UNC Law student(s) taking questions Forum

[skw]

Also what classes does everyone take their 1 l year, when should we get our schedule and how will we know what books we need and where do you suggest we purchase them from?

1L classes include:
Criminal Law
Civil Procedure
Torts
Property
Constitutional Law
Contracts
RRWA (Reading, Writing and Advocacy)

Each substantive class is 4 credits and RRWA is 3 credits (graded). You'll have 3 substantive classes + RRWA each semester. I seem to remember getting our schedules something like a month or so before 1L started. Once you get your schedule, you can go onto MyCarolinaLaw (our portal) under the Academics tab and there is a doc you can download with courses and first assignments if your professor elects to assign something (about a 50:50 split on first assignments versus nothing). I recommend buying your books from Amazon or some other online source and to avoid the campus bookstore like the plague. They have undergrads staffing order fulfillment and let's just say the process is somewhat broken. When they screw up your order at the campus bookstore (which is inevitable), you have to physically go to the bookstore to sort it out and wait in a ridiculous line for one of two or three (also inept) undergrads to help you. A HORRIBLE experience and one I would recommend avoiding. That said, if you want to buy used books, you may be unable to avoid the bookstore since you'll probably want to look through the books to select the ones you want.

[DeeCee]

Also what classes does everyone take their 1 l year, when should we get our schedule and how will we know what books we need and where do you suggest we purchase them from?

1L classes include:
Criminal Law
Civil Procedure
Torts
Property
Constitutional Law
Contracts
RRWA (Reading, Writing and Advocacy)

Each substantive class is 4 credits and RRWA is 3 credits (graded). You'll have 3 substantive classes + RRWA each semester. I seem to remember getting our schedules something like a month or so before 1L started. Once you get your schedule, you can go onto MyCarolinaLaw (our portal) under the Academics tab and there is a doc you can download with courses and first assignments if your professor elects to assign something (about a 50:50 split on first assignments versus nothing). I recommend buying your books from Amazon or some other online source and to avoid the campus bookstore like the plague. They have undergrads staffing order fulfillment and let's just say the process is somewhat broken. When they screw up your order at the campus bookstore (which is inevitable), you have to physically go to the bookstore to sort it out and wait in a ridiculous line for one of two or three (also inept) undergrads to help you. A HORRIBLE experience and one I would recommend avoiding. That said, if you want to buy used books, you may be unable to avoid the bookstore since you'll probably want to look through the books to select the ones you want.

Speaking for my section only, we did not receive our class assignments until one week before classes. This includes which books you will be using for class. This means that for first semester, you will likely have to get your books from the UNC bookstore, which is a hellish process. Plus, you don't want to show up the first day of class not having read for class.

Also, we had assignments in every class. We did not have professors that gave no assignment for the first day.

However, for second semester, we had our book assignments early and I was able to buy all of them off of Amazon, which allowed me to save several hundred dollars. Again, we had reading assignments for the first day in every class.

[skw]

Also what classes does everyone take their 1 l year, when should we get our schedule and how will we know what books we need and where do you suggest we purchase them from?

1L classes include:
Criminal Law
Civil Procedure
Torts
Property
Constitutional Law
Contracts
RRWA (Reading, Writing and Advocacy)

Each substantive class is 4 credits and RRWA is 3 credits (graded). You'll have 3 substantive classes + RRWA each semester. I seem to remember getting our schedules something like a month or so before 1L started. Once you get your schedule, you can go onto MyCarolinaLaw (our portal) under the Academics tab and there is a doc you can download with courses and first assignments if your professor elects to assign something (about a 50:50 split on first assignments versus nothing). I recommend buying your books from Amazon or some other online source and to avoid the campus bookstore like the plague. They have undergrads staffing order fulfillment and let's just say the process is somewhat broken. When they screw up your order at the campus bookstore (which is inevitable), you have to physically go to the bookstore to sort it out and wait in a ridiculous line for one of two or three (also inept) undergrads to help you. A HORRIBLE experience and one I would recommend avoiding. That said, if you want to buy used books, you may be unable to avoid the bookstore since you'll probably want to look through the books to select the ones you want.

Speaking for my section only, we did not receive our class assignments until one week before classes. This includes which books you will be using for class. This means that for first semester, you will likely have to get your books from the UNC bookstore, which is a hellish process. Plus, you don't want to show up the first day of class not having read for class.

Also, we had assignments in every class. We did not have professors that gave no assignment for the first day.

However, for second semester, we had our book assignments early and I was able to buy all of them off of Amazon, which allowed me to save several hundred dollars. Again, we had reading assignments for the first day in every class.

DeeCee is correct on 1st semester. I think I must have blocked out the memory. We did get our books and assignments VERY late that semester (but I have Amazon Prime and so was able to use that and get everything in time). We had a lot more notice second semester -- I ordered everything before we even finished finals and was ready to go much earlier for Spring of 1L.

