Law23 wrote:I want to start by saying thank you for answering our questions. My first questions is how many hours do you study per week and what is the norm? Also, I hear the program is competitive, but the students are friendly. I feel that is almost a paradox, can you please elaborate on that.
Before you started law school, is there anything you did or wish you did to be prepared? Lastly, do you know why Chapman dropped over 10 spots in the USNR, and in the next few years do you see the school ranked higher, if so, why?
Yeah so your life is going to suck in law school. Everything you did in undergrade is seriously easy in comparison. However, Chapman is def manageable. I have a pretty set schedule. I wake up at 7 and I am at the lilbrary by 8. I read, brief cases, go to class, and memorize stuff until around 9ish at night. I take an hour lunch and dinner and run for about 30 mins also, but my life was pretty devoted to school.
Additionally, the students are very friendly. Law school is very competitive but for some reason Chapman has a pretty laid back atmosphere. Students are going to try to out perform you for sure, but everyone is generally willing to start study groups, share outlines, or go over material (you just have share something with people if you want something)
I read a book before law school and it was useless. Have fun this summer because life is about to get a litte crazy.
Chapman's drop did suck. Everyone was really upset. The rankings do matter. However, most of the drop was because of the way the US News ranking methodology changed. They gave more points to key areas that Chapman was not focusing on to increase the rankings. Further, Chapman did not have a dean for the past year and a half. Additionally, there was a 5 way tie for 95th place, and four way tie for 100th which bumped us out.
I think realistically, Chapman will move back into the 90s next year, and will be in the low-mid 80s by the time you graduate. Chapman has changed dramatically since 2005 and is now a viable contender with Loyola. Chapman's feeder schools are UCLA, USC, UC Santa Barbara, and UCI so there gaining a lot of undergraduate recognition finally. Further, Chapman will increase because the Dean is legit. He was the Dean of Berkeley Business School and moved them in rankings from 15 to 3. Further, he is a rock start in the republican politics and all the rich white donors love him. Moreover he is job focused and has already made changes for Chapman to invade the job market.
Caveat: I just want you to be realistic when it comes to job placement. One or two students from Chapman will get a Big Law job with 150,000 salary. However, this is not the norm because most students graduate and work for private practice, governement, or mid sized firms and make about 70k.
. I'd have more respect for a place that flat out denied me rather then string me along thinking they are so desirable I will drop everything to go there.
