Comments on: How much of a lawyer are you after 1 semester? http://www.lawdevnull.com/2010/02/how-much-of-a-lawyer-are-you-after-1-semester/ Musings of a Computer Scientist turned Law Student Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:48:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Sherpa http://www.lawdevnull.com/2010/02/how-much-of-a-lawyer-are-you-after-1-semester/comment-page-1/#comment-1309 Sherpa Fri, 12 Feb 2010 15:43:31 +0000 http://www.lawdevnull.com/?p=1292#comment-1309 I have several professors who swear by the idea that once you are done your first semester you're ready to be a lawyer. obviously not a lawyer sans that pesky bar exam. but you have the basic skills (particularly issue spotting and familiarity with research tools) to be a lawyer. the rest of law school is merely honing these skills and developing a broader knowledge of doctrinal areas. i tend to agree with the first semester part. but the rest of law school is about more than just muddling through classes. it's like the minor leagues - you're learning how to handle yourself among colleagues, identify opportunities for professional development, interact with more senior level attorneys, and take chances to apply principles in class to real life issues and questions. I have several professors who swear by the idea that once you are done your first semester you’re ready to be a lawyer. obviously not a lawyer sans that pesky bar exam. but you have the basic skills (particularly issue spotting and familiarity with research tools) to be a lawyer. the rest of law school is merely honing these skills and developing a broader knowledge of doctrinal areas.

i tend to agree with the first semester part. but the rest of law school is about more than just muddling through classes. it’s like the minor leagues – you’re learning how to handle yourself among colleagues, identify opportunities for professional development, interact with more senior level attorneys, and take chances to apply principles in class to real life issues and questions.

]]> By: Tree Hugging 2L http://www.lawdevnull.com/2010/02/how-much-of-a-lawyer-are-you-after-1-semester/comment-page-1/#comment-1298 Tree Hugging 2L Tue, 09 Feb 2010 03:56:29 +0000 http://www.lawdevnull.com/?p=1292#comment-1298 perhaps you are more well-adjusted than i was. as a former engineer - the whole law school thing took awhile to "sink in." my first semester was terrible (my gpa went up a half point between 1st and 2nd semesters) and it wasn't until the end of last semester (that's right - halfway through) that i feel like i can do, well, anything "legal." i suppose i could have done some basic legal stuff after first semester. argued with someone about public forum issues. discussed the "reasonable person" over a latte. but...until recently, i don't think i knew what being a lawyer even meant. i have to think that law, just like engineering, is another set of skills that are drilled into your head - but that you only call upon about 1% of the time for your "real job." after all, in the "real" world you will be allowed to specialize - rather than essentially changing your specialty every 4 months like law school requires. so...you're totally 16.67% lawyer. but at 50% you don't worry about being called on (even if you didn't read!) and the thought of being in the "real" world again starts to provide endless comfort. :) perhaps you are more well-adjusted than i was. as a former engineer – the whole law school thing took awhile to “sink in.” my first semester was terrible (my gpa went up a half point between 1st and 2nd semesters) and it wasn’t until the end of last semester (that’s right – halfway through) that i feel like i can do, well, anything “legal.” i suppose i could have done some basic legal stuff after first semester. argued with someone about public forum issues. discussed the “reasonable person” over a latte. but…until recently, i don’t think i knew what being a lawyer even meant. i have to think that law, just like engineering, is another set of skills that are drilled into your head – but that you only call upon about 1% of the time for your “real job.” after all, in the “real” world you will be allowed to specialize – rather than essentially changing your specialty every 4 months like law school requires. so…you’re totally 16.67% lawyer. but at 50% you don’t worry about being called on (even if you didn’t read!) and the thought of being in the “real” world again starts to provide endless comfort. :)

]]> By: Lotta http://www.lawdevnull.com/2010/02/how-much-of-a-lawyer-are-you-after-1-semester/comment-page-1/#comment-1296 Lotta Sun, 07 Feb 2010 19:12:24 +0000 http://www.lawdevnull.com/?p=1292#comment-1296 Indeed! Perform lawyerly tasks at 16.67 % efficiency or accuracy? Or perform 16.67 % of the duties of a lawyer? hmm... and what should a 16.67 % lawyer get paid? But the most puzzling question is, what is the remaining 83.33 %?? Indeed! Perform lawyerly tasks at 16.67 % efficiency or accuracy? Or perform 16.67 % of the duties of a lawyer? hmm… and what should a 16.67 % lawyer get paid? But the most puzzling question is, what is the remaining 83.33 %??

]]> By: TDot http://www.lawdevnull.com/2010/02/how-much-of-a-lawyer-are-you-after-1-semester/comment-page-1/#comment-1294 TDot Sat, 06 Feb 2010 20:15:16 +0000 http://www.lawdevnull.com/?p=1292#comment-1294 lol very true -- but what is 16.67% of a lawyer capable of doing? :P :) lol very true — but what is 16.67% of a lawyer capable of doing? :P :)

]]> By: Lotta http://www.lawdevnull.com/2010/02/how-much-of-a-lawyer-are-you-after-1-semester/comment-page-1/#comment-1292 Lotta Sat, 06 Feb 2010 03:27:13 +0000 http://www.lawdevnull.com/?p=1292#comment-1292 Ay, you are making this way more complicated than it really is! It is clearly a simple math problem, and you are 16.67 % lawyer now! he he Ay, you are making this way more complicated than it really is! It is clearly a simple math problem, and you are 16.67 % lawyer now! he he

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