West Coast Admitted Student Wine Messes

I just had the distinct pleasure of "working" the admitted student wine messes on the West Coast -- on Tuesday evening we met with admitted students and alums in the LA area at Paul Hastings, and on Wednesday evening we met with admitted students and alums in the San Francisco area at Gibson Dunn & Crutcher.  Why "working" in quotes?  Because leaving Chicago in March to hang out at cocktail parties in California is much more a perk than actual work.  I got to catch up with some of my classmates who are practicing in California, as well as meet some of the admitted students that I had called to give the good news to over the past few weeks -- both were a trip.  (So was our celeb sighting in LA -- Rita Wilson and Bronson Pinchot were having lunch at the same restaurant we were at -- so it's no Brad and Angelina, but for my first trip to LA, how fitting to at least see someone.)  And how do we get such great firms to host these events?  Because our alums work there, and are always happy to have the chance to talk to future U of C students.  It was so much fun to listen to alums talk about their experiences at Chicago.  Obviously, I'm a bit of a booster, having liked the place so much that I came back to work here -- so it's great for me to hear that other alums are similarly enthused about the place.  Alums seconded many of the things that I tell students who are considering Chicago -- you definitely should live in Hyde Park your first year of law school to be convenient to both the academic and social goings-on at the school; the quarter system is great because it lets you take so many more classes than a semester system; the job opportunities a U of C degree can create, both coming directly out of law school and later on in your career, are simply stellar; and, your law school friends will continue to be your friends and colleagues for the rest of your life.  Good stuff.  I think one admitted student put it best at the end of last night's wine mess in San Francisco -- Wow, you really have some happy alums.  Yep, we do.  We also have some amazingly happy students -- so for all you admitted students out there, don't forget to sign up for Admitted Students Weekend -- I met a bunch of folks who are going to be there this week, and it promises to be a blast.