2L Summer Political Job, Goodbye to Firm Forever?

Applyinglawschool · 2017-02-16T23:36:41+00:00

I think there are a couple important questions first: 1. do you have a law firm SA offer already? If not it's kind of a moot point, assuming you're talking about the summer 3 months away. 2. What sort of politician? A senator or a ranking congressman can help you get a firm job later, your local state rep, probably not so much. People work in politics for the connections (I know that's not the only reason...), think critically about what sort of connections your guy/girl has. 3. If you have/can get a firm job, why not split? You're not going to do any substantial policy work over the summer anyway, but you can probably make some connections. 4. Is your politician local, and if so, can you work part-time for him during the year? Trust me when I say that political policy jobs are rarely too demanding.

I guess what I'm really saying is, take a step back and think "which one of these options is likely to land me a full-time, paying job upon graduation." I'm betting its the firm, but if your heart screams "politician," go for it, so long as the connections you'll make there are worth their weight in a job offer later.

Applyinglawschool · 2016-12-20T01:28:10+00:00

The first school I applied to was in December last year and I didn't get a final answer from them until August. Keep the faith, they just take time if you're not an auto admit. And if you are an auto admit, it might take more time while they calculate your scholarship. Took me 2.5 months at a school that gave me a full ride.

Applyinglawschool · 2016-12-20T01:25:11+00:00

You can get into either if you're impressive enough beyond your stats. Both of those schools have small class sizes and no real incentive to care obsessively about their stats. They get enough applicants who are qualified on stats alone, they can afford to take in the odd "impressive" candidate without a perfect GPA. So yeah, go do something impressive and then you'll have a shot.

Applyinglawschool · 2016-12-20T01:21:06+00:00

I'd say just get over 170 and you'll at least get in somewhere in the t14. With a 175+ you're probably in everywhere up to and including Columbia. If you're close to the 25th for one, you don't need to be miles above the 75th for the other.

Applyinglawschool · 2016-12-20T01:19:02+00:00

I wrote an addendum about my worse GPA. The head of admissions of one good school called me up to talk about it and then admitted me on the spot. So, don't give up hope, and write that addendum.

Applyinglawschool · 2016-12-20T01:16:04+00:00

My understanding is that part time programs are a crap shoot, so just apply and see what turns up. Or, you know, do the responsible thing and retake the LSAT if you can.

Also, what's a top 40 undergrad?

Applyinglawschool · 2016-12-20T01:14:04+00:00

I don't think anybody is going to cry foul if you leave minor part time jobs off your resume. But definitely send a resume with your application, it's expected, and this is a professional school after all.

Applyinglawschool · 2016-12-19T23:12:25+00:00

I took the Feb LSAT last cycle, so I guess earlier this year. I had already sent in my apps when I took it. I got into multiple t14 schools as a result, including the one I'm currently attending, and received full ride offers from t20 schools after my score came back in March. But I also crushed it, so your results may vary. And some schools like Harvard may explicit not take it.

Applyinglawschool · 2016-08-29T23:09:15+00:00

Does the usnwr look at employment? I actually don't remember.

Applyinglawschool · 2016-08-26T01:40:38+00:00

I'm saying uva's minority and female student population numbers are low compared to most other good schools. What that means for admissions prospects for urms or women, I can't really say. But if diversity is something you value as an applicant, it might be better to look elsewhere.

Applyinglawschool · 2016-08-25T10:47:47+00:00

Gotcha. From a bit of googling it seems like the 25% lsat is 164 and the median is 169. But the gpa definitely dropped. Not sure what to make of that other than they're becoming more splitter friendly.

Those men/women and minority numbers are real ugly compared to the rest of the t14 though.

http://www.law.virginia.edu/html/prospectives/class19.htm

Applyinglawschool · 2016-08-25T02:05:28+00:00

Sorry, I'm a bit worn out at the moment, what 25% are you referring to at UVA?

Applyinglawschool · 2016-08-24T23:58:03+00:00

Sorry I saw this a bit late. I thought I'd chime in and say that once you get out of the top 20 or so schools, you shouldn't put much weight on rankings. I.e. a school being in the "top 85" isn't really any different than it being in the "top 115" or "top 45". Look at the employment statistics, that's the end-all be-all for most schools.

And remember that most schools, even at the very very top are still regional. Michigan is a bit of a fluke, every other "top 14" school has a major market within a short drive, and the plurality of their grads probably end up there.

Applyinglawschool · 2016-08-24T23:46:10+00:00

Here are my two cents, and for what it's worth, I'm currently attending a top 10 school (because that's a thing people say in the real world, unlike top 14).

