UVA Law Students Taking Questions Forum

[Yardbird]

Question about UVA culture.

So, to my surprise, I was admitted yesterday. I'm a veteran and was previously planning to go to W&M in the hopes of reentering the military as a JAG officer. UVA was a huge reach for me, so I was pleasantly surprised. UVA for free (GI Bill) is hard to pass up.

My wife is still active duty and is stationed on the east side of Virginia, about 2 hours from Charlottesville. We've discussed the possibility of me just renting a studio apartment crash pad in Charlottesville, and then coming home on the weekends/whenever possible.

I know some people describe UVA as having a "fratty" drinking and softball culture. Are people who sort of opt out of this social pariahs? I'm going to be 30 when I start school, and as a married guy, I'd much rather spend my weekends with my wife as opposed to softball leagues and doing shots in bars. I'm not judging or opposed to that (I was there once myself), but I don't see myself really diving in to that aspect of the school. However, I also don't want to be seen as the class weirdo or curmudgeon. I'm pretty social and friendly, and would happily get a beer with someone on a Tuesday night, but my weekends would almost exclusively be spent away from Charlottesville.

Here's my post-1L Fall perspective: I am not into the "fratty" part of the "culture" either, but you will find plenty of people who are the same as you. You won't miss out on much if you happen skip Bar Review/drinking events every week - you will still make friends and no one is going to exclude you for making a choice not to drink. People may call it "cliquey" but every setting (school-work-sports-military) is going to be like that. What makes UVA great is that the cliques are "soft cliques" (for lack of a better word), and it's easy to make friends who are different than you and make your own group of friends. I don't think my classmates view me as a social curmudgeon or weirdo for not getting wasted with them every Thursday night. Honestly the only people I've ever heard people talk about in a "negative way" are people who never hang out with anyone - e.g. never go to softball, never hang out in between classes, never go to section dinners/non-alcoholic events.

Also, softball is during the week after or in between classes for the most part (I'd highly encourage participating - it's only one hour during the week, no harm in having a little fun/exercise each week).

Also congrats!

[anon sequitur]

Make an effort for the first month to go to a few of the social gatherings, show up to a softball game or two. You'll be well liked, assuming you are otherwise likable. There are quite plenty of people who do their own thing on weekends and socialize primarily while on grounds, between or after classes.

[CvilleRunner]

Question about UVA culture.

So, to my surprise, I was admitted yesterday. I'm a veteran and was previously planning to go to W&M in the hopes of reentering the military as a JAG officer. UVA was a huge reach for me, so I was pleasantly surprised. UVA for free (GI Bill) is hard to pass up.

My wife is still active duty and is stationed on the east side of Virginia, about 2 hours from Charlottesville. We've discussed the possibility of me just renting a studio apartment crash pad in Charlottesville, and then coming home on the weekends/whenever possible.

I know some people describe UVA as having a "fratty" drinking and softball culture. Are people who sort of opt out of this social pariahs? I'm going to be 30 when I start school, and as a married guy, I'd much rather spend my weekends with my wife as opposed to softball leagues and doing shots in bars. I'm not judging or opposed to that (I was there once myself), but I don't see myself really diving in to that aspect of the school. However, I also don't want to be seen as the class weirdo or curmudgeon. I'm pretty social and friendly, and would happily get a beer with someone on a Tuesday night, but my weekends would almost exclusively be spent away from Charlottesville.

I moved here with my significant other as well. This means that I don't go to bar review, don't go to kegs on Thursdays, and rarely go to organized law school functions (Foxfield, PILA, etc.) Sometimes people will try to convince you to go to things, but I think it comes from a good place in that they have a lot of fun at events and want you to have fun too. When I do go to things organized my our section (softball games, smaller parties) everyone is really nice, and seems happy to see me, but understands when I don't go too. I don't think you'll be a social pariah at all, people are understanding about others in law school having different priorities - that being said, it is a pretty drinking heavy culture and if you're not into that you just have to be aware that it's there.

I do agree with the advice about trying to go to stuff toward the beginning - you'll want to get to know people in your section (they are who you are going to want to study with and who you will want to get beers with to blow off steam and complain about law school with). The softball games are fun and they aren't a big time commitment - even if you go and read instead of playing, Cville in the fall is amazing. I also think if you don't want to go to social activities around drinking, then you could organize section outings to movies, hikes, dinner on the downtown mall, concerts (and all those things can happen during the week).

One of the concerns I would have about driving back and forth, more than the social aspect, would actually be the loss in study time. There are some weekends when losing four hours in driving back and forth might seem like a lot - 1L year is a lot about time management so make sure your wife understands that since you're spending four hours in the car, you're going to have a lot to do when you get there. (You could also see about getting cases on tapes, I think they record them for students who are visually impaired, but it's a good way to make your car time count.)

[Yardbird]

One of the concerns I would have about driving back and forth, more than the social aspect, would actually be the loss in study time. There are some weekends when losing four hours in driving back and forth might seem like a lot - 1L year is a lot about time management so make sure your wife understands that since you're spending four hours in the car, you're going to have a lot to do when you get there. (You could also see about getting cases on tapes, I think they record them for students who are visually impaired, but it's a good way to make your car time count.)

http://www.naturalreaders.com will convert text to mp3s in clearly spoken voices and is *mostly accurate.* You could copy and paste cases from lexis/westlaw and have this convert them into an mp3 that you can play in your car (or phone). Didn't use this myself but a friend commuting to another law school used this during his commutes to have digital supplements read to him and said it worked well. Just throwing it out there for ya.

