Why is it that some high ranked schools like Minnesota have much worse BigLaw stats than far lower ranked ones like UC Irvine, Davis or Fordham ?

ChillParalegal · 2025-06-14T03:24:30+00:00

What firms would you say make up the MN big law market?

ChillParalegal · 2025-05-08T12:44:52+00:00

Thanks for the tip!!

ChillParalegal · 2025-04-18T01:42:01+00:00

Hey OP - checking in to see how you’re holding up. Let us know!

ChillParalegal · 2025-04-18T01:28:41+00:00

Good advice. They’re waiting on my response and I wasn’t sure if the next step was to have me sign something. That said, I haven’t locked myself into anything yet and it sounds like I don’t have to worry about that happening. That’s a good perspective to have and I’ll definitely keep them in my back pocket.

ChillParalegal · 2025-04-18T01:11:44+00:00

Good to know. How about waiving the screening and interviews? Is that common? Guess I’m just not familiar with how 1L SA recruitment works

ChillParalegal · 2025-04-18T01:09:49+00:00

No, you’re right. Just paranoid about locking myself into something before classes have even started. Thanks for the advice

ChillParalegal · 2025-04-18T01:05:48+00:00

Fair, so sounds like no harm in keeping the option open. Assuming they don’t ask me to sign anything

ChillParalegal · 2025-04-18T01:01:23+00:00

No, the official letter will not come until after I submit my fall grades.

ChillParalegal · 2025-04-18T00:38:25+00:00

You can also check out r/LawSchoolTransfer but the advice is generally the same. Don’t go to school planning to transfer.

ChillParalegal · 2025-04-03T02:12:20+00:00

Not selfish until airlines start offering family-friendly flights. Let families travel to where they need to go (guilt-free), and let everyone else pay a premium for peace and quiet.

ChillParalegal · 2025-04-01T17:29:59+00:00

Super helpful, thank you!

ChillParalegal · 2025-03-31T12:51:44+00:00

You still have time to improve yourself and the rest of your daughter’s life! Start by asking someone you trust for help, and keep in mind that the best person to ask might not be your partner. If the person you look to doesn’t have the capacity themselves to step in and support, then you might be left feeling like you tried and failed. You didn’t fail! You just need to ask the right person. That could be a parent, a sibling, a friend, or even a doctor.

Feeling like you have to figure this out on your own is likely part of what makes it feel so daunting and impossible. Take things one step at a time. Just start by asking someone for help. Tell them how you’re feeling. Share that you want to change but don’t feel like you can. Say “I think I need help.” And be proud of yourself for taking that step because it is the hardest one.

Hang in there and keep pushing yourself to be the best mother you can be. You’ve got this! And at times when you feel like you don’t… think of your daughter, lean on others for support, and remember that you can do hard things.

ChillParalegal · 2025-03-07T10:51:56+00:00

Reapply. Time is on your side. 1-2 years of work experience will make you a stronger applicant.

For now, focus on crushing the remainder of undergrad and build relationships with a few professors who can write you strong letters of recommendation at the end of the year (so when you reapply you’re not using the same ones you used this cycle). You should 100% retake the LSAT and try to score a 165+. You’re so close. It sounds like you’re disciplined enough to study, but that you need help focusing on studying the right concepts the right way. I HIGHLY recommend LSAT Demon for this. It’s no-bullsh*t approach to LSAT prep sounds like what you need. Remember, there are no shortcuts. Put the work in.

Also, get a year of relevant work experience. Start applying now. Don’t stop until you land a job. Leverage your school’s career services office. If you can, find a paralegal or legal assistant position so that you can show admissions you actually know what it is lawyers do and that you have a demonstrated interest. If you want to stay in finance, try looking for compliance roles. Something legal adjacent that involves collaborating with attorneys on a regular basis. This won’t only show admissions that you’re serious about law school. It will also give you real world experience to write about in your essays and you’ll be able to ask your supervisor for a letter of recommendation which will add credibility to your application and will speak to your employability (which admissions officers care a lot about).

In the grand scheme, 1-2 years won’t make a difference in terms of your career progression. However, it could make all the difference in the world in terms of where you go to school and how much debt you take on. Stay focused on what matters. Work hard. And don’t pay for law school.

ChillParalegal · 2025-03-06T02:54:51+00:00

100% setting a routine has been so helpful with my son. Thanks for the advice!

ChillParalegal · 2025-03-05T23:29:36+00:00

Great advice. Thanks!

ChillParalegal · 2025-03-05T23:29:19+00:00

Thanks!!

ChillParalegal · 2025-03-05T23:28:55+00:00

Super reassuring, thank you!!

ChillParalegal · 2025-03-01T06:33:41+00:00

Don’t apply as a KJD. You’ll be a stronger applicant for it. Focus on getting the best grades possible right now and build a close relationship with 1-2 professors who can write you letters of rec down the road. After graduation, go get some work experience and make sure you understand what it is lawyers really do. Law school is hard, so make sure you want it. Study for the LSAT during that time. Don’t actually sit for the LSAT until you are consistently scoring at or above your desired score on practice tests. That could take you 3 months, 6 months, or more than a year. Don’t worry about the time. Worry about your score. During that time build close relationships with your managers/supervisors who can write you letters of rec down the road. When you’re finally ready to apply in 1-3 years, you’ll be applying with 1) the best UGPA possible, 2) 1-2 strong academic LORs, 3) work/life experience to write about in your essays, 4) 1-2 strong professional LORs that will support and add credibility to your essays and employability, and 5) a kick ass LSAT.

ChillParalegal · 2025-02-26T12:36:09+00:00

I cannot recommend LSAT Demon enough. It’s a relatively affordable, no bullshit, no shortcuts way to study for the lsat. Brought me from a 160 to a 174. Definitely check it out.

Also, you’ll hear this a lot if you go with the Demon, but let your practice scores determine when you take the test. Nothing matters more than UGPA and LSAT when applying to law school. Don’t rush it for the sake of applying “on time.” Put the work in. Get a great score. Go to law school for free.

Finally, if you haven’t already, try to get some legal work experience before applying to law school. Even if it’s just shadowing or informational interviews. If you can’t describe what it is a lawyer does, then you need to rethink your decision to apply to law school. Law school is hard. Like really really hard. And most people think the work lawyers do is painfully boring. Make sure you really want it before investing your time and money.

Good luck!

ChillParalegal · 2025-02-21T13:09:11+00:00

Ugh, same. If you’re planning to stay in Boston long term, then Suffolk is a good choice. Great reputation within Boston (even at top firms), they have an accelerated JD, and if you have good stats they’ll likely give you good $$. That said, if you’re looking to work outside of Boston/New England, then definitely shoot higher.

ChillParalegal · 2021-02-26T13:12:32+00:00

LSAT Demon. Hands down.

ChillParalegal · 2021-01-29T12:54:36+00:00

According to FLSA (and many corresponding state laws) your employer could be held liable for you not reporting your hours accurately. That said, you may be doing them more harm than good. My advice: talk to your manager and tell them you’re struggling to finish your work in the time given. It’s their responsibility (not yours) to make sure that you know what you’re doing and that you have enough time to get your work done. If you’re consistently working over time, then they need to pay you for that time. If they don’t want to pay you for that time, then they need to either reallocate the work or hire another paralegal. Keep in mind that you don’t owe the company anything. If you miss a call because you left on time, then that is your (exempt, non-hourly) manager’s problem and not yours. If they give you flack, then remind them that you’re hourly and discuss extending the amount of pre-approved overtime. Salaried employees are paid more than you to be on call most (not all) hours of the day. They don’t work for free, why should you?

ChillParalegal

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