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Will be taking the NY bar in July 2016. I was all ready to take trusts and estates until my advisor told me to wait to senior year/closer to the bar. I'm already registered for Con Law II and Evidence. Any recommendations on courses to take that will help me for the bar but that I won't forget when the bar finally arrives? Maybe something like Legal Profession? Thanks y'all!

Unless you're dramatically different from the average law student, there is no class you will remember well enough for the bar to be worth including in your schedule.

I am a big fan of knocking out exit requirements 2L.

But I would more so take things that allow yourself during OCI. Like securities, or tax, or banking. Its hard to saw you are into tax, if you do not take it.

Why would anyone take Con Law II

It's con law II: first amendment, and it's required.

What are your goals after law school.

If you will be seeking federal clerkships, take Federal Courts. Administrative Law, Commercial Transactions, Corporate Law, Family Law...these will all provide a good base for your future practice, depending on what you plan to do.

I plan on doing family law, specifically matrimonial..

I will be taking family law, matrimonial law, and mediation in the spring.

When did you guys take legal profession?

Mr.Throwback wrote:When did you guys take legal profession?

Most people seem to take it as a 3L.

Mr.Throwback wrote:When did you guys take legal profession?

I took it as a 3L so that I took the MPRE while I was in the class. Made both "studying" for the MPRE and studying for the exam easier to do it all at once.

Danger Zone wrote:Why would anyone take Con Law II

my school reqs CL2

Meanwhile, they only have 1 section of evidence each semester and Im 0/3 on getting in.

Danger Zone wrote:Why would anyone take Con Law II

Because Wikipedia is so clutch.

there are a lot of factors you can weigh

-Class curve from previous years
-Personal interest
-Academic BS or BLL?
-Format of the class (paper? open/closed book final? additional assignments?)
-Times of classes

don't worry about bar prep

I took an externship course, which gave me time away from school, more work experience going into 2L summer, and the opportunity to improve my writing and get another writing sample. I highly recommend some sort of externship or clinic course.

I have an internship lined up for the fall already, although it wouldn't take the place of a class (at least i don't think?). So I now I have to deal with trying to schedule around that.

Stick to classes you can get an easy A in. How you get there is based on the factors that Nova listed. Look for generous curves and easy/engaging profs.

I guess it doesn't help that I have no clue what classes are "an easy A".

Talk to upperclassmen.

Business Associations is a pretty good class to knock out early.

.

I balanced: a) What I know I can get a good grade in, b) what interests me, and c) what class would teach me things that might help me over summer.

Figured everything else that I need to learn for the bar will be taught to me by BarBri.

Mr.Throwback wrote:I plan on doing family law, specifically matrimonial..

I will be taking family law, matrimonial law, and mediation in the spring.

Sounds like you know what you're doing.
Consider a class in ADR (a lot of matrimonial law involves negotiating and settlements.)
Also, consider clinic. My 1L summer I interned part time at a clinic for indigent clients. I did a lot of divorce complaints, custody stips, etc. If you can't get in with A Family Law Firm, try to get involved with something like that.

reverendt wrote:

Mr.Throwback wrote:I plan on doing family law, specifically matrimonial..

I will be taking family law, matrimonial law, and mediation in the spring.

Sounds like you know what you're doing.
Consider a class in ADR (a lot of matrimonial law involves negotiating and settlements.)
Also, consider clinic. My 1L summer I interned part time at a clinic for indigent clients. I did a lot of divorce complaints, custody stips, etc. If you can't get in with a family law FIRM, try to get involved with something like that.

Agreed on ADR (or other sort of negotiations class). Consider also some sort of wills, trusts, and estates class, which will touch upon a lot of issues that impact or intersect with family law.

jarofsoup wrote:I am a big fan of knocking out exit requirements 2L.

This.

Not only does it free 3L up for jerb searching/interviewing (especially since you said you want to practice Family Law...note on that, take a Family Law course that actually does NY DRL), it also opens up your 3L schedule to anything you realize you need to take over 2L that you didn't actually take. Prior to 2L I thought no way in hell am I taking Admin Law, and now I've realized that not only is it on the NY bar now (I'm taking it in July 2015, so it'll definitely be on yours), there's a chance I may end up in an administrative setting later on in life, and it'd be nice to get more familiar with it.

But yes, put your time in during 2L (which will suck) and enjoy your 3L year. I'm this spring finals period away from that sweet, sweet 3L life.

ETA: and yes on ADR for a Family Law track.