Recently Graduated UT Law Student taking questions Forum

[timmyd]

Can transfer students graduate with honors?

[dkb17xzx]

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Grade distributions for Class of 2016:

Top 25% = 3.65
Top 50% = 3.36

[shifty_eyed]

Does anyone know the current pay rate for RAs?

[shifty_eyed]

Bumping again to ask for generic advice in selecting 2L courses. What do you wish you knew as a rising 2L?

[philosoraptor]

Bumping again to ask for generic advice in selecting 2L courses. What do you wish you knew as a rising 2L?

If you're doing biglaw next summer, definitely take BA (Spindler is good if you don't want to do Hu's mega-BA extravaganza). If you can fit secured credit, FIT, and securities reg in there as well, those are good. Transactional drafting is also great, but that's a tough class to get into, and it may be less helpful for aspiring litigators.

[StylinNProfilin]

along the transactional lines...any thoughts on corporate governance?

[philosoraptor]

along the transactional lines...any thoughts on corporate governance?

Didn't take it, don't know anyone who did. Glanced at the description -- looked very business-y and very narrowly focused. Couldn't hurt, I suppose, especially if you're gunning for hard-core corporate. Can tell you, though, that you're not going to be counseling public company boards until you have quite a few years of experience under your belt. Given the choice between that and more general intros to stuff you'll actually be doing as a junior (e.g., M&A, capital markets, finance transactions), I'd go for the latter.

Forgot to mention another good one, if you can get in: negotiation. It's mostly limited to 3Ls. Great practice dealing with fellow competitive future lawyers from both a lit and transactional perspective.

One thought about bar classes: Conventional wisdom says don't waste your law school credits on bar classes; take Law & Basket Weaving instead because you'll learn everything from Barbri. I would actually say, though, that if you know what bar you're going to take, have an idea of what's heavily tested, and don't feel strongly about Law & Basket Weaving, go ahead and take classes on bar subjects. Cramming for the bar sucks ass, and I guarantee you will feel better about subjects you've taken classes in. Makes your life easier and is more likely to be relevant in the real world.

[StylinNProfilin]

thanks for the suggestions!

one other Q, I know incoming 1Ls have priority but do FIT or secured credit fill up quick?

[ScottRiqui]

OP, it seems like a lot of firms' Texas offices have offer rates for their summer associates that are significantly below 100% - is that a big concern for students? If it's true, it seems like it would be a strong argument for trying to do a split 2L summer, in order to minimize your chances of not having at least one offer by the end.

[StylinNProfilin]

OP, it seems like a lot of firms' Texas offices have offer rates for their summer associates that are significantly below 100% - is that a big concern for students? If it's true, it seems like it would be a strong argument for trying to do a split 2L summer, in order to minimize your chances of not having at least one offer by the end.

I think remember reading somewhere that the lower offer rates has to do with most Texas firms doing split summers and already getting their offer from their 1st half firm and half assing their 2nd summer. I dont know how credible that theory is though. Or maybe I'm totally making this up.

[philosoraptor]

thanks for the suggestions!

one other Q, I know incoming 1Ls have priority but do FIT or secured credit fill up quick?

Should be plenty of room in those.

More unsolicited prof recommendations: Ascher is great for FIT, and I'd probably recommend Westbrook for secured credit -- had him for bankruptcy and would take his class instead of Littwin's if I had to do secured over again. Westbrook is a certified baller but you really can't slack in his classes or you will fall behind, and he has no problem embarrassing you in class. In contrast, Ascher is super chill and has MC tests. I basically learned FIT from a supplement the week before the exam and did fine.

[philosoraptor]

OP, it seems like a lot of firms' Texas offices have offer rates for their summer associates that are significantly below 100% - is that a big concern for students? If it's true, it seems like it would be a strong argument for trying to do a split 2L summer, in order to minimize your chances of not having at least one offer by the end.

I'm not OP and don't currently work in Texas, but definitely try to split if you can. It's totally normal, and it helps hedge against possible <100% offer rates. As I recall, a few firms' offer rates (but not all firms') took a conspicuous nosedive during the recession, but I'm not sure what the "new normal" is. I don't think it's a huge concern, especially with splitting so common.

