Quinnipiac University School of Law

Can you find happiness in law school?

2010-03-19T14:31:00.002-04:00

Yes! I can say, honestly, that I have found my studies here to be exceedingly enjoyable, a statement (as you have have noticed) that is increasingly rare in today's high-competition law school environment.

My class mates are wonderful people. Especially during the first year, I found myself making connections with dozens of my fellow classmates; within about the first month of arriving in CT (I was a transplant from NH) I knew enough people that I could get in contact with someone if I had a question about the reading or simply wanted a friend to go out for a beer with.

The professors are accessible; I have taken a full course load for two semesters each year and during that time I have not had one professor who could not be reached if I 'hit a wall' in my studies - you've heard people say that their school has an 'open door policy' but this school really takes it up a notch in this category. Also, with very few exceptions, professors here are friendly - most come to know you by your first name and many get actively involved in student groups and associations (the Irish law society, for example, has a pot-luck singalong at Professor Farrell's house twice a year, it is always a riot). Although some professors are better than others (which I think will be the case no matter where you go) upper classmen are always more than willing to give you the 'low down' on just about any professor, class, clinic or externship you could ever dream of taking.

Lastly, the staff here will bend over backwards to help you out (I never thought about this while choosing a law school myself, but after having spent three years here I can tell you this makes a world of difference). The library staff will, nine times out of ten, drop whatever they are doing and help you find whatever obscure fact you have been searching for (they have got me out of a pinch several times). Our ILL lady, Linda Holt, can get just about any book you could ever need (she got me a microfilm copy of an 1860's New Orleans newspaper in less than a week!). Dean King and Dean Durso meet with any student who wants to go over their class registration plans - sometimes even without appointments (just to make sure you're taking all the courses you need to graduate and such). Heck, even the cleaning crew is awesome (esp. the ladies there during the day - Bunny and Joany - be sure you introduce yourself, you will be glad you did).

I could really go on - and would be glad to if you have any specific questions - but, looking up at what I have already written, I think I had better leave things off here. :)

One last thing though, I was accepted at six schools, two of which were better ranked than QU; if I had to do it all over again, I would still come here. Law school can be rough at times, but having pleasant yokefellows goes a long way to making the experience enjoyable.

Adam Shibley '10

Completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

2010-01-27T16:14:00.001-05:00

The 2010-11 FAFSA is now available. As a law student, you are considered independent for FAFSA purposes. Quinnipiac University School of Law does not require you to provide parental information on the FAFSA nor do we ask you to complete a supplemental financial aid application. If you are completing the FAFSA for multiple law schools, you should check their requirements.

The best time to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is early, and online. You can save and continue the FAFSA at any time online and then sign your application electronically using a personal identification number (PIN) which you can get from the Federal Student Aid PIN Web site.

The FAFSA is primarily designed to assess eligibility for federal student aid but many schools also use the FAFSA to determine eligibility for nonfederal student aid funds. The following are some helpful tips in filling out the application.

Filling out the Pre-Application Worksheet will help you collect and proofread the information for your application before you submit it. There are resources available if you decide you need assistance filling out the FAFSA, check the FAQ section on the FAFSA Web site, or call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-4-FED AID (1-800-433-3243).
Completing your taxes early will help you get a jump on the FAFSA because you'll need that information to complete the FAFSA. You can estimate the amounts using data from previous tax years, but you'll need to correct the amounts on the form later by going to the corrections page on the FAFSA Web site. If you are not required to file taxes you still have to fill out a FAFSA for federal aid consideration.

Errors you make when filling out the FAFSA could delay your application. See below for some common errors you should avoid when filling out the FAFSA.

Leaving blank fields–enter a '0' or 'not applicable' instead of leaving a blank. Too many blanks may cause miscalculations and an application rejection.

Using commas or decimal points in numeric fields–always round to the nearest dollar.

Listing incorrect Social Security Number or Driver's license number–be sure to double check this data for accuracy.

Entering the wrong federal income tax paid amount–obtain your federal income paid amount from your income tax return forms, not your W-2 form(s).

Listing Adjusted Gross Income as equal to total income–these are usually not the same figure. In most cases, the AGI is larger than the total income. This mistake is particularly common.

Listing marital status incorrectly–only write yes if you're currently married. They want to know what you're marital status is on the day you sign the FAFSA, or Renewal FAFSA.

Leaving the question about drug-related offenses blank–If you're unsure about something, find out before you submit your FAFSA instead of leaving it blank. A conviction doesn't necessarily disqualify you from getting aid.

Forgetting to list the college–obtain the Federal School Code for the college you plan on attending and list it–along with any other schools to which you've applied. Quinnipiac University School of Law’s Federal School Code is E00545.

Listing incorrect housing plans–you will need to list your housing plans specific to each school you have listed; if you are living off campus at one institution, you may be living on campus or with a parent at another.

Listing incorrect family size–you will need to provide your family size which in many cases may be one; you no longer list parental data on the FAFSA so you do not count your parents and siblings in your family size; you would count spouses and children.

Entering the wrong address–your permanent address is not your campus or summer address.

Forgetting to sign and date– If you're filing electronically, be sure to obtain your PIN from www.pin.ed.gov. Your PIN is your electronic signature and will always be assigned to you only.

Sending in a copy of your income tax returns–you will be contacted if your information needs verification; you don't need to send a copy of your tax returns in with your application.

