Category: Law School

Categories
Daily Dose Law School

Rolling Craps + Bright Lights

 

This post is several weeks late. I wanted to update y’all, really – but I had this crazy notion that 2L year was going to be smooth sailing. Don’t ask me where the delusion came from, because I have no answers for you. Here’s what you need to know – law school is still incredible, and I love learning new concepts; but then, sometimes, law school will kick you in the gut. That fierce blow will hit you when you’re not ready for it, and you just have to suck it up and keep going. This semester’s workload is 16 course hours of craziness, but I honestly can’t complain about much. The best advice I can give regarding schedules is simple: Seek Balance & Move Forward.

My way of moving forward (after realizing the insane workload I put on myself this semester) resulted in making an off-hand comment about how I wanted to fly to Vegas, play craps, and eat some damn good food. My wonderful friends decided that was a top-notch idea.

9 airline tickets later – boom. Vegas, baby!

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Now, traveling as a law student is difficult, but certainly not impossible. Since the Beau and I traveled with friends, we received discounts on the rooms (block purchase rate), and split the costs of a limo (which was cheaper than taking 3 separate Uber rides or cabs). Additionally, we occasionally split the bill for food, and kept each other in check when it came to table gambling.

I think it is extremely important to work hard and reward those efforts. After participating in Moot Court, organizing various school events, and taking on a new personal chef role (gotta pay the bills, peeps) – I needed this time to wind down. Unfortunately, there really is no great time to travel during law school. This trip happened three days before midterms – which happened to work out in the most wonderful way. I gambled, then went back to my room and studied: Con Law, Professional Responsibility, Wills, and Property. I took my outlines with me and reviewed on the flight there, and back again. I made sure to study at least two hours, for every 4 hours spent flitting about the city.

These wonderful people kept me on track most of the trip. Melissa managed to wrangle me into the spa for several hours (the nerve, right?! :P) – but I thoroughly enjoyed myself. We walked about 5 miles each day, and indulged in some delicious treats.

The breakfast plates at Hash Hash A Go Go were gigantic, and so yummy!

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Although we did sneak a meal in at Giada’s, I simply was not pleased with their food during this trip. My plate was pretty terrible: soggy waffle, basic plating, and the Crab-cake Benedict was less-than-appetizing. Thankfully, everyone else’s dishes were tasty. Their gluten-free muffins were my favorite addition to their menu.

 

If you have the opportunity to travel, even if for a short period of time – I highly recommend doing so. Take the trip. Eat the cake. Or, in our case – drink the chocolate cake shot. I find that the best things happen when I step just outside of my comfort zone.

Enter: The Chocolate Cake Shot!

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This teensy drink packed a helluvalot of flavor. Never had I tasted such a yummy drink. While in Vegas, I threw back several of these. The bartender at Guy Fieri’s in the Linq knew exactly who we were every time we walked in. #GreatGuy

After many drinks, impromptu dancing, and an amazing massage – we flew back to Dallas, in time for midterms. I approached the week with a rejuvenated feeling and overall sense of calm. I needed this trip, more than I thought. It may seem like a ridiculous stunt to pull before exams, but I enjoyed myself immensely. No regrets.

What are you doing to handle your stress?

 

Categories
Law School

Book Briefs

Let me be totally frank, I know that you feel case briefing sucks the big one.

It’s time-consuming, frustrating to type or write out, and you wish you could be doing anything else. Right?

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I get it. I really do.

Well, I hate to break it to ya, but briefing is a must. Anyone who says they don’t do it, but they still get by in class is *probably* lying. There’s just too much damn information in law texts for someone – without an eidetic memory – to claim they know. Furthermore, being able to recall the case information, is not the same skill as being able to apply the rule of law from said case to another hypo.

To recap, briefing is time-consuming. I understand. But you can make it easier on yourself by working smarter…not harder.

Brief INSIDE your book! No professor is going to say you can’t bring your book to class. [However, you may have some professors that deny you the use of technology in class – which means briefing in your ebook could be a problem).
Since you can bring your giant text to class, you may as well make it useful!

 

All you need is a set of highlighters, a pen (or two) of your choice, and your casebook!

