UC Hastings c/o 2018 (2014-2015 cycle) Forum

[Nickster1991]

Hastings has very good peer reputation scores among professors, lawyers, and judges ( its peer rankings are on par with schools ranked up to 25 spots higher in the US News rankings). It also boasts a pretty good faculty from what I've heard.

[OneMoreLawHopeful]

I guess I'd just repeat my question from higher up on the thread. For those choosing a law school, what are some pros for Hastings other than location? My biggest concern is that it doesn't seem like anyone likes the school for anything other than location. But I'd love to hear your perspective! -Thanks!

For me there were three main draws:

First, Hastings is still a name in California in a way that other schools are not. One of the reasons that I chose Hastings over Davis was that lawyers I spoke with in the Bay Area were often surprised to learn that Davis had a law school at all (this is not an exaggeration, I had that exact conversation at least 3 times with lawyers at SF offices of biglaw firms). By contrast, because it's so huge, everyone in the legal community knew someone from Hastings.

Second, Hastings provides great extracurricular opportunities; friends of my were able to argue in front of the Ninth Circuit, I got to attend a conference on Paris on the school's dime, the "start-up clinic" wherein you do transactional work for non-profit start-ups in SV may actually be completely unique(I don't know for sure, I'm a litigator and was never very interested in transactional work, but I've never heard of a program like this elsewhere). The size of the school means that, whatever your interests, there is probably a group that's like-minded, and the school is very supportive.

Third, someone already mentioned this, but the faculty is incredibly supportive. I never had issues missing class for job interviews/networking events, professors often passed along job tips to students (this was particularly helpful in terms adjuncts who are actually working day jobs at bay area firms and know which firms are actually hiring), and if you have the grades for a clerkship there's something of a "machine" in place among the faculty to ensure that you get one (i.e. professors who have established relationships with judges will coordinate recommendations/contacts on your behalf).

Just to try and cut off some trolling - yes, you should pick a law school based primarily on job prospects, and not extracurricular/"nice professors," however, the reality is that law school is going to be three years of your life, and for those years, professors and extracurriculars will be impactful. If you're seriously considering Hastings, these are things to keep in mind.

Note: I'm also told that Hastings offers great benefits for the non-profit/public interest crowd, and I would encourage anyone interested in those topics to look into Hasting's programs. However, I don't feel comfortable speaking to the draw of said programs because they were just not my interests, so I never saw them up close.

[Drowninmyowntears]

I guess I'd just repeat my question from higher up on the thread. For those choosing a law school, what are some pros for Hastings other than location? My biggest concern is that it doesn't seem like anyone likes the school for anything other than location. But I'd love to hear your perspective! -Thanks!

For me there were three main draws:

First, Hastings is still a name in California in a way that other schools are not. One of the reasons that I chose Hastings over Davis was that lawyers I spoke with in the Bay Area were often surprised to learn that Davis had a law school at all (this is not an exaggeration, I had that exact conversation at least 3 times with lawyers at SF offices of biglaw firms). By contrast, because it's so huge, everyone in the legal community knew someone from Hastings.

Second, Hastings provides great extracurricular opportunities; friends of my were able to argue in front of the Ninth Circuit, I got to attend a conference on Paris on the school's dime, the "start-up clinic" wherein you do transactional work for non-profit start-ups in SV may actually be completely unique(I don't know for sure, I'm a litigator and was never very interested in transactional work, but I've never heard of a program like this elsewhere). The size of the school means that, whatever your interests, there is probably a group that's like-minded, and the school is very supportive.

Third, someone already mentioned this, but the faculty is incredibly supportive. I never had issues missing class for job interviews/networking events, professors often passed along job tips to students (this was particularly helpful in terms adjuncts who are actually working day jobs at bay area firms and know which firms are actually hiring), and if you have the grades for a clerkship there's something of a "machine" in place among the faculty to ensure that you get one (i.e. professors who have established relationships with judges will coordinate recommendations/contacts on your behalf).

Just to try and cut off some trolling - yes, you should pick a law school based primarily on job prospects, and not extracurricular/"nice professors," however, the reality is that law school is going to be three years of your life, and for those years, professors and extracurriculars will be impactful. If you're seriously considering Hastings, these are things to keep in mind.

Note: I'm also told that Hastings offers great benefits for the non-profit/public interest crowd, and I would encourage anyone interested in those topics to look into Hasting's programs. However, I don't feel comfortable speaking to the draw of said programs because they were just not my interests, so I never saw them up close.

