Bored GULC 3L Taking Questions Forum

[TheSpanishMain]

How do finals work with respect to scheduling? I see for the fall they're anywhere from 9 - 20 December. Are the days and times just randomly assigned to individual sections or what?

My wife is active duty military and is going to be overseas next year. Between semesters/over Christmas I'm planning on traveling to see her, so I want to get my finals done as soon as humanly possible. I emailed and asked about getting assigned to whatever section finishes them the earliest and was told to wait and contact the registrar. Any insight into how amenable they might be to a request like this?

There's no way to know - they know the dates fairly early in the semester, but even those are subject to change.

Regardless, though, most sections have largely the same dates for finals. And I doubt they'd let you reschedule for that reason - it's not dire / unchangeable enough.

Well, it's pretty unchangeable. I have to catch a military flight...it's not somewhere that commercial carriers fly to, and they're only once a week. Anyway, I'm really just hoping to avoid having a final on that last day, Saturday the 20th.

[Sgtpeppernyc]

Oh, I wouldn't worry then - I don't think I've ever had a final on the last day.

[TheSpanishMain]

I know this question is both super general and borderline retarded, but any idea what the typical 1L schedule is? Should you expect to have class 5 days a week?

[JustHawkin]

I know this question is both super general and borderline retarded, but any idea what the typical 1L schedule is? Should you expect to have class 5 days a week?

Definitely a good question. I was kicking myself that I didn't ask this on the tour!

[hichvichwoh]

I know this question is both super general and borderline retarded, but any idea what the typical 1L schedule is? Should you expect to have class 5 days a week?

Definitely a good question. I was kicking myself that I didn't ask this on the tour!

I had classes 5 days week during first semester (one class Friday @ 9 am ftl), and mon-thurs second semester.

Also, i'm pretty sure every section has 9am classes.

[Sgtpeppernyc]

Depends on the year. My year, nobody had class on Fridays, and other than that it was a pretty mixed bag (but it was pretty consistent, and you were always out by 5:30). Current 2Ls had classes on Fridays when they were 1Ls, and I'm not sure about current 1Ls.

After 1L, of course, you can find classes that meet pretty much whenever.

[gobosox]

Hey guys, thanks for taking the time.

A have a few questions, some of which you might not be able to answer, which I understand.

1) Do you get a sense that Georgetown is viewed as less than other T14? I know there is some serious GTown hate on here, and I get the sense that it is largely undeserved due to Georgetown's location, but I'm interested in GTowner's thoughts.
2) How much are Boston-based firms represented at OCI? Boston PI firms?
3) How is selection for BigFed, DOJ type stuff represented?
4) Do you think that the networking abilities from Georgetown offset its slightly lower ranking among T14? Are you able to network your way into DC jobs (especially DOJ) or are the selection rates the same (or lower) than other T14?

To contextualize my questions, trying to decide between Georgetown and Penn, possibly ending up in Boston someday.

[gobosox]

Also, do you have anything similar to https://web.law.columbia.edu/sites/defa ... s-2012.pdf that is publicly available?

[gobosox]

I keep thinking of things-- I really should have thought more before posting...

How much do you take advantage of the proximity to so much DOJ/SCOTUS stuff? Everyone touts that as a selling point, but I'm not sure how much law students actually take that into account. I feel like the real strength is in the internships one could get through the school year. Know anyone who parlayed that into a job offer?

Thanks again!!!

[IrishCatholic09]

I'll just start out by saying that I'll be starting at Gtown in the fall, but I've had a lot of fear surrounding what happens after. There is a lot of information out there about this, but it all seems fairly vague when I read through it, so I figured I'd ask directly:

From your experience, what GPA level is necessary to get a job in DC in either Big Law, a good job in a medium/small firm or boutique, or a good job within the federal government? I've been living here in the District for a few years, and I would really prefer to stick around in DC for the long haul. Realistically, what is that going to take?

[hichvichwoh]

I'll just start out by saying that I'll be starting at Gtown in the fall, but I've had a lot of fear surrounding what happens after. There is a lot of information out there about this, but it all seems fairly vague when I read through it, so I figured I'd ask directly:

From your experience, what GPA level is necessary to get a job in DC in either Big Law, a good job in a medium/small firm or boutique, or a good job within the federal government? I've been living here in the District for a few years, and I would really prefer to stick around in DC for the long haul. Realistically, what is that going to take?

