What percentage of a given class tries out for law review? Forum

[kazootey]

At a given school, what percentage of the 1L class tries to get onto law review? It must cross the mind of every student at least once, but how many make a serious, concerted effort to get on with the write-on competition? What percentage of students who are invited based on their grades will end up accepting? I imagine that although being on LR carries big benefits, it's a huge time requirement and is probably not for everyone. Just wondering what all ya'll think.

[deneuve39]

So this is just a guess, but I would say between 60 and 80% at least do the writing comp. At CLS, you don't really have your 2nd semester grades while the writing comp is going on, so you don't know whether you have a good shot of grading on (where they look at your writing comp score, but the grades are weighted more heavily) or whether you'll have to write on. That said, I don't think 60-80% work insanely hard at it...A lot of people started it a few days before or did it sort of casually.

[vanwinkle]

Most people try out. How many end up putting in a serious effort is impossible to say. Everyone who gets it accepts it.

You don't turn down Law Review.

[LoyolaLaw2012]

The sign-up sheet at my school was over 100 entries. However, this included 2Ls that finally had the qualifying GPA. I'm not sure what the percentage of just 1Ls would be.

[Connelly]

Most people try out. How many end up putting in a serious effort is impossible to say. Everyone who gets it accepts it.

You don't turn down Law Review.

Of those who actually try out, I would agree that it is extremely rare for someone to turn down an invitation. For those that grade on, some do actually turn down the invitation. There could be several reasons for this. There's probably a higher turn-down rate among part-time students - some just don't have the time and others are there for reasons that wouldn't be aided by Law Review. Another reason would be if the person is female and gets knocked up during/after 1L. For some careers, it might make more sense to do more trial/litigation activities, so moot court and other trial groups might be more important.

[vanwinkle]

Of those who actually try out, I would agree that it is extremely rare for someone to turn down an invitation. For those that grade on, some do actually turn down the invitation. There could be several reasons for this. There's probably a higher turn-down rate among part-time students - some just don't have the time and others are there for reasons that wouldn't be aided by Law Review.

Especially ITE, folks are just not turning down LR. It's too valuable on a resume. If you get the invite, you find time.

Another reason would be if the person is female and gets knocked up during/after 1L.

Dood, WTF.

For some careers, it might make more sense to do more trial/litigation activities, so moot court and other trial groups might be more important.

This is true, but if you get invited onto LR, you can do both.

[ggocat]

This will greatly depend on the school and the method of selection. Some schools have a mandatory write-on for membership, and others have mostly grade-on.

My school has mostly grade-on. It has a pure grade-on selection, then pure write-on (but must be top 50% to compete), then pure grade-on if not enough write-on candidates are selected. A maximum of 25% of the law review can be selected from the write-on competition. It also occurs during the month after finals, so some people have a pretty good idea of where they will end up grades-wise, and they don't participate.

Out of about 145 students my year, roughly 25 participated in the write-on. Of about 145 students the next year, only 5 participated. Of about 150 students this past year, 9 participated.

Generally, many more people sign up to participate (between 2 and 6 times more) compared to the number of people who actually turn in the write-on materials.

Almost every one who doesn't transfer accepts, and almost every one who gets on doesn't transfer. There was one guy in my class who got on but did not accept.

[kazootey]

My school (Iowa) only has write-ons, and I intend to take the competition seriously, but I don't know anybody else who is planning the same thing. The 1L class is about 200 students, and 40 people make it to LR. That seems high, is that percentage normal?

[como]

At Cornell, I think ~90% tried out, and about 85% finished. There are spots for ~20% of the class.

[doyleoil]

At Cornell, I think ~90% tried out, and about 85% finished. There are spots for ~20% of the class.

jesus, they let 20% of your class on? i thought we were high at ~15%

[mallard]

At Cornell, I think ~90% tried out, and about 85% finished. There are spots for ~20% of the class.

jesus, they let 20% of your class on? i thought we were high at ~15%

Stanford is around 25%, and maybe half the class tries out.

