Category: Daily Dose

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Daily Dose Law School

You Don’t Know Everything. Adaptibar Can Help.

This is some bullshit. But it’s a mess of my own making and I am big enough to admit that.

I’ve put off intensely studying for Day 2 of the Bar exam because, well…obviously “it’s not that hard.” Welp, I received a helluva gut check when I took the practice MBE this week. I didn’t do well, by any standard. So, I’ve relegated myself to daily practice questions (approximately 100 of them) in each MBE subject until next week, when I re-take the practice exam. As my professors said – I did this to myself. And it’s true. Sucks so much, but it’s too accurate.

I let my personal emotions, things going on at home, with friends, with family…everything else kinda seeped into my mind during my study time and I failed to focus properly. Plus, I didn’t think the multiple choice was going to be that bad and figured what Barbri offered would be enough. I didn’t take my own [prior] advice about ignoring the world and just getting things done. Don’t you just hate when that happens?

For the next five days, I’ll be neck-deep in all things MBE. I’ve added Adaptibar to my study routine, too. Sure, I purchased it in June, but I certainly hadn’t used it. I should have. Hopefully, you’ve already gone through several hundred [yes, I’m dead serious about this] practice problems and are using the hell out of this excellent tool. I didn’t realize how much I was going enjoy the statistics and progress analytics it offers. You can, quite literally, view your progress over time.

With more than 1500 former MBE practice questions, it behooves you to go through them and get better at understanding what the examiners want to know. Remember, we only have about 1.8 minutes to read and answer each question, so it’s imperative you get quite good at speed reading because there will be – without a doubt – several lengthy fact patterns. Shave seconds off the easier questions (from which there should be approximately 35) in order to spend that extra time on more difficult ones.

Extra bonus with Adaptibar? They keep track of the time you spend on EACH question! That’s so damn fantastic. They also compare that time with the average time it took other users to get through the problem. What?! Seriously one of my favorite features, second only to how you rank among other users overall.

Image from my First Login
Plenty of room for improvement…

For transparency, just know I was offered a discount to play around with their tech tools to prepare for the Bar Exam, in exchange for an honest review. After getting spanked on the BarBri practice MBE, I’ve gotta admit that I only know of ONE other tool (crushendo) that would be able to help me get where I need to be score-wise, and that’s for a later post (however, I was informed that program and Adaptibar both license the same set of released NCBE questions, so I did not get access to their platform because I already had Adaptibar).

If you’d like a $30 discount for AdaptiBar, enter Cerebellum as your promo code at checkout. Happy Studying!

I didn’t pay for access to their flashcards, because I do better writing them out myself and subscribe to this method for memorizing the essay components. [Saluting all my multiple-modality learners! 😛 ] Using Adaptibar and going through the practice problems, coupled with reading their rationale after each and every question, is the most effective way (in my opinion) to get the most out of your study efforts.

By the time I sit for the MBE on Day 2 of the Bar exam, I will have completed roughly 1800+ practice questions and studied [dutifully] for more than 300 hours in preparation for this exam.

My (new) study plan was laid out by our Academic Success program, where my professors kindly chewed me out for failing to effectively prepare for this portion of the exam. But you know what? My ego needed the kick in the face. This exam is set for minimum competency, but that certainly doesn’t mean I (or you) should only put the minimum effort into preparing for this test. It’s already grueling, and these next 24 days are going to be completely terrible – but we can do this. You can do this!

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Advice Daily Dose

Stress & Bar Prep

We’re about four weeks into BarPrep. Are you kinda-sorta-totally losing your mind already? You’re not the only one. Honestly, I’d be more concerned for you if you lacked panic and fatigue in your daily routine. Studying for as long and as hard as we do, it makes complete sense that you’re a frazzled ball of nerves. I am, too. It’s okay. You will be alright and you’re not going through this alone. I promise.

At the start of bar prep, I found myself dazing out for several minutes at a time listening to lectures but not actually hearing the information. During these times, I realized the need to go back and rewind to collect my thoughts and my notes. It frustrated me so much. I think it was a combination of forcing myself to listen to a recorded lecture, which never worked for me as an undergrad or graduate student. So, why the hell did I think it would work now?

