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Is the term "rising" offensive?
Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 1:06 pm
by Anonymous User
As in "rising second-year student"?
Big Law Partner alumnus (in response to mass mail):
"Several people found the term 'rising' either off putting or confusing...."
Re: Is the term "rising" offensive?
Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 1:08 pm
by ben4847
Very offensive.
Re: Is the term "rising" offensive?
Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 1:11 pm
by shock259
Pretty sure it is more confusing to just say "second-year student."
Re: Is the term "rising" offensive?
Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 1:11 pm
by piccolittle
What? I've been using "rising" in my cover letters and I don't think it's been a problem. Why would it be offensive (unless you have a dirty mind)?
Re: Is the term "rising" offensive?
Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 1:12 pm
by Anonymous User
shock259 wrote:Pretty sure it is more confusing to just say "second-year student."
Yeah, because then they don't know if you are someone who just finished 2L and is desperately job hunting because they screwed up as a 2L or someone who is just starting 2L and wants to get a jump on the process.
Re: Is the term "rising" offensive?
Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 1:20 pm
by Anonymous User
I've heard this before as well. Boomers.
Re: Is the term "rising" offensive?
Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 1:22 pm
by Total Litigator
It can definitely be offensive to people who don't know the term. I thought it sounded pretentious when I first heard it, but now that I know what it means, I'm totally fine with the word. So if you use it it's kind of a gamble. I guess I'm actually just curious as to how many employers are familiar with the term "rising" 1L/2L/3L.
Re: Is the term "rising" offensive?
Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 1:23 pm
by ben4847
ITT: being confusing is offensive
Re: Is the term "rising" offensive?
Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 1:25 pm
by FlanSolo
Total Litigator wrote:It can definitely be offensive to people who don't know the term. I thought it sounded pretentious when I first heard it, but now that I know what it means, I'm totally fine with the word. So if you use it it's kind of a gamble. I guess I'm actually just curious as to how many employers are familiar with the term "rising" 1L/2L/3L.
Yeah, unless you are someone who is inundated by the word's usage, it sounds a little pretentious. Thus, no reason to use it. Just say, "I just finished my 1L year at XXX"
Re: Is the term "rising" offensive?
Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 1:34 pm
by lisjjen
Total Litigator wrote:It can definitely be offensive to people who don't know the term. I thought it sounded pretentious when I first heard it, but now that I know what it means, I'm totally fine with the word. So if you use it it's kind of a gamble. I guess I'm actually just curious as to how many employers are familiar with the term "rising" 1L/2L/3L.
That's a good question. Every lawyer 25 and older went to law school in Angola, and they don't use the term "rising 1L, 2L, or 3L" in sub-Saharan Africa.
ETA: Posts the guy who used the term "rising 2L" is all of his cover letters, and is being ravenously sarcastic to hide the anxiety you just produced.
Re: Is the term "rising" offensive?
Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 1:35 pm
by 071816
In my experience, SHIT BOOMERS don't understand what it means.
Re: Is the term "rising" offensive?
Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 1:39 pm
by Monty The Dog
This thread is insane. Use the term. Or not. Nobody cares.
Re: Is the term "rising" offensive?
Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 1:41 pm
by petite chouette
I'm confused, why would this be offensive? I have always heard this term... literally, "Summer Reading List for Rising Second-Graders" etc. How else would someone describe what year they are going to be in school during the preceding summer?
/now concerned about what normal words I use that people mysteriously find offensive
Re: Is the term "rising" offensive?
Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 1:41 pm
by lisjjen
Monty The Dog wrote: This thread (TLS) is insane. Use the term. Or not. Nobody cares.
Re: Is the term "rising" offensive?
Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 1:43 pm
by Total Litigator
lisjjen wrote:Total Litigator wrote:It can definitely be offensive to people who don't know the term. I thought it sounded pretentious when I first heard it, but now that I know what it means, I'm totally fine with the word. So if you use it it's kind of a gamble. I guess I'm actually just curious as to how many employers are familiar with the term "rising" 1L/2L/3L.
That's a good question. Every lawyer 25 and older went to law school in Angola, and they don't use the term "rising 1L, 2L, or 3L" in sub-Saharan Africa.
ETA: Posts the guy who used the term "rising 2L" is all of his cover letters, and is being ravenously sarcastic to hide the anxiety you just produced.
Lol! I'm actually just curious as to how recent and widely used the term is. I mean, were law students rocking the term rising in the 1960's? Or maybe it started being used in the 90's, but by now everyone in the legal field has been so inundated with the term that they are used to and fine with the term?
My hunch is that the vast majority employers are familiar with the term. However, the only time I ever really mentioned the word in a conversation with someone who hires law students was with a ~40 year old career law clerk in an insular market and he/she looked at me at asked, "Rising?" So that is just anecdotal, probably the exception to the rule, but it did make me wonder.
Re: Is the term "rising" offensive?
Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 1:46 pm
by shock259
I can't tell if this thread is worse than the coffee one. Thoughts?
http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 3&t=189917
Re: Is the term "rising" offensive?
Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 1:47 pm
by fatduck
mods could probably delete every thread started by Anonymous User and hit no more than 3 posts of value
Re: Is the term "rising" offensive?
Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 1:51 pm
by Total Litigator
How bout, a "partner wants to have coffee with me... I emailed him earlier and used the term 'rising 2L.' Did I just f*** myself?" thread.
Re: Is the term "rising" offensive?
Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 5:07 pm
by dixiecupdrinking
This is a completely new and confusing issue to me. Who the hell are these people?
Re: Is the term "rising" offensive?
Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 5:23 pm
by RodneyBoonfield
"Rising" is not the preferred nomeclature. "Soon to be _L" or "_L", please.
Re: Is the term "rising" offensive?
Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 5:28 pm
by ilovesf
Why did you ask this anonymously? Because you realized it was a retarded question and you were embarrassed? Not the correct anon use bro.
Re: Is the term "rising" offensive?
Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 5:33 pm
by Anonymous User
ilovesf wrote:Why did you ask this anonymously? Because you realized it was a retarded question and you were embarrassed? Not the correct anon use bro.
I quoted an actual Big Law partner in the OP. Given it was an issue that was actually raised, I don't see how it's a retarded question.
Quoting letters from Big Law partners sounds like a correct use of the anon feature to me.
Re: Is the term "rising" offensive?
Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 5:35 pm
by breadbucket
ilovesf wrote: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
Re: Is the term "rising" offensive?
Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 5:37 pm
by Gecko of Doom
I cannot fathom a single reason the term "rising" could possibly be problematic. I have used the term in all of my cover letters and have encountered no problems, and our Career Services Office uses it frequently. It seems more professional and concise than "soon-to-be" or any other alternative I can think of.
Re: Is the term "rising" offensive?
Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 5:41 pm
by 071816
Gecko of Doom wrote:I cannot fathom a single reason the term "rising" could possibly be problematic. I have used the term in all of my cover letters and have encountered no problems, and our Career Services Office uses it frequently. It seems more professional and concise than "soon-to-be" or any other alternative I can think of.
"Incoming second year law student" is the only legit alternative I can think of.