of easy street, enjoy it!

2014-
Thanks for your reply! I plan on staying dedicated to politics all four years, after all that IS what interests me, but I will definitely look into getting some law experience in undergrad that way I can know I am getting myself into something that I actually enjoy - from experience rather than word of mouth.
As for econ, yes I definitely know that, and I agree with you. My department is increasingly more difficult as the year progresses (we have one nobel laureate professor that is basically impossible here), but as of right now it is very intellectually stimulating and really relates to current events and such, which ties in my passion for politics. I can only hope this continues at the upper levels. However, I enjoy math, so econometrics and the like will hopefully be fun for me. (Hopefully, haha)
Thanks again!

reasonable_man-
Thanks, you make a valid point, there is very little you can do out of undergrad to have amazing softs (unless you found Facebook or something in your dorm room) but that is why I want to get started now and work towards my passions to do something fulfilling!

OGR3-
Thanks for your advice! I will continue with my passions of course, and hopefully that will shine through as you say!

Anymore suggestions, especially related to ideas of things to get involved with concerning my interests?

Thanks again!

Get a high GPA and kill the LSAT, but worry about the LSAT a little bit later.

Softs are basically irrelevant to admissions unless, of course, you created Facebook, and in that case law school is probably out of the question.

Oh, and have fun?

PolarBear wrote:2014-
Thanks for your reply! I plan on staying dedicated to politics all four years, after all that IS what interests me, but I will definitely look into getting some law experience in undergrad that way I can know I am getting myself into something that I actually enjoy - from experience rather than word of mouth.
As for econ, yes I definitely know that, and I agree with you. My department is increasingly more difficult as the year progresses (we have one nobel laureate professor that is basically impossible here), but as of right now it is very intellectually stimulating and really relates to current events and such, which ties in my passion for politics. I can only hope this continues at the upper levels. However, I enjoy math, so econometrics and the like will hopefully be fun for me. (Hopefully, haha)
Thanks again!

reasonable_man-
Thanks, you make a valid point, there is very little you can do out of undergrad to have amazing softs (unless you found Facebook or something in your dorm room) but that is why I want to get started now and work towards my passions to do something fulfilling!

OGR3-
Thanks for your advice! I will continue with my passions of course, and hopefully that will shine through as you say!

Anymore suggestions, especially related to ideas of things to get involved with concerning my interests?

Thanks again!

All fine and good. My post was tongue and cheek, but there is a valid point in there. A major component to being a successful lawyer is being a likable, well rounded person. You can’t fake that and you can’t supplement it with great “softs.” The time to learn how to be a good social creature is high school and college. Its an important step in your development. It will help you on interviews and more importantly, it will help you in your career. I get phone calls from college friends all the time. Some of them are for routine legal advice, which I almost always provide (unless unethical to do so). Some of those calls are from college friends who now need actual legal services (or from friends of friends, etc.). The take home here is that while your grades and extracurricular activities are extremely important; almost equally important is your social development.

maxm2764 -
Thanks for your advice. I guess I am looking at softs mainly because I am looking at the top schools (of course, which may not be realistic at this point, but you have to start somewhere, mainly HYS).

reasonable_man -
Thanks again for your advice. I know that being a social person is extremely important, and I put a lot of emphasis on that as well. I think a large portion of life concerns you being a likable person. I agree with you that college is meant to be fun, a way to become a great 'social creature' but that doesn't mean I can't do more than one thing at once! I have the social part down, and am really enjoying ASU, and now that I'm in the swing of things, I feel I am adjusted to college and can take on more things such as soft factors while maintaining good social standing and GPA. That's where I'm at right now, and why I'm asking this question!

Does anyone else have an opinion on this issue? Hopefully so!

Also, I have the option of graduating a year early from college. I am really hesitant about this because like I just stated, I thoroughly enjoy college, but at the same time, it is an option for me. What do you all think about graduating early? My search results yielded that it won't hurt me in the admissions cycle, but if I did graduate early, I'd probably try to get a job somewhere or do something fun with my time related to my interests rather than apply a year early. I would then, if I DID graduate early, study for the LSAT while doing whatever other interest I am pursuing. Do you recommend that I stay in school, take some extra classes, or do you think my time could better be spent on a political campaign or as a political intern say, and studying for the LSAT?

Thanks for your help!

How do people know they what they want when they are 18? I'm 23, out of college, and have a high-paying job and am still relatively clueless.

I agree with a poster above. Live a normal college life and have fun. A freshman really shouldn't be worrying about what "softs" to do for law school. You haven't even finished 1 semester of college yet. Don't be like the rest of us bozo's who blasted through college with one goal in mind only to find out that you hate what you were striving for.....try a bunch of different things and see what else sparks your interest. That's what college is about.

Is a law degree really a good entree into politics? I'm not sure I understand the angle here.

ahduth wrote:Is a law degree really a good entree into politics? I'm not sure I understand the angle here.

It's all about fooling the unintelligent masses. They are often blinded by the prestige of a law degree (even TTTT). Therefore, it certainly doesn't hurt to have a law degree.

Realistically though, no one should go to law school without a legitimate desire to practice law. Also, one should be well aware of the perils of going $100,000+ into debt with few if any job prospects.

Cure cancer?

I heard the best thing you can do is work for a bit after college, particularly something like Teach for America or Peace Corp. That said, I'm a filthy hypocrite and applying during my senior year...but that means I have to rely entirely on my numbers.

If your numbers are good, you won't need softs (unless you want Yale, if so, goooooood luck with that). Don't let anything you pick "for law school" interfere with your grades. That was my biggest mistake.

ahduth wrote:Is a law degree really a good entree into politics? I'm not sure I understand the angle here.

Probably has a lot to do with self-selection bias, but attorney is the most popular profession among Congressmen. (likely because doctors have more important things to do)