Tag: #LawSchool

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Advice Daily Dose

When All Else Fails: Vent.

Venting helps. I think there’s a whole lot to be said about compartmentalizing, but – in my experience – there’s even more that comes with keeping those compartments shut. Hence this need to vent.

I’ve been keeping walls up for several weeks now, trying to stay focused on this goal: pass the fucking bar. I’m already doing the work, helping clients, pushing my knowledge of the law forward – but I’m making the same amount of money as our secretary and that kinda blows. I’ve actually laughed at this, because I’m currently the most educated I’ve ever been in my life and, yet, making the least amount of money I’ve ever made in my life. I know it will be worth it in the long run. But, presently, I need to sit and voice this and let go of this thought. It’s pretty comical though, right?

Thankfully, I took the last month off from work. I setup my out of office notification and peaced-out. But, that doesn’t mean I don’t know there are already more than 800 emails sitting in my inbox and I’m feeling so guilty at the thought of my boss feeling overwhelmed. But the simple fact is this: he gave me the time off, so I could come back to the office, confident I’d put my best foot forward on this exam. So, that’s exactly what I’m going to do. The look on his face when I failed the Bar during attempt Numero Uno was awful. I don’t want to see that again. I’d much rather be able to help him by attending hearings and actually partaking in a true lawyering role. #DreamJob

This past month was a whirlwind of comedic missteps and happenings. A pipe burst in our house, I got physically hurt (not once, but 3 times), and there’s a heap of personal health stuff going on with my grandparents. I won’t go into this because I will cry.

So yeah, life’s been incredibly stressful. And it’s not even the kind of stress one brings on themselves, it’s genuinely things I cannot control. That’s the worst kind of stress. I wish I could tell you that I can just put all of this in a box and deal with it later, but that’s not a gift I possess. I feel like I’m handling things, compartmentalizing. And then, little bits of my mind obsess with these compartmentalized boxes and decide to open them when I’m sleeping (hence the night terrors). Needless to say, it’s been rough.

I’ve been putting on a brave face, getting out there for several runs a week, and even started yoga and daily meditation. I’m trying to keep as balanced as possible, but sometimes these efforts feel like a losing battle. It’s completely possible that I’m feeling this way because the exam date is creeping ever closer. Going through it once was hellish, going back for a second time is difficult to do without a bit of a defeatist attitude. I get it, trust me. But, few people know what this is like; putting your brain through this much concerted effort must be akin to a bomb specialist running down to the wire.

*Actual Footage* of Bar Examiners Giving Out Exams

Getting this out there was quite cathartic. There’s quite a few emotions running through this body and I needed more room for Texas Essay rules, so I had to empty the vessel. I will not apologize for putting this all out in the open. It helped. Do what you need to do to get yourself in the right headspace for this exam. Put yourself first, at all costs, from now until the exam is over.

I highly recommend you let go of whatever minutiae you’ve got stored up because 1) it’s scientifically proven to be unhealthy, 2) you’ve got absolutely no time for wallowing or thinking anything else other than Bar concepts for the next 12 days, and 3) you’re a boss babe/dude and you gotta keep pressing on.

Here’s some positive motivation from a cute bunny:

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Advice Daily Dose

What Happens When You Fail The Bar Exam

1. You Feel Unequivocally Alone.

The short version? You failed the Bar and are now living on the tiniest one-person island. Drifting aimlessly, helplessly, in a sliver of existence you never knew you’d be trapped within. And it sucks so damn much.

The long version:

People suck. You failed the Bar and now, suddenly, many of the people who were cheering you on and trying to encourage you through the long wait before the pass-list posted are now nowhere to be found. Not all of those individuals are law grads, either. Sure, you can tell yourself that those “friends” don’t know what to say, and that’s why they haven’t called to check on you because they’re speechless.

Well, let me be the first to say – FUCK THEM.
Friends stick around. They’re the ones who say, “Well, shit. That’s crappy news, but I’m here whenever you need me.” Or, “I don’t know what to say, but I love you and this test does NOT define you. I know it doesn’t feel like it now, but it’s going to be alright.” Even a sincere facebook post is better than not saying anything, jeez.

Friends are there, for the good AND the bad.

