[blindlaw] Law School in 3 Years Question

[Ron Dixon]

Hi Jan:

I completed law school in three years using Jaws, scanning, and readers. 
Although Berkeley offered a 4 year program for students with visual 
impairments, I chose the three year program principly because Berkeley 
starts its first year students by placing them in small groups of fifteen 
which they would remain together throughout their first year to help with 
socialization and school work.  Its a good program and most of us remained 
together throughout our entire three years.  If I had chosen the four year 
plan, I would not have experienced this comradely friendship with my fellow 
students.  I certainly did not enjoy this level of socialization during my 
under graduate program.

By taking the three year program, I did not miss out on any experience my 
classmates had.  During the summers, I clerked with several law firms and 
received an offer after my second summer clerkship, which is normal.  By 
this level in your education, you are aware of your strengths and should 
have a good idea whether you can maintain the usual riggers of graduate 
work.  Follow your belief in yourself and you should do fine.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Nightingale, Noel" <Noel.Nightingale at ed.gov>
To: "NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List" <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, February 20, 2007 11:07 AM
Subject: Re: [blindlaw] Law School in 3 Years Question


Jen:

I am sure you will receive a diversity of opinion on your question about 
whether to take a reduced course load in law school.  I have a strong 
opinion that you should stay in sync with your peers and complete law school 
in three years, if you are attending a full time program.  I say this 
because it is hard enough to find a job during and after law school. 
Private law firms are used to the three year course of study and you may get 
screened out of interviews if your résumé doesn't look like your other 
classmates.  At the same time and also for your employability, it is also 
critical that you achieve very good grades.

However, if you already know that you want to start your own practice after 
law school, then being competitive with your peers won't matter as much.

These are my two cents worth.  Please feel free to write me on or off list 
any time.

Noel
noel.nightingale at ed.gov


-----Original Message-----
From: blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org] On 
Behalf Of Jen Barrow
Sent: Monday, February 19, 2007 12:23 PM
To: blindlaw at nfbnet.org
Subject: [blindlaw] Law School in 3 Years Question

Hi List,



I will be starting law school in the Fall.  On a couple of the school 
websites, a reduced course load is listed as an example of a possible 
reasonable accommodation.  I am curious what you guys did or are doing- 
whether you completed law school in the 3 typical years?  I did my undergrad 
in 4 years, partly out of principal that I did not want to receive special 
treatment and partly because I wanted to graduate with my class.  But, in 
retrospect, I think 4.5 or 5 years of study would have improved my quality 
of life (e g time away from studying to be more social), and the depth of my 
learning.  I realize now that I often powered through reading assignments so 
fast to complete them on time that I read them too fast to truly process the 
material.  I don't want to cheat myself again out of the full opportunities 
of learning, but I'm not sure that 4 years of law school is quite the way to 
go either.  I've heard the first year of law school is hell for everybody, 
but how did it go for those of you who read all your books with JAWS?  Any 
thoughts are appreciated.  Feel free to write me off list.



Thanks,

Jen

barrowj at comcast.net

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