Northwestern 1L/2L/3L/Grads Taking Questions and Challenges Forum

[IAFG]

Would you guys recommend law school or becoming a lawyer to your children? cousins? nephews?

I've seen a few people recommend law school and some people who were against it.
(all of whom are lawyers)

What about you guys here? You guys go to one of the best schools in the nation and I'm assuming you're all smart people knowing what you're doing with your life. Would you guys recommend someone very close to you to become a lawyer? I think this questions is like asking "Do you like being a lawyer (or the prospect of it)?"

It would depend totally on the person. I know someone I'm encouraging to go to law school; he's been working for 6 years, 2 of those in management, has a background to give him a good shot at firm work and generally I think he has the personality for it. But I would never suggest it to a college jr/sr.

[homestyle28]

I would never suggest it to a college jr/sr.

I think b/c of the costs/time/risks involved it should be a decision made after earnestly pursuing a few other options first.

[IAFG]

I would never suggest it to a college jr/sr.

I think b/c of the costs/time/risks involved it should be a decision made after earnestly pursuing a few other options first.

There are a million reasons why being a K-JD is a bad idea, but this is certainly one of them.

Now, there are some K-JDs who made the right call, but from the position of a college student, you really have no idea if you're that person.

[roranoa]

I would never suggest it to a college jr/sr.

I think b/c of the costs/time/risks involved it should be a decision made after earnestly pursuing a few other options first.

There are a million reasons why being a K-JD is a bad idea, but this is certainly one of them.

Now, there are some K-JDs who made the right call, but from the position of a college student, you really have no idea if you're that person.

What's a "K-JD"?

[Flips88]

What's a "K-JD"?

The term for someone who went straight from undergrad to law school. They are few and far between at Northwestern.

[roranoa]

What's a "K-JD"?

The term for someone who went straight from undergrad to law school. They are few and far between at Northwestern.

Right. Got it. Thanks.

Can I ask you the same question? Do you enjoy lawschool? or at least are you looking forward to becoming a lawyer?

[Flips88]

What's a "K-JD"?

The term for someone who went straight from undergrad to law school. They are few and far between at Northwestern.

Right. Got it. Thanks.

Can I ask you the same question? Do you enjoy lawschool? or at least are you looking forward to becoming a lawyer?

I'm a 1L so I haven't done any summer legal work and can't give you a solid answer on if I enjoy it or not yet. As for school, it's a toss up. Some of the material is pretty interesting (Crim law), while some classes bore the shit out of me (Con Law). Probably the best part of law school is my classmates.

I still look forward to being a lawyer. Maybe that'll change, I don't know.

I'd only advise people to go to law school if they believe strongly they want to be a lawyer and that they are willing to risk a butt load of money on that belief.

[Samara]

Hey, thread regulars! I don't know what y'all are doing during ASW, but a few of us (me, crumps, rinkrat, scarlet so far) are going to the do the Beer and Bacon Tasting at Paddy Long's in Lincoln Park. I think it would be fun to meet some of the TLS Northwestern crew, especially since you all have been so helpful and friendly. But the best part is that you can get in on the action for half off through LivingSocial! $18 gets you five microbrew beers and five specially prepared bacons. I did this last fall and it was awesome.

We are looking at doing the one on Saturday, April 14, at 6pm because that it likely the best availability for everyone.

Here's a link to the deal: http://www.livingsocial.com/deals/29455 ... i=15867892

If you are interested, just click the link to buy the deal and then PM me so I can arrange the reservations. It's up for just three more days, so don't dilly dally. Let me know if you have any questions. What better way to kick off studying for finals, am I right?

[homestyle28]

What's a "K-JD"?

The term for someone who went straight from undergrad to law school. They are few and far between at Northwestern.

Right. Got it. Thanks.

Can I ask you the same question? Do you enjoy lawschool? or at least are you looking forward to becoming a lawyer?

I'm a 1L so I haven't done any summer legal work and can't give you a solid answer on if I enjoy it or not yet. As for school, it's a toss up. Some of the material is pretty interesting (Crim law), while some classes bore the shit out of me (Con Law). Probably the best part of law school is my classmates.

I still look forward to being a lawyer. Maybe that'll change, I don't know.

I'd only advise people to go to law school if they believe strongly they want to be a lawyer and that they are willing to risk a butt load of money on that belief.

I only advise it if you've already rolled nekkid in piles of cash so that you know if you're allergic to it or not

[crumpetsandtea]

Hey Holly, I never ended up following through with that challenge to see who could chug a beer the fastest last time I visited...let's make it happen at ASW, yes?

[gatorapplicant]

What's a "K-JD"?

The term for someone who went straight from undergrad to law school. They are few and far between at Northwestern.

how do these students usually do? i'll be in this situation if i attend northwestern next year.

[igo2northwestern]

What's a "K-JD"?

The term for someone who went straight from undergrad to law school. They are few and far between at Northwestern.

how do these students usually do? i'll be in this situation if i attend northwestern next year.

Two of my good friends were straight from undergrad, and they did extremely well.

[Flips88]

What's a "K-JD"?

