Duke Class of 2013 Forum

[paralegal]

Poprox and Reedie -

Thanks for posting the most recent info from financial aid...

_________________________

Plus....reminder to all -

Immunization Form due June 30......for fall starters.

[thickfreakness]

Wife has a job, got approved and depsoited on the townhouse, and set a date with the movers. This stuff's gettin' real now!

[Jericwithers]

Wife has a job, got approved and depsoited on the townhouse, and set a date with the movers. This stuff's gettin' real now!

Congrats!

[DallasCowboy]

Congrats, Freak!

Man, I have accomplished absolutely nothing this summer, except peace of mind.

[rotflawl]

Wife has a job, got approved and depsoited on the townhouse, and set a date with the movers. This stuff's gettin' real now!

Good news!

[Jericwithers]

Congrats, Freak!

Man, I have accomplished absolutely nothing this summer, except peace of mind.

Summer starts for me at 5pm tomorrow, and I'm excited to accomplish even less than you have.

[rotflawl]

Congrats, Freak!

Man, I have accomplished absolutely nothing this summer, except peace of mind.

Summer starts for me at 5pm tomorrow, and I'm excited to accomplish even less than you have.

Wow, I feel old. What's this "summer" of which you speak? My college graduation was two years ago tomorrow...

[Jericwithers]

Congrats, Freak!

Man, I have accomplished absolutely nothing this summer, except peace of mind.

Summer starts for me at 5pm tomorrow, and I'm excited to accomplish even less than you have.

Wow, I feel old. What's this "summer" of which you speak? My college graduation was two years ago tomorrow...

Don't worry, I'm going to feel extremely young in law school (and wherever I end up practicing).

[rotflawl]

Congrats, Freak!

Man, I have accomplished absolutely nothing this summer, except peace of mind.

Summer starts for me at 5pm tomorrow, and I'm excited to accomplish even less than you have.

Wow, I feel old. What's this "summer" of which you speak? My college graduation was two years ago tomorrow...

Don't worry, I'm going to feel extremely young in law school (and wherever I end up practicing).

After I turn 24 in the fall, I'll probably just keep recycling that birthday until it's no longer believable.

[atlrochester]

exam software;

Yea each semester we download the latest version of software called Electronic BlueBook. It's just a type of word processor that allows you to submit directly to the registrar. It also saves your work every couple of seconds in case your computer crashes. The software can also be used "open" (allowing you to navigate outside of it once it's opened and use the internet, etc) or "closed" (bluebook will be the only thing on your screen). While all of my tests were at least partially open (ranging from allowing a 4-page self-made outline max to allowing commercial outlines) none of them were 'bluebook-open' allowing internet searching.

word constraints;

Yea I think the constraints are chosen for two reasons; 1) a genuine desire to have coherent exams instead of word vomit 2) being reasonable to the professor who has to grade 50+ exams

[Jericwithers]

ATL, does the bluebook software have spell check.....

[jonjung710]

Hey guys, i was wondering how well Duke places its grads in Chicago. Sadly, I don't have any connections in Chicago . Will it be extremely difficult for me to secure a Biglaw job in Chicago if I go to Duke? Thanks in advance!

[DallasCowboy]

According to NALP, only 6 firms from the Chi interview at OCIs. Did you get into Michigan (36 firms) or Northwestern (42)? Hell, even GULC has 14. Also, only 6% of 2009 grads went to the Midwest. But, because Duke is a national school, it should be possible.

[Jericwithers]

So does anyone record their classes on a voice recorder? Is this even allowed by many professors? I feel it probably wouldn't be helpful since most classes probably aren't lecture but are more socratic discussion, correct?

[paralegal]

The largerest percentage of Duke graduates place into NYC and DC and in part by self selection. However, I personally know a partner at a top Vault 25 Biglaw firm in Chicago who is in charge of recruitment - I met with him before I finalized my decision to attend Duke. He said that Duke was definitely recruited by Chicago firms. At his firm, for example, he said they specifically hired a few graduates from a handful of top law schools - Duke included as one of those schools. With the small class size at Duke, I would think this might place you at somewhat of an advantage.

[Bosque]

ATL, does the bluebook software have spell check.....

Yes, yes it does. And thank God for it.

[Reedie]

So does anyone record their classes on a voice recorder? Is this even allowed by many professors? I feel it probably wouldn't be helpful since most classes probably aren't lecture but are more socratic discussion, correct?

I'm terrible at taking notes on lectures and discussions, so I might purchase one. It will probably be a waste, however.

[rotflawl]

So does anyone record their classes on a voice recorder? Is this even allowed by many professors? I feel it probably wouldn't be helpful since most classes probably aren't lecture but are more socratic discussion, correct?

