When you took the LSAT, watched “Legally Blonde” or completed numerous law school tours, you may have started to envision what your law school experience would be like. Although your vision would likely vary based on your exposure to different school settings, it’s unlikely that you visualized your first semester being primarily behind a laptop screen, within a videoconferencing interface, while sitting on your bed, dining room table or floor of your home. However, as the COVID-19 pandemic bears down with not much sign of relief in sight, many law students will have to complete their Fall semesters virtually. While this may be a welcome benefit for 3Ls and maybe even some 2Ls, this virtual reality will likely pose valid concerns for incoming 1Ls who may not have had the opportunity to participate in the traditional in-person, law school experience. [Read more…] about 10 Things Every 1L Can do to Successfully Navigate their First Virtual Semester of Law School
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Do Disability Accommodations Apply with Online Classes?
For some students, online law school sounds like a dream. What’s not to love about rolling in to class in your pajamas or the infamous Zoom mullet? Business on top, party (pajamas) on the bottom. But for many law students, the switch to online programs has been incredibly stressful. Suddenly having to deal with technology glitches on top of staying engaged with everything going on in class introduces a new layer of tension.
This can be compounded for students with disabilities who now have to figure out new accommodations. When schools switched over to online classes in the spring after the shelter in place orders began, many students found that the accommodations that had served them well for in-person classes were meaningless. Law schools were poorly equipped to manage this transition, and students are concerned about more of the same failures this fall. This is a reasonable concern, so it is important to start advocating for your needs now. [Read more…] about Do Disability Accommodations Apply with Online Classes?
Podcast Episode 260: Career Implications of the COVID-19 Crisis (w/Sadie Jones)
Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! Today, we’re talking with guest Sadie Jones about the implications of the coronavirus on the legal job market. We’re looking at several common concerns, such as cancelled jobs, lay-offs, and diminished networking opportunities.
In this episode we discuss:
- How the legal job situation has changed since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic
- The new timing of OCI and the bar exam
- Having enough flexibility to handle a job search in a tough market
- How to explain a summer job that was cancelled
- Ways to network even if you’ll be studying virtually
- You’re not alone in this! Where to look for help if you need to
Thanks for listening!
[Read more…] about Podcast Episode 260: Career Implications of the COVID-19 Crisis (w/Sadie Jones)
6 Tips for Formatting an Exam-Usable Outline
I am a big advocate for making your own outline. Building an outline is a great way to review the course materials and synthesize what you have learned. If your exam is open book, having an outline on hand can help you quickly recall information and ensure you grab all the points. Finally, an outline created from scratch has a special, personal significance. You know it inside and out: you know what the abbreviations and symbols mean, where everything is located, and how to read the charts you created.
Here are my tips for making an outline that you can use effectively and efficiently during the exam. I will be focusing on formatting tips, but you can check out this podcast episode and this blog post for tips on what to include in the outline.
[Read more…] about 6 Tips for Formatting an Exam-Usable Outline
Podcast Episode 259: Listen and Learn — Relevance in Evidence
Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! Today, we have another episode in our “Listen and Learn” series. This time we’re focusing on relevance — a very commonly tested Evidence topic.
In this episode we discuss:
- The Federal Rules of Evidence
- Relevance and admissibility
- The two basic kinds of relevance
- Determining the evidence in question, the fact of consequence, probative value and prejudicial effect
- Analyzing two essay questions, from the July 2005 and July 2009 California bar exams
- Why you have to be as specific as possible when it comes to answering questions on relevance
- Remembering to use the word “because” when you write, which will force you to explain your reasoning
Thanks for listening!
[Read more…] about Podcast Episode 259: Listen and Learn — Relevance in Evidence
Tips to Help You Make a Successful Adjustment to the Virtual Interview Process
Ok I’m sure we can all agree that interviews are not fun. Working up the courage to convince a panel of people that you’re the right candidate for a job, can be downright nerve racking causing even the most prepared person to lose their grounding and fall off course. Now, as if a regular interview wasn’t difficult enough, the COVID-19 pandemic has thrown a wrench into the mix, transitioning most, if not all, employers to a virtual interview process to screen job candidates while maintaining safe and healthy social distancing. So not only do we have to be concerned about being prepared to answer interview questions, we also have to hope and pray that our WIFI connection can hold up throughout the call, our quarantined family (four legged friends included) don’t interrupt in some way and that we don’t look crazy delivering our elevator pitch to a camera, as opposed to actual people. Being on video is already an awkward hurdle to work through, but it should not be the reason why you don’t make a good first impression. Considering these changes, I’ve provided a few tips below to help you make a seamless adjustment to the new world of virtual interviewing that is likely here to stay for some time. [Read more…] about Tips to Help You Make a Successful Adjustment to the Virtual Interview Process