Cornell 1L taking questions Forum

[Big Tuna]

Hi,

Pre-0L here, still researching law schools, but I think I may have found my #1.

I want to work in airline/transportation labor law. It seems that Cornell is the place for this. Is anyone in here specializing in labor law or participating in the labor law clinic? Also, is anyone doing the JD/Master en Droit program? Do you know anyone that is? As a former French major, that sounds amazing.

If you are in either of these programs, do you like them? How are you planning to use the degrees/specializations?

MB,

Cornell offers several courses in labor and employment Law, as well as a clinic that does primarily plaintiff/employee-side work. Depending on the Supreme Court's calendar, there is an opportunity to travel to D.C. to go to a hearing on a labor law case before the court. I am going to try to take labor law this fall then try to get into the clinic in the spring. Here is the link to one of our main professors in the field: http://www.lawschool.cornell.edu/faculty/bio.cfm?id=13. Also consider that Cornell is also home to a renowned industrial labor relations program that you could take courses from in addition to your studies in the law school. Hope this helps answer your question!

[memphisbelle]

Thanks, Tuna! I am looking to work in either the union or government side of transportation labor law (National Mediation Board/ALPA, something like that). It looks like Cornell would be hands down the best way to get there.

Good luck with getting into the clinic. I'd love to know more about it when you get there.

MB

[koalatriste]

well, this thread died. i shall be recusing myself as I am no longer a 1L and certainly no longer at Cornell.

[vexion]

certainly no longer at Cornell.

Really?

[KMaine]

well, this thread died. i shall be recusing myself as I am no longer a 1L and certainly no longer at Cornell.

Hey, Koala - Hope you are some where you like better. Best of luck.

[mths]

well, this thread died. i shall be recusing myself as I am no longer a 1L and certainly no longer at Cornell.

bitch

[Big Tuna]

well, this thread died. i shall be recusing myself as I am no longer a 1L and certainly no longer at Cornell.

bitch

+2

[Arbiter213]

well, this thread died. i shall be recusing myself as I am no longer a 1L and certainly no longer at Cornell.

Awww- best of luck in your future emo koala endeavors.

[Bildungsroman]

When did you all find out your classes and books you had to buy?

mths certainly answered this for me before but I forgot.

[CyLaw]

When did you all find out your classes and books you had to buy?

mths certainly answered this for me before but I forgot.

I think it was in July. The registrar doesn't have the schedules up yet and we don't even sign up the classes for another week.

[Bildungsroman]

When did you all find out your classes and books you had to buy?

mths certainly answered this for me before but I forgot.

I think it was in July. The registrar doesn't have the schedules up yet and we don't even sign up the classes for another week.

Thanks.

[vexion]

When did you all find out your classes and books you had to buy?

mths certainly answered this for me before but I forgot.

The Registrar will post the course schedules in July sometime, but you still won't know your professors because you don't know which of the six sections you're in. The schedule reads something like:

- Criminal Law - Ohlin (A, B and F)
- Criminal Law - Garvey (C, D and E)

So sections A, B and F have one professor, C, D and E have another. In August (last year it was August 6th), your personal course list (of classes and professors) will go up on Blackboard. At that point you can find out what section you're in (by looking at your Lawyering professor, and cross-referencing to the course schedule on the Registrar page, since Lawyering is just one section). You can also start buying your books. The book list is on the Registrar's page somewhere.

Also, on that note, I've still got all my 1L books and will sell them to all you lucky ducks for cheap. I'll be back in this thread in August.

[bella07]

just got off cornell waitlist and am trying to decide between it and another school that's a few spots below in t20 and offered me some money. since i didn't get a chance to visit during asw and can't now (overseas) was hoping some current students could enlighten me on a few things.
1) the cost. cornell is way more expensive than most other schools. but it also has an lrap. how big of an issue do people think debt will be for you relative to peers at similarly ranked schools with lower tuition? do you feel like the debt will prevent you from doing the law you wanna do?
2) job prospects. what % or gpa do most students need to be competitive for future employment at v100 nlj250 in nyc? how do cornell grads do relative to others for fed and ny state placements? do kids routinely get sa in both 1st and 2nd summers if they're going for it?
3) lifestyle. what do most ppl generally do when they are not studying (and how often are they not studying!). is the camaraderie good or is the smaller class size in a college town stifling?
i apologize if these questions have been asked before. if so please direct me to where they were answered.
thanks:)

[Juff]

just got off cornell waitlist and am trying to decide between it and another school that's a few spots below in t20 and offered me some money. since i didn't get a chance to visit during asw and can't now (overseas) was hoping some current students could enlighten me on a few things.
1) the cost. cornell is way more expensive than most other schools. but it also has an lrap. how big of an issue do people think debt will be for you relative to peers at similarly ranked schools with lower tuition? do you feel like the debt will prevent you from doing the law you wanna do?
2) job prospects. what % or gpa do most students need to be competitive for future employment at v100 nlj250 in nyc? how do cornell grads do relative to others for fed and ny state placements? do kids routinely get sa in both 1st and 2nd summers if they're going for it?
3) lifestyle. what do most ppl generally do when they are not studying (and how often are they not studying!). is the camaraderie good or is the smaller class size in a college town stifling?
i apologize if these questions have been asked before. if so please direct me to where they were answered.
thanks:)

1. Cost: I'm not sure why you say its way more expensive than most other schools- its actually cheaper than Boalt (out of state) and a whopping $600/year more than Columbia and Yale. So while it might be the most expensive on its face, im not sure the small difference in tuition will shut out opportunities that you would have in other schools.