I'm terrible at taking notes on lectures and discussions, so I might purchase one. It will probably be a waste, however.

I think MS OneNote has a recording function. I'm not sure of the time maximum, but I used the v-recorder for not insignificant portions my research projects' focus groups in college.

[rotflawl]

The largerest percentage of Duke graduates place into NYC and DC and in part by self selection. However, I personally know a partner at a top Vault 25 Biglaw firm in Chicago who is in charge of recruitment - I met with him before I finalized my decision to attend Duke. He said that Duke was definitely recruited by Chicago firms. At his firm, for example, he said they specifically hired a few graduates from a handful of top law schools - Duke included as one of those schools. With the small class size at Duke, I would think this might place you at somewhat of an advantage.

I love how well informed you are about hiring! It's very reassuring to hear about Duke's good reputation. Are planning to return to SoCal (if I remember correctly) to work?

[Jericwithers]

The largerest percentage of Duke graduates place into NYC and DC and in part by self selection. However, I personally know a partner at a top Vault 25 Biglaw firm in Chicago who is in charge of recruitment - I met with him before I finalized my decision to attend Duke. He said that Duke was definitely recruited by Chicago firms. At his firm, for example, he said they specifically hired a few graduates from a handful of top law schools - Duke included as one of those schools. With the small class size at Duke, I would think this might place you at somewhat of an advantage.

I love how well informed you are about hiring! It's very reassuring to hear about Duke's good reputation. Are planning to return to SoCal (if I remember correctly) to work?

Lol I always quote paralegal's good words on Duke to my friends and family. Looking forward to making partner in DC and recruiting coordinator in Chicago .

[paralegal]

Thanks, guys, for your nice comments....

Actually, I went to UG on the East Coast...really prefer the East Coast. Been working in So Cali for a Vault 25 firm (Biglaw with offices all over the US and international offices as well) - absolutely amazing job...and the partners that I work with everyday are from all the top law schools...Harvard, Columbia, Stanford, Duke, UVA, Michigan, Penn....I feel really fortunate to be working in this incredibly intellectual environment.

Looking forward to heading back to the East Coast - hoping for Biglaw in DC or NYC.

[ObviouslyMasochistic]

The largerest percentage of Duke graduates place into NYC and DC and in part by self selection. However, I personally know a partner at a top Vault 25 Biglaw firm in Chicago who is in charge of recruitment - I met with him before I finalized my decision to attend Duke. He said that Duke was definitely recruited by Chicago firms. At his firm, for example, he said they specifically hired a few graduates from a handful of top law schools - Duke included as one of those schools. With the small class size at Duke, I would think this might place you at somewhat of an advantage.

Definitely agree with this. The only thing is that people who want Chicago or Cali will have to do a bit more legwork for 1L summer jobs and OCI. Since few firms come on campus to interview from those areas, you'll have to be proactive in reaching out to other firms outside of OCI. It's not a big deal, just requires a bit more work to get to Chicago than for the NW kids.

[los blancos]

According to NALP, only 6 firms from the Chi interview at OCIs. Did you get into Michigan (36 firms) or Northwestern (42)? Hell, even GULC has 14. Also, only 6% of 2009 grads went to the Midwest. But, because Duke is a national school, it should be possible.

FWIW when I met a 2L at ASO who was going to be working for K&E. I think she might've had ties, though.

I'm from Chicago and I'm not too worried but that's mainly because I have ties to this market (and I don't really intend on coming back to begin with). It might be a tough nut to crack if you don't know anyone but the relative rarity of Duke grads in the area might work for you.

[Jericwithers]

So financial aid information is out. It seems they don't give you any of your loan money until the 1st day of class. I guess I have to take out a loan to pay for things before I get my loan money?

EDIT: While I have just began to look through all the handbook information I have some questions maybe current students or others could help answer for me.

1) Are loans dispersed only in the fall for the entire school year, or once in fall and once in spring?
2) If so, is it possible to increase your loan amount (assuming you didn't take out the full amount possible) between what you got for the fall semester and what you get for the spring semester?

Thanks.

[paralegal]

Jericwithers -

1) In the 2010 Enrolled Student Information packet, under Tuition Payments, the language reads "loans are disbursed at the beginning of the semester." This language suggests that loans are disbursed per semester.
2) Haven't read anything specific to this question. However, I would tend to believe that the loan amount could be increased if necessary.

Best to contact Financial Aid to get straight answers.

I did read that we should sign up for "direct deposit." - If you choose to borrow enough to also cover living expenses, the remaining amount will be refunded to you directly into your checking account through direct deposit.

Hope that helps....