Moot Court is definitely a big booster on your resume. Participating and doing well at an international moot earned me a paid summer internship last year. Although I didn't have the best grades out of those who applied, I stood out more with my grades and extra-curriculars combined. I didn't get much experience at law review as it was only reintroduced in my final semester but I did play a key role in getting it up and running again. I think you should always look for an opportunity to take part in extra-curriculars at law school. They're not as important as grades but like I said they boost your resume and can give you an edge over students who may only have good grades.
I don’t have a degree, I’ve never been involved in law or pre law, I’ve never considered being a lawyer let alone going to law school. But DAMN if this guy done make me want to go
You’re my one of the best favourite TH-camrs because I am lots of learning from you. I am studying University of London as a external programme law student👨🎓. I live in Bangladesh 🇧🇩❤️
Actually, the most popular extracurriculars in my law school are the legal clinics. For example, I got to participate in an international trade law clinic, mostly WTO related, in which we worked with the Ministry of Economics in my country. Aside from that, it is possible for us to become teaching assistants or research assistants on our third year - which are also quite popular extracurriculars (although paid) here if you have the grades for it, aside from law review and moot court (although we only participate in international moot court competitions, such as Jessup, Vis, etc.).
Any chance you're from Canada? I heard from another Canadian law student that research assistants for professors are among the most prestigious positions available for 2Ls and 3Ls!
@@ankyfire I am not. I was giving a recommendation. Like it or not, some people care. Its up to you if you care about that or not. Now, kindly dont tell me what i cant or cant do two years later.
@@lek1223 dude you’re telling me not to tell you something while you’re doing exactly the same thing. See the hypocrisy? It’s unsolicited advice about someone’s appearance. Definitely RUDE.
@@ankyfire No, the diference is that this is a video topic about law school and how to become a better lawyer, on that topic i came with a recomendation. a on topic RECOMMENDATION. YOU on the other hand, are coming in 2 years later, telling ME randomly that i CANT give a recomendation about how to improve as a lawyer. It is no where near the same thing. And yes, i am rude to you because of your frankly bad attitude. I am sorry you are unsatisfied with your own body and need to be overly defensive, however that does not make my recomendation less valid. I have said what more than i should need to and wont waste my time any further. if people find the tip useful, great, if not, well dont follow it.
There are a ton of student activities and student groups on campus, so you can go to all of those events! You could also 100% go to bar review and just get a ginger ale and chat with people -- most bar reviews are pretty tame events :)
Yeah, at my school, Georgetown law, we had a big formal dance and a group that put on an excellent production of Kiss Me, Kate & Into the Woods. Seemed like fun but also a huge time commitment.
I wonder. Do professionals read Law Review journals of universities to stay updated of the events of their field or is it not so useful ? It's really fun to watch your videos ! As someone who doesn't drink, I guess I would find it hard to survive.
Not at all. I am a practicing attorney, and as far as I know, none of my colleagues read law journals. We read bar journals and learn from doing research and attending continuing legal education classes.
@@saikat93ify yes but attorneys still have to research, as in, look up and read the different statutes and cases depending on what the work requires. Most attorneys don't immediately know the answer to all client questions and need to do research. Therefore, reading a law professor's theoretical article about some esoteric topic is likely a waste of time for a practicing attorney.
Question: How does an international student study to pass the bar. In my country (Roman law not Common law) you go straight from high school to law school (5 years). The study methods are quite different. Suggestions?
I think it depends on the country you want to go in. For example, in my country(Indonesia) you have to be an Indonesian or Indonesian Citizenship if you want to become a lawyer practicing or to apply for the exam bar. For international student learning here or wants to work here in the law field, they usually only as for consultan or something that aren't a lawyer practicing.
So, I was arrested and jailed on pretty serious weapons charges, facing not less than three to ten years in prison. I had no one to throw my bail because no one knew I was arrested. After a week, a friend realized I was missing and made calls to family, hospitals and finally the sheriff's office and graciously bailed me out. I hired a lawyer based on my bail bondsman's recommendation. The case never went to court because the only witness, the guy I shot at took off because he had a couple of outstanding warrants. So, I was let go. Question: How could I have been better at choosing a lawyer? Should I have asked about extracurricular activities? I was under a lot of stress, how many lawyers should I have interviewed and how would I have found them? It seemed that most of my friends relied on public defenders, or their mothers hired the lawyer. Your advice would be greatly appreciated.
Are there students who have been mentored by someone, such as a relative or lawyer they met at an internship, who has prepared him/her for law school to such an extent that they already know what to expect and do? Kind of like if you take a german class after you have stayed in germany and became fluent.
Hi! I was checking this video and saw your question! I would definitely say not to worry about this. Even though yes, some law students will have family members who are lawyers, and who may be able to give them additional network contacts in searching for jobs after law school, that will not give them an advantage in terms of law school grades and should also not change your focus and plan of action for getting a job yourself. If you follow the steps, you will be able to put yourself in a position to get those high grades and a good job upon graduation regardless of what anyone else is doing. I'm actually working on a video series on this exact thing right now, so feel free to check it out! th-cam.com/users/angelavorpahl
Hi! I was checking out the video and saw your question! I know you posted it a while ago, but in case you're interested in another lawyer's perspective, I would totally agree that law review, moot court, and mock trial are really the only extracurriculars that will help you get a job when you graduate. Any other activities (including sports and studying abroad) can be valuable in the sense of keeping you healthy, sane, and living life to the fullest, but if your goal is to give yourself the best chance at being employed upon graduation, I would 100% recommend prioritizing grades (first) and resume-boosting extracurriculars (second) above any other type of activity. I hope this helps! P.S. In case you're interested, I'm working on a step-by-step video series on how to get a job after law school, so feel free to check it out here! th-cam.com/users/angelavorpahl
+LegalEagle Great video! Two questions for you... How prestigious are other journals (e.g. Real Property, Trust, & Estate Law) to prospective employers, and what are the benefits of being involved in the Student Bar Association?