I recently purchased a set of Sharpie highlighters, and have immediately fallen for them. They don’t smear, even after highlighting a freshly printed document. [You may not care about smudging, but I do]. I also like that these highlighters have a chiseled tip, and are about the width of a line in the text. Perfect highlighting, nearly every time!

1. Make sure you pick at least 4 colors to use in your cases. I say this because using the same highlighter for all parts of your case defeats the purpose of you learning this method. You simply cannot use the same 1 or 2 colors for every piece of your brief; that would be asinine.

These sharpies are my new favorite study find. I found the 4 pack on Amazon, but came across the 8 pack (pictured below) at Office Depot. I recommend the larger pack, simply because the extra color options are perfect for case briefs!

2. Designate a color for each part of your case brief.

  • Yellow = Issue
  • Orange = Facts
  • Green = Reasoning
  • Blue = Procedural Posture
  • Neon Pink = Holding
  • The extra pastel pink & purple are mainly used for argument identification, or particularly interesting opinions from dissenting judges.

 

I highlight each case in the same manner, and the repetition of colors (when cold-called in class) makes things much easier to find within the case itself. This method also works particularly well when paired with book tabs. I enjoy flipping through a text, and adding pieces of information to my outlines for each class.

 

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Sprankling Property Casebook

 

At first this method may frustrate you – especially if this is your first time to organize your casebook. I recommend trying it for a few cases before deciding to give up on book briefing with the color-coded sections.

You need to find what works best for you!

Between highlighting and writing in the margins, my grasp of case law continues to improve. This method is, by far, my favorite.

Hope this helps you.
Happy studying!

Categories
Advice Law School

Vodka & Comfort Zones

Walking into a networking event – where you plan to know less than 2 people – is terrifying. As a law student, networking events include our future employers, partners, and colleagues – which means first impressions count.
While clerking for a Probate Judge last Spring, he said to me ” Sarah, don’t ever be the attorney that thinks they know everything. Be the attorney that makes it your business to know what other attorneys don’t!”
As a 1L, he was basically Yoda speaking in riddles. 

As a 2L – I can kind of see his point.

Although I am still learning the law, and its intricacies, it’s important to remember that youth in (or out) of a courtroom does not equate to ignorance. Many times I find myself speaking to attorneys, asking them about their experiences; pulling knowledge from them and the mistakes they experienced, in order to learn from them.

I highly recommend you NETWORK! Put yourself out there. Don’t know how? Here are a few simple steps:

  1. Dress like a BOSS, even if you are low [wo]man on the totem pole. Why? It will get you noticed!  I wore a killer dress-suit to an event this week and this happened:

While at a networking event, I was approached numerous times by attorneys wanting to know what I taught at UNT Dallas College of Law.My response was always – “Oh, I’m not a professor. I’m a 2L.”

Response: “Seriously? You dress so professionally. Do you always wear a dress suit to events like this?”

Me: “Well, yes. Dean Harris told me I can dress how want when I get a job.”

Attorney – “Amen to THAT! Tell her she’s teaching y’all well!”

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2. Grab a drink.

    • Alcohol is served at many attorney networking events – But You are NOT obligated to partake! Don’t feel that others will judge you if you don’t ask for dry martini, or a glass of the bar’s finest cabaret. There’s nothing wrong with drinking water!
    • Be comfortable, drink what you want to.
    • On that note though – don’t over indulge. Attorneys don’t want to feel like babysitters because the law student couldn’t be responsible. Trust me. You do not want to be the student who gets called in by the Dean to discuss “proper behaviour among the Bar.” #Embarrassing

3. Don’t be afraid to approach groups of people.

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  • Groups of 3 are the easiest to enter, because only one person is speaking and you can slide right into the conversation. Introduce yourself to one of the person not speaking, and then wait until the speaker halts.
  • This may seem hard, but sometimes the person you introduced yourself to will branch off from the group and strike up a conversation with YOU!
  • When approaching a group of TWO, make sure to quickly apologize, and then enter into the conversation –
    • “Sorry, I’d like to jump in here, if you don’t mind.”
    • “Excuse me, mind if I chat with you both?”

