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To Journal or not to Journal: First Year Law Students Ponder the Question

published August 25, 2009

By CEO and Founder - BCG Attorney Search left
Published By
( 14 votes, average: 4.2 out of 5)
What do you think about this article? Rate it using the stars above and let us know what you think in the comments below.
As anxious first year law students gather for classes to begin there is a decision they will face soon into the school year. Every Law School has a Journal that the law students, write, edit, and publish. The Journal is a great experience for Law Students who can write and do research with hopes of getting published. The Journal has a staunch time requirement and it offers credits toward the law degree.

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There is a big competition to join a Journal. Around February of each School year the Journals hold the competition by looking for the best. Students will have the opportunity to vie for only a few coveted places available on the Journal. Competition is stiff and many 1st year law students don't always know what it is all about, other than things they have heard from on campus visits, campus tours, and other law students.

This article takes a look at some of those statements in misalignment with the truth regarding the Journal.
 
  • Some students perpetuated the belief that membership on an academic Journal is a prize for law students
  • Journal is a ''rite of passage'' for first year law students. To participate one must spend their whole spring break barricaded in the law library
  • You have to devote 5 hours a week to Journal
  • To get a good position with a firm you must be a Journal member.
  • To get a clerkship for the summer you must be a member of the Journal

The Truth
 
  • Some first year students are clueless to the Journal their first year. Clueless students didn't know what it was and didn't compete.
  • The commitment is much greater than expected and a law student will put in some weekends and all nighters to write or edit for the Journal.
  • The truth is, if you get to write an article and get published, you get recognition. Otherwise you might spend all your time on the Journal editing.
  • You have to ask, is the Journal something that will allow you to shine? Is it worth the time for you? Would you be better in other competitions on campus like clinics that challenge lawyering skills?
  • Once Journal boards make their decisions on membership, the Law Students do not have another chance to make a decision to join.
  • Being hired for an internship or any legal position is not subject to membership to a Journal

What is the advice from Law Schools?

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It doesn't hurt to take part in the first year Journal writing competition. You can always turn down the offer to join. It is easier to explain to employers why you didn't join. One Professor by the name of Richards wisely said, ''I really believe in my no regrets approach to law school. Maybe you'll go up to bat and swing the bat and strike out completely... but you'll never have to wonder if you could have hit a home run.''

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Alternative Summary

Harrison is the founder of BCG Attorney Search and several companies in the legal employment space that collectively gets thousands of attorneys jobs each year. Harrison’s writings about attorney careers and placement attract millions of reads each year. Harrison is widely considered the most successful recruiter in the United States and personally places multiple attorneys most weeks. His articles on legal search and placement are read by attorneys, law students and others millions of times per year.

More about Harrison

About LawCrossing

LawCrossing has received tens of thousands of attorneys jobs and has been the leading legal job board in the United States for almost two decades. LawCrossing helps attorneys dramatically improve their careers by locating every legal job opening in the market. Unlike other job sites, LawCrossing consolidates every job in the legal market and posts jobs regardless of whether or not an employer is paying. LawCrossing takes your legal career seriously and understands the legal profession. For more information, please visit www.LawCrossing.com.

published August 25, 2009

By CEO and Founder - BCG Attorney Search left
( 14 votes, average: 4.2 out of 5)
What do you think about this article? Rate it using the stars above and let us know what you think in the comments below.