Hello everyone! Today we have a fun post from a different point of view- my wonderful hubby is guest posting! I have had several people ask for more posts on what it is like to be married while in law school. I thought it would be interesting to see the other point of view- what is it really like to be married to and to live with a full-time law student? I am sure there are lots of spouses/boyfriends/girlfriends out there who wonder what it is like to live with and deal with a full-time law student. I successfully bugged my husband until he agreed to do this post. A little background: my husband and I got married the summer before I started law school. We were still very fresh newlyweds living together for the first time when I began my 1L year. It has not always been easy to balance marriage and the demands of law school and I know it has been hard of my husband. To his credit, he is has been a trooper. He puts up with my constant studying, listens to all of my whining and complaining about classes and makes sure I eat and sleep during final exams. I am beyond lucky to have such a wonderful partner beside me throughout this journey! Now without further ado, I turn the keyboard over to my wonderful hubby!
Hello blog-people. I am the husband of this situation. My wife won't stop bugging me to write this so I finally caved. Maybe it will help future law student husbands or wives or boyfriends or girlfriends. I have 5 tips for being married to and living with a law student. It is not a walk in the park but I am still happily married after 2 years so it is possible.
For all of those who finished their first week of law school- CONGRATS! Isn't that a great feeling?
I was having a conversation with some of the new 1L's at my school the other day about how law school is different from undergrad. I thought I would type up my thoughts on the subject as a blog post because this is a question I have gotten quite often from prospective law students while I give tours at my law school.
Law school is in a league all it's own. There is really no way to "prepare" yourself for it.... even if you were a pre-law student in undergrad, law school is going to be very different from anything you have ever done. I think this is good and bad; on the plus side, it is a fresh start and provides an opportunity to reinvent yourself in preparation of a legal career and everyone comes in in the same position... on the negative side, it involves a lot of trial and error to figure out how to be a good law student. I found that law school was vastly different from undergrad in both good and bad ways. Here are a few of the biggest differences.
1. You MUST Prepare for Class
Maybe others are different but I was able to get by in undergrad without ever truly preparing for class and I still got really good grades and graduated Magna Cum Laude. I would read in the 10 minutes before class or do a quick skim while the professor was saying hello to the class or sometimes I would just show up and hope for the best. Don't get me wrong, I studied for exams and spent some time on my papers to make sure I turned in something halfway decent but for class, I was able to get by without ever really preparing for classes.
If I have said it once on this blog, I have said it a million times: In Law School, you really have to prepare for class. Like extensively. Before class, I do the reading, I take reading notes and I make sure to do one last skim in the last few minutes before class. Because many law professors cold call during class, you never know when you will be expected to answer questions on the reading material. Also, law school classes are intense and without reading before class, it can be very difficult to keep up in class. I had a professor during my first week of 1L year tell us that you need to work like it's finals week from the first day of law school. To me, that means making sure I am 110% prepared for classes and any potential cold calls, keeping up on my notes and outlining, and going to the professors when I am feeling confused about something.
2. One Exam = Your Whole Grade
So this might be my least favorite think about law school... right behind core grammar from 1L year. In almost every law school class, one final exam at the end of the semester over the entire course will make up your entire grade. Prior to law school, I had never been graded in this format. In undergrad, my grades were always based on a variety of assignments, quizzes, tests, and papers. None of my undergrad professors graded on a curve. It seriously stressed me out when I realized that my entire grade in law school boiled down to one gigantic exam. It takes some getting used to and through the semester, you have to stay self-accountable to prepare for the exam because generally there won't be quizzes, tests or assignments to keep you on track as there are in undergrad classes. (I have had midterms in a handful of my classes but they are the distinct minority and a few of my classes count participation into the grade but it is only like 3-5% of the total while the rest is from the exam). I think what stressed me out the most was knowing that if I had a bad day on exam day, my entire grade would suffer.... and the two straight weeks of non-stop study are pretty unpleasant. But I have survived it and gotten used to it... I won't say it is fun but you just have to power through and make it happen.
As for grades, they are not the end all be all of your legal careers. Most law school classes are graded on a curve and only so many A's are given out. This can be very frustrating because you can complete what feels like an A exam and still get a B+ because the curve was tight in that class. But, it is not the end of the world. One bad grade doesn't kill you and it's all relative. In some classes, I feel I deserved higher grades and in other classes, I was surprised my grade was so high. But at the end of the day, if you work hard, do your absolute best and learn something from the experience, then you have done all you can.
3. Professionalism Matters
There is nothing wrong with wearing leggings and a baggy sweatshirt in undergrad. In fact, it was pretty much my entire wardrobe. Showing up late to class in undergrad may be embarrassing but most professors don't really care. You can online shop all through class and generally, it doesn't matter. I also didn't really think about the bigger picture and any career stuff other than getting into law school.
Law school is different- from day one of orientation, they will be preaching professionalism at you. Your legal career begins the day you start law school. And all that other stuff I talked about above should probably come to an end. You never know when lawyers will be in the law school so I always dress presentably for class in law school. I refuse to be late to any of my law school classes. I generally don't even use my computer in classes for law school. Also, from day one you have to be thinking about your professionalism, your future internships and jobs and character and fitness for the bar. Law school is in a whole other league of professionalism from undergrad.
