Columbia 1L Taking Questions (Class of '11) Forum

[Lem37]

It's not a tour. They give you specific addresses and time frames in which you can visit them (ie 420 w. 116th apt #4A, apartment share, between 1:15 and 2 pm).

Thanks, Lem!

So do they only give this out upon registration? Or is it online somewhere? (Or emailed to us?)

At registration.

[M51]

Goluboff!!!
But, Briffault's class is probably more typical of law school. Interesting, engaging professor, soft socratic, never gives you a straight answer... good preview.

[MeTalkPrettyOneDay]

Wow, the current students on here have provided VERY helpful feedback about which classes are worth sitting in on! Thank you! I'm gonna sit in on a 10:40-noon class. Here are the options:

European Union Law & Institutions, George Bermann 10:40 am-12:00 pm
Constitution and Foreign Affairs, Sarah Cleveland 10:40 am-12:00 pm
Family Law, Ariela Dubler 10:40 am-12:00 pm
Constitutional Law, Risa Goluboff 10:40 am-12:00 pm
Employment Law, Lance Liebman 10:40 am-12:00 pm
Federal Courts, Henry Monaghan 10:40 am-12:00 pm
Constitutional Law, Nathaniel Persily 10:40 am-12:00 pm
Corporate Taxation, Richard Stone 10:40 am-12:00 pm

Current CLS students, which professor do you recommend? Earlier posters have said good things about both Cleveland and Goluboff, so right now it looks like I may pick one of those two.

[huckabees]

Forgot to ask this earlier -- are we able to arrive/leave in the middle of class or would that be considered rude/unprofessional?

Sometimes there are two classes I want to visit in the same time block.

Thanks!

[sbalive]

Forgot to ask this earlier -- are we able to arrive/leave in the middle of class or would that be considered rude/unprofessional?

Sometimes there are two classes I want to visit in the same time block.

Thanks!

I contacted them about showing up for one of the earlier classes (registration opens at 9). They said it was ok to just show up at class BUT you need to show up a few minutes early to let the prof know that you're observing!

[huckabees]

Forgot to ask this earlier -- are we able to arrive/leave in the middle of class or would that be considered rude/unprofessional?

Sometimes there are two classes I want to visit in the same time block.

Thanks!

I contacted them about showing up for one of the earlier classes (registration opens at 9). They said it was ok to just show up at class BUT you need to show up a few minutes early to let the prof know that you're observing!

Really??

So for all the classes we visit, we need to notify in advance (even if it's just a few minutes in advance)??

[sbalive]

Forgot to ask this earlier -- are we able to arrive/leave in the middle of class or would that be considered rude/unprofessional?

Sometimes there are two classes I want to visit in the same time block.

Thanks!

I contacted them about showing up for one of the earlier classes (registration opens at 9). They said it was ok to just show up at class BUT you need to show up a few minutes early to let the prof know that you're observing!

Really??

So for all the classes we visit, we need to notify in advance??

"Please remember to arrive a few minutes early before class to let the professor know you will be observing." was what I was told in the email replying to my question.

[huckabees]

Forgot to ask this earlier -- are we able to arrive/leave in the middle of class or would that be considered rude/unprofessional?

Sometimes there are two classes I want to visit in the same time block.

Thanks!

I contacted them about showing up for one of the earlier classes (registration opens at 9). They said it was ok to just show up at class BUT you need to show up a few minutes early to let the prof know that you're observing!

Really??

So for all the classes we visit, we need to notify in advance??

"Please remember to arrive a few minutes early before class to let the professor know you will be observing." was what I was told in the email replying to my question.

I wonder how many other ASWers know this...

[sbalive]

"Please remember to arrive a few minutes early before class to let the professor know you will be observing." was what I was told in the email replying to my question.

I wonder how many other ASWers know this...

Seriously. I imagine they'll be fairly understanding given that they know it's visit days... And you can always pretend I didn't tell you that

See you there! I'll keep an eye out for the kid who wanders in and out

[NewHere]

I think you'll be fine walking in and out of a class, as long as it's a large section (60+ people) and you walk in quietly and take a seat in the back.

