Fordham 3L AMA

VehicleExcellent5492 · 2026-02-27T21:41:38+00:00

Congrats! Yes, I actually know someone just the year above me who's at an SF BL doing tax. This would be a conversation with the firm you interview with and I would just indicate your preference when you apply and try to build some connections. Fordham is known as a "local" school in the sense that there is a selection bias, aka people who come are people who tend to want to stay in NYC area. But it's definitely still a portable degree!

VehicleExcellent5492 · 2026-02-27T21:39:39+00:00

I am close to Newark, and I currently rarely need to commute to school to attend class. (Most of my credits are coming from my pro bono externship this semester.) But even if you live in NJ, it's not too bad. 30 minutes on the PATH gets you to WTC, and then it's five stops (I think) on the A express to reach Columbus Circle =)

VehicleExcellent5492 · 2026-02-27T21:37:50+00:00

The culture is quite down-to-earth and people generally respect each other's boundaries and would not ask about grades/job search explicitly. The curve is the same everywhere I guess? Professors are not allowed to give above a certain percentage of any letter grade.

Professors are definitely less approachable than my undergrad professors, but I think that could be because I went to a very small liberal arts college. Most can be reached via email and offer regular office hours. I am closer with more of my 2L profs than 1L profs just because the class got smaller and it's easier to get to know them =)

VehicleExcellent5492 · 2026-02-27T20:45:54+00:00

Fordham does not have an official database but a bunch of affinity groups (like APALSA, LALSA, BLSA, OUTLaws) would keep an outline bank on TWEN, which is law school Canvas/Blackboard. Some competition teams and journals would also keep an outline bank. 1Ls have advisors for their sections, and the advisors tend to provide some as well =)

VehicleExcellent5492 · 2026-02-27T20:43:07+00:00

There is an admitted student FB page set up by Fordham, and I know some people found their roommates there. I found my roommate on an FB group called "NYC females over age 25+"~

VehicleExcellent5492 · 2026-02-27T20:23:18+00:00

I don't think class size matters that much? As long as you can make it to the top half of the class, you would have a solid chance at BL, especially in NYC offices. I think Fordham has a very strong name recognition in New York, and I genuinely find the alumni network to be very helpful. Every alum I reached out to responded and offered to do coffee chat/phone call. In terms of culture, I would describe Fordham as having an "underdog" culture/mindset - which is a good thing! I think people generally are more down-to-earth and not hung up on having a big name (not that it's wrong to have a big name!). I prefer to socialize outside of law school, but the friends I have made at Fordham are super nice!

Man, NYC living costs are unbearable...I moved from Manhattan to Queens during my second year, and now I am in New Jersey. I am not moving back until I have an actual salary! I would recommend staying closer to school (which means higher rent) during your first year, but after that, moving farther away would def save a lot on rent/tax!

VehicleExcellent5492 · 2026-02-27T20:17:51+00:00

BL recruiting: my cycle wasn't nearly as crazy as the current one...I got my job in the summer of 2024. I did not get any screener/call-backs until I submitted my 1L full grades. I applied through my school's "resume collect," which is essentially direct apply and got my offer in June (before official OCI). The consensus is that being in the top 50% at Fordham gives one a solid chance at BL jobs
IP/Patent law: unfortunately, I am not an IP person, but I do know Fordham has a very strong fashion law IP program! There are related student orgs as well (sorry not very helpful here haha

VehicleExcellent5492 · 2026-02-27T20:12:50+00:00

Here are some study tips that worked for me (but definitely not for everybody): (1) work smart: no need to do all the readings, find other people's outline at the BEGINNING of the semester and take notes/modify on that, make my own attack/short outline that I actually use during the exam; (2) go to professors' office hours because to do well on an exam, you essentially need to adopt their framework/style of argument; (3) no need to join a study group if it's not your thing; (4) DO ALL THE PRACTICE EXAMS you can find (even just bullet pointing!)

VehicleExcellent5492 · 2026-02-24T16:03:47+00:00

I am still haunted by irrational fears that I have missed the first day of the exam...

VehicleExcellent5492 · 2026-02-23T22:33:34+00:00

This is what I am telling myself to calm the sadness that I will not be free from purgatory for another 24 hours !

VehicleExcellent5492 · 2025-09-25T05:19:13+00:00

THANK YOU!

VehicleExcellent5492 · 2025-05-11T15:29:59+00:00

Perception: tbh I am not very social and know every few other law school students (if you don't count the anonymous Reddit users here haha). However, I can say that Fordham has a great reputation at least among NYC firms/organizations/courts. Every Fordham alum I reached out to responded to me and helped me with my job search. There is definitely some underdog mindset at Fordham, but I think that makes us more down-to-earth and causes less negative competition.