4. Keep Extra Business Cards On You

  • I absolutely LOVE the cards I purchased from MOO.COM
  • Don’t be afraid to step outside of the box with your cards, either.
  • Elle Woods would approve my cards. They’re attention-getters, because the cards are textured, and are printed with raised gold-foil; every attorney I’ve handed one to comments on the quality of them!

     

Do your best to have fun, speak about your experiences, and make quality connections!  It’s important to be able to email at least two people after every event, and make sure those connections last! It’s your responsibility to reach out to those established attorneys and judges. Let me know you’re genuinely interested in their work, and explain what you hope to learn from them.

Questions for you – 

  1. What challenges do you experience in networking situations?
  2. Which tips do you use to giver yourself an edge?

 

Have a great week!

Categories
Freebies Law School

Free Swag

You’re a broke student.

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Law school (higher education, in general) racks up some incredible bills. I want to make a lucky student’s semester a bit easier, by providing a great backpack! If you win, then this item is one less thing to worry about buying!

Check It Out!

I purchased myself this Kuakko backpack style, in Navy. I luuuurve it. It’s professional enough for class, and last-minute networking events. Surprisingly, it holds quite an impressive number of law school accoutrements (not too unlike a *magical* bag of holding…)

All you’ve got to do is click the link below, and follow the instructions!

 

ENTER For Your Chance to Win!

 

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Happy Dance!

Good luck, amigos!

Categories
Law School

First Day Jitters

13 Things You Thinkof During Day 1 ofLaw SchoolOrientation week (or, Fundamentals Week on our campus) is nearly over. If you were lucky, orientation lasted one day. However, many law schools cram 6 days of information into 2 days of real-time. Our campus demands a whopping 40 hours! It’s grueling, especially coming off of a relaxed summer. If you’re feeling utterly spent, don’t fret – you’re NOT alone!

The first day of class is just a few days away. I’m sure you have a list of tasks to get done, and a pile of reading to start, but I wanted to give you a bit of a brain break. Consider this a “heads up” for your DAY 1. 

Pro-Tip: Confidence goes a long way.

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These are some thoughts I had on my first day. [Since I journal & doodle – I’d actually written a few of them down, and scrounged them up just for you, my lovely readers!]

  1. Oh, my god. How much time do I have to get to class? Because, I need a good seat. Which means I need to be on campus at least 30 minutes in advance.
  2. Geeeeez, chill! It’s 7am. Of course, there’s time for coffee.
  3. What does this outfit say about me? I look so lame compared to her. 
  4. How much of this shared space can my colored pens take up?
  5. Is intentionally forgetting to bring lunch a bad thing? I kind of want to mingle.
  6. Umm….yeah, sure. Go ahead. The seat’s not taken.
  7. I wonder if she studies like I do?
  8. After being the first cold-call in the first class of my law school career [Torts] –> Holy SHIT! Did the Professor just call my name? Dear sweet nuggets of knowledge, don’t fail me now!
  9. Just. do. it! Ask the new friends to lunch.
  10. Is it ok to drink before our next class?
  11. ::after lunching with new law school babes::
    Thank goodness! They feel the same way I do. Scared. Nervous. Freaked out. Totally pumped!
  12. ::after two classes::
    This wasn’t so bad. I’ve got this! #VoteForElle
  13. Wait. How much do I need to read?

To be completely fair…my mind is a hectic place. I’d venture to imagine that yours is similar. It takes a special brand of unique to keep up with law school stresses. Just know that everyone is nervous, but sizing you up as well. It’s perfectly normal to feel intimidated, or thrilled. Everyone is different. No big deal. All you need to do is start off on the right foot – get your reading done, don’t miss [too much] class, make a few great friends, and review your notes!

Enjoy your first day!

 

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Categories
Advice Law School

Advice from 2Ls

 

I want to tell you all the secrets. Law school will create moments in your daily life where your soul is crushed. Everything may suck, and you’ll remember this advice (which you skimmed, but really should have read in great detail.

Here’s the advice that counts, matters, and may quite possibly save you a load of heartache.

 

No one likes a know it all.
Especially when you’re the type to rub someone’s face in it. 

Don’t be the jerkwad gunner (law school term for ass-hat), continuously answering questions in class, and adding in your two cents everywhere. No one cares how smart you seem. So, when you’re interacting with your peers, behave like you’ve got some manners. Be kind. Work hard. You won’t have anything to worry about.