4. Time Management is a Thing
I don't know about everyone else but I kept myself pretty busy in undergrad. I was a varsity athlete, I had a job, I had two majors, I lived on my own all four years, I was in a bunch of organizations and held leadership roles, and I planned my wedding. However, I was horrible at managing my time because I could get away with procrastinating on my homework and other stuff in favor of watching High School Musical with my roommates or going to a party.
Law school has forced me to actually learn some time management skills. There are just so many things going on and so many hours in a day and procrastinating is simply not an option. I have really had to get regimented about my time and my responsibilities because I am pulled in a million directions. I take a full course load, I work in admissions, I am on Moot Court, I coordinate the oral advocacy competition at my school, I am president of the Criminal Law Society, I am Clerk for our schools chapter of Phi Alpha Delta, I mentor 1L's through SBA, I participate in a legal clinic with my own clients as a certified intern, I have a part-time job as a social media manager, I blog, and I have a house, husband and 3 dogs to keep up with. Keeping all the things organized and getting everything done is no small task but it is manageable as long as you manage your time. I am actually really glad that law school has forced me to become so good at managing my time because that is just a great life skill to master.
5. It's a bit of a Flashback to High School
One of my favorite things about college was that it was nothing like high school. I absolutely hated high school. The only good thing that came out of it was that I met my now husband... other than that, my high school years were spent studying, avoiding classmates, traveling the country for horse shows and counting the days until I was out of there. I hated the cliques and drama and nosiness. College was much more my speed and I loved every minute of my 4 years of undergrad.
Law school surprised me by being a bit of a return to high school. You spend all day in classes with the same people, you have lockers, you generally hang out with your classmates in spare time.... lots of elements reminiscent of high school. I vastly prefer law school to high school but there are some overlaps I could do without. Law school can be kinda cliquey... I try to avoid it and be friendly with everyone but there are definitely cliques at my law school. Also, there can definitely be some drama.... putting a bunch of people together in a high-stress environment will always breed a bit of drama. While law school is not exactly like high school, it definitely brings back some elements from my high school years. However, I have had a much more positive experience in law school than I did in high school.... and despite this fact, law school retains quite a bit of the college atmosphere thank heavens. Regardless of your high school experience and any similarities between high school and law school, you can have a different experience. My law school experience has been really fun and I have met wonderful people and made lifelong memories. That is the polar opposite of my experience in high school. Make law school its own experience- it's not high school, it's not college so don't let those dictate how law school goes for you.
This is the second installment of the 1L law student series- today I am talking about the binder system I use for law school to stay organized- I keep all my notes, handouts, etc in a binder labeled for each individual class. But instead of typing out a blog post explaining how I use my binders for law school, I recorded my first ever VLOG! I am introducing my new youtube channel for vlogging today with a brand new video.
I had a ton of reader requests for some law school vlogs as an extension of this blog so I have spent some time over the last few weeks working out the kinks and figuring it out. It was actually pretty fun to record and just talk instead of typing everything out... though it was awkward just talking to my phone at first. Hopefully, my first vlog isn't completely horrible.
Please let me know your thoughts on this and if you want to see more of it in the future!
I am pretty sure that many law school orientations are happening all over the country this week or it is the first week of law school for many as well. For me, this is my last week of freedom before my 3L year starts. I am doing some self-care, binge-watching a lot of Netflix and helping with my school's new 1L law student orientation as a student ambassador. I cannot believe I am starting my last year of law school and this journey is coming to an end.
I have been thinking back to my 1L year a lot as my law school career is nearing its end and I have realized I was wrong about a lot of things before starting law school. Today I am highlighting 5 things people told me that I should have believed before starting law school and (stubborn me) I didn't believe until later.
It's that time of year... back to school supplies are in stores and that means school will be here before we know it. For all those out there enjoying their last summer before starting law school, I am going to hit on a lot of the questions I get about starting 1L year in the next few weeks. First up, what is the first day of law school like?
Let's be real, people... my first day of law school was a while ago... like almost two years ago. However, it was a pretty monumental event so I remember it pretty clearly. I was so stressed out going into 1L year. I tend to be an anxious person by nature and I overthink everything. So naturally, starting law school had me all in a tizzy. In reality, most of what I was stressed about was not really cause for concern... but it sure didn't feel that way at the time. For all those out there who are gearing up for law school this fall, I hope this helps to ease any anticipation jitters or nerves about your first day.
I stressed myself out about every little detail of starting law school: what should I wear, what bag should I use, handwritten or computer notes, would professors cold call, would the other students be nice, should I pack a lunch... and so on. When I say I stressed about everything, I mean everything. It is partially my nature to stress about every little thing and it was also partially because law school is such a huge undertaking and the doorway to my chosen career. I read everything I could find about what the first few days would be like to try to prepare myself. Thankfully, all my stressing was for almost no reason and my first day of law school was pretty painless (you can read all about it here: My First Day of Law School).