The term for someone who went straight from undergrad to law school. They are few and far between at Northwestern.

how do these students usually do? i'll be in this situation if i attend northwestern next year.

I don't think it affects how well you'll do. Work experience isn't going to make you better at law school exams. The work experience at Northwestern just makes the class more experienced and mature.

[gatorapplicant]

What's a "K-JD"?

The term for someone who went straight from undergrad to law school. They are few and far between at Northwestern.

how do these students usually do? i'll be in this situation if i attend northwestern next year.

I don't think it affects how well you'll do. Work experience isn't going to make you better at law school exams. The work experience at Northwestern just makes the class more experienced and mature.

thanks for your input... also, how do they do in terms of fitting in with the rest of the class? frankly, i'm a little intimidated.

[bk1]

thanks for your input... also, how do they do in terms of fitting in with the rest of the class? frankly, i'm a little intimidated.

The few I know fit in just fine. There's plenty of people at NU who were just paper pushers/desk jockeys (myself included), I don't think that's impressive in the slightest. Even the people who had good careers prior, they're in the same position that you are now so no reason to be intimidated.

[IAFG]

What's a "K-JD"?

The term for someone who went straight from undergrad to law school. They are few and far between at Northwestern.

how do these students usually do? i'll be in this situation if i attend northwestern next year.

Two of my good friends were straight from undergrad, and they did extremely well.

People who do well are likely to talk about it. I would be surprised if they do any better or worse than the rest of the class. They don't appear to be any more or less likely to get LR, land top firms, any of that.

[rayiner]

The few K-JD's I know fit in just fine, though I will say it was noticeable that they grew/matured more than others over three years.

[bk1]

They don't appear to be any more or less likely to get LR, land top firms, any of that.

You mention firms... any idea how much their lack of work exp hurt them compared to others during OCI? I know this is one of the bigger worries that K-JD's have with coming to NU.

[Samara]

Hey everybody, today is the last day for the Beer and Bacon Tasting deal from LivingSocial: http://www.livingsocial.com/deals/29455 ... i=15867892 We have a great group building, but bigger is of course better!

Looks like Saturday, April 14, from 6-8p is going to work the best for everybody. If you are coming, please PM me or post in this thread if you haven't done so already so I can secure the appropriate reservation.

[rinkrat19]

Hey everybody, today is the last day for the Beer and Bacon Tasting deal from LivingSocial: http://www.livingsocial.com/deals/29455 ... i=15867892 We have a great group building, but bigger is of course better!

Looks like Saturday, April 14, from 6-8p is going to work the best for everybody. If you are coming, please PM me or post in this thread if you haven't done so already so I can secure the appropriate reservation.

mmmm, bacon.

How many of us are there, Samara?

[franklyscarlet]

Hey everybody, today is the last day for the Beer and Bacon Tasting deal from LivingSocial: http://www.livingsocial.com/deals/29455 ... i=15867892 We have a great group building, but bigger is of course better!

Looks like Saturday, April 14, from 6-8p is going to work the best for everybody. If you are coming, please PM me or post in this thread if you haven't done so already so I can secure the appropriate reservation.

Count me in!

[Samara]

Hey everybody, today is the last day for the Beer and Bacon Tasting deal from LivingSocial: http://www.livingsocial.com/deals/29455 ... i=15867892 We have a great group building, but bigger is of course better!

Looks like Saturday, April 14, from 6-8p is going to work the best for everybody. If you are coming, please PM me or post in this thread if you haven't done so already so I can secure the appropriate reservation.

mmmm, bacon.

How many of us are there, Samara?

I don't have official confirmation from crumps yet, but assuming she's in, we have seven so far, including myself.

[crumpetsandtea]

Hey everybody, today is the last day for the Beer and Bacon Tasting deal from LivingSocial: http://www.livingsocial.com/deals/29455 ... i=15867892 We have a great group building, but bigger is of course better!

Looks like Saturday, April 14, from 6-8p is going to work the best for everybody. If you are coming, please PM me or post in this thread if you haven't done so already so I can secure the appropriate reservation.

mmmm, bacon.

How many of us are there, Samara?

I don't have official confirmation from crumps yet, but assuming she's in, we have seven so far, including myself.

Consider this my official confirmation! (:

[rinkrat19]

Anyone have any experience with/know anyone who's done the International Team Project thing? I have no intention of studying abroad for a term or a summer in law school (everything I've read makes it sound like a bad idea, job search-wise, no matter how fun it might be), but how about ITP's comparative law class+spring break trip+research paper?

http://www.law.northwestern.edu/itp/

[Eugenie Danglars]

Anyone have any experience with/know anyone who's done the International Team Project thing? I have no intention of studying abroad for a term or a summer in law school (everything I've read makes it sound like a bad idea, job search-wise, no matter how fun it might be), but how about ITP's comparative law class+spring break trip+research paper?

http://www.law.northwestern.edu/itp/

People I know have liked it variously depending on which trip. You can't do it as a 1L, so you have some time, but I'd recommend doing it with professors/places you are motivated to work with cause it can be intense. (and apparently intensely bad if you hate the prof)