Illinois Law 1L Taking Questions Forum

[Thirteen]

Champaign is a fun place to live. There is a huge undergrad bar scene here, but there are also a lot of more laid back bars that graduate students hang out at... Unless they are law student dudes trying to pick up undergrads with the whole "I'm a law student" line... Those guys might be at the undergrad bars. Chicago is only about a two hour drive and I go there sometimes to hang out with my cousins there on the weekends.

Don't know if you're still checking on this thread because lord knows I didn't read all 14 pages. But I for one have an IMPORTANT question...

About how well does that "I'm a law student" line really work on undergrad females?

It doesn't work on undergrads on Green. At all.

[DerrickRose]

2. Is the city relatively good about keeping the roads clear? I'm likely going to live off campus and not within walking distance, so I'm concerned about getting to school in the winter.

They have gotten better since the epic blizzard of 07 that shut the entire university down for two days.

[DerrickRose]

Champaign is a fun place to live. There is a huge undergrad bar scene here, but there are also a lot of more laid back bars that graduate students hang out at... Unless they are law student dudes trying to pick up undergrads with the whole "I'm a law student" line... Those guys might be at the undergrad bars. Chicago is only about a two hour drive and I go there sometimes to hang out with my cousins there on the weekends.

Don't know if you're still checking on this thread because lord knows I didn't read all 14 pages. But I for one have an IMPORTANT question...

About how well does that "I'm a law student" line really work on undergrad females?

It doesn't work on undergrads on Green. At all.

If it isn't spelled with greek letters they don't want to hear about it.

[sjg64]

I cannot stress this strongly enough: Be very sure about the public transportation situation with regard to where you live. Both for getting to and from school as parking is a big hassle, and going out to the bars and whatnot as the cab situation in Champaign is embarrassingly bad.

The buses on the other hand are free to students, extensive in their coverage, and as reliable as you could reasonably expect them to be.

Don't live in some far-aflung locale where the buses don't go. You'll be walking long distances to school, pouring your student loans into parking meters, and avoiding going out just because you don't know how to get home.

I'm excited to go somewhere with any public transportation. Texas fails at this.

[sixburgher]

Now for the important stuff: What about the dart league and softball games? When do these happen?

I'm coming to compete!!

[bloomlaw]

Now for the important stuff: What about the dart league and softball games? When do these happen?

I'm coming to compete!!

Darts is on wednesday nights, softball is on thursday. The softball final tournament is on a saturday, though.

[TCScrutinizer]

For any current Illinois students--whom do you bank with? I've had a Wells Fargo account for ten years, but the closest Wells Fargo to C-U is in Indiana. So far the only banks I've been able to find in Champaign that are also located in Austin are Chase and Regions. Are there any local or regional banks that I shouldn't be overlooking?

[Chupavida]

.

[MBZags]

I'm not a current student, but I'm going with Ally Bank before I move to Champaign. They're online-only, but no ATM fees anywhere and high interest rates have pulled me in. It sucks to have to mail in deposits, but I don't see myself exactly raking in the dough during law school.

[TCScrutinizer]

Dump Wells Fargo like a bad habit. Bad bank is bad. Get a Chase acct, there are a couple branches in town.

Edit: Judgement of WFB is based on working there for 3 1/2 years as a teller. There is no reason for anyone to choose Wells Fargo unless they intend on sending money to foreign countries on a regular basis, or if they are rich but too dumb to manage their own money. For everyone else, get a credit union acct (lower fees, better interest rates), or if you want a national bank, try Chase.

I have no complaints. No minimum balance, no monthly fees, free checking, all over Texas. Is there any particular reason you recommend Chase, or are they just not awful? To be honest, I was leaning towards them just for ease of transition.

On another note, since you have some experience in the industry--how amenable are big banks to transferring credit debt from another bank? I have a balance of several thousand at Wells Fargo with good credit and an impeccable payment history... is it likely that another bank would extend me a line of credit that I could use to transfer that debt? I prefer to do all of my banking at the same place. As a layman, I can see a lot of reasons why a bank would want to do such a thing with someone who has good credit, but I have no experience changing banks and therefore no reference to draw on.

