Law School Humor: Unemployed 3L Law Student Consolation
We at Career Services would like to send out consolations to all the 3Ls who remain uncommitted to an employer at this stage of the semester.
We would like to remind you that the Juneau Alaska Public Defender’s office still has an opening this fall. This is a fantastic opportunity, people! The pay may be modest, but after a few years you’ll be experienced enough defend moose poaching cases privately.
While it is disheartening that there are more applicants than positions available, you must keep in mind that you have spent the last three years in one of the most rigorous graduate programs available. You can use the skills you learned here in any employment you find, legal or not. For example:
- Lots of legal issues out there remain unresolved. Is the flurry of contracting in today’s business community creating more employees with all the requisite worker’s compensation and OSHA regulations or is it creating Posner’s nimbly efficient labor market? The law doesn’t have to be just theoretical anymore. As a day laborer, you can get hands on experience with this and other legal issues (matriculation in Immigration Law preferred. Se habla, por favor)
- Gentlemen, draw up your own release of custody agreements when you donate your 1400+ SAT score sperm to lesbian couples. Remember, this isn’t the character and fitness bar so feel free to throw a few more inches on your height during the application process. It’s a buyer’s market out there.
- Those latin phrases we taught you won’t go to waste. Your knowledge of root words will keep you sharp. You’ll know right away that when you serve the Venti coffee at Starbucks that “Venti” actually refers to the number of ounces (20) and is not Italian for extra large like Thad, your art school student coworker, says.
Due to the massive increase in as-of-yet-unemployed law students our own Career Services office will be hiring. An Anne Frank-esque attitude of optimism in the face overwhelming hopelessness is required, but you’ll be able to afford more than an attic on a Law School salary. Come join the team! If you can’t be invited to OCI, you can at least schedule it.
[thanks to editor b and russ via cc]
10 Ways to Ensure Success in Law School
If you’re considering entering law school or already a new student the intimidation factor can be overwhelming. Anyone who has gone through the rigors of a three-year law school program will tell you it gets less threatening as you advance. In order to get through these three years you’re going to need a lot of help. Here are some tips for you to consider as you begin your journey:
- Stay on top of your reading assignments. The workload will be unlike any you have encountered in the past and it’s imperative you do all the assigned readings. It is helpful to refresh with the readings just before you attend class.
- Speak up. Class participation is not usually factored into your grades so don’t be afraid to jump into a class discussion. It’s your chance to either strut your stuff or to clarify ambiguities you’ve encountered in the course materials.
- Go to class. Even if your professor doesn’t take attendance you should make every effort to make it to class. There are sure to be times when you haven’t done the reading and you feel like taking the easy way out. Avoid this urge and still go to class, at least this way you can hear what the professor feels is most important about a particular case.
- Listen to your professor. Only take notes of what the professor says. He or she is the one paid to present the material. Certainly listen to your classmates but don’t take their points and opinions as Gospel.
- Reflect on your notes at the end of each day. Take a close look at the notes you took earlier in the day in class when you get home. This will allow you to soak up and reinforce the day’s message. Repeat this process at the end of each week.
- Learn the rules. It may sound redundant, but you’re in law school so you should learn to accurately explain legal rules.
- Worry about the context. Classes are intended to revolve around discussions to reach a conclusion. Don’t be concerned with knowing the right answer right away – this isn’t the aim of a discussion.
- Find a comfortable seat in class. If you’re taking notes the old-fashioned way with a pen and a pad then avoid the guy pounding away on his laptop.
- Quality, not quantity. Put in valuable time, not just hours upon hours for the sake of looking good. Only you will know the extent of your effort. Make sure the time you study is done wisely.
- Classes are difficult. Accept the struggle that is going to accompany your journey. If one class session has you feeling lost, try to master the material in your own time and be prepared for the next meeting.
Susan Jacobs is a freelance writer as well as a regular contributor for CollegeDegree.com, a site helping students select an online college degree. Susan invites your questions, comments and freelancing job inquiries at her email address susan.jacobs45@gmail.com.
Example of Thinking Like a Law Student and Not Like a Lawyer
From Shelley’s Case:
A week ago, the professor asked us to write an analysis re: an inpatient hospital reimbursement appeal. S/he divided our class into two teams, one focused on procedural issue, the other focused on substantive issue.
Both teams looked at the relevant CFR the professor had provided and applied legal analysis to the facts. We each came up with an analysis and presented them to the professor over the weekend.
Today the professor chastised us. S/he was disappointed that we were thinking like law students, not attorneys. S/he advised us to stop thinking like law students and start analyzing like an attorney.
The words stung and puzzled us. Most of the students were 3L’s. We worked during summer under the supervision of attorneys. We thought we were thinking and analyzing like attorneys. What did the professor mean when s/he said we were thinking like law students?
Could it be that for this assignment, we were not digging deeper? That we were not creative in grasping little clues? Could it be that the summer experience was a superficial experience where we were told to do specific tasks but not trained to look deeper into a case?
What does it take to think like an attorney? I thought I had the answer but now I wonder if I really did.
