Law schools have long known that first-time bar pass rates for minorities are dismal compared to others, and the reasons have long eluded them. But that has not stopped schools from taking proactive steps to help students pass the bar exam. For years it was the secret in the closet — minorities, especially African-Americans, struggled with the bar exam. While more than 95 percent of whites passed the bar exam on the first try, only 61.4 percent…
Did you miss Part 1 of Knewton’s Introduction to Law School and the LSAT video? You can catch it by viewing our recent post. Grappling with the law school admissions process, or want to learn more about what law school is really like? Check out Part 2 of Knewton’s Introduction to Law School and the LSAT series, in which Kristen Kennedy (one of Knewton’s top-notch LSAT teachers) discusses the law school curriculum, as well as the elements of a successful law…
Some lighter fare, for summer’s dog days! The legal movie arena is filled with courtroom dramas, action, thrillers and yes, some humor. What is portrayed on screen, however, isn’t always a reflection of what happens in real life. Here’s our list of the films you should see before going to law school. Deliberation time. The prosecution and defense each have rested. The fate of the defendant is now in the hands of the jury. The suspense of…
A NALP Analysis of Class of 2009 “What do the NALP [employment] numbers really mean? Are we experiencing a major recession or, alternately, a fundamental reordering of the legal services industry?” These are the questions posed and analyzed by William Henderson, Professor at the Indiana University Maurer School of Law, in The Class of 2009: Recession or Restructuring?, an insightful analysis of the legal hiring market for the Class of 2009 in the July NALP (National Association for…
What do you get when you cross Clarence Darrow, Groucho Marx, and Vlad the Impaler? The Curmudgeon’s Guide to Practicing Law, a book authored by Mark Hermann, Vice President and Chief Counsel, Litigation at Aon Corporation and former litigation partner at Jones Day. The “Curmudgeon” has practiced law long enough to know what it takes to survive and thrive in a law firm and he shares his unique, humorous, and keen insights in this must-read for those who…
Bad news from NALP. They told U.S. News & World Report that the legal job market for new JDs isn’t expected to pick up in the next two years. In fact, the employment statistics for this year’s graduating law school class are meant to be even lower than last year. In other words, the Class of 2009 had it easy. About 88 percent of grads were employed within nine months after graduation. As Vault law editor Vera Djordjevich said regarding…
Law School Insiders Grant Your Wish and Offer 5 Tips to Make Your Application Stand Out For Elle Woods, the bombshell in "Legally Blonde,?? her videotaped law-school application was all but approved when the selection committee saw her tiny red bikini. Reality check: You're not Elle Woods. And the real application process is not that easy. These days, law schools are seeing double-digit increases in applications. Thanks in part to the nation's economic meltdown, the competition is…
Tune in to our latest podcast for some great tips on how to make the most of your summer law job! It’s that time of year. Those law students lucky enough to land a summer law job this year are settling in to their clerking jobs with private law firms, government agencies, or not-for-profit organizations. If you’ve been fortunate enough to score one of these coveted positions, you’ll want to check out our new podcast, How To Succeed…
What to Know About Yourself and Your Potential School While the Search is Underway You can’t find the right school if you don’t know what you want from the beginning. But, how do you choose a school that will lend its name to the rest of your career? “When you are practicing law, the first question that you ask another lawyer is ‘Where did you go to law school?’ It creates an impression,�? said Sarah Zearfoss, assistant…
Obviously, one of the primary factors that govern a graduate school applicant’s enrollment decision is The Almighty Dollar. As in: how much will this cost, what kind of aid , and what sort of earning potential am I looking at once I finish? Analyzing educational cost is a complicated task because students must first identify actual numbers (sticker price – available scholarship and grant money) and then put those numbers in the proper context by understanding loan…