So, you are a law student. So, you know how to write. So–what are you waiting for?
As a law student at the University of South Dakota school of Law, the only law school in my state, I began asking myself how I could set myself apart on my resume when it seemed like everyone I knew was taking the safe route to publication- journals. Journals are a great opportunity for academic writing but I wanted something with flexibility and pizzazz. Student Lawyer was my answer. What I didn’t know was how great of a choice that would be.
The Law Student Division is looking for a new group of students to join its first ever editorial board. Here’s why joining it is the right choice for you.
The life of a Law Student Division columnist
In August 2016, I woke up in San Francisco for my first day at the ABA Annual Meeting and put on my best power suit. That was the day I was going to start networking for Student Lawyer Magazine. My red skirt suit did its job because I didn’t even make it to breakfast before a Judge stopped me and wanted to know my thoughts on hiring millennials. Lunch involved scoping out my fellow law students to decide who to spotlight in Student Lawyer for their successes outside of law school. Dinner involved wine and cheesecake in a rooftop bar where I debated the definition of civility and what law schools can do for student’s mental health with attorneys and law students I had just met. My night ended by debriefing with my suite-mate over vending machine sustenance and reality television.
I wrote three articles that week and did many more interviews. I was on fire and it was because I was surrounded by people who excited me about the legal profession. For the next 10 months, I wrote articles about the things I was passionate about–self-expression, mental health, activism, and politics. I was living the life as a law student columnist. I would do it again.
What was my favorite part of my year writing for SL? I met and/or interviewed the likes of legal celebrities such as Marcia Clark, Robert Shapiro and James Comey… the jurist in my heart turned me into quite the fan-girl. The only thing that would have been more exciting for me would have been interviewing Gloria Allred for the magazine. Another Student Lawyer Columnist got to do that interview. Even the biggest lawyers in the country want to be written about in Student Lawyer–SL Columnists make that a reality.
Who should become a Law Student Division columnist?
The short answer is: You!
After writing for Student Lawyer for over twelve months I learned that publication in the legal field was only one email away at all times. It was as easy as interview, write, email, published. Nearly 15 articles across four publications in 12 months had my name on them. Thousands students and attorneys across the country read my articles. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity.
Student Lawyer Magazine is an ABA trade publication written by law students, for law students. I interviewed over 50 attorneys and policy makers across the country in one year. Many of which continued communication with me after the stories were published and a few of which have pointed me in the right direction for post-JD career opportunities.
Within the ABA Law Student Division, I found a community of support as well. Thanks to my year with Student Lawyer I built professional relationships that have led to letters of recommendation and job interview opportunities. I also gained friends and colleagues from the largest and smallest schools nationwide.
So what will YOU gain?
- Publication
- Networks
- Writing and Time-Management skills
- Connections with attorneys in all areas of law
- Flexibility to pick what you write about, when you write and why you write the articles.
- Small investment- big dividends
How do YOU become a SL Columnist?