Check your ego on day one.

 

No one gives a damn about what you did in undergrad or your masters programs. I actually met a guy at school who said this to me, after I shook his hand to introduce myself: “Yeah, I’m not here to make friends. I’m here to be the best.”

Law school is a new ball game. If you go into it with an ego, law school will check that ego for you. It will hurt. Do yourself a favor, and lend advice to others when your experiences might be useful. Once you get to know your peers, feel free to let your ego into more conversations (at your own risk, of course). But, don’t you dare tell people how great you are all the time. Let your work speak for itself.

Don’t live off coffee, pizza, and chili cheese fries.

 

You’re about to spend a butt-load of time studying, talking yourself into studying, and reviewing the notes you made while studying. Truly, it’s a crazy amount of studying. There will be many breaks (usually sponsored by the law school) where free food is provided. Law school is expensive, which means we pinch pennies and fall prey to the free food…so we can afford happy hour drinks.😅 With that in mind, make sure to maintain a workout plan. Adding alcohol to the free food will result in an increased waistline. [You’ve been warned.]

 

Outline!Outline!Outline! 

Everyone will stress this to you, and you won’t listen. But the fact is – outlining as you go, SAVES TIME! Studying for finals with your own outline is comforting, particularly since you’ll have put the time in reading and briefing. In the same vein as prepping for class, hold off on study groups. You might find that you mesh with people in conversation, but not in study groups  It may sound harsh, but no one will take it personally [if you’re not a jerk about it]. I have some great friends that are perfect brunch-buddies, but we don’t learn the same way at all! Therefore, we don’t study together. We’d drive each other crazy!

Pro-tip: You can always share study materials with your peers, but I’d recommend only sharing with those you trust. It’s a small number of those who get the materials I work on, and a small number of those who share their materials with me. Don’t be upset if someone doesn’t offer their study materials – you need to earn that privilege. 

 

Take care of yourself. 

 

Trust me when I say, it’s easier said than done. Be sure to take days off, maintain relationships, work out, and keep doing the things that bring you joy. These are essential to surviving and thriving in law school. You can definitely make it to spin class, or go rock climbing, without needing to worry about slacking.Those books will still be there after an hour yoga class. They kind of apparate to wherever you are. Studying follows you everywhere. But, it’s of utmost importance to remember the reason you decided to attend law school. It’s a consuming process, and it will attempt to define how spectacular you are based on numbers, clubs, and awards. It’s stressful. Make the freak out a bit easier on yourself by knowing the best ways to unwind. 

 

Avoid Taking Summer Classes.

One of my favorite professors said that it’s important to take breaks, and that any 1L would be stupid to take summer classes. Several of my peers ignored her. They regret it. Trying to intern and attend a full load of classes is madness. Avoid adding unnecessary stress to your life, and don’t bite off more than you can chew. There’s plenty of time in your legal career to experience burn-out, no need to encourage the feeling in law school.

Your 1L year is important. Take it seriously, but not so serious that you’re the Boo Radley of the 1L class. You need friends to make it through, and there’s not a long, novel-length of time for them to develop a deep love for your presence. First impressions count!
Work Hard + Be Kind. You’ve got three years ahead of you – make the best of it, friends.

Categories
Law School

Law School Necessities

Prepping for classes is one of my absolute fave activities, in the history of – well – ever. When I was teaching, I had even more fun shopping for school supplies because I got to buy loads of stuff! Filling up a basket with notecards, the perfect pens, binders, and mechanical pencils is soooo much fun. Staying organized (and color-coded) is one way through which I fuel my studies. Getting ready for law school classes, especially as a 1L, can seem overwhelming. You have no clue what your professors expect, or even allow in class, until you get your hands on their class syllabus.

I’m here to tell you exactly what you need to bring with you to class, and what you should make sure to keep handy at your home desk/office area. Prepping for class is half the battle, really.

As an added bonus – I stock my desk ahead of time so that I don’t use shopping as an excuse to side-track my studies. Because honestly, who can concentrate on studying when the one highlighter you have is dying and you still have 30 pages of reading to do?

