Indiana University - Bloomington students taking questions Forum

[kings84_wr]

I will say from a mere teaching perspective I learned more in Heidts class then all my profs last semester combined. His class was just sooo much work and extra reading that it forced tons of learning.
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+1, except I'd say it was more his teaching style and emphasis on lawyerly arguments than the extra readings. I didn't do most of the extra readings he assigned, but still learned a ton from that class. If he is teaching Torts next year, that is my sincere recommendation to you provided you get to pick your teacher again.

Also, his grading/exam is extremely fair and he's extremely willing to grade practice exams and offer you feedback.

I do have to admit I catch myself using his terms and argument structure all the time in other classes.

[Vincent Vega]

OK So I have decided to bring my car to campus, but I'm not sure whether or not I want to buy a parking pass for somewhere near the law school. The reason I want a car is so I can go to stores, drive to Indy when I want/need to, drive to church on Sundays, and other non-school-related reasons. The only times I anticipate driving to school on a normal day is if I have missed the bus or I need to go somewhere before or after school.

So my question is, should I pay $$ to get a parking pass for the 10-20 days a semester I will probably drive to campus, or is there sufficient street parking within .5-1 mile so I could get away with it?

[Spoonmanners]

OK So I have decided to bring my car to campus, but I'm not sure whether or not I want to buy a parking pass for somewhere near the law school. The reason I want a car is so I can go to stores, drive to Indy when I want/need to, drive to church on Sundays, and other non-school-related reasons. The only times I anticipate driving to school on a normal day is if I have missed the bus or I need to go somewhere before or after school.

So my question is, should I pay $$ to get a parking pass for the 10-20 days a semester I will probably drive to campus, or is there sufficient street parking within .5-1 mile so I could get away with it?

A good number of places will sell spots by the month for around $25-50. There is a good amount of street parking, but you would have to move your car every 2 hours. I know people who do it, but I wouldn't recommend it. Most schedules would make it pretty difficult. Or you can stay at one of the nearby lots past 9 PM when they leave and parking is then free.

I carpool most of the time too. You can switch off the drive in the morning, and catch the bus back home.

No reason to make excuses for the car, most of the school rock vehicles.

[runningwithscissors]

I don't have a parking pass since I live close enough to the law school, but what I've heard (although I'm not 100% it is true) is that you typically get put into the lot all the way by the football stadium and have to take a bus from there if you have a parking pass.

I'd do research to see if this is correct. If it is, I wouldn't buy a parking pass. I believe that there are some streets that don't have permit parking that are 5-6 blocks from the school. Parking on those streets would probably be a better option.

[Vincent Vega]

An email the LS sent me a week or so ago mentioned a couple private lots that were close to the LS. I would not be at all interested in getting a parking pass for the football stadium, as that is not much closer to the LS than my apartment is.

[runningwithscissors]

My mistake. I incorrectly assumed that you were refering to an IU parking pass.

Still, I personally would probably just use street parking rather than paying for a spot somewhere...

[Spoonmanners]

I would certainly just use street parking over the stadium.

Though I would bet you could pack a bike and just ride it 14 blocks everyday. I had always heard of using the stadium, but I don't think I have heard of someone from the LS actually parking at the stadium. I seriously forgot that was a possibility until it was just mentioned.

[T14_Scholly]

Excuse me. I don't believe my question was answered.

What prizes can you win at IU if you're a really good writer?

[ram jam]

How is Indiana? Is it worth it? If one does not make top 10% and get a job in Chicago, what will life be like in a medium sized town in Indiana? Can anyone weigh in?

[badwithpseudonyms]

Excuse me. I don't believe my question was answered.

What prizes can you win at IU if you're a really good writer?

I think there is some kind of discount at Qdoba...

Shit, that smart ass response was far superior to my smart ass response. The only legitimate "prize" I guess would be the scribe award.

[Mulliganstew]

Excuse me. I don't believe my question was answered.

What prizes can you win at IU if you're a really good writer?

It was answered: the Scribe Award is given to the best writers. The Qdoba thing wasn't true... but I wish it was.

As far as top 10%, while I doubt that the economy will keep Indiana's placement numbers down for too long, there are plenty of other options for anyone graduating from the school outside of living in Muncie or something. Indiana places well throughout the midwest. And, besides, even if you end up in Indiana, you're most likely going to end up near Indianapolis or maybe the Ohio border. So, there will be cities around. Even if the city is Dayton.

[kings84_wr]

How is Indiana? Is it worth it? If one does not make top 10% and get a job in Chicago, what will life be like in a medium sized town in Indiana? Can anyone weigh in?

Meh I have serious doubts that even top 10 Percent can get Chicago. Yeah some in top 10 % can, but I bet most won't.

What IU has going for it is generous money given out, good profs, good facilities, and a decent rep. If you want to practice law and aren't set on big law, then IU is a good bargain I think.

