Boston College (BC) 3L Taking Questions Forum

[sullidop]

If I remember correctly from asd, lrw and civpro are year long classes right? Does this mean we only have three exams first semester? Or five?

That's correct, 3 exams first semester, 4 the next (excluding LRRW).

+1. First semester you have 3 finals (all 4 credit classes) and second semester you have 4 finals (civ pro is 5 credits, two are 4 credits, and one is 3 credits).

[spencer1888]

I apologize if this has already been answered.
Is LRW graded? Seems like second semester it is, as there's a final - but what about first semester?

[bostonlawchick]

I apologize if this has already been answered.
Is LRW graded? Seems like second semester it is, as there's a final - but what about first semester?

I've also been wondering about LRRW... is the grade made up of just writing assignments or is there a test at the end as well?

[sullidop]

I apologize if this has already been answered.
Is LRW graded? Seems like second semester it is, as there's a final - but what about first semester?

I've also been wondering about LRRW... is the grade made up of just writing assignments or is there a test at the end as well?

Lrrw is graded and it is worth 5 credits. The grade is released after your second semester (like civ pro). There's a research exam at the end of the second semester (my prof gave us a week to do it...so we could do it in our spare time, it didn't actually take a week) which is worth a small percent of the grade. The vast majority of the mark will come from the draft and final memos prepared each semester.

[BCLS]

LRRW is a huge time sink-- but if you do it properly, it's an easy B+/A-/A that's worth five credits.

The curve is what's tough. These memos are like 20 pages long.

[bostonlawchick]

LRRW is a huge time sink-- but if you do it properly, it's an easy B+/A-/A that's worth five credits.

The curve is what's tough. These memos are like 20 pages long.

Ugh...the longest paper I've ever written was ten pages. It was a book report. In high school. I'm going to fail haha.

[BCLS]

hahaha you won't fail- it's about a B or B+ curve. Getting an A or A- is VERY tough. I'm hoping for an A-, we will see how that research exam comes out lol.

[skippy1]

Will we get our booklist by Aug 1? I was hoping to buy them online. I'll be coming into town the day before classes start since my lease won't start till Sept 1.

[BCLS]

Will we get our booklist by Aug 1? I was hoping to buy them online. I'll be coming into town the day before classes start since my lease won't start till Sept 1.

I don't think you will know who your professors are at that point, so I'm thinking the answer is no.

[mettasutta]

-Are all courses (excluding special ones like clinics, externships, etc.) graded on a curve? Or just 1L classes? Or does there need to be a certain number of students in the class for it to be graded on a curve?
-Is getting Law Review/secondary journals based on just class-rank, a write-on competition, or some combination of both?
-What sort of job opportunities are available to "middle of the pack" students? Any chance of clerkships/Biglaw ITE?

[sullidop]

-Are all courses (excluding special ones like clinics, externships, etc.) graded on a curve? Or just 1L classes? Or does there need to be a certain number of students in the class for it to be graded on a curve?
-Is getting Law Review/secondary journals based on just class-rank, a write-on competition, or some combination of both?
-What sort of job opportunities are available to "middle of the pack" students? Any chance of clerkships/Biglaw ITE?

-With the exception of independent studies, everything is suppose to be on a curve. It differs by class size and examination method. They talk about it in here:
http://www.bc.edu/content/dam/files/sch ... _FINAL.pdf Pertinent parts around p. 12
-LRev is based on gpa and a competition where you write a memo, do a bluebook exercise, and compose a personal statement.
-Middle of the pack being top 40-60%? I'm slightly outside that (not by much) and have a v100 SA, so I would assume that kids more solidly in the middle have a good chance at some of the lower numbered NLJ 250. Clerkships are much more of a mixed bag because it's more about your demonstrated writing ability and who's pushing for you. To the extent that being near the middle of the class deprives you of writing opportunities (no journal), it would be tough to get an Art III or state supreme court clerkship.

[JusticeHarlan]

-
-Is getting Law Review/secondary journals based on just class-rank, a write-on competition, or some combination of both?

To elaborate on sulli, the process is as such:

There's the main law review, and four secondary journals. At the end of the year, the top 5 people of each section (based on grades) are given the choice of whatever journal they want (presumably almost all pick the main law review, though its not inconceivable someone with a burning interest in a secondary topic would grab that). Those are you're "grade on" folks. Everyone can also participate in the writing competition after finals, which entails a blue booking exercise, a memo, and a personal statement. Based on a score from the blue book exercise and the memo, the top 5 people between the entire 1L class are offered the same choice of whatever journal they want. These are the "write on" folks. The majority of the journal spots are filled through a combination of grades and writing scores, with the personal statements used to match people up to the journal they're deemed the best fit for. I think they call this "blending on." (At least, this is how they explained the process to the 1Ls.)

[Perch]

-
-Is getting Law Review/secondary journals based on just class-rank, a write-on competition, or some combination of both?