Instead of grinding out the lecture time, I reached out to a professor who suggested I toss the video lectures and only read through the outlines. She also encouraged shorter reading sessions followed by a necessary break. It seemed entirely wrong, but I tried it. In having done this for a week, I can say that this version of my studies experienced a positive effect. My MBE practice scores are in a good to better range and I am on track. I was feeling off-kilter and am thrilled to settle on a studying approach that works! If the method your bar prep program suggests doesn’t work for you, don’t be afraid to change it up. Work with your learning style and their tools!

Between studying, the breaks are crucial. My friend Dax (who already aced the Bar in February) keeps posting kind, motivating words on our class facebook page. It’s incredibly thoughtful to hear from a friend, as well as have the reminder that “hey, there’s life after the bar exam.” It may seem silly, but those words – offering peace and a gentle reminder to step away from the books – are wonderful. Do what you can to take a break and give your mind some ease.

I took time off for a [much-needed] three-day weekend with some of my best friends. We plan an annual Girls’ Weekend and, holy cow, was I desperately in need of seeing these phenomenal ladies!

We visited Colorado Springs, went hiking, and talked about everything under the sun. I let go of so many thoughts I’d put energy into. I took deep, steadying breaths atop amazing cliffs and enjoyed deep-belly laughs with members of my support system.

You must deal with your stress. Figure out a way to get rid of it so you can focus the entirety of your energy on preparing for this exam. You’ll feel rested and ready to tackle the next subject when you’re not filling your mind with other stressors and situations you have no control over. You can control the effort you put into preparing for the exam, so get it done!

Here’s hoping you have an excellent study week!

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Advice Daily Dose

Mentorship in Law

Business is cruel and navigating the professional workforce is difficult. My experience in the legal sphere is drastically different than in the corporate business sector.

One of my former bosses is a woman; the only one woman I ever worked for, actually. While working for her, she treated me like a secretary. Nothing wrong with a secretarial position, but that wasn’t my job. I was supposed to learn the industry and it was her role to teach me. But she cared little about my own career aspirations. She told me, on several occasions, that she didn’t understand the drive for furthering my own education. You see, she’d assimilated to the ‘boys club’ in the office and there was no plan to include anyone else in that circle, least of all a young Latina working toward potentially surpassing her. I wanted her to be a mentor and, in that desire, I learned several things.

Mentorships are Forged in Friendship

In corporate America, I’m sure there are mentorships. Sadly, my one lady boss was not willing to help nurture my goals. But you know what? We were NEVER friends. She was cold, distant, and looked down at me for not enjoying scotch. So, I branched out, connecting to other individuals. I found a mentor in one of the male figures within the company and did maintain several friendships after leaving that position.

By finding not-so-common ground with this man, I was able to ask questions about career goals, thoughts on a career change, and which leadership qualities may be best to work on for myself. I asked him practically everything under the sun, and he was always willing to answer honestly – which is not something I found often in that office. This mentorship stemmed beyond the corporate field and he even wrote me a letter of recommendation for law school, and further served as a reference for my character and fitness test.

I say all of this to you because sometimes the people you desperately want to look up to, well – they disappoint you. And others will surprise you. Be open to that surprise. A mentor can be someone very close in age to you, they don’t have to be “older” to be wisened. One of my newest friends and mentors is the same age as I am, but she went directly into law, whereas I taught for a few years before attending law school. Her direction and motivation is just as valuable and appreciated in my life, moreso because she’s a woman in the field and has recently experienced what I am about to go through. Be open to the wisdom and the friendship that comes from mentorship.

Mentors Can Have Differing Opinions & That Is Perfectly O.K.

I know this seems completely obvious, but just go with me on this one. I have two male mentors in the legal field who are partners at different law firms and work in the same practice area. They’re amazing individuals, both earned via potluck situations (meaning, through a couple of different, yet organic, circumstances), and their thoughts on my career ambitions vary. I initially thought I’d practice corporate or patent law and have since retained a love of science but gained an interest in criminal litigation.

One felt I should apply for clerkships, the other thought I simply needed to ace the patent bar and enter the job market. One suggested I pursue positions in the criminal law sphere, while the other voiced his concern in me not earning enough money there. These polarizing views helped me ask myself questions and, more importantly, helped orient my goals. Reaching out to these two, asking their opinion on the same question, always gives me something to think about; multiple perspectives is key to making difficult decisions.

