Michigan 2014 OCI Thread!!!!!!! Forum

[Anonymous User]

Just to weigh in on the grade on range for MLR. There's no way you need above a 4.0. Very unlikely there are 12 people with supra 4.0 gaps in the class. But even if there are, some of those people may transfer, some may choose not to apply to MLR, some may fall in the bottom 25% of writing scores, and some may be disqualified from consideration. There were definitely people my year who would have "graded on" to MLR that weren't on it for whatever reason.

[Anonymous User]

Just to weigh in on the grade on range for MLR. There's no way you need above a 4.0. Very unlikely there are 12 people with supra 4.0 gaps in the class. But even if there are, some of those people may transfer, some may choose not to apply to MLR, some may fall in the bottom 25% of writing scores, and some may be disqualified from consideration. There were definitely people my year who would have "graded on" to MLR that weren't on it for whatever reason.

You can use Dean Baum's letter as a guide to percentiles under old grading scheme. Under that scheme, it was quite likely you could be in the "grade on"* candidates without having a 4.0 (3.9 might make it, might not); 3.8 definitely would not be enough to "grade on". With that said, you'd have to be pretty close to a 4.0. Under new scheme, I don't know what the percentiles will look like. And, yes, I agree with previous anon. I too know people who would have graded on, who for various reasons (perhaps foresight into how horrible it is) did not participate in MLR.

*Of course, no pure grade on to MLR. Even if you have the grades, if you're in the bottom 25% of write-on applicants or do not comply with the various mandatory rules, you are cut.

[Anonymous User]

So, not to turn this into a journals threads, but what inferences should one draw from getting onto law reform with respect to chances for law review. Are they gaming it in some way or are they just taking the best lot with knowledge that they'll lose a lot to law review and other journals? Additionally, if anyone wants to comment on the relative and respective OCI "bump" from journals, that'd be cool. Doesn't seem like anything other than law review can be justified unless you enjoy the subject a ton, no?

Basically, I'm asking if anyone thinks that a journal other than Law Review provides any real benefit whatsoever, aside from a minimal "you're involved in some shit" observation.

[Anonymous User]

So, not to turn this into a journals threads, but what inferences should one draw from getting onto law reform with respect to chances for law review. Are they gaming it in some way or are they just taking the best lot with knowledge that they'll lose a lot to law review and other journals? Additionally, if anyone wants to comment on the relative and respective OCI "bump" from journals, that'd be cool. Doesn't seem like anything other than law review can be justified unless you enjoy the subject a ton, no?

Have secondary journals notified people already? Specifically interested in MJPVL

[Anonymous User]

I think that most of them have not.

[Anonymous User]

I think that most of them have not.

Lol and I thought my stress level would go down after finishing finals this year....with journal apps, waiting to hear back, and OCI prep, it feels like one giant summer full of exam-level stress.

[Anonymous User]

Just wait till you're waiting for call backs...

[Druid]

I also just wanted to chime in and say I seriously doubt there are 12 people with over a 4.0 GPA. Where did you get that number? I've heard that normally there are less than 5 people with GPAs above a 4.0, but there have been aberrations from that number in recent years.

Couldn't find it in the application packet, wouldn't worry about it though...

I'm sure the number wasn't in the packet, but it definitely said there was a bump for it. I'm guessing 0.1. I would think to straight grade on you would need to be over a 4.0. It's ~12 people, and I would image 3 percent of the class is there with a slight adjustment worked in.

I know for a fact that there are not 12 people over a 4.0. .1 seems big... Boosting someone from 3.3 to 3.4 seems pretty significant... I would guess closer to .05, but again a total guess.

** unless you mean that there are 12 ppl there with a .1 adjustment... Maybe***

How do you know this "for a fact"? doesn't like 12% of the class get As or A+s in each class? I know that doesn't translate to 12% having a 4.0+, but in a class of over 300, it doesn't seem too unlikely to have 12 or more people with only As or A+s...

Just consider the amount of A+a when considering how many people have over a 4.0. And some that got an A+ aren't over a 4.0 anyway.

[Anonymous User]

Just consider the amount of A+a when considering how many people have over a 4.0. And some that got an A+ aren't over a 4.0 anyway.

I just want to make a blanket statement to people who get A+'s: I hate you, but I respect you.

