Weird question: But does anyone DISLIKE their law school Forum

[Nebby]

I merely asked a question. The above is an assumption you formed all on your own..

FYFY not all feminists are women

What the hell is going on in this thread? I tried to make light of the apparent incongruity between the speaker's statement (there is a lot of sexism in southern law schools) and the speaker's username, "Boob Goddess." Boob Goddess as a username might suggest a certain self-absorbed, attention-seeking woman, and there is a stigma about such women that they are not good feminists or that they don't care about advancing the cause of feminism.

If you guys are trying to criticize the politics of this joke, it is your job to point out to me that there is no "right" or "wrong" way to advance feminism, that a woman celebrating her sexuality is just as authentic an expression of feminism as her guarding her sexuality, and that I'm probably slut shaming.

Instead, you guys are oddly focused on the fact that I have assumed that someone named Boob Goddess (note the female suffix), who is complaining about sexism in the South (not often noted for its progressive social attitudes towards women), is in fact a woman. Then there's the bizarre broadside that not all feminists are women, which has absolutely nothing to do with whether or not this person is actually a woman.

You guys suck at this.

But you're still assuming Boob Goddess' gender.

Did you even read his post? Thank god I almost certainly don't go to law school with people on your intellectual level, or I might be able to answer the question of this thread affirmatively.

I read the post.

All of you shut up

[Nebby]

Did you just assume Boob Goddess' gender?

Yeah, a man named "Boob Goddess" is complaining of sexist comments at his law school in the south. Let's go with that. I'm sure that's correct.

FYFY not all feminists are women

Men don't typically face sexism so I think that's where the deduction came from.

Speak for yourself

Actually I take it back. Please describe the sexism you've faced as a man

[courtneylove]

Since you mentioned your visit, what would you have done differently/paid more attention to? I'm currently in the stage of looking at campuses but since I haven't applied/been accepted yet, I've just been going to get a general feel. It's also a really awkward time to be going since its early-August lol.

I would have given more weight to my interactions with other students and how comfortable I felt there. Or, I would have chosen a school in a location where I could have a social life outside of law school if law school sucked. Have you submitted any applications yet? Honestly, I think apply to all schools in your range and see where you get in, then visit on their scheduled weekend. I visited three of the twelve schools where I was accepted and loved one of the three, but ended up choosing the one I liked least based on the ranking. I wish I had visited the other, lower ranked schools where I was accepted, and had listened to my heart about where I felt comfortable.

[brinicolec]

Since you mentioned your visit, what would you have done differently/paid more attention to? I'm currently in the stage of looking at campuses but since I haven't applied/been accepted yet, I've just been going to get a general feel. It's also a really awkward time to be going since its early-August lol.

I would have given more weight to my interactions with other students and how comfortable I felt there. Or, I would have chosen a school in a location where I could have a social life outside of law school if law school sucked. Have you submitted any applications yet? Honestly, I think apply to all schools in your range and see where you get in, then visit on their scheduled weekend. I visited three of the twelve schools where I was accepted and loved one of the three, but ended up choosing the one I liked least based on the ranking. I wish I had visited the other, lower ranked schools where I was accepted, and had listened to my heart about where I felt comfortable.

Apps aren't open yet! My range is also tricky because my stats are a little weird lol. I was planning on going to admitted weekends if possible!

[White Dwarf]

The things I don't like about Columbia would probably go for all top schools (the relentless upper-middle classiness, the credentialism, the humblebragging, the professors who have never been outside the academic bubble, ridiculous costs, bloated administration, useless/rude student services, etc.).

Honestly though, if this summer has taught me anything it's that a lot of students from 3rd and 4th tier schools fit the "elitist jerk" stereotype better than 95% of the people I've met at Columbia.

If I had to do it over, I'd probably go with NYU, but I'm fine with my decision.

[poptart123]

Did you just assume Boob Goddess' gender?

Yeah, a man named "Boob Goddess" is complaining of sexist comments at his law school in the south. Let's go with that. I'm sure that's correct.

