Chicago 1L Taking Questions! Forum

[hmlee]

So is there any truth to the "where fun goes to die" reputation and rumors of rampant grade deflation and a ridiculous workload at Chicago? I'm kind of hesitant because of UChicago's um, nerdy reputation. I guess that's fine if you're headed into academia, but I'm definitely going to be headed into private practice after law school, so um yeah...I don't want to be sitting in law school for 3 years and learn a bunch of useless theory, none of which I got to learn to apply. Do you feel like your professors use relevant real-life examples when they lecture or do they just ramble on and on about some obscure theory?

What kinds of clinical programs does UofC offer? And how do they compare with your arch-nemesis up the street, Northwestern?

I can't comment too much on grade deflation / workload at the law school, but I can say that I don't think it's too far out of line with other schools. The workload is probably a bit more intense, owing to the quarter system (we're on semesters at Northwestern). Northwestern's "curve" (which is banded so it's difficult to pinpoint an exact number) for 1Ls ends up at about a 3.3-3.35 by the end of the year. Not sure how the U of C compares.

I can address the reputation question in more detail. I was at the U of C for undergrad -- where there is a ridiculous workload and grade deflation relative to other undergrads. However, the "where fun comes to die" reputation is overrated. Yes, we have t-shirts that have that on them, but we do it in a tongue in cheek fashion. The University has been improving student quality of life by leaps and bounds in the last several years, so it doesn't even really apply to the undergrad as much as it used to. It is even farther from the truth for the law school. What people tend to forget about the U of C's rep in those terms is that the professional programs (and the majority of their Ph.D. programs) are some of the top ranked in their fields in the country. They draw people from all over the country, all different undergrads. Normal people. Fun people.

Also, I hate to break it to you, but the vast majority of law school is about "theory" and "teaching you how to think." There are practical programs. Northwestern has a lot of emphasis on them -- one of the best trial advocacy programs in the nation as well as clinics and the like -- but I'm sure the U of C has them too. For the most part, though, what you learn in law school has very little to do with your life as a practicing lawyer. As for the lecturing issue... I'm sure there are some profs there who do that, but the U of C, like any other law school (perhaps even more so) operates by the socratic method. Not full on lecturing.

[marburger06]

So is there any truth to the "where fun goes to die" reputation and rumors of rampant grade deflation and a ridiculous workload at Chicago? I'm kind of hesitant because of UChicago's um, nerdy reputation. I guess that's fine if you're headed into academia, but I'm definitely going to be headed into private practice after law school, so um yeah...I don't want to be sitting in law school for 3 years and learn a bunch of useless theory, none of which I got to learn to apply. Do you feel like your professors use relevant real-life examples when they lecture or do they just ramble on and on about some obscure theory?

What kinds of clinical programs does UofC offer? And how do they compare with your arch-nemesis up the street, Northwestern?

The "fun goes to die" stuff is mostly directed at the undergrad. I would say, from talking with my friends at other law schools, that Chicago is more academically rigorous than other schools. But excluding the couple of weeks before finals/when the memos are due, people go out and have fun all the time. We have bar review Thursday nights and a school-sponsored happy hour (Wine Mess) on Friday that are well-attended.

Like hmlee said, pretty much all top law schools are about theory. It's only somewhat useless- while you'll probably never invoke the Coase theorem in a brief, it shapes the way you think about legal work. And, the vast majority of Chicago grads go to biglaw and seem to do just fine, so I wouldn't worry about that.

You can find the info about the clinics here: http://www.law.uchicago.edu/clinics. I have no idea how they compare to Northwestern. One of my biggest complaints about Chicago though is that participation in the clinics (unless you work there during your 1L summer) is determined through a lottery system. You are guaranteed a spot in a clinic at some point during law school, but not necessarily during 2L, which sucks for the (maybe 3?) people who want to go into public interest and really need that experience.