Hi, Frank! I know your post is a bit old, but in case you're still interested in an answer, I would definitely say that the law school's flagship law review is far and away the most prestigious (and what a lot of BigLaw law firms are looking for on your resume if that's the route you're looking to take). That being said, if you already know the type of law you want to practice (property law, environmental law, human rights law, corporate and finance law) then getting on to a journal that matches your niche is a great way to make yourself an attractive candidate for a law firm that specializes in that area, so I definitely think it's worth sticking with those law reviews even if you're not on the flagship journal. Other ways that you can establish yourself in a particular niche in law school is by seeking out classes that focus on that material, getting a research assistant position with a professor in that area, working in an externship your 2L or 3L year with a local law firm or non-profit that serves clients in that niche, and joining a student clinic where you work with actual clients in a given legal practice area. I have a video coming out on this soon if you want to learn more! th-cam.com/users/angelavorpahl
Hi! In case you're interested in another lawyer's perspective, I would definitely recommend working in a clinic your 3L year in a niche that interests you (criminal justice, small business, family law, etc.) because it's one of the very few ways to get substantive, practical experience in law school (not to mention you'll be working with real clients), and it's a helpful way to niche down and show a future employer that you're serious about a particular type of law. Working in a non-profit your 1L or 2L summers is also an excellent way to get substantive legal experience to put on your resume as well as give you an idea for the different types of law that are that you may not have even known existed. P.S. I'm in the process of making a video on how to get pro bono experience, so stay tuned in case you're interested in checking that out! th-cam.com/users/angelavorpahl
I'm the biggest fan of mock trial (I did it for nine years) and I agree that you get great experience. But law review and moot court are more prestigious and give you more of a bump on your resume. Probably because law review only takes the people with the best grades and the best writing skills.
LegalEagle that make sense. I was just wondering if one may be more important than the other depending on the job. But i guess no. Thank you so much for answering my question! 😊
Even before I went to law school (recent grad, here) I knew that I wanted to be on the trial team once I got into law school. While the hierarchy that is explained in the video is true, I can honestly tell you that being on the trial team was the best part of my legal education. Yes, it's a HUGE time commitment; practice would normally run from 6-11 PM four times a week, and the closer we got to competition, the more hours we had to put in. Nevertheless, the advocacy skills and confidence you earn are worth the effort. I'm currently waiting for my bar results (took the CA bar last week) and once I pass, I want to be a Public Defender, so everything I learned in trial team will be put to good use. One last anecdote; during my last semester of law school, I interned at the PD's and was paired up with another intern from a competing, more prestigious law school. Several times, we had to speak on the record on behalf of our clients and my co-intern had no idea what to say and whenever she spoke, she kept tripping over her words because of how nervous she was. I, on the other hand, had no problem talking to the judge in front of everyone present in the courtroom because of how much practice I'd had during trial competitions.
Ermac97 see this is what I'm saying I want to be a defense lawyer or prosecutor. Thank you so much for the advice! Good lucky and hope you get your results soon!
Hi! I was watching this video and came across your comment! I have a video series coming out on how to get a job after law school (as well as other videos on how to work overseas as an international lawyer) so feel free to check them out if you're interested: th-cam.com/users/angelavorpahl
You should definitely go for it!! I know it's a big decision and there's a lot of factors that go into it, so if you want some more insight into what working as a lawyer looks like and what to expect, feel free to check out videos I make on all of these subjects for new and aspiring attorneys!! th-cam.com/users/angelavorpahl
I would like to do fencing. I am good in sports so yeah this is one of extra-curricular activities. The reason because its one of the disciplined sport. Who knows competes too.
Hi! It depends on what type of IP lawyer you want to be. If you want to do patent prosecution (which is the actual drafting of the patents) that won't have anything to do with being in a courtroom and arguing cases so you won't need mock trial skills. If you are interested in doing patent litigation, then mock trial would be incredibly useful because those types of cases actually wind up going to trial more often than other types of civil cases. Some law firms do both, others do just one or the other. If you're interested in more on how to prepare yourself for a legal career, I'm all about it and make videos on all of that stuff if you want to check it out! th-cam.com/users/angelavorpahl
It kind of seems as if the legal profession in general only wants rich people, also it seems that work ethic doesn't mean much money and natural talent mean better.
Unfortunately, given the astronomical costs of law school, rich kids have a big advantage. Even taking the bar review classes costs thousands of dollars, and it is better not to be working while preparing for the bar exam.
That's a good question! I've wondered that myself. Probably because lawyers have good critical thinking skills, good interpersonal skills, and are good at building up a network. Plus since they deal with laws all the time, they are probably motivated to change the laws appropriately. I will not be running for office. I'm focused on making sure ya'll kick ass in law school.
Great video! Thanks a lot:D What is your though and advice on transfer? 1L grades is normally the most important thing, but what are other things that make you stand out and increase the chance of successfully transferring to a higher ranked school? Thank you!