2. Its all anecdotal but I've heard 50% or so, +/- 10% depending on the economy. As for SA, those basically dont exist anymore for 1L summers unless you are a URM and/or have a solid connection.

3. Its a small school in a small area, so everyone basically gets to know everyone which I enjoyed, since it put on a sort of "we're all in this together" mentality (living in Hughes also helped.) Everyone seems to get along and the various social events are pretty fun.

[mths]

3. Its a small school in a small area, so everyone basically gets to know everyone which I enjoyed, since it put on a sort of "we're all in this together" mentality (living in Hughes also helped.) Everyone seems to get along and the various social events are pretty fun.

I hate everyone and think our social events suck (JUST KIDDING)

ALSO - totally thought you were someone else till you revealed the hughes thing

[FlanAl]

Hey just wanted to ask a couple of questions

1. How hard is it to get to NYC?
2. How hard is it to get cheap housing close to the school (under a grand with all utilities) and what is the best way to go about finding it?
3. What sort of grocery stores are around?
4. Any thoughts on the job prospects in California for Cornell grads

Thank you so much for all your help and advice

[Ikki]

2. Its all anecdotal but I've heard 50% or so, +/- 10% depending on the economy. As for SA, those basically dont exist anymore for 1L summers unless you are a URM and/or have a solid connection.

Could you elaborate on that?

[afghan007]

Hey just wanted to ask a couple of questions

1. How hard is it to get to NYC?
2. How hard is it to get cheap housing close to the school (under a grand with all utilities) and what is the best way to go about finding it?
3. What sort of grocery stores are around?
4. Any thoughts on the job prospects in California for Cornell grads

Thank you so much for all your help and advice

1. there's a campus bus - travel time about 4.5 hours
2. not hard. try novarr-mackesey.
3. wegmans. topps.
4. hustle. at least a handful of people every year do it - but can't really comment on the difficulty since most self select nyc

[holybartender]

You're going to have to do well from wherever to get a job in california right now. That's less about Cornell than it is about the state of my beloved home state. Consider your options carefully.

[FlanAl]

You're going to have to do well from wherever to get a job in California right now. That's less about Cornell than it is about the state of my beloved home state. Consider your options carefully.

definitely recognize this and it pains me haha. any thoughts on how hard it is to get a market rate job out of Cornell period? What do the people outside the top 58% do?

[Ikki]

You're going to have to do well from wherever to get a job in California right now. That's less about Cornell than it is about the state of my beloved home state. Consider your options carefully.

definitely recognize this and it pains me haha. any thoughts on how hard it is to get a market rate job out of Cornell period? What do the people outside the top 58% do?

Seems like we're gonna be competing for that famed unicorn

[FlanAl]

Can anyone comment on the prevalence of the grad student community as a whole at Cornell. For some reason I kind of get the feel that most social stuff in Ithaca kind of revolves around greek community activities. Obviously as law student we won't be at the frat house so I'm wondering how much there is to do that isn't mobbed by undergrads? Are there bars that are pretty much grad student bars etc.?

Sorry if I didn't articulate that the best I guess overall I'm worried about throwing myself into a frat-tastic bubble in the middle of nowhere haha

[afghan007]

Can anyone comment on the prevalence of the grad student community as a whole at Cornell. For some reason I kind of get the feel that most social stuff in Ithaca kind of revolves around greek community activities. Obviously as law student we won't be at the frat house so I'm wondering how much there is to do that isn't mobbed by undergrads? Are there bars that are pretty much grad student bars etc.?

Sorry if I didn't articulate that the best I guess overall I'm worried about throwing myself into a frat-tastic bubble in the middle of nowhere haha

Law students hang out with law students. The Palms is the best escape from undergrads - though you should be more concerned with escaping from other law students when you're trying to enjoy yourself on a friday night. I found the grad community to be weak.

[FlanAl]

hey thanks man. who do you kick it with when you aren't hanging out with other law students if the grad community is weak?
thanks again

[CyLaw]

hey thanks man. who do you kick it with when you aren't hanging out with other law students if the grad community is weak?
thanks again

Most law students only hang out with other law students. You will understand why when you start, but in short other people don't like law students and law students feel stressed by other people. During the week you will spend the vast majority of your time in class or reading for class, particularly at the beginning before you get into the grove of skimming cases. Thus on the weekends, you normally hang our with classmates since you don't know anyone else.

Some people have non-law school friends and say it helps with their sanity. They meet these people at various activities on campus, like going to the gym. Also, Tell Grad Its Fridays is dollar beers at the Big Red Barn where only grad students may go. You could meet other grad students there.

Expect the vast majority of your social network to be law students, since you will readily know a lot of them.