[dextermorgan]

Also what classes does everyone take their 1 l year, when should we get our schedule and how will we know what books we need and where do you suggest we purchase them from?

1L classes include:
Criminal Law
Civil Procedure
Torts
Property
Constitutional Law
Contracts
RRWA (Reading, Writing and Advocacy)

Each substantive class is 4 credits and RRWA is 3 credits (graded). You'll have 3 substantive classes + RRWA each semester. I seem to remember getting our schedules something like a month or so before 1L started. Once you get your schedule, you can go onto MyCarolinaLaw (our portal) under the Academics tab and there is a doc you can download with courses and first assignments if your professor elects to assign something (about a 50:50 split on first assignments versus nothing). I recommend buying your books from Amazon or some other online source and to avoid the campus bookstore like the plague. They have undergrads staffing order fulfillment and let's just say the process is somewhat broken. When they screw up your order at the campus bookstore (which is inevitable), you have to physically go to the bookstore to sort it out and wait in a ridiculous line for one of two or three (also inept) undergrads to help you. A HORRIBLE experience and one I would recommend avoiding. That said, if you want to buy used books, you may be unable to avoid the bookstore since you'll probably want to look through the books to select the ones you want.

Speaking for my section only, we did not receive our class assignments until one week before classes. This includes which books you will be using for class. This means that for first semester, you will likely have to get your books from the UNC bookstore, which is a hellish process. Plus, you don't want to show up the first day of class not having read for class.

Also, we had assignments in every class. We did not have professors that gave no assignment for the first day.

However, for second semester, we had our book assignments early and I was able to buy all of them off of Amazon, which allowed me to save several hundred dollars. Again, we had reading assignments for the first day in every class.

DeeCee is correct on 1st semester. I think I must have blocked out the memory. We did get our books and assignments VERY late that semester (but I have Amazon Prime and so was able to use that and get everything in time). We had a lot more notice second semester -- I ordered everything before we even finished finals and was ready to go much earlier for Spring of 1L.

And of course anyone who hasn't, can get Amazon Student for free for six months with a .edu email address.

[YouDontKnowMe]

I recommend buying your books from Amazon or some other online source and to avoid the campus bookstore like the plague. They have undergrads staffing order fulfillment and let's just say the process is somewhat broken. When they screw up your order at the campus bookstore (which is inevitable), you have to physically go to the bookstore to sort it out and wait in a ridiculous line for one of two or three (also inept) undergrads to help you. A HORRIBLE experience and one I would recommend avoiding. That said, if you want to buy used books, you may be unable to avoid the bookstore since you'll probably want to look through the books to select the ones you want.

Wow, S, tell us how you really feel

I did some looking around and got some used books at the students bookstore (it wasn't that bad in my experience, but I came straight from undergrad so I'm used to it), more used ones at Ram Book & Supply on Franklin, and some on Amazon, depending on which place had which book for cheapest. It wasn't very time-efficient but it saved me a good deal of money.

This semester I got all but I think one casebook and one supplement from Amazon, and a few of them I bought used from Amazon if they didn't seem to have excessive marking in them. I thought I would hate having writing in the books, but it's actually kind of helpful. Either the person marks something correctly and it's less work for me or, as in my property book, the guy is wrong 50% of the time and I think it reinforces my knowledge of the material (and my confidence) to sit there and go "No, you idiot, it goes like this.."

[YouDontKnowMe]

You may not know anything about this place, and apparently it changed management a few months ago and they redid the units. But we are thinking about staying at the Park it is on Ephesus Church road. I attached the link as I do not know what it used to be called. http://www.theparkatchapelhill.com/ But I was wondering if anyone knew anything about it or the area. It seems like a nice area, but I really do not know much aout Chapel hill.

Just looking at the map, that looks like a hellish commute.. I don't even know if any buses go out there. Unless you have a spouse working in another city and have to compromise, I think it's worth the money to live closer to school so you don't waste time on the bus that you could otherwise be using productively (like sleeping! Or.. studying..)

[UNClaw2015]

Thank you to everyone for the input. I tried doing a route planning search for the buses to that complex, and it says it should tke 30 minutes. Does anyone know if the route planning app is accurate or if the buses generally run on time?

[solotee]

Don't worry too much about the commute. I know plenty of people that commute 40+ minutes (including myself) that did well during 1L year. The commute is actually a nice break.

[DeeCee]

Thank you to everyone for the input. I tried doing a route planning search for the buses to that complex, and it says it should tke 30 minutes. Does anyone know if the route planning app is accurate or if the buses generally run on time?

For my place, the bus route takes an hour. However, if I drive, it only takes me 15 minutes to get to the law building, but I can't drive to class because no 1Ls get parking passes, barring exceptions.

