Law School Prof, Bored, Taking Q's Forum

(Please Ask Questions and Answer Questions)
LawProfessor123

Bronze
Posts: 155
Joined: Wed Apr 14, 2010 2:01 am

Law School Prof, Bored, Taking Q's

Post by LawProfessor123 » Fri Jun 11, 2010 3:31 am

I'm not a 1L prof so can't really answer questions about 1L. I teach at a T50ish law school. Attended a T5 and got this job after a few years in government work.

Kobe_Teeth

Silver
Posts: 964
Joined: Fri Dec 18, 2009 1:40 am

Re: Law School Prof, Bored, Taking Q's

Post by Kobe_Teeth » Fri Jun 11, 2010 3:38 am

LawProfessor123 wrote:I'm not a 1L prof so can't really answer questions about 1L. I teach at a T50ish law school. Attended a T5 and got this job after a few years in government work.
Best advice for success?

Should I read Getting to Maybe?
Should I do LEEWS?

User avatar
Ragged

Silver
Posts: 1496
Joined: Wed Oct 21, 2009 12:39 pm

Re: Law School Prof, Bored, Taking Q's

Post by Ragged » Fri Jun 11, 2010 3:39 am

Feels like some TLSer got bored and decided to post as a prof.

Miniver

Bronze
Posts: 119
Joined: Wed Dec 30, 2009 2:13 pm

Re: Law School Prof, Bored, Taking Q's

Post by Miniver » Fri Jun 11, 2010 3:40 am

...
Last edited by Miniver on Wed Jul 07, 2010 4:23 pm, edited 1 time in total.

LawProfessor123

Bronze
Posts: 155
Joined: Wed Apr 14, 2010 2:01 am

Re: Law School Prof, Bored, Taking Q's

Post by LawProfessor123 » Fri Jun 11, 2010 3:42 am

Kobe_Teeth wrote:
LawProfessor123 wrote:I'm not a 1L prof so can't really answer questions about 1L. I teach at a T50ish law school. Attended a T5 and got this job after a few years in government work.
Best advice for success?

Should I read Getting to Maybe?
Should I do LEEWS?
Before my 1L year, I

1) Read the first 100 pages of Getting to Maybe
2) Read Delaney's Learning Legal Reasoning
3) Read the first 100 pages of Glannon's Civ Pro E&E

That worked out wonderfully for me. I thought Getting to Maybe became repetitive, and hence I didn't read all of it. I think Delaney's book is awesome. Glannon's book was good primarily to give me a preview of 1L; I don't think I was necessarily better or worse for prepping with that book.

Want to continue reading?

Register now to search topics and post comments!

Absolutely FREE!


LawProfessor123

Bronze
Posts: 155
Joined: Wed Apr 14, 2010 2:01 am

Re: Law School Prof, Bored, Taking Q's

Post by LawProfessor123 » Fri Jun 11, 2010 3:44 am

Ragged wrote:Feels like some TLSer got bored and decided to post as a prof.
That's the same thing as I would think if I were in your shoes. But if you have any Q's, the most you have to lose is typing time.

I am a prof, but have no way of proving that without compromising my identity, so I understand your skepticism.

LawProfessor123

Bronze
Posts: 155
Joined: Wed Apr 14, 2010 2:01 am

Re: Law School Prof, Bored, Taking Q's

Post by LawProfessor123 » Fri Jun 11, 2010 4:00 am

Bump?

Kobe_Teeth

Silver
Posts: 964
Joined: Fri Dec 18, 2009 1:40 am

Re: Law School Prof, Bored, Taking Q's

Post by Kobe_Teeth » Fri Jun 11, 2010 4:00 am

How ya feel about the legal market?

How are students at your school doing at OCI?

What are you drinking right now?

Kobe_Teeth

Silver
Posts: 964
Joined: Fri Dec 18, 2009 1:40 am

Re: Law School Prof, Bored, Taking Q's

Post by Kobe_Teeth » Fri Jun 11, 2010 4:01 am

What time is it for you right now?

Want to continue reading?

Register for access!

Did I mention it was FREE ?


LawProfessor123

Bronze
Posts: 155
Joined: Wed Apr 14, 2010 2:01 am

Re: Law School Prof, Bored, Taking Q's

Post by LawProfessor123 » Fri Jun 11, 2010 4:03 am

Kobe_Teeth wrote:How ya feel about the legal market?

How are students at your school doing at OCI?

What are you drinking right now?
1. Pretty negatively. I feel that the current batch of graduates is really screwed. I have a number of students who plan to graduate in Dec/Jan and I try to convince them to graduate in May, unless they have a job lined up.

