Former law review editor taking questions Forum

[Wes Henricksen]

Do people ever get kicked off law review for being awful at cite checking?

I've never heard of this happening and I doubt you have to worry about it. Of course, each law review has its own rules, but I think it would be very unfair to eject a law review member because they were not good at cite checking.

However, members who do not show up for meetings and do not put in any effort whatsoever are fair game for being kicked off. I think those members have more to worry about than others who just are not naturally gifted with the ability to perform tedious tasks such as cite checking.

[underdawg]

For that matter, I can't for the life of me figure out why someone does not come up with a superior citation manual to the Bluebook. I find the Bluebook as a whole extraordinarily non-user-friendly, and the only reason I can think of that they get away with it is the lack of competition.

If only...

i wish the ala would write a model bluebook code

[Wes Henricksen]

The poll currently has 88% of participants indicating that they will participate in the write-on competition. Wow. That seems out of proportion to the normal break-down, which is that normally about 50% or 60% of 1Ls enter the competition.

[TTT-LS]

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[Wes Henricksen]

The poll currently has 88% of participants indicating that they will participate in the write-on competition. Wow. That seems out of proportion to the normal break-down, which is that normally about 50% or 60% of 1Ls enter the competition.

TLS = ultra gunner self-select community. See, e.g., numerous posts regarding 0L summer "prep" (describing an activity that few 0Ls overall, and particularly few sane 0Ls actually engage in).

Good point.

[Wellsfargowagon]

The poll currently has 88% of participants indicating that they will participate in the write-on competition. Wow. That seems out of proportion to the normal break-down, which is that normally about 50% or 60% of 1Ls enter the competition.

Over 93% of UVA 1Ls picked up a journal tryout packet this year:

http://www.uvalawblog.com/2009/02/all-j ... te-on.html

At least some probably turned their packets in without actually completing a tryout, but participation in the tryout process seems to have been especially high this year.

[TTT-LS]

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[Garinold]

Assuming you write on, instead of grade on, what jobs will law review help you get upon graduating?

[Fup]

Assuming you write on, instead of grade on, what jobs will law review help you get upon graduating?

It helps with all jobs, but especially clerkships and academia.

[cbreault]

The poll currently has 88% of participants indicating that they will participate in the write-on competition. Wow. That seems out of proportion to the normal break-down, which is that normally about 50% or 60% of 1Ls enter the competition.

We haven't yet become disenchanted with our first semester grades.

[bwv812]

The poll currently has 88% of participants indicating that they will participate in the write-on competition. Wow. That seems out of proportion to the normal break-down, which is that normally about 50% or 60% of 1Ls enter the competition.

TLS = ultra gunner self-select community. See, e.g., numerous posts regarding 0L summer "prep" (describing an activity that few 0Ls overall, and particularly few sane 0Ls actually engage in).

Plus, about half those responding are probably 0Ls who wish they could try to write-on this year.

[Jones, Dow]

Would you consider yourself a baller?

[TTT-LS]

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[Wes Henricksen]

Assuming you write on, instead of grade on, what jobs will law review help you get upon graduating?

It helps with all jobs, but especially clerkships and academia.

I second that. And that applies no matter what way you got onto law review ('write-on' or 'grade-on'). In short, law review is arguably the most valuable credential you can have on your resume as a law student. Of course, there is no substitute for good grades. But having law review membership really makes a candidate stand out to prospective employers.

[Wellsfargowagon]

Assuming you write on, instead of grade on, what jobs will law review help you get upon graduating?

It helps with all jobs, but especially clerkships and academia.

For state and federal district clerkships, it's a huge plus but not necessary if something else evidences "academic interest in the law" e.g. managing board of a secondary journal or a published note.

For federal appellate clerkships, getting on your school's main law review is a virtual necessity.

Academia is generally only available to those at the tip-top of their respective classes and who held a managing board position on the main law review.

[wendy24]

Could you please also talk about the personal statement part? What do people usually write about? Does it have to do with your writing skills?

[Wes Henricksen]

Could you please also talk about the personal statement part? What do people usually write about? Does it have to do with your writing skills?

The personal statement is part of the write-on competition at some law schools. And sometimes it only applies to specific journals (at my law school, for example, one of the specialty journals required a personal statement while the law review and other specialty journals did not).

Here's the most important things to keep in mind when writing the personal statement:

1) Follow the directions to a T;
2) Write well -- you want to put your skills on display here; and
3) Portray yourself as interesting and likeable (regardless of whether you are actually interesting or likeable).

Your personal statement should not bore the law review competition graders. As with the casenote, you should finish writing the personal statement early, and go back and review it 2 or 3 times in order to make sure it is as good as it can be.

[Wes Henricksen]

Also, for personal statements geared toward a specialty journal, make sure to mention any experience or background you have that connects you with the subject of the specialty journal. For example, a personal statement for the Texas Journal of International Law (I don't know if this actually exists) should include foreign countries you've visited/studied in/lived in, as well as any foreign language skills you possess and any other experience showing you are interested in global issues (e.g., you're very interested in international affairs and you read daily the World section of the NY Times).

[Wes Henricksen]

Any other questions?

[CE2JD]

No.

Go away.

[blondie]

No.

Go away.

For the life of me, I cannot figure out why some people on TLS feel they have any right to be rude to working professionals who take time out of their schedules to offer us help and advice.

[CE2JD]

No.

Go away.

For the life of me, I cannot figure out why some people on TLS feel they have any right to be rude to working professionals who take time out of their schedules to offer us help and advice.

You're right that was rude of me. I should help him try to sell his book for answering questions.

[Prodigy]

No.

Go away.

For the life of me, I cannot figure out why some people on TLS feel they have any right to be rude to working professionals who take time out of their schedules to offer us help and advice.

You're right that was rude of me. I should help him try to sell his book for answering questions.

Who cares if he benefits from answering questions - curious posters are still benefiting all the same as if he didn't have a book. As long as his motifs don't take away the validity of his answers, it really shouldn't matter.

Christ.

[CE2JD]

No.

Go away.

For the life of me, I cannot figure out why some people on TLS feel they have any right to be rude to working professionals who take time out of their schedules to offer us help and advice.

You're right that was rude of me. I should help him try to sell his book for answering questions.

Who cares if he benefits from answering questions - curious posters are still benefiting all the same as if he didn't have a book. As long as his motifs don't take away the validity of his answers, it really shouldn't matter.

Christ.

WTF, I already apologized once. You want me to do it again??

[Jones, Dow]

what's the best 0L material to improve writing skills?