re: Advice to upcoming law school graduates

Long response with advice for law grads.

For the Bar: I never understood BarBri. You know the substantial majority of what's being tested (K, evidence, torts, etc). What you don't know can be learned relatively easy. Get the books/tests from someone who took it last year and self study. If you don't have the discipline to self study after 7 years of school and with all that you have riding on the exam, I don't know what to tell you.

Agree that bar loans are generally not a great idea and saw a lot of people use to them to spend the summer studying a couple of hours a day at BarBri and drink with thei classmates. I needed the cash and was able to work a couple of weeks between graduating and the bar but I also took out a loan.

Re job search, if you do not have a job in the legal field and that is your ultimate goal, get a job in the legal field as soon as possible. What I mean is beat the bushes now. Get something lined up. Almost anything is better than nothing. It will be much easier to find a job you think you want if you have a job, even if it is one that you think is beneath you. Suggestions on looking for jobs:

Limit yourself as little as possible. Be as open as you can to private/public, litigation/transactional, civil/criminal, location, salary, prestige. If you don't have a job at graduation, you goals should be (1) passing the bar, and (2) getting a job lined up to start in August or September.

Bug your career services office weekly. Even if they suck, especially if they suck. Call the career services offices at schools in cities in which you are interested. Reach out to career services from your undergrad. Look for job fairs. Looks for veterans groups, church groups, special interest groups, alumni, anyone that might be willing to help out.

Make a list of 50 people who can maybe give you job advice and reach out to each one of them to schedule coffee, lunch or a drink in may, June or July (and do they same for August if you have to). I'm not talking about 50 hiring partners. I mean anyone connected to the legal field. Former classmates that were ahead of you in law school, legal secretaries of paralegals, people that work for the government, business people that use lawyers. People liked to be asked for their advice. They may know nothing but it only takes one.

Start volunteering with the local bar. Immediately. If you go work at a help desk or volunteer at a bar's charity function, you are going to meet people. Lawyers that might have a job to offer or know someone that does. Most bars have regular social events, go to everyone of them.

Publish an article. What, while studying for the bar? Absolutely. Do something to stand out. An article on the job market, or a recent case that came out, anything of interest to young lawyers. Do something to standout. Something that shows your serious about getting a job. And are willing to work hard. A number of your class mates are not willing to do either. A number of them have likely been more willing to do both and therefore already have a job (that may sound harsh but is going to be the view in the marketplace). If you have an interest in publishing and/or putting together a podcast, I have access to a free platform that may interest you.

Good luck.

For some people who do it with a wife, 2 kids, can't work during the study time (may-June) and all the other stuff that goes with it, they are worth it if you choose to eat and have electricity.

My advice to the folks getting out:
1. Don't buy that new car just yet
2. Plan on being poor for a few more years, but learn and work your arse off (either gov't teat or some firm)
3. Tired of working for the man, or can't seem to fit in with Scooter and Skeeter's golf schedule? Say frick it, hang your shingle and actually call clients back and do the work. 10-15 years later, you'll have all the bullshite toys you want and you won't owe anyone any favors.
4. And stay the hell out of politics!

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quote: Loyola has a decent name around the country. Loyola New Orleans isn't the best of Loyola's, but Loyola still has a decent name. Loyola Chicago is well known. I don't know if people distinguish between the different locations frankly. I can't say LSU is too well known outside of Louisiana. What?

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You know kinda like how Xavier NO and Xavier in Ohio play off of each other's reputations

If you have any questions please forward them to tigerdroppings dot com chief solicitor Elleshoe.

The guy isn't totally off base in the abstract. There are a lot of people who go through the jesuit system and respect the Loyola name because of that. In other words, with Loyola you get a nationally known brand that a certain type of Catholic will respect, and that is something you don't get at generic third tier private law school USA. Now, is that that a good reason to go to Loyola NO for law school? Hell no.

I mean it may be enough to make you a buddy in a bar. No firm is going to overlook that difference.

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Most grads from a place like LSU end up litigating at mid size to small firms in places like BR, Lafayette, Shreveport, LC, etc. and do just fine.

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That sounds absolutely fricking horrible. If I had stayed in Louisiana ( ), it would be strictly for New Orleans. Which school places in NOLA best?

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That sounds absolutely fricking horrible.

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you live in South Carolina

It's hell I tell ya...