Hi! I definitely agree that grades and law review are the most important, but if you've got those to covered and you already know you want to niche down you can sign up for more corporate-specific classes your 2L and 3L year, work in small business clinic your 2L or 3L year, and get an internship or externship in-house at a local company or non-profit that works with social start-ups! I have a video coming out on this exact topic if you want to check it out! th-cam.com/users/angelavorpahl
Hey, I'm currently a student in undergrad and I'm thinking of doing law school somewhere down the line. However the monetary commitment is a bit discouraging and I'm not 100% sure if I want to go into law. Is there any way or extracurricular I can participate in right now in undergrad to help me get a better understanding of what I would be getting into if I do choose to go to law school and become a lawyer? I'm hoping it would make my decision easier in the future when I'm at the crossroads between applying to law school or doing something else
Hey Jesse, want to communicate more to bitching about law uni?😭 i'd suggest you to join community in university. In my campus, our community is based on the competition. We have international and national moot court organization which you can pick where you want to go. For international moot court, they usually have a reseacher, those who helped the oralist/speaker finding data, understanding the case, the law and such... it's not much but surely helpful for you the next time you want to write a brief case or legal reviews and in the other hand you'll also learn about the international law from criminal law-corporate
Hi, Jesse! This is a really good question, and I'm planning to make a video on exactly this question! The short answer is that the best way to give yourself insight into what a life as a lawyer would look like is to get an internship at a place where lawyers work. The good news is that lawyers work in a huge variety of fields, so you have lots of options. Obviously you could intern at a local law firm, but also local non-profits, government agencies, and in-house counsel at corporations all have positions for lawyers. I personally interned for 3 years in my local state legislature (where a ton of lawyers work as policy analysts, legislation drafters, and actual congressmen and senators) -- and it was a blast and turned out to be the thing that got me interested in becoming a lawyer in the first place. If you're interested in learning more about what to expect in law school and as a lawyer, I make videos on all of those topics, so feel free to check them out! th-cam.com/users/angelavorpahl
Hi, Florence! I would 100% not recommend starting any extracurricular activities until your 2L or 3L year. Your 1L grades are the most important of your law school career (because they alone can make you competitive for job offers at the beginning of your 2L year), so I would recommend focusing exclusively on them for the first year. For law review, the write-on application takes place at the end of your 1L summer (for membership your 2L and 3L years), and if you opt not to do law review I would say to take on moot court, mock trial, or an alternative extracurricular (like an externship or research assistant position with a professor) in that same time frame to give yourself those two full years to build up your resume. I'm making a video series all about this and how to get a job after law school, so feel free to check it out if you're interested! th-cam.com/users/angelavorpahl
How much would you say which law school you go to matters? I know geographically it has some effect but besides that. I really wanted to go to UCLA, but because of the accelerated program I am in, I have to go to my school’s law school (University of Kansas School of Law) . And what advice would you have for potentially transferring while in Law School?
Hi! I have a video out on this exact topic(!) -- i.e. the 1L class ranking you need to get depending on the ranking of your law school to be competitive for a BigLaw job. Since University of Kansas is ranked No. 67 you would need to rank within the top 5-15% of your class to be competitive for a BigLaw job in that geographical region. If your goal is to work in LA then I would definitely look at transferring to that area even if it's not UCLA because that's going to give you a much better shot at getting getting a job in the LA area -- not only having graduated from a law school there, but also having access to the alumni networks and networking opportunities while being out there. I have a separate video coming out that talks all about getting a job after law school so feel free to check it out! th-cam.com/users/angelavorpahl
Would you say it is better to try something that challenges you and would engage your weaknesses or something that you are highly likely to succeed in? (i.e. joining mock trial because someone is an experienced and skilled impromptu debater instead of law review as a decent but not stellar writer)
Should elected board members of a racial student group, e.g. BLSA, NALSA, or CHLSA list these positions on a resume? I can understand why employers might not want to know (or are legally prevented from knowing?) a student's race. However, these positions require a lot of time and provide a lot of responsibility - two things employers would be interested in knowing about.
They typically aren't prevented from knowing. They're prevented from using it to decide your application. In fact, some law firms have surveys (I think because they're government contractors?) which specifically address identities like veteran status, gender, race, income source, etc.
LegalEagle Imo I think dramatics is a good class for lawyers. My A.P Spanish teacher is a former lawyer from Cuba and he moved to the United States to find better prospects and he said that drama classes are good extracurricular activities for a lawyer because it can improve their outcome in the court. With that said if you can act with strong but not incompetent emotions then you have a good chance in persuading the jury and importantly the whole courtroom to hopefully win a case. You’d also need to be a good writer because ethos, pathos, and logos are essential for a successful speech or essay of some sort.
It's not easy at all. A lot of lower-ranked law schools literally kick out the bottom 20 percent of the class. Also, law school classes are curved so that the vast majority of people won't get an A. Comparing a PhD with a law degree (JD) in the US is just apples and oranges.
Well law school won't teach on contracts with above the signature :all remedies rights jurisdictions securities & equities reserved contract then without prejudice & recourse with full immunity public or private,.. include the federal arbitration act common law arbitration, antitrust laws writ a mandus quantum language law syntax,, bonds n instruments ,, due process ,
The student participating in mock trial is the only one listed in your extracurricular activities who's putting principle into practice yet, that's the activity at the bottom of the totem pole. This does nothing but reflect the attitude of professors and judges who hold their own personal values and interests as above the petty concerns of those who come before the court. Screw being a zealous advocate, as long as my opinions and views get propagated and elevated by the approval needy unpaid lapdogs in the law review.