2. From what I can tell (I'm a new prof), only the top 5% or so lands with a big firm.

3. I drank a bottle of Yellow Tail and am now working on a 6-pack of Corona.

LawProfessor123

Bronze
Posts: 155
Joined: Wed Apr 14, 2010 2:01 am

Re: Law School Prof, Bored, Taking Q's

Post by LawProfessor123 » Fri Jun 11, 2010 4:03 am

Kobe_Teeth wrote:What time is it for you right now?
4am.

User avatar
SwollenMonkey

Silver
Posts: 640
Joined: Wed Feb 10, 2010 12:28 am

Re: Law School Prof, Bored, Taking Q's

Post by SwollenMonkey » Fri Jun 11, 2010 4:04 am

I might be getting intimately involved with my cute neighbor, but I'm somewhat hesitant to throw on a rubber and get serious cause I'm going to be a 1L soon.

Should I get serious with her and begin a serious relationship while starting law school?

User avatar
MorningHood

New
Posts: 41
Joined: Mon Sep 07, 2009 3:16 am

Re: Law School Prof, Bored, Taking Q's

Post by MorningHood » Fri Jun 11, 2010 4:05 am

Thank you for answering questions.

1. An increasing number of law professors are starting to have PhDs in other fields. Do you think that it's possible that a lot of these newly hired JD/PhD professors will start to prefer lawprof candidates with similar credentials?

2. Is doctrinal scholarship starting to lose its value in the legal academy (Compared to the last decade)? Those who don't have PhDs are pretty much limited to producing doctrinal or theory pieces, but there's a lot of talk about "interdisciplinary scholarship." I honestly dislike the whole "interdisciplinary" approach to legal scholarship and am curious as to whether other law profs feel the same.

3. I take it that as long as a person produces legal scholarship consistently while practicing law (even after ten years), then there shouldn't really be a problem in terms of judging that person's committment to producing scholarship as a faculty member. But a lot of law professors are suspicious of those who have had too much practice experience; do you think that this attitude/trend will persist?

Register now!

Resources to assist law school applicants, students & graduates.

It's still FREE!


User avatar
tadams86

Bronze
Posts: 135
Joined: Fri Aug 07, 2009 7:01 pm

Re: Law School Prof, Bored, Taking Q's

Post by tadams86 » Fri Jun 11, 2010 4:05 am

Nervous about moving to a new city, and potentially bringing along my gf of 3.5 years. Any advice on how to balance the 1L life and personal life?

Best thing about your job?

Kobe_Teeth

Silver
Posts: 964
Joined: Fri Dec 18, 2009 1:40 am

Re: Law School Prof, Bored, Taking Q's

Post by Kobe_Teeth » Fri Jun 11, 2010 4:05 am

Yellow Tail? And you're a law prof? Come on!

I'm still gonna play along...even if you are lying...who cares?

For the incoming class...are they doomed?


What area of law do you teach?
Know anything about copyrights/trademarks? Is there work?

Kobe_Teeth

Silver
Posts: 964
Joined: Fri Dec 18, 2009 1:40 am

Re: Law School Prof, Bored, Taking Q's

Post by Kobe_Teeth » Fri Jun 11, 2010 4:06 am

How do you feel about law schools not hiring or only hiring a select few of their own graduates as professors?

LawProfessor123

Bronze
Posts: 155
Joined: Wed Apr 14, 2010 2:01 am

Re: Law School Prof, Bored, Taking Q's

Post by LawProfessor123 » Fri Jun 11, 2010 4:07 am

SwollenMonkey wrote:I might be getting intimately involved with my cute neighbor, but I'm somewhat hesitant to throw on a rubber and get serious cause I'm going to be a 1L soon.

Should I get serious with her and begin a serious relationship while starting law school?
I had no luck with the ladies my 1L year (although I'm now married), so I can't comment on how to balance the two. I imagine a *healthy* relationship would be good, but if you are fighting frequently and getting stressed out, your grades will invariably suffer. If she's "the one," it may be worth it.

Get unlimited access to all forums and topics

Register now!

I'm pretty sure I told you it's FREE...


User avatar
MorningHood

New
Posts: 41
Joined: Mon Sep 07, 2009 3:16 am

Re: Law School Prof, Bored, Taking Q's

Post by MorningHood » Fri Jun 11, 2010 4:10 am

Some more questions, if you will :)

4. What made becoming a law professor difficult for you (i.e. personal/financial sacrifice, meat market/job talk, publishing while practice law)? Could you elaborate on this, please?

5. Did you have to go through visitorships/fellowships (either at the school that you currently teach at, or some other VAP program) in order to secure a faculty position? How many years did you practice law?

User avatar
SwollenMonkey

Silver
Posts: 640
Joined: Wed Feb 10, 2010 12:28 am

Re: Law School Prof, Bored, Taking Q's

Post by SwollenMonkey » Fri Jun 11, 2010 4:10 am

LawProfessor123 wrote:
SwollenMonkey wrote:I might be getting intimately involved with my cute neighbor, but I'm somewhat hesitant to throw on a rubber and get serious cause I'm going to be a 1L soon.

