UNLV 3L Taking Questions Forum

[guvna2030]

If anyone wants to know anything about the Boyd School of Law, ask away...

[PhantaManta]

1. How bad is the area around campus? The 'nice' parts seem like they are 20 minutes away, not sure if it is worth living that far.

2. Does it have a close / friendly community of students or is it more of a commuter thing?

3. Have you noticed / heard of any serious problems due to budget cuts?

4. How have you enjoyed your experience as a whole?

5. Jobs outlook?

Thanks

[Vegas_Rebel]

Building a little on Phanta's question 5, the newest USNWR rankings report about 87% of students are employed upon graduation.

If you had to guesstimate, does that sound about right?

Also, thank you for stopping by. It's nice to see other UNLV folks on the boards.

[jackdaw]

1. bad is subjective, its not the greatest area right around campus but its not like the ghetto, depends on what you are willing to pay, there are some really new nice apartments right on flamingo / swenson ish though.

2. the school is pretty social, bar review every thursday night which means a club sets up a meeting at one of the bars in vegas and a good number of people show and socialize. Every wednesday the sports/entertainment law club hosts a bowling night at one of the various bowling alleys in vegas, even some of the prof's show up to this. there are mixers, a big party at the end of the year and one usually at the end of the first semester. classes are small so you will know almost everyone in your section / approx 70 people. if you are a social butterfly you'll meet the higher classes as well. there are alumni networking events etc...

3. i know of no serious problem with budget cuts, Seth is a little more connected here so i'll let him handle this.

4. I generally enjoyed my experience as much as someone can enjoy school, its really what you make of it.

5. job outlook is good as long as you are not a social putz/ have terrible terrible grades, 87% i have no idea, most people i know have jobs. contact the career services dept and ask, Cynthia asher is forcing all graduates to report on their job prospects lol. Vegas offers a lot of opportunities, its a very small community and someone with ambition can do better here than they probably could in a community thats big like norcal or socal.

I'm sure seth will throw his 2 cents in too.

[PhantaManta]

1. bad is subjective, its not the greatest area right around campus but its not like the ghetto, depends on what you are willing to pay, there are some really new nice apartments right on flamingo / swenson ish though.

2. the school is pretty social, bar review every thursday night which means a club sets up a meeting at one of the bars in vegas and a good number of people show and socialize. Every wednesday the sports/entertainment law club hosts a bowling night at one of the various bowling alleys in vegas, even some of the prof's show up to this. there are mixers, a big party at the end of the year and one usually at the end of the first semester. classes are small so you will know almost everyone in your section / approx 70 people. if you are a social butterfly you'll meet the higher classes as well. there are alumni networking events etc...

3. i know of no serious problem with budget cuts, Seth is a little more connected here so i'll let him handle this.

4. I generally enjoyed my experience as much as someone can enjoy school, its really what you make of it.

5. job outlook is good as long as you are not a social putz/ have terrible terrible grades, 87% i have no idea, most people i know have jobs. contact the career services dept and ask, Cynthia asher is forcing all graduates to report on their job prospects lol. Vegas offers a lot of opportunities, its a very small community and someone with ambition can do better here than they probably could in a community thats big like norcal or socal.

I'm sure seth will throw his 2 cents in too.

Thanks for the time! Bowling night might put UNLV over the top, even though I suck at bowling. I am glad to hear it is a socially inviting atmosphere. I would have been a bit worried as an out of stater that maybe the Las Vegas native people just commute and stick to their pre-existing social circles (I commute over an hour to UG).

I forgot to ask!

6. Do students player poker? If so, details?

[guvna2030]

The previous posts have answered most everything, but I'll throw in a few extras:

1. Budget cuts. I was on the Student Bar Associaiton when the cuts began and the administration proposed a tuition increase. Although faculty hires were frozen for a time, we have kept all of the same services including CASE (a writing assistance program) and our Academic Success Program (this program assists students with just about any law school issue, from torts to bar prep). Both of those are really helpful, especially during your first year. So, I haven't noticed any appreciable difference in the law school experience because of the budget cuts.

