LSAT prep coarses

[MRM]

I strongly recommend the public sector. I started out as a young prosecutor, spent almost three years in that office and joined a big firm, got tired of that, joined an in-house insurance irm, got tired of that and "borrowed" a client and started my own firm. Starting or finishing a career by being a public defender or prosecutor is a great idea.

I strongly encourage the young lady in question to go to law school if she wants to be a lawyer. (BTW, the right answer to the question suggested to be posed to her as a qualifying test is "because I really want to be a lawyer".) Many people have wonderful, rewarding careers as lawyers. Starting out as a public defender or prosecutor gives excellent experience that is readily transferable to private practice and it is well accepted that young public service lawyers will transfer to private firms sometime betwen their second and fifth year out of school. That time will give her the experience necessary for her to decide where to go next and consider the type of law she wants to practice. And it just might be that she'll want to stay in the public sector.

Big firm work, even at 2000 hours a year isn't so bad as long as you maintain a perspective and don't psych tourself out. But if you're the type of person that obsesses over the competetive disadvantage that comes from missing one question on the LSAT and losing out on 1 LSAT point, then you're going to be too tightly wound to last at a big firm because you'll burn yourself out. But then you'd probably burn yourself out anywhere.

[the]

Although a law school, particularly if it is a legitimate "highly ranked" one (i.e., Top 10-15), is fertile grounds for a young woman to find a hard working husband. One that will work long and hard to support a stay-at-home wife/mom, which is what most women eventually want to be.

That is particularly true if the gal is decent looking (they'd be a rarity at a highly ranked law school, and in very high demand). Being an associate at a top tier National law firm is similar, for the same reasons.

[DARISC]

Originally Posted by MRM

BTW, the right answer to the question suggested to be posed to her as a qualifying test is "because I really want to be a lawyer.

I don't know, MRM - just "because" never seems to me a very convincing or creative arguement. Kinda like telling a jury "You must acquit! And why must you acquit? Because you must acquit!

But, again, WTF do I know? I'm an artist not a lawer .

[DARISC]

Originally Posted by the

Although a law school, particularly if it is a legitimate "highly ranked" one (i.e., Top 10-15), is fertile grounds for a young woman to find a hard working husband. One that will work long and hard to support a stay-at-home wife/mom, which is what most women eventually want to be.

That is particularly true if the gal is decent looking (they'd be a rarity at a highly ranked law school, and in very high demand). Being an associate at a top tier National law firm is similar, for the same reasons.

Whoa, the! What the...? The young lady might be wanna smack yo up side yo haid fo DAT sexist remark!

[126coupe]

Originally Posted by DARISC

I don't know, MRM - just "because" never seems to me a very convincing or creative arguement. Kinda like telling a jury "You must acquit! And why must you acquit? Because you must acquit!

But, again, WTF do I know? I'm an artist not a lawer .

OMG Lawyers arguing what a novelty , Thats why lawyers have two hands, butt on one hand???????...............

[126coupe]

I told natasha that she she has many options, she said, Dad"I want to be a lawyer, I can handle it dont worry. Her Law proffessor whom she met for breakfast this morning, said Natasha you are very smart apply to 20+ law schools I just signed a 14 month lease in SF,Pacific heights . She is going to law school. I tried to talk her out of it but no way
I promise not to push

[the]

20 is too many to apply to, going to a mediocre law school is a waste of time. Way too many doors instantly closed immediately upon graduation, and the stigma of the mediocre school stays with her forever (except for in low level legal positions).

Because of grade inflation and lack of consistency in grading standards between the millions of colleges, the LSAT is the most important admission factor considered.

If she doesn't do at least 85-90th percentile on the LSAT, she should seriously consider doing something different. If she does 90+ percentile, she should be fine.

[MRM]

I went to a law school that aspires to be mediocre. I paid enough taxes last year to pay for a brand new GT3. Probably enought to pay for a new GT2. I'll have to check. Lots of doors remain closed for me because I didn't go to the top 20 school in town. I don't care.