The Mentee Needs to Put the Work in First

Law students tend to feel like mere specks in the legal workforce. As a 1L, when you don’t know how to begin or complete any work of merit, asking for help on anything feels akin to wasting someone else’s time. So it should come as no surprise that many law students fail to establish a relationship with a mentor early on in their legal education. My alma mater requires mentoring sessions during the 1L year. Each week, a group of peers meet up with an assigned set of attorneys (who volunteered to be mentors). The goal is to discuss anything of importance or concern among the cohort. In my first year, we spoke about internships, scholarships, and the difficulties of studying and maintaining life balance. Many students didn’t enjoy the group sessions, but I viewed them as an opportunity to get to network. In so doing, I reached out to the attorneys in our group for coffee, lunch, and the occasional hallway chat. They were incredibly receptive and worked around my schedule rather than making me feel like I was a waste of time.

I showed my interest in getting to know them and genuinely enjoy their company. These attorneys were (and continue to be) sounding boards for case analysis, motion drafting, and bar preparation ideas. I highly doubt they would have taken as much of an interest in me though, if I’d failed to establish the direct line of communication. I took it upon myself to reach out, which I know may be difficult for some. But you should know that I’ve never been blown off by a lawyer after reaching out with something specific. In the business world, sure. Among lawyers? Never.

Case in point, when working on my Blockchain Analysis for an independent study course, I looked up a partner at a Big Law Firm in Dallas and sent him a message via LinkedIn. He responded within 24 hours and we met for coffee to chat about the topic of my paper and where I planned on taking my research.

Put yourself out there. Worst case? They don’t respond. Then you’re merely at square one. Best case? They do respond and you’ve got a new connection.

Women Mentors are Scarce

Per the 2018 Census statistics, 38% of attorneys are women. As of 2010, less than 2% of women attorneys are Latina. Forging your way into a new career is tough, so it helps greatly to have someone rooting for you. Someone who’s been there, who knows just how hard and how long you have to work to get where you want to go.

Enter Nora. (And Lara, Loren, Melissa, Jessica, Lauren, Tracy, and Jenny)
These women have fundamentally impacted my life and career. I doubt they even realize it, but I think about their words of encouragement and advice nearly every single day. As I told Nora, these women – and those who came before them – are the reason I am a lawyer (and studying for the Bar). The reason I could even consider the idea of becoming a lawyer at all. They’re the giants whose shoulders we get to stand upon.

Nora Riva Bergman is an attorney and law firm coach who took the time to write several books (because she’s just that awesome). Her most recent one is 50 Lessons for Women Lawyers from Women Lawyers. Between her crazy-hectic schedule she made the time to speak with me about life goals, career options, and what the heck I plan to do after passing the Bar exam. She even offered to connect me with another female attorney who she thought would be an excellent mentor for me. Trust me when I say that most people want to help you. Nora is a prime example of this and I consider myself lucky to know her.

Nora Riva Bergman
Click HERE for More Info

The day I met Nora, I was panicked. Everything went wrong. My technology failed and I was running late for our meeting. I was nervous and flustered because my two dogs chose that particular timeframe to have the zoomies. She let me go on and on about goals and my blog and my worries regarding the Bar exam. Speaking with her was just so easy! She let me talk (and talk and talk) and, when I was all talked out, she shared her own words of wisdom. I’m sure if I asked her, she’d be happy to mentor me. Heck, she already started to mentor me with her book and the lessons she and her friends compiled. Nora is an ally for all women looking to make a positive impact in this world and we need more people like her.

If you haven’t already, I highly recommend you read her new book. I’ve been treating it kind of like a bible in the sense that I flip it open every other day for some inspiration while studying for the Bar Exam. The lessons these women wrote for us are so important to establishing our roles in the legal field. Anyone with the desire to do something, to be a part of something bigger than yourself, should read this book. My current favorite is Lesson #8: Find a Mentor – Be a Mentor.

Your Voice Is Powerful

Mentoring means you make the time to teach and guide another. As lawyers and law students, we are in the unique role of being able to help others on a daily basis. We are privileged in that we can use our voice and know-how to be a platform for others. Remember that. Don’t ever forget how far you’ve come, how far there is still left to go, and the fact that there is always someone in your corner.

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Daily Dose Law School

Practice. Review. Repeat.

Bar exam essays are the 12 cruel mistresses on the Texas Exam. As an avid writer, and someone who does well under pressure, I still think it’s easy to muck up the whole experience. Don’t do yourself the injustice of feeling confident on essays, and find yourself in the predicament of having failed to properly prepare yourself for Day 3 of the Exam.