For all those who stress about the details just like me or those just wondering, I am going to outline what to expect from your first day. I polled some of my law school friends, as well as taking my own experiences and observations, to get this. I am sure that I will not cover everything and some people will have or have had very different experiences but I am going to try to hit on the big and general stuff to expect and be honest about it.
It is law school application season. This is extremely apparent to me as I am working in my school law admissions department this semester giving tours and helping with events. Not only are people applying to law school, there are tons of prospective students touring the school and calling with questions. I recently had a reader write in requesting a post about questions to ask while visiting a prospective law school. This is such a great idea and I think will be so beneficial to many prospective students. So from a mix of my own experience, what I have witnessed on tours and what I wish I would have known, here are 15 questions every prospective law student should ask while visiting a prospective law school.
1. What are the scholarship opportunities? It is important to know what opportunities are available to help finance your education and what GPA/LSAT will make those scholarships a possibility for you.
2. What are the requirements to maintain a scholarship? Some schools require a minimum GPA to maintain a scholarship while other schools simply require you to maintain academic good standing to retain your scholarship. This is important to know because a scholarship GPA requirement will cause added stress around finals time and also you need to understand what the chances are that you may lose your scholarship and the importance having a financial backup plan.
3. What is the average cost of living for a student in this area? Every city is different and when planning out finances, it is important to know the average cost of an apartment, transportation, and food for a student in that city. This helps to plan finances as well as maybe being a deciding factor between two similar schools.
4. What is the professor-student ratio? Will professors know who you are or will you become just another face in the crowd? No matter what your preference is (big classes or small classes) this is an important thing to know and understand so you can make an informed decision.
5. Are the professors open to consulting with students outside of class? I find meeting with teachers very helpful and important. Not every law school has professors with an "open door policy". Find out what the policy is and decide if that will work for you or not.
6. What is the average retention rate of students after the first year? The nice way of asking how many first-year students drop out and fail out.
7. What percentage of students get jobs after graduating? This is super important. Law school is a means to gain a J.D. to help you have a legal career. If the jobs aren't coming to graduates from this school, that is a huge consideration to keep in mind.
8. What is the bar passage rate? In order to get a job as a lawyer, generally, you need to pass the bar. Make sure that students from that school are adequately prepared and are largely passing the bar exam.
9. What is the school atmosphere like around finals? Finals time is stressful. Pretty much the most stressful time in law school. Getting insight into how the school atmosphere changes during that most stressful time will really put it in perspective if the general atmosphere is more competitive or more like a community.
10. Is there an experiential learning requirement within the curriculum? Experiential learning is so important. Academics and learning cases and black letter law is great but hands-on experience with real-life legal work is just as important. Not every school requires experiential learning but even if they don't find out if there are opportunities for those who want it.
11. What are the accommodations to help with academic success? Law school is HARD. Even if you never have required a tutor or any kind of academic support in the past, this may be the time you do. It is good to know if those services are available if the need should arise.
12. What do law students here do for fun? Law school simply cannot be all work and no play- find out what fun things these law students do outside of class and decide if that sounds fun to you.
13. What are the costs outside of tuition (parking, SBA fees, etc.)? It's not just tuition and books that are expensive- there may be many other hidden fees to consider in your overall decision.
14. What is the parking like during busy school days? Parking can be the worst part of college campuses. It is important to know if a lack of parking is a consistent problem at this school.
15. What exposure do law students get with local attorneys? Networking is such a huge part of the legal field. Opportunities to network with local attorneys may lead to internships and jobs.
I truly hope this helps all the future law students reading who may be conducting law school visits in the future. I highly highly highly suggest making an in-person visit to the schools you are considering- it is the best way to determine if that school has the feel you are looking for. I added a printable version of this list below. Best of luck to all in the midst of law school applications!
Happy September! Call me crazy but I am in 100% Fall mode- bring on the sweaters, changing leaves and pumpkin everything. September is much more than the beginning of Fall for us future attorneys: it is an LSAT test month. This means that for some, the most important test of their life up to this point is coming up fast. I decided to compile my list of tips for September LSAT takers (or any time of year really). I took the LSAT in September of my senior year. By the time I took the LSAT, I already had all my applications complete and simply needed to LSAT score for admittance. I knew I had to get the score I wanted on the first try in order to be eligible for full tuition scholarships at my target schools and that is exacty what I did.
If you need a refresher, the LSAT is the Law School Admission Test. 98.5% of law schools require you to take this test for admission (a few schools accept the GRE in its place). The test consists of five 35-minute sections of multiple-choice questions. These sections include one Reading Comprehension section, one Analytical Reasoning section, and two Logical Reasoning sections. The unscored section typically is used to pretest new test questions. The placement of this section will vary. Identification of the unscored section is not available until you receive your score report. A 35-minute, unscored writing sample is administered at the end of the test. Copies of your writing sample are sent to all law schools to which you apply so it is important to still put out a good sample.
It has always bothered me that she says "LSATs"... its singular!!!!