(If you enter a small section you will be noticed and it may prompt questions from the professor.)

As for MeTalkPretty's question, I can't help much. Of all those people, I've only taken classes with Bermann. He's not my cup of tea, but a lot of people love him.

[chris0805]

I'll reiterate my endorsement of Sarah Cleveland, and I also like my fed courts class with Monaghan... I will warn say, though, that Monaghan can be a little crabby and, as one of the leading Federal Courts scholars EVER, he teaches to a level that most of us don't understand until a few days after the lecture. To an admit, the class might just be a confusing blur with an old crotchety guy telling everyone they're wrong.

Also, in any large section (i.e. any 1L class), you just walk in, sit in the back and leave. If a professor does ask about you (which I HIGHLY doubt will happen), don't worry about it. Just say... ohh... uhh... I'm an admit. If anything, they'll try to be really friendly (well except old crotchety Monaghan )

[Kay777]

I would definitely say that you should go to Persily's Con Law - hes great, the class loves him, and hes brilliant (just testified in front of Congress last week, in fact). He also loves having admitted studentsin class.

I would not advise going to [homophobic language redacted]'s crim class - he is a nice guy, but most of the students are not engaged during class and are not huge fans of the prof. You

For attire, I'm sure its been said before, but please don't wear a suit or anything that resembles a suit. Skirts, nice jeans, and button downs (for guys) are pretty standard here.

[06132010]

So I somehow missed Lionsgate when I went to look at housing today. Could someone tell me how the apartments compare to the ones on 115th and how the studios there are? Also, does it have a doorman?

[NewHere]

I've been to only one Lionsgate apartment (1BR), so I don't know if this is typical, but:

As compared to 115th street:
- Much larger
- MUCH MUCH MUCH more expensive
- Yes, doorman (really, who cares, though. What do you need a doorman for?)

[Lem37]

- Yes, doorman (really, who cares, though. What do you need a doorman for?)

-1. Have you ever lived in NYC? A doorman - and the aura of security that he or she projects - definitely helps one to feel safe. If you have someone manning the front desk, there's a much lower chance that there will be random people wandering around your apartment building. As someone who has lived in NYC for 2 years, didn't have a doorman last year, and had her apartment robbed, I feel much safer knowing there's even that level of security.

[06132010]

What do you need a doorman for?

Mostly to appease my Jewish parents. And what Lem said.

Are Lenfest and Lionsgate the only buildings with doormen?

[NewHere]

1. Have you ever lived in NYC? A doorman - and the aura of security that he or she projects - definitely helps one to feel safe. If you have someone manning the front desk, there's a much lower chance that there will be random people wandering around your apartment building. As someone who has lived in NYC for 2 years, didn't have a doorman last year, and had her apartment robbed, I feel much safer knowing there's even that level of security.

I live in NYC, yes. No doorman. Apartment buildings generally have a front entrance that requires a key, and then of course separate locks on each apartment door. I know there are people who want a doorman, I just really don't get the argument, although

Mostly to appease my Jewish parents.

is a valid reason.

[LGK]

As long as you have SOMEWHERE to deliver your packages and get them relatively securely, you don't need a doorman. The packages thing is the biggest downside of not having one. Also apparently the fabulous 10027 post office has had a package for me from Columbia since 2/2. I just got "final" (aka FIRST) notice of it today. This is why you need a way to get packages in this area. Package acceptance is key. All other doorman pluses are secondary.

[NewHere]

OK, on that topic I can say that if you live in the 115th block, they leave your packages inside (i.e. inside the building, behind a locked door).

[Frank]

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[MeTalkPrettyOneDay]

I'm an accepted student, not a 1L, but I think you may find this helpful:

http://www.law.columbia.edu/null/Academ ... howthumb=0

It's a little confusing at first, since it is the full academic calendar (including upperclassmen and LL.M info), but I think you'll be able find what you're looking for.

[Edit: linked directly to the PDF, which is easier to read than the webpage.]

[Frank]

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[NewHere]

The 'class on professions' is Professional Responsibility, and it is not a 1L class. It's for 2Ls and 3Ls, and maybe LLMs.

[00TREX00]

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[Frank]

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