Comments on: Nice try but no cigar… http://skepticlawyer.com.au/2008/07/nice-try-but-no-cigar/ Two lawyers on law, legislation and liberty. And other stuff. Fri, 21 Nov 2008 03:02:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: John Flood http://skepticlawyer.com.au/2008/07/nice-try-but-no-cigar/#comment-13113 John Flood Tue, 15 Jul 2008 23:01:28 +0000 http://skepticlawyer.com.au/?p=764#comment-13113 Yes, international publications are important, but not always in law. It depends how "contextual" or interdisciplinary your work is. For example, in my area--legal profession and globalization--there are not many scholars, so good work can stand out. I didn't pick this field because it was underpopulated but because I liked it. This makes me slightly marginal to the mainstream. That's not a bad place to be. Challenging the mainstream/status quo is GOOD. It gets you noticed and even if people don't like it immediately, in 5 years time they will be saying how prescient you were. Believe me anyone can go with the flow and it's boring. I once had a professor who said every piece of work should upset someone in power somewhere. He was right. I reiterate my key point: your research is what is going to make you desirable by institutions. Good teachers are all around; great researchers are scarce. Good luck Yes, international publications are important, but not always in law. It depends how “contextual” or interdisciplinary your work is. For example, in my area–legal profession and globalization–there are not many scholars, so good work can stand out. I didn’t pick this field because it was underpopulated but because I liked it. This makes me slightly marginal to the mainstream. That’s not a bad place to be.

Challenging the mainstream/status quo is GOOD. It gets you noticed and even if people don’t like it immediately, in 5 years time they will be saying how prescient you were. Believe me anyone can go with the flow and it’s boring. I once had a professor who said every piece of work should upset someone in power somewhere. He was right.

I reiterate my key point: your research is what is going to make you desirable by institutions. Good teachers are all around; great researchers are scarce.

Good luck

]]> By: Legal Eagle http://skepticlawyer.com.au/2008/07/nice-try-but-no-cigar/#comment-12837 Legal Eagle Sat, 05 Jul 2008 03:11:53 +0000 http://skepticlawyer.com.au/?p=764#comment-12837 Thank you again all. John, I guess what really irritated me is that I had a heap of research for someone of my level. The only thing that was missing was an overseas journal publication (I'm working on that - that particular piece needs a bit of amendment). But just gotta keep plugging away - I'm presenting an abridged version of one of my thesis chapters at a conference in two weeks time, so we'll see how that goes down! I'm a bit nervous because I'm challenging the status quo. The title is provocative too... Oh well, it's fun - no sense going with the flow... And I keep thinking of <a href="http://skepticlawyer.com.au/2006/11/the-horse-story-2/" rel="nofollow">the Horse Story</a> - the motto of which is "just wait and see" - something that seems really bad at the time can actually end up being very positive. Thank you again all.

John, I guess what really irritated me is that I had a heap of research for someone of my level. The only thing that was missing was an overseas journal publication (I’m working on that - that particular piece needs a bit of amendment).

But just gotta keep plugging away - I’m presenting an abridged version of one of my thesis chapters at a conference in two weeks time, so we’ll see how that goes down! I’m a bit nervous because I’m challenging the status quo. The title is provocative too… Oh well, it’s fun - no sense going with the flow…

And I keep thinking of the Horse Story - the motto of which is “just wait and see” - something that seems really bad at the time can actually end up being very positive.

]]> By: John Flood http://skepticlawyer.com.au/2008/07/nice-try-but-no-cigar/#comment-12834 John Flood Fri, 04 Jul 2008 19:06:25 +0000 http://skepticlawyer.com.au/?p=764#comment-12834 I'm sorry to hear this, but I have been on enough hiring committees to know the score. And it's cruel, but here's how it works. First, the most important thing is research. How much have you published? Where? What are your future research plans? How many research grants have you got? How many are you applying for? Second, how highly is your research rated? By whom? How many downloads do you have on your SSRN page. Third, of course you can teach: we all can. It's taken for granted. Now what were you saying about your research.....? I'm sorry if this sounds harsh, but it is the reality of academia today. So finish your PhD, find a publisher for it as well, and indeed treat the thesis as a book which gets you a degree along the way. See which two or three chapters you can publish as articles before the book comes out. Start thinking about the next project after the PhD and/or join a research team. Good luck. I’m sorry to hear this, but I have been on enough hiring committees to know the score. And it’s cruel, but here’s how it works. First, the most important thing is research. How much have you published? Where? What are your future research plans? How many research grants have you got? How many are you applying for? Second, how highly is your research rated? By whom? How many downloads do you have on your SSRN page. Third, of course you can teach: we all can. It’s taken for granted. Now what were you saying about your research…..? I’m sorry if this sounds harsh, but it is the reality of academia today. So finish your PhD, find a publisher for it as well, and indeed treat the thesis as a book which gets you a degree along the way. See which two or three chapters you can publish as articles before the book comes out. Start thinking about the next project after the PhD and/or join a research team. Good luck.

