Tag: #1LAdvice

Law School Orientation: What to Expect & How To Prepare

Post author By cerebellumchef
Post date August 11, 2019
No Comments on Law School Orientation: What to Expect & How To Prepare

You’re gearing up for law school orientation. First, let me congratulate you for getting here. You are a certified badass and all your hard work resulted in this ~~freakout~~ overwhelming feeling to prepare before classes begin. Don’t fret. You will be amazing. You’re probably trying to figure out what to wear, what to pack, and if you need to print anything or read something before Day 1 of Orientation.

Take a breath. Re-read the instructions sent to you by admissions, or the professors running orientation, and follow them to the letter. Add some snacks to your backpack, gum or mints, a notepad, and make sure to carry two pens, two highlighters, and your laptop + charger.

Wear something business casual. Landing somewhere in the middle of professional and casual is the best option. You won’t feel overdressed and won’t feel like a schlub. It may sounds silly, but dressing confidently goes quite a long way. Trust me on this.

Depending on your orientation schedule, you may have a quick few hours or a long week with your classmates. UNTDCOL (my alma mater) hosts a week-long orientation for students. There’s a long list of tasks to complete, including preparing your laptop, signing into research sites, and lessons on how to brief cases, as well as a prep class for torts or contracts. It’s our school’s take on gently introducing students to the law school experience.

These first few days of orientation can feel tense, mostly because the type-A group (which is pretty much everyone in your class) is trying to size each person up. I highly recommend being kind. The people in your class will become your family. You will spend an inordinate amount of time with your law school classmates. So, do yourself a favor and play nice.

Orientation will speed past you and the nerves you’re feeling now will likely ramp up before your first actual class. Take the time this week, if you haven’t already, to start your first week reading assignments. Don’t put this off. You need to brief your assignments and prepare for class. Don’t get ahead of the syllabus though. You aren’t even a baby lawyer yet. Getting too far ahead will cost you, dearly. Wait to get a foundation in each class before jumping too far forward in your reading. It seems odd, and goes against everything your overachieving self believes, but don’t do that!
You’ll thank me later.

Need advice on how to brief your cases for class? READ THIS.

Good luck and have fun!

Tags #1LAdvice, #BookBriefs, #LawSchoolOrientation, 1L

Law School

Preparing for your 1L Year

Post author By cerebellumchef
Post date January 2, 2019
No Comments on Preparing for your 1L Year

It’s January, the start of a brand new year.
And here you are, thinking about law school. There’s so many questions running through your mind.

Where do I apply? How am I paying for it? Does it matter which school I attend? Will it make a difference if I don’t have a lib arts degree? Should I live on campus or off? Is it possible to make friends in law school?

There’s a ridiculous number of things to prepare for and – if I’m being honest – you won’t ever be ready. You will never have all of the answers. To make things worse, there’s so much literature covering all the ways Law School will destroy you.

I was required to read 1L of a Ride and it really freaked me out. I didn’t find it helpful, especially since the law professor who wrote the book basically said that my 9 year relationship would [pretty much] fail, I would never have a life, my friends would dump me, and I’d just cry myself to sleep every night wondering why I even bothered to become a lawyer. I mean, ok sure – I questioned why I was sleeping less than 5 hours a night, reading an obscene number of pages, doing a terrible job at briefing cases, and not understanding tort law, but the crap he scared me over was just not necessary. If you’re interested in the stats he includes, then give it a try.

In a refreshing change of pace, Anne sent me her book. She’s one of my readers who felt the same way I do about the lack of advice in the 1L arena. She wrote her own helpful guide to acing your first year in law school. I had the opportunity to read her work and, though I don’t agree with everything she mentions, I feel it is a pretty decent representation of the process you go through to get in, secure funding, and prep for exams. If you’re worried about what you might encounter on your own law school adventure, I recommend you read this:

I disagree with her hatred of the highlighting method (which makes sense, since she’s color-blind) but do agree that just highlighting will not help you learn. If you’d like my take on book-briefing, read this post.

Anne also discusses how she negotiated her financial aid package. While some schools may let you do this, I don’t recommend you try unless you’ve got a stellar resume. Law schools do not need you, per se. There’s a helluva long list of students waiting to slip into your spot if you decide not to attend an institution for any reason. If the Financial Aid office isn’t inclined to send more money your way, I am not sure it’s the best option to push the matter.
However, if you can upsell yourself then you should do it! What’s the worst thing that might happen? They say “no.” Well then, at least you asked.

