Top Law Schools

shure57 wrote:What percentage of people don't do any journal or moot court?

Couldn't give you an exact number, but I'd guess very low. Probably around or under 15%. It's easy to do and it's expected for a lot of employment opportunities.

arism87 wrote:

Detrox wrote:

nutella123 wrote:So, what do you think about briefing cases? How detailed should those briefs be? Is it professor-dependent or do you think you can generalize for NYU Law across the board? Thanks. And hints about outlining always welcome....

It's not really professor dependent, it's student dependent. I briefed cases fall of 1L year, and did fine/well. I didn't in spring and did fine/slightly better. Others I know brief cases like crazy, others barely read the cases and focus on the supplements. You'll have to figure out your own style.

The same is slightly less true but still applicable to outlines. People in law school want to find outline or studying gospel and the truth is it is very very dependent on how you as an individual can learn and study best. I have had mixed success both making my own outlines and relying on those posted online by previous years students, some classes I don't even think having an outline is useful at all. Sorry this answer isn't very helpful.

What I would recommend is a small study group. I learn well as an individual and did not use them before law school, but at the very least they can show you how different people study and often point you to things in the class that you would have missed or considered unimportant.

Agreed. I recommend briefing cases until you feel like you don't have to anymore. Mostly it forces you to pay attention to/remember certain aspects of cases until you start thinking that way naturally. It also forces you to keep on top of reading and is a nice security blanket until cold calling stops being terrifying. You shouldn't keep briefing for the sake of briefing.

As far as outlining, I slightly disagree- I will always always make my own outline. At a first glance, it's helpful to see how people laid things out. After you're done with yours, it's nice to go back over other peoples' outlines more thoroughly (if they had your professor!) to see what you could add/edit. But outlining is half the battle- if you spend some serious time compiling/editing an outline, you're almost done studying. I tried using someone else's once and it was by far my worst grade-- this could be coincidence, but I surely won't be tempting fate in the future!

Anyway, take this advice (and all other) with a grain of salt! If you made it to NYU, you've likely been doing something right-- keep doing what works for you

I agree with Detrox; just know thyself.

Personally, I found this very helpful and accurate: http://www.top-law-schools.com/success- ... chool.html

I really think law school students overestimate how "different" law school is, in terms of how to study. Yes, there are study methods unique to law school, like outlines and case briefs, but I think you have to remember that you are still the same person you were in college. Go ahead and try study methods, but if they seem useless, by all means stop.

For example, I briefed exactly one case. I found it to be a useful exercise, and I'm glad I did it once, but after that I realized it was in no way worth the amount of time it took. If you find yourself bewildered by cases and unable to figure out what matters, then it's probably worth your time. For most people, it's probably marginally helpful, but not worth how fucking long they take.

I also stopped outlining second semester. Again, it's not a useless exercise, but for me, not effective in terms of how long it takes to make. Much easier to use old outlines, and tweak when necessary.

I'm not saying outlining is not essential for some people to do well; I'm just saying trust your extinct about whether something is an effective method for you or not.

Two things that I think are essential: 1) reading and re-reading any supplement authored by your professor, 2) taking as many of your professors old practice exams as s/he makes available.

I also found study groups to be incredibly inefficient. Helpful, but such a time suck. The only time I found them worthwhile is when professors would give sample exams but no sample answers. In that case, I think it was critical to discuss with other people to make sure you were on the right track.

indigomachine wrote:Figure now that they've posted our courses, now's probably a good time to ask if there a verdict on renting textbooks?

Seems like you can save a lot of money this way, but wondering if there are any downsides to renting... Will we ever need our textbooks again, or is it like undergrad where you basically try and ship off your books down to the next generation after you're done a class?

Thanks everyone for taking questions!

Personally I find that most textbooks can be sold to other students, and so even if the rental price seems cheaper than purchasing, if you purchase the books used, and then sell them used, the actually net price you spend will be considerably less than renting. On the other hand, you have to contend with the risk that the edition becomes out of date and students don't want the book anymore.

One thing I will say though: it makes very little sense to buy textbooks new, unless the edition just came out and you really have no choice. See if Coase's List people have it, or check addall.com.

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Hope everyone is having a good LD weekend. Still hoping for some guidance on supplements/approaches for Neuborne for CivPro,Oren Bar-Gill for Contracts, and Barkow for crim. Thanks for any help you can offer.

Bumping this. Thanks.

Generally, how successful were your classmates interested in PI at getting jobs in that field? Were those looking for that type of position pretty much able to get a full-time, paying PI job and, from what you know, was it in the area they wanted or did they just have to take what they could get?

spaceman82 wrote:Generally, how successful were your classmates interested in PI at getting jobs in that field? Were those looking for that type of position pretty much able to get a full-time, paying PI job and, from what you know, was it in the area they wanted or did they just have to take what they could get?