FYFY not all feminists are women

Men don't typically face sexism so I think that's where the deduction came from.

Speak for yourself

Actually I take it back. Please describe the sexism you've faced as a man

None -- I never said I did.

[patentlitigatrix]

The things I don't like about Columbia would probably go for all top schools (the relentless upper-middle classiness, the credentialism, the humblebragging, the professors who have never been outside the academic bubble, ridiculous costs, bloated administration, useless/rude student services, etc.).

Honestly though, if this summer has taught me anything it's that a lot of students from 3rd and 4th tier schools fit the "elitist jerk" stereotype better than 95% of the people I've met at Columbia.

If I had to do it over, I'd probably go with NYU, but I'm fine with my decision.

Yeah, all of this. It annoyed me that professors teaching me things like evidence never actually practiced as litigators. Our career services center was beyond useless-they would give bad advice that if followed could be damaging. And on credentialism, never before have I had people ask me where I went to high school so many freaking times. Public school in a notoriously shitty district brought awkward silence.

Plus I went to a law school where tons of people go into public service. Nothing against them at all of course, and some are my good friends, but there was a lot of the super self-righteous attitude that biglaw=bad and people who want biglaw are money hungry. I guess that goes to the relentless upper-middle classiness to some extent.

[White Dwarf]

By "relentless upper-middle classiness" I'm mostly referring to the social scene. It feels like everyone has traveled the world, worked prestigious jobs, had famous family friends, big-wig family members, an elite high school/college on their resumes, and all of those assorted accomplishments and experiences that come automatically when being raised in that social class.

The first day of orientation I ate lunch with 4 people who spent the entire hour talking about their favorite wines. That's basically how the rest of the year went. People here are generally polite and friendly, but it's isolating when you're from a completely different world than 90% of your classmates.

[brinicolec]

By "relentless upper-middle classiness" I'm mostly referring to the social scene. It feels like everyone has traveled the world, worked prestigious jobs, had famous family friends, big-wig family members, an elite high school/college on their resumes, and all of those assorted accomplishments and experiences that come automatically when being raised in that social class.

The first day of orientation I ate lunch with 4 people who spent the entire hour talking about their favorite wines. That's basically how the rest of the year went. People here are generally polite and friendly, but it's isolating when you're from a completely different world than 90% of your classmates.

Oh, wow. That's intense, thanks for sharing. NYU has like... a student life blog but I couldn't find anything about Columbia to get an idea of what their community is like.

It's funny that you mentioned NYU as well because I was going to ask if you'd mingled with any NYU law students/how they compared. NYU is currently one of my top choices.

[patentlitigatrix]

By "relentless upper-middle classiness" I'm mostly referring to the social scene. It feels like everyone has traveled the world, worked prestigious jobs, had famous family friends, big-wig family members, an elite high school/college on their resumes, and all of those assorted accomplishments and experiences that come automatically when being raised in that social class.

The first day of orientation I ate lunch with 4 people who spent the entire hour talking about their favorite wines. That's basically how the rest of the year went. People here are generally polite and friendly, but it's isolating when you're from a completely different world than 90% of your classmates.

Yeah, same experience here. Even with some of my closer law school friends, I felt uncomfortable from time to time. I still feel the same way with my biglaw co-workers sometimes. It is sort of something to just get over. it's not really their fault that they come from a totally different world than me.

[Nebby]

By "relentless upper-middle classiness" I'm mostly referring to the social scene. It feels like everyone has traveled the world, worked prestigious jobs, had famous family friends, big-wig family members, an elite high school/college on their resumes, and all of those assorted accomplishments and experiences that come automatically when being raised in that social class.

The first day of orientation I ate lunch with 4 people who spent the entire hour talking about their favorite wines. That's basically how the rest of the year went. People here are generally polite and friendly, but it's isolating when you're from a completely different world than 90% of your classmates.

They can't change a tire though. We win

[patentlitigatrix]

By "relentless upper-middle classiness" I'm mostly referring to the social scene. It feels like everyone has traveled the world, worked prestigious jobs, had famous family friends, big-wig family members, an elite high school/college on their resumes, and all of those assorted accomplishments and experiences that come automatically when being raised in that social class.

