<p>Hello, I thought that law school could be a possible career path for me. A lot of students in my major apply to law or grad school. I took a survey course that dealt with race and ethnicity and Supreme Court decisions, and I did very well in it. I thought, why not try a law course on education? I plan to do teaching, scholar research and marketing for non-profits after college. I don't think a JD is required, but I know people who have said positive things about the JD in careers. I know that I do NOT plan to work in coporate law.</p>
<p>Biggest mistake in my life: while I am learning a lot in this course, my grades have suffered tremendously. I refuse to speak in class because the professor (former attorney) uses the Socratic method and throws hundreds of questions at you. The professor has noticed this, and she rarely calls on me now. We did a simulation of the U.S. Supreme Court on the current Dover intelligent design case, and I was chosen as Justice Thomas (who rarely speaks on the Court). So I just sat there not muttering a word as my peers threw questions at their other peers who acted as lawyers for each side.</p>
<p>I had an optimistic view about law school. I understand the material, and even ruled exactly with my other classmates on a possible ruling for the intelligent design case. But the whole Socratic method just blew me away (we did not use this in my race and ethnicity law course at all!). Now, I don't even want to apply to LS at all! I heard that the first year in law school can be brutal, and this class just took my love for law away. </p>
<p>Moral of the story: I don't think law school is right for me.</p>
<p>That class serves as a preview for one who considers enrolling into a law school. The Socratic method was developed to make students think outside the box rather than being narrow-minded. I think that you should not be deterred to choose law as a potential career. Law is hard I'm sure but it's hard for the better. As for your particular career path, I don't think you necessarily need a JD--a master's or MBA seems most suitable.</p>
<p>Food for thought: I too quaked in my boots the first time I was called upon as a 1L. I was sure that I would make a fool of myself and never have the nerve to come back to class. Guess what, I lived. I did not "like" the experience, but I survived it. May some good points, floundered a bit, etc.</p>
<p>Now, $%^& years later, I still face that first experience every time I step into court as an appellate attorney. Fast paced questions, some friendly, some hostile. The difference now is that I know that as long as I perpare to the best of my ability and answer the questions in a forthright mannr, I will survive the experience.</p>
<p>In short, fear of the Socratic method is an overcomeable fear.</p>
<p>My classmates were asking student lawyers questions without giving the lawyers a chance to finish what they wanted to say! I'm sorry, but I tend to avoid cutthroat atmospheres. Sound like dog eat dog...</p>
<p>well, competition -- even unfair competition -- is a fact of life. But, I am here to tell you that in my experience when a judge asks me a question, they do indeed want to hear the answer.</p>
<p>Sorry some nasty students put you off so much.</p>
<p>Hey afafizzle, right now I'm not sure what I want to do. I just know that my majors prepare me for graduate/professional degrees. Many students in my major go on to law school or graduate school (MSW, MSED, MPP/MPA, etc.). I just know that I like learning, don't mind teaching, and don't mind operating non-profits. I like urban issues, education policy and studying legal rulings.</p>
<p>The idea of the BA or BS is preparation for further studies or a job in general. It sounds like you have it a bit more together than a lot of people in college, who don't even know what they like to do at all.</p>
<p>A JD isn't pertinent to the type of work you say you want to do after college, although it may come in handy later. So I would not recommend that you look to law school, at least not right away.</p>
<p>I'm looking at social sciences or professional degree masters. I've had some profs who asked me if I wanted to pursue a PhD (there are a lack of minorities as college profs) but the whole process sounds intimidating, especially the monetary loss.</p>
<p>Said it in another forum... but I really don't think that you should take this one class as an example of law school. Law school is stressful and unnerving; however, it's a different atmosphere.</p>
<p>I almost threw up when I was first called on with the Socratic method. After that, it got a bit better. Mostly, I had to force myself to talk in class and get used to the questions. Doesn't mean that I don't love law school and love the education.</p>
<p>You can find schools that are cutthroat and schools that are friendly. Let your peers in this class be themselves - but realize that law school is a far, far cry from that. Law students are about five years older than the students you are with. Big difference. Also, no one really shows off.</p>