Thanks for your thoughts! I really appreciate it!

[yeslekkkk]

I guess I'd just repeat my question from higher up on the thread. For those choosing a law school, what are some pros for Hastings other than location? My biggest concern is that it doesn't seem like anyone likes the school for anything other than location. But I'd love to hear your perspective! -Thanks!

For me there were three main draws:

First, Hastings is still a name in California in a way that other schools are not. One of the reasons that I chose Hastings over Davis was that lawyers I spoke with in the Bay Area were often surprised to learn that Davis had a law school at all (this is not an exaggeration, I had that exact conversation at least 3 times with lawyers at SF offices of biglaw firms). By contrast, because it's so huge, everyone in the legal community knew someone from Hastings.

Second, Hastings provides great extracurricular opportunities; friends of my were able to argue in front of the Ninth Circuit, I got to attend a conference on Paris on the school's dime, the "start-up clinic" wherein you do transactional work for non-profit start-ups in SV may actually be completely unique(I don't know for sure, I'm a litigator and was never very interested in transactional work, but I've never heard of a program like this elsewhere). The size of the school means that, whatever your interests, there is probably a group that's like-minded, and the school is very supportive.

Third, someone already mentioned this, but the faculty is incredibly supportive. I never had issues missing class for job interviews/networking events, professors often passed along job tips to students (this was particularly helpful in terms adjuncts who are actually working day jobs at bay area firms and know which firms are actually hiring), and if you have the grades for a clerkship there's something of a "machine" in place among the faculty to ensure that you get one (i.e. professors who have established relationships with judges will coordinate recommendations/contacts on your behalf).

Just to try and cut off some trolling - yes, you should pick a law school based primarily on job prospects, and not extracurricular/"nice professors," however, the reality is that law school is going to be three years of your life, and for those years, professors and extracurriculars will be impactful. If you're seriously considering Hastings, these are things to keep in mind.

Note: I'm also told that Hastings offers great benefits for the non-profit/public interest crowd, and I would encourage anyone interested in those topics to look into Hasting's programs. However, I don't feel comfortable speaking to the draw of said programs because they were just not my interests, so I never saw them up close.

Thanks for your thoughts! I really appreciate it!

They have a great cafeteria and student cafe. No joke. I was like, "Hey, I'd like this at my school."

[HopefulURM]

For those who have been accepted - how soon did you hear about financial aid after being accepted? And how did you hear about it?

Is there an online portal, like other schools have, to check your award summary?

[LawsRUs]

For those who have been accepted - how soon did you hear about financial aid after being accepted? And how did you hear about it?

Is there an online portal, like other schools have, to check your award summary?

it came via email. I cant recall on top of my head how soon. but pretty fast, I believe. And idk about online portal, sorry I cant be more helpful, perhaps others can chime in

[dmcmanus]

For those who have been accepted - how soon did you hear about financial aid after being accepted? And how did you hear about it?

Is there an online portal, like other schools have, to check your award summary?

Mine took about a month. Accepted mid Jan, aid mid Fed. Both via email. Don't recall if there is a portal or not.

[Drowninmyowntears]

For those who have been accepted - how soon did you hear about financial aid after being accepted? And how did you hear about it?

Is there an online portal, like other schools have, to check your award summary?

Mine took about a month. Accepted mid Jan, aid mid Fed. Both via email. Don't recall if there is a portal or not.

+ 1. No portal

[mak04]

In via email! Now I just have to wait to hear about scholarship money. Hopefully they send out the information fast since the deadline to accept at a lot of schools is soon!

[baygrad18]

I don't know what is going on. I went complete in mid January and my application still says complete. Deposits are due mid April to a lot of schools and I emailed Hastings and they never got back to me. Any advice would be lovely..

[LawsRUs]

I don't know what is going on. I went complete in mid January and my application still says complete. Deposits are due mid April to a lot of schools and I emailed Hastings and they never got back to me. Any advice would be lovely..

bay, I would call,

[lefty bengal]

I just got an email from Hastings this morning. Waitlisted, unfortunately. Does anyone know how the waitlist works or what my chances are of making it in. (median lsat, below median gpa)

[Drowninmyowntears]

I just got an email from Hastings this morning. Waitlisted, unfortunately. Does anyone know how the waitlist works or what my chances are of making it in. (median lsat, below median gpa)

Well I'm about to withdraw so hopefully my spot goes to you!! I would say if you continue to write LOCI and emphasize that Hastings is your top choice its pretty likely you will get in.