Sources: NASFAA ; Department of Education

My Externship Experiences at Quinnipiac University School of Law

2010-01-07T11:51:00.001-05:00

One must learn by doing the thing; for though you think you know it, you have no certainty, until you try.
- Sophocles

Over the course of the last three years I have had the pleasure of being placed as an Extern at three separate locations: the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut, the Antitrust Division of the Connecticut State Attorney General’s Office, and the United States Attorney’s Office. Each of these placements has afforded me the opportunity to confront real world problems and interact with members of the legal profession in some of the most intense settings. I write today with the hopes of encouraging others to step outside the class and into the world of practical law.

In my placement at the Federal District Court I researched, wrote bench memos, and twice had the opportunity to produce draft opinions under the direction of the Judge and her clerk. At the Attorney General’s office I had the opportunity to participate in the investigation of white collar crime and help prevent companies from taking advantage of the citizens of Connecticut. At the United States Attorney’s Office I assisted in representing various agencies of the Federal Government. Such experiences are only a small subset of those available at Quinnipiac University School of Law; indeed, the externship program also offers placements in corporate, criminal, legislative, family law, mediation, and a host of other areas of practice.

All too often law school students are depicted as individuals with their noses stuck in books; students engaged in philosophic discussions regarding the application of abstract legal principles to hypothetical or antique fact patterns. While such discussions play an indispensable role in the formation of a legal mind, the crucible of practical application provides innumerable benefits which are simply unavailable through a traditional classroom education. I chose to attend Quinnipiac University School of Law for, among other things, the opportunity to learn by stepping out of the classroom and into the court.

Adam Schibley '10

Participating as a 1L

2009-12-18T16:01:00.000-05:00

As a first year student our main priority is getting our work done for class. However, there are a lot of great opportunities that do not require great time commitments, for students to get involved in different aspects of the community. One way I did that was participating with different academic groups. My first semester I was a “witness” for a team participating in mock trial. They worked on the direct and cross examinations and possible objections they could raise. I received a packet with my script and met with the team twice before the actual competition. There was not a lot of prep time required on my part and it was a great way to have something productive to do between homework assignments.

I was also able to assist the Society for Dispute Resolution. The competition teams have placed in numerous national competitions in the last couple of years. So, when they needed volunteers to practice negotiations against, I was up for the challenge. At first it was intimidating to think I would have to negotiate terms against upperclassmen who had already competed, and taken classes on dispute resolution. But once I went in to the room, I realized it was something I had been doing for years; I negotiated curfew with my mom or a price for something with salesmen in New York. The upperclassmen were great about giving us feedback, even though the practice session was for them, not us. They also encouraged us to try out for the competition team in the spring.

Because the student organizations are run by other law students, we know not to overburden each other with excessive meetings or taxing work. Having an outlet of something other than Contracts reading to do is great; when it’s benefiting the law school community as a whole, it’s even better.

Carminia Munoz '11
New York, NY

My Externship Experience

2009-12-09T10:29:00.003-05:00

One of the best services provided by QUSL is the externship program -- it's something we do better than most law schools. I have always been a fan of experiential learning: I did summer service projects during undergrad, and did my Master's in Education while I was teaching. My brain just absorbs information better when I can connect what I'm reading to what I'm doing outside of class. So I jumped at the chance to begin externing in my third semester here, and I loved the experience.

I chose to work at New Haven Legal Assistance in their Immigration section. Primarily I worked with undocumented women who were applying for residency status under a U-Visa or VAWA. U-Visas are special applications that can be submitted by victims of crimes who happen to be undocumented but are still willing to cooperate with law enforcement in the investigation of the crime. The benefit for law enforcement is that normally these people would hide because they are afraid of deportation, but the U-Visa gives them incentive to come forward. The benefit for the victims is that they can work towards gaining permanent resident status if their U-Visa application is approved. The other statute we worked with was the Violence Against Women Act, or VAWA. Anyone applying for citizenship must have a sponsor who is a U.S. citizen, and sometimes this sponsor will use that position of power to abuse the person seeking citizenship. (Often it is a citizen husband who is threatening to have his wife deported unless she does what he says.) VAWA allows the woman to apply directly for citizenship, so that she doesn't need the sponsor anymore. So when I wasn't in class, I spent my time helping women in abusive relationships to get out of the abuse and get their lives back together by getting their green cards. That's not something I imagined I could do when I was applying to law school!

Besides learning about contracts and torts and taxes, I think it is vital for a law student to learn how to interview a client, how to counsel a client, and how to represent them under the Rules of Professional Conduct. My externship gave me experience in all of those things, as did the required prerequisite that I took here at QUSL called "Introduction to Representing Clients." So when I go into practice, I will already be one step ahead.

Just to round out the picture, I am also a member of the Society for Dispute Resolution, where we focus on methods of alternative dispute resolution (i.e. not litigation) such as client counseling, negotiation, and mediation. I also worked for a federal magistrate judge in the summer and got to sit in on many settlement conferences, as well as writing rulings for her, so I have now seen a lot of lawyers and a lot of clients in action. Taking these extracurricular experiences back to the classroom has allowed me to get much more out of my readings and class discussions.

