Georgetown University Law Center

Many fantastic adjuncts or professors with significant, recent real world experience. Excellent assortment of classes with international focus (lots of international trade courses even!) and chances to take courses with international students. As a not-very-outgoing person, however, I find the size of the school daunting. Still so many people I don’t know.

2L

You need to get to a good career counselor if you want to survive OCI. They are NOT all the same. That being said, the ones that are good are REALLY good and will help you maximize your chances at OCI.

2L

A surprising number of people have a liberal/public interest bent, so be prepared to be judged when your greatest aspiration is to continue feeding corporate America.

2L

Georgetown seems to field a class of 1Ls with a wide range of interests and abilities. Many (I reckon most) 1Ls in my class seem genuinely committed to something other than BigLaw, which is refreshing. Those that are pursuing BigLaw tend to skew younger. As you would expect given its locale, BigGov is a common aspiration. Judging by LSAT and GPA percentiles, the students at Georgetown are quite clever, if less diligent, relative to those at peer schools. I can’t speak for those peer schools, but my experience with fellow 1Ls holds true to this hypothesis–that is, I’ve noticed a critical mass of clever underachievers. (I say that affectionately; as a matter of personal taste, I prefer the laid-back to the obsessed and the smart to the dumb.) Pedagogy is as staid and outdated as at any other JD program. I hope things pick up in 2L and 3L. Perhaps our fabeled “Curriculum B” is different; but alas, it was oversubscribed this year, and by a wide margin. Teaching quality is inconsistent, but this is true everywhere, I suspect. Law professors aren’t hired on the basis of teaching ability. That’s all I got. Hope this helps.

1L

I like Georgetown, but it is very big. Large size seems to hurt with recruiting at firms. Flip side is an unbelievably large course selection. Especially good for international.

3L

Just because you go to a top tier law school doesn’t mean you’ll get a job in law. Good for International, Tax, and IP). Limited in other fields. I’ve taken too many classes where I want more only to find there ISN’T more offered here. If your bent is technology try GWU instead.

2L

Law school is hard work. Georgetown’s on a curve, and at the bottom of the T14 you need to get at least near the median for prestige points. The campus is pretty great, the faculty are overall pretty good.

2L

Success at my law school is very dependent upon knowing your teacher. Knowing the subject matter is obviously important, but knowing the teacher and his/her preferences is perhaps even more important to getting that A grade.

2L

That you need to build relationships with OCS early. That many professors do not base exams off courses and that studying older exams is the best way to succeed. Also, that the curve after 1L is volutnary and can be easily gamed with careful course selection. Also, there is no post-EIW 2L hiring or 3L OCI. And never do a JD/LLM or LLM as only tax LLMs get jobs.

3L

The school cares about public interest careers and is EXCELLENT for networking. Events happening all the time that put you in touch with practitioners. Also, being the top school in DC is amazing for school-year internships & externships.

2L

There’s such a good social life that I could see it really impacting your 1L grades if you don’t have the self control to miss social events when you have a lot of work. / / The on-campus housing (Gewirz) is really convenient, but it’s overpriced and in disrepair. However, the renovated apartments are really nice, and I think they might be renovating the remaining apartments this summer. Despite its flaws, I think it’s definitely worth it because of the social benefits and the convenience of being on campus.

1L

Career services is very hit or miss. Most of their personnel are only good at proofreading resumes and cover letters. If you want actual career advice, assistance, or inside tips/hints, you are on your own. They spend the vast majority of their time catering to the top third of the class after 1L year, and don’t bother with the rest of the class until spring semester 3L year, when they suddenly become concerned abt who has jobs and who doesn’t.

3L

Georgetown is huge, and has a lot to offer. The most important part of being a Georgetown student is keeping your eyes and ears open to this multitude of opportunities, especially those related to the federal government. It’s easy to get placements in Congressional offices and committees, agencies and obviously the huge nonprofit sector in DC. Georgetown embraces this, but if you don’t know about it when you get to school, you may miss an opportunity as you run towards Biglaw

3L

if you kick ass, you’ll get any job you want – Georgetown still has plenty of clout. If you just do OK, you’ll have options but you might have to hustle. If you slack off, you’re screwed – this ain’t harvard.

2L

People sometimes get hung up on the size, but being a large law school can have real advantages. There are classes and clinics for pretty much any area of the law that you could want. You have to be proactive to set yourelf apart in a large law school, but that rewards the ambitious. Furthermore, being in DC (and being at the most highly ranked school in DC) is really advantageous, both for career/internship opportunities and for social/cultural activities.

2L

Its a wonderful place to attend law school. Lots of opportunities since it is a large school but it still maintains an intimate athmosphere.

3L