Not many people would argue with me if I stated that the Socratic cold call method is perhaps the most difficult aspect of one’s law school experience. I mean that’s objectively a tough experience to get through, and one that’s likely etched into our memory forever. However, today I want to propose an experience that stands neck to neck or possibly outshines the fear we experience in those moments of public discourse. An experience that we forget years later as we button our power suits before heading into court or lean into our rollerball chairs in our cushy office suites. It’s the experience of our stomach tying into knots the moment your law school classmate exclaims in distress how many job interviews they have lined up that week, the moment your study group partner confides in you about their multiple job offers and how they can’t possibly make a decision. [Read more…] about Oh Where Oh Where Do 2Ls Go When All the Jobs Appear to be Taken?
Who Are Your Four?
They say good things come in threes, but I disagree. There can be no limit placed on the infinite amount of help one needs to make it through law school. However, if my hand were forced to categorize the general needs of a law student, I would do my best to sum this up in four. Four anchors representing the four providers of support necessary to keep one grounded. Four anchors representing the firm bolts necessary for survival. The four facilitators of access to your professional and personal needs and wants. More specifically, the four facilitators of: mental health, career help, serotonin and educational guidance. I know that the issues that come to the forefront in law school are endless, but addressing and receiving help in these areas could mean a step towards fulfillment.
So who are your four facilitators?
What to Wear to your Law School Internship or Externship
If you’re reading this post, you may be one of the many people who have an upcoming internship or externship and no idea what to wear. Therefore, you’re probably wondering whether your wardrobe warrants an upgrade. Will you need to push your bank account to the edge and grab a couple of suits or can you sneak by with more casual attire considering the relaxed and edgier atmosphere most organizations tend to be shifting to? Well if you’re having these concerns, you’ve come to the right place. How you present yourself will be extremely important to the reputation you’re building and, as you know, reputation is everything. Therefore, doing your research and planning your wardrobe ahead of time is a step in the right direction. [Read more…] about What to Wear to your Law School Internship or Externship
Will it all ever Click? How to be More Confident as you Settle into 1L Year
Raise your hand if you’re a 1L and you’ve felt personally victimized by your law school experience so far? Ok maybe victimized is too strong of a word but if you’re a few weeks or months into your first semester of law school, I’m sure you get the gist. After getting some experience under your belt, despite the grueling hours that you’ve spent going through case law, reviewing your class notes or even outlining, if you feel like you have no idea what is happening, you’re not alone. I want to reassure you that it’s normal to feel lost despite your hard work. You’ve been exposed to a wealth of information that will take some time to completely process.
So, if you’re wondering whether it will all click, the answer is it absolutely will, but only if you take proactive efforts to process the catalog of information muddled in your head. Recognizing your confusion early on and proactively straightening this out will inevitably make you more confident and trusting of your ability to excel.
So how does one build this confidence? Although these methods aren’t foolproof, I would recommend: refocusing your mindset, asking questions and actively internalizing each lesson.
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Five Mindful Ways to Keep Your Anxiety at Bay During Interview Season
As you pack away your swimsuits, pull out your favorite pieces of flannel and begin to make space in your closet for your winter boots, two things may come to mind: 1) you are about to be bombarded by a flood of ads for Pumpkin Spice Lattes and 2) job interview season is upon us. During law school, the beginning of Fall simply meant it was time to begin stressing about: classes, interview callbacks or the lack thereof and doubling down on the job search. Doubling down on my job search meant that I had to strategically juggle my new class schedule between rushing to interviews, my off-campus externship and moot court practice. This vicious cycle which was consistently marred by the anxiety of not receiving a job offer, made my Fall semester stressful to say the least. Chances are, if you’re a 2L or 3L without a permanent job offer, you may be experiencing some of what I just described.
Fall semester stress is an inevitable by-product of this interview heavy season. Sadly, I wish there were a magical means through which to zap this angst away. However, until a genie grants you your three wishes, how about trying these five mindful tips to get your anxiety in check and prepare for all the interviews coming your way?
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Contemplating How to “Start Law School Right?”
After you’ve received your passing LSAT score and the excitement of getting into law school has gradually waned, there’s only one thing left to face: the unknown haze of what to expect during 1L year. This enigma is essentially an open secret. I mean all you need to do is a Google search to find blog posts and articles outlining experiences and helpful tips about 1L preparation. However, this information, if offered with no structure or feedback leaves much to be desired and could have the opposite effect and instead overwhelm incoming students. So what options are left for the incoming student who is uncertain of what’s to come and equally uncertain of how to prepare? Yes, you guessed it, aside from seeking guidance from a mentor, a law school prep course is just about the only option available for the incoming 1L seeking a practical means for law school preparation. Now before you throw this article through the window, just hear me out. [Read more…] about Contemplating How to “Start Law School Right?”