Jeff Nichols '10

Fighting the "stealer" of motivation

2009-11-30T10:26:00.002-05:00

Pursuing a professional degree requires an immense amount of dedication and determination. Unlike many other ventures, law school takes self-motivation and an extreme desire to study in order to be successful. With that said, I often found myself lacking in the motivation arena. Midway through the semester I was dragging my feet, becoming complacent, feeling down and overwhelmed. Knowing what I need to do and actually doing it created a hurdle that I needed help getting over. Why does this happen? It always happens around the same time, every year without any particular event to bring on this slump that I fall into. You always begin a semester super motivated, excited and determined but it never lasts. What can I do to preserve that initial fervor? As my 2L year progresses, I felt myself falling into the same hole; but recognizing that this was coming makes it easier to dig myself out. My solution:

-Find something to do that you can complete in a day.

- Make this accomplishment tangible, something you can look at, something you can be proud of.

-Make this venture something that you have been meaning to do but never got to do it.

I followed the above steps and found myself in a better place after. Now I am able to get my priorities in order, prepare myself for finals and regain the motivation I lost! I hope that my experience will help others overcome the lack of motivation that creeps up on unsuspecting law students. Stay focused and keep your eyes on the prize!

~Giovannii Ruffin '11

Reflections in my fourth year

2009-11-25T10:26:00.002-05:00

Upon entering law school I was nervous about blending with the other students because of my age, having been out of the school setting for quite some time and being a night student. My reservations quickly disappeared due to the wonderful support between the students; everyone I had met shared the same sentiment that helping each other will also lead to personal achievement and success. That sentiment is still as strong today in my fourth year as it was in my first year.

As my law school career progressed, I received, and continue to receive, the benefit of interacting with so many of the faculty who have been very giving of their time to assist me with either questions I had about the material, working on my journal note or simply for advice concerning my career path. More recently, after having completed the appellate clinic, I feel lucky to have been able to be involved in a real life experience: arguing before the appellate court and even better--winning my case! Not only am I still a law student, but when I graduate next spring, I can say I already argued at one of our top courts and already have a win under my belt!

Currently I am working closely in an externship that is also extremely rewarding. I am involved in developing a training program for Guardian Ad Litems and Attorneys for Minor Children in Connecticut. This is especially exciting because I am hoping to work in the family law arena after graduation representing children. Finally, as a full time paralegal, part-time student, wife and mother, having the flexibility available to me so that I can be involved clinics, externships, student government and the Probate Law Journal has made my experience here that much more rewarding.

Lisa Dumond '10
Editor in Chief, Probate Law Journal

Mock Trial Final Bench

2009-11-17T14:12:00.003-05:00

Last month I participated in the Mock Trial Society's Intramural Competition. Over the summer one of my friends and I decided to try out for the team, and when everyone got settled back for the new semester, the competition took off pretty quickly. We were all given a fact pattern and assigned to be prosecution or defense. Within one week, we had to build an entire case--witnesses, opening and closing arguments, getting ready for objections. It was pretty intense.

We spent every free moment outside of class and homework preparing our case. We spent hours going over each other's direct and cross examinations, opening statement and closing argument, and working on our expected objections. (I had just started taking Evidence, but luckily my teammate had taken it over the summer. Working on this made my evidence classes more interesting, though.) We prepared our arguments for motions, and we rehearsed. ALOT.

The night of our trial, we walked into the Trial Practice Room here in the law school (it's basically a small courtroom, complete with a jury box and everything!) not really knowing what to expect. I think I can speak for my teammate as well when I say we were both feeling quite nervous. Once we started, however, the nerves were forgotten and we were having a great time.

A hard part about law school is that sometimes I feel like I'm watching people being lawyers. In the classroom, I don't really feel like a lawyer (it's another story with externships and internships, but go with me.) But, once the competition trial started, I finally felt like a lawyer. I could see myself--hopefully in the near future--doing this for a living. I came to law school thinking I'd be anything BUT a trial attorney. After giving it a go, I am surprised to say that I now see a new light at the end of this tunnel. (OK, so, I don't see a light. I see a career goal that involves going to court and working on trials. Same thing.) I'm excited because I feel like I have a goal now, and it's something I can see myself dedicating my life too. Best of all, it's just fun.

Denise Graham '11

Loan options while continuing your education

2009-11-12T14:25:00.001-05:00

If you borrowed federal education loans in the past, have a remaining balance, and are now returning to school, you may be eligible for an in-school deferment on your loan(s) so payments are not required. In order to be eligible for a federal loan deferment, you will need to be enrolled at least half-time (six credits) each semester. Quinnipiac University reports enrollment statuses to the National Student Clearinghouse. Many lenders participate with the National Student Clearinghouse and will receive advisement of your enrollment status; however, it is always advisable to confirm that your loans are in deferment status to avoid being considered late for any payment due.
If you are unsure of your lender/servicer, or about your loan status, you may log into the National Student Loan Data System below to view your loan history.

National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS):

• The U.S. Department of Education's central database for financial aid

• Contains financial aid history related to federal student loans and grants.

• Access requirements:

Social Security number
First two letters of your last name
Date of birth
PIN

You were assigned a PIN if you completed the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) on the Web.
If you have forgotten your PIN or never received one, visit the PIN Registration Site.

Why QU? Why Not?