If you found yourself alone, adrift, and feeling like you’re the dumbest person in the world right now because you failed the Bar exam – you are NOT alone. I failed. I missed the mark by 3.5% and I must say, what a spectacular fail that was. In Texas, the Board of Law Examiners sends out 1 email if you passed and 2 emails if you failed, usually within just a couple of minutes of each other. I received one email and waited nearly two hours for a second one. I thought I was safe, but when I opened my message from the BLE, after several hours of technical difficulties and even a removed login button on the site to keep it from crashing, my letter said:

FUCKING SPECTACULAR TUMBLE DOWNHILL, right?

Yeahhh, I don’t quite know if I’ve ever gone from feeling elated to what appears to be my rock bottom in a nanosecond. I couldn’t help but cry. The tears came up hard and fast and the sobs that racked my body felt like they would never stop. There’s a gaping hole in my ego now. Maybe I needed it, deserved it even. Maybe one person is not allowed to be so incandescently happy. I went through every “maybe” I could muster, every maybe except the one my deep-dark critic wanted answered: “maybe I didn’t work hard enough…”

I posted my failure publicly because I knew that I wasn’t the only person in Texas to fail and just couldn’t bear the thought of someone feeling this lonely without knowing they can reach out to someone who’s going through the same thing. Because let me be clear: you’re going to feel alone for a while.

Even my husband didn’t know what to do or say. He held me and let me cry for what felt like forever. After a while, I finally said “I think I’m done. I need to stop crying.” 

And his response was “why?” 

So I said, “because it’s stupid. Crying isn’t going to change anything. I need a plan.” 

And this man said, “you need to acknowledge how you feel. Just feel all of it and then we can move forward.” 

So — feel this failure. Take a beat and re-set. Then, when you’ve grieved this setback in your career, start your preparations to tackle this mountain in the next go-around. We will get through this; even though it feels like it right now, I promise you – you are NOT alone.

2. You Get Unsolicited Advice.

Some people want to help, so they’ll encourage you. Those individuals have a special place in my heart because that small kindness and daring to say “hey, I love you even though you’re not a lawyer yet and can’t really help me with anything” truly melted a bit of this self-loathing away, ultimately making it easier to step out of this bleak reality of having to mount up for a second attempt at the hardest exam of my life.

But then there’s nitwits who can’t argue their way out of damn cardboard box – who passed the exam – and want you to know how much better they are for passing on the first try, so they have to give you their study advice. The kind of cringe-worthy tips from people who probably don’t know you, your study habits, couldn’t tell you where you sat in class, and are just trying to tout their success in your face. To all those jerks – you can go shave your back now. Yeah, I’m looking at you, classmate.

You need to remember this: there’s all sorts of reasons why someone fails the Bar exam. You could have given that exam everything you had, but still failed because some subsection of your mind refused to focus on family law spousal maintenance rules because you were terrified about your grandfather’s stage 4 cancer diagnosis. Or, you might have been worried about the results before you got through day one, trying to calculate what passing or failing might do to your life; putting a wedding on hold, adding a little one to your family. Quieting your mind may be a herculean task. There’s a litany of causes for a bad exam day. Don’t feel like you have to take the advice being hurled your way, because you may have done everything right and still faltered. Just do your best to push past the bullshit advice some people give you and hold tight to the nuggets of wisdom that make you feel better, which encourage you in the right direction to passing the exam next time. I want you to remember how truly shitty this feels, so that when you do pass the bar, you don’t become one of the assholes giving out fudgiscles of “advice.”

3. You Either Start Planning or Start Panicking.

I’m a planner. But I have some friends that are freaking out. Either reaction is valid. I needed to feel more in control, create a hit list of things to review, practice, and make corrections moving forward. With everything going on in my life at the moment, I do not have the emotional bandwidth to freak out. For me, I go wiiiiide and the panic just becomes a cacophony of never-ending reasons why I’m not good enough to make it through this exam. So here’s my new mantra: You already did. Taking the Bar exam again is completely surmountable.

4. Your Finances Might Take A Hit.

I think the most terrifying aspect of failing the Bar is the simple fact that I won’t be able to begin paying down my loans for several more months. My budget got a whole helluvalot tighter and I’ve had to add the stress of prepping for the February Bar on top of making calls to my student loan lenders (because, private school loans are a beast), hoping against hope they will grant my extra forbearance.

For those worried about whether they can do this again, I suggest you take a hard look at your bills and other needs. Prioritize what you can, make calls for those loans, and apply for a bar exam loan. Look at every option at your disposal and tackle the problem. You are brilliant. You are educated and fully capable of getting yourself through this shitstorm of an experience.