[lefty bengal]

I just got an email from Hastings this morning. Waitlisted, unfortunately. Does anyone know how the waitlist works or what my chances are of making it in. (median lsat, below median gpa)

Well I'm about to withdraw so hopefully my spot goes to you!! I would say if you continue to write LOCI and emphasize that Hastings is your top choice its pretty likely you will get in.

I'm still waiting on hearing back from a few schools so I think I'll wait. I got a full ride to chapman, and 60 k to Pepper. Waiting on UCLA, UCI, DAVIS, and LOYOLA.

Taking into consideration I got waitlisted at Hastings, i'm most likely getting rejected from UCLA, UCI, and Davis. I'm not quite sure where I want to go and whether I want to be in debt since I'm not going to a T14.

Any advice?

[Cpt Zapp Brannigan]

I just got an email from Hastings this morning. Waitlisted, unfortunately. Does anyone know how the waitlist works or what my chances are of making it in. (median lsat, below median gpa)

Well I'm about to withdraw so hopefully my spot goes to you!! I would say if you continue to write LOCI and emphasize that Hastings is your top choice its pretty likely you will get in.

I'm still waiting on hearing back from a few schools so I think I'll wait. I got a full ride to chapman, and 60 k to Pepper. Waiting on UCLA, UCI, DAVIS, and LOYOLA.

Taking into consideration I got waitlisted at Hastings, i'm most likely getting rejected from UCLA, UCI, and Davis. I'm not quite sure where I want to go and whether I want to be in debt since I'm not going to a T14.

Any advice?

When did you submit apps? If you didnt apply until like february or something, you may want to consider reapplying early next cycle. I know no one wants to have to wait, but you can prob get into more schools with more scholarship money. Chapman's job numbers are abysmal, dont do it!

[lefty bengal]

I just got an email from Hastings this morning. Waitlisted, unfortunately. Does anyone know how the waitlist works or what my chances are of making it in. (median lsat, below median gpa)

Well I'm about to withdraw so hopefully my spot goes to you!! I would say if you continue to write LOCI and emphasize that Hastings is your top choice its pretty likely you will get in.

I'm still waiting on hearing back from a few schools so I think I'll wait. I got a full ride to chapman, and 60 k to Pepper. Waiting on UCLA, UCI, DAVIS, and LOYOLA.

Taking into consideration I got waitlisted at Hastings, i'm most likely getting rejected from UCLA, UCI, and Davis. I'm not quite sure where I want to go and whether I want to be in debt since I'm not going to a T14.

Any advice?

When did you submit apps? If you didnt apply until like february or something, you may want to consider reapplying early next cycle. I know no one wants to have to wait, but you can prob get into more schools with more scholarship money. Chapman's job numbers are abysmal, dont do it!

I submitted all my apps in February. Update: I just got accepted into Loyola in LA. Don't know yet how much they're giving me or if I'm getting anything. My choices right now are, Chapman, LMU, Penn State, NorthEastern, and American. Waiting on UCLA, UCI, and Davis. If i get rejected from the three I'm waiting on, you think I should wait and reapply?

Can anyone make this decision easier???

[mak04]

I got my scholarship offer today via email!

[OneMoreLawHopeful]

I just got an email from Hastings this morning. Waitlisted, unfortunately. Does anyone know how the waitlist works or what my chances are of making it in. (median lsat, below median gpa)

I can't speak to your chances, but I can tell you how he waitlist works:

Sometime after deposits are due the admissions office will reach out via email and ask waitlist candidates if they are still interested in attending. After that some subset will get offers, and about two weeks later the admissions office will repeat the process (I.e. check the yield, ask for continued interest, and send more offers) - I know that during my cycle they did this at least 3 times, with the third set of offers going out in late June.

Now, this info is also 4 years old, so just take it with a grain of salt as the process may have changed (though probably not by that much).

[laura1323]

Accepted via email, when do you usually hear about scholarships?

[LVbucknell]

got bumped to 60 k today unsolicited. Definitely still withdrawing.

[PrizeFighter]

Accepted via email, when do you usually hear about scholarships?

+1

[jrailey15]

Did anyone else get unsolicited scholarship increases today?

[miamiri]

Did anyone else get unsolicited scholarship increases today?

not today. a few weeks back. that is how they roll i suppose...

[yannao]

La la la.. still sitting at complete since 2/4... la la la...

[baygrad18]

La la la.. still sitting at complete since 2/4... la la la...

1/15 here... *patiently waits*....*waits*