2009-11-11T15:17:00.004-05:00

When I began looking at Law Schools, Quinnipiac was just another name on my list. So, why did I choose to come here, and why am I so happy that I did?
Like so many students looking for schools, I started with a large list of possibilities. There were some long shots and some safeties, and then there was everything else. Quinnipiac was one little school I didn’t know much about, but the more I learned, the more I liked what I learned. When it came down to the final few, I asked myself, “Why Quinnipiac?” after some thinking, I realized I was asking the wrong question. I should have been asking, “Why not Quinnipiac?”
So, why not Quinnipiac? Sorry guys, but I still don’t have an answer to that question. This little school has everything. The faculty is just as qualified as the faculty at any other school I looked at. The main difference is that they are more accessible. The education is just as good as at any other school I looked at. The main difference is that because of the small class sizes, it was more individualized and interactive. The location is perfect. I won’t go too much into Hamden because there is already so much information on it out there, but let’s just say that there is something for everyone. The students are friendlier and more helpful than anywhere else you’ll find. I’ll guarantee that. However, for me the deciding factor was that Quinnipiac was working harder for me than anywhere else, and here’s why.
Quinnipiac is a school on the move. Every department here is actively working to put the school on the map. If you don’t believe me, just take look at Dean Wilkes’ travel schedule, at Dean Saxton’s weekly planner, or ask Joan Metzler how she still finds time to track me down when my blogs are late. The staff here really puts in 100%, and their efforts show in the results. This was so important to me because I didn’t find it anywhere else. This school wants you to succeed, and they will do whatever it takes to ensure that you do. Quinnipiac works hard for its students and alumni, and in turn, the students and alumni work hard for the school. Everyone knows that at the end of the day, you get out what you put in. It’s evidently clear the school is putting a lot in; it’s also evidently clear they’re getting a lot out. Once I realized this my decision was practically made for me.

Alex Romano '10

A variety of opportunities for law students

2009-11-11T15:16:00.001-05:00

This past summer, I was the Legal Intern at the Southeast Alaska Conservation Council (SEACC). At SEACC, I helped to draft and submit several Tongass National Forest timber sale appeals. I also researched proposed federal legislation as it related to the Tongass (the same legislation SEACC testified about before Congress). Probably the best experience this summer, though, was being involved in a SCOTUS case (Coeur Alaska v. SEACC). Though it didn't come down in SEACC's favor, it was an amazing experience.

Kate Boucher, '10

What To Read Before Law School (Part 2)

2009-11-09T11:49:00.003-05:00

Here is a continuation of the blog "What to Read Before Law School (Part 1)":

One L (ISBN 0-446-67378-1)
Scott Turow; Grand Central Publishing

Don’t read this book unless you’re going to someplace known for its competitive atmosphere. And don’t read it unless you’re using a time machine to go to school in the 1970s. It certainly isn’t informative of the experience at QULaw. It’s a fine book, but not as an information resource for this school. Maybe this is not true for some other schools. I can’t really speak to that.

The Legal Analyst (ISBN 978-0-226-23835-7)
Ward Farnsworth

Professor Long here recommended several texts in preparation for law school—in the words of Kingsfield, they point towards how to “think like a lawyer.” I read or at least played around with four of these. Far and away, the most useful of the bunch was this book.
Most of the classes and tests for 1Ls seem to be oriented on Black-Letter law—applying basic legal principles—and the Farnsworth text is pretty much not that. It is a bunch of theory. Nevertheless, it has given me another layer to consider as I approach issues in class. This text can't really help you with the meat of legal analysis most 1Ls here face, but it can help you put the cherry on top of that analysis. I can offer interesting perspectives in class. I am better able to make connections between classes. In more than a few cases, I have been able to anticipate what the judgment would be: even though there might seem to be a conflict with a previous case, I can identify distinguishing factors. On most "really hard" questions in class--ones where no one raises a hand--I can formulate a meaningful response, even though there may be a "better" answer. As someone who was anything but an economics major, I found this text to be absolutely worthwhile, helpful, and fun.
The usefulness of this text as a preparation will depend on the particular views of each given professor, but it will enable a new student to attack problems in class with meaningful thoughts. Don’t worship this text, but do consider it as a useful tool in analysis. Showing off is not almost always not a good idea, so don’t—but it’s cool to apply ideas from this text with discretion, especially when you look around and everyone is stuck on a problem. It's also nice for chewing the fat on a problem outside of class in an email, or perhaps at the end of class.
Another great thing about the Farnsworth text is it reads in discrete units. Even though chapters refer back to each other, each chapter is short and summative. Every one is a fun read. About halfway through the book turns from "good" to "wow." The language is approachable and the reader does not need a specific academic background to understand and follow along. This was a great book and I would recommend it to anyone identified in Farnsworth's self identified target audience.
I hope this was useful to you. Best wishes to you on your journey and choices as you go forward.

Mario Cerame
1L

My Quinnipiac Experience (from a part-time student)

2009-11-06T10:48:00.001-05:00

I chose Quinnipiac initially due to its location and small atmosphere. Since I chose to continue working full-time in New Haven, I wanted to attend a law school close by, and one in which an evening program would not be a detriment. Indeed, while a part time student, I was still able to participate in the Mock Trial Competition in my second year, which has been the best experience I've had in Law School. Having the chance to participate in such an extracurricular activity, even as a part-time student, has greatly influenced the future direction in which I see my career as a lawyer progressing. I have also been incredibly impressed, over the course of the last two-plus years, with the Quinnipiac Faculty. I have been fortunate to forge excellent relationships with a number of professors, and have, without exception, found them willing to remain after class to answer questions or to discuss topics of interest. I would say the best thing about Quinnipiac is the sense of comraderie that its environment fosters. While one hears horror stories of the intense competition that happens at law schools, and it is true that as law students, we are highly competitive individuals, I have found that the faculty, students, and staff take great pride in fostering a sense that we are all a part of the same process, academically, intellectually, and legally.

