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It’s no surprise that technology has had a huge impact on the way that we do business, and this impact extends to first impressions, both those you will have with potential employers and with future clients. Because of these changes, it makes sense to focus some of your efforts in ensuring that
Federal clerkships, for better or worse, are often seen as a gateway to many of the country’s top-tier legal jobs. Sadly, it comes as no surprise that diversity among law clerks in the federal judiciary is disproportionately low. Even though minorities increasingly make up a growing percentage of law school graduates nationwide, and
The killings of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and Tony McDade brought long overdue conversations about anti-Black racism—and police brutality against Black communities—into the mainstream. But at the University of Michigan Law School and Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, it took hundreds of emails from
College sports and queer activism rarely meet. In fact, many queer students lack a sense of belonging both on the field and in the stands. Before the November 2019 Oklahoma-Baylor football game,
We’ve all been there. The social version of a “cold call.” Your friends ask about a headline you haven’t had any time to read about. Maybe you were working, or maybe you were just enjoying time away from reading lengthy opinions. Whatever the reason
July 5, 2019, I came to the striking realization that I’m a trans woman. And since that day I’ve lived the life I’ve always wanted to live. Albeit sober and in law school—which are challenges in and of themselves. So. Yay me. Starting London Tipton.
The annual First Amendment and Media Law Diversity Moot Court, presented by the ABA Forum on Communications
These are difficult times and none of us are sure what will come next. In the face of adversity, we move forward as best we can. And one thing we can always do is work on ourselves. If you are a current law school student, or a recent
Looking back as a 3L, I’ve realized now that law school has just been one giant test of my transition to adulthood. The first test: recognizing “validation-seeking” advice. You’ve encountered validation-seeking advice. The "if you can convince others to do what you did, then your
Bright students pay on average $43,020 dollars annually to become the world-changing attorneys they see in the news—those creating stay-at-home orders to halt the spread of COVID-19 or calling for the end of the qualified immunity doctrine to reduce police brutality against communities of color. To get into law school, these students
As the reality of the COVID-19 economy sets in, many legal employers are cutting back or cancelling new-attorney hiring. With fierce competition for the remaining jobs, many new lawyers aren’t likely to find an attractive position. By necessity, many of these new graduates will consider opening their own
Toastmasters is a public speaking club. Maybe you were aware of the public speaking club at your high school. Not quite the drama kids, but also not mathletes. We liked to perform, but we didn’t go to band camp. Speech and Debate club had
Legal aid is crucial to those unable to afford legal services, and a career serving the underserved can be hugely rewarding. ABA Law Student Podcast host Meghan Steenburgh talks with Sally Fisher Curran about her passion for increasing access to justice and her career experiences working in legal aid.
I’m your classmate, and I’m Black. I was Black before I enrolled, and I will be Black after we graduate. Can you count how many Black classmates you’ve had throughout the years? Can you name them? I can count how many Black students I’ve
Social-distancing policies have forced states to rethink the July bar exam. One state has decided to shorten it to one day. Another is going open-book. A third is eliminating the multiple-choice portion and using short-answer questions instead. All three plan to administer their exams remotely (on-line).
Ready to start your dream career? Apply for an Equal Justice Works Fellowship! Designing your own Fellowship presents a
Measures taken to combat the spread of COVID-19 have forced most of us to stay indoors, leaving law students with a lot more time on their hands. The coronavirus has introduced more uncertainty into our lives, but at least bar exam takers can use that extra time to
The following contains purely informational, educational, or technical material. The views expressed herein represent the opinions of the author and have not been approved by the ABA House of Delegates or the Board of Governors and, accordingly, should not be construed as representing the position of the association
No lawyer sets out to become a disciplinary statistic. Some lawyers, however, find themselves corresponding more often with disciplinary authorities than others. Solo and small firm practitioners, especially with practices in criminal, family or personal injury law, receive the highest number of client complaint letters. During the many
Let’s face it: very few people enjoy discussing the topic of health insurance. It’s a complicated, hugely expansive subject matter that sometimes feels out of reach. But your choices today can affect your health (and wallet) later, so it’s important for everyone to gain a high level understanding
Studying for the bar exam is a marathon, not a sprint. Start your conditioning now so you can achieve your best performance. To help, the Law Student Division brings you "30 Tips in 30 Minutes: Bar Prep," a webinar featuring two young lawyers who
It's an uncertain time for recent law graduates and other prospective bar exam takers. Which states will be administering the bar exam in July as planned? Which states have postponed the bar exam until the fall? Which states are admitting law school graduates with supervision from an attorney?
In this edition of the ABA Law Student Podcast, host Jake Villarreal interviews Professor Rich Freer about his long career in legal education, his expertise in civil procedure, and his passion for helping law students realize their potential. They discuss his early and decisive path to becoming
Like many law students, I’ve been struggling with how to handle the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic on my legal career. This is the end of my second year of law school. This summer is supposed to be a resume boost and a launch to my first job
Eight in ten. Eight out of every ten criminal defendants across the country are indigent. Similarly, each year more than
Before the Bar is the blog of the ABA Law Student Division. It brings together a diversity of opinions, experiences, and voices from those associated with the law anywhere in the world and is targeted to law students, current, past and future.
Unless stated, the opinions shared by our writers do not reflect the official position of the American Bar Association.
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