Is the term "rising" offensive? Forum

Anonymous User · Post by **Anonymous User** » Mon Jul 23, 2012 1:06 pm

As in "rising second-year student"?

Big Law Partner alumnus (in response to mass mail):

"Several people found the term 'rising' either off putting or confusing...."

ben4847 · Post by **ben4847** » Mon Jul 23, 2012 1:08 pm

Very offensive.

shock259 · Post by **shock259** » Mon Jul 23, 2012 1:11 pm

Pretty sure it is more confusing to just say "second-year student."

piccolittle · Post by **piccolittle** » Mon Jul 23, 2012 1:11 pm

What? I've been using "rising" in my cover letters and I don't think it's been a problem. Why would it be offensive (unless you have a dirty mind)?

Anonymous User · Post by **Anonymous User** » Mon Jul 23, 2012 1:12 pm

shock259 wrote:Pretty sure it is more confusing to just say "second-year student."

Yeah, because then they don't know if you are someone who just finished 2L and is desperately job hunting because they screwed up as a 2L or someone who is just starting 2L and wants to get a jump on the process.

Anonymous User · Post by **Anonymous User** » Mon Jul 23, 2012 1:20 pm

I've heard this before as well. Boomers.

Total Litigator · Post by **Total Litigator** » Mon Jul 23, 2012 1:22 pm

It can definitely be offensive to people who don't know the term. I thought it sounded pretentious when I first heard it, but now that I know what it means, I'm totally fine with the word. So if you use it it's kind of a gamble. I guess I'm actually just curious as to how many employers are familiar with the term "rising" 1L/2L/3L.

ben4847 · Post by **ben4847** » Mon Jul 23, 2012 1:23 pm

ITT: being confusing is offensive

FlanSolo · Post by **FlanSolo** » Mon Jul 23, 2012 1:25 pm

Total Litigator wrote:It can definitely be offensive to people who don't know the term. I thought it sounded pretentious when I first heard it, but now that I know what it means, I'm totally fine with the word. So if you use it it's kind of a gamble. I guess I'm actually just curious as to how many employers are familiar with the term "rising" 1L/2L/3L.

Yeah, unless you are someone who is inundated by the word's usage, it sounds a little pretentious. Thus, no reason to use it. Just say, "I just finished my 1L year at XXX"

lisjjen · Post by **lisjjen** » Mon Jul 23, 2012 1:34 pm

Total Litigator wrote:It can definitely be offensive to people who don't know the term. I thought it sounded pretentious when I first heard it, but now that I know what it means, I'm totally fine with the word. So if you use it it's kind of a gamble. I guess I'm actually just curious as to how many employers are familiar with the term "rising" 1L/2L/3L.

That's a good question. Every lawyer 25 and older went to law school in Angola, and they don't use the term "rising 1L, 2L, or 3L" in sub-Saharan Africa.

ETA: Posts the guy who used the term "rising 2L" is all of his cover letters, and is being ravenously sarcastic to hide the anxiety you just produced.

071816 · Post by **071816** » Mon Jul 23, 2012 1:35 pm

In my experience, SHIT BOOMERS don't understand what it means.

Monty The Dog · Post by **Monty The Dog** » Mon Jul 23, 2012 1:39 pm

This thread is insane. Use the term. Or not. Nobody cares.

petite chouette · Post by **petite chouette** » Mon Jul 23, 2012 1:41 pm

I'm confused, why would this be offensive? I have always heard this term... literally, "Summer Reading List for Rising Second-Graders" etc. How else would someone describe what year they are going to be in school during the preceding summer?

/now concerned about what normal words I use that people mysteriously find offensive

lisjjen · Post by **lisjjen** » Mon Jul 23, 2012 1:41 pm

Monty The Dog wrote: ~~This thread~~ (TLS) is insane. ~~Use the term. Or not.~~ Nobody cares.