The first day of orientation I ate lunch with 4 people who spent the entire hour talking about their favorite wines. That's basically how the rest of the year went. People here are generally polite and friendly, but it's isolating when you're from a completely different world than 90% of your classmates.

They can't change a tire though. We win

I re-lit a pilot light on a water heater in one of my friend's law school apartments and he was AMAZED. I taught another what a breaker box is and what to do if a switch gets flipped in a power surge or storm or whatevs. Also AMAZED.

[brinicolec]

By "relentless upper-middle classiness" I'm mostly referring to the social scene. It feels like everyone has traveled the world, worked prestigious jobs, had famous family friends, big-wig family members, an elite high school/college on their resumes, and all of those assorted accomplishments and experiences that come automatically when being raised in that social class.

The first day of orientation I ate lunch with 4 people who spent the entire hour talking about their favorite wines. That's basically how the rest of the year went. People here are generally polite and friendly, but it's isolating when you're from a completely different world than 90% of your classmates.

They can't change a tire though. We win

I re-lit a pilot light on a water heater in one of my friend's law school apartments and he was AMAZED. I taught another what a breaker box is and what to do if a switch gets flipped in a power surge or storm or whatevs. Also AMAZED.

Starting to wonder if I'm upper-middle class-y but laid back because I'd be lost about the pilot light but also don't have a favorite wine

[Nebby]

By "relentless upper-middle classiness" I'm mostly referring to the social scene. It feels like everyone has traveled the world, worked prestigious jobs, had famous family friends, big-wig family members, an elite high school/college on their resumes, and all of those assorted accomplishments and experiences that come automatically when being raised in that social class.

The first day of orientation I ate lunch with 4 people who spent the entire hour talking about their favorite wines. That's basically how the rest of the year went. People here are generally polite and friendly, but it's isolating when you're from a completely different world than 90% of your classmates.

They can't change a tire though. We win

I re-lit a pilot light on a water heater in one of my friend's law school apartments and he was AMAZED. I taught another what a breaker box is and what to do if a switch gets flipped in a power surge or storm or whatevs. Also AMAZED.

Starting to wonder if I'm upper-middle class-y but laid back because I'd be lost about the pilot light but also don't have a favorite wine

Wow. You are a lost soul. I can adopt you into the lower middle class and teach you the ways. I fixed my mom's deck and tore up some carpet today using the same tools for both.

[bacillusanthracis]

Put me in the official "I hate law school" column. And I don't think it's my school in particular; my experience would likely be the same anywhere else.

Law school tests few of my strengths, and most of my weaknesses. For example, I'm an excellent speaker, have a strong presence, I'm very personable, and I have a confident personality. In appellate ad, I won the school competition hands down and had to carry my partner through it, but I wasn't allowed on the traveling team because I didn't have the GPA. And because Law Review is so important to academic fetishists, it didn't go over well when I said, "I wouldn't join fucking law review even if they'd let me." Not in those exact words, but the sentiment expressed was clear.

Trial ad was the same. I beat the living shit out of my section, and only through utter persistence, a professor's recommendation, and a goddamn petition are they going to allow me on trial team (again with the GPA).

If it sounds like I'm bragging, well, it ends there. The fact is my grades suck. I'm terrible at the law school exam and I fear for my Bar Exam future. I can write memos all day long in the real world, do research for real stuff, etc., but that doesn't matter in law school. But back to law school.

In class, getting cold called doesn't scare me one bit. I owe that to two things:

1. I don't care if I make mistakes in class. That's what I'm there for and I'm not supposed to know what Professor Fuckface who grades his tests when he's drunk does.

2. I don't give a damn about what Professor Drunk Fuckface thinks of me. Law school is temporary and I will never see the bastard(s) again after the end of next year. And some law professors don't like that they don't scare you, or that you don't flock to them for advice. To me, they're just a thing up there that tells me what I'm supposed to do for that class; nothing more, nothing less. It doesn't bother me at all if they've never practiced law and it doesn't overly impress if they have, although the weaving in of real life stories with the material makes a class far more interesting. But in the end, they are for the most part, purely things of function to me.

