Is there time for joining student orgs in 1L? Forum

[poe]

Or will we already be too busy?

[071816]

There's plenty of time. Believe it or not, you won't be studying 100% of the time. If you are, you're doing it wrong. You should also make time to volunteer and do other stuff outside of class to keep your sanity.

[rad lulz]

I didn't join really any student orgs because I didn't give a crap.

[tedalbany]

I didn't join really any student orgs because I didn't give a crap.

[MrPapagiorgio]

I didn't join really any student orgs because I didn't give a crap.

But if you want to join, there really is plenty of time. Law school is generally 3 months of relatively relaxed work and 1 month of nose to the grindstone (save for the memo). I just finished 1L, and it wasn't as much work as I thought it was going to be.

[katjust]

I didn't join really any student orgs because I didn't give a crap.

Yeah, and you were too busy evangelizing on TLS.

And yes, there is time to join student legs.

[nixxers]

my student orgs were the best part of 1L

[yngblkgifted]

I didn't join really any student orgs because I didn't give a crap.

But if you want to join, there really is plenty of time. Law school is generally 3 months of relatively relaxed work and 1 month of nose to the grindstone (save for the memo). I just finished 1L, and it wasn't as much work as I thought it was going to be.

+1

[Tanicius]

Student organizations are a must. They're a break from the bullshit of law school classes and an opportunity to actually do something productive for yourself and/or society. Some of them are fun and an enjoyable use of time, too.

[Void]

Student organizations are a must. They're a break from the bullshit of law school classes and an opportunity to actually do something productive for yourself and/or society.

Really? At my school they're mostly just people having meetings for the sake of hearing themselves talk. I've been to meetings where the only discussion topic was "what should we discuss in the next meeting?" Mostly a giant waste of time.

Volunteering for community outreach stuff is different and awesome, so maybe we're talking about different things. I'm referring mostly to student "interest groups."

[Tanicius]

Student organizations are a must. They're a break from the bullshit of law school classes and an opportunity to actually do something productive for yourself and/or society.

Really? At my school they're mostly just people having meetings for the sake of hearing themselves talk. I've been to meetings where the only discussion topic was "what should we discuss in the next meeting?" Mostly a giant waste of time.

Volunteering for community outreach stuff is different and awesome, so maybe we're talking about different things. I'm referring mostly to student "interest groups."

The work on journals is about as useless as you can get, but at least they have networking opportunities, and they're usually full of people with like-minded interests to you, assuming you join a student journal that interests you. I just did trial team and other advocacy things all year, and it was a hell of a time. Caring about classes came at the month before finals.

[MrPapagiorgio]

Is there any consensus on mock trial/moot court if you don't get a journal? Obviously my first choice is a journal but if I don't grade-on or if I don't make it through write-on, I'm gonna need something to show some involvement. I have zero desire to ever do litigation, but would mock trial/moot be beneficial absent a journal spot?

[Tanicius]

Is there any consensus on mock trial/moot court if you don't get a journal? Obviously my first choice is a journal but if I don't grade-on or if I don't make it through write-on, I'm gonna need something to show some involvement. I have zero desire to ever do litigation, but would mock trial/moot be beneficial absent a journal spot?

Don't do it if you have zero lit interest. It's not like law review where just being on the team is prestigious. Winning at it, whether it's intramural or extramural, is what means something on the resume, but that's not going to matter if you're not applying to any jobs where litigation skills are relevant.

[Void]

Student organizations are a must. They're a break from the bullshit of law school classes and an opportunity to actually do something productive for yourself and/or society.

Really? At my school they're mostly just people having meetings for the sake of hearing themselves talk. I've been to meetings where the only discussion topic was "what should we discuss in the next meeting?" Mostly a giant waste of time.

Volunteering for community outreach stuff is different and awesome, so maybe we're talking about different things. I'm referring mostly to student "interest groups."

The work on journals is about as useless as you can get, but at least they have networking opportunities, and they're usually full of people with like-minded interests to you, assuming you join a student journal that interests you. I just did trial team and other advocacy things all year, and it was a hell of a time. Caring about classes came at the month before finals.

I am so confused. When did we start talking about journals in this thread?

[Tanicius]

Student organizations are a must. They're a break from the bullshit of law school classes and an opportunity to actually do something productive for yourself and/or society.

Really? At my school they're mostly just people having meetings for the sake of hearing themselves talk. I've been to meetings where the only discussion topic was "what should we discuss in the next meeting?" Mostly a giant waste of time.

Volunteering for community outreach stuff is different and awesome, so maybe we're talking about different things. I'm referring mostly to student "interest groups."

Most of the journals at Boalt are student-run organizations. 1L's can join them, so they're as much a student org as any other.
The work on journals is about as useless as you can get, but at least they have networking opportunities, and they're usually full of people with like-minded interests to you, assuming you join a student journal that interests you. I just did trial team and other advocacy things all year, and it was a hell of a time. Caring about classes came at the month before finals.