Well, DC hiring is definitely pretty tough. I'd say that for most people, Median or lower makes DC almost impossible, top third gives you an average chance, and top 15% should give you confidence. Personally, I was top 20-ish and only got one callback at OCI (targeting dc firms)

[TheSpanishMain]

This might be too specific but any idea how much DC firms value/don't value substantive work experience over k-jd?

[hichvichwoh]

This might be too specific but any idea how much DC firms value/don't value substantive work experience over k-jd?

It definitely makes a difference, but I don't think anyone can tell you how much, just like no one knows how big a difference main journal vs. secondary vs. no journal makes. Just count it as a plus and move on, don't waste effort trying to pin down how big a plus it is.

[Sgtpeppernyc]

Hey guys, thanks for taking the time.

A have a few questions, some of which you might not be able to answer, which I understand.

1) Do you get a sense that Georgetown is viewed as less than other T14? I know there is some serious GTown hate on here, and I get the sense that it is largely undeserved due to Georgetown's location, but I'm interested in GTowner's thoughts.
2) How much are Boston-based firms represented at OCI? Boston PI firms?
3) How is selection for BigFed, DOJ type stuff represented?
4) Do you think that the networking abilities from Georgetown offset its slightly lower ranking among T14? Are you able to network your way into DC jobs (especially DOJ) or are the selection rates the same (or lower) than other T14?

To contextualize my questions, trying to decide between Georgetown and Penn, possibly ending up in Boston someday.

Sorry for the slow response, but hopefully I can help here:

1) It's tricky since I am mostly in the Georgetown bubble. But, as a rule of thumb, never listen to the forum posters who call it Georgetttown or whatever (just listen to this forum poster Georgetown has an excellent reputation, and unless you're interviewing at Wachtell (you probably won't) I don't think it would harm you. For any law school, the GPA necessary to get ahead will change on a sliding scale. But remember, GULC is MASSIVE, and even if we send a smaller percentage to biglaw than the other T14, consider that 35-40% of a 500 person class is larger than 50% of a 300 person class (I think. I'm bad at math). But, if you do well at GULC, there are no closed doors - we already have placements in circuit clerkships from our graduating class. In other words, you won't want for prestige going to GULC, but higher rankings come with progressively more.

2) Very well. I have two friends going to prestigious Boston law firms next year.

3) No clue.

4) I think so. Our professors our friends with supreme court justices, and if you impress them they're really useful people to have. Adjuncts come in from all the big DC firms. Just being in DC (at its best law school) gives you a lot of opportunities during the semester to make headway into the agencies - whereas anyone else has 1 or 2 summers to make a mark in the DC regulatory scene, you have 4 semesters and 2 summers to do the same.

I know people who have used their DC experience to get a job offer elsewhere (he had a lot of commodities regulatory experience, which put him in a good place for a job). It's really on an individual basis. As far as SCOTUS, it's fun to go (and half of the arguments are previewed on campus beforehand), but the opportunity really comes from having several famous SCOTUS practitioners on faculty and guest lectures (Google Paul Clement to get an idea).

[Sgtpeppernyc]

I'll just start out by saying that I'll be starting at Gtown in the fall, but I've had a lot of fear surrounding what happens after. There is a lot of information out there about this, but it all seems fairly vague when I read through it, so I figured I'd ask directly:

From your experience, what GPA level is necessary to get a job in DC in either Big Law, a good job in a medium/small firm or boutique, or a good job within the federal government? I've been living here in the District for a few years, and I would really prefer to stick around in DC for the long haul. Realistically, what is that going to take?

Well, DC hiring is definitely pretty tough. I'd say that for most people, Median or lower makes DC almost impossible, top third gives you an average chance, and top 15% should give you confidence. Personally, I was top 20-ish and only got one callback at OCI (targeting dc firms)

This is pretty accurate. I know several medians (including myself) who got NYC jobs, but DC is a bit tougher.