This year we got a curveball from the Board of Law Examiners. They will not pair our essays this July. This is super crummy, in my opinion. Now, you have to remember all the content for both portions of the AM/PM exam. Rather than confidently rest in the knowledge that if you opened your exam to a Wills Essay, the next one was inevitably Wills, too. C’est la vie, right?

This craptastic news simply means you need to practice those Bar essays and treat them like you’re a freaking LAWYER (because, you ARE) and just answer the damn question!

Remember, if you don’t know or recognize every issue in an essay question, answer as MANY OF THEM as you can. Practicing the essay questions and reading through sample answers, or model answers from that session’s examinees, will do wonders for your retention results.

If you haven’t done so already, download the past ten years worth of exams. Be able to pull them at random and set aside 30 minutes to tackle them. I’m sure your Bar Prep program has several for you to practice already, but it certainly doesn’t hurt to practice more of them. A classmate of mine told me that on the February Bar there were at least 3 completely recycled questions. Verbatim. Seriously, folks. Go back and at the very least – read through them and, at the very least, outline your answers. Personally, I’ve added a weekly MPT and four essays per weekend in addition to my own BarBri study plan.

For your enjoyment, I’ve included the first Wills essay I practiced writing, below, which I wrote in 30 minutes. I went ahead and typed it on Word, then read through the sample answer, and included commentary where I needed improvement and what I forgot to include. It’s complete shit. But, ya know…learn from my mistakes. Do better and heed this advice.

This method works wonders for me. The practice helps, and the kicking myself for forgetting stuff is a point of pride, so I remember what I forgot to include for the next essay. Remember, we’re striving for progress, not perfection. Check out my approach, here:

WillsEssayFeb2013_compressedDownload

Now get yourself back to studying, friend. You’ve got a Bar exam to conquer! Keep up that hard work and impress those graders!

Categories
Daily Dose Law School

Thank You.

The funny thing about time is that it never seems to move fast enough when we want it to and yet, somehow, everything whizzes past in an instant. Three years of late nights, procrastinated motions, freaking out about sleeping through finals, and a collection of experiences I would not change for all the coffee in the world. Sure, it was difficult, and there were times I thought maybe I’d fall flat on my face (I’m looking at you, Secured Transactions), but the “J.D.” is incredibly wonderful to add to my signature. It was so much work but I am elated with the end result; I’d do it again, too.

Law school is officially over and I’m feeling all sorts of ways about it; thrilled to earn the degree, scared and somewhat intimidated about taking the Bar exam, frenzied to land the perfect job (more on that later), concerned about balancing my work life with my studies, and excited for the future that passing the Bar brings. I also kind of feel like a dog who caught its tail. I’d been chasing my own dreams for so long that now I’m nearly overwhelmed by the accomplishment.

I would never have gotten to this point without my support system. During the hardest moments – exam season, project deadlines, and an inordinate number of scheduled events – I leaned on my family and friends. Many of these incredible people stuck with me through it all. I lost a couple of friends, those who thought I was being selfish, who refused to understand the chaos of my life because “so many people go to law school. It’s not that hard” and the countless “you should visit/take a break, you’re always studying.” Those overly-toxic individuals simply didn’t make the cut. It was necessary to put myself first during these last three years (and for the next two months as I prep for the Bar exam).

I make no apologies for this.

Thankfully, my support system rarely failed me. Of course there were scheduling errors and distance issues, but we met for (nearly) weekly brunches, the occasional shopping trip, countless coffee runs, and my mom frequently stopped by to raid the (filled with the products of stress-baking) cookie jar and burgle a few bottles of (stress-purchased) wine. My brothers even pitched in hilarious hypos and attempted a few runs at crafting multiple choice questions here and there. It takes a village, y’all!

I couldn’t have accomplished this without you and I am incredibly thankful for every sacrifice you made to get me here. I know it wasn’t easy, and I spent many breaks a little too crabby, but I love you for doing what you could to help me reach this milestone.

I must have said this at least a dozen times to Melissa and Ashli…

These last three years were filled with challenges, some of which I thought might break me, and you – my amazing familia – were there to pull me through all of it. This win is for you. I love you fiercely. Thank you a million times over for making this Latina Lawyer’s dreams a reality.

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Daily Dose Reviews

Biscuit Bar

The original location Biscuit Bar is in Plano, but the new SMU location is super close to our home and I couldn’t wait to try it. They officially opened on the 24th and I knew this HAD to be our Sunday Brunch spot this week.

