Law Review--can some 2Ls and 3Ls weigh in? Forum

[heyguys]

Hey guys,

I've been browsing the 'search' forum about folks' past experiences on law review. Our class is just gearing up to talk about it, and I was just wondering whether the 2Ls and 3Ls on this board could chime in regarding their experiences, e.g.:

1) Was doing LR worth it?
2) What are the advantages/disadvantages?
3) What are the consequences of just opting not to do law review even if given the chance? Do people get offered it and turn it down?
4) If you didn't do law review, do you regret that, or are you glad you didn't do it?

Please don't limit yourself to those questions--I'm sure all of us 1Ls would benefit from whatever insights you guys might have.

[270910]

http://www.blogdenovo.org/archives/000816.html

(If you click through the links, there's like a dozen different takes on this matter)

YWIA

[Aeroplane]

OP - since you go to Yale, answers might be very different for you than for most people who respond. Just a caution.

[heyguys]

OP - since you go to Yale, answers might be very different for you than for most people who respond. Just a caution.

Well, I was thinking that this thread might be a topic that might have a broader appeal than just serving my own information-gathering purposes. That said, I guess I don't have a very clear notion of how it's hugely different for me v. someone at any of the HYSCCN. I'll definitely bear your notice in mind though.

[Aeroplane]

OP - since you go to Yale, answers might be very different for you than for most people who respond. Just a caution.

Well, I was thinking that this thread might be a topic that might have a broader appeal than just serving my own information-gathering purposes. That said, I guess I don't have a very clear notion of how it's hugely different for me v. someone at any of the HYSCCN. I'll definitely bear your notice in mind though.

It's a good thread topic, I haven't seen much about it on TLS.

What I meant about Yale specifically is that students at other schools, including probably HCCN (I dunno about S) have more need to distinguish themselves in various ways than students at Yale. I was told by professors that not doing LR is not an option if I want to try for academia later. I doubt that's the case at Yale.

Anyway, I'm a 1L but I can share a few friend experiences:
1) T2 - did LR for one year, didn't like it, quit after 2L. Did moot court 3L and loved it. No regrets. Did a district court clerkship, then went to a small firm doing the type of work he wanted to do (idealistic do-gooder stuff that's not very lucrative). Now has own firm w/a few partners. Still doing same kind of work.
2) T14 - did LR & took a major leadership role 3L. Loved it. Firm job after LS. No regrets.

Edited to correct mistake.

[steve_nash]

,

[A'nold]

If I get into one of my transfer schools I'm going to use that as an excuse not to do law review.

[NotMyRealName09]

My 2 cents - never tell anyone you could have done law review but didn't. Thats like saying "I could have banged a super-model, but she wanted to hang out with me afterwards to talk about our feelings for hours, so I passed."

Turning it down signals an aversion to hard work, even with an obvious reward in sight. I think its fair to say that if there is one single accolade that is universally respected both in and out of the legal field, it is Law Review. If you are climbing, might as well try for as high as you can get.

I'm not sure I could understand an argument that LR wasn't worth it. I believe it is ALWAYS worth it, if you can get on. Just buck up, do the work, and feel good about your improved resume. I'm not saying you can't have a rewarding law school career without being on LR, but it simply never hurts, and always helps.

[IzziesGal]

What about not trying for LR, but taking a board position on another journal?

[NotMyRealName09]

Just my opinion, but LR is always better. Although if you are at some highly ranked school, its journals may be well respected in their own right. How respected? See here: http://lawlib.wlu.edu/LJ/index.aspx

And, um, I just have to plug and say Michigan State University Law Review is ranked 62nd general journal (law reviews) in the nation - ahead of MULTIPLE T1/T2 schools.

Just had to tout that our "T3" Law Review is more respected and cited than multiple T1/T2 schools, so don't put so much faith in the U.S. News rankings. GO GREEN.

[XxSpyKEx]

Just my opinion, but LR is always better. Although if you are at some highly ranked school, its journals may be well respected in their own right. How respected? See here: http://lawlib.wlu.edu/LJ/index.aspx

And, um, I just have to plug and say Michigan State University Law Review is ranked 62nd general journal (law reviews) in the nation - ahead of MULTIPLE T1/T2 schools.

Just had to tout that our "T3" Law Review is more respected and cited than multiple T1/T2 schools, so don't put so much faith in the U.S. News rankings. GO GREEN.

I didn't even know that their were rankings for law reviews until just now.

[TTT-LS]

.

[amped]

Just do law review. It's a lot of work, but employers love it (probably even for Yalies).

[Ipsa Dixit]

1) Was doing LR worth it?

Yes, it is worth it. I'm not sure it made me a better writer though I am sure it improved my editing skills. The real value to it is having it on your resume. It's one of those little distinctions that can cause an employer to look at your resume rather than just chucking it.

I think it is a "must have" if you want into academia some day.

2) What are the advantages/disadvantages?

Advantages discussed above. Disadvantages include tedium, long hours, and dealing with difficult board members. LR wasn't my favorite, but I'm not sorry I did it.

