Love it or hate it, The Bluebook is an unavoidable fixture of the law school experience. For some, The Bluebook becomes a fond, ever-present companion; for some, it remains a constant nemesis. As you become more familiar with The Bluebook, finding the answers you need becomes easier and easier. But no matter how fluent you become in The Bluebook, it seems to always be full of surprises. Here is a list of some of my favorite citations you never knew you could find in the deep recesses of your Bluebook: [Read more…] about Bluebook Oddities: 10 Unlikely Citations
5 Ways to Fight Through Law School Burnout
Law school is a mentally exhausting three (or four) year endeavor. Even the most dedicated aspiring lawyer can suffer from law school burnout. Many hit such a wall after a law school related setback like a bad grade, when a personal life event affects your law school focus, or at the beginning of any given semester. Whether it is fueled by fatigue, frustration, or just plain apathy, don’t let a momentary state of mind break your will to fight through the hard patch and re-engage. Here are five low-impact ways to motivate you to get back in the law school game so you can stay on track and accomplish your law school goals. [Read more…] about 5 Ways to Fight Through Law School Burnout
5 Reasons to Take an Unpaid Internship
If the opportunity is right, unpaid legal internships can be worth the time and effort. There is no denying that law school is expensive and working for no pay seems like some sort of injustice, but don’t rule out taking an unpaid internship position during law school. Remember that you are going to law school looking for a career, not a short-term paycheck. The right unpaid internship can pay plenty of long-term dividends, maybe even outpacing that well-paying summer associate position. Here are a few good reasons to take an unpaid internship. [Read more…] about 5 Reasons to Take an Unpaid Internship
Building a Resume in Law School
Most law students start law school with little to no law-related work experience. It is not a problem to start with nothing on your legal resume, but after graduation you will need to have a legal resume you can sell to a hiring employer. The concept of building a resume during law school is rarely lost on the common overachieving, planning, list-making law student. Law students fret to secure a constant stream of internships, clerkships, clinic experience, volunteer experience, and summer associate positions. In their spare time, they clamor for positions on law review or other journals if they are not too busy with moot court competitions. In the midst of all the stress and chaos of law school, keep these big-picture resume building points in mind. [Read more…] about Building a Resume in Law School
Applying in an Age of Law School Extinction
After you make the big decision to apply to law school, the exciting search begins for the right school. In the past, you would look to rankings, research costs of attendance, and study employment outcomes. (For great posts on these topics, read Amanda Gernentz Hanson’s Resources for Deciding Where to Apply for Law School and Ariel Salzer’s How to Decide Which Law School is Right for You.) But these days, there is a new consideration for the law school applicant – the survival of your target law school. [Read more…] about Applying in an Age of Law School Extinction
Alphabet Soup of Federal Legal Authority
In Washington, D.C., acronyms and initialisms are not in short supply. You have the FAA, FBI, FCC, FEC, FMC, DHS, DOE, DOD, and HHS—and you are barely getting started. But in the world of legal authority, there is a whole other set of abbreviations. It can be disorienting to come across an authority you don’t recognize as you are reading a case or doing research. Hopefully, this quick guide to federal legal authority will help you to avoid some confusion. [Read more…] about Alphabet Soup of Federal Legal Authority