2L courses and SA work Forum

[Anonymous User]

Heading to a firm that gives permanent offers to join a particular practice group, so the only time to try various areas is during the SA. If I don't work with a group during the SA, I won't work with them as an attorney. So as an SA, I want the ability to take work from a variety of groups I am interested in. I'm concerned that some groups are specialized enough that I won't be able to work with them without a relevant survey class.

If I want tax, should I take basic tax now? If I want L&E, should I take a course on employment? What about real estate, banking/finance, and restructuring? What about regulation work in environmental/energy?

I was planning on taking (mostly irrelevant) writing seminars to maximize GPA, but will take substantively relevant curved courses if it makes it more likely that I can work in a preferred practice area.

[Anonymous User]

On the corporate end nothing you learn in class is going to be that relevant, because you learn mostly cases. You're also likely to be trained as though you know nothing regardless so you're better served taking bar classes to make the bar easier. Increasing your odds of passing the bar by even 2-3% is probably worth more than grades. If you do good work then you're good. Your grades don't matter anymore.

[A. Nony Mouse]

Don't take bar classes unless you want to take them anyway. Taking classes just to pass the bar is completely unnecessary.

[Anonymous User]

Here are my 2 cents, though I can't speak to every practice area.

Tax: I think it'd be very helpful, but not necessarily a prerequisite to do the work of an SA. You would probably want to take income tax / corporate tax at some point though if you decide to join this group.

L&E: You definitely do not need to take a class on this. L&E is very intuitive, and you should be able to pick things up right away. At most, maybe look at the Wiki pages for the civil rights act, the ADA, and EEOC, so you have an idea of the general framework for L&E claims. This is purely if it sparks your interest though.

(Can't speak to Real Estate or Banking/Finance)

Restructuring: I don't think it's necessary, but it would be helpful. A good Bk class will explain to you a lot of different technical terms and loan structures that will help you to be conversant while working in the group. Depending on if the restructuring group is more transactional or lit focussed will probably determine how useful an actual bk class will be though.

Environmental/Energy: I would not worry about taking a class in these subjects because it is highly unlikely that a survey course will provide any info that will be relevant for your SA work. I have taken Energy and Environmental classes, and they didn't really help at all with the work I did as an SA, especially the transactional work. Basically, the assignments you get as an SA will likely be so discreet that the survey courses won't be too helpful. THAT SAID, if you are particularly interested in these areas of the law, these class will give you a nice overview of the administrative framework that governs Energy/Enviro.

Long story short, as an SA you shouldn't need to take any classes as prerequisites to practice, but some classes may be more helpful than others.

[Desert Fox]

[zot1]

Don't take bar classes unless you want to take them anyway. Taking classes just to pass the bar is completely unnecessary.

I used to spout that shit but:

1) It really helps if you are relearning the material instead of learning it the first time.

2) A lot bar classes make you a more well rounded attorney.

I wouldn't put too much emphasis on bar classes. But I'd def take Business associations and evidence. Maybe UCC stuff and Trusts and Estates.

In my personal experience, I struggled more with classes I was learning during bar prep for the first time.

[A. Nony Mouse]

I struggled more with them, too. My secured transactions essay for the bar was SPS. But I'd rather struggle for 6 weeks in what's going to be a miserable summer regardless, than sit through a semester in a subject I was likely to do badly in anyway.

I suppose if you have some reason to think you really might fail the bar, they could be worth it. So look at your school pass rate and all that.

And yeah, a lot of them are classic core courses, so I'm not saying they're not worthwhile subjects to take. Just not because you think you need to for the bar.

[Anonymous User]

Don't take bar classes unless you want to take them anyway. Taking classes just to pass the bar is completely unnecessary.

I used to spout that shit but:

1) It really helps if you are relearning the material instead of learning it the first time.

2) A lot bar classes make you a more well rounded attorney.

I wouldn't put too much emphasis on bar classes. But I'd def take Business associations and evidence. Maybe UCC stuff and Trusts and Estates.

Yes, my analysis was to take bar classes in the event you're not particularly interested in anything else. If you have an interest in something then 100% do that. However, if your only concern is preparation for your SA then I'd take the bar class, because it probably won't help you and could possibly harm you by making it harder to learn things the way your employer wants you to learn them.

I'm saying this because most of what I used to pass the bar was stuff I already knew before the summer, and this is true for a lot of people. Absolutely nothing I learned in school has been useful in practice, and this is a common theme for most people.

[Desert Fox]

[Anonymous User]

Probably the best class to take for an SA is an advanced legal writing course.

Agreed. You're judged on your writing every day in whichever practice group you're in on anything you write, and fair/unfair, writing is perceived as less trainable than other stuff so if your writing is bad then you're going to have a bad time.

[Anonymous User]

Listen, honestly...when everyone is glad-handing you and taking you to cocktail parties...that's not the best time to be figuring out what you want to be doing. Your classmates will be coming in with a plan (e.g. already targeting a group or two). If you're still trying to figure stuff out at that time, then you will be lost in the whirlwind. Now is a good time to attend as many career office events and bar association networking events to understand what lawyers in those practice areas already do. Then you can take classes accordingly.

If you want to do lit, I would absolutely take higher level writing classes.

If you want to do corporate, I would take the following, knowing that they will give you _foundational_ knowledge but not necessarily help you be plug and play: Contract Drafting, Corporations, Securities Regulation. If you want to do a specialty, then think about taking a Bankruptcy Class, '40 Act/Hedge Funds/Pooled Funds/Investment Management-type class, Secured Transactions.

If you want to do Real Estate, understand your firm's RE practice first. If they do mostly land use, take a land use class. If they do mostly finance/capital markets, take Real Estate Finance.

If you might want to do Labor & Employment, take that.

If you want to do tax, take Tax. Otherwise, do not take Tax. If you really like code-based things that involve some math and knowing lots of detailed tips and tricks, tax is for you. Also know that most people in your practice area are going to be a little weird. If you're cool with that, proceed with Tax.

Honestly, the best thing you can do is to read up on each specialty now so you can understand if you're at all actually interested before you "waste" a semester. However, you gotta get your credits in somehow, so try to pick classes that are at least somewhat interesting/prof is good and that aren't known as having too much work. Good luck.

[JenDarby]

On the corporate end nothing you learn in class is going to be that relevant, because you learn mostly cases. You're also likely to be trained as though you know nothing regardless so you're better served taking bar classes to make the bar easier. Increasing your odds of passing the bar by even 2-3% is probably worth more than grades. If you do good work then you're good. Your grades don't matter anymore.

Corporate drafting classes will basically mirror your entire future as a corporate lawyer. Just take that class over and over, and then ten more times for good measure! Same thing.

Don't take bar classes.