TLS improvements in 2010 - what would you like Forum

[Aeon]

Some articles might need to be updated on the site with newer information/links. The "Law School Articles" page is a bit messy - it might help to include the Tier 3 and 4 schools on the same page with the Tier 1 rankings, perhaps? Some of the content navigation (especially at the top of the page) is difficult to follow at times - greater streamlining, visibility, and ease of access would do wonders. Just a couple usability issues that come to mind on the site as a whole; thanks, Ken!

[avacado111]

I'm not sure how I feel about being able to look at users' previous posts. It seems to breed stalkers.

It sounds like it would be a good mod-only option to have.

+1

it's kinda sorta stalkerish. I think mods should only have that power.

[flcath]

I'm still pretty new to TLS in general, but I really want to thank [Ken, mods, etc.] for maintaining the site. I think you would be left in disbelief over the lack of objective (and, well, realistically elitist) information that's available--even to intelligent kids who're willing to look for it--basically nowhere else but TLS.

I would really like to see articles on various career paths that emphasize the more esoteric/insider information, preferably written by those with some expertise on the subject (if writing anonymously allows for more candor, then TLS staff could just verify the qualifications of the author and not disclose his/her name). Some of these may seem obvious, but I promise you these are all questions that my brother (a t14 grad, albeit one with narrow interests) could not really answer for me:

Some examples:

*I dream of a COA or a district clerkship. What things (aside from the obvious) should I be striving for in LS, especially after 1L? Do they like certain courses, or just good grades? How and when do you choose/start-looking-at specific circuits (or districts) and judges... is the answer any different if you're in a position to be applying to feeders? What are the opportunities like on the back end for clerks of various courts?

*Though there's plenty of TLS info on JAG already if you're willing to look, it takes a lot of time and I still have an incomplete picture of the program. I would also like to know about the opportunities available on the back end, esp. in terms of what federal entities like ex-JAGs.

*An article on IBR and one on the DOJ Honors program would be extremely helpful, as I don't really understand the former, and the current info (in forums) on the latter seems highly speculative


Lastly, and I realize this is more of a reach, has anyone ever thought of tracking employment against LS and class rank, the way LSN tracks admissions against LSAT, GPA, et al.?

[Inygma]

I'm not sure how I feel about being able to look at users' previous posts. It seems to breed stalkers.

It sounds like it would be a good mod-only option to have.

+1

it's kinda sorta stalkerish. I think mods should only have that power.

-1

I disagree, this is a good option to have on a forum. Most people don't update their profile with their stats, but have mentioned them in a previous post. I always search a persons history before I ask numbers, or else I think people will be posting numbers in every thread and that could be annoying.

Also, it helps find additional posts from someone who has been very helpful. One name that comes to mind is xero, he had an amazing thread on his schedule during law school. With this method I was able to find other helpful things he has posted.

[thegor1987]

I would like to have the ability to easily delete regrettable posts. I hate when I say something stupid or offensive in the heat of debate and somebody quotes it and it becomes forever a part of my TLS identity.

[Helmholtz]

I would like to have the ability to easily delete regrettable posts. I hate when I say something stupid or offensive in the heat of debate and somebody quotes it and it becomes forever a part of my TLS identity.

Really easy solution to this........

[joshhoward]

my suggestion: move the "TLS Content Competitions" thread to the top, and maybe up the prizes or whatever else to keep it building. The sad fact is that 95% of new threads started around here are the same questions over and over again (myself guilty a few times). If the guides are emphasized, new users will have a greater and more explicit wealth of information.

[joshhoward]

A Karma system, e.g. Reddit. Not only would it help filter the best responses, it would also track thread tangents.

We had this for like two days in '09 but then it went away and hasn't been seen since.

