W&L 1L taking questions Forum

[Dubyuhnell]

Really should be outlining but taking questions about W&L....cant give too much job information except from what i know from my 2l and 3l friends

[ammanley]

Hi!

Thanks for opening this thread. Could you give some feedback on the culture and mindset of the student body? I am particularly interested in any "real-world" feedback you have on W&Ls "Honor System" - it seems like one of those things that could really make or break a student body/culture.

Also, any word yet from 3L or employers on how W&Ls new 3rd year curriculum is faring?

[Dubyuhnell]

I can't say enough great things about the honor system. It is one of the reasons i chose W&L and it is not just hype. I leave anything and everything of mine laying around the entire law school. If I'm studying in a classroom or the reading room in the library and i want to get up and do something else i leave everything (laptop, phone, wallet etc. laying on the table). I have even left my stuff there overnight nobody touches it. It is even better when it comes to exams. We are allowed to take our exams anywhere in the building we feel like which is great. I have friends that have forgot to turn in a memo at the time the professor said. It wasnt a big deal because the professor trusted him when he said that it was complete by the right time and he just forgot to turn it in. A big part of it is because there is only one punishment for violating the honor code (expulsion) but most of it is because we are all friends and respect each other.

I dont have any direct anecdotal evidence as far as hiring goes when it comes to the 3L program. I think its really be a huge part of hiring in the next few years since its still young. I would say that we are doing something right though seeing how other top schools are following suit. When I get back on campus I'll talk to some 3l friends and report back.

[MGH1989]

What is the social life like? Is there interaction between the law students and undergrads?

[Dubyuhnell]

Not gonna lie Lexington isn't NYC or Boston or the like there are only 2 bars to go to only a handful of real restaurants although there are multiple hole in the walls that are very good

I honestly don't mind the small town life and I'm from a huge city... There's not really any organizing at night trying to see what everyone is doing... Everybody will be a macadoos maybe southern inn or a house party before hand. Everybody already knows everyone and is for the most parts friends with everyone so it's always a good time

The school does a great job of giving us things to do as well .. We had a patio party early in the semester with lots of alcohol and free food also law school football league every Friday in the fall with free kegs there are also a bunch of sba sponsored parties throughout the semester with open bars and the annual pig roast where we chill back on the river and drink

Also there is always a late night party as well

All in all it is a perfect small town for studying with also good things to do to let loose

[ammanley]

Thank you for that information! It sounds like a really homely community. Any info you can give on how internships play out during the year ( I can't imagine there are too many law firms/gov offices around rural Lexington).

[Dubyuhnell]

Thank you for that information! It sounds like a really homely community. Any info you can give on how internships play out during the year ( I can't imagine there are too many law firms/gov offices around rural Lexington).

As a 1l I've only just began to look for summer employment so can't comment on the effectiveness too much. But w&l does a great job at beng people n since it is a small town. We have law. Council in which lawyers from firms/gov/ pi / and judges sit on. They come down about 2 or 3 times. A semester to have informal and formal interviews with the school. Also it's no lie that w&l alumni are super loyal. I've emailed about 15 alumni, for coffee/ lunch/ restaurant recommendations for when I was coming n town to just general questions all of them have been super friendly and helpful.

[ammanley]

Great to hear that about the alumni! I had high hopes about that when I heard about the Honor Code, and the type of person that's likely to attract, and I'm glad to not be disappointed!

On that note, anything you think could be done a little better or is perhaps slightly lacking at W&L? Not a game breaker but just something that would have been nice (like printing on cases, or something...I hate reading PDFs)

[Dubyuhnell]

Great to hear that about the alumni! I had high hopes about that when I heard about the Honor Code, and the type of person that's likely to attract, and I'm glad to not be disappointed!

On that note, anything you think could be done a little better or is perhaps slightly lacking at W&L? Not a game breaker but just something that would have been nice (like printing on cases, or something...I hate reading PDFs)

Haha really not trying to hard sell w&l so much but the place really doesn't have a whole lot of faults school wise (can't comment n job per say yet) printing cases are easy you get free printing on west law and lexis so all the cases u want for free... Great law
School building itself.. One knock is the food at the law school itself... It's a little over priced and not that good but they to try and fix that by bringing over hot meal options from the undergrad side twice a week... And we just go to the undergrad side ourselves if we have time or out to one of the local shops... And another plus of the hair code is almost everyone believes you.. I got pulled over for speeding cause I didn't notice the speed limit dropped I told the cop and he said he believed me cause he saw my w&l license plate cover and let me go with a warning

[anjmissy]

Great to hear that about the alumni! I had high hopes about that when I heard about the Honor Code, and the type of person that's likely to attract, and I'm glad to not be disappointed!

On that note, anything you think could be done a little better or is perhaps slightly lacking at W&L? Not a game breaker but just something that would have been nice (like printing on cases, or something...I hate reading PDFs)

Haha really not trying to hard sell w&l so much but the place really doesn't have a whole lot of faults school wise (can't comment n job per say yet) printing cases are easy you get free printing on west law and lexis so all the cases u want for free... Great law
School building itself.. One knock is the food at the law school itself... It's a little over priced and not that good but they to try and fix that by bringing over hot meal options from the undergrad side twice a week... And we just go to the undergrad side ourselves if we have time or out to one of the local shops... And another plus of the hair code is almost everyone believes you.. I got pulled over for speeding cause I didn't notice the speed limit dropped I told the cop and he said he believed me cause he saw my w&l license plate cover and let me go with a warning

i will also back up the loyalty of the alum, i was going to a conference in a big city area and I emailed an alum to meet and discuss things, i received a response in just a few hours

also, i was pulled over as well for a traffic violation, when i went to court to give my explanation as soon as i said w&l law the judge dismissed the ticket

as far as faults, the only thing i can think of at the moment is when i decide to drive to school i have to walk up an awful hill to the parking lot after class, other than that, its pretty good