The "extracurricular activities".....? After law school and after you pass the bar.... (Clubs / lounges) that's "extracurricular activities" / "bar review" 😂
Personal opinion : Law review is not worth it, sports (or just gym) is not a resume booster but works great (if you take the time). Also “grades are important” this is sadly true but overall, people with the best grades are generally the worst lawyers and you can see that after an internship or in the first year of them being a lawyer. So you are better of being a good lawyer than a good student if you want a jobs that fits your ambitions. Cheers
I would like to pose a hypothetical. You are working in recruiting for a thematically specialized law firm. Let's say for the sake of this hypothetical that this law firm specializes in securities. You have two final candidates with the same grades from the same institution who you're considering hiring. They've got the same amount of relevant background. They bring the same identity diversity. Basically, all else is equal about their personal and academic and professional backgrounds. They both have law reviews on their resume. Candidate A has a specialty law review that is relevant to the subject area of your firm. Let's call it "Securities Law Review of Institution X." Candidate B has the overall institutional Law Review on their resume. Let's call Candidate B's, "Institution X Law Review." There's only one job, so you can either hire candidate A or B. Also, for the sake of the equality, let's say they had the same duties/responsibilities/title/publication prestige/publication quality/professors' credentials with whom they're working/etc. at each respective Law Review publication. Please explain your answer.
He wasn't saying he'd pick the person based on background. He was saying he'd hire the one that he had a better feeling about based on personality and behavior during the interview.
I get what you're saying since he didn't pick a side, but I think he's being honest in that, after years of hiring multiple people with different specialties and seeing mixed results, you could get to the point where your impression of someone's character matters most.
Ask your law school questions below! And what future videos would you like me to do?
LegalEagle can you do one for younger people as I am yr 8 and I want to know the kind of grades and subjects you need for law suit
What's your take on law school fraternities/sororities?
How’d you choose your law job? @legaleagle
Do you have to attend a extra thing
You didn’t cover journals other than law review
I don't have any intentions of going to law school, but I could listen to this guy talk about it for HOURS on end.
Same. I am currently a senior undergraduate pursuing Mechanical Engineering, yet I like to watch his videos.
It's his jaw line.
agreed this guy is fun to listen to if you are employed. if you are not and recently graduated, you will feel shitty.
Same here. I'm studying computer science, but I find him oddly fascinating.
Me too
Moot Court is definitely a big booster on your resume. Participating and doing well at an international moot earned me a paid summer internship last year. Although I didn't have the best grades out of those who applied, I stood out more with my grades and extra-curriculars combined.
I didn't get much experience at law review as it was only reintroduced in my final semester but I did play a key role in getting it up and running again.
I think you should always look for an opportunity to take part in extra-curriculars at law school. They're not as important as grades but like I said they boost your resume and can give you an edge over students who may only have good grades.
Yup, definitely important to stand out where you can.
What international moot you joined?! Lets talk about it✊
1:40 - Chapter 1 - Law review
4:40 - Chapter 2 - Moot court
7:05 - Chapter 3 - Mock trial
9:10 - Chapter 4 - Drinking
10:00 - Chapter 5 - Student groups
- Chapter 6 -
I say we campaign for Disney to release Law School Musical
Legally Blonde?
Just video your school’s Law Revue
I am a computer information systems major, and I find this video very applicable to almost most majors.
I don’t have a degree, I’ve never been involved in law or pre law, I’ve never considered being a lawyer let alone going to law school. But DAMN if this guy done make me want to go
lol!!
You’re my one of the best favourite TH-camrs because I am lots of learning from you. I am studying University of London as a external programme law student👨🎓. I live in Bangladesh 🇧🇩❤️
Thanks for tuning in!
Actually, the most popular extracurriculars in my law school are the legal clinics. For example, I got to participate in an international trade law clinic, mostly WTO related, in which we worked with the Ministry of Economics in my country. Aside from that, it is possible for us to become teaching assistants or research assistants on our third year - which are also quite popular extracurriculars (although paid) here if you have the grades for it, aside from law review and moot court (although we only participate in international moot court competitions, such as Jessup, Vis, etc.).
Damn, where r u from? Such a fun extracurriculars you have!
Any chance you're from Canada? I heard from another Canadian law student that research assistants for professors are among the most prestigious positions available for 2Ls and 3Ls!
not at law school or a lawyer, but i might recommend hitting the Gym, looking good cant hurt.
lek1223 also very healthy! Helps with studying and mental health
Not your place to criticize anyone’s appearance
@@ankyfire I am not. I was giving a recommendation. Like it or not, some people care. Its up to you if you care about that or not. Now, kindly dont tell me what i cant or cant do two years later.
@@lek1223 dude you’re telling me not to tell you something while you’re doing exactly the same thing. See the hypocrisy?
It’s unsolicited advice about someone’s appearance. Definitely RUDE.
@@ankyfire No, the diference is that this is a video topic about law school and how to become a better lawyer, on that topic i came with a recomendation. a on topic RECOMMENDATION. YOU on the other hand, are coming in 2 years later, telling ME randomly that i CANT give a recomendation about how to improve as a lawyer. It is no where near the same thing. And yes, i am rude to you because of your frankly bad attitude. I am sorry you are unsatisfied with your own body and need to be overly defensive, however that does not make my recomendation less valid.
