Is it appropriate to contact professors before classes? Forum

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i<3Scalia

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Is it appropriate to contact professors before classes?

Post by i<3Scalia » Thu Jun 28, 2012 2:20 pm

Hey guys, I'm starting law school in the fall at a decently well-respected T3. Some of my profs have already put up the first class assignments and I almost done with most of them. So far, I've really enjoyed it! Is it taboo to contact my profs and ask for some additional material/discuss the cases I've really enjoyed? I want to get involved as early as possible but don't want to seem like I'm brown-nosing. Thanks!

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fatduck

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Re: Is it appropriate to contact professors before classes?

Post by fatduck » Thu Jun 28, 2012 2:21 pm

can we make tls invite-only please?

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TommyK

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Re: Is it appropriate to contact professors before classes?

Post by TommyK » Thu Jun 28, 2012 2:27 pm

Wow, is this gunning to be the first and best gunner? So meta.

acw1213

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Re: Is it appropriate to contact professors before classes?

Post by acw1213 » Thu Jun 28, 2012 2:36 pm

.
Last edited by acw1213 on Tue Dec 18, 2012 2:36 am, edited 1 time in total.

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dingbat

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Re: Is it appropriate to contact professors before classes?

Post by dingbat » Thu Jun 28, 2012 2:40 pm

i<3Scalia wrote:Hey guys, I'm starting law school in the fall at a decently well-respected T3.
really?

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i<3Scalia

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Re: Is it appropriate to contact professors before classes?

Post by i<3Scalia » Thu Jun 28, 2012 2:45 pm

Wow, 4 responses and no serious answers......thanks you pretentious d-bags

pballer

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Re: Is it appropriate to contact professors before classes?

Post by pballer » Thu Jun 28, 2012 2:50 pm

i<3Scalia wrote:Wow, 4 responses and no serious answers......thanks you pretentious d-bags
The serious answer is no. For the love of god do not do this.

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DCDuck

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Re: Is it appropriate to contact professors before classes?

Post by DCDuck » Thu Jun 28, 2012 2:51 pm

It's weird. You'll have plenty of time for law school once you start. Don't rush youself and enjoy your pre-law school stuff. Feel free to use what the professor gave you to do your own research into what oyu found interesting, if you must.

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TommyK

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Re: Is it appropriate to contact professors before classes?

Post by TommyK » Thu Jun 28, 2012 2:55 pm

i<3Scalia wrote:Wow, 4 responses and no serious answers......thanks you pretentious d-bags
Really? You couldn't infer that we thought it was a stupid idea?

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clone22

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Re: Is it appropriate to contact professors before classes?

Post by clone22 » Thu Jun 28, 2012 3:16 pm

Dude, that's an excellent idea. Make sure to post on the Facebook group for your class (make one if one doesn't already exist) and discuss some of the more nuanced aspects of the case/ come up with some good hypotheticals that really stretch the law/the concepts the cases discussed. That way, if you know how the law applies at the extremes ("what if this happened in international waters, or somewhere where national laws don't apply, like Antarctica, or the moon?"), you'll know how it'll apply in more mundane real life.

Also bring up said hypotheticals in class. Professors love hypotheticals because it shows your mental dexterity and creativity.

Be sure to read up your professor's published works/law review articles, and bring those up in class. Professors love hearing themselves talk, so of course they'd love it if you brought in their material from outside of assigned reading.

Also, be sure to demoralize your classmates from the first day of school by talking about material that won't be covered until well into the course. Reading ahead is arguably the best idea during 1L year because in most subjects the law won't really make sense until you learn all of it (it'll come together at the end).

It also helps to contact your LRW professor early, and inquire about research exercises/assignments. That way you can arrive to school before classes start, and strategically relocate necessary research materials to more obscure parts of your law school/ law library, that way only you'll be able to find those sources when you need to research from them. Mark my words, if you don't do this, someone else will, so why should they get the advantage instead of you?

Best of luck man, and you'll enjoy law school.

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dingbat

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Re: Is it appropriate to contact professors before classes?

