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As a soon to be 2L, can some of the individuals here explain why the 2L year is considered to be more work? (I've actually heard people claim that it is MUCH more work.)

If a person turns down law review, refuses to do moot court or any other extra curricular activities, how on earth can the 2L year be more work?

Can't it only be easier? Do the classes get more difficult? Or is it something else?

In addition to taking the same # of hours, tack on law review, moot court, trial team, increased extracirculars, 2L year really shouldn't entail any more work ... I think that you have answered your own question.

I'm sure 2L is a lot easier if you don't do anything at all outside of class... but most people want some resume-padding, so they try to do all or most of those things that you've proposed ignoring (law review, moot court, secondary journals, various other extracurriculars)

In addition to taking the same # of hours, tack on law review, moot court, trial team, increased extracirculars, etc ...

Hence, my turn down law review, moot court and refuse to do any extra-curricular activities comment.

With those variables out of the way, wouldn't the 2L year be easier?

I'm sure 2L is a lot easier if you don't do anything at all outside of class... but most people want some resume-padding, so they try to do all or most of those things that you've proposed ignoring (law review, moot court, secondary journals, various other extracurriculars)

Gotcha... so the "increased difficulty" in the 2L year is simply a function of most people trying to fit in other activities beyond their classes.

For those who reject all other law school activities beside class, it would tend to be much less difficult, correct?

So... is turning down law review a bad idea for someone who doesn't want to practice law, has no intention of taking the bar exam or working in any legal job?

Wouldn't the extra stress be a fools errand in that case?

chadwick218 wrote:In addition to taking the same # of hours, tack on law review, moot court, trial team, increased extracirculars, etc ...

This was an amazing example of why reading posts before responding to them is usual a winning message board stratagem.

GrapeApe wrote:So... is turning down law review a bad idea for someone who doesn't want to practice law, has no intention of taking the bar exam or working in any legal job?

*sound of a record screeching to a halt*

Going to law school for a second year is a bad idea in the above circumstances.

*sound of a record screeching to a halt*

Going to law school for a second year is a bad idea in the above circumstances.

Even if it is free, and that person is trying to get the J.D. for resume padding purposes in another field?

GrapeApe wrote:So... is turning down law review a bad idea for someone who doesn't want to practice law, has no intention of taking the bar exam or working in any legal job?

>WhatthefuckamIreading.jpg

GrapeApe wrote:

*sound of a record screeching to a halt*

Going to law school for a second year is a bad idea in the above circumstances.

Even if it is free, and that person is trying to get the J.D. for resume padding purposes in another field?

Yes.

>WhatthefuckamIreading.jpg

Not everyone goes to law school with the intention of becoming a lawyer. There are people in somewhat related fields (i.e. Law Enforcement) who want a J.D. to jump into the gold admin ranks.

You wouldn't believe how many people in the LE admin ranks have J.D.s

http://sf-police.org/index.aspx?page=1585
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http://news.mst.edu/2010/02/christine_l ... misso.html
http://www.frpd.org/chiefsPage.html
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Yes.

Why? If a J.D. can help a LE career, why not get it?

GrapeApe wrote:

*sound of a record screeching to a halt*

Going to law school for a second year is a bad idea in the above circumstances.

Even if it is free, and that person is trying to get the J.D. for resume padding purposes in another field?

If padding your resume is the goal, why would you eschew opportunities to distinguish yourself while in law school, such as working on a journal?

If padding your resume is the goal, why would you eschew opportunities to distinguish yourself while in law school, such as working on a journal?

Because while a journal is a fantastic resume boost for someone looking for a legal job, it is virtually worthless anywhere else. (Except unless you want to be a "community organizer" and then President.)

The hiring board for a PD isn't going to care if you were on Law Review or not. Most wouldn't even know what Law Review is. They all know what a J.D. is.

GrapeApe wrote:

If padding your resume is the goal, why would you eschew opportunities to distinguish yourself while in law school, such as working on a journal?

Because while a journal is a fantastic resume boost for someone looking for a legal job, it is virtually worthless anywhere else. (Except unless you want to be a "community organizer" and then President.)

The hiring board for a PD isn't going to care if you were on Law Review or not. Most wouldn't even know what Law Review is. They all know what a J.D. is.