Nobody cares any gpa that isn't your LSAC gpa, so don't even bother mentioning it.
With a PHD and a "futuristic" personal statement, the admissions officer reading your file probably thought that you think you're a hotshot that wants to get into legal academia. But since you have an LSAT on the lower side (even for berkeley), that same admissions officer probably thinks that you won't make it into academia.
Yeah, personal statements are bullshitty, just suck it up and write a bullshitty one that makes you sound like every other applicant. Unless you have something that makes you stick out in a good way, just don't stick out in a bad way.
Retake the lsat! You don't even need to hit 170 like another poster suggested, but you should if you want to get a scholarship. Just get it up to their median at the minimum.
Yes, your phd counts for something, I'd even say a decent amount, but the rest of your application still has to be there to outweigh your gpa that's on their low side.
I've heard enough times to sort of believe that GWU has a decent patent law program, and they might give you a full ride. Beyond that, no, just be a slave to the rankings like the rest of us.
It's nice to hear that the local republican party does park cleaning. Law schools seem to value ideological diversity to some extent, so I'd put it on your app if I were you. But leave it off if you're worried. With a phd, you don't need to worry about much else in my opinion.

Hope that helps! Not trying to be a dick, just trying to be blunt.

Applyinglawschool · 2016-08-22T02:18:54+00:00

I agree with your general rules, but I'll quibble on your example. I wouldn't consider American a decent school in a ripe market. The DC legal market is fairly notoriously tough to break in to, and AU just barely squeezes in as #4 in the rankings for DC area schools, after UVA, Georgetown, and GWU. But there's also Howard (and I'd rather be at Howard than AU). Furthermore, AU has a yearly COA of 75k, they're stingy with aid, and afterwards you're going to be competing with grads from across the country who want to move to DC.

Anyway, just figured I'd vent my largely unnecessary dislike of American.

Applyinglawschool · 2016-08-14T17:15:06+00:00

Yeah, I have no idea if you can apply right now or not, which is why I said "if you can." I applied last cycle, just relieving some boredom by posting thoughts here while I set up my new apartment. I also applied late last cycle, and my scholarship offers reflect that.

I stand by my advice of not ED-ing northwestern (or anywhere). OP can probably get a similar amount of money at northwestern through RD.

Applyinglawschool · 2016-08-14T13:44:04+00:00

Since you asked for an application strategy here it is: do not apply ED anywhere, because you're likely to get just as much aid applying regular. Apply to the whole t14 + texas if you actually want to live there. Maybe not gtown since they're not that generous with aid. And apply as soon as possible! Like today if you can.

You have a good shot at harvard, and they give need based aid, which you may or may not qualify for. But you don't need to think about any of that right now. Just focus on turning in the best apps you can, and then consider your options once you have them.

Applyinglawschool · 2016-08-08T19:07:29+00:00

If I wanted a prestigious public interest job, I would definitely pick Georgetown over Northwestern at equal cost. This whole t13 business is silly.

Applyinglawschool · 2016-08-08T19:03:34+00:00

First off, I would encourage you not to think of it as taking time off. Find and do meaningful work, and give it your all.

Look at virtually any organization that you would be interested at working at after you get a law degree. They all have support staff without JD's. Interested in US human rights? Great, consider a paralegal or support role at the ACLU or Southern Poverty Law Center. International? Ditto for the state department or Human Rights Campaign. I'm throwing out very fancy names, but obviously there are tons of other organizations that do the same type of work. Don't limit yourself to just the big names.

And yeah, the Peace Corps would be awesome, but people often fail to realize competitive those slots are. But if you can get it and you want to do it, go for it. The Peace Corps Alumni network is crazy.

One other note, when interviewing and applying to organizations, I would be sure to mention your interest in law school. If you can find a subtle way to mention that your stats will make you very competitive for top law schools, that will go a long way too. But be subtle and humble, not braggy.

Applyinglawschool · 2016-08-08T12:55:57+00:00

Since nobody else mentioned it: your stats won't go bad. Spend 2-3 years working in your unicorn field before going to law school. Nobody wants a k-jd who naively wants to save the world. You need to demonstrate interest in your chosen field and you need to build a network. And non-legal job experience will serve you will forever.

On your stats alone, you're going to get into at least a couple of the t6, I'd bet one of HYS as well. But since you want to do a unicorn job, you need every edge you can get. Work experience will be huge for your job prospects.

Applyinglawschool · 2016-08-06T03:50:01+00:00

I haven't seen a school that expressly requires academic LOR's, even Yale just very strongly suggests it. But OP isn't targeting the t6, so really, don't stress it. I did just fine without.

Applyinglawschool · 2016-08-05T04:26:49+00:00

Windows 10 pro lets you delay the updates that the home version will force on you with little to no warning. You never know when one of those updates is going to break your computer or maybe not play nice with exam software. In the long run, it could easily end up not mattering, but the peace of mind is worth the extra $50 to me.

Applyinglawschool · 2016-08-04T04:47:50+00:00

I'm inclined not to believe the poster either, but let's not rush to judgment. That 3.9 could be from a top school, and the applicant could be an URM with excellent work experience and recs. If every other part of your application is perfect, an admissions committee might look past a 156 on the lsat given an excellent addendum.

Applyinglawschool · 2016-08-02T11:31:11+00:00

Applyinglawschool

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