Byakuya769
Member
brucewaynegretzky said:
"You sir are NOT a small business owner!"
-
Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.
Law School & Lawyer GAF
- Thread starter SD-Ness
- Start date
"You sir are NOT a small business owner!"
RandomDancing
Member
K to JD students aren't all bad, but perhaps I'm biased considering I am one. I definitely think students who came out of the working world have an advantage since they've had real world experience, but I remember a lot of complaining from that crowd about how much of a struggle it was for them to get back into being at school from about 9 - 5, then having to spend the night reading and studying. If you're straight from college, I think it's a little easier in law school, at least at the beginning, since you are not used to having nights and weekends relatively free from work.
I knew I was taking a gamble going to law school, but I'm currently very happy with my decision. I have a few friends who, two years out of college, still haven't found full time employment and are going back to school for a graduate degree just to improve their situation. While the majority of my friends have found some sort of full time entry level positions, pretty much all but two or three of them are miserable about their job situation. In a year, I'll have a professional degree in a field I find extremely interesting. No matter what field I end up in, overall I feel better having spend the last two years working towards a law degree rather than working for $10/hr at a job I hate.
I knew I was taking a gamble going to law school, but I'm currently very happy with my decision. I have a few friends who, two years out of college, still haven't found full time employment and are going back to school for a graduate degree just to improve their situation. While the majority of my friends have found some sort of full time entry level positions, pretty much all but two or three of them are miserable about their job situation. In a year, I'll have a professional degree in a field I find extremely interesting. No matter what field I end up in, overall I feel better having spend the last two years working towards a law degree rather than working for $10/hr at a job I hate.
I kind of see it as the opposite for people from professions most similar to law in working style (finance, accounting, consulting). We know how to work on a whole different level from undergrad. Getting an assignment at 7pm and working until early morning isn't that unusual. It's not like school where everything has been on your syllabus for months and you can spread most things out.RandomDancing said:
Smelly Tramp
Member
I'm studying Law in the UK and i'm just starting my final year in a few months.
Personally i think the course has been informative, and every now and then you'll get a module crop up that is interesting. However the majority of it has been mind numbingly boring.
You end up just finding out about all the little flaws in each area of the law and how they are exploited, and it's quite depressing really. The course is like 80% weighted on end of year exams, and the exams are boring memory tests which boil down to the more cases and statute you remember and include, the higher your percentage.
Speaking to everyone around on the course as well, I find that it's more of who you know rather than what you know. I know noone in the field so i'm pretty much fucked when i finish the degree.
Felt good to get that out.
Personally i think the course has been informative, and every now and then you'll get a module crop up that is interesting. However the majority of it has been mind numbingly boring.
You end up just finding out about all the little flaws in each area of the law and how they are exploited, and it's quite depressing really. The course is like 80% weighted on end of year exams, and the exams are boring memory tests which boil down to the more cases and statute you remember and include, the higher your percentage.
Speaking to everyone around on the course as well, I find that it's more of who you know rather than what you know. I know noone in the field so i'm pretty much fucked when i finish the degree.
Felt good to get that out.
Pollux
Member
Well, just finished my first day of orientation. Still pretty pumped about it all, and I know everyone is going to say get out now. But I think I've made the right decision for me. I'm not going to a top school, but I will have no debt when I graduate so it's pretty much a plus at this point.
I'll let ya know how I feel in a couple years when I'm looking for a job though. lol.
I'll let ya know how I feel in a couple years when I'm looking for a job though. lol.
brucewaynegretzky
Member
AstroLad said:
Dead in a gutter.
voodoojohn
Banned
Are you considering law school now? Post bschool life not what you expected it'd be?aswedc said:
brucewaynegretzky
Member
zmoney said:
O no! Someone stole his identity too!
brucewaynegretzky
Member
AstroLad said:
Got a hot tip that it's a sinking ship. Tell them to bail quick.
... Or just have a good time. We're good people
Byakuya769
Member
AstroLad said:
NYU grad?
Yeah, guess I'm fickle like that. Nothing wrong with my current job. But I'm still looking for something else. Thinking about going back to tax after law school, actually, although it would have to be a law firm unless I got into WNT or something. I'm done with the compliance side.voodoojohn said:
How's the job been going for you?
Para bailar La Bomba
Banned
NZer said:
I currently live across the "ditch" and hear it often.....it's a bullshit expression that's lost its meaning because a 6 figure salary isn't difficult to achieve these days. therefore high is probably 250 plus.
Hey guys,
One of my friend is working on his PhD in Law (Constitutional Law) from Edinburgh University in Scotland. He wants to work in the USA after he finishes up degree. What avenues/agencies/University should he go through to get a job in an university *that his first choice to do*.
He has done his Bachelors and masters in law, constitutional law I think from the USA (Some UC school). Then he went to Scotland to do another bachelors in law and now is working/finishing up his PhD there.
Basically what job prospects are available for him in the USA as compared to the UK?
Any advice will be appreciated. Thank you guys.
One of my friend is working on his PhD in Law (Constitutional Law) from Edinburgh University in Scotland. He wants to work in the USA after he finishes up degree. What avenues/agencies/University should he go through to get a job in an university *that his first choice to do*.
He has done his Bachelors and masters in law, constitutional law I think from the USA (Some UC school). Then he went to Scotland to do another bachelors in law and now is working/finishing up his PhD there.
Basically what job prospects are available for him in the USA as compared to the UK?