5. Everyone Is Awkward Around You.

Everyone. Your mom. The Professors. Friends who passed. I’ve been walking around in a foggy mess, trying to save myself, all the while pretty much ignored by some of the people who I felt I needed most. I say felt because I’ve made it this far without some of you and I don’t plan on begging for a friendship that obviously wasn’t important enough for you to reach out. Adios, pseudo-friends.

The awkwardness goes away when you approach it head-on. Take that with a grain of salt. I’m not trying to fight anybody, but the second my intelligence was questioned for this failure I stepped to that plate right damn quick. This exam is not the great equalizer. As my mentor told me, “there are plenty of shitty attorneys that passed the Bar.”

Failing this exam does not make you lesser. Some people are awkward around us because they are trying to figure out what they would want to hear. I mean, what the hell do you tell someone who’s entire vision for their life and career was just up-ended in splendid fashion? You can’t send a meme. You sure as hell can’t laugh it off…not yet anyway. To all those people struggling to figure out a way to help re-takers through this haze, I implore you: offer a hug, a smile, or a text with a simple “I’m here for you.”

Do something, damnit. Even if you can’t find the words.
Those small actions can go such a long way to making us feel like we aren’t alone. Knowing we have someone rooting for us, after this setback, means everything.

6. You Put Yourself Through It Again.

I want to be a licensed attorney. I know you do, too. So here’s the thing – we’re going to do the damn thing again. Only this time? We’re going to pass. Set yourself up to study more efficiently and effectively. Practice more questions. Do whatever you need to do and correct your shortfall. Meet with your Bar Readiness professors, even if seeing them makes you feel bad about yourself. Just go. Put yourself on the best path to ace the Bar next time. Make the necessary adjustments and then smoke it like a cheap cigar.

Categories
Advice Law School

Burn Out & Failure: Risking it All in Law School

Why sugar-coat the terrible things? Law school, much like the rest of your life, is tough. The strain you feel is always present and, as much as I’d like to say I am capable of compartmentalizing myself 100% of the time, that skill simply eludes me. The reading, class assignments, research trails, and networking events are a constant hum in the back of my mind. Even when I’m with you, my mind is still trying to work through problems, think of better approaches to arguments, contemplate assignments for my externship, and organize and manage a task schedule.

It’s exhausting. I’m working off a perpetual state of reserve resources, always feeling like I don’t have enough left in the tank. I didn’t expect law school to be easy, but I also didn’t expect it would feel so lonely. So many students subscribe to the “fake it ’til you make it” mentality. What does it cost us to just be upfront about our mental health?

I’ve found that when someone asks how you’re doing, the typical law student answer is “fine.” The truth is, most students refuse to be honest. Why let your colleague know you’re feeling scared, weak, tired, or defeated? Apparently, showing any signs of weakness somehow directly translate into a lower class rank.

To that notion, I say bullshit. Law school is plenty damn hard without having to bottle up every emotion and put on a pretty face. My response to peers who ask how I’m doing recently has been something along the lines of “I’m exhausted, but can’t complain. Everything seems like it’s too much, but I’m ready to get to graduation.” Why lie?

My friend Matt recently spoke with me about his own struggles and we promised we’d drag each other across the finish line; it’s only four weeks away, after all. Funnily enough, we’ve basically vented and motivated each other through these past three years. We’ve shared laughter, tears, regrets, and more coffee runs than I care to count.

Though many of my classmates and I have good relationships with each other, naturally we aren’t always best friends. I’m closer to some than others, but I do cherish them all. They’re basically family. With that in mind, it’s imperative to remember how much you need their support, as well as the simple fact that they need you too.

Burnout is real. You don’t always know when it’s happening, either. Here’s a good example:

My hair texture changed. To be clear, it thinned out. It’s seems stupid and tiny and not worth mentioning, but it happened. Three years into law school, my hair is much thinner than when I started and it’s a change I’m self-conscious about. My family noticed and (still) comments on it.

My body experiences stress, just like anyone else’s, but I didn’t recognize the need for self-care. I failed to realize my naps getting longer, my determination to finish something feeling more herculean. I was taking on too many tasks – two jobs, tutoring, mentoring, classes, clinic…and still needing time to feed and bathe myself to feel human.

Pushing forward to the next deadline was all I needed to do. Just one more day. You probably do the exact same thing. But what I’ll say is this: Take care of yourself, first. You can’t become a lawyer if you completely fall apart before the finish line. Our class is missing several people who began this educational journey with us. Failing is real. It happens. You will experience burnout. How you deal with those moments when you hit a wall is a skill you need to hone to a fine point.