After receiving my acceptance to St. Mary’s School of Law, I was told I would not receive my financial aid package until after I committed, which is one step past the seat deposit and meant I couldn’t back out to attend another school if I didn’t like the financial aid package. When I asked why that was the case, they responded with “we want you to attend our law school because you genuinely want to come here, not because we’re giving you monetary incentive.”

Yeah, I was pretty pissed. Not knowing what I would receive put me in an awkward situation. But, it also forced me to look at extremes. Say, for example, I were to receive the Presidential Scholarship I’d applied for, guaranteeing a full ride. Well, that would mean I’d have to uproot my life in Dallas, where my boyfriend and I lived together, separate my two dogs [since one belongs to the Beau] and then pay for rent in a new place – essentially paying a second mortgage. I considered the potential move a deficit and chose to look at other options. Note that I did negotiate with the law school, they just refused to budge. This minor setback did not deter me from committing to another school.

Overall, I liked Anne’s book. It’s an easy read and full of useful information from someone who’s recently been a 1L. I find it difficult to take advice on say, renting textbooks, from someone who’s been teaching the law for the last three decades. Would they steer you wrong? Maybe not always. But it’s good practice to get a “boots on the ground” perspective.

Whatever advice you choose to peruse, I hope it helps you prepare for the law school adventure. If you’d like a quick and dirty guide to prepping for classes, you can also read this post.

Good luck with finalizing those law school applications this month! If you have any questions, reach out. I’m happy to help where possible.

Tags #1LAdvice, #bookreview, #LawSchool, #WhatToDo, Anne Creasap, Applying to Law School, law school life

Law School

First Day Jitters

Orientation 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.

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!]

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.
Geeeeez, chill! It’s 7am. Of course, there’s time for coffee.
What does this outfit say about me? I look so lame compared to her.
How much of this shared space can my colored pens take up?
Is intentionally forgetting to bring lunch a bad thing? I kind of want to mingle.
Umm….yeah, sure. Go ahead. The seat’s not taken.
I wonder if she studies like I do?
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!
Just. do. it! Ask the new friends to lunch.
Is it ok to drink before our next class?
::after lunching with new law school babes::
Thank goodness! They feel the same way I do. Scared. Nervous. Freaked out. Totally pumped!
::after two classes::
This wasn’t so bad. I’ve got this! #VoteForElle
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!

Tags #1L, #1LAdvice, #UNTDCOL, First Day, UNTDCOL

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.

Tags #1LAdvice, #UNTDCOL, 1L, Prepare for 1L

Law School

The Law School Story

Choosing to attend law school is a monumental decision.
I’d say deciding to apply, putting yourself through an LSAT exam (and all the crap that entails), applying to multiple programs (if you’re a bit more Type-A, like myself), and impatiently waiting on acceptance/rejection letters (then ugly-snot-crying your way through reading them) takes a whole heap of effort. Therefore, your want/need/desire to attend law school is enough of a motivator to push you through the doors of any legal institution.

However, your exact reason to put yourself through the rigors of law school will differ from every other student you encounter. So, the big question isn’t “should I go to law school?” but rather, “why do you want to be a lawyer?”

lawyer

Your answer to this question will not define you. In fact, how your answer changes throughout your legal education and career is what guides your course.
In my first year of law school, I learned both areas of law I am certain I will not likely pursue, and others that make my soul sing. My peers have changed their minds numerous times, as have I. The law is trial and error, truly. This means you have the opportunity to change your mind along the way. What you feel passionate about today, may change tomorrow. It is so important to understand this notion. You grow and change, every single day.

Your reason for attending law school does not have to stand up to your classmates’ stories. You’re going to feel the need to one-up your peers when you (trust me, it’ll happen) ask them why they chose law school. Here’s a secret – you don’t have to have a reason at all! Your answer can be as simple as: It was my next step.

There need not be a “why” or any qualifying statement further.
Choose why you want to go – and then make it happen.

I thought I knew why I wanted to attend law school but, once I was accepted and had to make a choice on which one to attend, I realized my reason for attending needed to be about me, and no one else.

You see, I took a winding road to law school.
I used to be a 3rd party logistics broker. Having started as an intern, working my way up the ladder, I enjoyed the benefits of a lax schedule and great pay. Thinking I was doing well, taking a break between medical school and undergrad, I spoke to my manager about moving onto my next step. I wanted an M.B.A.

My manager told me that “a woman doesn’t need an advanced degree.” He went on to tell me that my aggressive qualities wouldn’t likely land me a managerial role in the company. Then he said, “but, you know – do what you want. I mean, you’re going to get married soon anyway.”

3 weeks later, I quit. I decided it was best to make a difference somewhere else, preferably a locale that didn’t mind my “aggressive” personality.
In a 180 degree move, I’d taken a position as a science educator in a Dallas high school.