[Anonymous User]

So, not to turn this into a journals threads, but what inferences should one draw from getting onto law reform with respect to chances for law review. Are they gaming it in some way or are they just taking the best lot with knowledge that they'll lose a lot to law review and other journals? Additionally, if anyone wants to comment on the relative and respective OCI "bump" from journals, that'd be cool. Doesn't seem like anything other than law review can be justified unless you enjoy the subject a ton, no?

Basically, I'm asking if anyone thinks that a journal other than Law Review provides any real benefit whatsoever, aside from a minimal "you're involved in some shit" observation.

Was also wondering this -

[Anonymous User]

So, not to turn this into a journals threads, but what inferences should one draw from getting onto law reform with respect to chances for law review. Are they gaming it in some way or are they just taking the best lot with knowledge that they'll lose a lot to law review and other journals? Additionally, if anyone wants to comment on the relative and respective OCI "bump" from journals, that'd be cool. Doesn't seem like anything other than law review can be justified unless you enjoy the subject a ton, no?

Basically, I'm asking if anyone thinks that a journal other than Law Review provides any real benefit whatsoever, aside from a minimal "you're involved in some shit" observation.

Was also wondering this -

I hate my journal and think its an absolute waste of time. That being said, I know that there were firms that checked a box for journal when interviewing me and many asked me if i was planning on writing a note/what my potential note topic was. I was never planning on writing a note and i pulled the topic out of my ass, but it probably got me a couple of callbacks/offers just because i'm on one. And i'm not on law review.

[Anonymous User]

So, not to turn this into a journals threads, but what inferences should one draw from getting onto law reform with respect to chances for law review. Are they gaming it in some way or are they just taking the best lot with knowledge that they'll lose a lot to law review and other journals? Additionally, if anyone wants to comment on the relative and respective OCI "bump" from journals, that'd be cool. Doesn't seem like anything other than law review can be justified unless you enjoy the subject a ton, no?

Basically, I'm asking if anyone <a class="ktg6us78hf8vdu7" href="javascript:void(0)" style="padding: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; display: inline; border: 1px solid rgb(247, 226, 94); background-color: rgb(255, 247, 193);"><u style="border-bottom: 1px solid;">thinks</u></a> that a journal other than Law Review provides any real benefit whatsoever, aside from a minimal "you're involved in some shit" observation.

Was also wondering this -

I hate my journal and <a class="ktg6us78hf8vdu7" href="javascript:void(0)" style="padding: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; display: inline; border: 1px solid rgb(247, 226, 94); background-color: rgb(255, 247, 193);"><u style="border-bottom: 1px solid;">think</u></a> its an absolute waste of time. That being said, I know that there were firms that checked a box for journal when <a class="ktg6us78hf8vdu7" href="javascript:void(0)" style="padding: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; display: inline; border: 1px solid rgb(247, 226, 94); background-color: rgb(255, 247, 193);"><u style="border-bottom: 1px solid;">interviewing</u></a> me and many asked me if i was planning on writing a note/what my potential note topic was. I was never planning on writing a note and i pulled the topic out of my ass, but it probably got me a couple of callbacks/offers just because i'm on one. And i'm not on law review.

Not to belabor the question, but does this mean secondary journal notifications have gone out? Or at least that law reform ones have?

[Anonymous User]

Not to belabor the question, but does this mean secondary journal notifications have gone out? Or at least that law reform ones have?

I have no idea if they have gone out. From above, it looks like law reform may have but nothing in my post should indicate that my journal already has notified people. I am a rising 3l. I know most journal grading deadlines haven't even occurred yet.

[Anonymous User]

Yes, JLR notification have gone out. I don't know if that means they're done making calls, but I heard yesterday afternoon.

[Anonymous User]

So, not to turn this into a journals threads, but what inferences should one draw from getting onto law reform with respect to chances for law review. Are they gaming it in some way or are they just taking the best lot with knowledge that they'll lose a lot to law review and other journals? Additionally, if anyone wants to comment on the relative and respective OCI "bump" from journals, that'd be cool. Doesn't seem like anything other than law review can be justified unless you enjoy the subject a ton, no?

Basically, I'm asking if anyone thinks that a journal other than Law Review provides any real benefit whatsoever, aside from a minimal "you're involved in some shit" observation.

Was also wondering this -

I hate my journal and think its an absolute waste of time. That being said, I know that there were firms that checked a box for journal when interviewing me and many asked me if i was planning on writing a note/what my potential note topic was. I was never planning on writing a note and i pulled the topic out of my ass, but it probably got me a couple of callbacks/offers just because i'm on one. And i'm not on law review.

