Long Story Short - Need Some Advice. Forum

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IWantToBeAFarmer

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Re: Long Story Short - Need Some Advice.

Post by IWantToBeAFarmer » Wed Aug 05, 2015 11:18 pm

gnomgnomuch wrote:
IWantToBeAFarmer wrote:
A. Nony Mouse wrote:Check out mylsn.info for typical numbers.
Thx

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 5&t=251038

Much more interactive thread above. My GPA wasn't as high as this guys, but I graduated Magna Cum Laude so it sounds like it's going to come down to LSAT performance on my 2nd and perhaps, 3rd attempts.

If you graduated Magna that means your GPA should be around 3.7 at the least (min cutoff at my school for Magna was a 3.75, but it varies). So, hit the books, and hard. Work your ass off, invest in a class, in every preptest in anything possible to go get a 170 LSAT. Then, go to a school like Upenn, instead of Drexel.

Seriously, just look at LST and you'll see that going to Drexel on anything on a full scholarship (with no stipulations) is just a bad decision.
Yeah, my college's Magna cutoff was 3.75 when I graduated; had over 150c undergrad. University Of Pennsylvania would be a bit of a stretch for me, especially after a dismal LSAT showing on my first attempt. I'll work harder this time, take the exam in December, and hopefully do better!
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Re: Long Story Short - Need Some Advice.

Post by IWantToBeAFarmer » Wed Aug 05, 2015 11:19 pm

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Re: Long Story Short - Need Some Advice.

Post by gnomgnomuch » Thu Aug 06, 2015 6:03 pm

IWantToBeAFarmer wrote:
gnomgnomuch wrote:
IWantToBeAFarmer wrote:
A. Nony Mouse wrote:Check out mylsn.info for typical numbers.
Thx

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 5&t=251038

Much more interactive thread above. My GPA wasn't as high as this guys, but I graduated Magna Cum Laude so it sounds like it's going to come down to LSAT performance on my 2nd and perhaps, 3rd attempts.

If you graduated Magna that means your GPA should be around 3.7 at the least (min cutoff at my school for Magna was a 3.75, but it varies). So, hit the books, and hard. Work your ass off, invest in a class, in every preptest in anything possible to go get a 170 LSAT. Then, go to a school like Upenn, instead of Drexel.

Seriously, just look at LST and you'll see that going to Drexel on anything on a full scholarship (with no stipulations) is just a bad decision.
Yeah, my college's Magna cutoff was 3.75 when I graduated; had over 150c undergrad. University Of Pennsylvania would be a bit of a stretch for me, especially after a dismal LSAT showing on my first attempt. I'll work harder this time, take the exam in December, and hopefully do better!

Trust me, don't take it until you start scoring in the 160's at the least. Law schools like at your highest LSAT for the most part, a 3.75/ high 160's gets you a lot of money at some solid schools and t-14 acceptances. Upenn is def not out of the equation.

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IWantToBeAFarmer

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Re: Long Story Short - Need Some Advice.

Post by IWantToBeAFarmer » Fri Aug 07, 2015 10:03 pm

gnomgnomuch wrote:
IWantToBeAFarmer wrote:
gnomgnomuch wrote:
IWantToBeAFarmer wrote:
A. Nony Mouse wrote:Check out mylsn.info for typical numbers.
Thx

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 5&t=251038

Much more interactive thread above. My GPA wasn't as high as this guys, but I graduated Magna Cum Laude so it sounds like it's going to come down to LSAT performance on my 2nd and perhaps, 3rd attempts.

If you graduated Magna that means your GPA should be around 3.7 at the least (min cutoff at my school for Magna was a 3.75, but it varies). So, hit the books, and hard. Work your ass off, invest in a class, in every preptest in anything possible to go get a 170 LSAT. Then, go to a school like Upenn, instead of Drexel.