]]> By: saint http://skepticlawyer.com.au/2008/07/nice-try-but-no-cigar/#comment-12801 saint Wed, 02 Jul 2008 17:37:33 +0000 http://skepticlawyer.com.au/?p=764#comment-12801 Bummer. Bummer.

]]> By: Martha Maus http://skepticlawyer.com.au/2008/07/nice-try-but-no-cigar/#comment-12796 Martha Maus Wed, 02 Jul 2008 06:10:44 +0000 http://skepticlawyer.com.au/?p=764#comment-12796 Consider it their bad luck. I agree with Davidson, look after yourself first. I suppose saying it is the system won't t make you feel any better but consider it said. As a permanent staffer ( junior) it was very hard to ask for budgets that allowed for sessional staff continuity. Money varied with enrolments which weren't finalised until 3 weeks into the semester and as a sessional, in another state, my colleagues and I felt exploited to the hilt. Consider it their bad luck.
I agree with Davidson, look after yourself first.
I suppose saying it is the system won’t
t make you feel any better but consider it said. As a permanent staffer ( junior) it was very hard to ask for budgets that allowed for sessional staff continuity. Money varied with enrolments which weren’t finalised until 3 weeks into the semester and as a sessional, in another state, my colleagues and I felt exploited to the hilt.

]]> By: Legal Eagle http://skepticlawyer.com.au/2008/07/nice-try-but-no-cigar/#comment-12789 Legal Eagle Wed, 02 Jul 2008 00:02:11 +0000 http://skepticlawyer.com.au/?p=764#comment-12789 Thank you all! It's great to have your support. Feeling much better about it today after a good sleep on it last night. Thank you all! It’s great to have your support. Feeling much better about it today after a good sleep on it last night.

]]> By: Lad Litter http://skepticlawyer.com.au/2008/07/nice-try-but-no-cigar/#comment-12786 Lad Litter Tue, 01 Jul 2008 14:50:25 +0000 http://skepticlawyer.com.au/?p=764#comment-12786 Best of luck with the PhD and enquiries at other universities. The short term contract system of employment is a bit of a bugger. It caused a lot of stupidity in state education under Kennett before it was wound back since Labor got in. Even minimized, it still catches the unlucky in its web. Best of luck with the PhD and enquiries at other universities. The short term contract system of employment is a bit of a bugger. It caused a lot of stupidity in state education under Kennett before it was wound back since Labor got in. Even minimized, it still catches the unlucky in its web.

]]> By: Sinclair Davidson http://skepticlawyer.com.au/2008/07/nice-try-but-no-cigar/#comment-12784 Sinclair Davidson Tue, 01 Jul 2008 12:10:26 +0000 http://skepticlawyer.com.au/?p=764#comment-12784 Sorry to hear that. When it comes to getting the doctorate - you need to think about number one, nobody else is going to. Sorry to hear that. When it comes to getting the doctorate - you need to think about number one, nobody else is going to.

]]> By: Jacques Chester http://skepticlawyer.com.au/2008/07/nice-try-but-no-cigar/#comment-12783 Jacques Chester Tue, 01 Jul 2008 11:59:11 +0000 http://skepticlawyer.com.au/?p=764#comment-12783 I reckon Charles Darwin Uni would take you on :) I reckon Charles Darwin Uni would take you on :)

]]> By: skepticlawyer http://skepticlawyer.com.au/2008/07/nice-try-but-no-cigar/#comment-12782 skepticlawyer Tue, 01 Jul 2008 11:54:18 +0000 http://skepticlawyer.com.au/?p=764#comment-12782 Bugger. And yes, they always want the DPhil first. It places you in the position where you have to say 'sod the students, I'm looking after number one'. Bugger. And yes, they always want the DPhil first. It places you in the position where you have to say ’sod the students, I’m looking after number one’.

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