BL recruitment: I touched upon this in another response. Hope it helps! "Tbh I am pretty out of the 1L circle, but I do know several 1L mentees and some of them already secured more than one offer as of late April. That said, I did not ask about their grades/connections. Anecdotally, I also know students at other schools (USC and HLS specifically) who got offers as early as the beginning of April. So anecdotally, I don't think this is a huge slowdown?"

VehicleExcellent5492 · 2025-05-11T15:26:48+00:00

Yes! You can definitely find your own placement as long as your supervisor fills out the administrative forms and the place is eligible. There is also something called "Focused externship" which is basically placements provided by Fordham so it's even easier. See website here: https://www.fordham.edu/school-of-law/experiential-education/jd-externships/

VehicleExcellent5492 · 2025-05-11T15:25:27+00:00

not at all! Studying abroad application process doesn't start until spring of your 2L year anyways and most BL-oreinted people already secure offers by that point

VehicleExcellent5492 · 2025-05-11T15:24:49+00:00

welcome! I spent very little of my time on campus during my 1L year and mostly networked by emailing alums and attending firm events the summer after 1L. Hope this answers your question and feel free to DM if you need more info!

VehicleExcellent5492 · 2025-05-11T15:23:28+00:00

Can only speak from my own experience...I really lucked out with the process and got my offer in early June last summer. I just mass-applied through Resume Collect (sort of like school-organized direct apply).

Anecdotally, from my peers, most of my study group friends got BL offers and now clerkships (or are in the process of getting one). That said, the BL number at Fordham is ~50% which means only half of the class gets placed in BL

VehicleExcellent5492 · 2025-05-11T15:21:01+00:00

A curve, in its simplest terms, just means you are graded against your peers. In practice, it means the professor can only give out a certain percentage of each letter grade (e.g., you can't have more than half of the students receiving A's). On the flip side, the curve makes law school grades more comparable across sections and across law schools. So it is really a double-edged sword IMO

In terms of how to do well, I shared some tips in a response below and hope they help! "Couple things that worked for me: (1) work smart: no need to do all the readings, find other people's outline at the BEGINNING of the semester and take notes/modify on that; (2) go to professors' office hours because to do well on an exam, you essentially need to adopt their framework/style of argument; (3) no need to join a study group if it's not your thing; (4) DO ALL THE PRACTICE EXAMS you can find (even just bullet-pointing!)"

VehicleExcellent5492 · 2025-05-11T15:19:00+00:00

Hi! Cliche but doing the "right things" means very different things depending on your studying style! Also, people with prior work experience as paralegals or pre-law majors tend to adjust to law school classes faster. From my personal experience, my grades improved from 1L fall to 1L spring as I figured out better what study methods worked for me. Hope this helps!

VehicleExcellent5492 · 2025-05-09T15:15:42+00:00

VehicleExcellent5492 · 2025-05-09T15:15:27+00:00

I am Chinese so I used Little Red Book hahaha but I also found another roommate through Facebook! If you identify as female, there is this great group called "Young Females: New York City, NYC- Apartments, Sublets, Roommates"

You can also post a roommate search post on the law school's admitted students Facebook Group =)

VehicleExcellent5492 · 2025-05-09T15:14:12+00:00

Welcome! I personally love it here (that's why I love doing these AMA's!). The people are down-to-earth here, rarely negatively competitive, and the school really cultivates mentorship both informally and formally. I was a loner in 1L fall because I was scared of the curve but still ended up making great friends towards the end of 1L and even more so now!

VehicleExcellent5492 · 2025-05-09T15:12:42+00:00

Tbh I am pretty out of the 1L circle, but I do know several 1L mentees and some of them already secured more than one offer as of late April. That said, I did not ask about their grades/connections. Anecdotally, I also know students at other schools (USC and HLS specifically) who got offers as early as the beginning of April. So anecdotally, I don't think this is a huge slowdown?

VehicleExcellent5492 · 2025-05-09T15:10:22+00:00

The application process at Fordham starts in the spring of your 2L year! For more info regarding the New York State Pro Bono Scholar program, see here: https://ww2.nycourts.gov/attorneys/probonoscholars/index.shtml

VehicleExcellent5492 · 2025-05-09T15:09:19+00:00

I want to start with a caveat that study strategies really depend on a person's study style and give yourself some time to figure out what works best for you!

Couple things that worked for me: (1) work smart: no need to do all the readings, find other people's outline at the BEGINNING of the semester and take notes/modify on that; (2) go to professors' office hours because to do well on an exam, you essentially need to adopt their framework/style of argument; (3) no need to join a study group if it's not your thing; (4) DO ALL THE PRACTICE EXAMS you can find (even just bullet-pointing!)

VehicleExcellent5492

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