Seriously, just look at LST and you'll see that going to Drexel on anything on a full scholarship (with no stipulations) is just a bad decision.
Yeah, my college's Magna cutoff was 3.75 when I graduated; had over 150c undergrad. University Of Pennsylvania would be a bit of a stretch for me, especially after a dismal LSAT showing on my first attempt. I'll work harder this time, take the exam in December, and hopefully do better!

Trust me, don't take it until you start scoring in the 160's at the least. Law schools like at your highest LSAT for the most part, a 3.75/ high 160's gets you a lot of money at some solid schools and t-14 acceptances. Upenn is def not out of the equation.
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Re: Long Story Short - Need Some Advice.

Post by aelzbp » Tue Aug 11, 2015 5:50 pm

Being a public defender, especially in a city like Philly, is not a 50 hour a week job. And the Philly PD is one of the most competitive offices in the country. They get hundreds of applicants for every open position. You need to be shooting for a top 20 law school and focusing on doing nothing but PD work from now until you graduate to even have a chance. And I'd have backup plans, because it's more likely than not that you won't get hired there. Especially since Philly has had several hiring freezes in the last few years.

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Re: Long Story Short - Need Some Advice.

Post by IWantToBeAFarmer » Tue Aug 11, 2015 8:45 pm

aelzbp wrote:Being a public defender, especially in a city like Philly, is not a 50 hour a week job. And the Philly PD is one of the most competitive offices in the country. They get hundreds of applicants for every open position. You need to be shooting for a top 20 law school and focusing on doing nothing but PD work from now until you graduate to even have a chance. And I'd have backup plans, because it's more likely than not that you won't get hired there. Especially since Philly has had several hiring freezes in the last few years.
Okay.

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Re: Long Story Short - Need Some Advice.

Post by sloochswal » Wed Aug 12, 2015 9:12 pm

aelzbp wrote:Being a public defender, especially in a city like Philly, is not a 50 hour a week job. And the Philly PD is one of the most competitive offices in the country. They get hundreds of applicants for every open position. You need to be shooting for a top 20 law school and focusing on doing nothing but PD work from now until you graduate to even have a chance. And I'd have backup plans, because it's more likely than not that you won't get hired there. Especially since Philly has had several hiring freezes in the last few years.
I'm curious about this. You think someone from a top 20 school is going to have a significant advantage over someone from one of the local schools, everything else being equal?

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Re: Long Story Short - Need Some Advice.

Post by IWantToBeAFarmer » Thu Aug 13, 2015 10:07 am

sloochswal wrote:
aelzbp wrote:Being a public defender, especially in a city like Philly, is not a 50 hour a week job. And the Philly PD is one of the most competitive offices in the country. They get hundreds of applicants for every open position. You need to be shooting for a top 20 law school and focusing on doing nothing but PD work from now until you graduate to even have a chance. And I'd have backup plans, because it's more likely than not that you won't get hired there. Especially since Philly has had several hiring freezes in the last few years.
I'm curious about this. You think someone from a top 20 school is going to have a significant advantage over someone from one of the local schools, everything else being equal?
I believe the comment was to make it clear that the competition for the public defender jobs are intense and that I should arm myself with the best education and experience possible to give myself the best chance at success. Though, the aelzbp can speak on what his or her intent was better than I can.

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Re: Long Story Short - Need Some Advice.

Post by sloochswal » Thu Aug 13, 2015 9:40 pm

IWantToBeAFarmer wrote:
sloochswal wrote:
aelzbp wrote:Being a public defender, especially in a city like Philly, is not a 50 hour a week job. And the Philly PD is one of the most competitive offices in the country. They get hundreds of applicants for every open position. You need to be shooting for a top 20 law school and focusing on doing nothing but PD work from now until you graduate to even have a chance. And I'd have backup plans, because it's more likely than not that you won't get hired there. Especially since Philly has had several hiring freezes in the last few years.
I'm curious about this. You think someone from a top 20 school is going to have a significant advantage over someone from one of the local schools, everything else being equal?
I believe the comment was to make it clear that the competition for the public defender jobs are intense and that I should arm myself with the best education and experience possible to give myself the best chance at success. Though, the aelzbp can speak on what his or her intent was better than I can.
That makes sense. Still, I'm skeptical that the Philly PD's office puts a ton of emphasis on school ranking when making hiring decisions.