[TXDeac]

Question about placement here for Chicago students:

I'm fully aware that Chicago places well in many markets, but how does it do in Texas in both firm placement and clerkships? I have a big interest in returning home to Texas, but also want the academic experience I'd receive at Chicago.

[thorntll]

Thanks for taking questions! Here's my possibly lame question: Macs or PCs? Or does it not matter?

[moxypoxy]

are there any golf courses nearby hyde park? driving ranges?

[mochafury]

Great thread. Flagged.

[pehaigllleises]

Thanks for taking questions! Here's my possibly lame question: Macs or PCs? Or does it not matter?

100% does not matter. We don't even have exam software to deal with.

[chicagodog]

Do you know Joao?

Hells yeah! That's my boy!

[thorntll]

Thanks for taking questions! Here's my possibly lame question: Macs or PCs? Or does it not matter?

100% does not matter. We don't even have exam software to deal with.

Awesome. Thanks!

[Rand M.]

Thanks for taking questions! Here's my possibly lame question: Macs or PCs? Or does it not matter?

100% does not matter. We don't even have exam software to deal with.

Awesome. Thanks!

This is great. I'm buying a new computer soon; mac it is.

[lilybbloom]

According to career services, Texas firms LOVE U of C students and are always eager to hire us

[cranberry]

i know there is no internet in the classrooms, but is there wifi or at least internet access in the common areas?

[lilybbloom]

i know there is no internet in the classrooms, but is there wifi or at least internet access in the common areas?

yes, wifi throughout the school (including classrooms, they just opt to turn it off during class unless the prof needs the students to use it).

[UChicagoStudent]

Bump in honor of almost finishing 1L.

[mochafury]

Congratulations!

1. Epstein. Please elaborate.
2. How's 1L summer looking? For you and peers?

Hope finals go well...

[doyleoil]

Congratulations!

1. Epstein. Please elaborate.
2. How's 1L summer looking? For you and peers?

Hope finals go well...

i'm happy to say more tomorrow at noon - until then, epstein is the shit (and is still teaching in spring quarters as far as i've heard)

[lilybbloom]

I had Epstein for torts, and while I appreciated his sense of humor and the fact that he obviously cares about students, I really disliked his teaching method. I ended up having to read pretty much his entire hornbook, plus the E&E. My class notes were largely worthless, and I pride myself on taking pretty thorough notes. I think I would have enjoyed the class if I could have just sat back and listened to what he was saying and enjoyed his antics and jokes, and I might have learned more about his theories on how to be a good toxic torts attorney, but unfortunately I cared about notes and my grades, so I really didn't enjoy the class.

[marusyar]

Hi everyone! So I am a recently admitted student and have a few questions. I was honestly really surprised when I received my admission email and now I am highly considering Chicago over UVA and Duke (still waiting on NYU and Columbia). I want to go into international business (transactional) so I was wondering if anyone has any insight into how these schools compare to Chicago in that respect and job prospects for firms. I haven't received scholarship info from any of these schools yet.

Also, I know this was kind of addressed in previous posts but just wanted to get some more information. I have heard a lot of negative things about Hyde Park and safety issues which is concerning. This may sound silly but I am a runner and it's a huge part of my life so aside from being safe on a regular basis, is it safe to go on runs around the university?

Last but not least, I was wondering how the process for applying for housing works. I saw that there is some graduate housing options and privately owned apartments. I live in California and won't be able to go out to look at apartments so I feel like university owned housing would be the easiest but is it expensive? How do students find roommates?

Thank you so much in advance for all of the help!

[marusyar]

Side note: just read an article about 6 people who were killed in Gage Park which is about 15 min from the university, not the most comforting

[Rahviveh]

Hi everyone! So I am a recently admitted student and have a few questions. I was honestly really surprised when I received my admission email and now I am highly considering Chicago over UVA and Duke (still waiting on NYU and Columbia). I want to go into international business (transactional) so I was wondering if anyone has any insight into how these schools compare to Chicago in that respect and job prospects for firms. I haven't received scholarship info from any of these schools yet.

