July 14th, 2006
advice, please!
Blawgosphere, let me ask you a question:
In picking classes, should I be more concerned about schedule than topic? What I mean is, I am pretty sure I am going to bid high for one highly topical class that’s a late-afternoon class; I am already slated to take another class that meets at the same time on a different day. For filling in the rest of my schedule, should I focus on WHEN my other classes are, or WHAT I take? What’s more important for me right now?
comments
Schedule was always a secondary consideration for me.
I’d rather have a class I was interested in and enjoyed instead of something that I hated just because it meant no class on Friday.
Schedule was an important determination of what classes I didn’t take though. With one exception (Trial Practice, because it was taught by a judge) anything that met before 9 or after 6 was just out of the question. But that’s only because I have kids and a husband with an unpredictable schedule.
Not that I have anymore experience than you do :), but for my two cents: I’ve discovered that there are more classes tht I am interested in taking in the next two year than there are semesters in which to take those classes. So for me, schedule is last. Example, to get what I wanted, I have class on Monday from 10:30-noon, 1:15-2;10 and 3:15-4:40, no class on thurs and one afternoon class on friday (not my whole schedule, just random icky parts of it). So I’m taking what is interesting.
Whichever one you choose, make sure they’ll be offering the other one within the next year. Sometimes topical classes don’t generate enough interest (depending on what it is) and gets dropped off the schedule.
I would *always* choose topic over schedule… if you really like the class, you won’t mind the schedule… but the reverse is not necessarily true.
I must agree. Content, then schedule. There may be a point where you’re balancing the two - I gave up Trusts and Estates last spring b/c the content i wanted created such a beastly schedule (classes from 8:30 to 8:30 on M, T, Th).
But if I can’t imagine taking something horrendous just for the sake of schedule.
When a class is, is very important to me unless the topic of the class is something ungodly wonderful and interesting to me I will not register for it if it’s at a weird time.
I agree w/the content-first vote, but if you can only get a really screwy schedule that way, take a second (or third) look at your class wish-list. Maybe I just got lucky, but I could always find something else I wanted to take that would condense the schedule into something more convenient. Also, beginning in your second year I recommend thinking about clinics and internships during school and making time for that in your schedule. You’ll be very glad you did. A good clinic or internship will pay off much more after graduation than just about any class.
You should look at content, but also look at hours and time based on other commitments. If you’re not going to be on journal or do moot court (extremely rare), then take as much as you want, and take exactly the classes you want. At the very least it will be like 1L, but without the legal writing projects.
If you are doing both journal and moot court, I would avoid burnout. Remeber you’ll also have a job search to worry about as well, not to mention clinics, internships, student organizations, etc. etc. If you’ve already commited a lot of time and energy, I might consider what times classes are. I might consider whether I’m going to want to be able to sleep in really late after a very long night right before the journal is published. Or do you want a long break in the day to get all your school work out of the way before your activities start in the afternoon.
Consider how often something is being offered as well. If a class is offered both semesters, every single year, it doesn’t need to be a priority. Next semester, I have to take Antitrust, because it’s the only time it’s offered while I’m at law school.
Content. If nothing else, it should help keep you motivated. Law school is enough work without taking classes with which you’ll be dissatisfied.
I’m going to buck the crowd here, but I think schedule is key to enjoying law school.
I’ve never had a class I hated in law school, barring LWR. So for me, I trusted that I’d like the classes, and picked based on schedule. It was a good decision. The one time I took a class at a bad time for me, because it was rumored to be a great class, I found the professor indifferent and I got very frustrated with the bad timing. I am sure I didn’t enjoy it as much because I was tired and frustrated by the time the class began.
IMO, scheduling free time in law school is as important as scheduling classes.
First of all, enjoyment is key. If you don’t enjoy a class, nothing else really matters. But the schedule is only a part of that.
Two things stay with you after law school: grades and the knowledge. If you’re at a point where you no longer care about grades, try to choose something that you don’t think you’ll be exposed to after law school.
as a 2L, and certainly a 3L, yes look at the schedule. perhaps this applies more to me (though i doubt it) because my law school doesnt know how to make a reasonable schedule, but be sure you have time to do your work, participate in the clubs you want, and any other activities.
the key to law school comes down to time management. sure, some classes will be useful for the bar. but nothing you do here will help you that much in practice.
also, i see i’m listed here as class of ‘06, but i’m actually ‘07.