24601

WOW. I'm sorry it's taken me so long to respond -- just finished journal write-on and it's been eating me alive for two weeks. Your posts were SO helpful, and it's nice to meet someone on the same path. It's good to know that legal academics want to see PhD schools that are reputable in the legal field. I suspected as much, but it's good to have that confirmed so I'll know where to direct my applications when the time comes. I do hope to practice at some point, but I feel like I don't really have time? I don't know where I'm getting that idea, but it's there. I'm 25 and I didn't come to law school straight from undergrad (took two years off), so I feel like there isn't enough time to clerk, practice, then do a PhD and then teach. I'm aware that this is probably absurd. I do like the idea, though. I'd work at a DAs office for a year or two (the professor who has been advising me on this said that law schools these days don't want to see long practice histories) and I'm sure I'd find plenty of research fodder (although I already have some pretty clear ideas about what I'd like to research). Anyway, thanks for all of the input. And look for a PM.

Thanks for the input!! I am definitely working with a couple of the faculty members here, one who has her PhD (and who will likely be my biggest cheerleader). I'm told that the best route to academia from law school is to do law review and then clerk for the federal courts (preferably the appellate courts), and then do a PhD, so I think that's my (tentative) plan. I'm glad you loved law review, amlobo. I've heard nothing but horror stories and I'm dreading it a little (all the spading!). Hopefully it won't be as awful as I imagine. And thank you both for the school recs -- I'll check them out!

Hello, board! First post! A little about me: I am just finishing up my first year in law school and I have absolutely LOVED it (I'm not crazy about studying for my exams next week, but that aside, this has been the most stimulating academic experience I've ever had). I'd like to continue into legal academia, and I think getting my PhD would increase my chances of success significantly. My scholarly interest center largely around rape policy and rape reform (with an additional interest in sexuality and gender). Relevant information (maybe?): my law school is ranked in the top 25 and I, personally, am in the top 20% of my class (we'll see if that changes after finals). I'm working closely with a highly-regarded faculty member both in regards to her research and my own scholarly pursuits. I hope to publish twice before I finish law school, either in my school's law review or elsewhere. I haven't taken the GRE yet, but I scored in the 95th percentile on my LSAT and I'm hoping that's at least somewhat indicative of my test-taking skills. Any ideas about programs that have that sort of law and policy focus? I've looked at Berkeley's JSP program and I am a little bit in love with it, but dubious about my chances of admission and I'd like to explore other options. I'm not ruling out Berkeley entirely (esp since my main faculty contact here did the program and would be willing to make a call/recommend me/whatever), but I'd like to know what else is out there.