lol, now that I have some work I went back to the first time I posted in this thread and read ahead a little to see if I could notice any change in myself

I was kind of a super douche

[Edited on December 27, 2013 at 9:25 PM. Reason : 1L exams definitely knocked some of that cockiness out of me]

12/27/2013 9:25:16 PM

I think I'm too emotionally involved in my cases/clients. Does anyone get really stressed the fuck out over your cases?? I think a good part of it is my lack of experience has me questioning some of my decisions in dealing with cases. I do the whole "a better/more experienced attorney would be handling this a different way...I really hope I don't fuck this up" thing a lot. I'm really hoping this gets better the longer I practice.. If not, I can see myself burned out pretty quick.

1/16/2014 7:40:58 AM

I just started with veterans law and it is really nice in this regard. the veteran is assured of more favorable status by law, deadlines are much less concrete, and you get so many bites at the apple. if you get new evidence or have a new argument to make, you just go ahead and do it and they'll accept it. the downside to the client is of course that this could all take years they would rather not struggle during but that's bureaucracy in general.

1/18/2014 6:53:41 PM

these CLE/bar/bar association fees are racking up...one month in. I've probably registered for $500 of CLE already, waiting on one conference scholarship, and all the required bars

racket!

1/30/2014 7:45:37 AM

Just hope you don't have to pay for your own malpractice insuranc.

1/30/2014 8:00:15 AM

I don't have to pay any of it as I get reimbursed, it makes me really respect the solos out there

1/30/2014 5:04:53 PM

I'm at a small firm now, but definitely spent a lot of my own money on CLE's and bar fees. It pays to spend some time shopping around for the best CLE deal. It's also a good idea to look for CLE's later in the year because many CLE's charge more this time of year since demand is high right before the CLE deadline - usually in February sometime.

Below is a link to a CLE group that puts on very inexpensive CLE's; I attended one a few years back. The CLE itself wasn't great - about what you'd expect for the price - but it was a great networking opportunity and eventually the older attorneys in attendance began just giving out practical advice which was very helpful.

http://lawtothepeople.com/index.html

[Edited on January 31, 2014 at 5:50 AM. Reason : ...]

1/31/2014 5:48:11 AM

I'll cosign the Law to the People CLEs, I've been to several -- the forms and electronic materials are the primary benefit.

I've overdone it on CLEs, have everything covered through 2015 at this point

2/1/2014 1:20:33 AM

I third the Law to the People CLE's. Professor Peterkin is great, you can't beat the price, and the convenience of live webinar is awesome.

2/1/2014 9:36:37 AM

I'm taking the April New Attorney Program with Law to the People

12 hours, one weekend

I'm already up to 21 hours registered

2/5/2014 7:29:28 PM

@ TGD (or any other NCCU Law students/alums)

Quote :

"==> Failure avoidance. One of the unintended consequences of improving the "academic profile" has been bringing in a bunch of kids who had great college GPAs and weren't ready for NCCU's strict-C curve. I know a lot of folks who avoided or dropped our harder courses just to preserve their GPAs, which also meant avoiding the more-rigorous papers and the extra writing experience in general. (This became one of the few times I was proud of graduating from NC State with a 2.1 in my major, a C-curve didn't both me at all )"

I've heard NCCU's strict-C curve discussed in terms of putting job prospects at more of a disadvantage, but has anyone discussed whether they think this also results in fewer transfers?

2/25/2014 2:35:37 PM

Any TWW lawyers have any experience with non-legal jobs? I'm considering switching from insurance defense to a non-legal insurance job, basically a claims type position, and was curious whether anyone had experience with this type thing? It's not as if I'd be giving up my bar license, and I'd still be using skills I learned as a lawyer, but I also wouldn't be technically practicing any longer.

2/26/2014 2:29:47 PM

No help here...just curious as to the reasons behind your decision. Money? Burnt out? Time constraints?

