Does taking law classes help with admission? Forum

[mostheinous]

If I have the chance to take (for credit) a law school class for credit from a T14 law school, and do well, would this help in the admission process (holding constant LSAT and GPA)?

[thesealocust]

No

[Mack.Hambleton]

No

[Clemenceau]

No

[mostheinous]

OK. That's fine. But logically speaking, why wouldn't it? Aren't LSAT and GPA just signals of your ability to do well in law school? If so, why wouldn't an actual law school class be beneficial?

[lavarman84]

Are you going to be taking a legitimate class at the law school while being graded on a curve against law students? If so, that sounds like a terrible idea.

[rnoodles]

Are you going to be taking a legitimate class at the law school while being graded on a curve against law students? If so, that sounds like a terrible idea.

[Wol]

OK. That's fine. But logically speaking, why wouldn't it? Aren't LSAT and GPA just signals of your ability to do well in law school? If so, why wouldn't an actual law school class be beneficial?

Law school is graded on a curve. It's unavoidable that some people will do poorly. Schools care more about marketing themselves than whether individual applicants do well.

Also, I'm willing to bet an undergrad law class would be useless to you, ultimately.

[Ron Howard]

OK. That's fine. But logically speaking, why wouldn't it? Aren't LSAT and GPA just signals of your ability to do well in law school? If so, why wouldn't an actual law school class be beneficial?

I doubt it will help, and one of the main reasons for this is that, unlike the LSAT and GPA, is doesn't affect their USNWR ranking.
But can you tell us a bit about it? What is the subject matter? Is the course graded on a curve (if so, don't take it)? What law school is at?

[mostheinous]

Yeah, I'd be taking a law class, with other law students, at a T-14 law school (Michigan). Why is that such a terrible idea?

I wouldn't be taking any other classes during the semester, since I'm just doing research for my PhD. I was thinking of taking some kind of Law and Econ course, just to get a flavor of what I could potentially do with the dual degree.

[Ron Howard]

Yeah, I'd be taking a law class, with other law students, at a T-14 law school (Michigan). Why is that such a terrible idea?

I wouldn't be taking any other classes during the semester, since I'm just doing research for my PhD. I was thinking of taking some kind of Law and Econ course, just to get a flavor of what I could potentially do with the dual degree.

I light of these facts I am no longer sure it is a terrible idea. Still probably won't help with admissions, though.

[mostheinous]

I just figure it would help me determine if law school is for me (which I've struggled with for quite some time) and also potentially help me in the admissions process (at Michigan or elsewhere). I assumed that if schools are willing to take transfers based on their 1L grades, then having the equivalent of a 1L grade would also help.

I guess there's always the chance I could fail hard, though.

[lavarman84]

Yeah, I'd be taking a law class, with other law students, at a T-14 law school (Michigan). Why is that such a terrible idea?

I wouldn't be taking any other classes during the semester, since I'm just doing research for my PhD. I was thinking of taking some kind of Law and Econ course, just to get a flavor of what I could potentially do with the dual degree.

My reasons for it being a bad idea (if you're doing it for a boost in admissions) are:
1. I'm assuming that Law and Econ isn't a 1L course at Michigan which means you're being graded on a curve against law students that are used to law classes and law school exams. That puts you at a big disadvantage.

2. I don't see a ton of upside with you being graded on a curve. Sure, if you crush the class, it might give you a boost but the odds are not in your favor in that regard due to the curve. It might hurt you if you don't perform well.

3. With it being Michigan, you'll likely be facing pretty stiff competition for grades in that class.

That all said, if you want to do it just to get a feel for law school, go for it. However, I don't see it doing much for you in regards to admissions.

[Ron Howard]

I just figure it would help me determine if law school is for me (which I've struggled with for quite some time) and also potentially help me in the admissions process (at Michigan or elsewhere). I assumed that if schools are willing to take transfers based on their 1L grades, then having the equivalent of a 1L grade would also help.

I guess there's always the chance I could fail hard, though.

I am not sure the transfer process is similar enough to taking one elective course. Also Economics and Law, while an investing course, won't really give you a good idea of that most law school classes are like. The only reason I could see to take the class is general interest. What is your PhD in? Economics?

[mostheinous]

Hmm. OK. Thanks for the thoughtful replies. And yeah, my PhD is Economics.

[Ron Howard]

Hmm. OK. Thanks for the thoughtful replies. And yeah, my PhD is Economics.

Congratulations, that is a great program!

The fact that you are an an economics PhD makes it a lot less of a bad idea, too. Maybe you should go for it.

[mostheinous]

Thanks-- It's a long slog, like most PhDs, but I do like research. In fact, one big reason I'm considering law school is legal academia, for which the PhD/JD combo would be helpful.

Also, I guess I probably wouldn't be aiming any higher than Michigan for admission, since with their joint program I can go for free (with a stipend) conditional on my acceptance. Even if I were to somehow magically get in to Yale or something, I don't think I could afford it without taking out massive loans.

[A. Nony Mouse]

Check on the grading system - I'm pretty sure PhD students in my law school classes weren't graded on the curve with law students. Which is probably good for your grade, but will mean it won't say much about your law school ability.

Taking a law and econ class the law school combined with a PhD in Econ will probably help you put together an application with a strong coherent narrative about what you want to do. But I don't think one class in the context of your entire application is going to have any noticeable effect on your application. They still want GPA & LSAT.

[Hat.trick]

With your qualifications, I don't think it would be a bad idea. Its certainly better that doing nothing for a semester but I doubt it would help your admission chances. You want them to look at your grade in the class and think "wow this person can do well in law school and that means more than their LSAT score!" and that's just not going to happen.

[smile0751]

If you hit it off with the professor, they might be a good LoR writer.

[Ron Howard]

Agree with the previous three posters. Also, I don't think someone with the ability to get into Michigan for a PhD in Economics is likely to struggle very much to get (with proper preparation) an excellent LSAT score. With your background and abilities, you are in a very good spot.