Also, I know this was kind of addressed in previous posts but just wanted to get some more information. I have heard a lot of negative things about Hyde Park and safety issues which is concerning. This may sound silly but I am a runner and it's a huge part of my life so aside from being safe on a regular basis, is it safe to go on runs around the university?

Last but not least, I was wondering how the process for applying for housing works. I saw that there is some graduate housing options and privately owned apartments. I live in California and won't be able to go out to look at apartments so I feel like university owned housing would be the easiest but is it expensive? How do students find roommates?

Thank you so much in advance for all of the help!

I would rather be in HP than in Durham or Charlottesville, just because you have access to a great city in Chicago.


Chicago places excellent into corporate law, probably better than your other two choices. But it will come down to scholarships.

Use Facebook to find roommates. Popular buildings include Algonquin, regents and flamingo. Do a search, lots of posts about this topic

[skers]

Damn dude, that's kind of weirdly racist.

[KiltedKicker]

If this thread is being revived, I'd love to ask a couple of questions...

I'm interested in working in corporate tech/entrepreneurial law in the Bay Area post-grad (obviously that isn't specific, that's just my general interest going in). I'm curious how Chicago will place for those types of jobs compared to schools like Cal, NYU, Columbia, and Michigan?

How hard is it to get into clinics? I've heard difficult. If I really want to get into the Entrepreneurial clinic, is it possible I'd never be able to do that?

Would Chicago's prestige give me an advantage over Cal in getting a clerkship on the west coast?

[nedstarksbastard]

Question about placement here for Chicago students:

I'm fully aware that Chicago places well in many markets, but how does it do in Texas in both firm placement and clerkships? I have a big interest in returning home to Texas, but also want the academic experience I'd receive at Chicago.

Current 2L at Chicago. My class did amazingly well in firm placement in Texas this year. Career services actually discouraged people from bidding exclusively Texas because it has a reputation for being tough to get, but everyone I knew who wanted Texas got it.

I can't speak to clerkships - I know at least two people clerking in TX, but no idea how typical that is. Clerking is a long shot in any market and frankly competiveness depends more on the judge than location.

[chicago-gunner123]

If this thread is being revived, I'd love to ask a couple of questions...

I'm interested in working in corporate tech/entrepreneurial law in the Bay Area post-grad (obviously that isn't specific, that's just my general interest going in). I'm curious how Chicago will place for those types of jobs compared to schools like Cal, NYU, Columbia, and Michigan?

I can't compare Chicago to the other schools, but I can say anecdotally that a lot of people from my class (current 2L) will be working in the Bay-Area and did not have problem getting callbacks/offers there during OCI. A lot of Bay-area firms come to OCI. It definitely helps to have ties, but as long as you have a coherent story, every/any geographic area should be open to you.

How hard is it to get into clinics? I've heard difficult. If I really want to get into the Entrepreneurial clinic, is it possible I'd never be able to do that?

The clinics are not hard to get into at all, this is not something I would be worried about. All you have to do is enroll in them. If you want to do a clinic over the summer, the corporate lab is the most competitive to get into, but the rest are much less so. And as I said, to join a clinic during the school year you just have to enroll.

[skers]

If this thread is being revived, I'd love to ask a couple of questions...

I'm interested in working in corporate tech/entrepreneurial law in the Bay Area post-grad (obviously that isn't specific, that's just my general interest going in). I'm curious how Chicago will place for those types of jobs compared to schools like Cal, NYU, Columbia, and Michigan?

How hard is it to get into clinics? I've heard difficult. If I really want to get into the Entrepreneurial clinic, is it possible I'd never be able to do that?

Would Chicago's prestige give me an advantage over Cal in getting a clerkship on the west coast?

I wouldn't make school decisions based on clerkships unless we are talking Yale/Harvard/Stanford v another option and even then, clerking is still going to come down to doing really well in law school. Also, seems weird to ask about clerking if you want to do VC work, so that's probably another good reason not to be basing decisions there.