2. Social scene. Most people do commute at least a short distance to campus because there aren't too many places to live in the immediate area. But, jackdaw is right, there are a lot of events each week that give students an opportunity to mingle and/or network, so it's not like no one hangs out on the weekends. In fact, I found that I had more social opportunities in school than I did when I was just working here. Also, the nice thing about Boyd is that it's small enough to get to know everyone and if you want more social activity then you can just set it up and people will tag along.

3. I've had a great time in law school. I've made a lot of great friends and I feel very prepared for the actual practice of law.

4. I'm not going to lie and say job prospects are what they used to be, but there are still plenty of opportunities in NV. The economy is getting better and employers who panicked a year ago and stopped hiring are now loosening up a bit. Also, clerkships are always an option and local judges love UNLV grads.

5. I love the poker question! My contracts professor was a semi-pro poker player and he played every weekend for extra cash. While I don't know any students who play, I'm sure they do considering our proximity to casinos (you can walk to the Hard Rock from the law school).

To summarize, here's what I think you get from UNLV: a top notch writing program that will set you apart from grads of other schools, a close-knit environment where professors are easily accessible, a congenial environment that makes learning easier, and ample networking opportunities with the movers and shakers in NV. Our alumni network in other places is also expanding so you can take your legal education elsewhere if NV isn't the place for you. The best part is, even with the tuition increase, UNLV is still very reasonably priced and the cost of living isn't bad.

Hope this helps!

[historyholly]

Where would you recommend living in Vegas? I have been there many a time, but I still don't know the layout very well. How about biking in?

[guvna2030]

As a former city planner for Las Vegas, one of my frustrations with this area is the lack of walkability (and, by extension, bike-ability). This is due in part to poor accommodation of pedestrian and bicycle access (the roads are too wide, in my opinion) and summer heat. That said, UNLV is conveniently located in the center of the Las Vegas Valley, so you can live in a number of neighborhoods within easy driving distance of UNLV. I live about 10 minutes away in Henderson, and many of my friends live in Summerlin.

There are a few neighborhoods and apartment complexes close to the main campus but not many within walking distance. I highly recommend the Green Valley area of Henderson if you're looking for a rental house. There are some nice apartments on the UNLV side of the Strip as well. If you're set on living within biking distance, I would look at Rebel Place near Flamingo and Swenson (they have a tram to UNLV too).

As you get ready to move here, I would contact Nathan Neely (Admissions Director) about our roommate exchange. There, you can find info about other students looking for housing. Or, one of my roommates is a 1L and he's looking for a roommate for next year so if you're interested you can message me privately and I can put you in touch.

If you are interested in biking, there are several road and mountain biking routes in and around the Valley (just not around UNLV) and several cycling, triathlon, and adventure racing clubs. Red Rock Canyon and Bootleg Canyon in Boulder City are GREAT places to mountain bike (I go to Red Rock twice a week) and the Red Rock scenic loop is perfect for road biking.

[historyholly]

Sweet, thanks for the feedback. I am an avid mountain biker, so I will definitely be checking out the trails. I might not be able to get a car with air conditioning before heading to school (mine doesn't have any), so I thought biking to and from school might help with that issue. I have made commuting on bike work out in reno, so I am sure I can figure something out in Vegas.

Also, just on a side note, does anyone know if I will survive without air conditioning in my car? I love my little red accura and I would rather not give it up, but I have heard horror stories.

[guvna2030]

I have friends who don't have A/C and they do just fine as long as traffic is moving along. The only rough months are July and August...after that, it's not so bad.

If you're a pretty advanced mountain biker, you HAVE to check out Bootleg Canyon...amazing single track.

[Vegas_Rebel]

I have friends who don't have A/C and they do just fine as long as traffic is moving along. The only rough months are July and August...after that, it's not so bad.

If you're a pretty advanced mountain biker, you HAVE to check out Bootleg Canyon...amazing single track.

I agree with the AC assessment.

You'll live, but it won't be too comfortable. Be sure to leave your windows cracked in the summer, or you'll come back to a 180 degree interior after an hour or two. You might still, but at least you'll have a chance at some cross breeze moving some of the heat through. Don't feel too bad, though, even those of us with AC have to wait what seems like forever for the temperature to get decent once we start our cars.

