Texas Class of 2012 Forum
-
- Posts: 720
- Joined: Thu Jul 31, 2008 4:09 pm
Re: Texas Class of 2012
The new numbers appear to be out, at least in part, and are on the "Quick Facts" admissions page. There was a sizable GPA jump over last year.
http://www.utexas.edu/law/depts/admissi ... facts.html
Class of 2012 numbers:
LSAT 164/167/168 (same as 2011)
GPA 3.54/3.71/3.87 (compared to 3.42/3.62/3.82 for 2011)
So a .12/.09/.05 jump in GPA. That's pretty substantial.
http://www.utexas.edu/law/depts/admissi ... facts.html
Class of 2012 numbers:
LSAT 164/167/168 (same as 2011)
GPA 3.54/3.71/3.87 (compared to 3.42/3.62/3.82 for 2011)
So a .12/.09/.05 jump in GPA. That's pretty substantial.
- OperaAttorney
- Posts: 512
- Joined: Thu Aug 09, 2007 11:48 pm
Re: Texas Class of 2012
I feel the same way, penni_rose. But I hear that Brief Writing and Oral Advocacy is essential preparation for just about any 1L summer gig.penni_rose wrote:We had some discussion about the electives for next semester going where a lot of people said they would probably take brief writing. I've thought about, but having discovered that brief writing is pass/fail after 1L, I'm not convinced that I want to take it for a grade next semester. Anyone else feel that way?
- penni_rose
- Posts: 166
- Joined: Wed May 06, 2009 5:17 pm
Re: Texas Class of 2012
Alamo Drafthouse if the one near you plays them. It's on the movie theater screen. Tickets are free. You reserve your spot by buying a $5 food coupon online.Neverknowsbest wrote:I feel like this has been discussed, but I was wondering anyone and suggestions of places to go watch the football games on TV, for those who foolishly did not buy tickets.
-
- Posts: 360
- Joined: Wed Dec 31, 2008 2:50 pm
Re: Texas Class of 2012
My writing professor keeps repeating the mantra that writing skills are necessary and even that judges have rejected applicants from UT strictly on the ground that they don't have substantial enough writing training.
- OperaAttorney
- Posts: 512
- Joined: Thu Aug 09, 2007 11:48 pm
Re: Texas Class of 2012
Another argument for that boring elective .Snooker wrote:My writing professor keeps repeating the mantra that writing skills are necessary and even that judges have rejected applicants from UT strictly on the ground that they don't have substantial enough writing training.
Want to continue reading?
Register now to search topics and post comments!
Absolutely FREE!
Already a member? Login
-
- Posts: 360
- Joined: Wed Dec 31, 2008 2:50 pm
Re: Texas Class of 2012
I'm not sure what to make of the clerkship comment, though. Isn't the legal writing curriculum fairly standard across law schools? And the tendency among elite law schools is to make the curriculum more liberal-artsy (fun, interesting) and less practical (i.e. gaining skills an employer would expect you to have). I mean, seriously, Harvard launched a law school course this year called "Evil" (isn't that what we're supposed to learn in practice?), and they require 1Ls to take intentional law (isn't that hype?).
- OperaAttorney
- Posts: 512
- Joined: Thu Aug 09, 2007 11:48 pm
Re: Texas Class of 2012
I feel you. Despite the "consensus" on Brief Writing and Oral Advocacy, I'm almost certain I will take a substantive course instead. "And if I perish, I perish."
- penni_rose
- Posts: 166
- Joined: Wed May 06, 2009 5:17 pm
Re: Texas Class of 2012
I am completely with you. I just can't make myself take that class next semester.OperaAttorney wrote:I feel you. Despite the "consensus" on Brief Writing and Oral Advocacy, I'm almost certain I will take a substantive course instead. "And if I perish, I perish."
-
- Posts: 720
- Joined: Thu Jul 31, 2008 4:09 pm
Re: Texas Class of 2012
My writing prof also mentioned that bit about judges turning away UT students because of lack of writing skills, and that they are trying to improve the writing curriculum. Apparently we are the first class year to be taught taught research/writing in small section, and my prof said that they are planning on upping it to a 3 credit course for future class years. So they appear serious about it.
But then, UT does pretty well for clerkships for a rank 15 school....so they might be overhyping the issue.
I will probably take brief writing, but I'm going to wait and see the schedule before I make any decisions.
But then, UT does pretty well for clerkships for a rank 15 school....so they might be overhyping the issue.
I will probably take brief writing, but I'm going to wait and see the schedule before I make any decisions.