[n1o2c3a4c5h6e7t]

Does anybody know how PD gunners do at UT? Austin doesn't have an actual PD office, only juvenile and mental, so there aren't many internship opportunities throughout the year. In addition, afaik Houston PD doesn't hire fresh grads. Dallas does, but that is only one city. Do people who want this route go for a state trial/appellate clerkship to build experience and then try to go to Dallas/Houston? I also noticed that of the current Harris County (Houston) PDs, there are zero people who went to UT, which I found surprising. Nearly everybody went to UH/STCL, which probably implies that they favor people who intern there over the year. Afaik, however, UT students can't do that. Further, the only PD organization that comes to the public interest fair is the Dallas one, so not even small cities look like reasonable options (and I have no interest in small TX cities).

TL;DR: Is it realistically possible to gun for PD from UT?

[rion91]

Wait listed candidate here in Austin wondering if any students can meet after 6 or so for some beer/dinner near campus? Texas undergrad working in Austin right now. Any day of the week would be fine but the sooner the better!

[ajclark1992]

Does anybody know how PD gunners do at UT? Austin doesn't have an actual PD office, only juvenile and mental, so there aren't many internship opportunities throughout the year. In addition, afaik Houston PD doesn't hire fresh grads. Dallas does, but that is only one city. Do people who want this route go for a state trial/appellate clerkship to build experience and then try to go to Dallas/Houston? I also noticed that of the current Harris County (Houston) PDs, there are zero people who went to UT, which I found surprising. Nearly everybody went to UH/STCL, which probably implies that they favor people who intern there over the year. Afaik, however, UT students can't do that. Further, the only PD organization that comes to the public interest fair is the Dallas one, so not even small cities look like reasonable options (and I have no interest in small TX cities).

TL;DR: Is it realistically possible to gun for PD from UT?

It's realistically possible. Know a girl who's going to Denver for 1L summer. She guns.

[rion91]

Wait listed candidate here in Austin wondering if any students can meet after 6 or so for some beer/dinner near campus? Texas undergrad working in Austin right now. Any day of the week would be fine but the sooner the better!

PS food and drink on me

[jellis3]

I'm an out of state student looking for housing. Where is a reasonable place to live? I'd prefer to walk/bike to campus if possible. Also, is there a good way to go about finding a roommate?

[Attax]

I'm an out of state student looking for housing. Where is a reasonable place to live? I'd prefer to walk/bike to campus if possible. Also, is there a good way to go about finding a roommate?

Check the facebook page, and north campus is good if you want to walk/bike. Avoid west campus.

[rion91]

I'm an out of state student looking for housing. Where is a reasonable place to live? I'd prefer to walk/bike to campus if possible. Also, is there a good way to go about finding a roommate?

Look quickly because housing here is very limited. I recommend North Campus. Hyde Park for a more family vibe.

[AnonymousAlterEgoC]

Look quickly because housing here is very limited. I recommend North Campus. Hyde Park for a more family vibe.

I'm curious about the timetable involved. Considering the housing limitations, when should we have housing by?

[rion91]

Look quickly because housing here is very limited. I recommend North Campus. Hyde Park for a more family vibe.

I'm curious about the timetable involved. Considering the housing limitations, when should we have housing by?

I would say most students are looking for new contracts right now before they up out of Austin for the summer. Can't really put a timetable on it, but I say you're out of many options if you don't commit before late May

[cannibal ox]

Are there any stipends for 1L summer work?

[BigZuck]

Are there any stipends for 1L summer work?

4K if government/PI (not judicial internships or working for a firm, obviously). Have to apply but my understanding is everyone who has applied has always got it in the past.

[cannibal ox]

How common are those positions? Are paid RA positions common?

[BigZuck]

How common are those positions? Are paid RA positions common?

If you believe TLS, 1L summer PI jobs rain from the sky. I got three internship offers so I didn't think it was too hard to lock something down. They're getting you as an intern for free (it's a school organization that pays you the stipend).

Can't really speak to the RA thing, I never looked into it.