Missed write on, no journal...how screwed? Forum

[Anonymous User]

Long story short, had to move out of my apartment after finals, drive to California from the Midwest and then drove to Florida to start working. I did not have the time to read through 2,000 pages of the write on packet and write/blue book in the 12 days they gave us. Unfortunately my school only has 4 journals which all require participation in write on.

Stats, Top 15% at a school that sends about 40% BL/FC (Think ultimate trap school). How absolutely shit out of luck am I and whats a good way to spin this for oci.

[star fox]

Don't bring it up unless they ask and if they do just say why journal wasn't for you and highlight something else you're doing (like a clinic or externship) that you wanted to do instead. According to most people here who didn't do journals it's not a big deal.

[Anonymous User]

I was in a similar boat as you. Def don't highlight the issue, and become active in something else. I took a leadership position in the local bar association and externed. When I was asked about it, I just said I wanted to use my time to do what I was doing, and not on a journal.

[JenDarby]

Moot court is definitely a good thing to have if you don't have a journal. Plus depending on the school, it can be one of the more fun organizations.

[Anonymous User]

OP here, I tried out for moot court. Still waiting on results but our school has such a small moot court team I'm not banking on it. Would asking a prof who gave me an A for a research position during the semester be a good replacement?

[Anonymous User]

I had those stats from a similar school (but transferred to CCN) and didn't bother to write on anywhere. Nobody cared at OCI when I only had my original school's experience. Not sure if that helps.

One year later I'm very glad I don't have to do journal work.

[Mr. Peanutbutter]

40% BL/FC makes the school a trap school? You did pretty well, be normal and try pouring your efforts into something else like others said.

And yeah, if you're not that crazy about your school, is it too late to apply to transfer?

[Manali]

OP here, I tried out for moot court. Still waiting on results but our school has such a small moot court team I'm not banking on it. Would asking a prof who gave me an A for a research position during the semester be a good replacement?

Does your school have Trial Team?

[ronanOgara]

OP here, I tried out for moot court. Still waiting on results but our school has such a small moot court team I'm not banking on it. Would asking a prof who gave me an A for a research position during the semester be a good replacement?

Does your school have Trial Team?

Trial team will do very little to help him at OCI...

[Manali]

OP here, I tried out for moot court. Still waiting on results but our school has such a small moot court team I'm not banking on it. Would asking a prof who gave me an A for a research position during the semester be a good replacement?

Does your school have Trial Team?

Trial team will do very little to help him at OCI...

If he misses the OCI boat, he'll at least have a good credential for PD/DA/small firms.

[Anonymous User]

40% BL/FC makes the school a trap school? You did pretty well, be normal and try pouring your efforts into something else like others said.

And yeah, if you're not that crazy about your school, is it too late to apply to transfer?

Its a trap school in the sense that its not T14 but has a ton of lay prestige. I love my school tho I'm not interested in transfering.
'

[Anonymous User]

40% BL/FC makes the school a trap school? You did pretty well, be normal and try pouring your efforts into something else like others said.

And yeah, if you're not that crazy about your school, is it too late to apply to transfer?

Its a trap school in the sense that its not T14 but has a ton of lay prestige. I love my school tho I'm not interested in transfering.
'

You're fine. Just say you wanted to RA. RA is broad enough that the interviewer will think you're doing awesome work for the professor.

[Anonymous User]

Not screwed, but you have to do something else that will help you seem like an interesting candidate to the firms. And it should probably be more than just "doing" it--for instance, if it's moot court, you should try to win and/or get a best brief and/or best oralist award. Other things that are interesting to firms: several publications (I would put this above journal, though you also risk looking like a flight risk to academia), clinics (especially ones with a competitive application process and that give you translatable experience, such as arguing in court or drafting a brief that is submitted to a court), graduating summa. These are the types of things that make it onto your bio at a law firm.

In other words, there are certain things firms view as proxies for distinction. You need to pick out a few of those and add them to your resume. I wouldn't put being an RA on the list.

[lymenheimer]

Top 15% at a school that sends about 40% BL/FC (Think ultimate trap school).

You can just say Michigan, bro.

[pancakes3]

Not screwed, but you have to do something else that will help you seem like an interesting candidate to the firms. And it should probably be more than just "doing" it--for instance, if it's moot court, you should try to win and/or get a best brief and/or best oralist award. Other things that are interesting to firms: several publications (I would put this above journal, though you also risk looking like a flight risk to academia), clinics (especially ones with a competitive application process and that give you translatable experience, such as arguing in court or drafting a brief that is submitted to a court), graduating summa. These are the types of things that make it onto your bio at a law firm.

In other words, there are certain things firms view as proxies for distinction. You need to pick out a few of those and add them to your resume. I wouldn't put being an RA on the list.

None of this is attainable by OCI.

[JenDarby]

Not screwed, but you have to do something else that will help you seem like an interesting candidate to the firms. And it should probably be more than just "doing" it--for instance, if it's moot court, you should try to win and/or get a best brief and/or best oralist award. Other things that are interesting to firms: several publications (I would put this above journal, though you also risk looking like a flight risk to academia), clinics (especially ones with a competitive application process and that give you translatable experience, such as arguing in court or drafting a brief that is submitted to a court), graduating summa. These are the types of things that make it onto your bio at a law firm.

In other words, there are certain things firms view as proxies for distinction. You need to pick out a few of those and add them to your resume. I wouldn't put being an RA on the list.

Let's remember he has a couple months until OCI. It's not like you've done anything for your journal by the time OCI rolls around, it's just a check mark on your resume, like having made the moot court team.

There's no time for WINNING moot court, competitive clinics and publications.

If he strikes out at OCI, then yes, everything helps (to the extent that your chances at big law are severely diminished either way).

[Anonymous User]

Good points. I should have re-read the OP. I forgot it was about OCI. Yes, you likely won't be able to do any of stuff by OCI. You could do some of it before 3L OCI, if your school has one. If you do some of this stuff, you will be able to apply for jobs as a 3L and, I would guess, get some interviews.

[Anonymous User]

If it helps, I was something like top 35-40% at a T6 that has a billion journals and didn't do the write on. It honestly only ever came up once in an interview and they didn't even ding me for it.

[emkay625]

Sign up for whatever clinic in the fall is most related to the practice area you want to work in. If people ask, just say you wanted to focus on the clinic instead.

Being top 15% at a school with 40% BL/FC, I think you'll be fine. Do a couple of practice interviews and polish your resume and you should be okay.

[irish921]

ND. You're totally fine at top 15% if you are normal for interviews. No journal won't drag you down that much, especially if you find some kind of activity replacement.

[JenDarby]

ND. You're totally fine at top 15% if you are normal for interviews. No journal won't drag you down that much, especially if you find some kind of activity replacement.

Anecdotally, the one person I know from ND skipped journal write-on for vacation and had no problems getting multiple offers. He was top 15% and is a normal sociable guy.

[Anonymous User]

Yes this is ND. Also the write-on packet wasn't even 900 pages, let alone 2000.