[TheSpanishMain]

that being said, it is a pretty drinking heavy culture and if you're not into that you just have to be aware that it's there.

Thanks all. Like I said, I'm certainly not anti-drinking. I definitely enjoy a cocktail or a beer in the evening. It's more like I don't want to drink the way I did when I was 21-22 anymore, i.e getting trashed in bars full of students. That said, I'm definitely not one of those people who looks down on people who are doing that. Just not really in that stage of life anymore.

[jkpolk]

that being said, it is a pretty drinking heavy culture and if you're not into that you just have to be aware that it's there.

Thanks all. Like I said, I'm certainly not anti-drinking. I definitely enjoy a cocktail or a beer in the evening. It's more like I don't want to drink the way I did when I was 21-22 anymore, i.e getting trashed in bars full of students. That said, I'm definitely not one of those people who looks down on people who are doing that. Just not really in that stage of life anymore.

You'll be in the majority

[UVAIce]

What I find humorous about students' worries about the "drinking culture" at UVA is that we actually have a fairly large Mormon presence at the law school. They do not drink, they are not fratty, and yet they are perfectly accepted in the UVA law community and I have never heard a person say anything negative about them.

UVA is a big enough of a place that you will find a group of people with a similar outlook on life. But the great thing about UVA is that all those groups are very respectful to one another.

[Br3v]

One more question about grade emails.

Should we expect an email before each grade is released, or just before the first one?

In other words, will I have to check SIS if I didnt even get a 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th email?

[cfr1225]

One more question about grade emails.

Should we expect an email before each grade is released, or just before the first one?

In other words, will I have to check SIS if I didnt even get a 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th email?

You get an email the morning after each grade has been posted.

[5ky]

One more question about grade emails.

Should we expect an email before each grade is released, or just before the first one?

In other words, will I have to check SIS if I didnt even get a 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th email?

The notification emails come out after the grades have been posted. They get posted at 7pm each night, so checking then is the earliest you could know.

[ThinkNegative]

O wise, gentle, and scholarly folk of UVA, I'm here to ask for your help:

I'm about to start ConLaw with Elizabeth Magill, who used to teach at UVA. If anyone could point me toward past outlines for her class, I'd much appreciate it. Please PM me.

Thanks, and happy new year.

[CvilleRunner]

Does anyone have any good advice for a property supplement for Harrison? I've heard Understanding Property and the Gilbert's black letter law outline are good, but I was wondering if anyone found other supplements helpful for his teaching style.

Thanks!

[lookingin]

Has anyone who applied to the Jeffersonian gotten a confirmation/rental number yet? I sent in my application but still haven't heard a thing... I thought numbers were going out on the 2nd or 3rd?

[RCO2012]

Has anyone who applied to the Jeffersonian gotten a confirmation/rental number yet? I sent in my application but still haven't heard a thing... I thought numbers were going out on the 2nd or 3rd?

Might want to check/post here: http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... &start=150

[lookingin]

Has anyone who applied to the Jeffersonian gotten a confirmation/rental number yet? I sent in my application but still haven't heard a thing... I thought numbers were going out on the 2nd or 3rd?

Might want to check/post here: http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... &start=150

Ahh thanks.

[RCO2012]

Has anyone who applied to the Jeffersonian gotten a confirmation/rental number yet? I sent in my application but still haven't heard a thing... I thought numbers were going out on the 2nd or 3rd?

Might want to check/post here: http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... &start=150

Ahh thanks.

No problem.

[playpowerball]

would be nice to get some grades

[Yardbird]

Supplement for Mahoney's Property class (Merrill casebook)?

[PepperJack]

Understanding Property and the E&E are useful for her, and any property class. But particularly the E&E based on how she tends to test (lots of little fact patterns). The videos are fantastic too.

[daleearnhardt123]

Understanding Property and the E&E are useful for her, and any property class. But particularly the E&E based on how she tends to test (lots of little fact patterns). The videos are fantastic too.

This is just completely not true, at least as it pertains to her Property class.

[anon sequitur]

Balnave's PR grades are out. Just for future reference, there is no need to ever attend this class. Just read the syllabus, get the book, read the 100 pages of the rules, take the test, refer to the rules as necessary and get your B+. Total investment for 2 credits: 5 or 6 hours including exam.

[jkpolk]

Balnave's PR grades are out. Just for future reference, there is no need to ever attend this class. Just read the syllabus, get the book, read the 100 pages of the rules, take the test, refer to the rules as necessary and get your B+. Total investment for 2 credits: 5 or 6 hours including exam.

Seconded

[albanach]

Admin law grades are also out.

I for one am glad I will never go through that again. Cohen's PR exam was a thing of beauty and simplicity by comparison.

[PepperJack]

Admin law grades are also out.

I for one am glad I will never go through that again. Cohen's PR exam was a thing of beauty and simplicity by comparison.

What is it about Cohen's exam that makes it hard relative to the other PR's?

[albanach]

Admin law grades are also out.

I for one am glad I will never go through that again. Cohen's PR exam was a thing of beauty and simplicity by comparison.

What is it about Cohen's exam that makes it hard relative to the other PR's?

Imagine a very long fact pattern, where dates are important but not laid out chronologically and which includes securities stuff that other PR courses might not even touch upon. Then add in a professor that will give out more than one A+ and corresponding Cs to balance the curve.

To be fair, he gives lots of practice exams so there really shouldn't be a surprise when you sit down and see the exam. But it's certainly not like the PR course mentioned above, there's no five hour cram before the exam that will deliver a B+.