Honestly, despite the general stereotype, I personally only know a few people who went the PI track. I emphasize personally because I may have self-selected into a group of friends who were going the private sector track, not to mention that such a decision still contains the majority.

That disclaimer being given, the two or three people I know of who went the PI route during 2L were able to get full time paying jobs that they enjoyed for the summer. That being said, they did not seem interested in returning to those jobs post-graduation (and I suspect at least some of them were not interested because that option was not given to them). Some are now pursuing 3L hiring in firms, while others are trying alternate PI and gov't job applications. I would recommend asking PILC for info or to put you in contact with 3Ls/recent grads to get a better idea since I'm not the best source.

As a final note, none of what I said applies to 1L summers. PILC at NYU does an amazing job of setting people up with 1L summer PI jobs in amazing places and I don't know of anyone who had real trouble in that route.

Thanks for the quick reply. I may try to contact PILC to see what they to say about the success students are having, assuming they'll talk to me as a 0L (deferral). I know NYU does have a lot of great summer opportunities--it's exciting just looking at the list actually. I was hoping to hear that its PI focus helped to override the bleak PI job market (I've been hearing how extremely difficult it is to find paid, full-time PI work upon graduating from law school), but that might not be the case it seems, just based off of the anecdotal evidence you gave. I'll look into it more, though, and would appreciate hearing anything else you or another 3L/recent graduate might know about it. Thanks again for taking the time to help us out.

Thanks for taking Qs!! What kind of grades do you need ITE to have a strong shot at Weil/Kirkland from NYU? 3.5? Very interested in doing restructuring work and just curious how well I'd need to do generally.

drbarry987 wrote:Thanks for taking Qs!! What kind of grades do you need ITE to have a strong shot at Weil/Kirkland from NYU? 3.5? Very interested in doing restructuring work and just curious how well I'd need to do generally.

Probably 3.4-ish. Schedule your callbacks there as soon as possible, stress your interest in restructuring, etc.

If anyone here is on LR and has a detailed (not truncated/attack) OL for Neuborne (CP), BarGill (Ks) or Barkow (Crim), I'm willing to PayPal $100/per. PM me.

User has been warned. Also: lol @ $100 per outline.

SystemOfaDownEconomy wrote:If anyone here is on LR and has a detailed (not truncated/attack) OL for Neuborne (CP), BarGill (Ks) or Barkow (Crim), I'm willing to PayPal $100/per. PM me.

Alternatively, could just ask upperclassmen who've had those professors and done well. (free!)

hey any 2ls still on this thread- i had a question about spring 2013 class selection. (posted in the ask a 1l as well)

Do gunners generally self select into con law with levinson? should I avoid the class if im worried about being screwed by the curve and take corporations (which i hear has an easier curve)?

Would I be looked down upon at EIW if I took income tax? I want to do M&A/Restructuring but I kinda wanna try tax just b/c NYU is known for having such a strong tax program. Or should I just bid corporations? thxx!

izy223 wrote:hey any 2ls still on this thread- i had a question about spring 2013 class selection. (posted in the ask a 1l as well)

Do gunners generally self select into con law with levinson? should I avoid the class if im worried about being screwed by the curve and take corporations (which i hear has an easier curve)?

Levinson's Con Law class is flat out amazing, I wouldn't miss it because of fear of the curve.

drbarry987 wrote:Would I be looked down upon at EIW if I took income tax? I want to do M&A/Restructuring but I kinda wanna try tax just b/c NYU is known for having such a strong tax program. Or should I just bid corporations? thxx!

"Looked down upon"? Almost certainly not. You'll probably get some questions about it, and if you have any interest in Tax you'll be more marketable, but I cannot imagine it hurting you even if you never want to do tax again. TL;DR: Possible minor plus, no negative.

izy223 wrote:hey any 2ls still on this thread- i had a question about spring 2013 class selection. (posted in the ask a 1l as well)

Do gunners generally self select into con law with levinson? should I avoid the class if im worried about being screwed by the curve and take corporations (which i hear has an easier curve)?

shameless bump because i need to get my bids in

Favorite thing about NYU?

Least favorite thing about NYU?

Reading through these threads, I'm really starting to think that NYU is the school that I'll end up at, so I may have more questions/PM some of you. Thanks for all the info!

Izy- Asked and answered previously.

moonman157 wrote:Favorite thing about NYU?

Least favorite thing about NYU?

Reading through these threads, I'm really starting to think that NYU is the school that I'll end up at, so I may have more questions/PM some of you. Thanks for all the info!

Favorite thing- Location. Seriously, hard to overrate how awesome the village is and how perfect it is to have bars a stone's throw away from class locations.