<--- google is learning me about credit transfers... god, being an adult is tiring sometimes.

[cr073137]

Hey, did anyone here was choosing between Illinois and Minnesota. Any insight on a good comparison. I'm not sure where I would like to practice, but DEF not Minnesota, more like Chicago, NYC or North Cal.

Also, im getting more money at Minnesota, but that aside, let me know what you think.

[domeafavor]

Dump Wells Fargo like a bad habit. Bad bank is bad. Get a Chase acct, there are a couple branches in town.

Edit: Judgement of WFB is based on working there for 3 1/2 years as a teller. There is no reason for anyone to choose Wells Fargo unless they intend on sending money to foreign countries on a regular basis, or if they are rich but too dumb to manage their own money. For everyone else, get a credit union acct (lower fees, better interest rates), or if you want a national bank, try Chase.

I'm a member of a credit union here in FL and I love it. Is there a credit union in Champaign anyone can recommend?

[TCScrutinizer]

Hey, did anyone here was choosing between Illinois and Minnesota. Any insight on a good comparison. I'm not sure where I would like to practice, but DEF not Minnesota, more like Chicago, NYC or North Cal.

Also, im getting more money at Minnesota, but that aside, let me know what you think.

My understanding is that a UIUC degree is a shade more portable than Minn, and definitely feeds into Chicago better. If you strongly want to practice in NYC or California, you should go to a school in those regions, not Illinois.

[ChattelCat]

Dump Wells Fargo like a bad habit. Bad bank is bad. Get a Chase acct, there are a couple branches in town.

Edit: Judgement of WFB is based on working there for 3 1/2 years as a teller. There is no reason for anyone to choose Wells Fargo unless they intend on sending money to foreign countries on a regular basis, or if they are rich but too dumb to manage their own money. For everyone else, get a credit union acct (lower fees, better interest rates), or if you want a national bank, try Chase.

I have no complaints. No minimum balance, no monthly fees, free checking, all over Texas. Is there any particular reason you recommend Chase, or are they just not awful? To be honest, I was leaning towards them just for ease of transition.

On another note, since you have some experience in the industry--how amenable are big banks to transferring credit debt from another bank? I have a balance of several thousand at Wells Fargo with good credit and an impeccable payment history... is it likely that another bank would extend me a line of credit that I could use to transfer that debt? I prefer to do all of my banking at the same place. As a layman, I can see a lot of reasons why a bank would want to do such a thing with someone who has good credit, but I have no experience changing banks and therefore no reference to draw on.

<--- google is learning me about credit transfers... god, being an adult is tiring sometimes.

Chase is the devil. Don't do it! I had to switch from Citibank when I moved here and REALLY regret going with Chase (hidden fees for all sorts of stuff plus the branches are not convenient at all - Chase makes Citibank look good... and that's saying a lot). Busey Bank is a good local bank with branches all over town and the free checking no minimum balance etc. etc.

[Luis Gomez]

Hi there, I would like some insight on whether the 1L exams are written or typed at Illinois. Any info on whether we can expect to use a word processor and/or bring a dictionary would be helpful.

Thanks.

[ChattelCat]

Hi there, I would like some insight on whether the 1L exams are written or typed at Illinois. Any info on whether we can expect to use a word processor and/or bring a dictionary would be helpful.

Thanks.

You can write your exams if you want, but from what I've seen most people only do if their computer has a meltdown right before finals (3 hours of writing by hand is painful). There is special exam software that you download that functions like a word processor. Each prof gives exams differently: some are closed book, some are open book, open note, some don't care if you bring in a huge stack of commercial supplements, so sometimes they set the software so it allows you to access files on your computer, sometimes it's 'secure' so all you can access is the exam software itself. International students are usually allowed to bring in a translation dictionary...(not sure if that's what you're getting at with your dictionary question)

[Luis Gomez]

Hi there, I would like some insight on whether the 1L exams are written or typed at Illinois. Any info on whether we can expect to use a word processor and/or bring a dictionary would be helpful.

