UVA Law Students Taking Questions Forum

[Doritos]

Taking evidence as a 1L? Mistake or win?

If (Mitchell) Then (Win)
Else (No)
End If

Brown.

My buddy has him for crim law and loves him. I do not know how he is as an Evidence professor...

[flyingpanda]

Taking evidence as a 1L? Mistake or win?

If (Mitchell) Then (Win)
Else (No)
End If

Brown.

My buddy has him for crim law and loves him. I do not know how he is as an Evidence professor...

I'm just wondering more about evidence as to the actual class. Is it a hard class to understand? Seems very rules heavy.

[vanwinkle]

I'm just wondering more about evidence as to the actual class. Is it a hard class to understand? Seems very rules heavy.

It is extremely rules-heavy and dense. That "drinking from a fire hose" feeling is on full time in that class. I think it's a class that's straightforward, in that the classes (and the E&E by Arthur Best) can easily make clear what the rules are and how you should use them on an exam, but there's a lot of those rules to learn.

Also because you're having to cover so much material you really want to make sure you take it with a good professor. Mitchell is entertaining and engaging and kept the class moving quickly all semester long. Either that or you'd better be really damn good at self-studying.

[flyingpanda]

I'm just wondering more about evidence as to the actual class. Is it a hard class to understand? Seems very rules heavy.

It is extremely rules-heavy and dense. That "drinking from a fire hose" feeling is on full time in that class. I think it's a class that's straightforward, in that the classes (and the E&E by Arthur Best) can easily make clear what the rules are and how you should use them on an exam, but there's a lot of those rules to learn.

Also because you're having to cover so much material you really want to make sure you take it with a good professor. Mitchell is entertaining and engaging and kept the class moving quickly all semester long. Either that or you'd better be really damn good at self-studying.

Oh god! Why didn't I get PR

[vamedic03]

I'm just wondering more about evidence as to the actual class. Is it a hard class to understand? Seems very rules heavy.

It is extremely rules-heavy and dense. That "drinking from a fire hose" feeling is on full time in that class. I think it's a class that's straightforward, in that the classes (and the E&E by Arthur Best) can easily make clear what the rules are and how you should use them on an exam, but there's a lot of those rules to learn.

Also because you're having to cover so much material you really want to make sure you take it with a good professor. Mitchell is entertaining and engaging and kept the class moving quickly all semester long. Either that or you'd better be really damn good at self-studying.

Oh god! Why didn't I get PR

Depending on who's PR you take, PR is very easily one of the more challenging, yet boring, classes in law school.

[RVP11]

one of the more challenging

Really? I keep hearing how easy it is.

I'd say Evidence is one of the most challenging courses a 1L can take. But also one of the most interesting and useful. If it were up to me I'd make Evidence and Corporations required 1L courses instead of allowing electives.

[YCrevolution]

..

[slider]

one of the more challenging

Really? I keep hearing how easy it is.

I'd say Evidence is one of the most challenging courses a 1L can take. But also one of the most interesting and useful. If it were up to me I'd make Evidence and CorporationsFederal Income Tax required 1L courses instead of allowing electives.

Might be late for this, but for next fall I guess, would you recommend Yale or Yin?

[YCrevolution]

..

[vamedic03]

one of the more challenging

Really? I keep hearing how easy it is.

I'd say Evidence is one of the most challenging courses a 1L can take. But also one of the most interesting and useful. If it were up to me I'd make Evidence and Corporations required 1L courses instead of allowing electives.

Nah, I'd say Legislation with Nelson is the most challenging course a 1L can take followed by Evidence. Having taken both Spring semester 1L, I'd recommend against it. Then again, I think Legislation should be a required course.

[BruceWayne]

What's wrong with this Kitch guy (teaches corporations)????

[vamedic03]

What's wrong with this Kitch guy (teaches corporations)????

DO NOT TAKE KITCH. He has consistently the worst reviews of any professor at UVA law. DO NOT TAKE KITCH. For Corporations - wait and take it with either Kordana, Geis, or Barzura.

[bgdddymtty]

What's wrong with this Kitch guy (teaches corporations)????

DO NOT TAKE KITCH. He has consistently the worst reviews of any professor at UVA law. DO NOT TAKE KITCH. For Corporations - wait and take it with either Kordana, Geis, or Barzura.

Speaking of which, where can we see professor reviews?

[dailygrind]

What's wrong with this Kitch guy (teaches corporations)????

DO NOT TAKE KITCH. He has consistently the worst reviews of any professor at UVA law. DO NOT TAKE KITCH. For Corporations - wait and take it with either Kordana, Geis, or Barzura.

