Law school grades are not your story — you are your story
Whether they are excellent or less-than-ideal, your grades don’t define you. You define you. You are worthy of this profession and we need you.
Category: 1L Subjects
Fresh from her own first year, a 2L shares her tips for success
This first year is a whirlwind. Someone who’s just been there has some tips to make it a success, and even fun.
Sound Advice: Putting your first year law school exams in perspective (podcast)
In the podcast, I talk about looking at law school exams as a rite of passage and also compare them to the Ming dynasty’s civil service exam.
Brutally honest 1L advice from a brilliant, bitterly brunette attorney
You will survive your first cold call too, and, believe it or not, you’ll probably make it through the next three years. Here are some tips on coping with the stress from this massive, harrowing journey.
How to make the most of your 1L year
Here’s what you can do to prepare for your 1L year to make your transition into law school as easy as possible. The more prepared you are, the better your law school experience will be.
Law school concentrations and specializations: Your top questions answered
Should you choose a concentration or specialization in law school? What do they entail? And what’s the difference, anyway? You’ll find answers to these frequently asked questions and more below.
Does Bluebooking matter? Some insight on how to cite
Providing authoritative support for assertions is a key component of legal writing. We learn to read and apply caselaw throughout our doctrinal classes. And 1L legal writing is dedicated to learning how to Bluebook. So does Bluebooking matter outside of law school? Absolutely.
Things to consider when planning to take law courses
Whether you’re becoming a full-time law student or simply getting ready to take night classes, law courses are a serious undertaking. It’s important to think carefully about and be prepared for the classes themselves, and there’s another whole range of concerns you may need to think about for
Reflections from a former 1L: 3 tips for law school course selection and registration time
Fear not. You have no "wrong" course options. (Perhaps with the exception of taking on more than 20 credits per semester!) Life does not happen in tidy, discreet, doctrinal categories. So do not be too narrow in your course selection when it comes to law school registration time.
Open book vs. closed book: Succeeding on law school exams
One of the most frequently debated issues concerning law school exams is a professor’s decision to make the exam open book or closed book. Students seem to be partial to open book exams, perhaps because they seem less frightening and overwhelming. In this article, we take a look at the
Nervous about your 1L oral argument? Ditch the 'fake it till you make it' mantras and just do you
So, you recovered from your 1L fall semester, binge-watched Netflix over Winter Break, processed your first semester grades, and returned to school in January somewhat refreshed and ready to tackle a new semester of classes. You eased into your legal writing class, perused the syllabus, and noticed: ORAL ARGUMENT ASSIGNMENT. Wait, what?
Editing: The alchemy of writing
Have you heard the secret to being a brilliant writer? Because there is one. An ancient trick used by all the greats, from Aristotle to Stephen King. Use this device, and your writing will improve tenfold overnight. And it’s so simple: just edit well. That’s it. Learn to edit well,
Learning how to think with The Socratic Method
Many law students have a story about the first time they experienced the Socratic Method. Regardless of whether the student was the target of a professor’s line of questioning or if they were merely witness to another student’s experience, the stories tend to strike fear into the hearts of
Your 1L first semester: Schoolwork and thinking about employment
If you are reading this article you either read Part One or skipped to this part because the summer is over and you are in the grind. Regardless of how we got here, congrats on going to law school! For ease of understanding, I am going to break first semester
Paying it forward: A guide to your 1L year (from a rising 2L)
Congratulations! Law school is a big deal, there is a lot of doom and gloom in the media about attending law school based on the market and the employment outcomes. I cannot speak for all my peers, but I am incredibly happy with my decision to take on the challenge
Lessons from year one: Networking really is that important
You may be reading the title and thinking – really? Law school administrators and career services already tell us about the importance of networking, and some 1L teachers push us or even require us to interview a practitioner or to attend an event here and there. Still, law school doesn’t teach
Finding the balance in your law school curriculum
I graduated from law school this past May, took the bar in July, and was fortunate to land a job as a federal judicial law clerk that started in September. What this really means: I’m no expert on law school curriculum. I do, however, have some sage advice to give
How to get the book award: Tips and strategies for law students
During my 1L year of law school, I remember walking into the library a week before final exams. I saw a friend from my section. He looked stressed and tired. Normally, he was cool and confident and always had something to say during class. What happened? He looked at me and
Calling all 1Ls: Some helpful rules for success
We are all familiar with the benefits of hindsight. Unfortunately, as a 1L, we do not yet know what we do not yet know. At least, if we do know, it is not with as much clarity as we have with hindsight. Well, here are six success rules that will hopefully
1L Corner: The Five Horsemen of the (Exam) Apocalypse
Forget the Four Horsemen. This short “book of revelations” about exam essay questions is much more valuable in your first year.
1L Fears: Advice to LGBT law students
This article aims to help LGBT law students at the beginning of their legal careers with practical advice on how to best deal with some of these unique situations.
The art of legal writing: How to find your voice
In most law school seminars, the instruction of legal writing usually gets broken down into technical details. However, legal writing—just like every other form of writing—is more art than science. You must learn how to tell a story, appeal to an audience, and—after you’ve gotten the mechanics of analysis down—trust your instincts. Over almost a decade of