My grandparents were in town for my law school graduation and my cousin’s high school graduation (tons to celebrate in our family, woot!). Their midday flight meant we had the chance to stop by early and snag a large table. Look how happy they are – adorable, right?!

This place is super tiny, probably seating about 70 total. There’s two 10-top tables inside and another two outside. This location has a pretty neat garage door they open to allow easier access to the dog-friendly patio. Perfect for wonderfully cool summer mornings like today.

This place has an excellent vibe. I chuckled at their neon signs [“Mind Your Own Biscuits and Life Will Be Gravy” and “Taters Gonna Tate”] and enjoyed their open view kitchen and countertops. Sadly, the coffee was not impressive. It certainly wasn’t the worst coffee I’ve had (I’m looking at you, Henry’s Majestic), but it was just so-so. This banana pudding though completely elevated the coffee. My grandma said “life’s short, let’s eat dessert first!” Can’t say I disagree with her logic.

We ordered several different options from the menu. The biscuits are a relatively hefty size and I don’t think you can go wrong choosing any of them. As you can see, my Grandma loved her order!

You have to order tater tots separately. Womp, Womp. But you know what? They’re ENTIRELY WORTH THE EXTRA CHARGE! Trust me. Do it. We ordered the Taco Tots, which my cousin devoured. Everyone else at the table preferred the Bacon & Cheese breakfast tots. The beau ordered the monster biscuit you see up there. It’s called “The Rough Night” and it’s southern fried chicken, burger patty, ham, turkey, pulled pork, bacon, tots, cheddar, house made sausage gravy. I’m pretty sure I gained five pounds just reading the menu description.

I ordered the F.A.B.B. biscuit and was really disappointed. The arugula in my biscuit was wilted and spoiled which was incredibly disappointing. Since I’m not one to send food back, I just kindly left it on the table and nibbled from a variety of the other great order choices on the table.

Peep that sad arugula. YUCK.

I think my favorite thing about this place is their Bloody Marys. The cocktails were not priced properly (ringing up at $2-$3 higher than the menu price), but they were still worth it. The Bloody Mary was just the right mix of spicy and tomato-ey. I’m a complete FAN!

I’m already planning our next visit. I’ve got to try the hot chocolate biscuit! I’ve also been inspired to prep and post my own biscuit recipe. I’ve got a new KitchenAid stand mixer (thanks broski and sis-in-law) to break in!

What new brunch spots have you tried lately?

Categories
Daily Dose Law School

Need Cash for the Summer?

If you’re interested in earning money for a summer clerkship, and you’re planning on working in the Southern District of Texas, you should apply to the Blask Fellowship. The deadline’s been EXTENDED, which leads me to believe they didn’t receive many candidates. GO APPLY!

APPLY HERE!

Seriously, you NEED to apply. What have you got to lose? Most of the legal clerkships you come across are UNPAID. Why not take advantage of this excellent scholarship and earn money while gaining valuable legal experience? Plus, if you are selected as a recipient, you can add it to your list of resume honors (added bonus)!

Here’s a list of some of the places you can secure a position and get paid for your service:

  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court
  • U.S. Bankruptcy Court
  • U.S. Magistrate Court
  • U.S. Trustee
  • Federal Bureau of Investigation
  • Federal Public Defender
  • U.S. Attorney
  • EEOC
  • U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement
  • Office of Homeland Security
  • N.A.S.A.

Throw your hat in the ring and earn some $$$

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Daily Dose

Travel Plans: Portland Edition

In my [nearly] three decades of hurtling around the sun, my bucket list of places to visit gets longer every year. Thankfully, my favorite guy in the world loves traveling just as much as I do. We decided to start the year off with a fun friends trip. Since tickets to Portland were $225 roundtrip, we set off for the west coast.

Morning flights are my FAVORITE!

If you’ve never travelled with a rag-tag bunch of your favorite peeps, I seriously think you must do it at least once in your lifetime. Personally, I travel with my friends as often as I can. It’s been a bit harder to do since leaving teaching and starting law school – but we’ve made it work.

This trip was short and blissfully wonderful. If you’re going to spend 48 hours in Portland, Oregon, I recommend visiting these savory spaces.