- JazzOne
- Posts: 2979
- Joined: Tue Sep 09, 2008 11:04 am
Re: Texas Class of 2012
I think I will take brief writing. We have two whole years for electives. I want to take something fun, but four semesters is plenty of time to take something fun, and the third year is notoriously lacking in direction. I'd really like a job this summer, so brief writing it is. Suck it up for one year.
-
- Posts: 27
- Joined: Sat Aug 08, 2009 12:09 pm
Re: Texas Class of 2012
Brief writing isn't going to have any effect on your chances for a 1L job. You can only take brief writing during the spring. You won't get grades for it until the summer. By then, it'll be too late to go looking for a job that summer.JazzOne wrote:I think I will take brief writing. We have two whole years for electives. I want to take something fun, but four semesters is plenty of time to take something fun, and the third year is notoriously lacking in direction. I'd really like a job this summer, so brief writing it is. Suck it up for one year.
Your LRW grade is important if you want to clerk for a judge. I have a friend with slightly over a 4.00, is on law review, and only has one judicial clerkship interview. He attributes it to getting a B and a B+ for LRW - all his other grades are A-'s or higher.
- JazzOne
- Posts: 2979
- Joined: Tue Sep 09, 2008 11:04 am
Re: Texas Class of 2012
When would we apply for a 1L job? I might not have the grade for the class yet, but I can point to the fact that I am taking the class as an indication of how serious I am about my writing skills. I might even have a writing sample or two from second semester to show prospective employers.keayts wrote:Brief writing isn't going to have any effect on your chances for a 1L job. You can only take brief writing during the spring. You won't get grades for it until the summer. By then, it'll be too late to go looking for a job that summer.JazzOne wrote:I think I will take brief writing. We have two whole years for electives. I want to take something fun, but four semesters is plenty of time to take something fun, and the third year is notoriously lacking in direction. I'd really like a job this summer, so brief writing it is. Suck it up for one year.
Your LRW grade is important if you want to clerk for a judge. I have a friend with slightly over a 4.00, is on law review, and only has one judicial clerkship interview. He attributes it to getting a B and a B+ for LRW - all his other grades are A-'s or higher.
-
- Posts: 360
- Joined: Wed Dec 31, 2008 2:50 pm
Re: Texas Class of 2012
I saw on vault last year 1 negative comment about UT writing/research skills. That probably set off red flags for the whole administration. We're pretty good for clerkships as esc points out.Esc wrote:My writing prof also mentioned that bit about judges turning away UT students because of lack of writing skills, and that they are trying to improve the writing curriculum. Apparently we are the first class year to be taught taught research/writing in small section, and my prof said that they are planning on upping it to a 3 credit course for future class years. So they appear serious about it.
But then, UT does pretty well for clerkships for a rank 15 school....so they might be overhyping the issue.
I will probably take brief writing, but I'm going to wait and see the schedule before I make any decisions.
Register now!
Resources to assist law school applicants, students & graduates.
It's still FREE!
Already a member? Login
-
- Posts: 27
- Joined: Sat Aug 08, 2009 12:09 pm
Re: Texas Class of 2012
You can contact employers starting Dec 1st, but unless you have something impressive on your resume, you're not going to get any interviews until you get your grades. (Only one person I know got interviews before 1st semester grades came out, and she went to Harvard for undergrad, worked as a work coordinator for a prestigious NYC firm for a few years, and speaks 5 languages. And she grew up in Texas, which helps a lot for Texas firms.)JazzOne wrote:When would we apply for a 1L job? I might not have the grade for the class yet, but I can point to the fact that I am taking the class as an indication of how serious I am about my writing skills. I might even have a writing sample or two from second semester to show prospective employers.
Most 1L interviews off of direct mails occur in early February, when grades have all come in, and there's spring OCI in mid/late-February as well. I don't think you'll have a writing sample from your advanced legal research class by that point in time, but since I didn't take the elective I can't say for certain.
I doubt employers would care that you were taking a writing elective your spring semester, since they would have no indication of how well you would do in that elective unless they were willing to project based on your 1st semester LRW grade. Interest in improving your research and writing skills is good, but my guess is that performance is a lot more important than interest.
-
- Posts: 27
- Joined: Sat Aug 08, 2009 12:09 pm
Re: Texas Class of 2012
Also, keep in mind that most UT legal research classes teach you the ALWD system of citation, while all practitioners and courts use the Bluebook system. A lot of the methodology of analysis and structure of writing is the same no matter what system you use, but you're going to have to relearn some of the citation forms for your summer job.