It is a brutally hard test that requires tons of studying and is a huge deciding factor in your admittance to law school. The first step in registering for the LSAT is deciding on a testing date- they offer the test 4 times a year in various locations. Additionally, you must sign up on www.lsac.com to register for the test. Your target schools all have threshold LSAT scores that will get you admitted and a threshold score for scholarships. Determine where you want to be and work toward that target score when studying. The LSAT should not be taken lightly and here are my tips for taking and succeeding on the LSAT.
1. Start Studying Early
Studying for the LSAT is a long process. I would suggest starting to study for your test 4-6 months before your test date. The LSAT is designed to test you on your logical and analytical thinking skills... these do not come naturally and can be difficult concepts to learn. 2 weeks of cramming simply will not get you a good test score unless you are a super genius. The more time you give yourself to study, the higher your chances of success will be. I started studying 5 months before my exam and I was very regimented and studied vigorously for 5 months to ensure I got the test score I wanted and needed. You have to put the time and work into the LSAT- it is designed to rigorously test your analytical and logical reasoning skills... that takes hours and hours of preparation to master. Let the people in your life know that for the next few months, the LSAT is a priority and ask them to respect that and its importance to your future. The earlier you start studying and the more serious you are about it, the better your test score will go.
2. Study Correctly
Every person is different and not all study methods work for everyone. There are various ways to study for the LSAT: self-study, paid study course, hired tutor, group class, etc. Personally, I self-studied using the LSAT Powerscore Bibles. I did not have the money to pay for a class or online course so I made do with my resources. Self-study is great if you have the willpower to put the time in. I allotted an hour a day, 6 days a week for 5 months before my September LSAT test. As the test grew closer, I upped my study time until right before the test I was studying 3-4 hours a day and taking a full, timed practice test weekly. Everyone is different so what worked for me may not work for you. Know yourself and know what you need to do to be successful. It is a very important test and figuring out that your study technique did not work on test day is a little too late.
3. Take Full, Timed Practice Tests
The most helpful thing I did while studying for the LSAT was taking lots of full, timed practice tests. Once I had studied all of the basic concepts and had a firm grasp on them, I started taking a full, timed practice test every other week. About a month out from my test date, I upped this to one full, timed practice test a week. By the time I sat for my LSAT test, I had gotten my target score on my last three practice tests and I was feeling pretty confident. When I say full, timed practice test I mean exactly that- I locked myself in a study room at my undergrad college, set a timer and proceeded to take the practice test in as similar of conditions and time constraints as I would experience on the actual exam. I got familiar with my analog watch and keeping track of my time that way as that's what you have to do on the test. It helped me to get a feel for my timing and how fast I needed to work as well as building up my mental endurance. I also was able to gauge if I had studied enough and if I was prepared enough from my scores- when my scores started to near my target score, I knew I was getting close. I also could identify weak areas on the test where I needed to study harder and get more familiar with the material. When I took my LSAT, I finished each section early with time to double check my answers. I was also surprised that at the end of the test I did not feel nearly as drained as I thought I would; I was able to finish the whole exam within the time limit and with my mental facilities still going strong. I attribute both of these things to my practice tests and the familiarity I had with the test and testing conditions. I cannot stress enough how vital full, timed practice tests are to success on the LSAT. I suggest buying one of these practice tests books and getting to work!
4. Scope Out Your Testing Location
When you chose your test date, you will be given a list of locations to chose from. They administer the tests all over the place so you should have one close to you. Map how far the location is away from you and add 30 minutes to that to allow yourself plenty of time to arrive and account for red lights, traffic or in my case, a last minute stop for chapstick because I was going crazy from chapped lips on the way to my LSAT test. Print out a Mapquest just in case your phone GPS stops working or goes dead- you cannot be too careful! I suggest making sure you know where exactly the test is being held (in a law school, undergrad college, convention center, etc) and call to find out exact directions to where the test room is. This will keep you from arriving and walking in circles trying to find the test room on a huge campus. Additionally, if your test location is more than 2 hours away, you may want to consider a hotel for the night before to ensure a good nights sleep and a timely arrival. I was lucky and only had a 20-minute drive to my LSAT test location.
5. Plan for Test Day
Your LSAT test is extremely important. Making your test day as smooth and simple as possible will help you to do your absolute best. The week before your LSAT test, I highly suggest taking at least one full, timed practice test and light studying. It is too late for last minute cramming so rely on the work you have already done and try not to stress. Try to get lots of sleep to go into test day extra rested. Let the people in your life know that this week is very important to your future and encourage them to please respect that and respect whatever it is you need to do. Pamper yourself a bit- you need your stress levels at an all time low so you can just go rock the test without psyching yourself out. I was a little extra and made a "pump up" playlist for my 20 minutes drive to my test location. I rocked out to Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, Kesha and Lady Gaga all the way there! Whatever you need to do to go into LSAT test day feeling your best self- do it! This is an important test and deserves some extra special treatment.
The Day Before Test Day
Put the books down. You have already learned everything you can and last minute cramming will only stress you out
Eat a good dinner
Pack your ziplock bag for test day (more details further in the post)
Go to bed early and make sure you have no late night distractions (tell your roommates no late night parties!)