I have said what more than i should need to and wont waste my time any further. if people find the tip useful, great, if not, well dont follow it.
This was very helpful thank you for your wisdom it gives me confidence to pursue a law degree.
On the topic of “Bar Review;” medical and veterinary students often go out for “fluid rounds.”
Theatre students have "Wine and Line" and how many lines you learn will vary greatly XD
Thank you for closed captioning your video
I ended up just making Law Review :). SUPER EXCITED!
"it's like law and order in real life... But still fake" haha I laughed so hard 😂
Great very helpful video!
What would you recommend for people who don't drink but still want to socialize?
Cocaine
Just go get virgin drinks
There are a ton of student activities and student groups on campus, so you can go to all of those events! You could also 100% go to bar review and just get a ginger ale and chat with people -- most bar reviews are pretty tame events :)
Law prom and musical??? WTAF!! I just want to be a lawyer!!
Law school musical lmao I can't.
Yeah, at my school, Georgetown law, we had a big formal dance and a group that put on an excellent production of Kiss Me, Kate & Into the Woods. Seemed like fun but also a huge time commitment.
We call it "Call to the Bar," but close enough.
I wonder. Do professionals read Law Review journals of universities to stay updated of the events of their field or is it not so useful ?
It's really fun to watch your videos ! As someone who doesn't drink, I guess I would find it hard to survive.
Not at all. I am a practicing attorney, and as far as I know, none of my colleagues read law journals. We read bar journals and learn from doing research and attending continuing legal education classes.
@@aalegalfocus Just curious. What is research in law ? Aren't the laws already written down and well known ?
@@saikat93ify yes but attorneys still have to research, as in, look up and read the different statutes and cases depending on what the work requires. Most attorneys don't immediately know the answer to all client questions and need to do research. Therefore, reading a law professor's theoretical article about some esoteric topic is likely a waste of time for a practicing attorney.
Question: How does an international student study to pass the bar. In my country (Roman law not Common law) you go straight from high school to law school (5 years). The study methods are quite different. Suggestions?
I think it depends on the country you want to go in. For example, in my country(Indonesia) you have to be an Indonesian or Indonesian Citizenship if you want to become a lawyer practicing or to apply for the exam bar. For international student learning here or wants to work here in the law field, they usually only as for consultan or something that aren't a lawyer practicing.
So, I was arrested and jailed on pretty serious weapons charges, facing not less than three to ten years in prison. I had no one to throw my bail because no one knew I was arrested. After a week, a friend realized I was missing and made calls to family, hospitals and finally the sheriff's office and graciously bailed me out.
I hired a lawyer based on my bail bondsman's recommendation. The case never went to court because the only witness, the guy I shot at took off because he had a couple of outstanding warrants. So, I was let go.
Question: How could I have been better at choosing a lawyer? Should I have asked about extracurricular activities? I was under a lot of stress, how many lawyers should I have interviewed and how would I have found them? It seemed that most of my friends relied on public defenders, or their mothers hired the lawyer.
Your advice would be greatly appreciated.
I’m 35, not livine in the US, not wanting to go to law school but I love to hear him talk 😂
He’s also very handsome 🤗
Are there students who have been mentored by someone, such as a relative or lawyer they met at an internship, who has prepared him/her for law school to such an extent that they already know what to expect and do? Kind of like if you take a german class after you have stayed in germany and became fluent.
Hi! I was checking this video and saw your question! I would definitely say not to worry about this. Even though yes, some law students will have family members who are lawyers, and who may be able to give them additional network contacts in searching for jobs after law school, that will not give them an advantage in terms of law school grades and should also not change your focus and plan of action for getting a job yourself. If you follow the steps, you will be able to put yourself in a position to get those high grades and a good job upon graduation regardless of what anyone else is doing. I'm actually working on a video series on this exact thing right now, so feel free to check it out! th-cam.com/users/angelavorpahl
Can you comment on sports and studying abroad for a semester while in law school?
Hi! I was checking out the video and saw your question! I know you posted it a while ago, but in case you're interested in another lawyer's perspective, I would totally agree that law review, moot court, and mock trial are really the only extracurriculars that will help you get a job when you graduate. Any other activities (including sports and studying abroad) can be valuable in the sense of keeping you healthy, sane, and living life to the fullest, but if your goal is to give yourself the best chance at being employed upon graduation, I would 100% recommend prioritizing grades (first) and resume-boosting extracurriculars (second) above any other type of activity. I hope this helps! P.S. In case you're interested, I'm working on a step-by-step video series on how to get a job after law school, so feel free to check it out here! th-cam.com/users/angelavorpahl
Thank you on the law and know more
What about intern for politicians?
I don't think that's worthwhile during law school. Even during the summer, you should work for legal employers. Good luck!
I want to study Civil Rights/Public Policy Law...should I go to a Law School in a major city??? You’re videos ROCK!!!!!
+LegalEagle Great video! Two questions for you... How prestigious are other journals (e.g. Real Property, Trust, & Estate Law) to prospective employers, and what are the benefits of being involved in the Student Bar Association?