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IWantToBeAFarmer

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Re: Long Story Short - Need Some Advice.

Post by IWantToBeAFarmer » Sat Aug 15, 2015 11:15 am

sloochswal wrote:
IWantToBeAFarmer wrote:
sloochswal wrote:
aelzbp wrote:Being a public defender, especially in a city like Philly, is not a 50 hour a week job. And the Philly PD is one of the most competitive offices in the country. They get hundreds of applicants for every open position. You need to be shooting for a top 20 law school and focusing on doing nothing but PD work from now until you graduate to even have a chance. And I'd have backup plans, because it's more likely than not that you won't get hired there. Especially since Philly has had several hiring freezes in the last few years.
I'm curious about this. You think someone from a top 20 school is going to have a significant advantage over someone from one of the local schools, everything else being equal?
I believe the comment was to make it clear that the competition for the public defender jobs are intense and that I should arm myself with the best education and experience possible to give myself the best chance at success. Though, the aelzbp can speak on what his or her intent was better than I can.
That makes sense. Still, I'm skeptical that the Philly PD's office puts a ton of emphasis on school ranking when making hiring decisions.
I spoke with a university of pennsylvania law school graduate IRL who spent most of his career as a patent attorney before transitioning into information technology law. He explained to me that, "Most of the public defender jobs are not filled by the Ivy League, T-14, whatever you want to call it, graduates. They're generally filled with hard working, intelligent law school graduate who have a passion for what they're doing."

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Re: Long Story Short - Need Some Advice.

Post by A. Nony Mouse » Sat Aug 15, 2015 2:41 pm

That's probably largely true, but it's also useful to talk to people who've been involved with hiring recently, since practices change.

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Re: Long Story Short - Need Some Advice.

Post by IWantToBeAFarmer » Sat Aug 15, 2015 9:17 pm

A. Nony Mouse wrote:That's probably largely true, but it's also useful to talk to people who've been involved with hiring recently, since practices change.
The guy I hit with at the club today told me he's friends with two local lawyers who are public defenders. If I get the opportunity, I'll ask them directly.

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Re: Long Story Short - Need Some Advice.

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Re: Long Story Short - Need Some Advice.

Post by spleenworship » Mon Oct 05, 2015 9:14 am

sloochswal wrote:
IWantToBeAFarmer wrote:
sloochswal wrote:
aelzbp wrote:Being a public defender, especially in a city like Philly, is not a 50 hour a week job. And the Philly PD is one of the most competitive offices in the country. They get hundreds of applicants for every open position. You need to be shooting for a top 20 law school and focusing on doing nothing but PD work from now until you graduate to even have a chance. And I'd have backup plans, because it's more likely than not that you won't get hired there. Especially since Philly has had several hiring freezes in the last few years.
I'm curious about this. You think someone from a top 20 school is going to have a significant advantage over someone from one of the local schools, everything else being equal?
I believe the comment was to make it clear that the competition for the public defender jobs are intense and that I should arm myself with the best education and experience possible to give myself the best chance at success. Though, the aelzbp can speak on what his or her intent was better than I can.
That makes sense. Still, I'm skeptical that the Philly PD's office puts a ton of emphasis on school ranking when making hiring decisions.
They turned me and everyone else from a non-T14 down the year I applied. I hear it was a T6 bonanza for them. They lost out on me, so I pray they got some overly academic peeps with no trial skills in my place. Not that I'm mad... I'm mad.

Got through both interviews too... flew out and everything.