My existing state centers around being happy, not because I force myself into that emotion, but because happiness is my aspirational goal. I smile and laugh all the time. Dancing around my kitchen is quite typical. Cookie batter and brownies taste better when I’m in a good mood. Happiness also sometimes means taking my dogs for a walk instead of staying in and reading more about Secured Transactions.

Learning to balance the shittiness of burnout and feeling like you’re at the end of your rope while still getting yourself through the day is challenging. I tend to feel guilty about relaxing, working out, or spending time with the people I love when I could be studying. Which is probably why a sliver of my brain continues those tasks, rather than appreciate the moment. Sorry.

We’ve got to talk about this though. You’re about to be a lawyer, accomplishing a major goal in your life. You need to lean on your support system and reach out to those resources (on or off campus) when you need them. Mental health breaks and self-care are key pieces to learning your balance. You will reach your limits in law school. Trust me on this.

Law school is a marathon. Keep up your strength, and be sure to borrow some from your friends and family when you need it. I don’t know where I would be without the amazing team cheering me on.

Your team is there for you. Your friends care, your family does, too. They may not always understand what you’re going through, the rigors of classes, the panic of searching for a job before your Bar exam, the crushing feeling of debt, or anything else you’re dealing with. They will listen though. They’ll be there for you.

You can do this. You are almost a lawyer and all this effort is worth it.

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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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Law School

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.

The accuracy hurts, y’all.

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.”

Sure, O.K. Sharon! UGH.

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.

Categories
Advice Law School

Closing Deals In Heels

This past week was a combination of brutal + exhilarating.
[The best times are a bit of both, wouldn’t you say?]

On top of classwork, extra-curricular activities, and working in the law library, I also drove to Austin to participate in the Public Interest Law Fair. The beau and I drove straight to Austin after a full day of classes. But you know what?

sorry.gif

The Consortium of Texas Law Schools hosted a job fair at UT-Law, and it was a great experience; I wanted to share my perspective.

Here’s what you need to know:

When you apply to these job fairs, it kind of feels like a cattle call. There’s a long list of potential employers that set out their criteria for interviewing (GPA threshold, Moot Court requirement, Law review requirement, 1L/2L/3L, etc.) – then it’s up to you to sift through them all and figure out which possibilities would be best for you.

Once you read through the descriptions, you upload your documents and start applying.

job

Personally, I wanted a summer opportunity that would offer me the chance to be in court. Having only clerked in a Probate Court, and worked in the PD’s office (but never building an actual case), I felt those skills could be bolstered. This means I sifted through every opportunity and chose Law Clerk Summer positions that fit 1)courtroom experience, 2) writing and research tasks, and 3) challenge my current skillset.

I uploaded 3 letters of recommendation, a blanket cover letter (written to apply to each and every position [why? because I personalized 37 cover letters for a previous job fair and only received 1 interview. I thought shaking things up a bit was warranted]), the most recent transcript, and my résumé.

Once you apply to the positions you are interested in…you wait.

And wait some more.

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After a few weeks, the firms and/or government agencies post your worthiness.
I am happy to report that, of the eight positions I applied to, I received six interview invitations. ::woot::

Thankfully, I was able to cram all six interviews into a single day.

Friday morning started with a BANG! I hit the ground running, on pure adrenaline…because I tend to avoid eating before an interview. I made sure to print eight copies of my resume and writing sample, just in case an interviewer needed them.

interview

 

Here are the most important interview tips I have for you: 

1. Dress Professionally

For the love of legal briefs! Please do not show up to an interview looking like a cow chewed you up and spat you out. Wear some nice slacks and a button down, or a suit if you have one. I prefer to wear dresses to interviews, with a blazer. It’s comfortable, and usually means I don’t have to iron a crease into the pleats. Wearing a power suit is perfectly fine as well, but since we were traveling, I didn’t want to worry about packing an iron (in case the hotel didn’t have a working one, or whatever lack-of-iron-catastrophe would befall me). There are interesting takes on what attire is appropriate for interviews. I think the best thing to remember, especially for legal interns and young attorneys, is that we have not built our reputation just yet. Work on solidifying the foundation of your professionalism, and then [maybe…much later in your career] you can loosen up on the prim & proper points of your wardrobe. Maybe.

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2. Have extra copies of (at minimum) your [proofed] resume in your padfolio.