Least Favorite Thing- Lack of Academic Community. I struggled with this one and was going to cop out and say cost, but instead I'll say that it is that NYU has a law school which seems far superior to the other institutions at NYU and thus there is a distinct separation (purposeful or not) between the law school and the rest of NYU. I mean this only academically, as you have full access to gym facilities and the like. That being said, I didn't have this complaint until you asked me to think of one.

Detrox wrote:Izy- Asked and answered previously.

moonman157 wrote:Favorite thing about NYU?

Least favorite thing about NYU?

Reading through these threads, I'm really starting to think that NYU is the school that I'll end up at, so I may have more questions/PM some of you. Thanks for all the info!

Favorite thing- Location. Seriously, hard to overrate how awesome the village is and how perfect it is to have bars a stone's throw away from class locations.

Least Favorite Thing- Lack of Academic Community. I struggled with this one and was going to cop out and say cost, but instead I'll say that it is that NYU has a law school which seems far superior to the other institutions at NYU and thus there is a distinct separation (purposeful or not) between the law school and the rest of NYU. I mean this only academically, as you have full access to gym facilities and the like. That being said, I didn't have this complaint until you asked me to think of one.

not a teetotaler but def not into the whole bar scene / drinking much. is that the predominant culture / activity for jd students, would you say ? perhaps this is a universal question to all law schools, and something I accept and admit will deal with regardless, but curious on your take on it.

Also, on an unrelated and really unimportant note, can my SO spend nights /time in my apartment without a problem?

Detrox wrote:Izy- Asked and answered previously.

moonman157 wrote:Favorite thing about NYU?

Least favorite thing about NYU?

Reading through these threads, I'm really starting to think that NYU is the school that I'll end up at, so I may have more questions/PM some of you. Thanks for all the info!

Favorite thing- Location. Seriously, hard to overrate how awesome the village is and how perfect it is to have bars a stone's throw away from class locations.

Least Favorite Thing- Lack of Academic Community. I struggled with this one and was going to cop out and say cost, but instead I'll say that it is that NYU has a law school which seems far superior to the other institutions at NYU and thus there is a distinct separation (purposeful or not) between the law school and the rest of NYU. I mean this only academically, as you have full access to gym facilities and the like. That being said, I didn't have this complaint until you asked me to think of one.

Thanks for the response! Your enthusiasm for NYU definitely has me a bit reassured if I end up there. I do have to say, though, that your least favorite thing is something that has stuck out to me as well. I've spent a good deal of time at NYU for a non-NYU student, and I've been pretty underwhelmed by the campus/student body feel. Obviously this is very different from the academics/student body of the law school, but I was hoping for a school that had noticeable strength in both (considering the prestige of most of the T14's undergrads). This is a very insignificant point, though, and something I know that I shouldn't be concerned with. Thanks for your honesty, and I'll probably be posting here again asking more questions lol.

toothbrush wrote:

Detrox wrote:Izy- Asked and answered previously.

moonman157 wrote:Favorite thing about NYU?

Least favorite thing about NYU?

Reading through these threads, I'm really starting to think that NYU is the school that I'll end up at, so I may have more questions/PM some of you. Thanks for all the info!

Favorite thing- Location. Seriously, hard to overrate how awesome the village is and how perfect it is to have bars a stone's throw away from class locations.

Least Favorite Thing- Lack of Academic Community. I struggled with this one and was going to cop out and say cost, but instead I'll say that it is that NYU has a law school which seems far superior to the other institutions at NYU and thus there is a distinct separation (purposeful or not) between the law school and the rest of NYU. I mean this only academically, as you have full access to gym facilities and the like. That being said, I didn't have this complaint until you asked me to think of one.

not a teetotaler but def not into the whole bar scene / drinking much. is that the predominant culture / activity for jd students, would you say ? perhaps this is a universal question to all law schools, and something I accept and admit will deal with regardless, but curious on your take on it.

Also, on an unrelated and really unimportant note, can my SO spend nights /time in my apartment without a problem?

It is an overriding theme at most schools and since NYU skews a little to the younger side, it's fairly predominate here. OTOH, it's NYC. There is so much other shit to do than go to bars so if you don't love the drinking scene, you can still find something to do.

Not a problem at all for your SO to stay with you

JamMasterJ wrote:
Also, on an unrelated and really unimportant note, can my SO spend nights /time in my apartment without a problem?

It is an overriding theme at most schools and since NYU skews a little to the younger side, it's fairly predominate here. OTOH, it's NYC. There is so much other shit to do than go to bars so if you don't love the drinking scene, you can still find something to do.

Not a problem at all for your SO to stay with you[/quote]

Hey thanks. I didn't realize that NYU skewed a bit younger overall. My other top of CLS, which I realize is a bit older. Definitely culture differences between the two schools. Ultimately, that + money will be the deciding factor for me. Not sure how to scope out culture too prudently, but I appreciate your response.