I got accepted to Law school!
 

I recently found out I was accepted at the Charleston School of Law, which will be opening in the fall. Its the only one I have heard from so far.

Anyone know anything about rentals in Charleston? I would prefer to live downtown if I went to school there.

Oh my gosh! congrats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

YEAH! for you!:)

Congratulations!:)

I LOVE Charleston, SC! Congrats on being accepted!

Congratulations! I know nothing about rentals in Charleston but a lot about law school. Is the Charleston Law School accredited by the American Bar Association?

It has its premilinary Accrediation, however, it can not get provisional accrediation until its been in operation for two years. It gets full accrediation after the first two classes take the bar (and do pretty well)

It seems to a pretty good program, but it is a gamble because of the accrediation. I do think that in a few years it will be an unbelievable program, they have already recruited just about everyone from USC (University South Carolina) and a lot of faculty from George Washington. However, it doesn't qualify for federal loans. I would really need a nice scholarship to seriously consider it worth the risk. I am still waiting to hear from UNC, Campbell, Mercer, and North Carolina Central.

Any advice you have to offer? I really appreciate anything you have to share!

Congratulations!

If it is not acrediated by ABA then you can only practice in that state after passing the bar.
I know here in California Univ of LaVerne Law school graduates after passing the bar can only practice here in california only because of acrediation because it isn't acrediated by the ABA but the paralegal program there is...wierd


Is that correct Laura?

In some states you can't take the bar if your school isn't accredited, in others you have to take something called the "baby bar" during law school in order to qualify to sit for the bar.

Starting at a new law school is very risky as a student. If they don't get their provisional accreditation you may not be able to sit for the bar exam when you graduate. While it looks like they are doing an excellent job from everything I've read online , you have to be careful. When I was in school Chapman had just opened their law school and there was a lot of dispute over their accreditation.

Laura, you are correct about La Verne. They are accreditated by the WASC and the California Committee of Bar Examiners but are still in the application process for the ABA. As a result you can sit for the California bar without taking the baby bar but if you want to practice in another jurisdiction you ahve to contact their state bar to see if you can qualify to take the bar there. The paralegal program is accredited by Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, not by the ABA. The law school has the same accreditation, it's just not enough to qualify to sit for the bar in other jurisdictions.

I hope this helps.

:-)

I know, its such a big risk with accrediation. While it most likly will do well with accrediation, its just a major risk if it doesn't pass. I believe in SC you can take the State Bar, because its only there second law school.

I had an interview at Campbell, which is tied for my first choice. It was with a professor though and he kinda have me a lofty lecture about the procedures learned and praticed. I think it was more about naive 1L and not about me personally though. Hopefully I will hear soon.

Its just a shame that this school isn't a few years older and has accrediation. Its a great opportunity for people who may not get into another school of their choice. (In NC, GA, and SC, there is only one law school (NC Central) that the LSAT average is around a 150, everything else is 156 or higher)

Are you currently in law school or just know bunchies?

Then there are a lot of misinformed students from Mt Sac .... they all believe LaVerne is acrediated by the ABA when it came to the paralegal studies program.

I am a lawyer and when I was in law school I sat on admissions committee. I also applied to 14 law schools when I applied and had a great law school admissions counselor who helped me through the process and was very knowledgeable.

The ABA states on its website that it "approves" paralegal programs. According to the ABA site La Verne is approved. When I read La Verne's site the other day though it didn't list the ABA under its accreditation. It seems like they distinguish between being accredited and being approved.

But then the ABA uses "approves" and "accredits" interchangeably later on. This is what the ABA accreditation site says about who they accredit:

BLAH!!! It stinks about the accrediation process... Its so important in the scheme of things.

What type of law do you pratice? Where did you go to school? I am tickled pink to met a sister who is a lawyer!

I work for a botique corporate firm. We do both litigation and transactional work with a focus on securities, real estate and tax. I went to law school to be an environmental lawyer, and I never imagined that I would be happy doing corporate work but I LOVE it. Our practice has very challenging legal issues and I get to do a lot of legal research and writing on interesting legal topics (which is exactly what I enjoy most about being a lawyer). I also like that I get a mix of transactional and litigation work. The change from day to day or week to week keeps me on my toes and interested in what I am doing.

Valkyrie is also a lawyer, and you should talk to her about it too. A lot of lawyers are not happy about their experiences either in school or after and it's important to know what you are getting yourself into.

Good luck!

The only thing I can tell you about Charleston is that there is a new bar opened there by my brother-in-law and a partner of his called Charleston Beer Works, or CBW. It's supposed to be great, so I want to go and visit it sometime soon. You have to tell me if it's as cool as he says it is.

cory

I was very suprised when i went to my first Pasadena Alum chapter meeting to realize how many lawyers were in the room. out of 20 ladies there there was about 7 or 8 that were lawyers. there was another paralegal and myself there too though right now i am not working as paralegal but running operations for my families franchise corp. WHICH I WOULD LIKE TO CHANGE IF ANY LAWYER --SISTER NEEDS A PARALEGAL:D....just getting in some innocent advertising and networking....hehehhe.... But i have come accross many sisters who are lawyers like Bruinaphi and valkyrie and others. Always weigh the options of where ever you go and or do. Law school is a big step and a huge committment physically and emotionally and financially. I have many lawyers as well as a former state supreme court judge froma tenn in my family and some are practicing and some are so disollusioned by law they are do other things. And they always told me to make sure if this is what you really want to go into because it is a very competitive field to work in.

Have you heard from other schools you applied at? where they all over the place or primary in SC?

I applied mostly in NC, but one school in GA (Mercer) and Charleston.

I still have yet to hear from anywhere but Charleston. They also haven't sent any financial aid/loan information (which i requested a week ago). UNC just now cashed my application check after it being there for close to a month and a half. It kinda stinks, I am going insane to get any information at this point. We have spring break coming up the 8th of March and I will be in Vegas dying to know.

Charleston does have some great local brews. I have never been to the one you are talking about. I do like the Palmetto brand of beers and the Charleston Pale Ale brand. I have been twice for Fraternity formals there. SUPER awesome city.

Just hang in there waiting for the responses. They come eventually. One of the schools I applied to waited to let me in until after I had started law school somewhere else. I was like gee, thanks!

I forgot to answer your last question about where I went to law school. I went to the University of Southern California.

Good luck and keep us posted. If you need to chat feel free to PM me. I know the stress of going through the application process and the waiting process to start school. It's a tough thing to go through.

LD

Congratulations!!!! I'm also an attorney, so feel free to PM me with any questions!!!

YEAH!!! So many Alpha Phi attorneys!!!!

I heard from Campbell and got into their PBAP this summer (take two classes, pass, your in) kinda sucks, but I know I will do well and it will give me a good chance to make an AWESOME grade in tax and property (the two classes) when I have to take it for real.

I actually considered a couple schools in PA. I really like Penn State (or the idea of it). My dad is from Philly and they moved to Long Beach Island.

Hopefully i'll be one too!!
 

I still have a year left till i get my bach. degree but after i graduate i'll be on my way to Law School myself. Ever since i was like ......2 i've always wanted to go to law school. Its good to know we have a lot of lawyers among our sisters. One day i'll be one of them too :)

Woo hoo! I live in Philly and went to Penn (that's University of Pennsylvania, not Penn State!)