James Creswell '10
President, Mock Trial Honor Society

Tips for Affording Law School

2009-11-02T10:06:00.001-05:00

Law school should be your gateway to opportunity, not a financial burden. It may be the first time you will pay your own tuition and living expenses. You will have new responsibilities, yet probably won't have a large income. While there are a number of ways to pay for law school, you will want to do it in the most economical way possible. Here are a few tips to lowering the cost of education and post-graduation debt.

Cut expenses
Start trimming expenses and reducing debt now. Create a budget and stick to it. If rent and food bills are a concern, don't add to them with expensive cable packages and too many dinners out. Rent DVDs. Cook for yourself. Get an economy cell phone plan. One tall Starbucks coffee per weekday will cost you $910 per year.

Use your Knowledge to earn extra cash
Try tutoring. Your expertise in your chosen field, even with just your undergraduate degree, could be used to tutor high school and college students. Since tutoring doesn't take up too much time, it won't overtax you or detract from your own studies.

Research Grants and Scholarships
Will your chosen school give you a fellowship, grant or scholarship? Can you become a research assistant? These are forms of aid that don't have to be repaid, and an assistant's pay, while not high, is usually good enough to pay some of your living expenses for the year. Check free scholarship searches for additional assistance.

Employer Benefits
If you or a member of your family works at a company that reimburses employees for education expenses, you may be eligible. Check with the company's Human Resources Department.

Pay with a Monthly Payment Plan
Instead of making lump-sum payments to the school, monthly payment plans allow you to make smaller payments each month. Since they're not loans, there's no interest, and no debt to repay after graduation.

Educational Loans
If you need help paying for law school, you may choose to borrow an education loan. Federal loans generally carry a lower interest rate than private loans and currently offer a fixed interest rate, so it is wise to look at them first. Options include:

Federal Stafford Loans
Stafford Loans – This is often your first law school financing option. Designed for students needing assistance financing education costs, a subsidized or unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loan can help you pay for law school.

The Federal PLUS Student Loan for Graduate and Professional Students (Graduate PLUS)
Graduate PLUS – This loan is designed for students who need additional financing to pay for law school beyond a Federal Stafford Loan. The Federal Grad PLUS Loan allows you to borrow up to the full cost of attendance, minus other financial aid received.

Private Loans
Many private lenders offer student loans. The interest rates and fees charged are generally higher than those for federal loans and are determined by the credit-worthiness of the borrower.

If you have any questions regarding financial aid, please feeel free to call Quinnipiac Law's Office of Financial Aid at 203-582-3405

What to Read Before Law School? (Part 1)

2009-10-28T17:13:00.003-04:00

I know where you are inside. I've been there. You know what law school's not: you know it's not like undergrad; you know it's not easy; you know it's not for the timid. Maybe you watched The Paper Chase. Maybe you know someone who went to law school. Maybe you don't have any idea what you're getting into except what you read on blawgs and blogs.
If you are like I was, you are looking for something to ground you in that sea of uncertainty.
I read a number of books before I started. Some were recommended by others. Some I picked off of Amazon. Some I stumbled onto. I thought I’d share some of my thoughts on books I read before law school and how they were or were not useful to me.
A main thread throughout all of these, however, is pick and choose the advice. No one text has all of the answers. In every book I could glean some ideas on what worked, and what would not work. I had to read each text with a discriminating eye, though. I was choosy about the advice—even as I disregarded some advice, I saw how it might be useful to other people. So don’t take any of these as some kind of binding gospel in the plan for how to do well. Reading several books was useful to me in that I obtained a better gestalt by reading the whole rather than relying on any single source.

Slaying the Law School Dragon (ISBN 0471542989) George Roth; John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
I got this short text as a gift from a school. It’s a short read. The perspective is from someone who went to law school some time ago.
This is a short text. It gives you a sense of what to expect and has some genuinely useful advice going forward. The professors at QU are not like this fellow’s professors, however, and the legal employment scene today isn’t much like his experience. A number of his recommendations are dated given the fact that we have electronic resources for research now. However, some of his study advice is particularly noteworthy, even if not how I have chosen to prepare (like memorizing the table of contents of each text—not a bad idea frankly, but not what I have chosen to do). Take the advice with adequate salt, but his perspective is at least a decent survey if you don’t want to spend a lot of time in these kinds of books.

Law School Confidential (ISBN 0-312-31881-2) Robert H. Miller; St. Martin’s Press
This book is one of the more popular reads out there. It has some genuinely useful strategies on class preparation, and I use variations of these strategies extensively. It offers a decent sensibility on atmosphere—not quite accurate for QU Law, but much closer than Turow’s book, for example. This book is more comprehensive and modern than the Roth text, but it is written explicitly for a target audience of people going to schools in the T10. Much of the advice is useful, but needs to be taken with prodigious salt. The author intermingles various perspectives of law students—some of which are more useful than others. Don’t read this book cover to cover—read the parts that interest you or apply to you. I should say, though, it is a text I return to occasionally, even now.

Law School Insider (ISBN 0-9723766-0-7) Jeremy Horowitz; Lion Group
The best thing about this text is how it is a close examination of social issues that can arise in law school. The worst thing about this text is that it closely examines social issues that can arise at law school in an environment most law students will not experience. It’s a very subjective text—the author goes to Cornell law. Having lived in Ithaca for a long time—and having adored that town—the author rubs my rhubarb a bit wrong when he comes down on my beloved town… he and I are clearly different types of people. I also found the magic romance that pops up in his text a bit contrived and annoying.
Yet some of his advice is really good. This is especially true about social interaction at law school—how to avoid being “that guy.” As always, take his advice with a grain of salt, of course, but this is the most useful text with regards to social expectations.

