blah blahhgity blaaaah

Things are just peachy down here in I-give-so -little-of-a-fuck-about-law-school-now-it's-kind-of-becoming-
alarming Land. I really haven't been doing much work, but I figure as long as I keep up with the reading I'll be good to go.

Anywho, at the risk of being one of those ass-lazy bloggers who just posts YouTube videos all the time, I have here... well, another YouTube video. I promise it's worth a watch.

Welcome!

Welcome to the new blog for The Fred Parks Law Library at the South Texas College of Law.

God and Man in Malibu


Pepperdine has organized a fascinating conference for February 21-22 on the question of "Is there a higher law? Does it matter?" Speakers include (but aren't limited to) Mark Tushnet, Kenneth Elzinga, Steven D. Smith, and Doug Kmiec. For more info, go to Pepperdine's website.

Hot damn, "The Dark Knight" looks good

At least Heath Ledger's final performance appears to be his best...

Watch out for Questionable LSAT Vendors

I've seen a few articles recently about people who prey on vulnerable LSAT takers. Here's one example with some good advice about how to tell if you're going with a reputable company.

Simon's latest victim: aspiring American Idol Alberto Hurtado

This is a rare gem... Please, please watch it. I promise it's worth it.

"You are the equivalent of a storm cloud on a sunny day..."

New Law Schools to Consider

A current client sent me an e-mail this morning inquiring about some up-and-coming law schools and I think it's worth sharing with my readers:

As I'm reading up on different law schools, there are some law schools that are expected to get ABA accreditation as soon as they become eligible and they are affiliated with some respectable undergraduate institutions, which I suppose makes it a safe bet that it'll receive accreditation. The two I'm thinking of are UC Irvine (http://www.law.uci.edu/) expected to open in Fall 2009 and Drexel who are already taking applications (http://www.drexel.edu/law/). What is your advice for students thinking about applying to these law schools?

This is a great question. I've already posted about UC Irvine's law school and I expect many of my clients next year to apply here for the chance to attend a public law school in California. My guess is they'll be wanting people right around the 160s right off the bat, especially with the prestige of their Dean. Orange County needs a really good law school - LA is not a convenient commute. I think it'll hurt Chapman the most - people who have to be in Orange County and have exceptional credentials will probably choose Irvine (public tuition and the automatic prestige of a UC school).

Many of my clients are applying to Drexel this year - I agree that its prospects are excellent since it's attached to a solid undergraduate school and in a city where it's very hard to get into law school without a 160 LSAT score (Temple, Villanova, and Penn are its only neighbors).

Here is information about the University of Phoenix (Arizona's first private law school) It's sister school is Florida Coastal Law School. These are for-profit law schools and will probably always be Tier 4, whereas Drexel and Irvine are stars I expect to rise quite quickly.

No good deed goes unpunished

I'm not an idiot (well, not completely at least), and I realize that non-profit, not-for profit, etc. organizations, causes and charities rely on repeat donors in order to sustain themselves. It makes sense and I don't knock them for it.

However... there is a constructive way and a counterproductive way of doing this. For instance:

I give blood or platelets 3-4 times a year and have done so for the past 8 or so years. This is because I am the ideal image of philanthropy and a stalwart for humanitarianism. So when the Red Cross started calling me four times a week I tolerated it for a few months. But even Ghandi had his limits. I finally had to call and explain to them that as much as I support the cause, I don't particularly enjoy having my veins prodded and jabbed at and (eventually) opened by your undertrained and oft-incompetent blood collectors, and I think once every three months is generous enough and that moreover, I am nearly certain that Dracula himself would be less pushy about such collections. I felt somewhat bad about laying down my fist on blood solicitation but the Red Cross's guerrilla campaign left me with little recourse.

Another thing that really chaps my ass is when you open your checkbook to an organization (such as the Human Rights Campaign), and as a token of their appreciation they sell your info to other folks. I cannot even begin to scrape the surface of how unbelievably slimy this is. The most evil aspect of this scenario is that groups to whom you have "voluntary" disclosed your info are exempt from the no-call and no-mail lists.

How to Choose a Law School

I just came across a very good posting by LawSchoolTruth about job prospects and law school rankings. I don't know who writes it, but my favorite part was this: "Remember: If you really, really want to be a lawyer, none of this matters. Go to whatever school you want/can!"

The Benefits of Attending Law School Part Time

My post on Wednesday was geared toward those who really want to be full time law students but were considering applying part time due to perceived lower numerical standards.
Today's post is geared toward those that really will be working and/or taking care of families in addition to attending law school and for whom part time programs are their best option for applying to law school.
When I began law school in 1996, I was a part-time evening student. I was busy pursuing a full time career in advertising and while I wanted to go to law school, I wasn't ready to give up my full time job. Here are some things I loved about being an evening student:
1. Nice people. My classmates were mostly older, had jobs and families, and had things in perspective. They were willing to work together and enjoy each other a little more than I think most of the younger, full-time day students were.
2. Faculty treated us more like adults and were (generally) more respectful toward the night students.
3. A little bit smaller of a section.