[Let’s not discuss why you would only have one highlighter. That’s not a happy thought.]

I am a firm believer in using various study tactics to improve your retention. School supplies will drastically improve your study habits and learning techniques. Though this list is not comprehensive, it does include every item I feel is absolutely essential to your success in law school. I’ve also made it easier to access these supplies, by including their Amazon links. Just click on an image, and you’ll arrive at the product’s page. 🙂

1. Backpack/Rolling Briefcase

I personally purchased this backpack and I LOVE it. I’m not a fan of the rolling luggage-type bags, and needed a bag with a laptop cushion. After scouring the nets, I found this little guy in a variety of colors! Enter the professional backpack – which I felt was adorable, and functional. I can fit 2 medium size casebooks (or 1 large Civ. Pro. text), a notepad, my 15″ Macbook pro, a pencil case, my clutch purse, and 2 bottles of water in this bad boy.

    • After a year of use, it’s showing no serious signs of wear and tear, which is phenomenal considering how much weight it carries on the daily.

For those of you that have seen the Herschel bags, this one is an off-brand version. Call me crazy, but I just refused to pay $120 for a Herschel when I could pay $40 for an identical, and lesser-priced bag. #thrifty

2. Insulated Drink Bottle

(Or, a ridiculously cute one that could potentially sweat on your books, but looks awesome so you don’t care.)

My bestie gifted me a Corkcicle tumbler and it is fantastic! I can fill it with coffee before an 8am class, and it will stay hot hot hot for several hours! Equally impressive is that, if filled with ice, the beverage will stay ice cold for 6 or more hours! One of the best gifts ever. Truly. <3 Fill it up before class and don’t worry about not having enough hydration. My Corkcicle goes pretty much everywhere with me.

3. Laptop


I personally own a MacBook, because it’s the only brand I’ve ever used (my first laptop was a gift), and I didn’t feel the need to switch over to a different operating system when my last Mac died last semester (right before midterms…)

But you should know that I have seriously considered purchasing a touch screen computer, or even the iPad Pro. I’ve learned that I enjoy taking notes in class, by hand, and wish I could test out a digital attempt. With the new handwriting apps, taking notes with a stylus or pen, on a digital medium seems like a no-brainer. But, those options can get pricey.

I recommend you figure out what kind of computer requirements your school has for testing procedures before you take the plunge into laptop commitment. Our campus requires specific software capabilities in order to run ExamSoft (program in which we take exams).

4. Planner

I’ve mentioned my love of planning before, and I’ve decided I need to explain how it’s done, but that will be for another post. Today, all you need to know is that a planner or calendar of some sort (digital or physical) is necessary in law school. You need to know what’s going on in class, when stuff is due, and when networking events will be. Get with the program and keep track of your responsibilities!

5. Pencil Bag

Everyone needs a reminder now and then, right?
I feel law school can get stuffy sometimes; you need a pick-me-up designed in the little things. For me, those moments come in the form of accessories. This pencil bag is more than $2, but totally worth it! After all, you’re a brilliant badass – studying law!

6. Highlighters, Pencils & Pens

If you are a visual learner, or someone who enjoys adding color to their world, then these are for YOU! I color-code my notes, as well as my case briefs. Everything has a color, so I know exactly what information I need to extract. I find this to be extremely helpful during class, when I may have lost my train of thought and a professor needs an answer from me ASAP.

Finding a highlighter was hard, but I think (aside from the standard yellow Bic version) these Sharpies are great! I would even recommend buying a large pack with 6 different colors, if you are going to really go wild. However, any more than that might just be overkill. The choice is yours though – buy them all if you want.

I stumbled across colored mechanical pencils (did you get that? colored. mechanical. pencils. Y’all. They’re real! I use mine to mark up my research papers, usually while trying not to snot-cry all over my professor’s desk, with edits and suggestions.

If you haven’t tried Staedtler pens – BUY THEM NOW! I’m left handed, and these are the best things ever. The pen dries quickly, almost like a marker. There’s very little left-hand-smudge syndrome as a result, which means my hand is virtually ink-free! ::woo::

7. Desk Lamp

The Beau gave me this lamp as a gift. It’s perfect because I can move it virtually any which way around my desk, and it comes with it’s own vice, allowing you to attach it to virtually any desk. Unlike a traditional lamp with shade, this little guy packs a punch of brightness, which you can angle exactly over your books/notes. Plus – he’s super cute, and reminds me of my Disney youth.

