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As the subject suggests, I was placed in a residency by my law school in St. Thomas. I live in North Carolina, and the residency will only last from late August until early December. I was wondering what to do about finding a place to rent. I know that I will be working for The Pate Law Firm, which is located in the Royal Dane Mall. Are there a lot of places to live around there? How should I expect to travel places? Would a bike suffice? Any and all advice would be greatly appreciated, as I have not been to the islands in about 5 years.
I'm mainly worried because I think I am expected to land, move-in, and hit the ground running at this job, so I won't have a lot of time to search for places to live. Do you think this will be a major issue? If so, how do I address it.
Once again, any advice is welcomed! Thanks!
Posted : May 9, 2016 6:01 pm
Read all the information provided in the drop down menus first. So yes you will have to hit the ground running and find your apartment when you arrive. Stay in a hotel until an apartment becomes available. You are not going to be able to find one before you arrive and we advise against any sight unseen transaction. You have more than two months to figure it all out.
Posted : May 9, 2016 6:21 pm
Absolutely no to the bike - you'll have a better understanding of why not when you get here! I'd suggest you contact Ronnie Lockhart at Crystal Palace B&B above town:
http://crystalpalaceusvi.com/
He not only may be able to accommodate you temporarily but he knows what's going on in town and may be able to steer you to something which would work.
Good luck and let us know how it works out!
Posted : May 9, 2016 6:34 pm
You might also check with Villa Santana which is near Crystal Palace to see if they have any availability for a 3 month rental. Ronnie @ Crystal Palace knows the owner, Louisa Euema or you can call her. 340-776-1311.
You can also check with this guy who has apts. right in town and advertises on Craig's List to see whether anything might be available come August. I don't know him but know the building and its a very short walk to town. Villa Santana is a bit above town but walkable.
Posted : May 9, 2016 8:02 pm
Law schools have residencies? Is this a new thing?
Posted : May 10, 2016 12:03 am
The law firm can't help you find a place?
Posted : May 10, 2016 7:40 am
Yes, more and more law schools are entering into residency programs with participating law firms.
The comment about borrowing $60K/year means what?
Posted : May 10, 2016 10:27 am
Thought Summer Associates was the preferred nomenclature
Posted : May 10, 2016 1:46 pm
Topic starter
The comment about borrowing money to continue my education is snide, but if there is any helpful, actual information about how working for Russell Pate is a bad decision, please let me know.
Posted : May 10, 2016 1:52 pm
No, I don't believe he's an "incompetent lawyer". I don't know him personally and haven't used his services but a couple of attorney friends have spoken favorably of him after seeing him in court and having a few dealings with him.
Posted : May 10, 2016 2:09 pm
He advertises heavily on local tv. If I hear anything specific I'll post.
Posted : May 10, 2016 2:51 pm
I haven't heard anything, good or bad, about him nor have I had any dealings with him. If I run into any of my attorney friends, I'll inquire.
Here's his link: http://sunlawvi.com/profile.php
However, 3 months goes pretty quickly and there's lots of other things to do when you're not working. Drop us a line and let us know your insights into local jurisprudence once you've settled in.
Posted : May 10, 2016 5:42 pm
Oh! Summer Associate. Just hadn't heard "residency" applied that way. 🙂
Posted : May 10, 2016 8:37 pm
And actually, Old Tart, law schools generally encourage their students to become summer associates with established law firms, often have relationships with said firms to encourage the practice, and have done so for aeons. "Residencies" are what medical students do.
Posted : May 10, 2016 8:42 pm
I'm aware of that - what I said was that "more and more" law schools are entering into such programs. Actually both terms are used and are interchangeable.
Posted : May 10, 2016 8:56 pm
And actually, Old Tart, law schools generally encourage their students to become summer associates with established law firms, often have relationships with said firms to encourage the practice, and have done so for aeons. "Residencies" are what medical students do.
It makes little sense to call attention to OldTart's idiocy - she'll just dig in deeper.
Residencies are as unique to the medical profession as clerkships are to the legal profession. Law schools are not moving toward residencies at all (at least the schools of prestige).
Any law school that would send its student off to work for a solo practitioner in the middle of nowhere for a semester (in lieu of immersing themselves in five or six bread-and-butter black letter courses in that same timeframe) is indisputably a bottom-rung diploma mill.
Posted : May 10, 2016 10:00 pm
Obviously the American Bar Association has it all wrong and has no clue what it's doing.
http://www.americanbar.org/groups/delivery_legal_services/initiatives_awards/program_main.html
PS: Although maybe limitations in reading comprehension may prove a challenge, Potter, you may be interested in doing some simple research and see information readily available on the large number of dreadfully substandard law schools offering these residency programs.
Posted : May 10, 2016 10:49 pm
Hi there! I also live in NC and will be relocating to STT in July! We should exchange emails!
Posted : May 18, 2016 3:18 am