Always interested in people getting in and out of the legal profession. I definitely don't see myself doing it for the rest of my working career.

2/26/2014 6:47:38 PM

A combination of things, but the pressure of billable hours is a major reason I'm considering other options. We are a litigation firm, but we don't specialize/focus on any one practice area so it's also frustrating to have been there two years but not feeling like I've become competent in any one particular area. And I may actually be able to make more money, more chance for advancement, at another job since we don't have a defined partner track at our firm.

2/26/2014 8:42:32 PM

jbrick83, your alma mater just sent me an email via LSAC asking me to matriculate to their fine institution...

only like 3 years too late

2/27/2014 2:46:06 PM

ha! "Charleston is so great, you'd go through law school for a second time just to live here!!"

2/27/2014 3:25:13 PM

I went to unsubscribe and delete the spam like a normal, rational person. Instead of being taken to a page acknowledging my request, or allowing me to change my settings, your school had it set up so that clicking "unsubscribe" opened up a new email message and I had to manually reply by email with a second email requesting to be unsubscribed, which is easily a top-10 first world atrocity.

So, I just typed "FUCKING UNSUBSCRIBE" and hit send.

I got an email back from the Associate Dean a bit ago impressing his "shock by the wording and tone of your request, especially from someone who seeks admission to a professional program and a profession that prides itself on civility."



LMAOOOOOOOOOOOOO

2/27/2014 6:20:05 PM

That's pretty fucking hilarious. I wonder if it has anything to do with Infilaw taking over management of the school. I'm going to post this on our facebook alumni board.

2/27/2014 6:37:27 PM

PS no shots at your school for being unranked. We know where I was before I transferred, but I was mostly trying to highlight the obvious nature of the original spam given, as you referenced, their current situation and potentially turning into an expensive diploma mill.

Quote :

"I'm equally as shocked that you would be so desperate to con people into attending an unranked, soon-to-be for-profit school that you would FUCKING SPAM 3Ls at other institutions. Perhaps you should hire a better marketing coordinator, because your current one clearly doesn't know what the fuck he is doing. > On Feb 27, 2014, at 5:23 PM, [Dean] wrote: > > [Me] > > Thank you for notifying the Office of Admission of your request to be removed from the email list at the Charleston School of Law. I must tell you, I was shocked by the wording and tone of your request, especially from someone who seeks admission to a professional program and a profession that prides itself on civility. > > You have been unsubscribed from the list. I wish you all the best as you pursue your legal education. > > Regards, > [Dean] > > Sent from my iPad"

[Edited on February 27, 2014 at 6:57 PM. Reason : .]

2/27/2014 6:54:55 PM

I wouldn't be offended even if it was. I had no pride in my graduate school even before they decided to sell-out. I got my degree and peaced the fuck out! I'd prefer the sale to InfiLaw be blocked just because I don't believe in diploma mills...but it won't affect me at all.

And keep posting the replies...I'm enjoying where this is going.

[Edited on February 27, 2014 at 7:04 PM. Reason : .]

2/27/2014 7:03:41 PM

I think that email ended the discussion. Haven't heard anything back, but I'll let you know if I do.

2/27/2014 7:05:35 PM

Quote :

"Neil Street: I've heard NCCU's strict-C curve discussed in terms of putting job prospects at more of a disadvantage, but has anyone discussed whether they think this also results in fewer transfers?"

Transfers in? or transfers out?

I know there was/is a standing agreement between NCCU / UNCCH / Campbell / Duke / WFU, where supposedly none of the other schools will take NCCU transfers and vice versa -- apparently it was set up back in the day when folks would go to NCCU just to get in somewhere, do well 1L year and then promptly leave, leading the NC General Assembly to gripe.

Truth be told I didn't pay close enough attention to transfers when I was there to notice one way or the other how many there were. I can recall about 3 in-transfers from my graduating class, and about 4 who left after 1L year. Out of a class of 145.