Set multiple alarms- you do not want to oversleep and miss your test!
Read the test day guidelines available on the LSAC website at http://www.lsac.org/jd/lsat/day-of-test. Look extra close at the prohibited items (leave cell phones in your car!!)
Print your admission ticket and review all four or five pages for important instructions
Make a pile ready for morning with your admission ticket and photo ID and lay it out with keys and ziplock bag for a quick grab in the morning without forgetting anything!
The Morning of Your Test
Eat breakfast
Resist the urge to study- it's too late now
Allow yourself plenty of travel time
Arrive early – plan to arrive early to the test center to avoid additional stress caused by traffic, parking, and finding the test center. Those who arrive late are not admitted for any reason.
Be prepared that the test center may be too cold or too hot by dressing in layers, but per LSAC policy, leave the hoodie at home. Dress comfortably! I wore leggings, moccasins, a soft t-shirt and a thick cardigan for my LSAT exam.
Scope out the room and get a good seat
Have materials ready (pre-sharpen those pencils people!!!
Take a few deep breaths and relax!
What to Pack in Your 1 Gallon Ziplock Bag for Test Day
An example of what should be in your LSAT ziplock bag (missing a juice box and the other 19 pencils)
Valid ID (drivers license usually)
Wallet
Keys
Medical products (including diabetic testing supplies or anything else you may need)
Feminine hygiene products- never hurts to be prepared ladies!
No. 2 or HB wooden pencils ONLY (no mechanical!) Make sure they are SHARPENED and bring lots!! For my test, the poor girl next to me brought only mechanical pencils and started to have a breakdown before the test. Because I had brought about 20, I slid 3 sharpened wooden pencils over to her, saw huge relief on her panicked face and was so glad I could lend a hand!
Highlighter- I suggest yellow just to be safe and simple but don't go wild with it on the test.
Eraser (no eraser with sleeves)
Pencil sharpener just in case you break all 20 of your pre-sharpened pencils (OCD problems...)
Tissues... it's like they expect us to start crying? Just kidding, no one wants the sniffles during the LSAT nor does anyone want to listen to your sniffles.
Beverage in plastic container or juice box (maximum size: 20 oz/591 ml)—no aluminum cans or glass containers permitted. I took an apple juice box with me and it was perfect for the break.
Snack. It's a long test and you want to keep your energy up and not have a rumbly tummy. I brought two granola bars for my snack and it was just right.
Analog watch- I suggest taking an analog watch that you are familiar with because it will help keep your timing on track for the sections.
The LSAT is extremely important and proper preparation is key. If you have prepared well, you should do well and the score will be what you need. However, unexpected things happen- you get sick, you get nervous, the person behind you won't stop clearing their throat through the test....sometimes sh** happens and you do not perform to your standards and don't get the score you want/need. This is NOT the end of the world. You can take the test again and you can always improve your score! One test does NOT decide your future. It's important but not all-important. Step back, regroup, re-engineer your study techniques and try again.
This process for studying and taking the LSAT worked well for me- I got the score I needed to be accepted into every school I applied to and was awarded several full-tuition scholarships. Hard work pays off- I promise! Study hard, relax and rock that LSAT. You can do it!
Best of luck to all future LSAT takers! May the odds be ever in your favor!
I feel bad... I sometimes get so caught up in law school and blogging about that, I forget to blog about the process that got me here. Law school application season is upon many college seniors and I am sure you guys would like some insight!
Law school applications are not a fun process... I was so tired of staring at LSAC by the time I was done. Despite this, it is a critical part of the process and you must just buckle down and get through it. I have outlined my suggestions to make law school applications easier and more effective. I was accepted into every school I applied to with scholarship including two full tuition scholarships so they should work!
Before I get started on tips, make sure to register for a LSAC account (Law School Admissions Counsel) as they control everything and that is where you will make your applications. Additionally and hopefully, you have already taken the LSAT or have it scheduled for early Fall. Without a LSAC account and a LSAT score (or upcoming administration date), you cannot really start the law school application process. Law school applications generally open in early Fall. 1. Start Early
Just like with anything big, the earlier you start the better. I tried to get most of my application work done the summer before my senior year of college so I didn't have to worry about calling for references, writing my personal statement and my resume during my Fall semester. I had to take the October LSAT due to studying abroad in the May of my Junior year so I spent that summer studying for the LSAT and getting application stuff ready to go so when the applications opened in the fall, I could submit immediately without last minute stress.
2. Edit, Edit, Edit Your Personal Statement
Your personal statement is so much more than just an explanation on why you want to be a lawyer or whatever it is you chose to write about. It is pretty much a writing sample. Use good grammar, draft it several times and get as many eyes to look over it as possible. I sent it to so many people for grammar checks, spelling checks, and overall impressions. I had my college English professor help me with it, my legal advisor, a local attorney and my best friend (another law student). The more input I could get to make it the best piece of writing I possibly could, I did. I wanted it to be without flaw and written in the most poignant way possible. I did not let anyone sway my decision on what to write about because I felt that was the most important part- it was a way for the admissions committee to get to know me and get a feel for me. Beyond that, I accepted any and all help to make it as strong as possible. There is no shame in asking for help and guidance on a piece of writing that is basically you law school interview.