I am so confused. When did we start talking about journals in this thread?

At Boalt at least, the journals are all student-run, and 1L's can join them first semester, so I'd say they're as much a student org as any.

[LSATNightmares]

I found little time to do clubs. A lot of things also didn't interest me. As a 2L, I'm actually going to be running the clubs that did little with the hope of providing more interesting events to particular students. (E.g. I'm into environmental law, and there was only one event all year... so I could have cared less that the IP law society was doing something.)

I think the consensus is, if you don't get on a journal, you should do moot court. It's just something good to have on your resume. Otherwise, recruiters will look at you and think you're lazy or something. At least writing briefs will give you skills you will practice, even if you don't use your oral arguing skills immediately after graduating.

[ilovesf]

I didn't join any clubs. I thought they were all pretty stupid and useless. There are a lot of ways to have a break from work besides joining a club, some far more enjoyable.

[FantasticMrFox]

are you by chance looking for a poetry club
ETA: I know, super lame--i just pulled an all-nighter (excuses)

[PMan99]

Most of the journals at Boalt are student-run organizations. 1L's can join them, so they're as much a student org as any other.
The work on journals is about as useless as you can get, but at least they have networking opportunities, and they're usually full of people with like-minded interests to you, assuming you join a student journal that interests you. I just did trial team and other advocacy things all year, and it was a hell of a time. Caring about classes came at the month before finals.

I am so confused. When did we start talking about journals in this thread?

At Boalt at least, the journals are all student-run, and 1L's can join them first semester, so I'd say they're as much a student org as any.

It's the same way at H too. Useful because you can just add it to the hell that is 1L year and drop it 2L/3L... it'll be on the OCI resume either way.

[Void]

Most of the journals at Boalt are student-run organizations. 1L's can join them, so they're as much a student org as any other.
The work on journals is about as useless as you can get, but at least they have networking opportunities, and they're usually full of people with like-minded interests to you, assuming you join a student journal that interests you. I just did trial team and other advocacy things all year, and it was a hell of a time. Caring about classes came at the month before finals.

I am so confused. When did we start talking about journals in this thread?

At Boalt at least, the journals are all student-run, and 1L's can join them first semester, so I'd say they're as much a student org as any.

It's the same way at H too. Useful because you can just add it to the hell that is 1L year and drop it 2L/3L... it'll be on the OCI resume either way.

Jesus. Between 1L opt-on journals, Pass/Fail grading, and guaranteed employment, you Harvard kids don't have to do shit in law school! What stops you from just taking bong hits for three years?

[jim-green]

At Boalt at least, the journals are all student-run, and 1L's can join them first semester, so I'd say they're as much a student org as any.

I am in at Cal and have a few questions.
1. In the 1L year, are extra-curriculars necessary? I am planning to spend what little time I have outside of studying with my wife and kid. Is this bad for my resume? In 2L year, I know extra-currics are needed, so I'll do something.
2. Is this the order of prestige? law review > journals > moot court > orgs? Where does BCLT fit in?

[Tanicius]

It's really not about prestige. Student orgs are best used to hang out with people you relate to, make connections, if possible develop some relevant skills, and/or do some work that is more tangible than the boring marathon of classwork. The only prestigious stuff you can do outside of grades is get something published, make law review, or win at a competition of some kind. The more practical purpose all student orgs have in common is that they tell a potential employer that you're balanced enough to handle things outside of class reading. Being married with a kid hopefully seen as a balancing act all on its own, so you should only join student orgs your 1L year if they look interesting to you.

[Mce252]

There is but I wouldn't. It's likely to just be a way for 1L's to get together and complain to each other. This is not good for motivation. I avoided large gatherings of 1L's during my first year because everyone is so demoralizing.

[jim-green]

There is but I wouldn't. It's likely to just be a way for 1L's to get together and complain to each other. This is not good for motivation. I avoided large gatherings of 1L's during my first year because everyone is so demoralizing.

What did you mean by, "There is"?

[piccolittle]

I decided to become active in two student orgs this past year. I was interested in interacting with like-minded people outside my immediate friend group, and I wanted a good way to signal my interests to employers on my resume. I chose one career-oriented group and one that was related to my personal interests. I had a blast and I have positions on both boards next year. I guess it depends on the quality of the student orgs at your school, but I highly highly highly recommend it. You can't live in your books.

ETA: At my school, orgs hold lunch/speaking events and receptions a lot, so it's easy to be "involved" without committing too much time to it. That said, I was a 1L board rep in the two orgs that I was interested in, and it's a great way to make friends and get to know a different group of people without too much of a commitment. Also, it can help in interviews; you look engaged with the wider school community, and you can talk about the meaningful ways you contributed, or why you care about the issues your group is concerned with. At my school almost everyone I know is heavily involved with at least one society.