Here were some of the not so great things:
1. To take advantage of clubs and organizations (I was the Evening program Student Bar Association Representative, among my other involvements), you pretty much need to be available during the day.
2. Faculty and student services related offices are not usually available at night.
3. You're on a different curve than the day students, and they perceive the program as being "easier" since you can get on law review with a 3.5 and they need a 3.7 (for example..... this is not always the case, but is one of the sticky wickets about being a night student).
4. You need to take summer school to graduate in 3 years (at most schools).

I'm happy to answer any questions, but remember that each school's program is different and for individual policies and circumstances you need to talk to admissions officers at the school you're considering attending.

Law school apps hold steady - News

Thanks so much to Cecily Wu from the University of Pennsylvania for quoting me in today's published story about law school admission trends:

Law school apps hold steady - News

4 Things To Consider Before Applying Part Time to Law School

You may have noticed that at schools with part-time programs, the 25th-75th percentile LSAT numbers are a bit lower than that for the same school's full time program. In some instances, applying part-time may increase your chances of being admitted if your numbers are more in line with those of the part-time admitted students.

Here are some things to think about in using this strategy for law school admission:

1. Is it a fully operating part time program? If it's not a full section of students in the part time program (around 100-130) then then part-time option is probably intended for people who have significant work and/or family obligations. They may even attend part time during the day or in a similarly customized program for their situation. You may want to call the law school and find out more about the formality of the program.

2. How easy is it to transfer from part time to full time after the first year and still graduate in 3 years? If it's pretty much just a formality to transfer to full time after taking 2 classes over the summer (whether on campus or as part of a study abroad program), then this might be an attractive option.

3. Are you planning on trying to transfer to another law school as a 2L? If so, you may be restricted to transferring only to schools that offer part time programs (and you'd probably remain a part time student throughout law school).

4. Consider your social and professional networking goals. Do you want to be surrounded by other people who may be older, married, with families, and with professional careers under their belts? Or, do you want to be meeting other single folk and having a good time after a long day of classes? Socially, there can be a big difference between the demographics in part time and full time programs and 1L year tends to be when people create lasting friendships.

Paging Dr. Phil to the Moron of the Week podium

As much as it pains me to give even more attention to the awe-inspiring nuclear meltdown that is Britney Spears, it also gives me an opportunity to trash the ridiculously self-serving and obnoxious goober- ishness of Dr. Phil. Howard Stern had some choice words about the good doctor on Letterman the other night, not the least of which was his pointing out the fact that a Ph.D. from North Texas (with a dissertation on arthritis) hardly qualifies the man as an expert on everybody else's personal business.
In any event, Phil blamed the media for exaggerating the story and implied that it's this kind of trashy journalism that made the washed-up star into what she is. Fair enough, but should Dr. Phil really be calling out anyone else for "trashy journalism?"
And FYI, Doc--while I'm sure your trip to the psychotic ex-star's hospital room was made out of sheer compassion for your fellow human being--the girl was already in a real medical facility, surrounded by real medical doctors... I think they had things about as under control as it was gonna get. If anybody should be on the case, it's the magnificent Jeff Van Vonderen from Intervention (who ironically looks frighteningly like you).

But then again, what the hell do those guys know anyways? After all, you are the almighty, all-knowing guru wielding a Ph.D. from North Texas. Who are we to doubt your greatness?

5 Things You Can Do To Be Admitted From the Wait List

Did a law school put you on a waitlist? What does that mean and what can you do to boost your chances of being admitted to that law school?

First, why were you waitlisted? Simple Answer: U.S. News & World Report Rankings.

Schools are very concerned with their rankings and an easy way for them to control things from an admission standpoint are (a) watching the LSAT/GPA for admitted students; and (b) keeping acceptance rates low. What this means is that if you are at or below their median LSAT/GPA, they may waitlist you and make you fight your way in to make sure (before having to count you as an "admit") that you are actually fairly likely to attend their school.

So, how do you demonstrate that your attendance is likely? Here are some ways:

1. Visit the law school. Schedule a visit through the admissions office and ask to sit in on a class and go on a tour. You may even have the opportunity to meet with someone in the admissions office. This shows your interest and likelihood to attend a school in the geographic region.

2. Follow up with a thank-you letter reiterating your interest in the school based on what you learned during your visit. Be specific!

3. If you can't visit, write a letter with an update about what you've done since submitting your application.

4. Write a letter stating the reasons for your specific interest in that law school and highlight things from your background that tie into those interests.

5. Send an additional Letter of Recommendation if they will allow it.

Good luck! And thanks so much to everyone who voted on topics - I will try to address the other requests in the next week or so.