Hi, Frank! I know your post is a bit old, but in case you're still interested in an answer, I would definitely say that the law school's flagship law review is far and away the most prestigious (and what a lot of BigLaw law firms are looking for on your resume if that's the route you're looking to take). That being said, if you already know the type of law you want to practice (property law, environmental law, human rights law, corporate and finance law) then getting on to a journal that matches your niche is a great way to make yourself an attractive candidate for a law firm that specializes in that area, so I definitely think it's worth sticking with those law reviews even if you're not on the flagship journal. Other ways that you can establish yourself in a particular niche in law school is by seeking out classes that focus on that material, getting a research assistant position with a professor in that area, working in an externship your 2L or 3L year with a local law firm or non-profit that serves clients in that niche, and joining a student clinic where you work with actual clients in a given legal practice area. I have a video coming out on this soon if you want to learn more! th-cam.com/users/angelavorpahl
You never commented on other journals that are not law review? My school has multiple journals and I'm debating between a journal and moot court.
Hey LegalEagle!
What are your thoughts on pro bono work, as well as clinics, in your experience?
Hi! In case you're interested in another lawyer's perspective, I would definitely recommend working in a clinic your 3L year in a niche that interests you (criminal justice, small business, family law, etc.) because it's one of the very few ways to get substantive, practical experience in law school (not to mention you'll be working with real clients), and it's a helpful way to niche down and show a future employer that you're serious about a particular type of law. Working in a non-profit your 1L or 2L summers is also an excellent way to get substantive legal experience to put on your resume as well as give you an idea for the different types of law that are that you may not have even known existed. P.S. I'm in the process of making a video on how to get pro bono experience, so stay tuned in case you're interested in checking that out! th-cam.com/users/angelavorpahl
Very helpful information
I'm an artist and I watch these to have fun and learn more.... :D
I will want and try to participate in moot court during law school, thank you.
Could you explain why mock trials are not as much of a resume boost? I want to be a prosecutor wouldnt mock trials prepare me better than law review?
janeth rebeca Gutierrez Excellent question.👀
I'm the biggest fan of mock trial (I did it for nine years) and I agree that you get great experience. But law review and moot court are more prestigious and give you more of a bump on your resume. Probably because law review only takes the people with the best grades and the best writing skills.
LegalEagle that make sense. I was just wondering if one may be more important than the other depending on the job. But i guess no. Thank you so much for answering my question! 😊
Even before I went to law school (recent grad, here) I knew that I wanted to be on the trial team once I got into law school. While the hierarchy that is explained in the video is true, I can honestly tell you that being on the trial team was the best part of my legal education. Yes, it's a HUGE time commitment; practice would normally run from 6-11 PM four times a week, and the closer we got to competition, the more hours we had to put in. Nevertheless, the advocacy skills and confidence you earn are worth the effort. I'm currently waiting for my bar results (took the CA bar last week) and once I pass, I want to be a Public Defender, so everything I learned in trial team will be put to good use. One last anecdote; during my last semester of law school, I interned at the PD's and was paired up with another intern from a competing, more prestigious law school. Several times, we had to speak on the record on behalf of our clients and my co-intern had no idea what to say and whenever she spoke, she kept tripping over her words because of how nervous she was. I, on the other hand, had no problem talking to the judge in front of everyone present in the courtroom because of how much practice I'd had during trial competitions.
Ermac97 see this is what I'm saying I want to be a defense lawyer or prosecutor. Thank you so much for the advice! Good lucky and hope you get your results soon!
I want to get into international trade law or trial law.
Hi! I was watching this video and came across your comment! I have a video series coming out on how to get a job after law school (as well as other videos on how to work overseas as an international lawyer) so feel free to check them out if you're interested: th-cam.com/users/angelavorpahl
I know it's not completely law-related, but what are your opinions about serving on a Board of Directors for a non-profit?
betaomega04 www.bonfire.com/store/st-thomas-law-review-store/
I don't think that's too impressive unless it is related to the type of legal job you plan to obtain. Grades in law school are #1. Good luck!
"Bar review" can be a study group in some ways.
I find your videos very informative and helpful 🙂 Gotta give credit to you if I ever fulfill my dream of becoming a lawyer
Cool, check back in a few years.
You should definitely go for it!! I know it's a big decision and there's a lot of factors that go into it, so if you want some more insight into what working as a lawyer looks like and what to expect, feel free to check out videos I make on all of these subjects for new and aspiring attorneys!! th-cam.com/users/angelavorpahl
Another very helpful video! Love your content. It helps prepare me for my future.
Awesome. Thanks for watching.
I would like to do fencing. I am good in sports so yeah this is one of extra-curricular activities. The reason because its one of the disciplined sport. Who knows competes too.
Hayat Vines www.bonfire.com/store/st-thomas-law-review-store/
@@danielatenjido991 thank you
Is there ever a chance if you can work while attending law school?
So if I want to be an intellectual property lawyer, should I do moot court? Am I understanding that correctly?
Hi! It depends on what type of IP lawyer you want to be. If you want to do patent prosecution (which is the actual drafting of the patents) that won't have anything to do with being in a courtroom and arguing cases so you won't need mock trial skills. If you are interested in doing patent litigation, then mock trial would be incredibly useful because those types of cases actually wind up going to trial more often than other types of civil cases. Some law firms do both, others do just one or the other. If you're interested in more on how to prepare yourself for a legal career, I'm all about it and make videos on all of that stuff if you want to check it out! th-cam.com/users/angelavorpahl
It kind of seems as if the legal profession in general only wants rich people, also it seems that work ethic doesn't mean much money and natural talent mean better.
Unfortunately, given the astronomical costs of law school, rich kids have a big advantage. Even taking the bar review classes costs thousands of dollars, and it is better not to be working while preparing for the bar exam.
