Columbia students taking questions Forum

[almondjoy]

can anyone ballpark the upper year curve for lectures and seminars?

https://lawnetportal.law.columbia.edu/d ... 2859352b23

[Nebby]

can anyone ballpark the upper year curve for lectures and seminars?

25% B
40% B+
20% A-
15% A

ETA: damn my memory was pretty close!

[jrc223]

can anyone ballpark the upper year curve for lectures and seminars?

https://lawnetportal.law.columbia.edu/d ... 2859352b23

I get a forbidden/cannot access page when I click on that link. I'm assuming the numbers are close to what Nebby posted?

I had heard that there were different upper year curves for seminars and lectures, but the 1L echo chamber has certainly been wrong before

[almondjoy]

can anyone ballpark the upper year curve for lectures and seminars?

https://lawnetportal.law.columbia.edu/d ... 2859352b23

I get a forbidden/cannot access page when I click on that link. I'm assuming the numbers are close to what Nebby posted?

I had heard that there were different upper year curves for seminars and lectures, but the 1L echo chamber has certainly been wrong before

Hmm maybe because you're a 1L they don't let you view it? Weird. Anyway here it is:
Courses
A=15.63, A-=26, B+=33.23, B=20.88

Seminars
A=30.29, A-=36.69, B+=25.48, B=4.81

[Nebby]

Seminars being easy As are dumb. I'd taken more of them if I didn't have to write a paper.

[almondjoy]

Seminars being easy As are dumb. I'd taken more of them if I didn't have to write a paper.

Writing papers blow hard. I'd much rather study for a week or so and bang out a 4 hr exam than struggle through a paper for half a semester.

[Monochromatic Oeuvre]

Seminars being easy As are dumb. I'd taken more of them if I didn't have to write a paper.

Writing papers blow hard. I'd much rather study for a week or so and bang out a 4 hr exam than struggle through a paper for half a semester. like a day and a half

FTFY

[mylifeis24]

Have any of you done the Mass Incarceration clinic? How was the experience? (Also would be interested in thoughts on any of the clinics, and the clinical program as a whole)

I have and it's awesome. Highly recommend it if it peaks your interest. Dignam is the best.

[nicknar]

Have any of you done the Mass Incarceration clinic? How was the experience? (Also would be interested in thoughts on any of the clinics, and the clinical program as a whole)

I have and it's awesome. Highly recommend it if it peaks your interest. Dignam is the best.

Great, thanks! It is definitely something I'm interested in doing if possible. In general all the experiential stuff at Columbia seems really great.

[YCDAACH]

Roughly how many hours a week do you and your classmates spend studying, reading, and doing law work outside of class?

I know other schools have mods or some ways of putting 1L's in smaller groups. Does Columbia do anything like that? Is there a sense of community between you and the other students in your year.

[jbagelboy]

Roughly how many hours a week do you and your classmates spend studying, reading, and doing law work outside of class?

I know other schools have mods or some ways of putting 1L's in smaller groups. Does Columbia do anything like that? Is there a sense of community between you and the other students in your year.

Yea there are a number of programs designed to bring 1Ls together in small environments. For example, (1) everyone has one "small section" from one of contracts/torts/property, with only ~25 students. You spend the most time with your small section; (2) everyone has an even smaller LPW class composed of persons from your section, that will have about 15 people; (3) everyone has a "peer mentor group," where one male & one female 2L have a group of ~15-20 1Ls that they plan activities with and take out for drinks, ect.

Beyond that, there are geographic/ethnic/law interest/ect affinity groups that anyone can join and participate in; there's bar review; there are specialized moot courts (great way to make close 1L and 2L friends in small groups); there are research teams, pro bono groups, and lots of other ways to get to know your class that are volunteer based and not assigned.

[ugg]

Do 1L textbooks vary based on what section you're in? Wondering if I can get a jump start on buying some of the basics.

[dabigchina]

Do 1L textbooks vary based on what section you're in? Wondering if I can get a jump start on buying some of the basics.

Everyone uses Brest Levinson for conlaw and Scott Kraus for Contracts afaik. The rest are a crapshoot. I would just hold off.

[GreenEggs]

Do 1L textbooks vary based on what section you're in? Wondering if I can get a jump start on buying some of the basics.

You're joking right?

[Nebby]

Do 1L textbooks vary based on what section you're in? Wondering if I can get a jump start on buying some of the basics.

You're joking right?

Smith & Wesson

[ugg]

no, DC. i'm really THIS horrible

[Nebby]

no, DC. i'm really THIS horrible

Yes they vary. There's no way to tell what you'll need until August

[jbagelboy]

Do 1L textbooks vary based on what section you're in? Wondering if I can get a jump start on buying some of the basics.

most people buy their casebooks/textbooks in september

[mylifeis24]

Do 1L textbooks vary based on what section you're in? Wondering if I can get a jump start on buying some of the basics.

most people buy their casebooks/textbooks in september

Proud to report that I have not bought a single textbook in law school. Scanned them from library.

[jbagelboy]

Do 1L textbooks vary based on what section you're in? Wondering if I can get a jump start on buying some of the basics.

most people buy their casebooks/textbooks in september

Proud to report that I have not bought a single textbook in law school. Scanned them from library.

^this guy is a winner

[Monochromatic Oeuvre]

Do 1L textbooks vary based on what section you're in? Wondering if I can get a jump start on buying some of the basics.

most people buy their casebooks/textbooks in september

Proud to report that I have not bought a single textbook in law school. Scanned them from library.

+1

This is what I did. Scanning a casebook takes about 45 minutes. Got a few friends to do the same and we all shared the scans, wound up with 10 books and haven't spent a cent (except on those goddamn "coursepacks" I couldn't do without). No idea why anyone would buy a mass-produced casebook.

[RSN]

Do 1L textbooks vary based on what section you're in? Wondering if I can get a jump start on buying some of the basics.

Everyone uses Brest Levinson for conlaw and Scott Kraus for Contracts afaik. The rest are a crapshoot. I would just hold off.

Moot point, but some Ks sections used different books this year I think.

To answer the 0L question, the reason not to buy casebooks or really anything early is because 1) you don't know what your professors will focus on and how they'll understand and explain even the major, landmark cases, and 2) you should try to enjoy your remaining time as a normal human.

[GoneSouth]

Do 1L textbooks vary based on what section you're in? Wondering if I can get a jump start on buying some of the basics.

Everyone uses Brest Levinson for conlaw and Scott Kraus for Contracts afaik. The rest are a crapshoot. I would just hold off.

Nope, Brooks uses his own book for Contracts (though I heard he may not be teaching it next year). Anyway, just hold off because 1) you never know if a new edition is going to come out this summer, or if you're going to have some visiting prof that uses a weird book and 2) there will be tons of 2Ls willing to sell you used books for a good price

[TheoO]

Do 1L textbooks vary based on what section you're in? Wondering if I can get a jump start on buying some of the basics.

Everyone uses Brest Levinson for conlaw and Scott Kraus for Contracts afaik. The rest are a crapshoot. I would just hold off.

I had a visiting prof for Conlaw who used Chemerinsky. Wait for the start of classes to buy your books, since you can (1) not buy them (like people did here), or (2) buy them on the cheap from upperclassmen. Honestly, the amount you can sell the book will generally be within some range of what you bought it for.

[Nebby]

Chermerinsky is by far the best con law casebook too