Visiting Law Schools: Northwestern University

Northwestern was awesome!

Where to begin? It was an adventure trying to find the law school (not because it's difficult to find, but because I've never been to Chicago). Northwestern law is in downtown Chicago; detached and away from Evanston, where the main campus is located. Well blended with the Northwestern University Hospital/medical school, the law school is situated in the outer perimeter of the downtown campus - more towards Lake Michigan (amazing view!)

My interview (Northwestern Law strives to interview every single applicant) was to start promptly at 9:45 a.m. The cold weather and breeze (mind you this was in December 2006) was actually quite refreshing.

As soon as I stepped into Northwestern's building my mouth opened (in awe). Students, who had their nose buried in their books, were gathered in an open common area, studying under high ceilings, from which drooped purple flags/banners with Northwestern Law's emblem. This place looked more like a business school than a law school (FYI, this is a good thing).

The admissions office was very easy to find. The lady at the front desk was super nice (notice how my impression of the school is greatly impacted by the admissions staff's attitude towards prospective students). My subsequent interview went well.

Afterwards, I began my routine interviewing students, raiding 1L classes, and knocking on professors' doors.

The first student I tapped told me that he was much too busy to answer any of my questions. But he was polite and nice about it. About two hours later, after class, he went out of his way to find me and entertain my questions. To my fortune, this fellow transfered from another law school. So he had great perspective and a basis of comparison for the "ups" and "downs" of Northwestern Law.
"You'll hear it tooted that Northwestern is collegial. But the school I was at before was even more collegial."

I asked him what he likes most about Northwestern, and he replied: "National placement. That's why I had to transfer. I want to return to California, and that wasn't an option at the other school."

I asked about the academic atmosphere: "People work, but not to the point of nervous breakdown. I'd say there's a good balance here."

Two other students, whom I met towards the end of my tour, confirmed with this general analysis. These two were 2Ls and they were (be prepared to perk your ears) "project partners." This intrigued me. Not only did the school look it, but it acted (sorta) like a business school. In all my law school visits I had never heard of "project partners." My general impression of law school and law practice was that it's intensely individualistic. "Project partners" went against this notion.
What was most impressionable about these two 2Ls was that they never stopped smiling. They were so happy that I soon became happy for no apparent reason.
Given its proximity I had to ask about the University of Chicago Law School and how Northwestern students compared, and one of these two 2Ls answered: "I have a friend at Chicago and he's miserable. He's intensely jealous of me because he realized that our job opportunities are essentially the same, but the process is much more enjoyable here at Northwestern."

Almost everyone at Northwestern has some sort of job experience. There are few students who are fresh college grads, but they are an extreme minority.

I stepped into a 1L property class. Before it began, I walked up to introduce myself to the professor, but nothing special or impressionable happened. I sat towards the backend of the room, just so that I wouldn't take someone's coveted front row seat.
The girl sitting in front of me was typing at a mad man's speed. She was AIMing (with 3 different people) yet she did not miss a single word from the professor's mouth.
The Socratic method wasn't really utilized - not too much interaction between the students and the professor. This was a bit surprising, especially because I had heard that this specific professor was good. Don't get me wrong, he was actually very good. It's just that I was expecting fire, passion and heat.

Northwestern isn't all modern "business school-esque." The other half of the law school is wood and vintage-esque. Lincoln Hall, for example, looks exactly like something I imagined from a European parliamentary house. Supposedly, Abraham Lincoln himself lecture in that very room. Personally, I like this older traditional side of Northwestern Law better than the more modern side.

And now, my list...

Positives:
- Great interior! Both modern and classic flavor.
- Geniunely happy and collaborative student body.
- A lot of Northwestern pride (at least amongst those I spoke with).
- Easy access to EVERYTHING! Including Ghirardelli Chocolate!

Negatives:
- Students too readily talked bad about University of Chicago; I sensed inferiority complex.
- Compared to peer schools, facutly + student interaction was almost non-existent in the common area.

Visiting Law Schools: Columbia (1st visit)

I'm about to make a horrible analogy: visiting law schools can be like watching a movie - if you go into it hyped and expecting too much, you return disappointed because it didn't meet your expectation. Columbia Law School (CLS) was such.

Nevertheless, it's a great school and there's no denying that.

The following visit took place in February 2006.

I stayed with my friend who attends Columbia University's Teachers College, which happened to be quite close to CLS (a block away). I woke up bright and early (7:00a.m.) to snoop around the law school. But I soon found that 7:00a.m. is too early, even for NYC. No one besides the janitor was in Jerome L. Green Hall (the main law building).

I accessed it by crossing the bridge, which connects Columbia University's main campus with CLS. The small rectangular-grassed area on the bridge and the general scenary looked so much nicer on the internet. Just about the only thing that captured my eyes was the large-black hideous "horse-on-fire" statue attached to the face of the law school building.