---

Quote :

"GoldieO: A combination of things, but the pressure of billable hours is a major reason I'm considering other options. We are a litigation firm, but we don't specialize/focus on any one practice area so it's also frustrating to have been there two years but not feeling like I've become competent in any one particular area. And I may actually be able to make more money, more chance for advancement, at another job since we don't have a defined partner track at our firm."

You can always start your own firm Plenty of $$$ to be made in litigation if you're good at it

[Edited on February 27, 2014 at 11:35 PM. Reason : ---]

2/27/2014 11:30:22 PM

True, but starting your own firm is a big step that requires lots of $$$ and something called clients. High risk, high reward. Feel free to share your success story to provide me some motivation.

2/28/2014 2:19:57 PM

A good friend of mine who has been out on his own for about 5 years now just cleared $800k for the year. Does mostly personal injury and business stuff (contracts and transactions).

I'm three years in and try to model my business plan after his.

2/28/2014 2:26:11 PM

Obama is totally going to fuck me if his loan forgiveness budget gets picked up and approved by Congress.

In fact, the whole county is going to be harmed. They will be decimating the public interest law sector.

Guess I really need to rethink Legal Aid now...

3/7/2014 9:26:11 AM

Please explain. I just read a few articles on the proposal and don't get how it's going to have the effect that you are predicting.

3/7/2014 9:53:59 AM

well if it's retroactive it will be horrible on already graduated graduate students because the forgiveness probably won't touch their graduate schooling, just undergrad

however, I've been reading more and it seems likely that it will be a "going forward" plan and not meant to screw with all the people who did make their plans to pay for school through public service

it still will have horrible repercussions because it takes away a great incentive to go into public service (you know besides a good heart but good hearts need to eat), it will not have the tuition lowering effect which is what they should be aiming for

3/7/2014 7:10:08 PM

^
I mean, I wouldn't mind if they nullified my student loans (undergrad and graduate)

that would be pretty fucking sweet, actually

my only concern is that it might encourage today's students to borrow outrageous amounts in the belief that their loans will eventually be forgiven too (which might not happen, obviously)

3/7/2014 10:06:51 PM

but again, that people might take out huge amounts of loans is a symptom, not the problem

the problem is risings tuition costs

3/8/2014 9:36:29 AM

^
no, I think it's a problem in itself. rising tuition costs are obviously a problem too, but the problem I described enjoys an independent existence

I mean, ultimately, we could trace 98% of problems back to "people need to eat," "people need shelter," and "People like to have nice things," but this doesn't mean that the subordinate problems shouldn't be attacked individually in some cases.

3/8/2014 11:09:00 AM

Rankings time!

My school dropped a solid 16 spots. People are pissssssed and ready to storm the Dean's office. To be fair though, the administration just diluted the brand by dropping admission requirements in order to grow class size to fund a new campus that we're moving to, conveniently right after I will have graduated next spring.

3/11/2014 8:49:44 AM

yeah, we jumped up 5 spots - and interestingly enough i got emailed a resume today at my firm asking if i knew a guy who graduated when i was a 1L and we may be considering hiring as a lateral.

3/12/2014 5:45:59 PM

still not ranked

3/12/2014 7:41:39 PM

Even if I had gone to a prestigious law school, I couldn't imagine caring about its rankings (after getting the first job, of course).

3/13/2014 6:45:05 AM

it makes my degree look better - not that it's stopped me from getting where I want to go but still, I want people to say "oooh ahhhh"

3/14/2014 7:29:49 PM

yeah, i agree. it's a similar kind of validation i feel whenever nc state improves in rankings or looks better in some way.

3/14/2014 10:13:36 PM

Quote :

"I just started with veterans law and it is really nice in this regard. the veteran is assured of more favorable status by law, deadlines are much less concrete, and you get so many bites at the apple. if you get new evidence or have a new argument to make, you just go ahead and do it and they'll accept it. the downside to the client is of course that this could all take years they would rather not struggle during but that's bureaucracy in general."