They also know what a high school degree is, which is what many applicants have and get hired by.

And it's not free to go to law school and not make money for 3 years. Opportunity cost of not working plus living expenses (unless you are getting a stipend) add up.

Previously you pointed out that a great many people in the administration of law enforcement have JD's. Now you are suggesting that these very same people are unfamiliar with student-edited legal journals?

They also know what a high school degree is, which is what many applicants have and get hired by.

And it's not free to go to law school and not make money for 3 years. Opportunity cost of not working plus living expenses (unless you are getting a stipend) add up.

1. Try getting a LE Admin job with just a High School Degree. It won't work very well at any department that pays anything.
2. It is possible to continue to work (albeit not full time) while in law school.
3. Some people are married and have a spouse who will work while the other is in law school. If the spouse was normally a stay at home spouse, the lost income is made up while the other spouse is working in a new job.

Yes, it is true that what I have described is a fairly unique set of circumstances. However, it is important to remember that not everyone fits into the same mold my friend. Not everyone comes to law school right out of undergrad with a goal of BIGLAW on their mind.

Previously you pointed out that a great many people in the administration of law enforcement have JD's. Now you are suggesting that these very same people are unfamiliar with student-edited legal journals?

Those people might be, but in many cases, those people aren't usually the ones sitting on a hiring board or an interview board. In fact, many Chiefs are hired by town councils, or appointed civilian hiring boards.

Further, in any case, having a J.D. alone will separate your from the rest of the pack. Adding a legal journal in the mix isn't going to make that much of a difference.

GrapeApe wrote:As a soon to be 2L, can some of the individuals here explain why the 2L year is considered to be more work? (I've actually heard people claim that it is MUCH more work.)

If a person turns down law review, refuses to do moot court or any other extra curricular activities, how on earth can the 2L year be more work?

Can't it only be easier? Do the classes get more difficult? Or is it something else?

Many people do extra curricular activities, be that law review, moot court, another journal, or working.

If you do not do anything other than classes, you will have plenty of free time.

It's not exactly true to say that classes are "easier." But you will see less people doing all the reading/briefing. This occurs because people are juggling many things, and often daily class preparation must be sacrificed (particularly in classes with one final exam). Thus, people may say classes are "easier" because classes take less effort compared to 1L.

How much paid work is a 2L or 3L capable of doing (and would be available)? Is it more "beer money" or can it help reduce the financial burden of law school?

disco_barred wrote:

chadwick218 wrote:In addition to taking the same # of hours, tack on law review, moot court, trial team, increased extracirculars, etc ...

This was an amazing example of why reading posts before responding to them is usual a winning message board stratagem.

And your comment likewise adds considerable value ... I think that the OP answered his own question (b/t/w, someone's still upset that I don't think the legal market will be turning around anytime soon).

GrapeApe wrote:

I'm sure 2L is a lot easier if you don't do anything at all outside of class... but most people want some resume-padding, so they try to do all or most of those things that you've proposed ignoring (law review, moot court, secondary journals, various other extracurriculars)

Gotcha... so the "increased difficulty" in the 2L year is simply a function of most people trying to fit in other activities beyond their classes.

For those who reject all other law school activities beside class, it would tend to be much less difficult, correct?

So... is turning down law review a bad idea for someone who doesn't want to practice law, has no intention of taking the bar exam or working in any legal job?

Wouldn't the extra stress be a fools errand in that case?

He forgot OCI, callbacks (LOL at me thinking there will be callbacks), and/or getting over the feeling of being shut out. I figure the last of these will take a few months.

GrapeApe wrote:

I'm sure 2L is a lot easier if you don't do anything at all outside of class... but most people want some resume-padding, so they try to do all or most of those things that you've proposed ignoring (law review, moot court, secondary journals, various other extracurriculars)

Gotcha... so the "increased difficulty" in the 2L year is simply a function of most people trying to fit in other activities beyond their classes.

For those who reject all other law school activities beside class, it would tend to be much less difficult, correct?

So... is turning down law review a bad idea for someone who doesn't want to practice law, has no intention of taking the bar exam or working in any legal job?

Wouldn't the extra stress be a fools errand in that case?

Why would anyone go to law school if they had no intention of taking the bar exam or working in any legal job?