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Re: Long Story Short - Need Some Advice.

Post by IWantToBeAFarmer » Thu Oct 29, 2015 7:31 pm

spleenworship wrote:
sloochswal wrote:
IWantToBeAFarmer wrote:
sloochswal wrote:
aelzbp wrote:Being a public defender, especially in a city like Philly, is not a 50 hour a week job. And the Philly PD is one of the most competitive offices in the country. They get hundreds of applicants for every open position. You need to be shooting for a top 20 law school and focusing on doing nothing but PD work from now until you graduate to even have a chance. And I'd have backup plans, because it's more likely than not that you won't get hired there. Especially since Philly has had several hiring freezes in the last few years.
I'm curious about this. You think someone from a top 20 school is going to have a significant advantage over someone from one of the local schools, everything else being equal?
I believe the comment was to make it clear that the competition for the public defender jobs are intense and that I should arm myself with the best education and experience possible to give myself the best chance at success. Though, the aelzbp can speak on what his or her intent was better than I can.
That makes sense. Still, I'm skeptical that the Philly PD's office puts a ton of emphasis on school ranking when making hiring decisions.
They turned me and everyone else from a non-T14 down the year I applied. I hear it was a T6 bonanza for them. They lost out on me, so I pray they got some overly academic peeps with no trial skills in my place. Not that I'm mad... I'm mad.

Got through both interviews too... flew out and everything.
I appreciate your input. I've changed my mind and I'm going to study business law and work towards plan online MBA from Temple as well.

I'm scheduled to retake the LSAT in February at Villanova.

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Re: Long Story Short - Need Some Advice.

Post by IWantToBeAFarmer » Fri Oct 30, 2015 11:10 pm

A local college offers a two year post bachelors accounting certificate that is very reasonably priced. A family member and I plan on working toward this certificate in tandem, with the understanding that we will eventually form an accounting partnership together after working long enough to attain our CPA licenses. The certificate program prepares you for the CPA exam both in terms of assuring you have all the required course work to sit for the CPA Exam, and to meet the educational licensing requirements in Pa. I'm also signed up for the Wiley CPA online preparatory class to help prepare for the rigorous four part exam.

Once I complete the accounting certificate and I'm working full time in the accounting profession, I plan on attending law school part time during the evening. This means my only options are Temple, Rutgers Camden, or Widener. Leaving the area isn't an option.

From a convenience standpoint, Widener is only 25 -30 minutes away, while Temple and Rutgers would be 45 - 60+ minute drives depending on how bad traffic is during rush hour.

My primary focus is on getting as much scholarship money as I possible, getting a strong business law education, and passing the bar exam. I'm much less concerned about the status or prestige of the law school because by the time I finish law school and pass the Bar Exam, I will be self employed, working in a CPA partnership. I don't need the name of the college to get my foot in the door at a law firm. I simply want a strong legal education at an affordable cost.

Which of these three law school would you recommend I attend?

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Re: Long Story Short - Need Some Advice.

Post by flawedargument » Fri Oct 30, 2015 11:27 pm

Holy shit. I can't tell if everyone in this thread is just playing along, or if nobody has realized that the OP is clearly joking yet...

Wtf?

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fats provolone

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Re: Long Story Short - Need Some Advice.

Post by fats provolone » Sat Oct 31, 2015 1:16 am

by "in tandem" do you mean you are going to alternate taking classes and share a single degree at the end?

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Re: Long Story Short - Need Some Advice.

Post by IWantToBeAFarmer » Sat Oct 31, 2015 8:15 am

fats provolone wrote:by "in tandem" do you mean you are going to alternate taking classes and share a single degree at the end?
Good one. No, I mean we are both going to sign up and take the same exact classes each semester, quiz each other, and make sure the other knows their stuff, because the certificate and grades are worthless if we don't pass the CPA Exam.

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Post by basedvulpes » Wed Nov 04, 2015 10:30 am

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