Any advice will be appreciated. Thank you guys.
Bboy AJ
My dog was murdered by a 3.5mm audio port and I will not rest until the standard is dead
Why didn't he go to a US law school if he wants a job here so bad?
Your question is probably best left for the UK law GAF crew. All I can say is he likely won't be getting respectable legal academia.
Your question is probably best left for the UK law GAF crew. All I can say is he likely won't be getting respectable legal academia.
ChiTownBuffalo
Either I made up lies about the Boston Bomber or I fell for someone else's crap. Either way, I have absolutely no credibility and you should never pay any attention to anything I say, no matter what the context. Perm me if I claim to be an insider
I actually had a get together with some law school friends over the weekend, some of use practice some of us don't.
I was talked into practiciing, at least on a pro bono level. Gonna work to get people political asylum in the US. Right now, specifically cases of Iraqi or Afghani folks that have worked for Coalition forces.
That seems noble on face value.
I was talked into practiciing, at least on a pro bono level. Gonna work to get people political asylum in the US. Right now, specifically cases of Iraqi or Afghani folks that have worked for Coalition forces.
That seems noble on face value.
Zapages said:
An SJD is a Doctor of Juridical Science (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_of_Juridical_Science#United_States). It's basically the American equivalent of the PhD in law. Not very many people pursue it unless they are (in my understanding of the degree) interested in teaching at a law school here. It is by no means required, but it may open some doors for him here in the US.
mre said:
Oh cool. Basically the same degree as it is in UK but with a different name ie MD situation here in the USA and in South Asia. Very interesting. I did not know that. Thanks dude. Would you advise him to go here in the USA for a fellowship and then apply for a job then. Will it make it easier for him to practice here in the USA.
Zapages said:
If he wants to practice law then he needs to decide where he wants to practice (specifically which state) and then contact that state's Bar. For example, if he wanted to join the New York Bar (and practice law in NY), then he should google "New York State Bar," to pull up their website (which happens to be http://www.nysba.org/).
As an aside, New York's Bar has a section for foreign applicants, http://www.nybarexam.org/Foreign/ForeignLegalEducation.htm, but not every state is guaranteed to have such a section.
Each state's bar association will help him determine if he meets the qualifications to sit for their bar. Keep in mind that in America you have to be a member of the bar association for any state in which you practice law. It sucks, but that is how it is.
As far as the SJD making it easier to practice law, I wouldn't think so, beyond the obvious benefits to his employment search of having a degree granted by an American school of law.
Keep in mind that I'm not overly familiar with the career path that would lead you to teaching, but as an example consider this blurb on the University of Florida's SJD program (where I earned my LLM) which is taxation based:Zapages said:
I would say that a SJD from UF would easily land one a job teaching tax at some law school in the US based upon the prestige of UF's tax program. His mileage may vary depending upon the school he chooses to attend and its particular focus.
Seraphinianus
Banned
I have a question-- of those of you who are practicing, how much did you guys think you knew about practicing law by the time you graduated? Did you feel like you were going into your first job almost clueless?
18 credits...gonna be a fun semester (but it's bs 3L classes, so whatever)
18 credits...gonna be a fun semester (but it's bs 3L classes, so whatever)
Bboy AJ
My dog was murdered by a 3.5mm audio port and I will not rest until the standard is dead
Being a law school professor has to be the toughest track for legal jobs. You'll likely be HYS, top of class, lots of publications, and a prestigious clerkship under your belt.Zapages said:
For undergrad, definitely not as bad but still not easy to get into as tenured.
mre said:
So its really is a mixture of things and every school is different. Argh the complications. So is there a website where a person can look and see what is offered in terms of their specialty and jobs they can get. Something like pharmcas for pharmacy schools.
What about a website for lawyers to find jobs from all around the world.
brucewaynegretzky
Member
commish said:
Wat? Was there any context? Or was it just spontaneous? I hate hearing stories like this because it makes me think the reason I don't have a job is because I must be doing something awful if people like this are coming so close to getting jobs.
Seraphinianus
Banned
commish said:
trying to seduce you?
blahblah...blah
Member
commish, haven't stalked this thread, in what sector do you work? I'm London-based so don't worry, I wont be asking for a job
EDIT: Also, are there any legal websites people check regularly? They can be academic, about firms, just plain old gossip, or anything in between? In terms of UK-based ones, I'm rather limited, so I'm having to branch out.
EDIT: Also, are there any legal websites people check regularly? They can be academic, about firms, just plain old gossip, or anything in between? In terms of UK-based ones, I'm rather limited, so I'm having to branch out.
Bboy AJ
My dog was murdered by a 3.5mm audio port and I will not rest until the standard is dead
Above the law.comblahblah...blah said:commish, haven't stalked this thread, in what sector do you work? I'm London-based so don't worry, I wont be asking for a job
EDIT: Also, are there any legal websites people check regularly? They can be academic, about firms, just plain old gossip, or anything in between? In terms of UK-based ones, I'm rather limited, so I'm having to branch out.
Smision said:
I thought I knew almost nothing, and it turns out I still knew less than I thought I did. The only things I knew about actual practicing came from prior clerkships, and they were pretty limited. To me, it was very hard to get going, as I was constantly paralyzed by the fear I was going to screw up. I used to just sit there and stare at pleadings I was supposed to sign, lol. I think that's natural.
Byakuya769
Member
Bboy AJ said:
Isn't Chicago starting to do pretty well with that track?