I am a 3L law student. Actually, I am a 3L law student who is graduating and sitting for the bar exam VERY SOON. Panicked? I wish that panic was the only emotion I was feeling right now… I am overwhelmed, anxious, worried, and of course, burned out. This is a common phenomenon for law students in their last semester: helplessness, procrastination, and the feeling of dread when you enter law school. Just going to classes feels exhausting and your motivation is at an all time low. But you have to pass your classes and finish the semester to graduate! What is a 3L to do? Here are some reflections on my own personal slump and how I am trying to remotivate myself in my last semester of law school. [Read more…] about How do I Remotivate Myself In My Last Semester – 3L Perspective
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Podcast Episode 193: Books to Read Before Law School
Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! Today, we’re talking about books related to the legal system that you might want to read during the summer before starting law school. These books are interesting, and you might even learn something in the process!
In this episode we discuss:
- Non-fiction stories about famous lawyers and judges
- Classics on the law school experience
- Recommended thrillers developed around legal issues
- Books that will help you get into a positive, productive mindset – not just for law school, but in general
- Legal-related authors whose body of work is worth exploring
- Why casebooks, hornbooks, commercial outlines, and the E&E series can be overwhelming and confusing to read in preparation for law school, so you can skip them for now
Thanks for listening!
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How to Know If You Should Really Go to Law School: Questions to Ask Yourself
If you’ve found your way to this blog post, I’m going to venture to guess that someone told you you’d make a good lawyer. Or you are one of a small sect of people who want to go to law school because they have always dreamed of being a lawyer and helping people.
Whichever path brought you to this blog, welcome.
When I decided to go to law school, it was because I fell into the first category. My parents were convinced I’d make an excellent lawyer because I liked to argue my point, and I loved to read and write. Which to me were characteristics of an excellent novelist, but they were adamant that I needed to give up on that dream and find a career. Now, while I don’t agree, I did put writing on the back burner and go to law school – which turned out to be a blessing because it taught me how to be a better writer and be more resilient. But I wish I had chosen to go to law school because I wanted to be a lawyer – not because someone else had wanted it for me.
If you are thinking about going to law school, there are a few questions you should ask yourself before taking such an expensive and time-consuming step:
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Why It’s Important to Prepare for Finals Early
There are two words you will hear over and over again when you begin law school: “outlines,” and “finals.” These words strike fear into every first semester 1Ls’ hearts. At least, they did for my class. From the moment school started, I felt like I was behind on outlining. It took me until my second time taking the bar to truly understand what outlining is, and why it is so helpful.
Before I get into why it’s important to prepare for finals early, let me give a brief overview of outlining.
In school, you are given a lot of cases to read. You’ll find that it’s easiest to remember them if you break them up into case files. Outlining is the art of organizing all that law and facts into smaller nuggets that are easy to remember and regurgitate on the exam if they relate to a particular issue. Everyone will find a different way to outline that works for them. Some of my classmates could only outline with notecards, others had to type them out. My style depended on the class, the final, and the professor, and usually changed multiple times per class before I figured out what worked best for me in that moment.
So, now that you know what outlining is, let’s jump into the two biggest reasons why you should prepare for finals early.
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Podcast Episode 192: On Exam Scenarios
Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! Today we’re talking about some challenging scenarios you might encounter on law school exams.
In this episode we discuss:
- What do to if your computer crashes during an exam
- How to handle perceived cheating
- Mitigating the damage if you realize your exam answer is totally wrong halfway through
- Why it’s important to outline on paper before typing your answer
- Tips for handling external issues or problems in the room
- What do to if you get the wrong exam (it happens!)
- Tricks to calm anxiety and stay focused during an exam
Thanks for listening!
The Benefits of Doing Both a Federal District Court and a Circuit Court Clerkship
Before going into practice, or even in the midst of practicing, many of us wonder whether we should pursue a judicial clerkship. And if we do want to, what type should we do? The options are many: state supreme courts, state appellate or district courts, federal district courts, and even federal circuit courts. Clerkships can be one of the biggest highlights of a legal career. You get to work alongside judges in their chambers and learn what goes on behind the scenes. In this post, I explore five reasons why you should consider doing both a federal district court and a federal circuit court clerkship. [Read more…] about The Benefits of Doing Both a Federal District Court and a Circuit Court Clerkship