I was able to interview 17 students, 2 administrators, 3 faculty and 1 janitor. And I was able to slip in a wave and a "Hello" to Dean Schizer.

First impression of the student body: smart bunch, but too money driven. For example, I asked a 2L how he likes Columbia Law, and he responded: "Man, law school everywhere bites. It's a lot of boring and mindless work. But who gives? Coming out of Columbia you'll make big bucks no matter what!" He said it as if I was supposed to be impressed; but I wasn't.

The next student I interviewed was much better. She was very laid back....almost too laid back. I asked her what she likes most about Columbia: "Well, it's nice to be in the city." She was a 1L, and she didn't seem to be stressing; this was a huge relief.

I had the privilege of sitting in on Professor Waldron's class, "Law and Philosophy." This was his final semester at CLS before leaving for NYU (I found this out on the day of my visit. It's a shame because he was very good). His lecture spoke of Richard Posner and Ronald Dworkin's different philosophies on the analysis of law. As a neophyte to the various competing legal schools of thought, I found Prof. Waldron's topic of discussion fascinating.

His class was in Warren Hall, the building next door to Greene Hall. After class I stopped a student walking out of the same class. He happened to be a 1L international student from Asia. I asked him about Columbia and he said: "It's the best. We're in the best city and I take advantage of it every weekend!"

Another 1L who heard us conversing jumped into the conversation: "You liar! You go out everynight." She said this with a friendly shoulder bump to the other 1L.

I asked how the academic scene was and, in short, they responded: "You work hard if you want. But you manage a "B" without killing yourself."

I asked about the faculty, and one of them responded: "Let me tell you a funny story. I participated in moot court, and the judge was like, 'Good job, I wouldn't have been able to do that half as well as you did in English in Chinese.' I was like, 'What the f***, I'm not Chinese!' Yeah, anyhow, the professors are cool. There are a few that can bore you to death, but overall teachers are good."

Faculty offices are mostly located on the upper levels of Greene Hall. I casually walked pass several faculty office doors. One door was slightly open. A professor was in there eating lunch. His eyes met mine, so he invited me in. He was the director of Columbia's Center for **** Legal Studies. He and I had a long and extended conversation about life as a lawyer, marriage, children, travel and authentic ethnic dishes.

I asked him how students can get involved in the Center for **** Legal Studies. He said: "Students don't really get involved. They may be interested in helping out, but these centers are more for scholars and faculty exchange. Students are too busy with their work anyways. A better way to get international exposure is internships during the summer."
At that moment I couldn't help but feel duped. Columbia Law is supposed to be one of the top schools for international law, but in essence this professor was telling me upfront that students don't really "study" international law at Columbia.

I ran over to Warren Hall to speak with the head of the **** Legal Studies Centers and confirmed that foreign law exposure happens not during the normal school semester, but during summer internships or through exchange programs. This to me seemed more like another undergrad study abroad experience than a chance to deeply study another country's legal system and codes.

I ended my day of flying around to different classes and interviewing various people with a final stop at the admissions office. The lady at the front desk was mildly rude. Perhaps it was because I caught her at the tail-end of her day, but honestly, I was a bit taken aback that someone at the admissions office could afford to be rude to a prospective student. The following conversation ensued:

Me: Hello, I'm a prospective student, are there any campus tours available?
Admissions: We have no law school tours. All tours are self-guided. [She looked annoyed]
Me: Oh....uh...sorry, didn't know. Is it possible to meet with one of the admissions officers?
Admissions: No. ["No duh" look]
Me: Okay. Thanks for your time.

I was afraid to ask anymore questions. She never smiled; not even a smirk.

I was disappointed that CLS students viewed law school not so much as an experience, but more as an ordeal. Faculty was awesome, but distant (with the exception of that one professor I met). Facilities....eh...could be better. Food in Greene Hall, not too good. Social scene was very clique oriented (i.e. colored students didn't really mingle with the white students).

So this was my CLS experience. I've been invited to admitted students weekend, so I'll visit one more time. Hopefully, the second visit will be better than my first.

EDIT:
This post is already all over the place, so might as well, at the expense of adding to the mess, I add my list of "positives" and "negatives."

Positives:
- New York City's easy access to great social scenes.
- Student's seemed happy and laid back
- Great classes on so many topics
- Good representation/mix of international students, students of color, etc.

Negatives:
- Students seemed to lack genuine bona fide interest in law
- Beyond classroom interaction, facutly seemed detached and busy
- Architecture and aesthetic design of the buildings sub-par to the rest of the city + campus.
- That odd New York City sewer smell was pervasive
- Majority of students very much divided along racial/ethnic lines

Visiting Law Schools: UCLA

First impression: the main building looks great coming from south (looking towards north). The bold-blocked imposing words, "School of Law," labeled in front was definitely impressive (I know, I know...I'm easily impressed).