Taking Vet's Law Clinic this summer. Looking forward to the experience.

4/1/2014 12:49:11 AM

we got one veteran $85k lump sum back pay and benefits going forward, another $15k and the same, and another his $200 security deposit back

it was a good week

4/1/2014 8:50:55 PM

Quote :

"I'm considering switching from insurance defense to a non-legal insurance job, basically a claims type position, and was curious whether anyone had experience with this type thing?"

It's official, accepted the position yesterday. I'll keep you TWW lawyers posted on whether I end up regretting my decision to switch from litigation to a non-legal role at an insurance company. But with a large increase in my base salary, and not having to worry about billable hours, it's hard to see a downside at the moment. Except for that whole saving a year's worth of emails and getting my files ready to be handed over to another associate before giving the partners my two weeks notice next Friday...

4/3/2014 12:24:46 PM

Congratulations! I'd probably do the same if the opportunity presented itself (the number would have to be right). I'm working on a large, extended plan of getting out of the legal profession as well, but it's going to involve a very long transition...and I think I'll always take a case here and there (and help out friends...which is something I feel like I do more than actually bill clients).

4/3/2014 1:50:25 PM

Thanks, hopefully I'm making the right decision. I don't see it as getting out of the legal profession per se, especially since I'll still be involved in settling claims already in litigation, but I guess I won't be able to tell people I'm a practicing lawyer any longer at all the fancy cocktail parties I attend. I'll definitely handle the occasional speeding ticket for friends/family, and maybe one day I'll get back into litigation with the insurance experience added to my resume.

4/3/2014 4:38:33 PM

One more exam and then the 2LE year is in the books.

5/5/2014 11:24:12 PM

On a side note, a former classmate from law school is the new Bachelorette...it should be interesting to watch. I had friends predicting before she was on the Bachelor that she would end up finding a way to be the Bachelorette, and I guess they were right.

5/28/2014 6:31:20 PM

When you did defense work did you work for a firm? Or for the company itself? Are you an adjuster now?

5/28/2014 8:48:17 PM

I'm assuming this ^ was directed at me? If so, yes, I was with a small firm when I was involved with civil defense work that had no ties to the company I'm with now. And yes, I am now a licensed adjuster.

5/29/2014 2:01:05 PM

12 credit hours left after Tuesday. So ready to just get the bar over this time next year.

7/24/2014 11:07:30 AM

Question for all of the practicing TWW lawyers. Are you a member of your local bar? If so, is it a voluntary or mandatory jurisdiction?

I already pay dues in the two states I'm licensed in, but I also have to pay annual dues ($225.00) to my local bar since it's a mandatory jurisdiction. I have decided to pen an article in protest, but would like feedback from anyone who finds membership in their local bar to be beneficial. I don't derive any benefit from my local bar and would appreciate feedback from anyone on why I'm wrong and should just pay my dues like everyone else sans protest.

I understand the same arguments could be made pro/con for state bars being mandatory, but I'm starting small for now and just focusing on my county.

8/18/2014 1:40:37 PM

NC - Yes. Mandatory.

8/19/2014 10:25:35 PM

Which mandatory local jurisdiction are you in? And do you derive any benefit from your membership?

8/20/2014 8:47:49 AM

Each county is part of a judicial district, and you're required to join the judicial district either (1) where you live or (2) where you practice. The only "benefit" from the required District Bar is being able to help choose who from your judicial district serves on the State Bar's Disciplinary Hearing Committee / Grievance Committee / etc

That's separate from the judicial district bar associations; the utility of those vary widely by district. Wake's (10th Judicial District) bar association is probably the best in the state; Durham's (14th JD) tends to suck, but does provide 12 hours of CLE a year for the money.

[Edited on August 26, 2014 at 2:03 AM. Reason : ---]

8/26/2014 2:02:38 AM