8. Lunch Box Set

I cannot stress how much you NEED this in your life. Our campus is downtown, which means it’s near oodles of scrumptious places to eat. Since my wallet simply cannot handle the prospect of scrounging enough cash for lunch five times a week, I opt to pack mine. I meal prep on Sundays, and prep 3 days worth of meals (breakfast + lunch). Making dinner in the evenings is relaxing for me, because I love mixing it up in the kitchen.

I just ordered this bag and container set for myself, and I am stoked about putting it to use! There’s 4 containers, which will allow for snacks and meals. AMAZING!

9. DropBox Account

Everyone needs an account. YOU need an account! There’s an amazing calm that comes with the ability to access your work from virtually anywhere with an internet connection. The auto-save feature is worth the three minutes of setup time. Once installed on your computer, creating documents and saving them is seamless. If you’re not already a DB fan, you will be.

 

10. FOCUS Notes

If I can take notes on a laptop in class, then I take advantage of my typing skills. However, I could not be successful in ::analog:: classes without these notepads. They’re set in a Cornell style and help create neater notes. You write the major topic or concept on the right side of the page, and then the explanation on the left side. Writing out concepts helps me, so I am a huge fan of these beauties.

There are other things I require, like coffee, coconut rum, and a gym membership. But, they’re not absolutely necessary for everyone. In your time at law school, you will figure out what works for you (and what doesn’t). Your entire body will be tested. There’s no exact way to be ready for it – you just have to experience it. This supply list should make starting out easier though. You’re going to have a great year. <3

Categories
Advice Law School

Joining Clubs in Law School

Friendship Together Bonding Unity Youth Culture Concept

 

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Law school is three years of your life. Time will both speed by you and also draaaaaag on (especially when you’re in that 2pm CivPro class, and the tryptophan from your turkey sandwich hits you). The funny thing about time in law school is that you never seem to have enough. Your class reading assignments take time, the assignments take time, your family or significant other takes time – it’s almost currency, and no one ever has enough.

I say this because your time is important. It is crucial to spend it wisely. Understand where your time needs to go before dividing the time accordingly. You may need to study for class, but studying for 5 hours straight, after a long day of classes, may not be the best use of your allotted time. [Obviously you know yourself better than I do, so if you can sit for 5 hours straight studying – then you do you, hun!] However, if you proscribe to my study method of 1.5 hours on, 30 minutes off – then you may enjoy my advice.

The way I see it – your brain needs to take BREAKS! They’re essential. That said, one way in which I take breaks, is by attending Student Organization (law school clubs, essentially) events and meetings. Most groups on campus meet once a month, and then usually have a large event once per semester. I recommend participating in at least one group, and highly suggest that you avoid joining too many.

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Everything in moderation, folks.
Although law school takes focus, on top of boundless energy to complete case-briefs and assignments, you need to find healthy ways to diversify your time. The time you spend away from your books and research trails is crucial to helping you learn the material. It sounds weird, but it works!

If you have the opportunity – attend a student organization fair! Or reach out to student services, and they will be happy to put you in contact with an organization’s executive members (if you already have an idea of the group you’d like to join), to help answer your questions regarding the organization. I fully comprehend that you want to dive head-first into your books, but you can’t forget what the social aspect of law school provides: a network.

Carve out time in your monthly schedule to meet with your peers, work with them on a common goal. Everyone attends law school for different reasons – figure out what yours is, and then find others who are driven by similar passions. You need to start building your network now, especially if you are attending law school straight out of your undergraduate years. Spend some of your precious time forming friendships and making your mark.

 

Happy Networking!

 

Categories
Advice Law School

Dean’s List Advice

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As a 2L, I feel it’s my duty to give you advice I wish I’d known through 1L. Your first year in law school is going to be hectic, and everyone will experience the learning curve. But, I’m here to share a few tips. These are some of the best tools I found throughout the year, and I personally believe (if you set up your study schedule and plan accordingly) they just might help you land a spot on the Dean’s List!