[como]

At Cornell, I think ~90% tried out, and about 85% finished. There are spots for ~20% of the class.

jesus, they let 20% of your class on? i thought we were high at ~15%

I thought it was a high number too. 10-15% is what I expected coming into law school.

[GrapeApe]

You don't turn down Law Review.

Fail. I did this.

[kalvano]

I've been meaning to ask - what exactly does the write-on competition consist of? We have to do it even if we can grade on.

[spondee]

I've been meaning to ask - what exactly does the write-on competition consist of? We have to do it even if we can grade on.

Generally, there are two parts (though it probably varies some by school):

1. A (large) stack of source material - cases, scholarly articles, newspaper articles, etc. - that raise one or more legal issues. You're tasked with writing a comment in response.

2. A Bluebooking/editing exercise where you'll be given some selections from an article and asked to correct all the Bluebooking, and perhaps grammar, mistakes you can find.

Some schools also require personal statements, resumes, blah blah. Volokh's book, Academic Legal Writing, has a pretty good section on write-on competitions.

[kalvano]

Thanks.

[vanwinkle]

You don't turn down Law Review.

Fail. I did this.

Then you are a rather unusual exception.

[gwuorbust]

You don't turn down Law Review.

Fail. I did this.

why?

[Cmoss]

noob question alert: if you dont do law review what do you do? externship?

[leobowski]

noob question alert: if you dont do law review what do you do? externship?

Well you should always try for law review, but if you don't get on there are tons of other extracurricular opportunities. Externships are great. Secondary journals, clinics and moot court are also good. Volunteering in the community certainly never hurts. If all else fails you could just be treasurer of some froofy-doofy club, also this will count for nothing with employers.

[GrapeApe]

Then you are a rather unusual exception.

However, you did imply that no one would do this.

[GrapeApe]

why?

A number of reasons.

First, I am opposed to the very idea of a "law review" AKA: "A platform for deranged radicals to try to introduce their asinine ideas into the law."
Second, the people who infest law review tend to be arrogant, pretentious, and elitist. I can't stand being around these people.
Third, the work/time commitment is absolutely insane. I have more important things to do.
Fourth, I have no intention of practicing law. I hate the "study" of law, dislike lawyers, and I am only here to get the J.D. so that I can advance my career outside the legal "profession." I'm just here for the lulz at this point.

[kalvano]

why?

A number of reasons.

First, I am opposed to the very idea of a "law review" AKA: "A platform for deranged radicals to try to introduce their asinine ideas into the law."
Second, the people who infest law review tend to be arrogant, pretentious, and elitist. I can't stand being around these people.
Third, the work/time commitment is absolutely insane. I have more important things to do.
Fourth, I have no intention of practicing law. I hate the "study" of law, dislike lawyers, and I am only here to get the J.D. so that I can advance my career outside the legal "profession." I'm just here for the lulz at this point.

Attention, posters - DO NOT FOLLOW THIS PERSON'S ADVICE.

[Cmoss]

noob question alert: if you dont do law review what do you do? externship?

Well you should always try for law review, but if you don't get on there are tons of other extracurricular opportunities. Externships are great. Secondary journals, clinics and moot court are also good. Volunteering in the community certainly never hurts. If all else fails you could just be treasurer of some froofy-doofy club, also this will count for nothing with employers.

thank you!

[GrapeApe]

Attention, posters - DO NOT FOLLOW THIS PERSON'S ADVICE.

What advice? I never said that other people shouldn't do it, only that I didn't.

I've made it no secret that I have no intention of practicing law. I'm merely getting the J.D. to leverage a better position in law enforcement.

I do dispute the idea that "OH NOEZ LAW REVIEWZ" is the ONLY option for everyone. LR is but one path. For some it might make a great deal of sense, for others, not so much. This whole "I WANTS TO BE A SLAVE TO BIGLAW" isn't the only thing out there, many people choose a different path.

"I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference."