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They say love is a battlefield – or at least that’s what Pat Benatar tells me. But going through law school, and the apex, the “Bar” can feel, at times, like her song. Or on a more welcoming vibe, “Welcome to the Jungle.” There is constant pressure to achieve, the hypervigilance,
The pressure of law school can make many law students feel so exhausted and uncertain that, regardless of how well they do academically, they still feel like failures or impostors. One way that science has found to enhance resilience is through the “growth mindset” framework. Research has linked the growth mindset
A basic truth of expert exam performance is that, to do well, you have to know the subject matter, inside and out. Traditional studying methods don’t do help you to do that very well. One landmark study found that within 24 hours of memorizing new information, only about
Grades are in. You reviewed your exams. You talked with your professors, and they all told you the same thing: “If you had only ‘fleshed out’ your answers, you would have received a top grade.” As you now know, you failed to fully explain your analysis. Having heard this criticism, however,
Too often, we as law students are afraid to reach out for help. If you ask too many questions in class, you are considered to be a gunner by your peers. Asking a fellow law student about what to do with your legal career is not always wise because we
Remember that scene in "Jerry Maguire," at the beginning, where he’s frantically typing his “mission statement,” and words and ideas that he didn’t know he even had just came pouring out of him? Well, that was me a few years back, writing in response to an email sent out by
Getting through law school is tough. You’ve got late nights, high-stress classes, competition among your peers, the looming law school curve, and that nagging fear that maybe you won’t find a job when this is all over. And let’s face it, the stress doesn’t end after graduation. I’m still dealing with it to this day! That’s why now is pretty much the perfect time to figure out what stress relievers work best for you.
The ABA has graciously invited me to write for its law school audience. In the first post, I wrote about why the law school you choose to attend matters. In the second post, I wrote that
It was the day after Christmas, and the last thing I had expected was to look out my front window and see a tornado swirling in the sky across the highway. You’ve probably heard about the huge tornadoes that ravaged Dallas on December 26 and took 11 lives. Well, one of
By Tom Goldstein The thing I know now that I most wish I knew then is what matters — and what doesn’t. Lots of law school is important to becoming a good, ethical lawyer. But much of the law school experience is wasted energy. If you can focus on what matters and
You’ve decided that law school is your next step. But, there are approximately 200 accredited law schools in the U.S. How do you choose which schools to apply to? Many applicants want to apply to only the top schools as ranked by US News and World Report rankings or a similar
The ABA has graciously invited me to write for its law school audience. In the first post, I wrote about why the law school you choose to attend matters. Without further ado, here is the second thing many of us wish we had known before starting law school: Your
Smokey Robinson and the Miracles once told the world that you better shop around. The ABA Section of Legal Education and Admission to the Bar agrees and has provided information on law schools in 11 categories through its database of required disclosures to help students choose the school they
As their last semesters approach, several 3L students have come into my office with the same question: “During my last semesters, should I take as many courses as possible that will appear on the bar exam?” I admit that the question itself caught me off guard. When I was in law
Final exams are knocking on the door and we are all racking our brains for the formula to success. I thought I’d jot down a few tips that have worked for me. When I started law school, and I’m sure this was true for many of you, my school had
We often talk to young undergrads who want to know our secret formula for success – should they join 15 clubs in college? Major in Philosophy to demonstrate logical thinking and writing skills? Take that prestigious internship on Capitol Hill? Study abroad to learn a second language? The right response
It’s difficult to believe that I’ve been in the professional legal world now for 10 years. Law school feels like just yesterday — until I begin to think about all that I’ve seen and done since then. I’ve made some wrong turns, had some epic successes, made some incredible connections
So you are about to start law school and aren’t quite sure what you got yourself into? One year ago today, I was in your very same shoes, starting my first day of law school. I had reached out to just about anyone that had
Say you do most of your reading on an iPad, laptop, or other device, and you tend to write as if it will be read that way, too. You’re going to have to change that before your first court appearance as a new lawyer—right? Maybe not. Judges are people, too, and just
Many part-time students have opted for a reduced schedule because they have career, financial, or family obligations they cannot or do not want to put on hold while getting a law degree. Will attending law school part-time keep them from getting their dream job?
“Study groups” are a long-standing tradition in law school. The term, however, is a misnomer; law students actually complete daily class preparation alone. They later use study group time to review and consolidate course material.
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