- JazzOne
- Posts: 2979
- Joined: Tue Sep 09, 2008 11:04 am
Re: Texas Class of 2012
Thanks for the comments. I'll take them into consideration before I select my elective. However, my LR&W class uses Bluebook. I'm not sure what relevance that has, but I'm glad my professor chose Bluebook if that's the industry standard.keayts wrote:Also, keep in mind that most UT legal research classes teach you the ALWD system of citation, while all practitioners and courts use the Bluebook system. A lot of the methodology of analysis and structure of writing is the same no matter what system you use, but you're going to have to relearn some of the citation forms for your summer job.
-
- Posts: 720
- Joined: Thu Jul 31, 2008 4:09 pm
Re: Texas Class of 2012
Query: Is it a sign of irredeemable dorkitude that I get hopelessly overjoyed whenever I see more names on the clerkship board in the atrium?
Or does it mean that I have school spirit?
Or does it mean that I have school spirit?
Get unlimited access to all forums and topics
Register now!
I'm pretty sure I told you it's FREE...
Already a member? Login
-
- Posts: 360
- Joined: Wed Dec 31, 2008 2:50 pm
Re: Texas Class of 2012
I think we are happy to see our grads being employed. Lots of people are getting circuit jobs, it seems.Esc wrote:Query: Is it a sign of irredeemable dorkitude that I get hopelessly overjoyed whenever I see more names on the clerkship board in the atrium?
Or does it mean that I have school spirit?
- OperaAttorney
- Posts: 512
- Joined: Thu Aug 09, 2007 11:48 pm
Re: Texas Class of 2012
I think it's a combination of both.Esc wrote:Query: Is it a sign of irredeemable dorkitude that I get hopelessly overjoyed whenever I see more names on the clerkship board in the atrium?
Or does it mean that I have school spirit?
- penni_rose
- Posts: 166
- Joined: Wed May 06, 2009 5:17 pm
Re: Texas Class of 2012
I definitely like seeing that people are finding employment, but it's also the things Esc mentioned.Snooker wrote:I think we are happy to see our grads being employed. Lots of people are getting circuit jobs, it seems.Esc wrote:Query: Is it a sign of irredeemable dorkitude that I get hopelessly overjoyed whenever I see more names on the clerkship board in the atrium?
Or does it mean that I have school spirit?
My LRW class let me choose which citation manual to use. I picked Blue Book because it was cheaper. I'm glad I did.
- Daico
- Posts: 93
- Joined: Wed Oct 01, 2008 1:19 pm
Re: Texas Class of 2012
God knows I like to toot the school's horn when possible, but it's also neat for its own sake.Esc wrote:Query: Is it a sign of irredeemable dorkitude that I get hopelessly overjoyed whenever I see more names on the clerkship board in the atrium?
Or does it mean that I have school spirit?
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!
Already a member? Login
-
- Posts: 360
- Joined: Wed Dec 31, 2008 2:50 pm
Re: Texas Class of 2012
looking at the recent fresh law schedule, I notice that all of the advanced legal research classes are from 11:30 - 12:20 on some days of the week. For section 3, that means we'd have classes straight into the afternoon to 3:00 with no break for lunch. wtf?
- JazzOne
- Posts: 2979
- Joined: Tue Sep 09, 2008 11:04 am
Re: Texas Class of 2012
Lawyers don't eat lunch. Back to work!Snooker wrote:looking at the recent fresh law schedule, I notice that all of the advanced legal research classes are from 11:30 - 12:20 on some days of the week. For section 3, that means we'd have classes straight into the afternoon to 3:00 with no break for lunch. wtf?
-
- Posts: 720
- Joined: Thu Jul 31, 2008 4:09 pm
Re: Texas Class of 2012
Your first class is at 10:30AM. I just can't feel too sorry for you.Snooker wrote:looking at the recent fresh law schedule, I notice that all of the advanced legal research classes are from 11:30 - 12:20 on some days of the week. For section 3, that means we'd have classes straight into the afternoon to 3:00 with no break for lunch. wtf?
You should feel sorry for ME! All the electives I wanted to take are during my core classes.
- JazzOne
- Posts: 2979
- Joined: Tue Sep 09, 2008 11:04 am
Re: Texas Class of 2012
Me too. I have some prior expertise in biology and bioethics in particular. I am very disappointed that I can't the Bioethics & Law class. I even mentioned that class in my PS.Esc wrote:Your first class is at 10:30AM. I just can't feel too sorry for you.Snooker wrote:looking at the recent fresh law schedule, I notice that all of the advanced legal research classes are from 11:30 - 12:20 on some days of the week. For section 3, that means we'd have classes straight into the afternoon to 3:00 with no break for lunch. wtf?
You should feel sorry for ME! All the electives I wanted to take are during my core classes.
Seriously? What are you waiting for?
Now there's a charge.
Just kidding ... it's still FREE!
Already a member? Login