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Written by a practicing lawyer, a film analyzes the start of Thurgood Marshall’s career. Here, the movie’s star, Chadwick Boseman, talks about his experience playing the larger-than-life character. Student Lawyer's September October 2017 also visits with Michael Koskoff, the writer of the movie.
When was the last time you watched a movie that was both entertaining and edifying to your legal education experience? If your answer is never, have no fear.The movie “Marshall,” set to be released in October, is a biographical film based on the life of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood
Did you know that the American Bar Association sponsors four skills competitions for students nationwide? For the record, they’re the:Arbitration Competition Client Counseling Competition National Appellate Advocacy Competition Negotiation CompetitionAlso for the record, they’re pretty easy to enter. You’ll need to fill out some forms,
I entered the ABA Law Student Division Negotiation Competition to earn law school credits. I ended up having one of the most fulfilling and educational experiences of my life.At the beginning of the journey, there were one-on-one negotiations in front of the coaches. I was incredibly fortunate to be
The ABA Law Student Division Arbitration Competition was certainly my favorite moot court competition in law school. I competed three consecutive years, during one of which my team won the national title.The first year, I served as a 1L witness, and I genuinely had no idea what to expect. Aside
If you haven’t yet experienced that moment of clarity when you realize you might actually be a great lawyer someday and change people’s lives, then you probably haven’t participated in a law student competition.ABA competitions provide the opportunity to showcase your talent and build your legal resume while having fun—yes,
I learned about the ABA Law Student Division Negotiation Competition through my negotiation and mediation courses, which I was taking because I wanted to practice corporate law and thought they’d make me a more effective advocate in a transactional setting. I was loving the classes and professors, so when I
I was admitted to the bar in 1966. Since then, I’ve been a trial lawyer—at first criminal defense and later plaintiffs’ malpractice, product liability, and civil rights. Yet, unlikely as it may seem, after 51 years of practice, a movie is about to be released that I co-wrote with my
In today’s modern world, you may be among the law students who believe the law library is a relic of the past, a giant space filled with books you’ll never use. And honestly, that last bit about never using the books may well be true for some of you.But a
I used to believe that holding on and hanging in relationships that no longer bring any value to my life (or that are even detrimental to it) was a sign of great strength. I don’t believe that anymore.Instead, I now know that it takes a lot of strength to know
Imagine that, in addition to the challenges you face in juggling all your law school activities, you find yourself making calls to Kenya at 3 a.m. or having a Skype meeting with Kenyan lawyers between classes.To Stephen Fleischer, a third-year student at Loyola University Chicago School of Law, this is
Are the cutoffs for passing the bar too high in some states?The California Supreme Court will soon answer that question. It’s expecting a report this fall on the validity of the California bar as well as deliberating whether to lower the California cut score, which is the second-highest in the
Don’t miss your chance to go behind the scenes of the defense of Steven Avery, whose conviction for the murder of Teresa Halbach became the subject of national debate after the release of the Netflix documentary “Making a Murderer.”In an April 2017 ABA Law Student Podcast, “Defending Steven Avery, with
News from law schools across the country including help for 2016 Louisiana flood victims, new degree programs in Hawaii, and welcoming the Thurgood Marshall Civil Rights Center.California A guide to help California’s public charter schools address absences and decreasing parental participation among immigrant families as a result of recent federal policy
I was a 1L when I first heard about the ABA Law Student Division National Appellate Advocacy Competition. It was right before finals in 2016, and I remember receiving an email from our school telling us that St. Mary’s had won the championship.I remember thinking how incredible a feat
Confession: I never planned to compete in the ABA Law Student Division Negotiation Competition.I signed up for a negotiations class only because it fit my schedule and had a good reputation. The fact that it would force me to confront my fear of conflict and tension was both a pro
We're excited to announce the formation of the inaugural Editorial Board of the ABA Law Student Division!Apply for a position on the Board by August 31. "Why apply for this law student editorial board," you ask? Sitting on an editorial board and earning publishing credits in law school is a
Who's at your Head of the Class? Do you have students doing interesting, unique, or noteworthy things while in law school? We at Student Lawyer Magazine want to hear about them.Each issue, in our Head of the Class column, we feature a law student making a name for
Imagine getting into, paying for, and succeeding in law school—and then not being permitted to practice. That’s the risk for students who aren’t U.S. citizens. Student Lawyer's March April May 2017 issue starts with their stories.Uncertain future awaits undocumented
Imagine getting into, paying for, and succeeding in law school—and then not being permitted to practice. That’s the risk for students who aren’t U.S. citizens.Invariably, law students work incredibly hard to get into law school and then to become attorneys. Many have faced serious hurdles along the way. Just think
In fall 2011, during my first semester of college, I proudly took the Greyhound bus home for Thanksgiving break. I was not only the first one in my family to go to college, but I was also one of Pacific Lutheran University’s five full-tuition merit scholars. As I nostalgically entered
Everyone goes through periods of self-doubt, even the most successful people, according to the former chair of the American Bar Association’s Commission on Women in the Profession, Roberta Liebenberg. “Everyone has these moments where they feel like they’re an impostor, that someone’s going to find out that they’re actually not
You might think it’s your writing or speaking skills that will shape your law school career. They will. But your energy is even more important to your law school destiny.Many things will play into your law school success. But above all traditional skills, your energy will define your law school
The summer of 2016 is one I’ll never forget. As a law student, I was privileged to be afforded the opportunity to work at my dream job, while also getting to travel Europe – and I have some advice on how you can land a similar opportunity. Over the summer, I
Getting an internship is generally the first option when it comes to how to spend the summer after your first year. But what if you haven’t been successful in securing one?Here’s my recommendation: Go abroad! There are many summer abroad programs offered by various law schools. I happen to direct
