Is this a heavy course load ?

[Lawhopeful123]

Hey Y'all, I know I've posted something similar, but wanted to know if you think this course load is manageable for the fall term with the 2L recruit. 

 

Secured transactions - 4 credit 

Business Organizations - 4 credit 

Trusts - 3 credits 

Admin law - 4 credits 

 

I'm thinking of switching secured transactions or Admin law for a 3 credit writing course that has some seats available. Advice is appreciated 🙂

Edited August 27 by Lawhopeful123

[chaboywb]

You'll survive but it's not ideal. Very dependent on your own work ethic and familiarity with the topics as well. 

[Pecan Boy]

That sounds tough. I'd personally do what you've suggested, and switch Secured Transactions with a bird course.

Another option (though not sure if it's your thing based on the courses you're taking) is trying out for a competitive moot. Most of them give you 1 credit for the Fall with minimal work during that semester, which would allow you to drop Trusts, hold onto the other three courses, and still be at the credit minimum for the Fall. 

[Lawhopeful123]

37 minutes ago, Pecan Boy said:

That sounds tough. I'd personally do what you've suggested, and switch Secured Transactions with a bird course.

Another option (though not sure if it's your thing based on the courses you're taking) is trying out for a competitive moot. Most of them give you 1 credit for the Fall with minimal work during that semester, which would allow you to drop Trusts, hold onto the other three courses, and still be at the credit minimum for the Fall. 

Thanks. I know it's advised to do Admin law asap, but its not a pre-req for the courses I'm interested in, so I think I'm going to drop it for a bird course. But dropping trusts for a competitive moot is also a good idea - thanks 

[MyWifesBoyfriend]

6 hours ago, Pecan Boy said:

Most of them give you 1 credit for the Fall with minimal work during that semester,

Stupid question, but I assume this means you don’t get a grade and it’s just P/F?

If yes, is it advisable to just take a course if your 1L grades aren’t too good?

Edited August 27 by MyWifesBoyfriend

[Pecan Boy]

1 hour ago, MyWifesBoyfriend said:

Stupid question, but I assume this means you don’t get a grade and it’s just P/F?

If yes, is it advisable to just take a course if your 1L grades aren’t too good?

Yeah, moots are just P/F. I think there is maybe a way to get them graded at your request, but it requires extra written work and I don't think I know anyone who's done that. 

With respect to your second question, I'm assuming you're asking about this with a view toward improving your grades in advance of the 2L recruit? If so, your Fall grades won't be released by the time of the recruit, so employers are going to be looking solely at your 1L grades anyway. So don't use that as a basis to opt for a course over a moot. That said, if you think you want to apply to some lit boutiques, doing a moot helps to show a demonstrated interest in litigation, which would maybe be marginally helpful in overcoming below-average 1L grades. 

[MyWifesBoyfriend]

2 hours ago, Pecan Boy said:

With respect to your second question, I'm assuming you're asking about this with a view toward improving your grades in advance of the 2L recruit?

I was more so thinking along the lines of if my grades are mediocre first year, and I wanted to strategize for the articling recruit knowing full well my 2L chances are shot.

[Pecan Boy]

21 minutes ago, MyWifesBoyfriend said:

I was more so thinking along the lines of if my grades are mediocre first year, and I wanted to strategize for the articling recruit knowing full well my 2L chances are shot.

Your chances definitely aren't shot as a UofT with below average 1L grades. Many such people have gotten Bay Street jobs in the 2L recruit. Bay Street firms reach very deeply into the UofT class. (Also, are you a law school admit or an incoming 2L? If the former, no need to worry about this stuff yet.)

In any event, I guess that strategy depends on how confident you are that you can improve your grades in 2L. You might improve your grades, sure, but it may alternatively be worth trying to bolster other parts of your resume with clinics, moots, supervised research projects, etc. I don't think there's one right answer to this though.

[SNAILS]

You aren't going to boost your chances at the 2L recruit unless you actually get good grades in all those 4 very demanding courses (compared to taking 2-3 demanding courses and 1-2 easier courses).

My strategy tended to be as much about "spreading out the work" as it was about easy courses. For example, I would pick an essay course and have that paper substantially completed 2 weeks before exam time, allowing me to focus on only 3 courses. I would always take a close look at the exam schedule. I would never take 2 courses with exams back-to-back. Ideally, I would want a couple of days between exams, or even a weekend.

If the four courses you listed has exams evenly spaced across 2 weeks, it would be doable for me.

[INFJatlaw]

Not a UofT student. I'm also a little worried about my workload for the first semester of 2L: simliar to the OP's, but with six courses, including tax course and finance for lawyers. Not sure whether I can handle them well. But I already secured a 2L summer job, so maybe it is doable if I just need to be a straight B student. 

Edited August 31 by INFJatlaw

[BlockedQuebecois]

13 hours ago, SNAILS said:

You aren't going to boost your chances at the 2L recruit unless you actually get good grades in all those 4 very demanding courses (compared to taking 2-3 demanding courses and 1-2 easier courses).

Considering the 2L recruit takes place months before those grades will be released, it would be almost impossible for those courses to boost OP's chances, even if they get straight HHs!

[Rashabon]

3 hours ago, BlockedQuebecois said:

Considering the 2L recruit takes place months before those grades will be released, it would be almost impossible for those courses to boost OP's chances, even if they get straight HHs!

Constantly demonstrates the worst attention to detail I've ever seen.

[cities1000]

That's definitely a heavy course load. I had a very similar semester last year (but with one less doctrinal course) and it was intense, especially around finals. Your schedule as it is will probably be more demanding than 1L. You should definitely try out for a moot! I know you were considering it above. You could also email Assistant Dean Faherty to see if there are any openings left in externships. 

[Lawhopeful123]

20 hours ago, cities1000 said:

That's definitely a heavy course load. I had a very similar semester last year (but with one less doctrinal course) and it was intense, especially around finals. Your schedule as it is will probably be more demanding than 1L. You should definitely try out for a moot! I know you were considering it above. You could also email Assistant Dean Faherty to see if there are any openings left in externships. 

Thanks! Are you referring to it still being a heavy course even if I were to exchange admin for a writing course? 

[cities1000]

3 hours ago, Lawhopeful123 said:

Thanks! Are you referring to it still being a heavy course even if I were to exchange admin for a writing course? 

No problem! In that case, it really depends on your preference. I would personally not like to write a 5,000+ word paper and study for three 100% finals. It might take some of the load off if you can manage well, though.