Cafe Ponte

This little coffee shop was my absolute favorite. We tried every open coffee shop. My least favorite thing about Portland was how few shops were open on Sunday morning. Sadly, this cafe is one of them; their coffee was so good, I thought about it for two whole days. We even ordered some from their site when we got back to Texas! This adorable shop also introduced me to Petunia’s!

Petunia’s!

I’m a sucker for sweets and when I noticed that Cafe Ponte sold some of their goods, I sought them out. Added bonus? Petunia’s is around the corner from Blue Star donuts! Apparently, there’s some sort of battle between Blue Star & Voodoo Donuts.

I’ll tell you here and now, Voodoo is better (and much cheaper) than Blue Star. But hey, if you’re in the mood for an expensive square donut, then you’ve gotta stop in at Blue Star.

Blue Star’s Apple Fritters were tastier though…

The food scene in Portland was mostly phenomenal. Sadly, we didn’t have the opportunity to spend any time at the food trucks (I know, what the hell were we doing?!). We did manage to pop into several restaurants, shops, coffee joints, and a couple of chocolatier establishments. Having traveled the world, I’ve decided brunch is the best meal of the day.

Mother’s Bistro

Hands down, the best meal of the trip. The staff is incredibly friendly, they take reservations (which is fantastic) and they offer coffee while you wait. Need I say more, friends? This not-so-little popstand is a Portland staple and recently moved super close to Voodoo donuts. It’s an excellent people-watching spot and the portions are definitely share-worthy. We ordered several drinks, coffee, and a cinnamon roll the size of Kolby’s face!

Kolby, Rachel, & Megan – some of my fave peeps in the whole wide world!
C’mon! You know this is the best freaking flapjack you’ve seen!

This trip was full of hilarious discussions, law and politics debates, shocked realization that the entire hotel shuts off its air conditioning system in the winter, and enough cupcakes and coffee to fill our happy bellies for a few days. In short – this travel adventure was both necessary and thoroughly enjoyed by all.

I woke up extra-early on our last morning in Portland so the Beau and I could traipse around the city. we enjoyed the hushed, early-morning whispers of passersby and stopped at a last-minute coffee shop. If we move to Portland, my caffeine-loving veins will never tire of the variety in coffee shops! Every single one offered up something different and each barista was super helpful – always suggesting their idea of what my favorite latte might entail. How can you not fall in love with this type of edible art?

At this moment in time, there are 71 days until graduation. I’ve registered for the Bar exam, applied for graduation, and just about made it through midterms. There’s an incredible amount of work left to complete before the semester ends. My hope is to sneak in a trip or two before the end of June. It’s hard to stay cooped up, studying. These quick trips keep my heart and soul happy, effectively grounding me in my purpose. I mean, what more can a girl ask for than great friends, delectable treats, and endless supplies of coffee?

What kind of adventures have you gone on lately?

Categories
Daily Dose Law School

My Brain in Law School

I could not think of anything funnier today than sharing my law school thoughts in Sandra Oh medium.

Can I just…hide from adulting today?

At this point in my 3L year, I basically take turns dragging/being dragged across the finish line for various deadlines. We’re going to graduate, but it’s been a helluva ride so far. I’m tired. You’re tired. Our friends and family keep saying we look ragged. [Thanks, y’all.] It’s been a rough go, but we are almost there! With midterms next week, and this outrageous Texas weather, I’m about damn ready to raise the flag.

Keep pushing.

Every day is a struggle. I’ve put myself through nearly a decade of college and graduate school courses to attain this law degree. The Hydra in my life is both light and dark. The volume of deadlines is practically suffocating, but I feed off the drive and direction those deadlines afford. It’s a weird place to stand, I know. I figure attorney’s deadlines never cease, so best get comfortable with them now.

Every upper-classmen when they see super shiny 1Ls

We get it. We too were once annoyingly happy and not-so-jaded. That’s all different now. We’ve seen things. The late nights, the jail calls, client interactions, and the real world application has us all feeling a little less superhero and a lot more cynical.

The number of exams, quizzes, case briefs, research and writing segments, and mandatory attendance also kind of beat the hell out of us. Sorry for being crabby. You’re our future colleagues. We want you to succeed, but can you just not throw parties in the library study rooms? That’d be great. Thanks.

Post-Bar Jobs, y’all.

This is still the funniest thing to me. Several people I know refuse to speak about post-bar plans. My dream job is split between becoming a law clerk for a federal judge and working for the Federal Public Defender’s Office. These applications are now submitted and I’m playing the waiting game.