Unfortunately, it seemed that many law students don't really use this entrance. Most were gathered at the minature-outdoor-square area between Dodd Hall and the Law Building. Due to Southern California's remarkable weather, socializing, studying, chit-chatting and eating in this area seemed to be the norm.

I had to search a bit to find the admissions office, located in Dodd Hall (building next door to the Law Building). Boy, the interior of Dodd Hall, not as impressive as the exterior. The halls (where the admission office and career service office is located) were lined with lockers on both sides of the wall - screaming scary images of underfunded public high schools back into my memory.

Rob Schwartz, Dean of Admissions, is perhaps one of the most friendly and genuinely nice person I have met. He recommended several classes (based on students' referrals), but was quick to admit that he's new to the school, and thus unaware of which classes are winners. No power-trip from this guy. He'll give you straight-up, good and honest answers. On a side note, his current staff is extremely helpful (unlike the previous staff....I had bad experience with the previous staff).

I declined the law school tour and decided to do my own tour. Based on my impression/experience, I'll start listing the "positives" first, and then the "negatives":

Positives
-The facilities designed for UCLA's Clinical Program is absolutely state-of-the-art. See through windowed-walls, cameras, computers, semi-courtrooms, and microphones.... you name it and they've equipped it. Supposedly UCLA pioneered clinical education.
-Library is amazing! The very top floor (sunlight pours through all sides) is absolutely stunning. Security is extremely tight - no undergrads allowed.
-Students were really cool, laid-back and interesting. Current students' attitude towards prospective students can range from anywhere between cold and overtly welcoming - one can discern quite a bit about a law school's tension level based on this. Despite their priority (studying) 100% of the students I stopped (56 students) were willing to answer my questions (and beyond).
-Easy access to EVERYTHING. UCLA law benefits from the undergrad population's consumer demands.
-Generally warm and sunny weather. Students were walking around in sunglasses, sandles and shorts in February!
-Federal Income Tax Law class was (contrary to my expectation) extremely fascinating. The professor's general charisma (Prof. Steven Bank) probably had a lot to do with it.
-Grading system changed to 20-70-10, which means 20% get A's, 70% get B's and 10% get C's.
-Students can join journals during their 1L year.

Negatives
-Dreary interior design. The men's room resembled something from a 20's movie.
-Undergrads trickle in-and-out of the law school building. This can be distracting especially when they have their ipods leaking blasting music through the earphone.
-Faculty offices are sorta detached. I knocked on several professors' closed doors (just to see if I can drop in a few questions), most weren't in. The one's that were in were kind enough to entertain my questions.
-Lack of diversity. The vast majority of students were either Caucasian or Asian.
-I personally didn't like the trees planted in the area. Smelled kinda funny.

This is all in hindsight. If I recall or remember anymore, I will attach edits.

Visiting Law Schools

Admitted Students Weekends (ASW) are coming up, and the time to submit enrollment/commital forms is fast approaching.

In the next few weeks I will attempt to visit as many law schools as possible (financial and time restraints bar me from going on a spree). And I'll try to provide as thorough a review as I can.

First stop, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Law.

Countdown to V-Day: Day before the LSAT

This Saturday is V-day for many of you - Victory Day.

You've studied hard and long, and now it's finally time to show 'em what you can do. Though I have different advice for different people when studying for the LSAT (mainly because we all think and study differently), I generally have the same advice for how to prep the day before the test.

The following 7 points worked for hundreds of students, and I'm ready to wager that it'll work for you too.

1) The day before the test NEVER take a full diagnostic. I repeat - NEVER! So many things are going on in your mind (stress and worry about the test) and body (higher blood pressure), why in the world would you add to that by sitting through a 4-hour practice test that will only worsen/increase your stress and blood pressure level?

There is yet another reason why you shouldn't take a full diagnostic test. You don't want the score you get on a practice diagnostic to psyche you out (be it a good score or a bad score). Students rarely score lower or higher than their norm the day before the real test, so don't bother trying to reassure yourself. Be comforted in your potential score and try to relax because if you ignore this advice and proceed to take an exam, and you happen to get a lower score than usual, then you will have discouraged yourself. You won't do so well on the real deal simply because you're convinced that you are "dumber." On the other hand, if you score higher than usual, you'll only have made yourself "cockier." Either way psychologically you're doing yourself a disservice. I like to preach that the LSAT is 50% logic and 50% strength of mind (psychology). You don't want to do anything to mess with your clear and focused resolve.

2) Don't do anything outside the ordinary. One of my students ran five-miles the night before her test. Typically I would commend someone for deciding to do something that'll help them go to sleep at night (i.e. light exercise), but five-miles? She ran so much, so suddenly (she typically doesn't run at all) that the next day she was sore and unable to move.

