^ applying to UNC, but don't know if I'll get in... I've got the split, and it seems that UNC loves the GPA.

2/22/2006 3:10:50 PM

The suspense is beginning to cause physical pain...


Within the next two weeks we will all, most likely, know our fates.

2/22/2006 4:20:32 PM

Isn't Charlotte for profit?

Do non ABA approved schools qualify for Federal Financial Aid?

2/23/2006 8:26:39 PM

Im about two years out from law school...possibly a year and a half with summer sessions.

Here's my deal : NCSU 2000-2001 1.67 GPA
GTCC 2003-2004 3.2 GPA
Montreat College 2004-2005 3.0 GPA
NCSU spring 2006 don't know yet
I have worked full time since I have been in school, but in a restaurant. My thoughts on schools are Elon, Charleston, UGA, and NCCU. What do I need to do? Is it worth a shot?

2/23/2006 9:40:54 PM

^ it depends on how you do on the lsat... if you had problems with while you were here at ncsu and can explain that, i think you have a pretty decent chance if you have good lsat scores... but watch out with uga... not being a ga resident hurt me.

2/24/2006 12:24:24 AM

i wont know until late april


yay for rolling admissions

2/24/2006 12:53:50 AM

dyson, although its a minimal statement...it made me feel a lot better.....i spoke to this guy who is a 3 or 4L at UNC and he basically told me no chance....but at the same time.....he was a tar heel undergrad too and he sort of came off as a lawyers son. he spoke like a damn law book and probably thought i didnt understand a word he said......anyways....good luck to all!!

oh, when should i attempt the LSATs??

[Edited on February 24, 2006 at 1:12 AM. Reason : ??]

2/24/2006 1:12:05 AM

June

2/24/2006 1:14:22 AM

June or Oct. Whenever you feel like you're ready. If you're still in school, I'd be wary of the Oct LSAT just because you'll be dealing with regular school work and LSAT prep. I've also heard rumors that the June LSAT can sometimes be "harder" but that's just a rumor.

2/24/2006 1:06:22 PM

do you think it would decrease my chances even more if i were to transfer AGAIN, to a school where i know i would make at least a 3.0 possibly as good as 4.0, or should i work very hard for a year and half or so here at state??

2/24/2006 4:34:19 PM

stick where you are. each time you move from school to school should be documented with a reasonable excuse. just moving for the sake of moving or trying to get easier grades will not look good at all. work as hard as you can, get the best grades possible, and have no regrets.

2/24/2006 4:51:56 PM

Quit transferring and continue to work on the GPA, maybe retake the NCSU classes and get that up. Just mention it in your personal statement.

Honestly, They will take someone with a lower GPA from State over a person with that same gpa from a small NC school. When I interviewed at Campbell, the professor could not believe I had taken genetics and microbiology (even though they were the easy kind).

Law school is only 3 years

Some law students think too highly of themselves. They will either get their bubbles busted with grades or when they begin to practice.

2/24/2006 6:59:28 PM

Jenn Mc what year are you at Campbell?

2/25/2006 1:03:31 AM

First- Its absolute hell, but i like it

2/25/2006 12:32:26 PM

Absolutely, I am at unc... i knew some guys at campell who are 2Ls.

2/25/2006 2:37:24 PM

Brownie - if you are worried about GPA, register for some classes at Wake Tech or another such community college, while you are at NC State. Do your best in them - they generally require a little less work than NC State courses, and as far as law schools are concerned, they will count equally toward your GPA.

2/25/2006 6:25:51 PM

I applied to only UNC and NCCU due to the fact my fiance is in a phD program at UNC and I can't leave the vicinity. Since Cambell and Central are generally ranked in the same tier and very close to each other, I didn't consider Cambell.


Anyway, I got my acceptance to Central today. I am so fucking pumped.

2/25/2006 7:53:11 PM

Sputter...what were your grades like and your LSAT's???

Wolfpack2k....do you mean be in school full time here at State and also taking classes at Wake Tech?? Or do you mean taking like half and half??

2/25/2006 8:28:14 PM

^I don't think taking classes at Wake Tech is a good idea. It is one thing if you were at a CC for two years and tranferred into a 4-year college, or you are taking classes at a CC over the summer. If you take classes at a CC during a fall or spring semester while enrolled at a 4-year college a law school is going to question your motivation for that decision.

