<p>What do you guys know about these programs? </p>
<p>In particular, I'm considering GW's program. I've heard some negative things about it - namely that it's nothing but an accelerated bachelor's degree and exemption from taking the LSAT, but for a not-that-great law school anyway. The great part is, of course, DC and its opportunities, but how much is that worth anyway? Is there any point in applying to this program?</p>
<p>Also, what does it take to get in? High scores? Law-related activities? An outstanding/passionate essay?</p>
<p>Another unrelated question - is Constitutional law a separate field from, say, corporate law and trial law? That's what Moot Court tournaments are based on, right? Because I'm just wondering because I've done a high school Moot Court tournament and I love it.</p>
<p>constitutional law can be a really fascinating topic -- but it is far from typical for what the practice of law is really like. a constitutional issue may rarely occur in a typical practice.</p>
<p>there may be some gov't positions or public interest positions where you are more likely to be addressing constitutional issues, but this is simply not a very typical practice -- nor an easy type of position to get.</p>
<p>my guess is that in moot court you were doing the type of legal arguments that might take place at the supreme court or high level appellate court -- again not very typical. there are attorneys who specialize in appellate litigation -- but again, constitutional issues would come up only rarely.</p>
<p>so if you go to law school with the hope to end up practicing appellate constitutional law, you have to realize that the pool of potential jobs for that will be quite narrow -- and you are much more likely to end up doing something else which you may or may not find as interesting.</p>
<p>do some more looking into what the practice of law is like so you can decide if this is really something you want to pursue -- moot court may have piqued your interest, but you have a lot more research to do before deciding if this is the career for you.</p>
<p>Thanks, unbelievablem. I'd say that moot court has made me consider law overall as an option - moreso than conlaw in particular. Right now I'm thinking of environmental law, or perhaps environmental policy, but I hear that a law degree is good for that also. But wait, don't most colleges/law schools do moot court competitions? Aren't they all conlaw?</p>
<p>My main question is still the accelerated program at GW, though.</p>
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Right now I'm thinking of environmental law, or perhaps environmental policy, but I hear that a law degree is good for that also.
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<p>just be aware -- most private sector "environmental law" jobs are with firms that represent the companies who have to comply with the environmental laws -- ie, often the client is trying to get away with as much as they can and it is the lawyers job to help them. and public sector environmental jobs can be greatly influenced by the political twist and turns that occur with elections - not necessarily in the sense that you might loose your job with a change in election results, but that the mission being advanced can change. </p>
<p>i'm not saying you wouldn't be able to find a meaningful career in the field -- just that you should be aware of this. i knew a number of people in law school who wanted environmental law who were quite frustrated when it came time to look for a job in the field.</p>
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But wait, don't most colleges/law schools do moot court competitions? Aren't they all conlaw?
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<p>often yes -- still doesn't mean moot court is representative of the actual practice of law.</p>
<p>as for your main question -- sorry, I can't be of help with respect to GW.</p>
<p>Something to think about -- if you are just starting to consider a career in law, then why lock yourself into an accelerated BA/JD program right now? Why not use the four years of college as an opportunity to explore and learn -- you can always decide to go to law school.</p>
<p>Also, Georgetown does an Early Assurance program where students can apply in their junior year with a 3.8+ and no LSAT score. It is not an accelerated program, but it is a great way to be accepted into a great law school before the admissions season starts.</p>
<p>Well my sister goes to GW and I've fallen in love with the school through her experience, I guess. And also its location in DC. So I've been set on applying there anyway. Now it's a matter of which program to apply for, and this one caught my eye.</p>
<p>I don't think you're locked into the program at all. In fact, that's one of its criticisms - that all it is is a 3-year Bachelor's degree and then a normal JD, so the only perk is not taking the LSAT. But yes, you do make a good point, that I'm nowhere near 100% set on pursuing law school. But if I'm applying to GW anyway, why not try for this, right? I will still consider my options in April, whether I get in or not.</p>