Stay tuned for more book reviews in What to Read Before Law School (Part 2)

Mario Cerame 1L

Resume Advice

2009-10-26T11:29:00.002-04:00

Many law schools now require students to submit a resume with their application. There are a number of things to think about when organizing your resume for a law school application. While the content of your resume shows the admissions committee what you have accomplished, the organization of your resume shows them your attention to detail which is important in law school. It also gives them a glimpse into the future as to what your legal resume may look like. They may take that into consideration when deciding if they want their law school's name to appear on that resume in three or four years.

Below are a few things to keep in mind when you begin to organize your resume.

1. This is not a resume for a job but it is still a professional resume. You should treat it as if you are looking for employment. That being said, make sure you also recognize who will be reading it (i.e. the admissions committee).

2. If you list an objective, make sure that it fits the purpose of the resume.

3. As we mentioned, this is a professional resume and should look like one. If you are still an undergrad, take the resume to your Career Services Office and have them review it. Make sure that it is in a format and font that makes it easy for the reader to understand. List all employment in reverse chronological order so they can see what you have done most recently first. List your education and student organizations separate from your work experience.

4. If you are no longer an undergrad and are unable to utilize your Career Services Office as an alum, go online for helpful tips and samples of resumes (simply Google “resume samples” or “resume tips”). Make sure that you have someone review the resume for spelling errors or other mistakes.

5. All of your experience is relevant - not just those that are law related. Law schools are looking for students who will bring diversity and life experience to the class. Therefore, don't omit something because you think the admissions committee might not be interested. Chances are they will. That being said, keep your resume to a maximum of 2 pages.

6. You may wish to include on your resume the hours you worked while pursuing your undergraduate degree. Many schools may ask this on the application but it helps to put the information out front. Some schools will take into account how many hours you worked or that you were a full-time employee while obtaining your degree.

Good luck!

Bidding for a great cause

2009-10-23T10:23:00.000-04:00

     During my time here at Quinnipiac school of law one of the many organizations that I have been involved with is the Public Interest Law Project (known here at school as PILP). PILP is an organization that is focused around many issues in public interest, and some of our events include poverty awareness week at the law school, and our annual auction. The PILP auction is held every year in March and is an extremely fun and unique experience.
     The annual auction revolves around a theme (past years' themes have included a fiesta, and the awesome 80's, to name a few), and includes both a silent auction and a live auction. All of the money raised funds grants for students who work in Public Interest positions over the summer (at little or no pay). As a live auction co-chair, part of my duties include soliciting live auction items. [Some of our 'hot ticket' items last year included meals with professors, parking spots in the law school faculty lot, daytrips with professors, professor's used book with class notes, deep discounts on bar review courses, and even a homemade gourmet dinner courtesy of the dean!, just to name a few]
     The night of the auction is a highly anticipated event for QUlaw students. Many people last year dressed in 80's attire, and the grand courtroom was packed! Students, alumni, professors, staff and members of the community all generously joined us for dinner & the auction, which was quite a success. Many students got into bidding wars over certain items!
     Not only was the auction a great night, the best part is redeeming the prizes won. My study group won a breakfast with one of our favorite professors where we shared laughs, reflected on class topics, and got to know our professor outside of class.
     It's events like the PILP auction that bring students, professors and administration together that I love about QU law.

Caitlin McGrory, 2L

Take it from Me – the LSAT is Beatable!

2009-10-20T16:23:00.000-04:00

     About a year ago to this day I questioned whether I would be walking down the halls of Quinnipiac Law with books in hand or mopping its floors because of my low LSAT score. I took my first LSAT in June of 2008 with the full expectation that I would never have to take it again. The day came to take the test, and I felt as confident as one could feel pending a potentially life-altering test. I left the testing center feeling relieved that the worst was over, unaware that the worst was yet to come. Needless to say my score was less than stellar, and I immediately began preparing my studies to take yet another LSAT.
     I kept going over where I went wrong… the illustrious logic games! After studying this section relentlessly, I went into my second attempt at the LSAT with even more confidence. Yet again, when I expected the worst to be over, an e-mail swooped in to shatter my dreams. The result? After all that studying, planning, haggling over 100 questions to be put on one bubble sheet… I was left with same exact score as my first attempt! I collapsed in fear that I would never be able to attend any law school, let alone Quinnipiac. Luckily, almost every aspect of my life at this point helped me to remember why I so desperately wanted to go to law school, and one quotation literally drove me to study harder than I had ever studied before: “He who knows the why to live can bear almost any how” –Nietzsche
      I employed numerous books to yet again work on the logic games section, perfected my analytical reasoning section with hundreds of fresh examples, and finally began to understand that some reading comprehension sections were beyond my comprehension! I walked back into the exact same testing center for my last possible attempt to conquer this test… that’s right, I said conquer! The proctor of the test even recognized me and asked “how many times are you allowed to take this thing any way?” Talk about Pressure!
     I can tell you that I have never felt more uneasy as I looked at the email marked “Urgent: December LSAT Score Enclosed!” I was working at the front desk of Home Depot, and I decided to open the e-mail when the coast was clear (so no one at work would see me cry if it came down to it). I opened it and saw that I had made a TWELVE POINT GAIN in all of my efforts. Not the difference of twelve questions mind you… twelve converted points! I jumped from the 40th percentile to the 75th percentile in two months! I freaked out, started running around, hugged one of my managers (who I found out was not a man that really appreciated the situation), and I’m fairly sure I scared the heck out of a few customers that walked by!
     I conquered the LSAT! When statistics said that it was “incredibly rare” for an individual to change their score more than 3 points, I showed them that their statistics were no match for determination and a bit of soul searching. I did this while maintaining my spot on the Dean’s list, writing my thesis in my psychology program, leading an LSAT study group at my University, and working 30+ hours per week at my job.
     I tell you this not to brag, but to give you a bit of hope if you are about to give up. If you are going to settle with an LSAT score that isn’t up to your standards, if you can’t figure out what you’re doing wrong, or if you simply don’t think it can be done… it can be done! To this day, I could not be happier with myself, and my family and friends could not be happier for me.