2/25/2006 8:43:25 PM

i agree with you on that note partial....but I mean if he can validate his point, it might be an option worth looking in to

2/25/2006 8:48:24 PM

GODDAMMIT! all that fucking studying, I studied hard for a month straight and went to 3 hr classes 3 nights a week to get a 149?! I got a 144 the first time, when I barely did anything. fuck this. god frickin' dammit. Oh I can't wait. Now I've got relatively late entered applications to places I picked based on an expectation of a 155. Man, I've got a pile of rejection letters headed my way. Maybe I ought to try to get a masters in Mech now.... cuz it doesn't look like the patent lawyer thing is gonna happen. motherfucker.

2/26/2006 12:17:54 AM

i hate being the one saying this....cuz i havent even started the process....but everything happens for a reason.....youll be fine

2/26/2006 3:13:40 AM

Quote :

"Law school is only 3 years "

Not for me! Though it's not all law classes. I'm doing a joint J.D./M.B.A... I wasn't even thinking about it but my cousin is a pretty succesful lawyer in the corporate field (which is my goal) and he advised me to do this..

[Edited on February 26, 2006 at 10:39 AM. Reason : ..]

2/26/2006 10:38:07 AM

^You don't need the MBA to practice corporate law. With good grades from a good school you could do transactional work at a top firm with just the JD.

[Edited on February 26, 2006 at 11:39 AM. Reason : ]

2/26/2006 11:39:47 AM

Don't sweat a 149- My one friend went though PBAP with a 150 and is in the top 5 of his class.

Any other 1L's want to marry Chemerinsky right now?

[Edited on February 26, 2006 at 1:33 PM. Reason : need more coffee]

2/26/2006 1:32:46 PM

still haven't heard from Campbell and it's been almost a month since my interview. Should I be worried or should I call again? I called after two weeks and they said they were a little behind and I'd hear in a week. That was one week ago.

2/26/2006 1:35:52 PM

Law School and B-School people always make fun of the JD/MBA's because they're kids who can't figure out what to do with their life

I like a few of our JD/MBA's in B-School, but most of them are too young and have too little work experience to contribute to the environment - not saying that's your case, just the case with some of the ones I know

2/26/2006 3:33:21 PM

^^they are preparing your "Thanks for applying.....but" letter, it will take another week or so to get to you

2/26/2006 5:44:41 PM

i'd be really surprised if campbell flat out rejected me. i mean, i know my gpa isn't that great, but my lsat score shows i have the potential. add that with the upward trend in the gpa, and i feel like they would at least give me an opportunity at pbab.

2/26/2006 8:27:13 PM

campbell is confusing as fuck when it comes to who gets in

2/27/2006 2:57:22 PM

anyone know anything about Liberty Law?? I know they just got their ABA.

2/28/2006 1:37:51 AM

just say no to lawschool. Its evil

2/28/2006 10:41:50 AM

Chemerinsky is the man, he is probably going to be the new dean of UNC



And for those applying but doubting they will get accepted... I know you will lose your app fee and such, but trust me, law school is overrated. Your job prospects are not that good really. I know a friend that graduated top 20 in her class at Campbell, passed the bar and still can't find a permanent job. At UNC, I am median... I have a 3.0 GPA and couldnt find summer work. I would also highly recommend taking a year or two off. I have really become disheartened with the whole system, I can go into more detail but I'll spare you. If you want to know why, just ask.



[Edited on February 28, 2006 at 12:23 PM. Reason : asdf]

2/28/2006 12:16:12 PM

Odd. I've spoken to quite a few people in the area where I'm from and the law market is still absolutely flourishing...

2/28/2006 2:06:28 PM

not to mention that an article in the N&O pointed out the major firms are bumping their entry level salary from 100 to 115.

2/28/2006 2:29:57 PM

^^ Do you mean you cant find paid summer work? I have about 1 million places i can work for the summer, but they do not offer any compensation.

2/28/2006 3:34:00 PM

there was an article not too long ago saying that north carolina would need 2-3000 lawyers in the next 5-10 years...that seems pretty good

2/28/2006 3:38:01 PM

yeah, okie dokie... drop $80,000 on your legal education and talk to me in 3 years, the fact is those "major firms" won't sniff you unless you are from UNC, Duke, and in the top 25% in your class (good luck). Trust me, the outlook is not that good. Just remember that those numbers are skewed. I'm not trying to be negative nancy, but I'm just giving you my experience. I'm in law school, my entire family is full of lawyers. I said the same thing last year, hell I was excited about law school and thought i would just come out making wads of cash.