3) What are the consequences of just opting not to do law review even if given the chance? Do people get offered it and turn it down?

If you compete at my school and are accepted, you are not allowed to turn it down. Not sure what happens if you do anyway... maybe they just give you a failing grade (it is Pass/Fail at my school.)

[legallybound]

Here's another topic:

What do you gain by working on Secondary Journal?
How does the workload (or work itself) compare to LR?
Would you do it again?

[ScaredWorkedBored]

There are some secondary journals that are more well respected than most flagship law reviews. If your school has one, you know about it or should.

Senior board on a secondary versus membership on the main isn't a "choice" you can make, by the way. Unless you are at Yale, I suppose. The selection processes are a year apart. And legtimiately run secondaries won't be much less work anyway. If you don't get Law Review, do the secondary.

Basically, there's no good reason for not trying out for Law Review, nor is there one for not joining if tryout is successful. Even if the current leadership is as bad as the legendary UVA Moot Court Board that's been on ATL twice for being either bastards and/or incompetent. All the jerkass leadership will be graduated by the time you join.

[98234872348]

Unless you are at Yale, I suppose.

Quoted for lulz since OP is at yale.

[NotMyRealName09]

Just my opinion, but LR is always better. Although if you are at some highly ranked school, its journals may be well respected in their own right. How respected? See here: http://lawlib.wlu.edu/LJ/index.aspx

And, um, I just have to plug and say Michigan State University Law Review is ranked 62nd general journal (law reviews) in the nation - ahead of MULTIPLE T1/T2 schools.

Just had to tout that our "T3" Law Review is more respected and cited than multiple T1/T2 schools, so don't put so much faith in the U.S. News rankings. GO GREEN.

I didn't even know that their were rankings for law reviews until just now.

Yep, the rankings are based in part on how frequently the journal / law review is cited in other sources, weighted against how often they publish. (I don't know the formula, exactly).

[Charles Barkley]

Unless you are at Yale, I suppose.

Quoted for lulz since OP is at yale.

LAWL

[underdawg]

Just my opinion, but LR is always better. Although if you are at some highly ranked school, its journals may be well respected in their own right. How respected? See here: http://lawlib.wlu.edu/LJ/index.aspx

And, um, I just have to plug and say Michigan State University Law Review is ranked 62nd general journal (law reviews) in the nation - ahead of MULTIPLE T1/T2 schools.

Just had to tout that our "T3" Law Review is more respected and cited than multiple T1/T2 schools, so don't put so much faith in the U.S. News rankings. GO GREEN.

if you think that dumb list means that going to minn will get you a better job than going to duke, i don't know what to tell you

us news rankings matter because people care about em (because they think they matter).

[seeker63]

Turning down law review is not a crazy choice. Depending on the school, law review can be a ton of work. I know that it has drastically reduced the amount of time I have had for classes, and my grades have dropped as a result. If you are in a T14 with top 10% grades--required for many law reviews--and you can keep that up for two more years, your career will not be negatively affected by the choice unless you want to be a SCOTUS clerk or an academic.

That being said, at Yale I would definitely do it. Almost half of your class gets on YLJ, so I don't imagine that it will be too much work. If you get the opportunity, take it and run with it.

[SteelReserve]

What do you gain by working on Secondary Journal?

The gain you get is that you never have to respond to the interview question "so why no journal or moot court"? Outside top schools, doing at least moot/court or secondary journal is essential. Please please do not debate this point with some anecdote about a buddy that got a sweet gig without doing either from a TTTT.

Law Review is king and will always be gold--it is a credential that you carry for the rest of your career. There is just something about it that is valued throughout the legal community. If you get on, it would be foolish to turn it down.

From my experience, the Comment writing process undoubtedly contributed to my abilities as a legal writer and researcher.

In contrast to Steve_nash, I cannot say I loved writing my comment. I did not mind editing--in fact it was quite tolerable and relaxing. But in the end, the value of Law Review is that you made Law Review.

[steve_nash]

.

[Anonymous Loser]

These rankings seem a little....odd. i.e. the journal I am on as a 1L has the same combined score as California Law Review (and Yale Law Review)...unless I am missing something.

Yale L.J. (90.2) and Cal. L. Rev. (70.9) have different combined scores. I'm not sure what you are doing to end up with a result where these numbers are the same.

And, um, I just have to plug and say Michigan State University Law Review is ranked 62nd general journal (law reviews) in the nation - ahead of MULTIPLE T1/T2 schools.

Just had to tout that our "T3" Law Review is more respected and cited than multiple T1/T2 schools, so don't put so much faith in the U.S. News rankings. GO GREEN.

Unfortunately, Mich. State L. Rev. gets pwned by numerous specialty journals, which drops its overall ranking to 103.

[GrapeApe]

So what about a person who is 6th in their class with a CALI award under their belt? Would law review still be an absolute necessity?

Does it change anything if this person has zero intention of ever practicing law, and is only in law school to use the J.D. to leverage a better law enforcement position? Finally, what if this person absolutely despises legal writing and editing?

Should any such person take law review or let someone who actually wants it have it?