3. Stay Organized
The application process can be pretty messy and stressful- especially if you are applying to multiple schools. I found that organization was key for keeping myself from getting stressed. I applied to 8 schools so there was a lot to keep straight. I first made a folder within my computer for law school application materials. Inside that folder was another folder for each school I was applying to. Inside each schools folder, I had a list of what was required for the application (they all vary slightly), a tailored personal statement for that school, a list of which references I would use, a breakdown of what their previous year medium LSAT and GPA and any other materials I would have to turn in or that mattered for that school. This helped me to never send the wrong personal statement to a school (for example: listing Ohio State inside the statement when I was sending actually it to Indiana University) which would have made my application less impressive. Also, it helped to keep my mind straight knowing that everything was organized and in one simple place. I also kept a running to-do list on my desk of what I needed to be doing for applications so that I never forgot to finish something and I could have the satisfaction of crossing things off and watching the list shrink. Organization is key!
4. Get Help with Your Resume
Law school applications ask for a resume. My resume prior to then was something they made us do in high school and was no longer professional enough for my needs. I sought help in my undergrad career services office to improve my resume for law school. I highly highly suggest doing this. My resume went from crappy to uber professional in like two short meetings. I finally had a professional resume I could be proud of. You want to be proud of everything you turn into a law school applications and making sure to update your resume with some professional help would be a key part of that.
5. Find Quality References and Give Them Some Time
Most law school applications require written references. I used some of my favorite professors from undergrad. It is important to pick a quality reference who knows you well- not just as a name on the class roster who got a decent grade. If you come straight from undergrad, you should likely use some professors or advisors. If you are coming to law school from the workforce, references would likely better serve as your boss or co-workers. The two professors I used I had multiple classes with and I knew very well. I asked them early for a reference so that they had plenty of time to complete it without being rushed and if they got a little slow, it wouldn't push my application back or late. Give yourself and your references plenty of time to make a quality reference that will serve you well. 6. Save Money
Applying to law school is stupid expensive. It's been a while since I did it but I think that registering for LSAC is like $160, the LSAT is around $150, each application sent is $30 and some schools add an additional fee. It's ridiculous. However, it is a fact of life so have some money saved and put away for these fees so you don't go broke just from applying. Also, don't apply to schools you would truly not attend because it will be a waste of $30.
7. Pinpoint a Desired Location
It is important to know where you want to attend law school and to apply to the law schools in that location. I have a friend who applied to the University of Maine, paid the $30 fee and got in but she never had any intentions of going to school that far from home. I personally think that is a waste of $30. I knew I wanted to be in Northwest Ohio so I applied to all schools within 2-3 hours and that was it. If you don't already know where you want to be, you have more flexibility but it is still best to truly research out a location, what the city is like, living expenses, etc when thinking that may be your choice of where to attend law school.
8. Make a Target List
Once you have a location in mind, make a target list of schools to apply to. My advisor told me to pick a few safe schools where I know I would get in, a few contenders where I would likely get in but not a sure thing and at least one or two reach schools where it may be a long shot but you never know if you will get an acceptance letter. I did this and while I was accepted to every school, I chose a middle contender school where I was a strong candidate and they had given me the best scholarship package.
9. Turn Things in ASAP
The perk of getting everything done early is that you can apply the second applications open! Scholarship money is usually given on a first come first serve basis to qualified law school applicants so the earlier you apply, the more chance of scholarship. Even if you have to wait to take the Fall LSAT (like I did), you can have everything else done and turned in and the moment LSAT scores are released, your application will fully process and be complete. This is definitely an "early bird gets the worm" type of experience so don't procrastinate!
10. Hurry up and wait... without stressing
Once everything is turned in the worst part begins.... the waiting. Some schools are very timely with responses (I got my first acceptance within 4 days of applying and it was my top choice school/where I ended up attending) and others will take forever (my last response came in May after I had already graduated from college). While the waiting is very stressful, try not to worry too much. You have done the work, did your due diligence and now it is up to the admissions committees. As long as you have done your best work and turned in the most well rounded and quality application you can, you have done well and will likely be accepted somewhere.
The first few days (and weeks) of law school I was honestly a nervous wreck about 75% of the time. I felt so inadequate and like I was flying completely blind. I studied constantly, barely slept, compared myself to everyone else and was a mess. Eventually, I figured out how to case brief, read faster, answer a cold call and still get some sleep in the process. As things get easier and you figure out what you need to do and how you need to do and the stress and nerves slowly melt away. To avoid some of my mistakes and make your first few weeks easier, here are some tips on quelling your nerves in the first few days/weeks of law school.
There is always something about back to school... the apprehension of a new school year, the excitement of being back with friends, the anticipation of autumn. I always look forward to school supply shopping and most of all, I love picking out a first-day outfit. This is always a result of careful selection, reselection, long spans of trying on outfits, sending pictures to friends for opinions and often a last minute shopping trip. Landing on the perfect outfit always made me feel so confident and ready to take on another year of school.