Every journal, especially MLR, seems to be a waste of time. I've asked a decent number of lawyer including federal clerks and I'm yet to find one person that believes they're helpful in any way.

[Anonymous User]

So, not to turn this into a journals threads, but what inferences should one draw from getting onto law reform with respect to chances for law review. Are they gaming it in some way or are they just taking the best lot with knowledge that they'll lose a lot to law review and other journals? Additionally, if anyone wants to comment on the relative and respective OCI "bump" from journals, that'd be cool. Doesn't seem like anything other than law review can be justified unless you enjoy the subject a ton, no?

Basically, I'm asking if anyone thinks that a journal other than Law Review provides any real benefit whatsoever, aside from a minimal "you're involved in some shit" observation.

Was also wondering this -

I hate my journal and think its an absolute waste of time. That being said, I know that there were firms that checked a box for journal when interviewing me and many asked me if i was planning on writing a note/what my potential note topic was. I was never planning on writing a note and i pulled the topic out of my ass, but it probably got me a couple of callbacks/offers just because i'm on one. And i'm not on law review.

Every journal, especially MLR, seems to be a waste of time. I've asked a decent number of lawyer including federal clerks and I'm yet to find one person that believes they're helpful in any way.

They may not be helpful in terms of actually practicing law. However, they are important for OCI. A lot of firms basically require some kind of journal participation. Or, if no journal, an adequate substitute (e.g. moot court).

[Anonymous User]

So, not to turn this into a journals threads, but what inferences should one draw from getting onto law reform with respect to chances for law review. Are they gaming it in some way or are they just taking the best lot with knowledge that they'll lose a lot to law review and other journals? Additionally, if anyone wants to comment on the relative and respective OCI "bump" from journals, that'd be cool. Doesn't seem like anything other than law review can be justified unless you enjoy the subject a ton, no?

Basically, I'm asking if anyone thinks that a journal other than Law Review provides any real benefit whatsoever, aside from a minimal "you're involved in some shit" observation.

Was also wondering this -

Full disclosure, I'm not on JLR so I don't know exactly what their policies are for reviewing applications, but I would be extremely surprised if they do any sort of gamesmanship or yielding with regard to applications. If you were accepted to JLR I'm sure you submitted a strong application and were near the top of the pack under their standards of review. That being said, its impossible to know what your chances are on MLR based on an acceptance to JLR. The application materials are different and the people reviewing the applications are different so there's obviously not going to be complete overlap between the top students of both groups. I know people who were on MLR that were not accepted to JLR and of course, the reverse as well.

[Anonymous User]

I saw this posted a while back, but I didn't see an answer (sorry if I missed it).

Can any current 3Ls or grads speak to how high one needs to bid to get interviews with these Chicago firms?

K&E
Mayer Brown
Jenner & Block Chicago
Katten

Thanks!

[Anonymous User]

Can anyone (3Ls or recent grads) offer insight on how far down I can bid Atlanta firms and still expect to get interviews? Surely there's only a small group of people - what, maybe less than 5? - that will want to go to Atlanta. This means I could put them 10-15 range-ish....right?

[potted plant]

I saw this posted a while back, but I didn't see an answer (sorry if I missed it).

Can any current 3Ls or grads speak to how high one needs to bid to get interviews with these Chicago firms?

K&E
Mayer Brown
Jenner & Block Chicago
Katten

Thanks!

Last year's thread has some helpful anecdotal info on what people got/missed
http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... w=previous

People missed Katten last year bidding it 3rd.
Someone got Mayer Brown Chicago bidding it 14. (Mayer Brown NY filled up much faster)
Nobody on TLS mentioned missing Jenner or K&E.

[Anonymous User]

Do we think JLR calls done going out? Do they do 1 en mass call or is it rolling? I know there were calls Tuesday afternoon.

[Anonymous User]

Do we think JLR calls done going out? Do they do 1 en mass call or is it rolling? I know there were calls Tuesday afternoon.

I got a call yesterday.

[Anonymous User]

should we read anything into whether ppl got calls tues, wed, or beyond?

[Anonymous User]

Just below 3.9 looking exclusively at socal with strong ties.

If I'm thinking purely transactional, what do you guys think of the top of my bid list?

1) Gibson
2) Munger
3) Latham
4) Skadden
5) Irell (small group of transactional)
6) O'Melveny
7) Mofo

Am I missing anything at the top?

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone know approx. how many ppl are straight out accepted to JLR AND how many are waitlisted?