Should I get serious with her and begin a serious relationship while starting law school?
I had no luck with the ladies my 1L year (although I'm now married), so I can't comment on how to balance the two. I imagine a *healthy* relationship would be good, but if you are fighting frequently and getting stressed out, your grades will invariably suffer. If she's "the one," it may be worth it.

Thanks.

LawProfessor123

Bronze
Posts: 155
Joined: Wed Apr 14, 2010 2:01 am

Re: Law School Prof, Bored, Taking Q's

Post by LawProfessor123 » Fri Jun 11, 2010 4:14 am

tadams86 wrote:Nervous about moving to a new city, and potentially bringing along my gf of 3.5 years. Any advice on how to balance the 1L life and personal life?

Best thing about your job?
If you really have two lives to balance, as many 1Ls do, then I would suggest treating law school like a job and busting your ass 9-5, and focusing on other things after that.

I love being my own boss. I hate the isolation of it, though.

LawProfessor123

Bronze
Posts: 155
Joined: Wed Apr 14, 2010 2:01 am

Re: Law School Prof, Bored, Taking Q's

Post by LawProfessor123 » Fri Jun 11, 2010 4:16 am

MorningHood wrote:Some more questions, if you will :)

4. What made becoming a law professor difficult for you (i.e. personal/financial sacrifice, meat market/job talk, publishing while practice law)? Could you elaborate on this, please?

5. Did you have to go through visitorships/fellowships (either at the school that you currently teach at, or some other VAP program) in order to secure a faculty position? How many years did you practice law?
4. The financial sacrifice was significant (I received an offer to join a top firm at around the same time I was looking for govt work). Also, the personal sacrifice was significant. I moved to an area where I knew no one and continue to know few people (outside of colleagues). Luckily my fiancee (now wife) agreed to move with me. I couldn't have done this without her.

5. I practice for 4 years. I was an adjunct for one semester, but did not do a VAP/fellowship. Those programs are a great way to go, though.

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.

Register now, it's still FREE!


LawProfessor123

Bronze
Posts: 155
Joined: Wed Apr 14, 2010 2:01 am

Re: Law School Prof, Bored, Taking Q's

Post by LawProfessor123 » Fri Jun 11, 2010 4:21 am

Kobe_Teeth wrote:How do you feel about law schools not hiring or only hiring a select few of their own graduates as professors?
The problem is that most professors attended a law school that is higher-ranked than the school at which they teach. Thus, they don't have a bond with the school. A Yale grad teaching at Missouri wants to hire Yale grade, not Missouri grads.

I think that this is a bad thing and that more schools should have faith in their own product (i.e., hire their own grads). You may note that schools at the very bottom of the rankings do tend to hire a large number of their own grads, although this might be because Yale grads don't want to work there. But the T50-T150 schools are unjustifiably snobby because they want to patter themselves after Yale.

LawProfessor123

Bronze
Posts: 155
Joined: Wed Apr 14, 2010 2:01 am

Re: Law School Prof, Bored, Taking Q's

Post by LawProfessor123 » Fri Jun 11, 2010 4:23 am

Kobe_Teeth wrote:Yellow Tail? And you're a law prof? Come on!

I'm still gonna play along...even if you are lying...who cares?

For the incoming class...are they doomed?


What area of law do you teach?
Know anything about copyrights/trademarks? Is there work?
I drink cheap alcohol except when it comes to whiskey or scotch.

I think the incoming class is in a far better position than the graduating class. I think (cross your fingers) that there is going to be a shortage of junior level lawyers by the time the classes of 2012-2014 graduate.

I teach in transactional areas. I know little about copyright/trademark law. I think people with a patent prosecution skillset (including a technical UG degree will always be in demand). Looking for a "soft" IP job, absent strong credentials, seems like a sure way to end up empty.

User avatar
TheSituation

New
Posts: 28
Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2010 1:33 pm

Re: Law School Prof, Bored, Taking Q's

Post by TheSituation » Fri Jun 11, 2010 4:28 am

From a financial perspective, at what point is it foolish to attend a school ranked similar to that at which you teach? Giving the figure in terms of tuition per year would be most helpful. Off to GTL.

owlfredo

New
Posts: 5
Joined: Wed Jun 09, 2010 12:22 am

Re: Law School Prof, Bored, Taking Q's

Post by owlfredo » Fri Jun 11, 2010 4:31 am

How carefully are 1L grades scrutinized in academic hiring, assuming a few years in firm or government practice? For example, can a CCN grad overcome mediocre (say top 30/40%) 1L grades in his or her 2L/3L years by rising to top 10% upon graduation? This is of course assuming a non-clerkship oriented path to academia.

Seriously? What are you waiting for?

Now there's a charge.
Just kidding ... it's still FREE!


Post Reply

Return to “Ask a Law Student”