kak23 wrote:
What is placement like in Nashville? Particularly in govt (local and state level) positions...especially with Vanderbilt right downtown for competition.
Here is a link to the latest salary/employment survey from our Career Services Office. Not sure if this will be helpful or not:
http://www.law.utk.edu/administration/s ... rvey.shtml
What do you like best about the school? What don't you like about the school?
Best: I love the law school. The building is very, very nice with lots of natural light and modern (i.e. clean) furniture and our fantastic library is located inside the law school. I spend easily 12 hours/day here, so the physical space here is important to me, but may be less so for someone else.
I love the faculty here. Many of them have been here for a long time, and it's obvious they love what they do. The faculty are pretty involved in the school, whether they are working with law student organizations and journals or participating in cross-departmental symposiums and events. I haven't encountered any faculty so far who have made me feel dumb or disrespected. Everyone goes through the usual 1L boot camp, but it's not personal.
I have made some wonderful friends here. Law school is a bonding experience, if anything, and I value that I have 150 very intelligent, capable people who are going through this with me.
Worst: There's plenty I don't like about law school, but it has nothing to do with Tennessee per se. Overall, as far as the law school is concerned, I feel that the Career Services office could do more for students who aren't seeking traditional law firm employment. I also feel that they should be more realistic about chances for scoring interviews during OCI. That was probably the single biggest disappointment I've experienced that had to do with THE law school rather than just law school in general. Does that make sense?
How friendly are the professors/students? Is the law school competitive in an unfriendly way? Do 2L/3L share notes/outlines with 1Ls?
See above re: professors/students.
I, personally, have never felt I was hard-core competing with my classmates. There's friendly competition during oral arguments or negotiations, but overall when grades/Dean's List come out, it's a friendly atmosphere.
Absolutely we share our outlines! One of our student organizations hosts 2 Outline Libraries per semester where you can buy course/professor-specific outlines. The cost is minimal and mainly just covers the cost of printing them. If you don't want to buy them, there are plenty of 2Ls you can ask, too. In the rare instance someone would actually say no, just move on and ask someone else. You can always ask me.
What do summer employment opportunities look like for students lately? How do you see them shaping up for next summer? Is the alum network as loyal as I hear about?
Well, summer employment lately has been rough for everyone. I've heard rumors that some summer offers have been rescinded, but I don't know of anyone specific that's happened to. I got my job this summer from just contacting firms on my own. I happened to luck out and got a paying job that lasts all summer. I really, really hope the situation improves. I want all of my classmates to have jobs! It's good for everyone here when we can all find jobs.
Yes, the alumni network is very, very loyal. There are several events with alums where you'll have opportunities to network and get good advice. I contacted two alums recently who now work in Texas--one is a 2007 graduate and the other is a 1974 graduate. I had lunch with one while I was in Houston on spring break, and the other has offered to meet with me when he's here later this month.
How is the parking near campus? Do most students commute to campus? How early do students get there to get parking? Is the campus gym near the law school?
Parking in Fort Sanders is like big-game hunting. You have to be quick and you need a strategy. Basically, the Fort is a large neighborhood of Victorian homes that have been converted into apartments for students, so it's all street parking. There are a few lots around, but those spaces go quickly. Lately the campus police have been cracking down on illegal parking, so I have a few tickets I gotta pay. Basically, parking sucks. Actually, it's awful.
Students typically live in the Fort or in West Knoxville. I think most of us commute, but I could be wrong. I live in the 4th and Gill neighborhood, which is about a 5-min drive.
TRECS is the campus gym, and it's FANTASTIC. It's very large, very clean, and state-of-the-art with yoga and kickboxing classes. There's a Smoothie King inside, too.
It's on the other side of the campus--about a 15-20 min walk. There's limited parking outside if you want to drive. It's just as nice, if not nicer than any 24-Hour Fitness or Bally's you'll find.
I hope this helps. I'll be happy to answer more questions. Good luck!