The first day of law school is especially important. It is the true beginning of your legal career. It will be the vital first impression you make on peers and professors. It is an intimidating day- I was certainly nervous for my first day of law school classes. I know having the perfect outfit picked out made me feel more prepared and a little less stressed. I picked an outfit that made me feel pretty and confident while remaining classy, understated and modest. I wanted my first impression to be just that: classy and confident yet approachable. Here was my first-day outfit from last year:
My outfit was simple and comfortable but I chose it for several reasons. First, green is my favorite color and I think it looks the best with my hair color and complexion. Second, it was comfortable and cool for the hot August day in very full classrooms. Third, it was classy and while flattering to my body, it did not show too much off. I finished my outfit with my hair in soft curls, soft makeup, flats, bright red nails and a classic watch to complete the look. I carried a bookbag but I know many people who brought totes to carry their books. looking back, I still am happy with my first-day outfit from last fall.
It is important to pick an outfit that, above all else, makes you feel comfortable and embodies your personality. You want your first-day impression to reflect you and still make a good, professional impression. Below are four possible first-day outfits for a variety of styles and all budget friendly!
For all those who love the sweet, floral look, this dress is just perfect for the first day of law school. The soft blue dress has a pretty floral pattern that is just so cute and fun while still maintaining a modest and classy look that will make a good impression. I paired it will a simple leather tote to carry books and simple leather sandals for ease of running up and down the stairs at school. I would finish the look with soft curls, dewy makeup, and light pink nails. This overall look is sweet and pretty and will earn you many compliments on your first day.
For those who prefer a more casual and sporty look, this jeans and tee combo is perfect. This simple t-shirt has a fun little cross in the back and paired with skinny jeans creates a simple but classic look. I paired it with Tom's shoes instead of sneakers because I think that Tom's provide all the comfort and simplicity of sneakers but a touch more dressy look. I added a North Face backpack to carry the books because every sporty girl probably has a sporty backpack to match. I would pair this with a high ponytail and red lipstick for a pop of color. Overall this outfit projects a casual yet put together look that will make a great first impression.
This outfit is so European. I could just see someone strolling down a Paris street in this... or a quirky girl looking for something a little different to wear on the first day of law school. This simple striped boatneck top would be tucked into a classic knee-length skirt in a stylish mustard color. I added strappy flats, a plain black backpack and mustard colored statement necklace to finish this chic look. I would pair this with winged eyeliner and a side braid to complete the look. This outfit may have people wondering if you are actually from France but still projects a confident first impression.
I love this simple yet so classy look. This is perfect for those feminine girls who just want to keep it simple and low key. I paired a flowy and soft colored peplum top with simple dark wash jeans. Black pointed toe flats, a classic black watch and a scalloped tote finish off this simple outfit. I would complete this outfit with straight hair, natural makeup, and bright red nails for a pop of color. This outfit is so simple yet projects such an image of class and looks so put together and confident- a great first impression for your first day of law school.
A good outfit is important but it is most important that you feel comfortable and confident in whatever you wear. Best of luck on your first day of law school!
The start of school is fast approaching. For all those soon to be 1L's, this is a very exciting and nerve wracking time. As a list maker, I am always writing lists of what all I have to do before _____ (whatever is coming up). This time last year, I had lists all over my house of all the things I needed to do before starting my 1L year. To help all the new 1L's (and even 2Ls and 3Ls), I have compiled all of that into one big master list of the things you need to do before starting law school... I included some GIF's to hopefully keep you laughing and keep the stress level low. Also, I included a printable checklist to help! I hope it helps!
1. Buy Books
Don't wait until the last minute to buy books. The University bookstore is usually more expensive and if you start early you can find better deals online.
2. Organize Financial Aid
Make sure your finances, whatever they may be, are in order so that you can start school in the clear! It never hurts to double check even if you did this previously.
3. Scope Out Parking
Nothing is worse than getting to school on the first day and making yourself late by not finding a parking spot or not knowing where to park. Make a point to scope out the parking situation and ask upperclassmen how the parking is when school is in session (busy times, etc.). This way you can arrive on your first day knowing what to expect parking wise.
Don't pull a Ross
4. Buy School Supplies
Go get your folders, binders, notebooks, highlighters, etc. Make sure everything is organized and ready to go for your first day. If you wait too long, the stores will be super picked over and the good stuff will be gone. More info on school supplies here. Also, get a planner. Trust me- you absolutely need one to stay sane and organized in law school.
5. Sign up for Lexis Nexis
You can sign up for Lexis Nexis and start earning rewards points before school even starts! They offer many videos and information that may help with your first day reading as well.
6. Pick out a First Day Outfit
Maybe I am extra crazy, but I have always made a point to pick out the perfect first day of school outfit. I feel like it sets the tone for the semester. Especially for your first day of law school, this is your first impression to your classmates so you want to make it a good one. Take 10 minutes and put together a killer outfit that makes you feel confident and bad ass to rock on your first day!