<p>You also need to consider the GPA requirements for the program: if you need, say, a 3.8 or above to stay in the accelerated track, then why not just take the LSAT and get in a higher-ranked law school that will provide you with many more opportunities? And if you are intent on staying above, say, a 3.8, then choosing GWU over, say, Georgetown for undergrad would not be the best idea, given that the latter's law school placement is significantly better.</p>
<p>I am not arguing out of prejudice. I have seen the numbers, and Georgetown beats the pants out of GWU in every category. Heck, GWU didn't even place on the WSJ feeder list (at least I don't think they did).</p>
<p>nspeds - the way you say "why not just take the LSAT and get in a higher-ranked law school" makes it sound like getting an LSAT score higher than GW's norms is a simple undertaking. Yes, Georgetown is a higher rated law school than GW. But GW, as a top 25 school, is not exactly the dregs. </p>
<p>This is not to say that the OP should or shouldn't apply to the BA/JD program. But the idea that if you don't get into a top 14 school or be prepared for un- or under-employment is highly exaggerated.</p>
<p>I'm not sure why you seem to be advertising Georgetown when I've already made it clear that I'm applying to GW regardless of whether I apply to this program. Plus, I wasn't joking when I said I don't like Georgetown; I'm sure you love it there, nspeds, but I'm not considering it for undergrad. So let's not turn this into a debate over which program is better or something because I'm not taking that into consideration at all.</p>
<p>Perhaps my original question was too general. In particular: what do you know specifically about GW's accelerated BA/JD program, and what does it take to get in (what do they pay closest attention to - activities, recognition, recommendation, essay, etc)?</p>
<p>(For the record, I'm a male and GW's program requires that you maintain a 3.7 GPA.)</p>
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'm not sure why you seem to be advertising Georgetown
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<p>I am not advertizing GULC. I said:</p>
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then why not just take the LSAT and get in a higher-ranked law school that will provide you with many more opportunities?
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<p>With a 3.75, and a decent LSAT score, you have a decent shot at most of the schools in the top 14. I am just saying this. Period. I don't care that you don't like Georgetown. Many GW students and their friends don't either. I am just recommending that you keep your options open so that you keep more doors open, be it at GULC, or at the University of Chicago Law School.</p>
<p>It is, indeed, lonely at the top here in D.C., but I am not reinforcing that to prove my point.</p>
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The great part is, of course, DC and its opportunities, but how much is that worth anyway? Is there any point in applying to this program?
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<p>Consider who your competition will be. Since you are on the eastern seaboard, you will probably be competing with Duke, Harvard, Yale, NYU, Columbia, Virginia, Cornell, and GULC grads (among others). From what I have heard, they have first dibs at the jobs, at least above other schools outside the top 14. I am not sure of the difference will be severe, but I think that sticking in the top 14 will keep many more doors open.</p>
<p>The notion of "keeping more doors open" was stated in my previous posts, I just emphasized this point since it didn't seem like you were carefully reading them.</p>
<p>Actually the BA/JD program at Penn is accomplished through submatriculation. This comes from the Penn website:</p>
<p>"Students will apply to the Law School for admission to this program in the fall semester of their junior year. First, they must meet with Dr. Hocine Fetni in the College for a review of their record and academic achievements and their outstanding requirements for the BA. It is expected that prospective applicants to this program will have fulfilled the general requirements for the BA and most---if not all---of the degree requirements by their junior year. Following matriculation to the Law School, four College courses (400-level or above) must be taken and will be counted toward both the BA and the JD. These courses must be approved by a Law School advisor. The College committee in charge of this program will develop a non-exclusive list of sample courses for consideration with advisors. Courses should be chosen carefully in order to contribute to the joint study of liberal arts and sciences and the law.</p>
<p>For those students still needing to fulfill College requirements after matriculating to the Law School, up to four Law School courses could be counted toward the BA, either as free electives (as long as the student has taken a total of sixteen elective College courses) or as major-related courses (as approved by the major advisor)."</p>
<p>I don't see why you'd bother. If you could graduate in three years with a 3.8 anyway, there's no reason in the world to lock yourself into attending a non-T14.</p>
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I don't see why you'd bother. If you could graduate in three years with a 3.8 anyway, there's no reason in the world to lock yourself into attending a non-T14.