 

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  • Quizlet

    • Check out the Quizlet link above, and add me to your circles (BearLaw) – you can get access to some of the card sets I’ve already created, or start your own deck!
    • My favorite quality about this tool is that I can access my cards via the Quizlet App, and work on my studies even when I don’t have all my books with me. Quizzing myself on legal jargon, case information, or even class hypos can all be done via these digital flashcards. Since I am a multiple-modality learner (meaning, I learn by using many different senses) having to flip a card and read the info hits at least two of those modes [visual & tactile]. 
    • ProTip – For you audio-learners: You can use the speaker symbol to have Quizlet read your cards for you!

 

  • LearnLeo 

    • Ok, y’all – this is my newest obsession. I actually took time out of my day to send an email to a professor about how amazing I think LearnLeo is. Just so you know, I stumbled across this app – and have since created notebooks and study tools for the semester.
Powernotes
The extension allows you to mark-up any website!
OrganizeLeo
Outlines Made Faster!

 

Using PowerNotes helps you with case-briefing and smart-highlighting skills by walking you through a skills demo, and essentially teaches you how to brief a case. This is pure. freaking. gold! Use it, people!

In addition, the chrome extension allows you to live-edit any document or website online, and then compiles the notes into a word document that is available for download! This is amazing, and I love it. You’ll save sooooo much time up front by using this to brief and compile your case notes, because a majority of your outline will be created for you.

The bonus?
You will have to go back and correct/edit the document that you download; which means, you’re automatically required to read your notes and that’s a great way to make the material STICK!
There is a phone app and ipad app, but the online extension is most user-friendly, in my opinion.

LeoTools

 

  • OneNote & EverNote

    • These platform ideas are similar, and both provide great ways to keep track of class notes. If your school offers you a free Microsoft Office package, then take it! I prefer OneNote to Evernote, mainly because I don’t have to pay for using it (aside from tuition, of course). Plus, the OneNote option allows me to access my notebooks when offline, which has come in handy while studying and limiting my internet access (to avoid distractions). This way, I’m actually working instead of thinking I’m working by reading a page or two and surfing the internet for most of the hour. Let’s face it, you get distracted by reddit, CNN, or Twitter, too!

evernote

 

  •  LibGuides

    • Technically, not an app – but available online! 🙂 
    • These are library study guides that our law school provides. If you’re at UNTDCOL, stop by the circulation desk, or send me an email (cerebellumchef@gmail.com) & I’d be happy to point you in the right direction. These course guides pretty much rock my socks, because they’re jam-packed with study aids, practice questions, and even essay samples! Be sure to check out the study aids your library provides. Your librarians welcome the interruption in their day, I promise!

  • Law Dojo

    • I can appreciate that you may want to spend your time face down in a book, reading every word and hoping to soak in legal knowledge through mere proximity to your text, but I can’t learn that way always. I try to give myself a few brain breaks, whether by walking away to process the information, or by quizzing myself while playing the role of a Stealth Ninja making my way through maze. 
      • That’s exactly what this game is about. You’re a ninja. You must answer rapid-fire legal questions in order to live. 
      • What’s not to love about this?
      • There’s different levels, and different class topics – most basic concepts are covered, but the material gets more difficult when you answer questions correctly. 

 

LawDojo
Stealth. Ninja. Hiiii-ya!

 

  • iTunes U

    • I am not great at picking up information solely through listening, but I know some of you are gifted with this ability – so this is for you! 
    • Check out iTunes U in your iTunes store, and search “Law School” or “Contract Law” – or pretty much anything you need for class, and sift through the titles!
    • There are some great law school professors who host podcasts, or even record their own lectures (Like Professor Glannon!) to help students grasp the concepts. 
    • The topics are plentiful, and you can get many of them for free! 

 

I use all of these tips in my daily studies, and enjoy working with different mediums in which to learn. I search for ways to make my life easier, while not sacrificing my learning. Law school is hard, there’s no way around it. However, you can lessen the burden on your own shoulders by learning what helps you retain information. If you need anyone to bounce ideas off on, feel free to send me a message at cerebellumchef@gmail.com

Happy Studying/Law School Prepping!