The reason that the answer to the riddle is "because that's what I want" is because that is the single best qualifier to being happy as a lawyer. If she wants to be a lawyer she'll like it, if she likes it she'll be good at it. If she's good at it she'll be able to make her own doors wherever she wants.

[126coupe]

Originally Posted by the

20 is too many to apply to, going to a mediocre law school is a waste of time. Way too many doors instantly closed immediately upon graduation, and the stigma of the mediocre school stays with her forever (except for in low level legal positions).

Because of grade inflation and lack of consistency in grading standards between the millions of colleges, the LSAT is the most important admission factor considered.

If she doesn't do at least 85-90th percentile on the LSAT, she should seriously consider doing something different. If she does 90+ percentile, she should be fine.

She is applying to 3, USF Law School, Hastings Law School and Golden Gate Law School.
Hastings is 1st tier 38th in the nation, USF is 2nd Tier, highly rated, Golden gate is 3rd tier. We will check out all 3 campuses in a couple weeks.

[the]

Originally Posted by MRM

I went to a law school that aspires to be mediocre. I paid enough taxes last year to pay for a brand new GT3. Probably enought to pay for a new GT2. I'll have to check. Lots of doors remain closed for me because I didn't go to the top 20 school in town. I don't care.

The reason that the answer to the riddle is "because that's what I want" is because that is the single best qualifier to being happy as a lawyer. If she wants to be a lawyer she'll like it, if she likes it she'll be good at it. If she's good at it she'll be able to make her own doors wherever she wants.

And Bill Gates is a college dropout, so maybe she should drop out now and become a billionaire.

It's all an odds and numbers game.

"Because that's what I want to do," that's what pretty much every unhappy/mediocre/bad lawyer said . . . when they applied to law school 10 years ago.

"If she's good at it she'll be able to make her own doors wherever she wants" sounds nice, but unfortunately isn't true. For example, if she goes to "Golden Gate law school" there are many, many firms (any top or mid tier firm, and probably any really reputable firm) which will instantly throw her resume in the trashcan.

[126coupe]

Wow "the" glad you are not my dad! What a downer! Natasha does not have to worry about money ever. she wants to make it on her own.

[the]

The real world can be a downer some times. If she not in the real world and "never has to worry about money" and it's just for fun, then it doesn't really matter, I guess.

[ramonesfreak]

making getting in to the absolute top schools should not be a priority. getting into a good school is just fine. so what i didnt go to harvard and didnt graduate at the top and get into some white shoe firm after school.

if any of these top-paying law firms after school had offered me $200K to start - knowing what i know now about the stress and lack of a life and happiness....i would have ran the other way. no thanks. blahhh. its not for everybody. i would rather make less than 100K and work 8am - 5pm, 5 days per week than make $200K working 15 hours per day and have ridiculous billing requirements and die of a heart attack.

i went to an average school and had average grades. i had no problem getting work. none of the people i graduated with had any trouble either. yea we are not rich but ive got plenty of free time to enjoy life outside of work.

if the goal is to get a top paying job like Tom Cruise in that silly movie, then yes....your gonna need to go to an ivy league school. thats a hell of a lousy life...in my opinion. though others thrive in that environment. i would rather spend my time on the porch sipping a cocktail after 5pm

[ramonesfreak]

Natasha should remember, a contract law class is the same whether its tought at Harvard or the University of Peuget Sound. I dont give a damn who teaches the stupid course. The cases you read are the same and the California bar exam is the California bar exam. You either know the law or you dont which has everything to do with how hard a person works to memorize it

That being said, the best thing about being a lawyer is, you can work for yourself if you want to. Being a good lawyer begins at birth and has much to do with the way a person is raised and who they develop into - intellectually and ethically. Law school does not teach you how to be a good lawyer. It teaches you how to take an issue and resolve it using the law. period.

Once you get out and are representing real human beings who are at your mercy, how much work and effort and sweat you put into representing them at 100% capacity will not be dictated by law school, but rather - who you are as a person overall. There are plenty of lousy scum bag attorney's making terrible money that graduated from ivy league schools

[126coupe]

Thanks guys for all the great opinion, fact and insight.
Here is a pic of Mom and Natasha