Penn Students Taking Questions Forum

[PennBull]

Hoping some of the current 1Ls and 2Ls can talk about what the 1L SA opportunities are looking like the last couple of years at Upenn. Specifically grade cut-off, location, and duration of the SA.

As a current 1L, I think getting a 1L SA is sort of a crapshoot. I'm estimated in the top 10%, sent out about 90 apps for various SAs, and only got 2 interviews, none of which resulted in an offer. However, both places invited me back for an automatic callback this fall for a 2L SA (but I suspect this is basically standard operating procedure). I think having a connection or being a diversity candidate greatly increases your chances. That said, I think getting a 1L SA is easier at Penn than at many, many other schools.

Edit: I also want to add that I heard that, of the current 2L class, about two dozen or so had 1L SAs. As to duration, I believe that most 1L SAs are just as long as 2L SAs -- unless you request to split your summer and work for another organization or judge.

Yeah I mean it's not like we have a whole lot of stats on this kind of thing, like we do for OCI/2L SAs. In general, nobody should be picking a school based on stats for 1L SAs. They are pretty rare and it usually takes a particular set of circumstances to get them. Some hustle will get you in the door to a lot of places as mentioned. I also recommend trying for SAs in your home market. Maybe even Philadelphia, but that's proving to be tough sometimes even for 2Ls.

[annieq]

Hoping some of the current 1Ls and 2Ls can talk about what the 1L SA opportunities are looking like the last couple of years at Upenn. Specifically grade cut-off, location, and duration of the SA.

As a current 1L, I think getting a 1L SA is sort of a crapshoot...

I think having a connection or being a diversity candidate greatly increases your chances. That said, I think getting a 1L SA is easier at Penn than at many, many other schools.

I also recommend trying for SAs in your home market.

I definitely agree that it is a crapshoot. I applied for maybe 20 diversity and/or IP programs at firms (most of which came with scholarship $) and got one phone interview/CB in a smaller market where I had lived/worked prior to law school. So having ties to a region can certainly help.

The SA I got an offer for was through Symplicity, not explicitly for diverse candidates, but it might have made the difference. If you are a diverse candidate, Philadelphia Diversity Law Group (PDLG) is a terrific program through which 1Ls can get SA (or in-house) positions.

[Nelson]

Hoping some of the current 1Ls and 2Ls can talk about what the 1L SA opportunities are looking like the last couple of years at Upenn. Specifically grade cut-off, location, and duration of the SA.

It's not worth worrying about. If you're not diversity, your chances are basically nil.

[PennBull]

Hoping some of the current 1Ls and 2Ls can talk about what the 1L SA opportunities are looking like the last couple of years at Upenn. Specifically grade cut-off, location, and duration of the SA.

It's not worth worrying about. If you're not diversity, your chances are basically nil.

And to re-emphasize, it's not going to get better at different law schools, including Yale.

Penn does have a small spring OCI for 1Ls, though. Some private sector jobs (couple in-house, couple law firms in places like Miami and Wilmington), and they end up hiring a handful of 1Ls.

[Nickg415]

Yeah I figured as much. Thanks for replying! So if SA are basically not happening for 1Ls how are the majority of students funding their summers? Is it loans or do the majority receive grants?

[PennBull]

Yeah I figured as much. Thanks for replying! So if SA are basically not happening for 1Ls how are the majority of students funding their summers? Is it loans or do the majority receive grants?

Most people qualify for a work-study stipend if they're working for public interest/government (like judicial clerkships). There are also secondary sources of funding that we get tons of e-mails about.

[SportsFan]

Hoping some of the current 1Ls and 2Ls can talk about what the 1L SA opportunities are looking like the last couple of years at Upenn. Specifically grade cut-off, location, and duration of the SA.

It's not worth worrying about. If you're not diversity, your chances are basically nil.

Just hearsay, but I think people are marginally more likely to get a 1L SA in Texas (if they have very strong ties), to the extant that if I was from Texas I'd probably apply everywhere (but since I'm not, and I'm not diversity, I didn't even bother).

[5965]

Does anyone heard about the mediation clinic at Penn Law? Also, does Penn offer courses on alternative dispute resolution? Thanks in advance!

[PennBull]

Does anyone heard about the mediation clinic at Penn Law? Also, does Penn offer courses on alternative dispute resolution? Thanks in advance!

Yeah our mediation clinic is one of our most popular ones and I really hope to do it next year. Some really unique client interactions, and fun professors leading it. I'm pretty sure we have an arbitration class, but I forget which semester it was offered.

[r6_philly]

Hoping some of the current 1Ls and 2Ls can talk about what the 1L SA opportunities are looking like the last couple of years at Upenn. Specifically grade cut-off, location, and duration of the SA.

It's not worth worrying about. If you're not diversity, your chances are basically nil.

Don't forget patent eligible folks. Also grades not as big of a deal as OCI. It's about other things. First semester grades don't really say a whole lot

[JamesDean1955]

I was going through last year's OCI thread and it looks like you did pretty darn well Penn Bull with 30+ interviews! Your strategy was to bid all NYC market paying and those with the largest class sizes?

I know it's way too early for an 0L to be thinking about this, but what can I say work slowed down here and I'm bored lol.