Thanks.

You can write your exams if you want, but from what I've seen most people only do if their computer has a meltdown right before finals (3 hours of writing by hand is painful). There is special exam software that you download that functions like a word processor. Each prof gives exams differently: some are closed book, some are open book, open note, some don't care if you bring in a huge stack of commercial supplements, so sometimes they set the software so it allows you to access files on your computer, sometimes it's 'secure' so all you can access is the exam software itself. International students are usually allowed to bring in a translation dictionary...(not sure if that's what you're getting at with your dictionary question)

Thanks ChattelCat.

[blurbz]

Edit: Reading comprehension.

[sixburgher]

Where do law students usually go out? When I went to the ASD we went out in downtown Champaign (Guido's, how is that the name of the bar?) and I went to some places on Green St, seems to be a lot of places there. Are there typical hangouts/favorite Bar Review locations?

[cr073137]

Any more relevant info from posters? Illinois thread has died down... I'm want to read more good/fun things about my future school

[ChattelCat]

Where do law students usually go out? When I went to the ASD we went out in downtown Champaign (Guido's, how is that the name of the bar?) and I went to some places on Green St, seems to be a lot of places there. Are there typical hangouts/favorite Bar Review locations?

Generally law students stick to the downtown Champaign bars (and always seem to end up at Guidos even though everyone always complains about it) but Blind Pig Pub and Blind Pig Brewery are both great, one has a massive beer selection, one brews its own beer, there's Jupiters (pool and pizza) Radio Maria (amazing tapas and also great beer selection) Bentley's (karaoke thursdays!), Cowboy Monkey and High Dive (both have live music and Cowboy Monkey has a great outside area and good food when it's warm out) and a smattering of other bars/restaurants. Green St is the land of college bars, which can be fun - you just have to be in the mood to deal with a bar packed to the gills with really drunk undergrads. There are a few good places in downtown Urbana too (Crane Alley comes to mind), though for some reason everyone seems to end up in downtown Champaign, probably just because there are more options.

[webbylu87]

Is the journal process at UIUC write-on or grade-on or a hybrid? Also, do you know of anyone doing a research assistant position? Are they common?

[ChattelCat]

Is the journal process at UIUC write-on or grade-on or a hybrid? Also, do you know of anyone doing a research assistant position? Are they common?

Law Review is hybrid - for the rising 2L's it will be the top four in each section and the rest are write-on. The bylaws are here: --LinkRemoved--. This past year I think there were around 35 people who graded/wrote on, the # of people is determined by the amount of work that needs to be done so it can vary. The writing competition is for all three journals though, not just Law Review.

Yup, I know of several people who have worked as RA's - don't really know personally about the process of getting one though. From what I've seen sometimes emails go out asking if there is interest, sometimes it's an announcement in class, and sometimes it's just someone who has gotten to know the prof and/or done well in their class.

[webbylu87]

Yup, I know of several people who have worked as RA's - don't really know personally about the process of getting one though. From what I've seen sometimes emails go out asking if there is interest, sometimes it's an announcement in class, and sometimes it's just someone who has gotten to know the prof and/or done well in their class.

I'm interested in these but I'm curious as to what the benefits would be other than the fact that you are paid. Is it seen as advantageous primarily because you work very closely with a member of the faculty who can help you network?

[ChattelCat]

Yup, I know of several people who have worked as RA's - don't really know personally about the process of getting one though. From what I've seen sometimes emails go out asking if there is interest, sometimes it's an announcement in class, and sometimes it's just someone who has gotten to know the prof and/or done well in their class.

I'm interested in these but I'm curious as to what the benefits would be other than the fact that you are paid. Is it seen as advantageous primarily because you work very closely with a member of the faculty who can help you network?

I haven't been an RA, but I think you're right on target - I assume working as one is very good for networking/recommendations/advice (and also money and resume fodder) - and if a prof does research in an area you're really interested in, good for the RA too.