 

Categories
Advice Law School

Prepping for Your 1L Year

6 THINGS YOU MUST DO BEFORE LAW SCHOOL (2)

 

Right now it doesn’t feel real. It hasn’t sunk in that in just about a month, you will begin your first year as a law student. By now you’ve received your information on orientation or Fundamentals week, and you likely attended a new student event (or two). Before classes begin, take some time to set your priorities.

I honestly only completed these six tasks before enjoying the rest of my summer. It was hugely important to me to make sure I was ready for law school. But I didn’t go nuts trying to read everything on the suggested reading list, or dive straight into city ordinances. I mean, come on! You have time to dive into research later, for now – cover the essentials.

  1. Apply for Financial Aid + Scholarships
    • Many of you may not know this, but you may qualify for a Direct PLUS loan. It’s government Financial Aid, and comes in handy! If you need extra aid to help pay for tuition or books – check to see if you are eligible!
    • Scholarships are fewer at this level of education, but they certainly exist. Check your institution’s financial aid page for updated scholarship applications and opportunities. Looking around online isn’t a bad option either. Free money is out there, and many times scholarships go un-used. Take advantage of these opportunities!FSA-Eligibility-11.16.12
  2. Buy/Organize a Desk or Study Space
    • You need a designated place to study or get work done. This is a fact. You may not always feel like trudging up to the library to study, and your kitchen table doesn’t usually allow you the flexibility of leaving your books flayed about. This means you need a DESK! There are many affordable options, and I strongly recommend you get yourself one – quick!
    • I purchased a desk, chair, and plastic chair mat for less than $400 at Nebraska Furniture Mart. The products came mostly assembled, and were not difficult to set-up. My desk area is bright, quiet, and perfect for holding many of my study materials at a time. That said, I had to purchase an additional book shelf and wall shelf to accommodate my 1L books and supplies.
    • I also recommend you get a desk lamp. My boyfriend surprised me with a wonderful one, which I mentioned  HERE.IMG_9686IMG_9763
  3. Set a Schedule
    • If you already know your class schedule (and, you should) – then take a few minutes to organize your planner. If you don’t have a planner, use your computer/phone/google to get your digital calendar prepared.
    • Block off time for class, then block off study time. Next, block off time for meals, family, and grocery runs.
    • I suggest you add your family members to your calendar, this way they are aware of what you’re tasks are and know when it’s ok to try and call or steal you away for a movie night.
  4. Rent Textbooks
    • Why buy books when you can rent them? I considered purchasing them for my first semester, but opted to rent (when the rental was cheaper). My favorite site for comparing book prices is BIGWORDS.
      • Type in the ISBN of the book you need, and then select the best option for your wallet. Read the reviews from the seller before choosing an option. I’ve had great luck with timely and affordable rental options, always delivered to my door. 🙂
  5. Buy School Supplies
    • oh.my.GOSH.bestday
    • Buying new school supplies is one of my all-time fave things!
    • Pens, pencils, highliters, post-its….you’ll use them ALL! Everything’s on sale, and you (most definitely) will run through multiple packs of each item. Stock up now, while you have time!
  6. Relax + Meet Incoming Students (Your New Friends!)
    • You will gain nothing from reading ahead. I repeat, NOTHING.
    • Even though you think you know how to read and write well – the fact is, you have no clue how to brief a case or wade through legal concepts. Which means there’s no point in using up your precious down time, before the mayhem begins, trying to get ahead of your classmates.
      • By all means, read cases your professors ASSIGN. But, do not go beyond that scope. This year is a marathon, not a sprint. Pace yourself, young padawan – “burnout” is real.
    • Meet up with some newbies for coffee, or dinner! I felt much more confident walking into orientation week knowing I had a few friends in the mix. We met for sushi a few weeks before class, and asked each other all kinds of “baby questions” like – where’d you find the class schedule? Or, what are you thinking of wearing for day 1? Are you actually going to brief any cases?
      • You’ll love having this built-in support system, so reach out and meet people! It’ll make orientation week much more memorable. <3

smart

 

Trust me when I say that you need to enjoy this time. Your 1L is coming up fast, and it will be stressful. Get yourself in the proper mindset for classes, with this list. You’ll thank me for it later.