<p>I agree. Law students tend to be intelligent and well-spoken; however, not all are egotistical and inflexible. I believe that many are mature and disciplined to those around them. I am sure that there are many modest law students who consider everyone's insight and outlooks on certain topics with sheer respect.</p>
<p>But afafizzle, my classmates also ask very insightful and intelligent questions about the court cases as well. My self-confidence sunk so much, I just bothered not to speak at all. However, I never feel this way in my humanities and social sciences class.</p>
<p>maybe the reason you don't feel as intimidated in your social science and humanities classes is because you are more familiar with the material, where as law is more new to you. So your classmates ask insightful questions? That can be a good thing. You can become more familiar with how to interrogate the law at a high level and the more exposure and practice you get, the more you'll improve. Sure, you may not be ready to argue Supreme Court cases tomorrow, but that's why you have to go to law school, to improve your skills. Don't think that your abilities are fixed.</p>
<p>Now, maybe you aren't too interested in law and therefore don't want to improve your legal abilities. Well, that's another question. But if you are genuinely interested in law, just remember that you'll improve over time, just as I'm sure you did in your social science and humanities classes.</p>
<p>Nevertheless, you have chosen a path essentially irrelevant to law. Perhaps you should focus on attaining a master's degree in public relations.</p>
<p>I still think that your professor is a lot of the problem. I can say that the person I am now is very different from the person I was in college - and there are a lot of things that would intimidate me in college that just don't intimidate me now. Law school doesn't have to happen at age 22. A few years later - different story. </p>
<p>Don't worry about the insightful questions that your classmates ask. For all you know, their parents are all attorneys who talk to them about this stuff on the phone. For all you know, they are just as scared and intimidated as you are, but just hide it better. Trust me on this one - I've been that scared person who intimidates others. </p>
<p>Again, pick up a copy (Gilbert's, Emanuels, or Glannon's Es & Es) of some study aid. That will help you to follow the "thread" of the cases in the class. </p>
<p>When you are reading cases, try to extract a rule from it. Generally, the big legal problems come from the fact that cases are all retrospective in nature and apply (in theory) only to the people before them; however, the holding is then used to apply to other cases or to the population in general. Consider what rules the judges are applying; consider how they might work really well for the parties in the case but apply very poorly in other situations. Always think about what would happen if you reverse the parties (esp. good in civil rights cases). Do you still like (or dislike) the results? Do you see the court being paternalistic? Is there some sort of discrimination going on here? Are there other societal issues going on at the time the case was decided that influenced the decision? Is the court trying to advance a certain policy? Do you like this policy in its application? (Note that a lot of these questions will apply to the statutes you'll read.)</p>
<p>When all else fails, take an hour and a half to watch Legally Blonde. :)</p>
<p>Hahahaha. Well, I know I don't want to make law. I just like to learn about court cases because I like history and public policy. In these fields, you need to know at least something about the decisions made by circuit courts and the Supreme Court. Maybe law school is not me: I have contemplated history, but I know there is a glut in the field. A History PhD isn't highly marketable outside academia. But I also like contemporary issues. Of course, you won't find me on the forefront of the movement (more like the background watching and notetaking), but I'm just as concerned about civil rights as someone else suffering.</p>
<p>I just got back from taking my Educational Law final exam. I received my last paper, and I got a C on it. I got a C on the first paper. No matter how much I write on each page, or what I state on the issues, she draws X's over paragraphs and writes on the margins how irrelevant my paragraphs were and how I never addressed the legal issues. I realized that class participation was 30% and I barely participated in class. I always went to class, but never really formed my own opinions to the class. In other words, not only do I fear that I may get a C in the class. If she's really disappointed in me, she would also fail me. </p>
<p>I just want to cry right now. I have never failed a 300-level course in my life. This has been a rough semester with deadlines and a heavier workload, but 300-level courses has never been so hard for me. No matter what I do, it continues to bewilder me: what does she want and why does she grades harshly? I can kiss my grad school options good-bye because I will have three Cs (or a D) on my transcript. I have never failed a course.</p>
<p>I am DEFINITELY not going to apply to law school...at....all.</p>