To elaborate on sulli, the process is as such:

There's the main law review, and four secondary journals. At the end of the year, the top 5 people of each section (based on grades) are given the choice of whatever journal they want (presumably almost all pick the main law review, though its not inconceivable someone with a burning interest in a secondary topic would grab that). Those are you're "grade on" folks. Everyone can also participate in the writing competition after finals, which entails a blue booking exercise, a memo, and a personal statement. Based on a score from the blue book exercise and the memo, the top 5 people between the entire 1L class are offered the same choice of whatever journal they want. These are the "write on" folks. The majority of the journal spots are filled through a combination of grades and writing scores, with the personal statements used to match people up to the journal they're deemed the best fit for. I think they call this "blending on." (At least, this is how they explained the process to the 1Ls.)

very insightful, thanks!

[thesteelers]

Looked at the Class of 2013 class schedules and decided I liked one schedule a lot and really didn't like another. Did you have any control over which section you were assigned to, or was it random? Do they go by alphabetical order, or according to Eagle number, or something?

I really don't want 8:45 AM classes.

[BCLS]

Looked at the Class of 2013 class schedules and decided I liked one schedule a lot and really didn't like another. Did you have any control over which section you were assigned to, or was it random? Do they go by alphabetical order, or according to Eagle number, or something?

I really don't want 8:45 AM classes.

No control. I was in the section with many 8 am classes. Worked out well for me-- forced me to get up early.

[sullidop]

It's random and I hated getting up early. Sadly Secured Transactions is only offered at 8am next semester...so the 8:45 is not getting to much sympathy from me...

[sandwichday]

Hey, sorry if this has already been asked in some form, but I was wondering how the SA/FT jobs picture is looking for people with varying class ranks. I know it's hard to get a big picture perspective for the whole school, but just in terms of the people you know, how are things going so far? Great for LR/top 10%, ok for top 50% and bleak for the rest? Good for everyone above XX%? Does the Boston legal market appear to be rebounding at all? I am mainly concerned with Big/Mid law jobs in MA, but would be interested to hear anything you have to say on the subject.

Thanks so much!

[alumniguy]

It's random and I hated getting up early. Sadly Secured Transactions is only offered at 8am next semester...so the 8:45 is not getting to much sympathy from me...

If it makes you feel any better, it is reported that Hillinger gets up at 4am on the mornings she teaches class...

[zonto]

Is that so she can practice her jokes/insults in front of the mirror?

[sullidop]

Hey, sorry if this has already been asked in some form, but I was wondering how the SA/FT jobs picture is looking for people with varying class ranks. I know it's hard to get a big picture perspective for the whole school, but just in terms of the people you know, how are things going so far? Great for LR/top 10%, ok for top 50% and bleak for the rest? Good for everyone above XX%? Does the Boston legal market appear to be rebounding at all? I am mainly concerned with Big/Mid law jobs in MA, but would be interested to hear anything you have to say on the subject.

Thanks so much!

I'd say that the top 20% are doing well, the top 40% okay, and then dropping off. Summer classes are up this year and firms are picking up 3Ls. As to Boston's relative place, it's impossible to judge.

[alumniguy]

Hey, sorry if this has already been asked in some form, but I was wondering how the SA/FT jobs picture is looking for people with varying class ranks. I know it's hard to get a big picture perspective for the whole school, but just in terms of the people you know, how are things going so far? Great for LR/top 10%, ok for top 50% and bleak for the rest? Good for everyone above XX%? Does the Boston legal market appear to be rebounding at all? I am mainly concerned with Big/Mid law jobs in MA, but would be interested to hear anything you have to say on the subject.

Thanks so much!

I'd say that the top 20% are doing well, the top 40% okay, and then dropping off. Summer classes are up this year and firms are picking up 3Ls. As to Boston's relative place, it's impossible to judge.

This is pretty good news actually...curious what you mean by the top 40% doing "okay" - does this mean that many have at least one offer or rather than it is mixed whether they have any offers? For comparison, I would venture to guess that class of 2008 top 20% had multiple offers in multiple markets (5+ offers), top 40% likely had at least an offer or two (probably 1-4 offers), top 60% likely had a mix of offers/no-offers (not necessarily biglaw) and everyone else was likely not going to get a summer gig (with known random exceptions).

[BlueDiamond]

hope this wasnt answered already.. couldnt find it on the website and I feel a little dumb even asking..

I know what the first year classes are... butttt which ones out of those classes are we all going to be in first semester? LRRW and what else? Also, if there is Civ Pro I and II, or Contracts I and II, how are they split up by semester?

[skippy1]

Based on class of 2013 schedules on the BCLS website - first semester is Contracts, Civ Pro, Torts, Property, LRW.

[BlueDiamond]

Based on class of 2013 schedules on the BCLS website - first semester is Contracts, Civ Pro, Torts, Property, LRW.

haha figures I'd miss that.. thank you

[mettasutta]

How many Philly firms do OCI at BC? With significant ties to the area (lived there for ~20 years, went to school, full-time WE, etc.) could I easily establish myself there, given a decent class rank (top 40ish%)?