Would you ever become a politician and why do most politicians become lawyers? Much love💪🏾
That's a good question! I've wondered that myself. Probably because lawyers have good critical thinking skills, good interpersonal skills, and are good at building up a network. Plus since they deal with laws all the time, they are probably motivated to change the laws appropriately.
I will not be running for office. I'm focused on making sure ya'll kick ass in law school.
I know that a really great writer can fake it 80% of the way. But that 20%...
What about legal services? I thought it was a big extra curricular
Thank you
What is your opinion on the innocence project?
I love this channel so much :(
Thanks for watching.
I’ll be back in 2-5 years
I love this, you're so helpful :)
Glad to hear it!
ReadingRhinoPress ㄹ루ㅕㅏ ㅐ러표! ㅌ 픞
Great video! Thanks a lot:D
What is your though and advice on transfer? 1L grades is normally the most important thing, but what are other things that make you stand out and increase the chance of successfully transferring to a higher ranked school? Thank you!
I think letters of recommendation count too, but it's mainly your grades. Good luck!
What is the best extracurricular if you want to be big law corporat lawyer ??
Most important are grades, then law review.
Hi! I definitely agree that grades and law review are the most important, but if you've got those to covered and you already know you want to niche down you can sign up for more corporate-specific classes your 2L and 3L year, work in small business clinic your 2L or 3L year, and get an internship or externship in-house at a local company or non-profit that works with social start-ups! I have a video coming out on this exact topic if you want to check it out! th-cam.com/users/angelavorpahl
On my lunch break it's mostly class 15th muint or more
I like law
Hey, I'm currently a student in undergrad and I'm thinking of doing law school somewhere down the line. However the monetary commitment is a bit discouraging and I'm not 100% sure if I want to go into law. Is there any way or extracurricular I can participate in right now in undergrad to help me get a better understanding of what I would be getting into if I do choose to go to law school and become a lawyer? I'm hoping it would make my decision easier in the future when I'm at the crossroads between applying to law school or doing something else
Hey Jesse, want to communicate more to bitching about law uni?😭 i'd suggest you to join community in university. In my campus, our community is based on the competition. We have international and national moot court organization which you can pick where you want to go. For international moot court, they usually have a reseacher, those who helped the oralist/speaker finding data, understanding the case, the law and such... it's not much but surely helpful for you the next time you want to write a brief case or legal reviews and in the other hand you'll also learn about the international law from criminal law-corporate
Hi, Jesse! This is a really good question, and I'm planning to make a video on exactly this question! The short answer is that the best way to give yourself insight into what a life as a lawyer would look like is to get an internship at a place where lawyers work. The good news is that lawyers work in a huge variety of fields, so you have lots of options. Obviously you could intern at a local law firm, but also local non-profits, government agencies, and in-house counsel at corporations all have positions for lawyers. I personally interned for 3 years in my local state legislature (where a ton of lawyers work as policy analysts, legislation drafters, and actual congressmen and senators) -- and it was a blast and turned out to be the thing that got me interested in becoming a lawyer in the first place. If you're interested in learning more about what to expect in law school and as a lawyer, I make videos on all of those topics, so feel free to check them out! th-cam.com/users/angelavorpahl
How many do you recommend doing per year of these activities?
Depends on the person and your work load.
Hi, Florence! I would 100% not recommend starting any extracurricular activities until your 2L or 3L year. Your 1L grades are the most important of your law school career (because they alone can make you competitive for job offers at the beginning of your 2L year), so I would recommend focusing exclusively on them for the first year. For law review, the write-on application takes place at the end of your 1L summer (for membership your 2L and 3L years), and if you opt not to do law review I would say to take on moot court, mock trial, or an alternative extracurricular (like an externship or research assistant position with a professor) in that same time frame to give yourself those two full years to build up your resume. I'm making a video series all about this and how to get a job after law school, so feel free to check it out if you're interested! th-cam.com/users/angelavorpahl
This was so informative! Thank you so much! LOL bar review 😂😂
Kew year's and I am be behind
How much would you say which law school you go to matters? I know geographically it has some effect but besides that. I really wanted to go to UCLA, but because of the accelerated program I am in, I have to go to my school’s law school (University of Kansas School of Law) . And what advice would you have for potentially transferring while in Law School?
Law school matters a lot if you want a big firm job in a big city. Transferring is a good option if you have the grades.
Hi! I have a video out on this exact topic(!) -- i.e. the 1L class ranking you need to get depending on the ranking of your law school to be competitive for a BigLaw job. Since University of Kansas is ranked No. 67 you would need to rank within the top 5-15% of your class to be competitive for a BigLaw job in that geographical region. If your goal is to work in LA then I would definitely look at transferring to that area even if it's not UCLA because that's going to give you a much better shot at getting getting a job in the LA area -- not only having graduated from a law school there, but also having access to the alumni networks and networking opportunities while being out there. I have a separate video coming out that talks all about getting a job after law school so feel free to check it out! th-cam.com/users/angelavorpahl
Would you say it is better to try something that challenges you and would engage your weaknesses or something that you are highly likely to succeed in? (i.e. joining mock trial because someone is an experienced and skilled impromptu debater instead of law review as a decent but not stellar writer)
Are you only asking for his opinion? Year old comment, but perhaps you wrote this in undergrad and are a 1L now.
So when you smoke weed in your buddy's room is it called "bong review"?
I drink anyway. Never went to law school.