For three years, I taught Anatomy & Physiology. In my time with the district, I also coached a robotics team, several academics teams, and the volleyball and basketball teams. I threw myself into building up my students, molding them into avid learners. My goal was to make a change in their lives, and better the education received by the students on our campus. But, it wasn’t enough.

I needed to impact more change. While teaching, I earned my M.B.A., and decided to apply to law school. My entire life I told people I was going to medical school. I attended all the science camps, space camp (because, being a flight medic was my ultimate dream), engineering camp – you name it, I trained in it. Medical school was where I was headed. However, every time I told someone I was planning on being a pediatric oncologist or flight medic, the response was always…

“Are you sure? You seem like you’d be a better attorney.”

It wasn’t until I started classes and took my first set of exams that I finally understood what everyone meant. I could be a good doctor. I studied hard, I learned the material, I loved my courses and enjoyed science. But I had to work sooooo hard for it to work.

Law school is different for me. I love every second of it, even the terrifying and stressful moments (like during a timed exam). It feels right.

I chose law school because my path led me there. I witness injustices in both business and education. My life’s purpose is to positively impact every field in which I work. Leave the world a little bit better – my mission.

I’ve chosen to take the Patent Bar, so I may continue to use my science expertise. I would like to work in various pro bono areas, to keep me grounded.
All the time I spent running away from what others expected, actually brought me back to what they saw me doing. It’s quite funny, when you think about it.

Studying law is not for everyone, but it’s exactly right for me. <3

Tags #1LAdvice, #UNTDCOL, dreams, Law school advice, Why Law School

Law School

Dealing with Your Support System in Law School

Post author By cerebellumchef
Post date March 20, 2017
No Comments on Dealing with Your Support System in Law School

My grandmother didn’t appreciate my answer when she asked what I would be giving up for Lent.

“My social life.”

I’m pretty sure she was thinking:

slapped

The sunburn I got from her glare was almost enough to shrink a bit. Maybe before law school I would have. Maybe.

By this point in the semester, you’d think I was comfortable with learning to ignore family and friends in order to make the grade. Constantly running away from family functions, friend hangouts, and bookstores is the worst bit of law school. Before law school, I hosted friends at our home nearly every weekend. The beau and I enjoyed galavanting around the city, trying new restaurants and exploring Dallas every chance we got.

A few weeks into my 1L however, those experiences faded away. I knew it would happen, my professors said it would happen, but I had no idea how angry my support system would get. Truthfully, I thought they would understand .

It should come as no surprise that being ignored feels bad. Funnily enough, most law students (including myself) don’t realize that our reading for class makes you feel ignored. The fact is – for me, at least – I am doing everything I can to keep my own life in balance.

This week alone is jam-packed with assignments, work, presentations, and a butt-load of reading for class. Now, with the few minutes of free time I was enjoying, I will be working out in order to win my FIT BET. [It’s a competition…so, I plan to crush it!]

But some of my favorite people in the world feel ignored. What can I do?

Not a damn thing.

“This is your time to be selfish.” – UNTDCOL Professor said this to my class during Fundamentals week. It sounds harsh, I know, but those words are what I cling to when someone tries to guilt-trip me into going out for a drink or just lunch.

When your friends and family ask you why you’re “ignoring them” please feel free to say this:

I wish I could be more lax sometimes, but the reality is that I am working toward earning a degree and I need to bust my butt to earn the grades to accomplish my dream of becoming an attorney.
It’s my job to excel in class and work (clerkship + internship this semester). This is my career. Which begs the question – do I sidetrack you in your career?
I don’t think so. But maybe I should drop by your house unexpectedly, or call and yell at you for forgetting to send you a birthday card, or invite you to dinner and then text you ten minutes before the meal to say I can’t make it.

[The advice I have for my wonderful family and friends is] – learn to deal with me not being around all the time. I miss you too. I miss being able to just jump in your car and head out on an adventure. I miss impromptu travel plans, late nights laughing and early work days. I miss movie nights and wine nights. I miss it all. I miss you.

But right now it’s about me. Not you. I have goals and dreams and hopes for my career. Right now I need you to be strong, for me, because sometimes my want to push an assignment aside outweighs my want to actually complete it. Sometimes, I find myself wondering if law school is worth the struggle. And if you find me in a weak moment, I need your help to drag me back to my desk and tell me to get to work.

I need your support, but if you feel like my attending law school is too much for you to handle – then maybe this is where our paths diverge. I plan on becoming an attorney and I wish you all the best.

mic drop