Tyler Raymond 1L

Law, Music, and Cultural History

2009-10-19T10:10:00.003-04:00

       When most people look at a guitar, they see a musical implement and, maybe, an art object. But, I see a repository of cultural history, informed by law. Consider, for example, the guitars that the Gibson company built during WWII. Most guitar aficionados (aka, guitar geeks) consider Gibson’s WWII acoustics to be among its finest guitars ever. The conventional explanation for this is that only the company’s older, seasoned craftsmen were exempted from war duty. Well, I found a 1944 Gibson workforce photo and, guess what? Nearly every one of those “craftsmen” was a craftswoman. Yes, nearly every, single luthier at the Gibson Company during World War II was a woman. I’ve managed to track down and interview in person a dozen of those women. Those interviews from the centerpiece of my book in progress, Gibsons: The Story of the Flattop Guitars of 1942 - 1945 and the Extraordinary Women (and a Few Men) Who Built Them (Michigan State University Press), and a corresponding museum exhibit.
       Not only have I looked at these guitars, but I’ve looked through them. With the help of Quinnipiac’s imaging technology staff, I’ve x-rayed pre-, post-, and during-WWII instruments in a quest to find measurable differences (I did and published the results in a journal of radiology technology).
       Finally, this brings me to the point of my first QU Law blog entry. Behold this image. It’s a photograph taken of a nearly all-female Gibson workforce in China (in a startup factory to build guitars for the Chinese) holding printouts of my X-rays of a 1942 Gibson built by a nearly all-female workforce in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

W. John Thomas
Professor of Law
BA, JD, University of Arizona; MPH, LLM, Yale University

A third year student argues before the State Supreme Court!

2009-10-14T14:44:00.004-04:00

As a third year law student Natalie Rezek took advantage of one of Quinnipiac’s many opportunities to get hands on legal experience: the Defense Appellate Clinic. This clinic is a year long course taught by a practicing public defender. The first semester is spent intensely studying appellate procedure and learning how to write a persuasive appellate brief. In the second semester, each student in the clinic gets his or her own client. Under supervision, each student actively represents his or her client by reading the trial transcript, picking the issues to address on appeal, writing the appellate brief, and filing the brief with the Connecticut Appellate Court. The Connecticut Supreme Court may then decide that the issue is one they would like to address and the brief will be moved from the Appellate Court to the Supreme Court.
Under the supervision of Public Defender Elizabeth Inkster, Natalie had the opportunity to do what few practicing lawyers get to do - argue a case in front of the Connecticut Supreme Court in Hartford. She appeared before a panel of three justices. Natalie’s client was arrested for criminal trespassing in the third degree. She argued that there was not probable cause to arrest her client since the property was not enclosed with a gate, nor was there anything else preventing entry onto the property. Because there was not probable cause for the arrest of her client for criminal trespass, she argued that the search that followed the arrest was illegal. Although the Supreme Court ultimately ruled against her client, Natalie said that this was a value experience that will help her with her future career as a public defender.

To learn more about the Defense Appellate Clinic or other clinical opportunities visit our website.

Reflections on my first year

2009-10-13T13:12:00.002-04:00

1L year. I am almost exhausted just thinking about it. And, I am pretty sure it took me until mid June to recover from the exhaustion of the year. I guess it wasn’t too bad though, I only fell asleep at a restaurant once and that was during finals, so it doesn’t really count. There were times when my favorite part of the day was getting ready in the morning; simply because it was the only part of the day I wasn’t reading, writing or researching. However, despite the work (and yes there was a lot of it), and despite the exhaustion, I survived. Not only did I survive, but I managed to do so successfully. Out of the numerous nightmares I had about finals, legal skills memorandums, and criminal law (and yes there were a bunch of them) none of them ever really materialized. For example, I never got to a final and had just NO idea where to start, and that may have been my worst fear last December. Yes, it is a lot of work and it takes a lot of mental commitment, but it is doable and keeping that in mind throughout the year really helps. Thousands and thousands have done it before, thousands and thousands will do it in the future. At the end of it, being able to get through the year, the year that everyone claims is so terrible, is a really good feeling of accomplishment.