Actually, if there was a way to make it work for individual posts, I might be on board. There could be an up vote and a down vote for each post. An up vote is +1 and a down vote is -1. After a post scores -3, it will be lightened to a gray and after -5, it could be hidden away where a poster would have to click to see it. There could possibly be somewhere on TLS that includes the highest rated posts of all time/this week/today which would probably include posts having really stellar career or LSAT advice.

The previous voting thing was grotesquely convoluted.

+1

and to extend: perhaps there could be a "user rating" based on those votes, which next to their posts would give a rating (similar to an ebay seller rating) that aggregates the percentage of pluses versus minuses. that way people can take into account both a user's post count and helpfulness.

[MURPH]

Could we log in from the home page? I know its a small thing but I get a little bit irritated each time I have to make an extra click to start responding.

[Helmholtz]

"Mod for a Week" random drawing. Possibly an auction.

[DavidYurman85]

(re: search options) It would be cool if there were more efficient search options in the LSAT Prep Forum and they yielded better, more user-friendly results.

IE:
-questions types according to prep company (powerscore, testmaster, kaplan, princeton review)
-prep test #'s
-different prep study plans/schedules
-test center locations and opinions
-marketplace to sell old material
-a chat room feature would be useful but given the highly neurotic nature of board members-this could be scary

[Helmholtz]

-a chat room feature would be useful but given the highly neurotic nature of board members-this could be scary

And too difficult to moderate, it would be a disaster.

[LawandOrder]

My only worry is that I'll get buried/downvoted for being a douchebag.

[paratactical]

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[LawandOrder]

My only worry is that I'll get buried/downvoted for being a douchebag.

I've seen +/- things kill traffic at some boards. Sometimes people just start clicking buttons rather than posting things. And it's never the idiots that refrain from posting.

But I don't think we'd have that problem here.

You'd be upvoted for teh bewbies.

[MC Southstar]

My only worry is that I'll get buried/downvoted for being a douchebag.

I've seen +/- things kill traffic at some boards. Sometimes people just start clicking buttons rather than posting things. And it's never the idiots that refrain from posting.

But I don't think we'd have that problem here.

You'd be upvoted for teh bewbies.

I agree, upvote for boobs.

Just don't let anons vote? Hardcore trolls aren't that common... as far as I know. I'm not really a forum vet though.

[badfish]

"Mod for a Week" random drawing. Possibly an auction.

Actually, I think this is a great idea (other than the auction part). Someone with a good idea might be able to get more support for it by temporary MOD status. Also, it might help those griping TLS-ers (disclosure: guilty) to see how hard it probably is to moderate.

But above all else, I stand by the upvote/downvote system. I really think that would help.

It would be too difficult to train a new person every week. Poor Hawkeye would probably /self.

[Aeroplane]

Lastly, and I realize this is more of a reach, has anyone ever thought of tracking employment against LS and class rank, the way LSN tracks admissions against LSAT, GPA, et al.?

+1

[ughOSU]

I think an article on the problems with law school employment statistics would be in order. There is some good information on this in the forums (and some bad info), but no one has written an article for TLS Content Competition on this to my knowledge. This could help more casual users see through some of the more outrageous practices in legal employment statistic reporting, and perhaps create some incentive for schools to reform some of their practices.

e: (hopefully)

[paratactical]

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[TTH]

TTH's wish list:

1. +1,000,000 for improved forum search. Would it be possible perhaps to add a tagging feature for posts and have a function to search by tag?

2. Forum awards or some other designation to make posters who know their business and give sound advice easily distinguishable from people who throw out wild guesses.

3. A clearinghouse to upload outlines for use by fellow TLSers.

4. I can't think of anythine else, so I might as well add "more porn."

[paratactical]

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[englawyer]

people have posted about a marketplace/forum for LSAT supplies etc. it might also be good to have something for LSAT tutoring. something where you can have a tutor profile and establish yourself on the site (see TLS folk's evals of you etc)

[manbearwig]

Though I realize the difficulties, I'd like a chatroom. Perhaps only have one open at scheduled times so there'd be a mod present?

[paratactical]

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