On a positive note, the times listed for routes are generally accurate on the Chapel Hill Transit website. Also I recommend, as others have said, to live close, though it might cost more. I live in a great place that is affordable and very nice. I live close by, but the bus route for my place is not great, so the commute is very long. Because of this, I have gotten very creative with my commute by riding the bus, bumming rides from friends, and paying for the parking garage, and it's stressful to deal with sometimes.

For my route and for me, the bus is a huge time sink that robs me of precious studying time. If I were you, I would factor time cost versus price cost to determine how much saving money is worth it to you. Remember, in law school you will probably be busier than you have been in the past and you will not want to waste time commuting when you don't have to.

[adelefan]

So I know you guys have given some info on places to live in Chapel Hill, but specifically where do most 1Ls live? Or is it pretty scattered?

[YouDontKnowMe]

So I know you guys have given some info on places to live in Chapel Hill, but specifically where do most 1Ls live? Or is it pretty scattered?

The places I listed earlier (Meadowmont, Alta Springs, and Finley Forest) all have a pretty good number of 1Ls in them, but I don't know that I would say that there's any one place where "most" 1Ls live. It seems like it's pretty scattered.

[parebare23]

.

[DeeCee]

So I know you guys have given some info on places to live in Chapel Hill, but specifically where do most 1Ls live? Or is it pretty scattered?

The places I listed earlier (Meadowmont, Alta Springs, and Finley Forest) all have a pretty good number of 1Ls in them, but I don't know that I would say that there's any one place where "most" 1Ls live. It seems like it's pretty scattered.

I agree. There is no one certain place that we live, but there are a lot of decent options near the law school.

[enter_sandman]

I work significantly less, but I am sure I don't do as well as the others that have chimed in. If anyone wants a more laid-back perspective on law school, ask away.

[unc123]

how do clinics work at unc? is it a lottery system?

[YouDontKnowMe]

how do clinics work at unc? is it a lottery system?

That's what I've heard, but I don't know entirely what that means.

[PurplePirate]

What's the consensus on having a car? I plan on living near a bus route but I'm not sure if I want to keep my car. I'll be living with someone with a car so there's always that if I absolutely need one.

[parebare23]

How difficult is it for an OOS student to claim NC residency for tuition purposes for the 2L/3L year?

[YouDontKnowMe]

What's the consensus on having a car? I plan on living near a bus route but I'm not sure if I want to keep my car. I'll be living with someone with a car so there's always that if I absolutely need one.

You don't really need it to get to class, but depending on someone else for stuff like grocery shopping and meeting your friends at a bar (since the buses don't really run at night) could be a pain. Unless you're thinking of selling it for a big chunk of change, I would keep it.

How difficult is it for an OOS student to claim NC residency for tuition purposes for the 2L/3L year?

Pretty difficult, I hear. Sorry. :/

[jabberwock12]

Did any current or rising 1Ls select UNC over UGA? If so why? I'd love some advice so feel free to pm me!

[skw]

Did any current or rising 1Ls select UNC over UGA? If so why? I'd love some advice so feel free to pm me!

If money is equal, this decision should be based on where you want to practice. If you have no preference, it should be based on where you have ties. If you have no ties and no geo preference, I guess you just flip a coin...

[YouDontKnowMe]

Did any current or rising 1Ls select UNC over UGA? If so why? I'd love some advice so feel free to pm me!

If money is equal, this decision should be based on where you want to practice. If you have no preference, it should be based on where you have ties. If you have no ties and no geo preference, I guess you just flip a coin...

Or maybe go for the place where you don't have ties. That way when you're applying for jobs, you can apply in both states and will have something to tell employers when they ask you what ties you have with the place. If you had ties in Georgia and went to UGA but then decided you wanted to work in Charlotte, for example, the Charlotte employer would probably want to know why the heck you were applying for jobs in Charlotte.

I also visited both places and "felt more" at UNC, but that was probably because the entire time I was looking at law schools I knew on the inside that I really just wanted to be in Chapel Hill. I'm a Tar Heel, period. And I personally think your gut can be a good thing to follow.

[UNClaw2015]

I am not very good at this whole forum thing. But I set up a new one for the incoming class of 2015 to get to know each other, just go here

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 2&t=181858

and post somehting about yourself, interests or whatever.

[BECKER5006]

Silly question - How do UNC law students dress for class (business casual, jeans, sweats...)? I'm trying to get a feel for what kind of atmosphere I can expect at UNC. Thanks!

[Bashy]

Silly question - How do UNC law students dress for class (business casual, jeans, sweats...)? I'm trying to get a feel for what kind of atmosphere I can expect at UNC. Thanks!

When I visited in October, it seemed to run the gambit from sweats to khakis. I imagine things are less fashionable around finals time.