[historyholly]

I have friends who don't have A/C and they do just fine as long as traffic is moving along. The only rough months are July and August...after that, it's not so bad.

If you're a pretty advanced mountain biker, you HAVE to check out Bootleg Canyon...amazing single track.

I would like to think I am okay at mountain biking, but this is only my second season, which is not saying much since it was still snowing here in Reno just last week. But I do look forward to the riding and the longer season down in vegas. We see pictures on the forums of people riding in vegas in December and get super jealous.

Back on the biking to school subject, I have friends who live in Vegas and when I suggested riding my bike they said I shouldn't at all. Apparently, cars do not like bikers and there have been issues with accidents. If this true? I know of stories about bikers getting run off the road and have things thrown at them, not in Vegas but in general. Is this kind of how it is like in Vegas?

[guvna2030]

I don't personally know of any cyclists who have had issues with drivers, but most of urban Las Vegas isn't that bike friendly (the roads are too wide and speeds too fast). Fortunately, though, most major roads have bike lanes so as long as you abide by the rules and the cars follow the rules, everyone is ok. If you are set on biking to school, I'd just look for something as close as possible to avoid any long commutes on the arterial streets.

[AsexualChocolate]

Guvna, do you have any suggestions regarding type of computer and/or programs to use in LS? I couldn't find anywhere on the UNLV web site that said a certain type is preferred/recommended (whereas I've seen this for other schools). Do all professors allow you to use computers or do some make you put them away for unimpeded "discussion?"

Also, is the campus parking all first-come-first-served, or can you buy a pass for certain lots?

[SEATTLEITE188]

What are the job prospects like in the Reno/Lake Tahoe area for UNLV grads? Thanks!

[guvna2030]

1. Computer programs - As far as I know, there are no required programs for law school use. For exams, we use SoftTest, which is compatible with Macs and PCs. In the classroom, you can take notes in whatever form you choose (I just use Word, but some of my friends have more sophisticated programs). Some professors do not allow computers, but most do. However, I think you'll find that classes without computers can be much more engaging. Also, we have a very knowledgeable IT staff.

2. Parking - UNLV has permit parking throughout campus, or you can take your chances with free public parking on the street just across from campus. An annual parking pass really isn't that expensive and there is a parking garage pretty close to the law school.

3. Reno/Tahoe jobs - I have several friends working in either Reno or Carson next year (myself included), so there are definitely jobs available. However, like most employment, the best thing you can do to make sure you get a job is to network with people in that area. For example, you can extern for the Washoe County DA or PD during the summer or work as a summer clerk for a private firm in the area. UNLV has great connections all over the state, so just make sure you get to know the people holding the jobs.

[historyholly]

Thanks for fielding all these questions and I have another one regarding exams. Are first year exams generally open book or closed book?

[guvna2030]

Whether exams are open or closed book depends on the professor. My first year, I had all kinds: open book, closed book, and limited note exams (for example, my torts prof let us bring one sheet of paper, front and back). Remember, though, it really doesn't matter whether it's open or closed because grading is relative. If you can't have notes, neither can your classmates so your chances of success are the same. The only thing is changes is how you prepare for the final.

[AsexualChocolate]

Thanks for all this information, Guvna.

What can you tell us about the LR write-on competition at UNLV?

[guvna2030]

The LR write-on happens at the end of the first year, usually about two weeks after the second semester. The competiition is two weeks long and basically consists of taking a library of material (law review articles, cases, scholarly publications, etc.) and writing a mock law review note based on that material. The focus is on citation format and organization (because that's what the law review folks do), and it is a pretty substantial time commitment.

I'm not on law review, so I'm not sure how long it takes for them to grade the write-on submissions. My advice is not to worry about the write-on until late in your second semester because you will have plenty on your plate. Also, Society of Advocates (our moot court team) sends out invitations during the early part of the summer, usually around the time of the write-on. SOA invitations are based on your performance in your writing class (Lawyering Process II) and participation in an oral argument competition held in the spring.