7. Print Syllabi
Print your class syllabi and figure out what each teacher is looking for. Can you use a computer? Is there a midterm? What is the first reading assignment? You can take all the dates and assignments and add them to your planner. It is good to go into day one with an idea of what your professor is looking for and news flash, law school doesn't really do syllabus day so it is up to you- they won't spoon feed it to you like undergrad.
8. Complete First Day Reading
Finish your first-day reading assignments sooner rather than later. Don't wait until the night before- you will go crazy. Start early and spread it out over a bit of time so you can slowly acclimate to the massive amounts of reading. Take good notes because you never know who will be the first person cold called. You do not want to recreate that famous scene from the movie The Paper Chase.
9. Double Check Classroom Locations
Once in undergrad, I went to my first day of class only to find a locked classroom and no other students. I quickly double checked the classroom online and realized it had been changed since I had last checked a week or so before classes started. Needless to say, I ended up running across campus and being late for my first day of class. To avoid this, double check classroom locations the night before your classes. You do not want to be late to your first law school classes; it makes for a poor first impression and you will get a crappy seat.
Don't be this guy
10. Make Laptop Updates
Make sure any updates are done to your laptop before starting classes. You don't want it to suddenly decide to complete that update you have been putting off in the middle of your first class while you are typing out notes.
11. Pack a Tote/Bookbag
I always like to have my chosen bag packed and ready to go the night before an event or in this case, the first day of classes. It makes me feel prepared and less stressed. I suggest packing your tote or bookbag ahead of time to make sure you have everything you need and to make the first morning a little smoother. Also it is good to know if everything will fit or not and if you need to reevaluate what bag you carry. Here is everything I keep in my law school book bag: Whats in My Bookbag- Law School Edition.
12. Invest in a Lunchbox
Packing a daily lunch saves you soooo much money over going out to eat every day. It is also healthier than getting fast food all the time. Go ahead and invest in a lunchbox- you will not be sorry!
13. Decide on a Study Space
I knew from the beginning I would primarily study at home. Therefore, I set up a home office to be my study space. Decide you a place where you will study productively and without distractions and plan on it. If you decide on the library, plan to head there after classes to finish the next days reading. If it is at home, have your desk clean and organized so you can come home from the first classes and get to work. If it is a local coffee shop or cafe, put aside $5-10 to treat yourself while you study there. Wherever you decide to study, plan on it and try to stick to it from the start. You may find that you original plan didn't work and there is no harm in changing up your study location. Just figure out a plan and try to stick to it. It helps to form a routine.
14. Explore Your New City
Not everyone moves to a new city for law school but many do. Before classes start and you get caught up in the hustle of 1L year, try to do some exploring in your new city. Try some restaurants, find a cute coffee shop, find the closest and most well stocked target and if you have time check out some local attractions such as zoo's and museums. It is nice to take some time to become familiar with your new city and gain some affinity for it. After all, you will be spending 3 years here so get comfortable.
15. Prep a Few Meals
I am super into meal planning/prepping. It saves me so much time and stress to have everything planned out ahead of time for what we are eating for the week. I have an entire blog post all about my meal planning and prepping (view it here). Your first few days (and probably weeks) of law school will be hectic and stressful. I suggest stocking up on a groceries ahead of time and planning some easy meals, lunches and snacks so you aren't stressing about cooking or spending a bunch of money on fast food the first little bit of law school.
16. Fill Your Gas Tank
Confession time: I was almost late to my first day of law school classes because I had to stop and get gas last minute because I didn't realize it was low. Avoid my mistake and go into the first day of classes with a full tank of gas... no matter how broke tuition has made you.
17. Do a Social Media Clean Up
Law school is your first foray into the legal community and your classmates will likely become a part of your professional community. It is a good idea to make a little clean up of your social media accounts: remove pictures featuring lots of alcohol (a glass of wine is usually okay), crazy college party pictures, swear words, excessive amounts of selfies, etc. You want people to see a professional image when they search your social media pages (because you know they will be after orientation). You don't want your first impressions to be marked by some old stuff on social media accounts. Another idea is to put strong privacy settings on or change you name on social media but millennials are as bad as the FBI- if they want to find your social media, they will. It is a good practice to start cleaning up your social media now because future jobs will also look at social media accounts and you want a professional image.
18. Rest Up
Law school usually leads to less sleep than you may prefer. Sleep in while you can and take a few naps. You want to start out feeling rested and ready to rock!
19. Relax
Law school is stressful and hectic and relaxation time will be a rare treat. Take some time now to relax and do things you enjoy.
20. Treat Yo' Self
Along with resting and relaxing, it's great to pamper yourself before law school starts. Go for a mani-pedi if you can afford it or just do it at home. Get your eyebrows waxed and maybe a fresh hairdo. Take a bubble bath and do a face mask. Go for a shopping trip and grab Starbucks. Pamper yourself now because you are about to put your mind to quite a challenge. Channel your inner Tom and Donna and treat yo' self.
Enjoy these last few weeks before law school but make sure you get everything done so you are not scrambling at the last minute. Good luck!