Do yourself a favor, and make the extra effort to be extra prepared. Although I always take extra copies into an interview, it is rare that I am asked to proffer anything. I have however, impressed a few interviewers with my preparation. The added prep gives your interviewer the notion that you are a professionally polished person, ready for anything, and prepared for everything.  That matters. People want to hire reliable associates, team members that can be counted on. This just adds an extra layer of greatness to what you’ve already put down on paper. Even better? It shows them you want the job, and you are willing to work hard. Our generation takes a bunch of crap for being “lazy” or “entitled.” That’s certainly not all of us, and it throws a pleasant curve ball to a veteran interviewer when you show up ready to for the game.
work

 

3. Rise to the challenge.

In this particular set of interviews, the attorneys interviewing me all exhibited different tactics. The most-challenging interview was conducted in a large jury room. The heating unit was rather loud, and the attorneys barely spoke above a whisper. It was infuriating. I couldn’t tell if it was on purpose, so I decided to just be myself. I leaned forward in my seat, paid attention to what they each had to say, and – when they asked me the first question – I raised my voice higher than theirs and spoke. I felt like I was screaming, but that wasn’t true. The lead interviewer smiled, and then leaned forward in his chair and continued the conversation with more questions.

::It was a trick afterall::

Sometimes, interviewers will do things to throw you off; it’s a tactic to enable them the opportunity to see how you will react. When in doubt – be yourself. And remember, all of the interviewers were in your shoes at one time. They know what it feels like, and they will likely not try to break you down. Part of their job is to make sure they like you, because they’ll have to work with you.

Be bold. Be confident. Hell, strike a power pose in bathroom stall before you walk into the interview. Give yourself a pep-talk. Show them just how your intellect, tenacity, and charm will add value to their incredible team.

warrior

4. Know Your Strengths & Weaknesses

In other words….practice for the damn thing! You know the interviewers are going to ask standard questions. So you need to PREPARE! Look up questions that interviewers tend to ask. There’s a whole slew of them available online. Do yourself a favor, and dive into them. The key is to prepare, without it appearing that you memorized each answer.

These interviews are a lot like speed-dating. You only get 20 minutes to impress these attorneys. It does not look great to have a ton of “umms,” “well, yeahs,” or “huh, hadn’t thought of that one before!” comments. You owe it to yourself to present the best candidate those interviewers are going to see, because you. are. fantastic!

warrior1

 

5. Research the Position!

Ladies and Gents…this is imperative. Do not, I repeat, do not go into an interview without reading about the company/firm/government agency you are interviewing with. That is the fastest way to get yourself dropped! Know exactly what your duties entail and have a prepared answer for why you’d like to work in criminal/family violence/immigration/patent law. Just trust me on this. Knowing about the company’s mission, or agency’s perview is important. These interviewers need to know that you actually give a damn about the work they do. Don’t muck it up.

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These tips are sure to get you in great shape for your interview.

Regardless of the occasion, interview as often as you can. The more practice you have, the better the conversation flows at the table. I share the above advice, as it was shared with me. For the sake of full disclosure, I [so far] received three offers from the six interviews. My summer is set and, quite frankly, I am thrilled to have the jobs lined up. I am truly looking forward to gaining a better insight to the federal court system, and the unique challenges those cases will encompass.

Now all I have to do is focus on my coursework and clinic cases this semester.
[More on the clinic later]

How are your plans going this semester?

 

Categories
Law School

First Day Back!

Three semesters down, baby! It feels soooo good.
I know it sounds crazy, but I really look forward to coming back to class. Law school is one of my happiest places. I’ve spoken to you about how hard classes are, and explained that my social life is nil, and joke about staying under the warm covers, eating bon-bons, and reading novels over the break, but the truth is – I missed my friends, as well as the material. I plopped myself down next to Matt for our Business Associations class and we basically looked like this (while silently praying for Oprah to help us through Dean Valencia’s class) —

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I love meeting back up over long breaks, catching up with my classmates, discussing new policy changes or proposed legislation, and generally geeking out about law-related things. In all honesty, no one but your classmates, or other attorneys, understand the intensity of law school. Sure, your family and friends (those who haven’t dropped you like the Hot Potato Doctrine – yes, I went there) witness your effort, but no one really knows what you’re going through like your law school peeps do. This adds to the further appreciation of enjoying their time, as well as the fact that they don’t think your love of criminal law or probate matters is weird.

besties

I was extra-thrilled to see the 1Ls (that I had the absolute pleasure of being a TA for) return! I remember the attrition after our first semester, and the gaping void it created. Seeing them make it through finals, and return to classes with a reinvigorated spirit was a great additive to my already bouncy mood. My day got even better as it went on.