Furthermore, doing my 1L at Quinnipiac Law specifically was a really great experience. Everyone here genuinely cares and is there to help. Upper level students were willing to provide their old outlines; professors help you figure out what an outline for a law exam needs to look like; and the staff helps will all sorts of issues you may encounter during that year. As an example of this, on Labor Day of my 1L year I was rushed to the ER to have my appendix removed. The surgeon told me I probably wasn’t going to be able to sit up for a week or lift more than 10 pounds for a month. I was literally freaking out in tears sitting in that hospital bed in New Haven. I had no idea how I was supposed to miss a week of school three weeks into the first year. For some misinformed reason I figured the school wouldn’t care about my predicament. I couldn’t have been more wrong if I had tried. The school was incredibly great about helping me stay on top of everything. The staff immediately got in touch with all of my professors, who were really great about sending me the assignments and making sure that I felt comfortable when I got back to school. A fellow student got me all of the notes from that week and the school even arranged so that I could park closer to the building when I returned so as to eliminate any complications from surgery. I can’t even fully express how grateful I was for everything the school did in helping me not fall behind so early in the semester. I may be biased, but QU Law really is a great place, with really great people, and my appendix experience is only one small example of how great it really is.

Victoria Templeton '11

Choosing Quinnipiac

2009-10-06T13:22:00.000-04:00

The Law School at Quinnipiac was always on my list of law schools. I knew that the law school began as a great and respected program in my hometown of Bridgeport, CT. In addition, I learned a great deal from all (and there was a lot) the informational materials I received. But, it wasn't until I attended an open house, that I realized that this truly was a place I could see myself. The Admissions staff was so genuinely interested in me and really nice. At other places, I felt like the staff was trained to be nice in order to get my business. Here, I felt I could probably be comfortable at a time that would be quite stressful. And, honestly, I was right.

Thinking back on my first completed year of law school, the best part of my experience has been interacting with the faculty. I went to a rather large undergraduate institution, so I was used to not knowing many of my professors. During my first year at QU Law, each of my professors knew me by name and treated me as an equal, as a fellow colleague. The faculty provide a level of comfort that allows you to build bonds with them. For instance, my study group for my contracts class met with Prof. Meiklejohn several times over the course of the year. We felt comfortable enough to ask him to take a picture with us, and he agreed. This is one of my treasured memories of my first year at law school. I'm satisfied with my choice, and I look forward to taking advantage of all this school has to offer.

Marsha Beckford 2L

Opportunities in the Civil Justice Clinic

2009-10-06T13:17:00.003-04:00

My colleague, Dahlia Grace, and I run Quinnipiac’s Civil Justice Clinic – one of six clinics offered at Quinnipiac. In the Clinic, students have a chance to apply the lessons learned in the classroom to actual legal problems facing real clients. They experience the full range of the dynamics of client representation, including interviewing, counseling, negotiation, and litigation, while at the same time providing access to justice to many Connecticut residents who would otherwise go without.

The Civil Clinic recently began helping day laborers – that is, people (many of them newcomers to the U.S.) who are hired and paid on a day-to-day basis, with no promise that more work will be available in the future – collect unpaid wages from their employers. After gathering facts about their clients’ cases and researching relevant wage-and-hour law, students have the opportunity to draft demand letters; negotiate informal settlements with employers; file a complaint to the Connecticut Department of Labor; or file a complaint in Small Claims Court and put on the testimony of their clients, introduce evidence, and cross-examine their clients’ employers.

On Wednesday, October 7th, two Quinnipiac students – Richard Fennelly (3L) and Stephen Cho (3L) – represented their day laborer client in Norwalk Superior Court.

Kevin Barry, Assistant Professor of Law

TIPS ON WRITING A LAW SCHOOL PERSONAL STATEMENT

2009-09-24T18:22:00.003-04:00

Here are a few tips to consider when writing your personal statement.

Start Early.
The essay establishes an application theme – what is your theme?
If you have varied experiences which seem scattered, find a common thread.
Make it personal – let your personality shine. Ask yourself: what diverse characteristics do you bring to law school?
Do not recapitulate your resume. The Admissions Committee has that in your file. Include anecdotes and stories.
What passion do you bring to law school? What will you do at Quinnipiac and beyond? (What will you get out of a Quinnipiac education?)
Weaknesses may be mentioned – but do not dwell on the shortcomings. They are best left to be addressed in a brief addendum to the application. Your personal statement should highlight your strengths. Mention weaknesses to the extent that you faced an adversity and that you learned from and overcame it. Show how it helped you to mature.
Avoid fancy vocabulary, avoid legalese. Lawyer jokes and stereotypes can be a cliché in law school personal statements. Focus your writing. Do not ramble. Try not to cover too many subjects. Humor can be effective – do not be afraid to be funny, as long as it is used for illustrative purposes.
Tailor the statement to each law school. Make sure to answer the question that particular school asks and be certain that the appropriate statement goes to each school!
Brevity and conciseness are the hallmarks of good (legal) writing – practice them early! Write clearly and coherently. Do not repeatedly make repetitive remarks that are duplicative and redundant.
Use standard font (12 point, Times New Roman). Don’t make the committee work harder by having them read your essay in comic sans serif or curlz at font size 8. Stay within 1.5 – 2 pages or approximately 1,000 words. If your essay is longer than that, condense.
Imagine you are the reader – is your final statement interesting, unique and reflective of who you are? If not, revise.
Proof read, proof read, proof read! Have multiple people review your personal statement. Include several who know you personally and several who do not know you at all. Those who know you will be able to determine if your statement is a true and complete reflection of who you are. Those who do not know you will be able to give you feedback based strictly on reading the essay.
Keep in mind of the big picture. You are writing to sell yourself to a group of people who do not know you, who are reading your personal statement in order to get to know you better as a person. Make sure that all spheres of your life that make you unique are highlighted in your essay.