A partner at a very large law firm gave me an assignment once. It should have taken about 5 hours of research and writing and the result ought to have been a five-page memo. After I sent the five-page memo to him, he called me into his office and said: “Look, for good legal writing you have to remember just two C’s: concision and clarity…coherence. Concision, clarity, coherence. And it should be complete, obviously. So four C’s: concision, clarity, coherence, completeness… cogent, it should be cogent, as well.” [Read more…] about Three C’s of Legal Writing…and One T
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Tackling Exam Question Types 101 – Issue Spotters, Multiple Choice, and Policy Questions
The classic law school exam is an issue spotter, which tasks students with spotting and resolving all the legal issues in a large fact pattern. However, I have noticed that some professors also like to change up the issue spotter or use additional exam formats like multiple choice or policy questions. For each type of questions, there are different skills and strategies for success. [Read more…] about Tackling Exam Question Types 101 – Issue Spotters, Multiple Choice, and Policy Questions
Podcast Episode 270: Looking for Legal Jobs Over Winter Break (w/Sadie Jones)
Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! Today, we’re chatting with our consultant on career-related issues, Sadie Jones, about advancing your legal career this winter break, which is going to require a slightly different approach than usual, due to the COVID-19 pandemic situation.
In this episode we discuss:
- The impact of delayed OCI on the winter job search
- 2Ls: What can you do to have a productive winter break?
- 1Ls: What should you be doing, especially if your first semester hasn’t gone so well?
- Ways to network from home
- When to start preparing your resume and other job application materials
- Tips for staying organized and on top of the job search
Thanks for listening!
[Read more…] about Podcast Episode 270: Looking for Legal Jobs Over Winter Break (w/Sadie Jones)
How to Prepare for Flu Season in Law School
As far back as I can remember, I’ve been more susceptible to illness than the people around me. Every few weeks in high school, I’d drag myself out of bed and groggily stumble to my mom’s room to croak out a request to stay home that day. (Thankfully, she always obliged.)
In undergrad, I blamed my constant illness on my gross roommates, whose leftovers from the school cafeteria grew into their own personal biodomes in our refrigerator.
And, as a teacher, all bets were off. Germy (loveable) kids wanting hugs and high-fives and sneezing into open air meant that I was sick all. the. time. [Read more…] about How to Prepare for Flu Season in Law School
Four Tips for Paying Attention in Law School Lectures
Whether you’re in a classroom or the comfort of your own home, lectures remain a staple of law school. So, it’s important to figure out how to make the most of them. Regardless of whether you have the most engaging professor or a professor who puts you to sleep, you need to take responsibility for staying focused.
[Read more…] about Four Tips for Paying Attention in Law School Lectures
Podcast Episode 269: Improving Communication When Wearing a Mask (w/Cathlyn Melvin)
Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! Today, we’re talking with 1L student, freelance writer, and editor Cathlyn Melvin about some techniques for projecting your voice in class — a particularly relevant issue these days when everyone has to wear a mask.
In this episode we discuss:
- Cathlyn’s story of having a theater background to getting into law school
- The hybrid model of a classroom
- Benefits and challenges of online learning versus in-person learning
- Why is it harder to be understood right now?
- Some practical tips to help alleviate the difficulties of masked communication
Thanks for listening!