You Pick The Topic!!!!

Hi Everyone! One of my clients pointed out I haven't posted anything this week, so I'm taking this opportunity to ask my readers for topics you'd like me to address. Leave a comment to let me know which of these would interest you most and I'll get to work on them this weekend. (If you have other ideas I haven't included, feel free to suggest them.)

1. Is the February LSAT Too Late For Fall 2008?

2. How to Stay Upbeat When All I've Gotten So Far Are Rejections.

3. Considerations in pursuing a joint JD Degree.

4. Attending Law School Part Time.

5. What Can I Do To Boost My Waitlist Chances?

Leave me a comment to let me know what topics you'd like me to address this weekend and I'll be happy to do so.... Have a great weekend.

My Fellow Americans,

This is called a "roundabout:"


It is a very simple traffic tool that promotes efficient travel by auto-mo-bile. It has had great success in virtually every other country in the Western world, so I assure you they do in fact work when used properly. However, since some of you more brain-dead amoebas cannot seem to master the intricacies of this simple engineering device (e.g. the circle), I have laid out a few brief guidelines that will surely aid you the next time you approach one.

1) "Yield" is not the same as "Stop." You should have failed your driver's test for not knowing the difference. If no cars are coming, DON'T STOP AND WAIT FOR ONE TO ARRIVE. Instead, just proceed into the roundabout.

2) Once inside the roundabout, DON'T EVER STOP. The beauty of this concept is that those inside the circle keep moving, thus allowing them to swiftly reach their exit while also allowing those approaching it to enter safely and quickly. They will yield to you (for more details on this, please refer to point no. 1). If you stop, you are an idiot and you will cause a wreck in which you may suffer head trauma and, against all odds, actually become more of an idiot.

3) Never use a roundabout as a means for turning completely around and heading back from whence you came. Once an entering motorist sees you pass two exits, he will assume (and quite reasonably so) that you are exiting at the third, and he will pull into the roundabout. If you collide, he may be liable for failing to yield, but you're still the idiot and everybody will know so, including God.

A Glimmer of Hope for you Disgruntled 1Ls

Most of my grades are now in, and things are looking quite a bit brighter than they did at this time last year, to say the least. The main differences:

I learned how to study.
I learned how to write exams.
I'm no longer being graded against my 1L section (which, unlike the rest of the sections, was half composed of law review members).
Two of my classes had 3Ls as well, who apparently no longer care about exams.

I would like to point out to some of you 1Ls who may be disappointed with your grades that the first ever law school grade I received was a (and thankfully my only) C, at which point I began contemplating downing a large antifreeze martini. However, the grades got better as more came in, and second semester I raised my overall GPA two full points (on a scale of 99, not 4.0) to a respectable level. This semester I raised it even more and my class ranking is absurdly higher from the frustrating level at which I started out.

The point is that all the people who tell you your first semester grades "lock you in" to your class ranking for the remainder of law school are WRONG. That's ludicrous--it's ONE semester out of six--you do the math. I raised my ranking nearly 40% (and no more Cs). Law school exams are a learning experience, and it takes a round or two for some folks to get in their groove. Keep your head up!!

An update on the upcoming RALS conference!

Boston College, host of this year's meeting of Religiously Affiliated Law Schools, now has some info up on their web site here. The conference is slated for April 6-8, which is often a beautiful early-spring week in New England.

The LSAT Shouldn't Be Everything

Just found this and thought I'd put it out there to offer hope to those who believe the LSAT is overly relied upon in the law school admissions process.

Rushing to Re-Take the LSAT in February?

Today I received an e-mail with a relevant question about re-taking the February LSAT. When I tried to respond to the question, the person's e-mail server kicked it back to me. Therefore, I'm taking this opportunity to respond to the question here, hoping that (1) the reader will return and have her question answered, and (2) the response will benefit many of you.

Hi Ann,
I am so pleased I found a blog that included your link. Here is my question:
I am a 46 year old student. I have registered for the Kaplan study course, which is held during the month of January; and, have registered for the February LSAT . I do not believe this is enough of time to prepare, although, I do not know how much I can learn in the Kaplan class. Perhaps I can master this LSAT and achieve an acceptable score. I seem rather rushed. Or, should I take the LSAT, gamble that I will most likely perform weakly; but, just take it to get the feel of it. Contrarily, do you suppose it would be most positive if I take the course, study on my own for a few months, and take the next LSAT when I am feeling more secure about my performance (June).
What would you advise?
-A

My response:

If you are applying for Fall 2009, then postpone and take the June LSAT. You have plenty of time. The only reason to rush is if you absolutely must go to law school in Fall 2008. But it's very late in this application cycle, and I'd rather you apply early for next year than late for this year. Do not take the LSAT to "get a feel for it". That only means you'll have something to explain as a weakness in your application when you apply.
Happy new year, and please let me know how I can be of service to you.