Post by dingbat » Thu Jun 28, 2012 3:38 pm

i<3Scalia wrote:Wow, 4 responses and no serious answers......thanks you pretentious d-bags
Seriously - you can always ask, but what's the big rush? The professors are currently busy with other things (writing articles, vacation, whatever) so you really should let them do what they're doing. Better to have meaningful discussions about what's discussed in class than to bd a douchd and ask for shit just for the sake of it

TLSwag

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Re: Is it appropriate to contact professors before classes?

Post by TLSwag » Thu Jun 28, 2012 3:44 pm

i<3Scalia wrote:well-respected T3
oxymoron?

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Nova

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Re: Is it appropriate to contact professors before classes?

Post by Nova » Thu Jun 28, 2012 3:45 pm

Dont do that. Go read an E&E or something, if you must.

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for10s88

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Re: Is it appropriate to contact professors before classes?

Post by for10s88 » Fri Jun 29, 2012 11:18 am

Doing this will not help you on your final exam, so don't do it. There is a 0% chance that any professor will meet you once school starts and think to himself, "Oh this is that great kid that emailed me about the assignments!" Your professors do. not. care.

You're much more likely to be an annoyance. Just wait until you get there.

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dowu

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Re: Is it appropriate to contact professors before classes?

Post by dowu » Fri Jun 29, 2012 12:02 pm

0L gunning :lol: .

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basilseal

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Re: Is it appropriate to contact professors before classes?

Post by basilseal » Fri Jun 29, 2012 12:08 pm

Come on y'all. Poster is named i<3scalia, first post just happens to be on day of Obamacare decision, post itself chock-full of pitch-perfect TLS bait?

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bjsesq

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Re: Is it appropriate to contact professors before classes?

Post by bjsesq » Fri Jun 29, 2012 12:12 pm

No. Especially when part of it is to "discuss the cases you really enjoyed." Profs don't care what you enjoy. Best bet: find an E&E to answer the question. If that doesn't work, wait until class and ask your TA. If they can't help, ask the prof. hth

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Tom Joad

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Re: Is it appropriate to contact professors before classes?

Post by Tom Joad » Fri Jun 29, 2012 1:02 pm

Cool username OP.

I would just work on buying business suits for class at this point.

abc12345675

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Re: Is it appropriate to contact professors before classes?

Post by abc12345675 » Fri Jun 29, 2012 1:10 pm

There's no reason to do this.

Just take it easy. You'll burn yourself out by the time it's important.

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moneybagsphd

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Re: Is it appropriate to contact professors before classes?

Post by moneybagsphd » Fri Jun 29, 2012 1:22 pm

i<3Scalia wrote:well-respected T3 TTT

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dpk711

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Re: Is it appropriate to contact professors before classes?

Post by dpk711 » Fri Jun 29, 2012 1:25 pm

Flame.

Communicate now with those who not only know what a legal education is, but can offer you worthy advice and commentary as you complete the three most educational, yet challenging years of your law related post graduate life.

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Gecko of Doom

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Re: Is it appropriate to contact professors before classes?

Post by Gecko of Doom » Fri Jun 29, 2012 1:29 pm

Tom Joad wrote:Cool username OP.

I would just work on buying business suits for class at this point.
C'mon, bro. Everybody will be wearing business suits to class. That's no way to stand out. Full-on white tie is TCR.

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basilseal

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Re: Is it appropriate to contact professors before classes?

Post by basilseal » Fri Jun 29, 2012 1:29 pm

dpk711 wrote:Flame.
Thank you.

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fanmingrui

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Re: Is it appropriate to contact professors before classes?

Post by fanmingrui » Fri Jun 29, 2012 1:43 pm

.
Last edited by fanmingrui on Wed Jul 11, 2012 8:50 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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TommyK

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Re: Is it appropriate to contact professors before classes?

Post by TommyK » Fri Jun 29, 2012 2:15 pm

fanmingrui wrote:
dpk711 wrote:Flame.
disagree. Reaks of earnestness. A flame would pour more gas on the fire. He let it die.

Seriously? What are you waiting for?

Now there's a charge.
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