RobBlog

The intangibles of Virginia Law

Jones Day. Latham & Watkins, Hunton & Williams, Howrey, Sullivan & Cromwell, Troutman Sanders. The EPA.

These are just a few of the hundreds of employers who will be at the Law School over the next month to recruit our students.

One of the greatest qualities of the Law School is its ability to attract employers from across the country to Charlottesville to meet our students.  Coming to Charlottesville is no easy task, so the fact that so many employers find their way to our little town is a credit to Virginia’s reputation in the legal market and the existence of a large pool of highly qualified students.   

This observation is backed up backed up anecdotally by my own experience of meeting and working with these students.  They are balanced, community-minded, and faithful to the ideal of being good citizens to their classmates and the Law School.

An interesting survey regarding “student quality” is published here. This survey focuses on LSAT scores and GPAs for admissions purposes.  While Virginia ranks high (and should rank even higher next year based on this year’s 1L class), high LSAT scores and GPAs are not indicative of the type of lawyer a law student will become. 

Other intangibles need to be factored into that equation.  The students at Virginia have those intangibles.  Firms and judges know that; hence, the Law School’s hallways are filled with employers this time of year.

Unlike in my time, when a law student was lucky to get a pen from an interviewing law firm, today’s law students are showered with gifts - flash drives, USB extensions and food.  The competition for the attention of a Virginia law student is fierce and law firms go all out to create an impression.

I just heard that there are some Starbucks’ frappuccinos downstairs -- so I have to go.

The best class we've ever had

The Law School officially welcomed the Class of 2011 on Monday. The students were greeted by Dean Paul Mahoney, Admissions Dean Jason Trujillo '01, SBA President Ryan Quillian and (former Chief) Justice of the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals J. Harvie Wilkinson III '72 .

On paper, this year’s class is the best class we’ve ever had at the Law School.

In fact, looking at their numbers and work experience, I’m very glad I got in when the getting was good. I’m not sure I’d stand a chance against this year’s 1Ls.

We received 6,548 applications for this year’s class – the most ever (although our records only date back to the class that entered in the fall of 1981).

The 370 members of the entering class have a median LSAT of 170 and a median GPA of 3.80. This class is 44.3% female. Only one class since the fall 1981 class has been higher - the fall 1999 class was 49.6% female.

The students come from 132 colleges and universities and from 38 states plus the District of Columbia and three foreign countries (Iran, the Republic of Cameroon, and Trinidad and Tobago). The median age is 23, but the range is 18 to 36.

Rather than recap the inspirational message of Judge Wilkinson in my words, I thought you might enjoy watching and hearing it for yourself.

Summertime in C'ville

Is there anything better than the summer in Charlottesville? Some people love the fall (the leaves blanket the Grounds with vibrant colors; the pageantry of college football; the warm afternoons and cool evenings). Others love the spring (the longer days; the return of life to trees; the anticipation of graduation).

Personally, I like the summers. There's much less traffic (vehicle and foot) and there are lots of opportunities to reflect on the past year and anticipate the next. Alumni often ask what happens at the Law School during the summers.

Well, the professors lose their professional attire. Dress pants are replaced by shorts, jeans, and skirts. Dress shirts are replaced by polo shirts, t-shirts and sleeveless blouses. Many professors take 4-6 weeks or more to complete "research" projects. Some complete their research in Charlottesville; others do their research in another locale. The library is filled with students studying for the bar or students who are research assistants to the professors.

The administrative offices (admissions, career services, public service, financial aid, dean of students, registrar) are gearing up for the new year. Construction projects begin and continue until the first day of classes. This year, all the carpeting on the first floor of the Law School was replaced. Hopefully (for Lu Alvarez's sake), the carpeting on the third floor will be replaced next year. The HVAC system was cleaned. This resulted in above average temperatures in our offices on one day and way below average temperatures the next day.

At the Foundation, we work on inputting all gifts we received last fiscal year. We begin compiling all information needed for the annual report and we begin preparing for the new fiscal year. We identify reunion committees for next year's reunion classes (which will be all classes ending in a 4 or 9) and we prepare our strategy for dealing with economic and political circumstances.

I love the summers. I try to walk to work every day and try to have lunch with someone from the Law School or the University for personal and professional networking purposes.

The only negative aspect of summer in Charlottesville is not the humidity, but the duration. Summer for Law School Foundation employees is short. It lasts only 6 weeks. Our summer doesn't begin until July 1 (after the end of the fiscal year) and ends the week before classes start. On our calendar, summer ends this Friday. Perhaps that's why I appreciate summer so much.