Practitioner General Discussion
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What's Happening
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Entering 1L Advice
Finishing up 1L now, and I would say to never compare yourself to others. Don't make a big deal about small things as so many things are sort of out of your control. Just go to class (I cannot stress that enough). People skip classes and rely on summaries and notes of others, but I have really only learned the most by being present in class to, at least, hear the information for myself. I am a mature student, so my outlook may be a bit different from others, but treat this like a graduate school experience. Going to a bar does nothing for your academics or your career; make contacts in a professional way. I never went to a bar with any of my classmates, and I have made contacts with current Crown prosecutors, leaders in non-profit organizations, two strong mentorships with current practicing lawyers, and a law clinic where I get practical experience in my area of interest. Take time to not be in school mode, but that can be whatever you find interesting or worthwhile. If you make room for something, you can include it within your day as a first-year law student. -
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Lower than competitive GPA would still love to get in to u Ottawa
The cGPA you have is still pretty strong. Also, looking at their website they look at all aspects of your application. So strong personal statement, references and autobiographical sketch can offset the cGPA. Looking at the accepted threads on this forum (which is a small sample of the overall class) there is some people with a much lower or around your cGPA that got in with LSAT scores of 164 to 174. So, I think if you aim for something in that range you will have a really good shot. But remember cGPA/LSAT are only a part of the assessment, so don’t put too much pressure on yourself to get like a 180 lol. -
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Entering 1L Advice
My number one piece of advice would be not to be afraid to ask for things -- be that career advice, notes, or a job. Most senior students and lawyers will be happy to help because they remember when they were in your shoes. I would also recommend trying to hone your writing skills. Even the best writers can improve, and I firmly believe that writing ability is what separates many of the top students from the rest of the class. Knowledge is important, but the best exam responses not only identify the issues, but also explain them clearly. I've improved my writing through practice and reading books on the topic. In particular, I've found Ross Garner's book Point Made helpful. Finally, it's important not to burn out. Law school is difficult, but it's frankly a cakewalk compared to most demanding jobs. There is enough time in the week to socialize and work out. I started treating law school as more of a 9 to 5 job this year, and it's really helped me. -
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Post-articling job search
This is one of the toughest moments to get a job in law, for sure. There are always many students in the market at this stage because every year lots of firms don't hire back 100% of their complement. Relying on postings is very likely to be unsuccessful, as you say. This is not unique advice, but you have to hustle and network. Uncover "unposted" openings before others do. Utilize all resources at your disposal, including your student director (if you're at a big firm) or your mentor / articling principal if you're not. Get them to set up coffee chats for you. Ask everyone you meet if they have one person they could arrange for you to meet. Prepare for these meetings with your "elevator pitch". -
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Entering 1L Advice
I had a good 1L experience. Met a lot of smart, driven and fun people from different walks of life in a very short time. Learned a lot in my classes, from my classmates and about myself. I'm assuming you want to do well, so I think the best piece of advice I can give is to remember why you are there: to get good grades and secure employment. In my opinion, too many 1Ls at some point forget that they're paying tens of thousands of dollars to attend a professional school for that reason. It's important to build good relationships (please go to a pub night or two or three) but it's not a popularity contest or an extra 3 years to party like you're in undergrad. In my experience, succeeding in law school requires you to cultivate a routine and headspace that will allow you to succeed and stay happy and relaxed while doing it. Socialize, yes, but eat well, sleep well, exercise, take some time for yourself and always get through your allotted readings for the day (or at least catch up quickly). Sometimes this will mean you have to turn down one or two invites to go out, distance yourself from classmates that pose distractions or are negative, and so on. So when faced with an invite to go out for a second night in a row or grab dinner for several more hours after class, remember why you are attending a professional school for tens of thousands of dollars. I also think that you should aim to network with lawyers early. Don't wait until OCI to start talking with people who are practicing at firms and in fields you may be interested in, who have been in your shoes and who will no doubt have experiences and tips to share with you 🙂- 1
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Legal field entry question
Have to echo the above: stop exploring largely irrelevant tangents and get your LSAT done and applications in. You will get a very good idea of what it takes to be a lawyer by going to law school (some aspects of it, at least). If you don't like it, leave after first year. Entering law school does not commit you to completing three years.- 2
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Entering 1L Advice
Hello there! I am wondering if anyone can offer advice, discuss their experience, share what they had learned in their first year of law school, and share what you wish you knew going in? -
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Legal field entry question
As some who has hired LAs and paralegals in the recent past, this is very good advice. E.g., I had an excellent paralegal for less than 12 months because she ended up going to law school. She was just starting to get the hang of her job and take ownership of work when she left. I don't think I would make that same decision again. I'd be looking to hire ppl who want to be LAs/paralegals. -
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Negotiating Interest Payments during Study
I don’t have an answer but this is something that should matter in the grand scheme of things. I know someone that graduated law school 10 years ago, still has their line of credit and has been dumb enough to not establish an emergency fund. If they get let go from their firm, they are effectively fucked. If you can find any way to minimize your debt, do it. Prioritize your private debt in contrast to government student loans. I think that our law schools need to be more proactive in having a mandatory session on finances in orientation. We no longer have rock bottom interest rates and financial instability will impact your ability to practice as a lawyer. I think in at least one province you have to report if you have filed a consumer proposal and will be marked with a restriction on practice. I commend you for thinking about this now instead of afterwards. I am trying to pay off my line of credit that I have used before I am done law because it stresses me out that much. Applying for bursaries and scholarships as much as I can. -
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Thoughts about certificates in the legal profession? Including certs aimed at non-lawyers.
I think that sometimes people answer questions without knowing what they are talking about. CIPP/C holds some weight. I have been told as much by lawyers practicing in privacy law. It demonstrates knowledge, and indicates a commitment to the practice area. Unlike a course based certificate, CIPP/C you have to pass a knowledge based exam. It’s not something that someone can accomplish in a weekend to pad their resume. I can’t speak for the other certificates. The CSC is stupidly easy I hear (well that was many years ago I heard that so things might have changed). If you are not interested in securities work it may be pointless but otherwise the privacy stuff is relevant to everywhere you work unless you have a privacy officer that takes care of it all (but still good to know). A lot of privacy law work is breach management/reporting. Older has a monthly privacy call if you are interested in this and it’s quite good. -
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Admission 2024 - UDEM
J'ai été accepté a L'UdeM ce soir a minuit. Je suis une ppliquante universitaire avec un baccalaureat en science politique. Terminé avec 3.5/4.0 de McGill. J'ai accepté l'offre et je vous souhaite tous une tres bonne chance 🙂- 1
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Lower than competitive GPA would still love to get in to u Ottawa
uOttawa's median is around 3.7/158 (I heard some professors said the median in recent years increased a little bit.) Still, your cgpa is strong and you shouldn't worry to much about it. Just try to score above 158 and write a good personal statement, then you will be fine! -
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Lower than competitive GPA would still love to get in to u Ottawa
Hi Everyone! I am a third year and have a cGPA of 3.61, I am a bit worried since usually a competitive GPA is 3.7. I have decided to slow down with school and do five years to help higher my GPA since I have to work. My dream school is UOttawa. What LSAT score would I need to get a spot there? It is worth mentioning I have incredibly strong softs, a triple major writing a thesis on law, and great future recommendation letters. -
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Legal field entry question
Arguing and clarifying a position was not a sign of disrespect at all. Thank you for pinpointing other aspects.
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