[JustHawkin]

I was wondering if you guys could speak to the ability/need to create connections from professors, especially when the time for recommendations come?

I chose GULC over Vandy because of it's obvious advantages. But, Vandy did tout a more personal and face to face experience with their professors that seems hard to match at GULC. I know you might have touched on this before, but if you could expand on your experience, especially as a 1L. Also any advice you have for making a professor a good contact while being in (relatively) bigger classes. Thanks!

[Nebby]

1L here transferring to GULC this fall. Do you think my Fed Agency 1L summer gig could aid in landing a 2L SA at a DC firm or should I still bid heavy NYC at EIW?

[TheSpanishMain]

I know I'm asking you guys to think back to 1L year, but do you remember when in the summer you got your course schedule from the registrar? I assume sometime after the second deposit deadline.

[Sgtpeppernyc]

I was wondering if you guys could speak to the ability/need to create connections from professors, especially when the time for recommendations come?

I chose GULC over Vandy because of it's obvious advantages. But, Vandy did tout a more personal and face to face experience with their professors that seems hard to match at GULC. I know you might have touched on this before, but if you could expand on your experience, especially as a 1L. Also any advice you have for making a professor a good contact while being in (relatively) bigger classes. Thanks!

Oh the professors are great about this. I never took advantage of it, but all of the professors are happy to write a recommendation if you were a good student / they liked you. I have several friends who impressed their professors (insightful comments in class, going to office hours, doing decently on the exam) and got very useful recommendations. And, certain well-connected professors can be verrrrrry useful when you're going for a clerkship and they have an in with the judge you want to work with.

Full disclosure: I'm lazy, so my 1L year I didn't fully take advantage of the professors. But every professor had office hours, and they were all 100% willing to sit down with you and discuss your concerns / what you were having trouble with. Almost all of them knew me by name, despite my being fairly quiet in class, and I expect that they'll remember me when I see them next week at graduation.

Your best bet is generally to talk when you can and say insightful things. I would say that 75% of the class remains largely silent unless called on. Just by putting in the effort to answer your professors' questions, you will stand out. BUT, don't talk just for talking's sake - you won't impress anyone by pointing out the obvious or getting into superfluous arguments. Just try to contribute when you can (I find that 1-2 comments per class is a good rhythm), go to office hours when needed, and do your best on the final. The recommendations will follow.

[Sgtpeppernyc]

1L here transferring to GULC this fall. Do you think my Fed Agency 1L summer gig could aid in landing a 2L SA at a DC firm or should I still bid heavy NYC at EIW?

Anecdotally, transfers do very well at EIW.

It depends on the agency / how you talk about it. Generally, everyone has largely the same 1L experience - judges, DAs, state / federal agencies, and a few in the private sector. If the agency is relevant to the firm's work (FCC for communications law, FTC for consumer protection / antitrust, etc.) then that will be a pretty big boost. But even if not, if you can articulate why you went there, what you did, what you learned, and how it helped prepare you, then it will be useful.

Just see above re: grades and the DC market. While you should apply where you want to work, consider that DC is a generally more competitive market than NYC. Talk to your career counselor - they're a great resource on these sorts of questions.

[Sgtpeppernyc]

I know I'm asking you guys to think back to 1L year, but do you remember when in the summer you got your course schedule from the registrar? I assume sometime after the second deposit deadline.

I honestly don't remember, but I don't think we got them until very late (orientation).

[wolf]

I know I'm asking you guys to think back to 1L year, but do you remember when in the summer you got your course schedule from the registrar? I assume sometime after the second deposit deadline.

At orientation.

[Sgtpeppernyc]

I know I'm asking you guys to think back to 1L year, but do you remember when in the summer you got your course schedule from the registrar? I assume sometime after the second deposit deadline.

I honestly don't remember, but I don't think we got them until very late (orientation).

What Ed Norton said.

[TheSpanishMain]

Just looking around online, but the fitness/rec center looks legit. True/false?

[nicholasavallone]

Just looking around online, but the fitness/rec center looks legit. True/false?

True. The Law Center one is pretty great (saw it during ASW), and if you're so inclined for some reason, students also have access to the gym at the undergrad, Yates, which is even nicer.