I don’t keep these facts a secret. Why? Because I want my colleagues to think of me if they hear about a vacant position! I have to keep job hunting until I land one! It’s prudent planning.

I frequently let other attorneys know about great colleagues who would fit in at their firms. There’s no harm in helping someone else with a leg-up.
Be kind, people.

Pretty much the feeling I get when my thesis advisor meets with me. She’s epic and I never feel worthy enough to be in her presence. #RoleModel
Everything about her is brilliant. How did I get so damn lucky with these amazing mentors?

The little inconveniences grind me much more as of late. Hand dryers not working. Highlighters dying. Dishes not being put in the dishwasher. I actually had to jump in front of the automatic doors this week to get into my office building. -.- Everyone has these kinds of days. Despite me fuming about them now, I recognize, they too, shall pass.

Yesterday was an incredibly hectic day. I completed an MPT (more on how to ace these, later) and met with my writing professor. Next came my meeting with my thesis advisor…where I had to explain that I basically undid my own research. No joke. My research led me down a rabbit hole, where I discovered the “legal” issue I thought I was researching was actually not an issue at all. Time wasted. Feeling vexed. Then I met with another professor because I’m worried about wrapping my head around commercial law. All of these tasks were completed before 1pm. The day was intense, followed by a series of classes and more notes, more questions, more resentment for these four walls and the seemingly endless hurdles still left to jump through before graduation…

Carbs + Good Convo = Happy Sarah

All these things are running around in my head and I felt you needed to know you are not alone. Even though everything feels like it’s on fire, with no fire hydrant in sight, there is a finish line. Treat yourself to a meal out. Have a drink – or two. Take the mental break you need and sit at olive garden with a group of friends for hours, gorging yourself on breadsticks and peach tea. Do whatever you must to get yourself back to center. This is the middle of the semester and you’re draaaaaaagging – I get it. We all do. Let’s talk it through and get back in the race.

When all else fails – DANCE IT OUT. I regularly dance – in the aisles at Target, on my way into the gym, in the kitchen while prepping dinner. I dance everywhere. A little shimmy is good for the soul. Trust me.

I hope your semester is going splendidly. If not, there’s still time to turn it around. If you’re struggling, reach out to a professor, friend, or counselor. Go out there and give law school everything you’ve got!

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Daily Dose

Clerkships: A RoadMap

You are going to be a lawyer.
You’re not one yet but you will be soon.

When you are not in class, studying, [or crying in the shower because of the reading and hypos you need to get through], you should be networking to land yourself a job. Because you’re going to be an oral advocate. And you will become one sooner than you think.

Time flies. Law school is over in the blink of an eye. I’m pretty sure yesterday I was sitting in Torts, wondering what I’d done to land myself a spot in the class. Now, I’m expected to know so much about so many things (and feeling pretty positive that I know nothing) and I’m constantly feeling like everything is on fire. Like, all the time. 

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It’s important for me to always be real with you, reader. Law school is hard, and the work you put in is – usually – a direct result of the grades you earn. However, sometimes you do everything you can and trudge through the reading, hypos, and practice questions from supplements and still manage to fall flat on your face.

The only cure for feeling inept in class, in my experience, is actually applying the knowledge you do have in practice. Get out there and land a job!

Last summer, I worked both sides of the Federal aisle. My positions with the Federal Public Defender’s Office and U.S. Attorney’s office were phenomenal opportunities that solidified my love of the law, because, for the sake of full transparency, sometimes the classwork feels so disjointed from the actual practice of law. Researching, writing, speaking to clients, and interacting with attorneys and judges was exactly what I needed to understand the weight of being a lawyer.

When I interviewed for the positions, I doubted whether I was skilled enough to fill the role. Worse, I had no clue what to do to prepare myself for working in Federal court. I reached out to a Federal clerk, and school alum, for advice. His words of encouragement and suggestions, along with my learning experience, is what I now offer you.

  • Keep an OPEN MIND.

At this point in your fledgling career, it is perfectly acceptable to have zero clarity on your future career plans. Let me repeat – you do not need to know EXACTLY what you want to practice upon graduation and receiving your Bar card. That said, take advantage of the wide variety of cases you may encounter during your clerkship/externship/internship. I strongly advise against being the person that says “oh, I don’t plan on practicing in [that] area, so I think you should put me on a different case.”

