Spring Break is on its way and we are all ready for a breather from classes and our ordinary commitments. But it’s short and precious, and can slip away so fast! So let’s talk about how to use it effectively so we’re not lamenting lost time when classes begin again.
When it comes right down to it, you can use your break for three things: (1) a true vacation from work; (2) catching up; or (3) getting ahead. But how to decide? Here are some things to consider when making your decision to help you get the most out of Spring Break. [Read more…] about How to Use Your Spring Break Effectively
I’m the first to admit I didn’t take enough advantage of professors’ office hours in law school. I didn’t like to study at the law school, instead preferring to commute back and forth (fortunately, an easy 10 minute bike ride) between home and school for class. Working in a visit to office hours felt like an insurmountable hurdle, but I was only hurting myself with this philosophy. Fortunately, I was able to build strong relationships with professors through other means: clinic, research assistantship, and directed readings, but I still regret not taking more advantage of office hours. 
To join or not to join – that is the question. Study groups seem as ubiquitous for the law school experience as the Socratic method, outlining, and briefing. But are they helpful?
Law school presents a host of time management struggles. Between attending class, preparing for class, outlining for exams, reviewing supplements, practicing exam questions, writing papers, participating in pro bono and extracurriculars like mock trial, compiling applications for summer jobs, it’s a wonder anyone finds time to eat, sleep, exercise or socialize! In this environment it is especially important to study smart and efficiently. 
Most of us know that terrible feeling of opening up an exam question, reading it, feeling our mind spinning out of control, and just… freezing. It’s what I like to call “exam-freeze.” Sometimes we recover quickly, only losing a few minutes, other times we are off to a rocky start and never feel like we hit our groove during the exam. Either way, it’s a terrible feeling, but also a terribly common one. Fortunately there are strategies you can try to help you fight exam-freeze. 
Many law schools offer legal clinics, where law students get course credit for engaging in substantive legal work under the direction of a licensed attorney. These usually offer free legal services to underserved populations and may be focused on local communities (such as local legal aid) or far-flung populations (such as international human rights clinics). Those law schools that offer clinics structure their programs differently, but clinics are usually only available to 2Ls and