People: Most people are good people, whether it's in law school or anywhere else. I truly believe that, even though I've been the victim of a crazy law school backstabbing by one student in particular. But I don't make the mistake of projecting that onto others. And I respect the hell out of my academic betters and I get along with everyone from the top students to those like me--the pariahs of the law school world.

All that said, I don't regret going to law school for a second. I never intended to work for a big firm and I still have no desire to. It's always been about opening my practice from the time the idea first occurred to me and that desire has never waned. I'm good with people one on one and I'm good at speaking in front of people, and I'm good on my feet. Law school simply doesn't value those things as much as I think it should. Then again, it also doesn't value the ability to eat three pounds worth of a Chicago deep dish pizza either, so that kind of sucks. But it is what it is and bitching isn't going to change it. However, I fully reserve the right to bitch about it anyway.

[A. Nony Mouse]

Put me in the official "I hate law school" column. And I don't think it's my school in particular; my experience would likely be the same anywhere else.

This gets at my concerns with the question - some people are not going to like law school, period, regardless of which school. Other people may dislike things specific to their school. Some people may think they dislike things specific to their school that are actually issues with law school generally, and vice versa. All these things are super subjective and especially since people are (generally) not naming their schools, I feel like it's impossible to use any of this stuff in determine whether you, the OP, will or won't like law school.

(This isn't a modly edict that the question in inappropriate or anything. Just a personal opinion about the limits of the question. I feel like you'd be get more pertinent info reading/posting in the "School X students taking questions" threads for the school's you're considering.)

[brinicolec]

Put me in the official "I hate law school" column. And I don't think it's my school in particular; my experience would likely be the same anywhere else.

This gets at my concerns with the question - some people are not going to like law school, period, regardless of which school. Other people may dislike things specific to their school. Some people may think they dislike things specific to their school that are actually issues with law school generally, and vice versa. All these things are super subjective and especially since people are (generally) not naming their schools, I feel like it's impossible to use any of this stuff in determine whether you, the OP, will or won't like law school.

(This isn't a modly edict that the question in inappropriate or anything. Just a personal opinion about the limits of the question. I feel like you'd be get more pertinent info reading/posting in the "School X students taking questions" threads for the school's you're considering.)

I think most students taking questions at the schools I'm interested in enjoy their school which is why this post exists. I'm aware things are subjective but that doesn't mean someone won't say something that also strikes me as a potentional problem that I need to investigate more. Plus, I can tell the difference between someone who just doesn't like LS & someone who doesn't like THEIR LS based on what kinds of things they have complaints about. I'm basically using this as a way to get myself thinking about other aspects of LS that I need to be considering since I'm applying this cycle/to get a more inside scoop of some schools that I've been wondering about. For example: I'd never really thought about whether or not it's problematic for professors to have never been litigators until someone on this thread mentioned that it bothered them (& explained why).

[MyNameIsntJames]

By "relentless upper-middle classiness" I'm mostly referring to the social scene. It feels like everyone has traveled the world, worked prestigious jobs, had famous family friends, big-wig family members, an elite high school/college on their resumes, and all of those assorted accomplishments and experiences that come automatically when being raised in that social class.

The first day of orientation I ate lunch with 4 people who spent the entire hour talking about their favorite wines. That's basically how the rest of the year went. People here are generally polite and friendly, but it's isolating when you're from a completely different world than 90% of your classmates.

I pray to God law school in the T14 isn't really like this

[Londonbear]

By "relentless upper-middle classiness" I'm mostly referring to the social scene. It feels like everyone has traveled the world, worked prestigious jobs, had famous family friends, big-wig family members, an elite high school/college on their resumes, and all of those assorted accomplishments and experiences that come automatically when being raised in that social class.

The first day of orientation I ate lunch with 4 people who spent the entire hour talking about their favorite wines. That's basically how the rest of the year went. People here are generally polite and friendly, but it's isolating when you're from a completely different world than 90% of your classmates.