[PennBull]

Hoping some of the current 1Ls and 2Ls can talk about what the 1L SA opportunities are looking like the last couple of years at Upenn. Specifically grade cut-off, location, and duration of the SA.

It's not worth worrying about. If you're not diversity, your chances are basically nil.

Don't forget patent eligible folks. Also grades not as big of a deal as OCI. It's about other things. First semester grades don't really say a whole lot

+1

[PennBull]

I was going through last year's OCI thread and it looks like you did pretty darn well Penn Bull with 30+ interviews! Your strategy was to bid all NYC market paying and those with the largest class sizes?

I know it's way too early for an 0L to be thinking about this, but what can I say work slowed down here and I'm bored lol.

It is way too early, so I'll just say that the only things that helped me were a.) I'm a stats guy, so I kinda knew mathematically how to maximize my interviews, and b.) I really just wanted to end up in NYC, which is the easiest market from Penn (i.e. more interview slots).

[OutCold]

I was going through last year's OCI thread and it looks like you did pretty darn well Penn Bull with 30+ interviews! Your strategy was to bid all NYC market paying and those with the largest class sizes?

I know it's way too early for an 0L to be thinking about this, but what can I say work slowed down here and I'm bored lol.

It is way too early, so I'll just say that the only things that helped me were a.) I'm a stats guy, so I kinda knew mathematically how to maximize my interviews, and b.) I really just wanted to end up in NYC, which is the easiest market from Penn (i.e. more interview slots).

I think most people who went directly after the biggest New York firms wound up with around 30, give or take a few. I was around 28 with a few DC and Philly firms sprinkled in. I personally went in early just about every day at OCI and resume dropped while the firms were setting up shop. Got about 4 additional interviews that way.

[wert3813]

I've read this thread the last few months and have read extensively about how a car is certainly possible to have...but is it necessary?

[PennBull]

I was going through last year's OCI thread and it looks like you did pretty darn well Penn Bull with 30+ interviews! Your strategy was to bid all NYC market paying and those with the largest class sizes?

I know it's way too early for an 0L to be thinking about this, but what can I say work slowed down here and I'm bored lol.

It is way too early, so I'll just say that the only things that helped me were a.) I'm a stats guy, so I kinda knew mathematically how to maximize my interviews, and b.) I really just wanted to end up in NYC, which is the easiest market from Penn (i.e. more interview slots).

I personally went in early just about every day at OCI and resume dropped while the firms were setting up shop. Got about 4 additional interviews that way.

Same. I got 6 interviews from doing that, including a firm I ended up narrowing down to my final 2.

Also I had 3 DC and 2 Philly interviews. One of the DC firms I was legitimately interested in.

[PennBull]

I've read this thread the last few months and have read extensively about how a car is certainly possible to have...but is it necessary?

Not at all. It's a very walkable city, cabs are pretty cheap, and our public transit, while not the most sightly around, is very affordable and gets you around the city pretty quickly.

[OutCold]

I've lived in CC by Rittenhouse since 1L. I took the bus all of 1L. It takes about 15 minutes and drops me off right at the law school. I walk now, and it takes about 20-25 minutes door to door. Everything I need is within walking distance, and I've never once wished that I had a car here.

[SportsFan]

Finally thought of 2 things I don't like, to answer that question.

1. The heating/air conditioning in Gittis. Seriously, they need to fix that or something...
2. Legal writing. LOVE that its ungraded (though I guess thats changing for c/o 2016?), but everything else about it sucks.

[PennBull]

Finally thought of 2 things I don't like, to answer that question.

1. The heating/air conditioning in Gittis. Seriously, they need to fix that or something...
2. Legal writing. LOVE that its ungraded (though I guess thats changing for c/o 2016?), but everything else about it sucks.

The heating and air conditioning throughout the entire school is absolutely terrible haha. 30 degrees outside? HERE COMES THE AIR CONDITIONER. 75 degree day? TIME TO BLAST THE HEAT.

Legal writing is pretty much a drag everywhere, having it graded will kinda suck tho IMO

[OutCold]

Finally thought of 2 things I don't like, to answer that question.

1. The heating/air conditioning in Gittis. Seriously, they need to fix that or something...
2. Legal writing. LOVE that its ungraded (though I guess thats changing for c/o 2016?), but everything else about it sucks.

The heating and air conditioning throughout the entire school is absolutely terrible haha. 30 degrees outside? HERE COMES THE AIR CONDITIONER. 75 degree day? TIME TO BLAST THE HEAT.

Legal writing is pretty much a drag everywhere, having it graded will kinda suck tho IMO

CREAC is worthless. Thankfully our legal writing wasn't graded.

[r6_philly]

It's not changing. It's going to be ungraded.

[PennBull]

It's not changing. It's going to be ungraded.

Source? I could've sworn they were talking about this all year.

[Hopefullyfuturelaw]

Does anyone know where I can get pictures of the rooms for Sansom East or West? Is it the general consensus that I should only go there for my last option?

Thanks

[Nelson]

It's not changing. It's going to be ungraded.

Source? I could've sworn they were talking about this all year.

I don't think they've figured out a replacement for LWIs yet and I don't think anyone is comfortable with 3Ls giving out grades.