Top Law Schools

I graduated undergrad w/ high honors from a university well-known/respected throughout the U.S. I'm enrolled in a law school in the top 50. I got my final grades back from my first semester and found out that I failed two classes. Instead of having to go forward and take the more advanced version of the classes I failed, I decided to withdraw and re-think everything. I can start back in the fall and re-take the classes that I made F's in and the scores will average out. That being said, I don't know If I should re-take those classes at the school i'm currently enrolled in or transfer to a school that isn't ranked as highly and that doesn't cost as much. I'm just worried that If I choose not to reenroll at the school I already technically go to that I won't be able to get in anywhere else?

Does anyone know if it's possible to transfer to a "lesser" school w/ horrible grades?

This is a very short version of the whole story but I hope it's enough for some feedback! Thanks in advance!

How did you fail?

OP, you're probably better off dropping out, retaking the LSAT and starting over at a better school

Nebby wrote:OP, you're probably better off dropping out, retaking the LSAT and starting over at a better school

Unless there's some sort of explanation, like watching girlfriend get hit by a bus the week before finals, I'd say bail on law. Failing classes at a T50 doesn't bode well.

What does "more advanced versions of the classes I failed" mean? Did your school have 2-semester CivPro/Contracts or something? Did you fail midterms?

Anonymous User wrote:I graduated undergrad w/ high honors from a university well-known/respected throughout the U.S. I'm enrolled in a law school in the top 50. I got my final grades back from my first semester and found out that I failed two classes. Instead of having to go forward and take the more advanced version of the classes I failed, I decided to withdraw and re-think everything. I can start back in the fall and re-take the classes that I made F's in and the scores will average out. That being said, I don't know If I should re-take those classes at the school i'm currently enrolled in or transfer to a school that isn't ranked as highly and that doesn't cost as much. I'm just worried that If I choose not to reenroll at the school I already technically go to that I won't be able to get in anywhere else?

Does anyone know if it's possible to transfer to a "lesser" school w/ horrible grades?

This is a very short version of the whole story but I hope it's enough for some feedback! Thanks in advance!

You're in a tough spot. To be honest, I don't think they'll take you. And even if you did transfer to a TT or TTT, if you failed two classes, you're still likely going to fail or be in the C- range at the lower ranked school.

Can I ask what happened? Did you not study for finals or open a book all semester?

If that's the case, and you feel like you have it in you to do a lot better, I'd re-enroll and try to retake. But if you actually tried and still failed, I would probably drop out. Sorry.

eyeofvigilence wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:I graduated undergrad w/ high honors from a university well-known/respected throughout the U.S. I'm enrolled in a law school in the top 50. I got my final grades back from my first semester and found out that I failed two classes. Instead of having to go forward and take the more advanced version of the classes I failed, I decided to withdraw and re-think everything. I can start back in the fall and re-take the classes that I made F's in and the scores will average out. That being said, I don't know If I should re-take those classes at the school i'm currently enrolled in or transfer to a school that isn't ranked as highly and that doesn't cost as much. I'm just worried that If I choose not to reenroll at the school I already technically go to that I won't be able to get in anywhere else?

Does anyone know if it's possible to transfer to a "lesser" school w/ horrible grades?

This is a very short version of the whole story but I hope it's enough for some feedback! Thanks in advance!

You're in a tough spot. To be honest, I don't think they'll take you. And even if you did transfer to a TT or TTT, if you failed two classes, you're still likely going to fail or be in the C- range at the lower ranked school.

Can I ask what happened? Did you not study for finals or open a book all semester?

If that's the case, and you feel like you have it in you to do a lot better, I'd re-enroll and try to retake. But if you actually tried and still failed, I would probably drop out. Sorry.

I'm not exactly sure what happened ... I read the vast majority of the assigned cases and felt like I understood the material but evidently didn't test well. I had great outlines passed down to me and didn't make any of my own (huge mistake).. I don't think I realized how much work law school would be. I studied but definitely procrastinated. I know things will work out but right now I just don't know which direction to go in.

LegalEagle111 wrote:

eyeofvigilence wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:I graduated undergrad w/ high honors from a university well-known/respected throughout the U.S. I'm enrolled in a law school in the top 50. I got my final grades back from my first semester and found out that I failed two classes. Instead of having to go forward and take the more advanced version of the classes I failed, I decided to withdraw and re-think everything. I can start back in the fall and re-take the classes that I made F's in and the scores will average out. That being said, I don't know If I should re-take those classes at the school i'm currently enrolled in or transfer to a school that isn't ranked as highly and that doesn't cost as much. I'm just worried that If I choose not to reenroll at the school I already technically go to that I won't be able to get in anywhere else?

Does anyone know if it's possible to transfer to a "lesser" school w/ horrible grades?

This is a very short version of the whole story but I hope it's enough for some feedback! Thanks in advance!

You're in a tough spot. To be honest, I don't think they'll take you. And even if you did transfer to a TT or TTT, if you failed two classes, you're still likely going to fail or be in the C- range at the lower ranked school.

Can I ask what happened? Did you not study for finals or open a book all semester?

If that's the case, and you feel like you have it in you to do a lot better, I'd re-enroll and try to retake. But if you actually tried and still failed, I would probably drop out. Sorry.

I'm not exactly sure what happened ... I read the vast majority of the assigned cases and felt like I understood the material but evidently didn't test well. I had great outlines passed down to me and didn't make any of my own (huge mistake).. I don't think I realized how much work law school would be. I studied but definitely procrastinated. I know things will work out but right now I just don't know which direction to go in.

By "fail" did you mean you recieved an F? There is absolutely no way to fail an exam unless you either: (1) skip it; or (2) literally don't write anything down and insult the professor's mother

No, some schools actually fail students. Usually lower down the rankings than where the OP is, but it's possible. (And he said in the OP that he made Fs in the classes.)

Deleted

Op:

I think you have to do a real self evaluation. You haven't suggested that anything traumatic happened to you. You said "you read most of the cases" and you had "great outlines from other people." It appears that you attempted to coast by, doing the least amount of work possible and survive on your confirmed intelligence (as evidenced by your nationally respected and prestigious under grad). Clearly, this was a significant error.

The practice of law and law school are two very different things. However, to be good at either, a solid work ethic is key, as is being a self-starter who requires little motivation to complete large volumes of work that often (objectively) may be useless or unnecessary. Many times I've prepared a case for trial, knowing full well that the chance the case will actually be tried is 3 to 7 percent. I knew that most of the work I was doing would be for nothing. But I was able to motivate myself because over-preparation as a lawyer is an asset.

Take a real hard look at what you did this year. Talk to some peers about what they did to prepare (not some jerk off who claims they strolled into the test after an all night bender and scored an "A"), someone that actually really lived in the library for the month leading up to the exams and did well as a result. I'm not saying the law isn't for you, but I am saying that the evidence so far is that you failed these classes because you really didn't give a shit enough to prepare correctly. As others have said, it is damn hard to fail a law school exam.

Transferring is probably not an option for you. If you decide that you're going to go back and re-dedicate yourself to the task of becoming a lawyer, then go back to your school and really give it a real shot. Also know that your options for post grad employment (at least the first job) are going to be seriously limited based on what happened this year. You're most likely looking at small law or crappy, low level insurance defense for your first job. You may be able to trade up after that, but that's not certain by any means.

Good luck - and remember that there is no shame in dropping out and trying something else.