As Ive only lived in Indiana for 6 months I probably can't comment so much on Indiana life, btut bloomington is really nice.

[kings84_wr]

After turning in my excuse of a brief today, I can officially say I will not be getting the scribe award, and will settle just for another P again

I assume htat the scribe award isn't really that official though. Like it just puts the asterisk on the transcript next to LRW. Maybe Im wrong and there is an official award or announcement or something, but i Kind of assumed its just like getting the top grade in any class.

[Vincent Vega]

How is Indiana? Is it worth it? If one does not make top 10% and get a job in Chicago, what will life be like in a medium sized town in Indiana? Can anyone weigh in?

Meh I have serious doubts that even top 10 Percent can get Chicago. Yeah some in top 10 % can, but I bet most won't.

When you say "get Chicago" you mean biglaw in Chicago, right? Because I fully intend to work either in Chicago or one of the suburbs, and that would be a serious blow to me if you say I won't be able to get a job in northern Illinois at all.

[kings84_wr]

How is Indiana? Is it worth it? If one does not make top 10% and get a job in Chicago, what will life be like in a medium sized town in Indiana? Can anyone weigh in?

Meh I have serious doubts that even top 10 Percent can get Chicago. Yeah some in top 10 % can, but I bet most won't.

When you say "get Chicago" you mean biglaw in Chicago, right? Because I fully intend to work either in Chicago or one of the suburbs, and that would be a serious blow to me if you say I won't be able to get a job in northern Illinois at all.

Yeah I ment biglaw. I think IU would be good for non-big law chicago, because its minimized debt and a respected name. There's definitely something to be said for having low debt coming out of law school, it opens up some great opportunities im sure.

eve then I may have been a bit too pessimistic. Im sure most in the top 10 PErcent at IU can probably find biglaw if the wanted it, I just don't feel like chicago biglaw is a market that IU has done particularly well in. Indy is small for a big law market, but Im guessing thats the easiest for an IU grad to break in.

[Bankhead]

Barring a connection, biglaw in Indy or Louisville (possibly Cincinnati, Dayton, etc.) is all that is currently available. Top 20% and ties to the market is a must.

[kings84_wr]

Barring a connection, biglaw in Indy or Louisville (possibly Cincinnati, Dayton, etc.) is all that is currently available. Top 20% and ties to the market is a must.

Yeah that sounds a lot better and accurate then my speculation haha. Are you looking for Big law bankhead?

[Bankhead]

Well, I'll take it if I can get it.

You?

[chicoalto0649]

Barring a connection, biglaw in Indy or Louisville (possibly Cincinnati, Dayton, etc.) is all that is currently available. Top 20% and ties to the market is a must.

Shudder

[kings84_wr]

Well, I'll take it if I can get it.

You?

haha Yeah Im still open to it, but Im not set on it. I really want to do a clerkship though, and IU's numbers on that seem pretty bleak as well. I kinda figure if I stay at IU, my debt will be reasonable enough so that big law isn't necessary. If I end up transferring then it probably changes things.

[Spoonmanners]

Barring a connection, biglaw in Indy or Louisville (possibly Cincinnati, Dayton, etc.) is all that is currently available. Top 20% and ties to the market is a must.

Totally wrong. We had a large international firm based in Louisville doing OCI for 1L's, and they were asking for top 1/3rd. Not sure why they would see top 1/3rd when they only take top 20%. I know those spots filled up FAST.

Not sure where you get your numbers Bankhead...

[kings84_wr]

Are any of you guys doing the NYC & DC spring break 1l job trips? Seems kind of interesting, I know a few of my friends are going.

[Spoonmanners]

Are any of you guys doing the NYC & DC spring break 1l job trips? Seems kind of interesting, I know a few of my friends are going.

No, I'm really not interested in the northeast. Plus I am trying to set up face to face interviews for some internships. PAID internships for anyone wonder.

I will probably be less bitchy if I get one.

[MaurerFan]

Chicago market really depends on what field you intend to practice. If you want to do commercial litigation, yeah, you better be top 5% if you even want them to not throw away your resume. For us IP guys, we only need to be like top 1/3 or top 1/4 to bust into the patent law boutiques or work for firms with patent groups, so long as we had good engineering undergrad degrees.

[kings84_wr]

Chicago market really depends on what field you intend to practice. If you want to do commercial litigation, yeah, you better be top 5% if you even want them to not throw away your resume. For us IP guys, we only need to be like top 1/3 or top 1/4 to bust into the patent law boutiques or work for firms with patent groups, so long as we had good engineering undergrad degrees.

Yeah IP guys like you definitely have a lot more options. I think that strong chicago connections may also help some that are trying to break in to the region as well.

To be honest though, I think someone who was top 5% at IU woudl be better off transferring to UChicago or Northwestern if they wanted to break in to the Chicago Big-Law (non IP that is)