<p>I never did Speech and Debate in high school, and I'm in artsy fartsy clubs in college. I only did Mock Trial for 2 years or so in high school. Does this mean I'm at a disadvantage for law school, or does it really matter? I don't get nervous speaking in front of the class, but I don't know if I could come up with a rebuttal on the spot like debaters. I could probably insult them personally in a semi-witty way quickly though, but I doubt that'd help.</p>
<p>Depends what you want to practice. Although debate builds skills which are good for many different types of law (and school in general).</p>
<p>I did one semester of Mock Trial in High School... Many people applying didn't take anything like that. I really don't think it's a big deal.</p>
<p>I'm pretty sure that there are a lot of law students and lawyers out there who were not on the debate team and never took a class in debate. I would feel comfortable saying that most did not.</p>
<p>FWIW, I did NFLs debate in High School. Did extremely well and its helped on applications. In law school, its helps insofar as you're already prepared to digest lots of dense material and sift through it in a relatively short period of time. The issues we look for in law school are different however that what a typical debater would look for. So it helps at the margins and its not such a great advantage that you could not develop the same skills through other activities.</p>
<p>If high school and college debate teams are any indication of anything its that debaters lack any real understanding of logic. There arguments are ridiculous and overwrought and winning is often more based on how fast you can spew nonsensical arguments or spew second-rate philosophy.</p>
<p>Practicing public speaking will likely help with litigation-type lawyers, but I doubt it helps to practice the type of pseudo-logic that dominates most forensics competitions.</p>
<p>Why did you feel the need to mention that you are in artistic clubs in college?</p>
<p>Because it means they are worthless for law....as in not-law-related clubs. I could have said "and I'm not doing law-related clubs." Actually, how about I describe my thought processes for you too... Let's see, why would Freud say I mentioned it? Wait, let me open my psychology book and check. </p>
<p>Anyway, I quit this site. I get asked weird questions and people question my motives for everything when it's pointless. Why do you care why I wrote it? </p>
<p>Goodbye.</p>
<p>Shiboing....I just wanted to tell you that you are a very smart guy, and despite your desire to anger people on this site, I like you, partly because of it haha. Best of luck at LS.</p>
<p>NeedAdvice: I didn't mean to insult you. I was just curious whether you thought those clubs would help you in any way.</p>