I am only good at take-home exams. Can I survive at Biglaw? Forum

[Anonymous User]

My GPA varies, depending on the type of the exam. My question is can I survive at biglaw where I guess work product should be done promptly? Am I a lawyer material?

I realized that I suck at a three-hour issue spotting exam. My 1L grade was nothing but a shame. Not even a median. But I consistently get at least an A minus (my school does not have A plus. 4.0 scale) for take-home exams, papers and multiples.

I ALWAYS don't have enough time to write what I know during the three hour exam and end up half-finishing my answers.

It would be because 1) I analyze a few issues in great length almost perfectly, so I lose all of my time for remaining issues. I even correct my typos during the three-hour exam and 2) I hate outlining on my own, so almost always use someone else's. But, for the take-home exams, I start structuring my thoughts and end up producing an A answer/paper in one day by googling or reading someone else's outline.

I like to accomplish a project (e.g. producing a great answer for a take-home). If outlining were to be graded, I would produce an A outline. Really can't change who I am. I tried but my brain/motivation seems to work differently.

In addition, I don't like talking and only want to have a succinct and "necessary" conversation (hence avoid small talks) / hate talkative people (hence most law students).

What do you think? Any anecdotes would help.

[20160810]

You're overthinking this. Law school exams aren't anything like LSAT logic games. Working at a law firm is nothing like taking a law school exam. Sure in both cases it helps to be bright and write well but that's about where the similarities end. I cannot imagine my boss popping into my office and saying "SBL, I need you to write me a memo on this extremely general, meandering fact pattern in the next three hours. Please be as broad and unfocused as possible, and whatever you do, DO NOT DO A SINGLE BIT OF RESEARCH!"

[Anonymous User]

My GPA varies, depending on the type of the exam. My question is can I survive at biglaw where I guess work product should be done promptly? Am I a lawyer material?

I realized that I suck at a three-hour issue spotting exam. My 1L grade was nothing but a shame. Not even a median. But I consistently get at least an A minus (my school does not have A plus. 4.0 scale) for take-home exams, papers and multiples.

I ALWAYS don't have enough time to write what I know during the three hour exam and end up half-finishing my answers.

It would be because 1) I analyze a few issues in great length almost perfectly, so I lose all of my time for remaining issues. I even correct my typos during the three-hour exam and 2) I hate outlining on my own, so almost always use someone else's. But, for the take-home exams, I start structuring my thoughts and end up producing an A answer/paper in one day by googling or reading someone else's outline.

I like to accomplish a project (e.g. producing a great answer for a take-home). If outlining were to be graded, I would produce an A outline. Really can't change who I am. I tried but my brain/motivation seems to work differently.

In addition, I don't like talking and only want to have a succinct and "necessary" conversation (hence avoid small talks) / hate talkative people (hence most law students).

What do you think? Any anecdotes would help.

no. take-home exams must be mastered for you to be even considered for big-law. that's exactly why take-home exams exist, to gauge your potential big-law performance, and is the biggest factor considered in big-law recruitment (way over law school rank, internships, clerkships, law review, or law journal).

[TLSModBot]

You're overthinking this. Law school exams aren't anything like LSAT logic games. Working at a law firm is nothing like taking a law school exam. Sure in both cases it helps to be bright and write well but that's about where the similarities end. I cannot imagine my boss popping into my office and saying "SBL, I need you to write me a memo on this extremely general, meandering fact pattern in the next three hours. Please be as broad and unfocused as possible, and whatever you do, DO NOT DO A SINGLE BIT OF RESEARCH!"

Actually this is a great idea for made-up SA work partners can give - it requires no effort on the part of the busy partners and tricks the poor SAs into thinking that lawyer life will be just like law school.

[ballouttacontrol]

I can't wait to be senior enough to give troll assignments to neurotic SAs

[PvblivsScipio]

I can't wait to be senior enough to give troll assignments to neurotic SAs

I got several assignments from first years during my SA. I'll keep any suggestions here in mind for next summer.

[DELG]

You probably cannot survive in biglaw but that has nothing to do with the details in your OP

[ballouttacontrol]

I can't wait to be senior enough to give troll assignments to neurotic SAs

I got several assignments from first years during my SA. I'll keep any suggestions here in mind for next summer.

Probably depends on firm, mine in two diff firms really only came from people around 3rd or 4th year and up

[20160810]

I can't wait to be senior enough to give troll assignments to neurotic SAs

The highest and best use of SAs is non billable marketing crap

[Anonymous User]

Law school tests have nothing to do with biglaw performance. Also, the extent to which your writing/research ability has any impact on your biglaw performance will differ depending on whether you are lit or corp. The more significant determinant is whether you can spot typos, avoid making typos, perform on very little sleep for extended periods, exercise political correctness, have a generally good attitude, not make the firm look bad to clients and communicate your scheduling difficulties/time constraints to associates/partners in such a way that they are not upset and within such a period that they have time to help you out (before missing an "important" deadline). As an aside, if you take longer to do tests, and in the future, assignments, you'll probably bill more for a given assignment, so maybe that's a plus in the eyes of the firm.

[kaysta]

Law school tests have nothing to do with biglaw performance. Also, the extent to which your writing/research ability has any impact on your biglaw performance will differ depending on whether you are lit or corp. The more significant determinant is whether you can spot typos, avoid making typos, perform on very little sleep for extended periods, exercise political correctness, have a generally good attitude, not make the firm look bad to clients and communicate your scheduling difficulties/time constraints to associates/partners in such a way that they are not upset and within such a period that they have time to help you out (before missing an "important" deadline). As an aside, if you take longer to do tests, and in the future, assignments, you'll probably bill more for a given assignment, so maybe that's a plus in the eyes of the firm.

yeah, I wouldnt conflate 1L grades with ability to survive in biglaw. Don't overanalyze your test taking style. I'm not sure why you're convinced you can't increase your speed though, this can generally be improved with practice, maybe start in an environment that doesn't involve stress or demand results (ie not a test)

[PennBull]

You probably cannot survive in biglaw but that has nothing to do with the details in your OP