The open mind notion also applies to the umbrella of cases you will likely see in the area you want to practice within. Case in point – I am considering a role in criminal defense work. Which means I will likely work with people accused of committing crimes (much to my and Elle Woods chagrin, we will not always have innocent clients). I will not get to pick and choose which crimes I am willing to work on, though there is some leeway. Most supervisors are not going to let me cherry-pick cases. So, when I was tasked with working on cases of any kind, I accepted the opportunity. [Now, if you are wholly and vehemently against working on a client’s case due to a moral issue, then you should bring that up. There’s a rule in the code of ethics for such occasion, but keep in mind that your decision to *refuse to defend a client* may not be the best move for a budding attorney].

TLDR; Don’t turn away an assignment because, at the end of the day, you need experience.

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  • Effort Is Everything.

Show up, work hard, and get your damn work done. This really is just common sense. Don’t take weeks to research an assignment. These are real cases, and they need answers, fast. If you can’t find an answer, let your supervising attorney know. It pays to be the person who, after thorough research, pipes up to say there is not relevant law on the issue.

  • Dress Appropriately.

I did not think this would need mentioning, but then some brilliant woman showed up in fishnet stockings and a miniskirt on her first day in the courtroom. The Marshal in the courtroom promptly walked up to her and asked her to leave and return in professional clothing. I’ve got nothing against the fishnets, or the high heels. This post is not to say what a person should wear in the courtroom/boardroom/firm. Simply put – know your workplace. If they’re lax, then dress casually. If your judge expects you in slacks and heels, well – then get yourself several power suits.

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  • Network with Non-Lawyers.

Some of the best advice I received this past summer came from the court reporters, office managers, investigators, and paralegals. Be sure to interact with everyone you come in contact with, even if it means going a bit out of your way to do so. In both offices this summer, the attorneys were difficult to reach out to because their offices were spread across the main floor. I opted to bring in breakfast a few times throughout the summer and had people drop into my office for tamales, kolaches, and doughnuts. It was an easy (and yummy) way to meet people with various interests and backgrounds.
[A smile and a snack go a long way, folks.]

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  • Learn the lingo.

Working in Federal Court this summer meant I had to learn about the Sentencing Guidelines. This is the book that many judges follow to the letter during their sentencing procedures. It used to be mandatory sentencing lengths, but now it’s just a set of “go-bys.” I had no clue what this was before my clerkship.

Thankfully, my supervising attorney went over the categorical approach, means versus elements, and how the guidelines are used. Our campus, much like many other law schools, does not offer a course specifically over guidelines. I recommend that you thumb through this one (or an earlier version) and be ready to ask questions.

As for the categorical approach – this is basically how the court will determine whether an offense fits within a given definition.
Means are how a crime was committed. These are not necessarily taken into account as what the prosecution must prove, but they can present evidence on it.
Elements lay out the pieces of the crime the prosecution must establish to prove the alleged crime.

I think this document is quite helpful (and short). It’s likely not important for you to know all the guidelines (I did not meet a single person who knew them all), but I feel it is important to at least know what they are and why the manual is a useful resource. At the very least this information will help prepare you for practice in Federal court.

  • Proper Courtroom Etiquette Is Important.

Take a notepad. Everywhere. Write down things you find interesting about the proceedings, questions you have for the attorneys, or even oddities you noticed about jurors and opposing counsel. There is too much going on for you to simply take it all in, so you need to write it down.

Some courtrooms will have a Marshal manning the door. If so, they will let you in at a time when there is a lull. This way, your entering is not a distraction. If there is not a Marshal, then you simply need to enter quietly. Take a seat and pay attention!

  • Teamwork. Teamwork. Teamwork!

I can’t stress this enough. Learn to work with your fellow clerks. They may be able to teach you aspects of the law you don’t have a grasp on. Or, they may have insight on research for a case that you need and they can help shorten your own research time. I needed information on Shepard documents for a case, which I did not have quite understand – nor did I have the time to start from scratch – and my friend (and fellow clerk) was able to shoot over her own research. Plus, she was able to give me a run-down of what I needed to know to pass along to my supervising attorney.

We may live in different states now, but we still keep in touch. I enjoy hearing about her experiences over virtual coffee meetings and catch-ups. Working together is one key to making it in this field. Be kind, work hard, help others.

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This isn’t an exhaustive list of do’s and don’ts, but it’s what I found most important to share.

Be awesome & do great work!