3) Don't mingle with your significant other. Some disagree with me here, but let me present my case. The day before the test you don't want any beef with anyone, especially with your significant other. Your boyfriend/girlfriend has the power to turn your positive state of mind around 180 degrees. Given that the only likely thing on your mind the day before the test is "the test," the chances of a small quibble to arise is good.

4) Prepare everything you'll need for the test and have them ready on your desk before you go to bed. You'll need at least: three #2 pencils (or one of each lead pencil and #2 pencil); eraser; admissions ticket (don't forget this! - it's on your online LSAC account. go print it out); and a timer w/extra sets of batteries (or better yet another timer - who wants to be replacing a battery in the middle of the LSAT?). You ought to also pick out the clothes you'll wear (layers) and the breakfast (your A game food!) you'll be having in advance. I know this sounds extremely high-wired, but you'll thank me when you aren't flopping around in a frenzy the morning before the test.

5) SLEEP EARLY! I say between 9:00 pm - 10:00 pm. The night may seem young, but research shows that 8 hours of sleep can do wonders for your brain.

6) Visualize and walk yourself through the process. Imagine yourself sitting there with your test booklet. Imagine the girl sitting to your left, who keeps coughing, and the guy sitting to your right, who keeps erasing and thereby shaking the desk you share. Imagine three logical reasoning sections in a row. Imagine the worst and best case scenarios. Many of you who are athletes are familiar with this process. Coaches have you do this before any big game, and there is a good reason for it. It puts you in the zone and helps you focus. You are also less likely to encounter unexpected surprises.

7) Last, but not least, keep that positive attitude. It's been proven that people who believe they can succeed will more likely succeed than those who have already admitted defeat. All of my students who are scoring in the high 160s have learned to enjoy the LSAT taking process - they keep a healthy sense of humor and understand that they can actually score high.

There are more tid-bits I've gathered throughout the years, but this should be sufficient, while by no means necessary (a little LSAT humor for those who got it).

Have fun with the test.

Best Law School in the Nation

Is there such a thing? Perhaps.
On many law school discussion boards pre-law students, and law students alike, puff up their cheeks and argue 'til they're blue about which law schools are truly the "best in the nation."

Every March US News World Report ranks the top law schools. I've been aware of and attentive to the rankings since 1995.

Many experts and professionals far more accomplished and well-versed than I have already written numerous articles/opinions on this topic. I ought to stop holding you in suspense and mention upfront that I agree - US News ain't all that hot.

For law school applicants it can be useful in determining, "Which law schools do I have a shot at?" However, beyond this, I'm hesitant to say that the rankings are any more meaningful.

US News gives significant weight (25%) to LSAT score and GPA. So the school with the highest LSAT score and GPA is more likely to rank higher. Most law school applicants stop here and think, "High LSAT score and GPA equals higher rank, and higher rank equals better job opportunity." But this is exactly where the rankings get interesting and, to say the very least, controversial.

According to both Prof. Leiter's rankings and Ciolli's (a law student at UPenn) research, law schools with the best big law firm placements (the jobs most pre-law students are vying for) do not correlate with US News rankings. [BTW, Professor Leiter and Anthony Ciolli otherwise disagree with each other)

Besides biglaw firm jobs, pre-law students also strive for jobs in academia and public service (i.e. court clerkship, NGO, etc.). US News rankings don't correlate with these figures either.

But of course, "US News ranks schools by prestige!" - if prestige equals high LSAT score and GPA, then sure that's exactly what US News does. The last time I checked, however, prestige was based on factors more intangible than concrete LSAT score and GPA. Which is more prestigious, Princeton Law or Columbia Law? UCLA or NYU?

Princeton law will be most laymen's response to the former question. UCLA or NYU (despite their relative rankings) is up for grabs depending on weather you're from the west coast or east coast.

"Best" can be very subjective. Any intelligent pre-law student should realize this and understand that US News rankings are not the end-all conclusive revelation of truth, but a mere beginning to her journey in deciding the best law school for her.

A current law student at Boston University once told me that going to law school is like joining an exclusive club, so don't take other people's/publication's word for it, check it out yourself.

EDIT: FYI, Princeton does not have a law school.

Hype

It's hard not to get caught up in the law school hype.

I'm beginning to speak with potential-to-be law school classmates, colleagues, buddies, or whatever you'll call 'em. And ya' know what? I'm Impressed. Heck, I'm exuberant. It's exciting to know that I could be in the company of such amazing and accomplished group of people.

I may one day look back at my current blissful state and shake my head in disapproval. But I intend to cherish and thoroughly indulge in this moment because my better judgment tells me (based on all the horror stories I've heard about law school) that this will soon evaporate and in its place will be stress.