👏law👏review👏
Need all tip on law school a agree
10 question on your class everything
Thank you so much for your videos am joining in August though I feel am not so prepared for the much reading and the grading .
You and everyone else. You might check out our Masterclass to help prepare...
10 question
Should elected board members of a racial student group, e.g. BLSA, NALSA, or CHLSA list these positions on a resume? I can understand why employers might not want to know (or are legally prevented from knowing?) a student's race. However, these positions require a lot of time and provide a lot of responsibility - two things employers would be interested in knowing about.
I would definitely put that on your resume. Shows you are involved.
They typically aren't prevented from knowing. They're prevented from using it to decide your application. In fact, some law firms have surveys (I think because they're government contractors?) which specifically address identities like veteran status, gender, race, income source, etc.
Law prom?
Yes, most law schools have a formal dance. At Georgetown law, it was called the Barristers Ball.
7:27 nice pepsi endorsment
I’m in involved in law review and drinking
Is Dramatics a good extracurricular activity in Law School?
Is that like drama? I'm guessing you're not in the US...
LegalEagle yes. It may not be useful on the resume but is it a reasonable extracurricular to take part in?
I can't really say. That's not offered at US law schools, so I can't say whether employers will find it helpful or not.
LegalEagle Yeah I understand your point. Thanks!
LegalEagle Imo I think dramatics is a good class for lawyers. My A.P Spanish teacher is a former lawyer from Cuba and he moved to the United States to find better prospects and he said that drama classes are good extracurricular activities for a lawyer because it can improve their outcome in the court. With that said if you can act with strong but not incompetent emotions then you have a good chance in persuading the jury and importantly the whole courtroom to hopefully win a case. You’d also need to be a good writer because ethos, pathos, and logos are essential for a successful speech or essay of some sort.
the first time i went to a bar was with my mom, with her law school friends lmaooooooo
Is the dred scott decision still valid ?
It was not explicitly overturned by the Supreme Court, but it has been overruled by the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery.
As hard as law school sounds, it still sounds easier than a PhD program. Probably not by much though.
I can't speak for the USA but I found my degree in Scots Law not that hard.
It's not easy at all. A lot of lower-ranked law schools literally kick out the bottom 20 percent of the class. Also, law school classes are curved so that the vast majority of people won't get an A. Comparing a PhD with a law degree (JD) in the US is just apples and oranges.
@@jacqueline716 that's not the case in Scotland
@@nifralo2752 Yeah, I know. That's why I mentioned that I'm talking about a JD (law degree) in the US.
"Now I don't pretend to be a big city lawyer..."
Well law school won't teach on contracts with above the signature :all remedies rights jurisdictions securities & equities reserved contract then without prejudice & recourse with full immunity public or private,.. include the federal arbitration act common law arbitration, antitrust laws writ a mandus quantum language law syntax,, bonds n instruments ,, due process ,
How many cases have you won?
I am there's and there's
I am there's
Vis Moot. Period.
Law review
Mooth court
Mock trial
Student groups
Social community
Social networking
The student participating in mock trial is the only one listed in your extracurricular activities who's putting principle into practice yet, that's the activity at the bottom of the totem pole. This does nothing but reflect the attitude of professors and judges who hold their own personal values and interests as above the petty concerns of those who come before the court. Screw being a zealous advocate, as long as my opinions and views get propagated and elevated by the approval needy unpaid lapdogs in the law review.
The "extracurricular activities".....? After law school and after you pass the bar.... (Clubs / lounges) that's "extracurricular activities" / "bar review" 😂
Nadir Rabah www.bonfire.com/store/st-thomas-law-review-store/
Personal opinion : Law review is not worth it, sports (or just gym) is not a resume booster but works great (if you take the time).
Also “grades are important” this is sadly true but overall, people with the best grades are generally the worst lawyers and you can see that after an internship or in the first year of them being a lawyer. So you are better of being a good lawyer than a good student if you want a jobs that fits your ambitions. Cheers
Get off the internet. The 4th Amendment right to privacy is most certainly implied. 😠
I would like to pose a hypothetical. You are working in recruiting for a thematically specialized law firm. Let's say for the sake of this hypothetical that this law firm specializes in securities. You have two final candidates with the same grades from the same institution who you're considering hiring. They've got the same amount of relevant background. They bring the same identity diversity. Basically, all else is equal about their personal and academic and professional backgrounds. They both have law reviews on their resume. Candidate A has a specialty law review that is relevant to the subject area of your firm. Let's call it "Securities Law Review of Institution X." Candidate B has the overall institutional Law Review on their resume. Let's call Candidate B's, "Institution X Law Review." There's only one job, so you can either hire candidate A or B. Also, for the sake of the equality, let's say they had the same duties/responsibilities/title/publication prestige/publication quality/professors' credentials with whom they're working/etc. at each respective Law Review publication. Please explain your answer.
I'd choose the one that I liked on a personal level more.
"[A]ll else is equal about their personal ... backgrounds." Punt much?
He wasn't saying he'd pick the person based on background. He was saying he'd hire the one that he had a better feeling about based on personality and behavior during the interview.
I said "all else is equal," including their personalities/behavior/feelings emoted, which is why I called it a punt.
I get what you're saying since he didn't pick a side, but I think he's being honest in that, after years of hiring multiple people with different specialties and seeing mixed results, you could get to the point where your impression of someone's character matters most.
I have to ask. I have seen almost 2 dozen of your videos. What happened with the bald spot on your cheek?