If you can work for free, more power to you. Some of us can't.

[Edited on February 28, 2006 at 4:43 PM. Reason : asdf]

2/28/2006 4:38:40 PM

Quote :

"Odd. I've spoken to quite a few people in the area where I'm from and the law market is still absolutely flourishing..."

What market is this and where did these people go to school? Walt is right, the high paying jobs and the great government jobs go to kids at top schools or with the best grades. I work at a big firm and I think we had 15 first year associates start this fall. Based on that number, I would say there are less than 100 of those jobs the N&O mentioned in NC for each graduating year, probably less than that.

I think law school was worth it, but I have do a lot of debt. Think hard about how you will pay for it. and don't base your decision on an estimated income of $115,000. You may achieve that, but unless you go to a top school or have great grades the odds are against you.

But that doesn't mean you won't find a job. Most schools in NC have a good rate of success in placing students within 9 months of graduation.

2/28/2006 8:12:21 PM

i was under the impression that one could find a job paying at the minimum 50k. Not true?

2/28/2006 9:29:43 PM

this is why i'm not wasting my time in NC. plenty of other markets.

3/1/2006 12:30:36 AM

For the record: writing an appellate brief sucks

3/1/2006 3:55:19 AM

^^^^ NYC and New England. The Bay Area as well..

My cousin went to UConn, one friend at NYLS, and one friend at Cardozo (Yeshiva)...

[Edited on March 1, 2006 at 8:14 AM. Reason : f]

3/1/2006 8:12:37 AM

dyson, the answer is... it depends on where you are, how well you do in your school, and the biggy.... where you go to school. I don't think it woudl be hard to find a job around 50k (assuming you go to a decent school). Just be wary of the facts your find on the web, especially a particular school's starting salary. They can be HIGHLY misleading.

3/1/2006 9:38:29 AM

Quote :

"anyone know anything about Liberty Law?? I know they just got their ABA"

WHY WOULD YOU GO TO A LAW SCHOOL FRONTED BY JERRY FALLWELL

unless you want to devote your life to battling the ACLU and getting abortion made illegal

then, hit up liberty or pat robertson's school Regents

3/1/2006 12:50:35 PM

The big firms (NC based) consider the top 15% of the class typically at campbell

I would say $50,000 would be not difficult to do. It all depends on what experience you have.

Partial, I heard that the grades get you the interview, but personality/experience gets you the job? Any thoughts?


[Edited on March 1, 2006 at 1:24 PM. Reason : UCC is the thorn in my side]

3/1/2006 1:02:00 PM

If you're going to law school solely to make a lot of money, you need to reevaluate your values.

3/1/2006 2:13:19 PM

Agreed. Also, if you go to law school because you don't know what else to do and you think you can't get a job with your undergraduate degree FOR THE LOVE OF GOD RETHINK IT!

3/1/2006 2:20:57 PM

Quote :

"Partial, I heard that the grades get you the interview, but personality/experience gets you the job? Any thoughts?"

First, I assume you are referring to callback interviews. On campus interview slots need to be filled, so I don't believe it is necessarily true that landing one of those slots means your grades are good enough for the job.

That said, I think you are right. If you get a callback interview with a big firm, it is likely because you had the grades and pedigree needed to get the job. After that it is all about selling yourself. People want to work with interesting people they like and respect. You just need to convince them that you are that person.

Some will go as far as to say that once you get the callback it is your job to loose...I don't know if I would go that far.

Goodluck to everyone looking for a summer gig.

3/1/2006 7:34:33 PM

Quote :

"this is why i'm not wasting my time in NC. plenty of other markets."

Other markets are much more selective than NC. Sure, there are more high paying jobs in NYC or DC, but those firms are some of the most prestigous in the country. Firms that pay the market rate in those cities (125-135) are as selective if not more selective than the big firms in NC and they have a much larger pool of applicants because students from all over the country apply for those jobs.

Plus those firms don't usually hire from low ranked schools unless you have exceptional grades. In other words, if you can't snag a job at a big firm in NC, it is unlikely you will pull one down at a big firm in one of the larger markers.

One qualification: people with top grades and without connections to NC may have an easier time getting a job in a big city, because NC firms (and secondary market firms in general) tend to prefer people with a connection to the region, because they want to know that you will stay.

3/1/2006 7:42:44 PM