Total Litigator · Post by **Total Litigator** » Mon Jul 23, 2012 1:43 pm

lisjjen wrote:
Total Litigator wrote:It can definitely be offensive to people who don't know the term. I thought it sounded pretentious when I first heard it, but now that I know what it means, I'm totally fine with the word. So if you use it it's kind of a gamble. I guess I'm actually just curious as to how many employers are familiar with the term "rising" 1L/2L/3L.
That's a good question. Every lawyer 25 and older went to law school in Angola, and they don't use the term "rising 1L, 2L, or 3L" in sub-Saharan Africa.

ETA: Posts the guy who used the term "rising 2L" is all of his cover letters, and is being ravenously sarcastic to hide the anxiety you just produced.

Lol! I'm actually just curious as to how recent and widely used the term is. I mean, were law students rocking the term rising in the 1960's? Or maybe it started being used in the 90's, but by now everyone in the legal field has been so inundated with the term that they are used to and fine with the term?

My hunch is that the vast majority employers are familiar with the term. However, the only time I ever really mentioned the word in a conversation with someone who hires law students was with a ~40 year old career law clerk in an insular market and he/she looked at me at asked, "Rising?" So that is just anecdotal, probably the exception to the rule, but it did make me wonder.

shock259 · Post by **shock259** » Mon Jul 23, 2012 1:46 pm

I can't tell if this thread is worse than the coffee one. Thoughts?

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 3&t=189917

fatduck · Post by **fatduck** » Mon Jul 23, 2012 1:47 pm

shock259 wrote:I can't tell if this thread is worse than the coffee one. Thoughts?

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 3&t=189917

mods could probably delete every thread started by Anonymous User and hit no more than 3 posts of value

Total Litigator · Post by **Total Litigator** » Mon Jul 23, 2012 1:51 pm

shock259 wrote:I can't tell if this thread is worse than the coffee one. Thoughts?

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 3&t=189917

How bout, a "partner wants to have coffee with me... I emailed him earlier and used the term 'rising 2L.' Did I just f*** myself?" thread.

dixiecupdrinking · Post by **dixiecupdrinking** » Mon Jul 23, 2012 5:07 pm

This is a completely new and confusing issue to me. Who the hell are these people?

RodneyBoonfield · Post by **RodneyBoonfield** » Mon Jul 23, 2012 5:23 pm

"Rising" is not the preferred nomeclature. "Soon to be _L" or "_L", please.

ilovesf · Post by **ilovesf** » Mon Jul 23, 2012 5:28 pm

Why did you ask this anonymously? Because you realized it was a retarded question and you were embarrassed? Not the correct anon use bro.

Anonymous User · Post by **Anonymous User** » Mon Jul 23, 2012 5:33 pm

ilovesf wrote:Why did you ask this anonymously? Because you realized it was a retarded question and you were embarrassed? Not the correct anon use bro.

I quoted an actual Big Law partner in the OP. Given it was an issue that was actually raised, I don't see how it's a retarded question.

Quoting letters from Big Law partners sounds like a correct use of the anon feature to me.

breadbucket · Post by **breadbucket** » Mon Jul 23, 2012 5:35 pm

ilovesf wrote:Why did you ask this anonymously? Because you realized it was a retarded question and you were embarrassed? Not the correct anon use bro.

TITCR

Gecko of Doom · Post by **Gecko of Doom** » Mon Jul 23, 2012 5:37 pm

I cannot fathom a single reason the term "rising" could possibly be problematic. I have used the term in all of my cover letters and have encountered no problems, and our Career Services Office uses it frequently. It seems more professional and concise than "soon-to-be" or any other alternative I can think of.

071816 · Post by **071816** » Mon Jul 23, 2012 5:41 pm

Gecko of Doom wrote:I cannot fathom a single reason the term "rising" could possibly be problematic. I have used the term in all of my cover letters and have encountered no problems, and our Career Services Office uses it frequently. It seems more professional and concise than "soon-to-be" or any other alternative I can think of.

"Incoming second year law student" is the only legit alternative I can think of.

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