I pray to God law school in the T14 isn't really like this

Benefits of going to GULC which has the largest class size is that there will be so many people that you won't get this or if you find yourself in such a group, you don't have to do much to avoid them.

[foxes]

By "relentless upper-middle classiness" I'm mostly referring to the social scene. It feels like everyone has traveled the world, worked prestigious jobs, had famous family friends, big-wig family members, an elite high school/college on their resumes, and all of those assorted accomplishments and experiences that come automatically when being raised in that social class.

The first day of orientation I ate lunch with 4 people who spent the entire hour talking about their favorite wines. That's basically how the rest of the year went. People here are generally polite and friendly, but it's isolating when you're from a completely different world than 90% of your classmates.

I pray to God law school in the T14 isn't really like this

avoid hys

[GoneSouth]

The things I don't like about Columbia would probably go for all top schools (the relentless upper-middle classiness, the credentialism, the humblebragging, the professors who have never been outside the academic bubble, ridiculous costs, bloated administration, useless/rude student services, etc.).

Honestly though, if this summer has taught me anything it's that a lot of students from 3rd and 4th tier schools fit the "elitist jerk" stereotype better than 95% of the people I've met at Columbia.

If I had to do it over, I'd probably go with NYU, but I'm fine with my decision.

Yeah, all of this. It annoyed me that professors teaching me things like evidence never actually practiced as litigators. Our career services center was beyond useless-they would give bad advice that if followed could be damaging. And on credentialism, never before have I had people ask me where I went to high school so many freaking times. Public school in a notoriously shitty district brought awkward silence.

Plus I went to a law school where tons of people go into public service. Nothing against them at all of course, and some are my good friends, but there was a lot of the super self-righteous attitude that biglaw=bad and people who want biglaw are money hungry. I guess that goes to the relentless upper-middle classiness to some extent.

This is really weird. I've never once been asked where I went to high school I don't think

[silverdoe91]

This post is all over the place

Yeah, I really wish people would stick to the topic bc the question is a really good one.

It's almost as good as the, "Is Cornell as good as NYLS" nonsense you started.

I never asked if Cornell is as good as any other school. I merely asked which would be the best law school for me given my options and my circumstances. Furthermore, I never applied to NYLS, so idek where you got that from.

[radio1nowhere]

I underestimated how much I would dislike the weather at H. I purposely excluded weather from my law school decision process because it seemed unimportant, but the unending months of slushy windy grayness ended up being a noticeable burden at times during 1L. I definitely don't actively regret choosing H, but—given that I was already on the brink of going to Palo Alto—I might choose differently if I could go back.

By "relentless upper-middle classiness" I'm mostly referring to the social scene. It feels like everyone has traveled the world, worked prestigious jobs, had famous family friends, big-wig family members, an elite high school/college on their resumes, and all of those assorted accomplishments and experiences that come automatically when being raised in that social class.

Yeah, same experience here. Even with some of my closer law school friends, I felt uncomfortable from time to time. I still feel the same way with my biglaw co-workers sometimes. It is sort of something to just get over. it's not really their fault that they come from a totally different world than me.

I wouldn't say this is "relentless" at H (plenty of different backgrounds represented), but reading these posts made me realize how many experiences I've had like this in the last year. Sometimes people ask why I didn't take the work experience route before law school, and I want to say: Because I didn't have the impressive opportunities you did! Sure I got good grades at my middle-of-the-road state school, but neither I nor anyone I knew growing up had ever even considered working in big finance, or consulting, or whatever other prestigious jobs many of my law school peers wandered into, because those opportunities just weren't generally available to us. Hell, I had literally never heard of "management consulting" until I got to law school and a bunch of my peers had done it..

[sublime]

I went to WUSTL and thought it was awesome.

The c/o 2017 really sucks for some reason though.

[Sprout]

I went to WUSTL and thought it was awesome.

The c/o 2017 really sucks for some reason though.

The whole class? Seems like quite the blanket statement for you, Sublime.