For broader context and explanation, I'm a Canadian and did my undergrad in the University of Toronto. It's been a couple of years since I graduated and got my bachelors. During COVID, I've been working on getting work experience and just bettering my overall mental stability (and still working on it!), so I haven't been applying and reviewing for the LSAT or my application. I'm planning on applying for law school in Canada and Australia (as back up) for the 2023 intake. I have Australia to fall back on incase my LSAT scores falters or I don't get into any schools in Canada. I'm wondering if I get into USyd for law, which I have already previously but had to defer, can I just stay in Sydney to live and practise law there? I'm not really keen on going back to Toronto and I'd like to have the opportunity to live somewhere else.
I'd just like some input in my plans and if someone has gone/going through the same experiences as me!
You can't legally require kids to be in school for 6-8 hours a day and not expect to feed them. On top of that, since schools receive federal funds for the food, making kids pay for their meals means that the schools are essentially being paid twice for the same meal since the government pays for them, plus the students pay for them.
Edit: I should probably point out that I know many school districts have been getting free food. The point of this post is that a lot of people argue that they shouldn't be given free food. Just because they are doing it doesn't mean these people are happy about it or agree with it.
In the United States, there are four states that allow a person to qualify to take the bar exam without attending any law school: California, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington. Instead, the student studies between three and four years in a law office. Each state has their own rules regarding reading the law, but all require that the student study the black letter law in multiple subjects. A fifth state, New York, allows students to enter into a law office study program after completing one year of law school.
The most famous modern day reader of the law is Kim Kardashian. She is currently enrolled in the Law Office Study Program in California and recently passed the First Year Law Office Student Examination ("baby bar.")
I am fortunate to live in Virginia where I was able to enroll in and complete the law reader program. I passed the bar exam on my first attempt and am now a practicing attorney. I am including my acceptance letter into the law office program and my letter confirming that I passed the bar exam.
I have been asked many questions about the law reader program and becoming an attorney through this unconventional route, so I am offering an AMA today.
Copy of the letters: https://ibb.co/D7NMMjw
FAQ
- Can I transfer my law license to another state?
No. Each start has their own requirements for admission into their bar and the vast majority require a Juris Doctorate degree. I think that there are a couple of jurisdictions (like DC and Vermont) that allow for reciprocity for an attorney without a JD, but I would have to double check. Overall though, law readers are somewhat confined to their state. A law reader from one state can't even transfer to another law reader state. Each state's bar at the end of the day has the final call on who they admit into their bar.
- Can I practice federal law in another state?
It is my understanding that tax courts and immigration courts have their own licensure requirements, so it may be possible for me to practice in those courts. However, I have no experience in those areas and so I have not looked more into those possibilities. Generally though, federal courts that are not specialized (like immigration and tax) require the attorney to be admitted into that state's bar.
- What resources did I use to study the law and for the bar exam?
From the start, I used Barbri and Quimbee. Those two resources helped me the most in learning the basics of the
... keep reading on reddit ➡The Wiki has been great for recommendations on what to see and where to go.
So where should I not go and try avoid at all costs?
Lol. But it does teach that biglaw and clerkships are the end-all and be-all of your existence. Dumb
Today in contracts a guy asked the professor if he could sue a woman for reliance interest bc she “led him on” and prevented him from “talking to other women”.
Fun fact: The woman in question was present in the class!
In CivPro 2 women had a loud argument before class and turns out that it was because one of them wanted to change seats. One of them yelled “A heads up would have been nice” which I found funny considering that it’s something as simple as a seat change so that the woman could see better. Does that warrant yelling in front of the entire class?
I laughed a lot today but stopped bc I realized that these are future attorneys and things aren’t looking too good
Go after you have some time in the real world to develop a sense of identity. If not you will form your identity— and your resume —solely based on law school. Go into the military, start a bakery, join the peace corps, start a family, etc. Find something that not only makes you unique, but allows you to have confidence in yourself outside of your performance in law school. It’s disheartening to see so many have their happiness contingent on their GPA.
Like all of y'all, I was obsessed with prestige thinking it would solve all of my problems; I actually ended up getting into Rice (tbh not great for career prospects vs other t20s) and admitted off WL to UPenn but I couldn't afford to attend either, and I was CRUSHED. I attended a very low ranked college (like 150s); flash forwards a few years and I'm currently working in Germany in CV Surgery Research (Fulbright) and will attend a t30 med school in a few months. Honestly, I don't think I would have made it this far if I went to a prestigious uni. I'll detail my personal reasons for enjoying my "low-ranked" college experience, and then a couple tips and paths to "high-paying careers" I've seen colleagues achieve.
- An easygoing culture and simpler academics gives you more time to focus on ECs (for me it was research, MCAT studying, etc). I was able to graduate a year early and develop my CV a lot faster because I was able to skip class and keep high grades.
- Being a big fish in a small pond lets you distinguish yourself early on - early publications and winning intramural competitions let me get a few important internships (1 at a well-known school, 1 @ a big tech company) and I got my dream job working for, then contracting, for the Army. I even got a bunch of OR experience and got to practice my sutures/ligatures on pigs lmao. If you are interested in Fulbrights, Rhodes, or Goldwaters then you have a better shot since you have to compete with people from your college.
- The environment is less toxic. Idk how I'd feel attending a school with gunners, in undergrad I avoided even premeds. If this sub is any indication, a significant chunk of people at t20s are engaged in perpetual academic dick-measuring contests. I was able to meet a lot of people who were easy going and make great memories. Greek life is less toxic (IMHO) and easier to participate in and balance w academics.
6 Figure Career Examples:
CS Careers (CS major):
Year 1: Start up your github, work with a professor to make projects which have publishable elements. I had a friend who made databases and dashboards for public health research. Easily accomplished in 1-1.5 semesters. Work a unpaid/below market internship (same friend leveraged the work into a devops internship with our state's PUH department).
Year 2: Start studying data structures/algorithms hard, start grinding leetcode, buff up your github projects but make sure they are being utilized by someone somewhere willing
... keep reading on reddit ➡Just putting this out there, Lily supported Marshall throughout law school until he got a job, in New York City on her teacher's salary. I feel like many forget in the process of hating her
https://twitter.com/dennisdoddcbs/status/1484978283523543041
I don't like being a lawyer. I feel like I have no idea what I'm doing. I studied so hard and graduated in 2020 in the top 10% of my class, but it feels like it was just a complete waste. I'll probably be in debt forever. And I can't work in anything I actually care about because all I can be concerned with is the amount of money I make just so I can afford my loans and basic needs. Does it ever get better?
Like the title says it makes no sense to me that they still kick kids out of school and in some cases end their future chances at furthering their education and some job possibilities over a little weed what gives
1L, used to take really good care of my body and eat relatively clean. I don’t have the energy to eat right and exercise anymore. Law school is extremely draining. Plus I can’t go to the gym anymore because I have high risk family members and the only time I can go to the gym it’s packed. Anyone else dealt with this problem/have any tips?
Edit: The response this post has gotten has been great! Thank you all for your contributions and suggestions. It’s good to know that I’m not the only person struggling with this, but it’s also concerning that this seems to be a common issue with law students. I’m gonna start finding at least 20 minutes a day to work out and I’m gonna meal prep on Sundays so I’m not eating garbage for dinner every night. Stay safe and healthy, mentally and physically <3