Today’s classes were fantastic! I laughed way more than I thought I could, and continue to find it funny that I compare what law school actually is like, to what I expected law school to be. It’s not as incredibly difficult as most say it will be, nor is it middle of the road easy. I think what helps me most is how comfortable I feel with our faculty and staff. They’re all approachable realists, with their own quirky tendencies and habits. Some professors get snarkier (in the best way possible) after they get to know students. Frankly, I love some good snark. Not everything is coming up roses, and the world is going to pot most days; snark helps fuel a balance, and keeps me on my toes. I try to think of our professors as partners in a law firm: don’t give them crap products, and they won’t treat you like an incompetent nincompoop. Simple as pie, right?

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As a 2L, I can say I feel truly blessed to experience the law and this amazing school climate. Sure, we’re competitive, but everyone is also trying to motivate each other and grow our collective network. We’re all pretty damn great, and the best way to keep up that kick-ass feeling is to work hard each semester.

Get out there; be awesome.
Do the prep work, finish the reading, take amazing notes, and participate in class.
You’ve got this!

 

 

 

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
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

Law School Madness

Learning to find your balance is a struggle, made only more difficult by attempting to reach your happy place, while putting your mind through grueling law school courses. You may find yourself asking “how does everyone make it look so easy?” The best answer I can give you is this – they’re great actors. Let’s be clear – law school is a drama-filled think tank with the best and brightest in their respective classes. Everyone is wound tighter than Shirley Temple curls, and nobody has time to deal with your shit. So trust me when I say that your peers are putting on a façade, to make you feel inferior. It’s an intimidation tactic. What these students are great at is striking a comfortable balance between varying shades of frenzied mayhem, and some are better at it than others.

LawandOrder

Some students excel at being selfish, which is fantastic, because law school is where being all about “Team YOU” comes in handy. Put yourself first. This step in reaching a happy medium is crucial. Your family wants time with you, your boss needs you to focus on the task at hand, your significant other begins to feel neglected, and the people in your life start to get upset because they feel you are tossing them aside. But, what they may not realize is the number of balls you juggle is more than they could handle, more than most anyone could. You made it, gained admission to law school, and now have to bust your derrière to stay here. You will likely work harder than ever before, or you’re truly gifted and don’t have to study at all because you’re brilliant. [On that last bit – I call bullshit. You need to study.]

self-esteem
Finding your balance means you will likely lose a friendship (or more) while working through your legal career. The unrelenting assignments, extra-curricular activities, and study group sessions will consume you – if you let it. I found that the most successful law students are well-rounded, and skilled at balancing their tasks. Taking the time out of your day to work out, read a book, or watch a movie allows your brain to re-set and re-focus on its goals. It is critical to understand when your brain needs to rest, because it is in those moments where you strike the perfect balance between your studies and passions. Otherwise, you’re going to burn out. I experienced true burn-out after my 3rd final during our first semester of 1L year. I walked out of the exam, took a few minutes to grab a coffee, and sat back down at my computer to read through notes. I must have read the same sentence 3o times before realizing I’d shut down. There was simply no energy left to process anything. So I packed up my crap, trekked to the parking garage, and drove myself to a movie theater. You have to know when to throw in the towel, because breaks are part of that school-life balance.

shambles

During my 1L year, I felt flustered because there were so many panicked voices in the halls – all trying to figure out how to study, when to study, how to brief, should they brief, is the assignment actually graded, is it ok to take a lunch break? The tension was palpable, and I simply could not be around it. Realizing my own stress-level rising reminded me that I needed to step away from it all for just an hour a day.

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When I need for the questions or worries of my day to fade away, I turn to running. I run at least two miles to clear my head, three times a week. On top of running, I choose to rock-climb. It is essential to have my brain focus on my feet hitting the pavement, or finding the next hand-hold on a wall. My balance involves shutting the world out to let in my inner-peace.

I strongly recommend you find your balance, whatever makes you happy and re-centers you, before the semester begins. Make sure to make time for yourself, every single day. If you are in a positive place, then studying will be easier and you’ll grasp the concepts quickly. However, an angry or frustrated mindset will likely land you in a crap-tastic mood and that’s a recipe for failure. Always re-focus.

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