Speaking of which, where can we see professor reviews?

lawweb -> completed course evaluations ->

expand semester and seek out the classes you know the professors taught in previous semesters
or
click "expand" and use (ctrl + f) and "next" to search the entire catalog for the professor

the second option being much more thorough and time consuming.

[holeinone600]

Kinda off topic...at what point in the spring will good law student housing options start to get taken up? Should I make a trip up before ASD to locate and secure a place?

Didn't read through this whole thread so ignore this if it's already been discussed, but can you list and describe the best housing locations for law students (off campus only).

Thanks

[YCrevolution]

..

[CaliMizzou]

I've been wondering the same thing as holeinone600. For me I'd probably take close over superior amenities, but the two biggest factors for me are price and how many other law students would be living in the same complex. Any thoughts?

[plenipotentiary]

I'm piling on, but are there any apartment complexes within walking distance of the law school that have wood floors? I'm not super picky about amenities in general, but I have a dust allergy and I think carpet is really gross.

[dailygrind]

I'm piling on, but are there any apartment complexes within walking distance of the law school that have wood floors? I'm not super picky about amenities in general, but I have a dust allergy and I think carpet is really gross.

--LinkRemoved--

that'd be one option. i've also been in an apartment complex directly across from the jeffersonian that has hardwood floors and is probably the closest off-grounds housing to the law school, but i'm unsure of who manages them and how to get in touch with them. hopefully someone else can chime in with that.

[YCrevolution]

..

[vanwinkle]

I'm piling on, but are there any apartment complexes within walking distance of the law school that have wood floors? I'm not super picky about amenities in general, but I have a dust allergy and I think carpet is really gross.

Arlington Park (operated by Woodard Properties) is about a block farther from the law school than the Jeffersonian. They all have hardwood floors, but they're all larger 2-bedroom townhomes.

[joeshmo39]

The Jeffersonian and Ivy Gardens units I've seen are carpeted. There are a bunch of different condos/townhomes on Arlington though which have hardwood floors and are mentioned above.

Also, for those who didn't ask, the library has a pretty solid selection of movies and TV shows.

[t-ender]

I was just accepted to UVA but now I'm starting to have second thoughts about law school altogether. For a long time, my goal was to go to law school and UVA was always my first choice. I studied hard for the LSAT and actually enjoyed it once I got the hang of the test (I ended up a score above UVA's 75% range). I also did a good amount of volunteer work at local law firms and liked the cases and the paralegals / lawyers I worked with.

My major concern with going to law school is not being able to find a good job upon graduation. I've heard horror stories from friends at other schools (T-25 through T-75) not getting jobs and graduating with 150k+ debt and their experiences have started to mess with my head. I hope to work for a well regarded law firm but I am not really picky about the location (does not have to be NYC, DC, Chicago, etc). I know that doing well at UVA will position me well for biglaw jobs but there is no guarantee I will be in the top 30% or even 50%. I have 3+ years working experience in consulting and would treat law school like a full-time job but I'm still worried about not making the grade.

I will be visiting the school on Friday and was wondering if any of the current 1L or 2L students available to meet for a cup of coffee and discuss their experiences for a few minutes?

[BruceWayne]

I was just accepted to UVA but now I'm starting to have second thoughts about law school altogether. For a long time, my goal was to go to law school and UVA was always my first choice. I studied hard for the LSAT and actually enjoyed it once I got the hang of the test (I ended up a score above UVA's 75% range). I also did a good amount of volunteer work at local law firms and liked the cases and the paralegals / lawyers I worked with.

My major concern with going to law school is not being able to find a good job upon graduation. I've heard horror stories from friends at other schools (T-25 through T-75) not getting jobs and graduating with 150k+ debt and their experiences have started to mess with my head. I hope to work for a well regarded law firm but I am not really picky about the location (does not have to be NYC, DC, Chicago, etc). I know that doing well at UVA will position me well for biglaw jobs but there is no guarantee I will be in the top 30% or even 50%. I have 3+ years working experience in consulting and would treat law school like a full-time job but I'm still worried about not making the grade.

I will be visiting the school on Friday and was wondering if any of the current 1L or 2L students available to meet for a cup of coffee and discuss their experiences for a few minutes?

From the conversations I've had with people in real life here (not on TLS) it seems like you will be fine. You have 3+ years of consulting WE, that is a big boost come job search time. The thing about UVA is that it seems like everyone get's a job, the question is if that job is exactly what they want or not.

[flyingpanda]

I'm now enrolled in vice and regulation of political process. Any thoughts?