Is the term "rising" offensive? Forum

[Shooter]

Like others have said, the first time I heard the term "rising" I found it to be pretentious.

[top30man]

Why did you ask this anonymously? Because you realized it was a retarded question and you were embarrassed? Not the correct anon use bro.

TITCR

[piccolittle]

Like others have said, the first time I heard the term "rising" I found it to be pretentious.

0L.

[lisjjen]

Like others have said, the first time I heard the term "rising" I found it to be pretentious.

0L.

I on the other hand, thought of penises.

[piccolittle]

Like others have said, the first time I heard the term "rising" I found it to be pretentious.

0L.

I on the other hand, thought of penises.

I used it in my cover letter, but +1 on instinctively thinking that would be the only reason people might find it offensive.

[3ThrowAway99]

No.

[wuduhel]

This is my new favorite euphemism.

"Honey! I've got a rising 2L! Get the lube!"

[Anonymous User]

I know this thread sounds ridiculous, but I actually had a partner at a firm stop me near the beginning of a phone conversation when I mentioned I was a "rising 2L" then proceed to tell me how it sounded arrogant and weird. No joke.

[Ludo!]

I don't get how this could possibly be confusing. What kind of idiot couldn't figure out from the context what it meant? And what is pretentious about it? It seems perfectly clear

[target]

This past year, my motto was "rise and grind hard everyday." I guess there's more than one way to success.

[071816]

Someone said they were a "rising 2L" to an older attorney last week at my summer gig and the attorney said "what's a rising 2L?" It was pretty awkward. I personally think that, although correct, the term sounds pretty stupid.

[Anonymous User]

I had a big-shot partner tell me last year that "rising" was confusing and/or made me sound as if I was trying to sell myself as a big star.

We met a few more times after that. I now work at his firm as an SA, and we get along really well. But my cover letter, like all my cover letters, said that I was a "rising 2L."

In short: it's stupid for them to think it weird, but don't worry about it.

[RodneyBoonfield]

Like others have said, the first time I heard the term "rising" I found it to be pretentious.

0L.

I on the other hand, thought of penises.

I used it in my cover letter, but +1 on instinctively thinking that would be the only reason people might find it offensive.

being a rising 2L = having a raging clue (See south park season 10 episode 9)

[Stringer Bell]

I had a big-shot partner tell me last year that "rising" was confusing and/or made me sound as if I was trying to sell myself as a big star.

We met a few more times after that. I now work at his firm as an SA, and we get along really well. But my cover letter, like all my cover letters, said that I was a "rising 2L."

In short: it's stupid for them to think it weird, but don't worry about it.

I thought the term had become pretty ubiquitous in the world of legal hiring, but I can now see how someone might equate "rising 2L" to mean that someone is trying to state they are a "rising star." I used "rising second-year" in my cover letters, but might switch to "just completed my first year of law school" going forward.

[ilovesf]

I just called myself a 2L because if they look at my resume it is very clear when i am graduating. I am really surprised that people don't seem to get what rising is. Dumbasses.

[McQueen]

I just completed my first year of law school. How hard is that?

[BHDLaw]

I just completed my first year of law school. How hard is that?

The end.

[dixiecupdrinking]

Or, I guess, "I am entering my second year at XYZ School of Law" would be good.

[ben4847]

Or, I guess, "I am entering my second year at XYZ School of Law" would be good.

If we must avoid "rising 2L", I suppose these work. However, I like the rising 2L formulation better, because then you are describing who you are, instead of describing what you are doing. That is, "I am currently a rising third year student at cooley law school" describes me; "I am currently beginning my third year at cooley law school" describes what I am doing.

[SchopenhauerFTW]

The 2L Rises

[anonymouse2828]

I had no clue what this meant until.... CDO "corrected" my cover letter and put "rising 2L" in there, and then specifically stated that change in the phone conversation. FML.

Oh well.

[Anonymous User]

Someone please tell me why "rising" is offensive? No one has answered that question... except for people who say it's pretentious or wordy or could be (in a very extreme perverted mind) inferred as something sexual... yet none of these would deem it offensive unless you hold pretentious or wordy or somehow think this is sexual and if it can be inferred as sexual it is offensive to be offensive...

That sentence was quite messy... but you get my gist...

Rising senior... rising pay grades... rising sun... what's offensive? I am intrigued by the beliefs found in petty-minded people.

[kalvano]

Someone please tell me why "rising" is offensive? No one has answered that question... except for people who say it's pretentious or wordy or could be (in a very extreme perverted mind) inferred as something sexual... yet none of these would deem it offensive unless you hold pretentious or wordy or somehow think this is sexual and if it can be inferred as sexual it is offensive to be offensive...

That sentence was quite messy... but you get my gist...

Rising senior... rising pay grades... rising sun... what's offensive? I am intrigued by the beliefs found in petty-minded people.

I can absolutely see why this needed to be anonymous. Lots of personal information in there.


And I don't think "offensive" is the right word. "Pretentious" or "douchey" is probably more accurate.

It just sounds terrible. Use "I am entering my second year" or "I have completed my first year" instead. It sounds much better.

[Stringer Bell]

Someone please tell me why "rising" is offensive? No one has answered that question... except for people who say it's pretentious or wordy or could be (in a very extreme perverted mind) inferred as something sexual... yet none of these would deem it offensive unless you hold pretentious or wordy or somehow think this is sexual and if it can be inferred as sexual it is offensive to be offensive...

That sentence was quite messy... but you get my gist...

Rising senior... rising pay grades... rising sun... what's offensive? I am intrigued by the beliefs found in petty-minded people.

Kalvano is correct that this is anon abuse.

To answer your question, the term comes off as pretentious to people who do not understand what the term means or are unable to figure out the meaning based on the context. I was unaware this description fit anyone involved in legal hiring at most firms prior to reading this thread, however, it appears there are a few out there.

[Ozymandias]

The 2L Rises