Friday Five

Happy Friday all!! I am starting up something new- I am calling it the "Friday five". Basically it is just me sharing five things that have piqued my interest throughout the week. Please let me know thoughts on this new blog idea!

Everything You Need to Know about Taking Notes in Law School

Notes.... seems like half my life during law school is spent taking notes. Reading notes, class notes, notes on how to outline, notes of how to study, notes on internship searching.... it never ends. One of the pros to this-I have gotten extremely good at my notetaking system.

5 Random Skills I am Glad to Have in my Twenties

Welcome to your twenties- full of adulting, bills and finding out growing up isn't quite as fun as we all thought it was. As I have moved further into my twenties, I have found myself very thankful for a few random skills I have acquired through my life. Here are the 5 biggest:

Other Law School Bloggers

If I am the only law school blogger you have encountered, I am honored but I have some great news. There is a whole group of law school bloggers and let me tell you, they are pretty dang cool. Everyone has a slightly different perspective and we are scattered all over the country. Altogether, between all these blogs, anyone getting ready for law school can find a great basis for finding out what law school is really like-beyond what the admissions counselors tell you. I have linked the active blogs of all the current law student bloggers that I read and follow along with with a little blurb- seriously check these awesome legal ladies out.

Maintaining Friendships in Law School

Full disclosure- law school pretty much screws with every single part of your life. Where you live, how you spend your time, sleep schedule, eating habits, hobbies..... relationships and friendships. I think this is one of the hardest things about law school; figuring out how to write a trial brief and reading 100 pages a night is something you get used to. Having limited time with friends, family, significant others and trying to get them to understand what you are going through and why your stress is through the roof.... that takes a lot of adaptation. Also, law school throws you into a population of driven, competitive people and makes you spend several hours, 5 days a week with them. You either make friends or make enemies real fast; either way, relationships with peers is just another thing to navigate during your three years at law school.

A Day in the Life of a Law Student: 2nd Semester Edition

Second semester has been quite fast paced. In order to keep up, I have adjusted my daily schedule to accommodate. Here is a revised view of my day, featuring some snapchats from my life.

Why You NEED to go over Exams with Professors

In case anyone is curious, the second semester of law school is NOT easier than the first semester. Sure, I know how to read, brief, study and handle a cold call now but I do not know how to write a trial brief, act in a mock pre-trial conference or handle the internship search. So that's how I am feeling a few weeks into the second semester. On the plus side- I have landed an internship with my local prosecutor's office for the summer and will be receiving both class credit and work-study. I am super excited for this opportunity.

How to Stay Healthy in Law School

Law School throws everything for a loop... and I mean everything. Biggest thing that has been lacking since I started Law School: my health. With my erratic schedule (stay up until midnight, up at 5:30 during the week, sleep until 10 on weekends), making a point to eat healthy, drink enough water and maybe sneak a workout in is a struggle. I have made a resolution to really get things under control this new year and now as I am in my 5th month since starting Law School, I have finally figured out a plan that is a bit more healthy. Here are my tips for staying healthy in Law School.

Whats in My Bookbag- Law School Edition

Day two of my second semester of Law School is over and so far, so good! I like my new professors and I have one of my favorite professors from first semester for another class this semester. I am happy to be back to school and working toward my dreams but the reading has been a little slow these first few days....

I have had several people ask for a "what's in my bookbag post" so here is it: Law School Edition!

1. Books
I, of course, carry the necessary casebooks for each day. They weigh a ton but are completely necessary. I rent or buy my textbooks from amazon- much cheaper and with an Amazon Student Prime account, usually I get free 2-day shipping! Love it!
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2. Binders
My new habit is having a binder for each class and I have tabs inside for class handouts, notes, case briefs, etc. I take my class and reading notes on reinforced loose leaf paper and fit them into the overall flow of my notes after class.

3. Planner and Pens
I LOVE my Plum Paper Planner- it is a lifesaver during school and it is never not in my bookbag. I am also a huge pen snob so I carry enough to help a small army write letters. I have Pilot G-2 pens in a million colors, Sharpie Pens, Gel Highlighters (the BEST thing for thin casebook page highlighting) and some pencils. Because I take color coded notes in pen, I keep a little white-out dispenser in my pencil bag for mistakes. I also carry a small flashdrive in my pencil case for printing things at school and backing up assignments.

4. Miscellaneous
I keep a variety of random crap in my bookbag for those random emergencies. I have a Pinch Minimergency kit which is small but has a ton of options. I also keep Ibuprofen in my bag because Law School inevitably gives me headaches (and my classmates are always coming to me for it). I always have an Eos Chapstick and Handcream in my bookbag because the building is notoriously dry and I am constantly reaching for chapstick or putting lotion on my hands. I keep a charger (not pictured) and a power pack in my bookbag for those long days on campus. I have various sticky notes because sticky notes are just 110% necessary to life. I also love this little to-do list pad for when I sit myself down in the library to outline what all I need to get done. I tend to be messy so I keep some wet ones in my bookbag just in case of a coffee spill.

5. Computer 

I carry my computer and charger in my bookbag. I have a small, lightweight computer that is great for carrying around. I do not take notes on my computer (I retain more by handwriting my notes) but I use my computer in between classes, if I forget my book (casebook connect for the win) or whatever other reason. 

6. My Bookbag
I got my bookbag at TJ Maxx a few years back and I LOVE it (similar). It is sturdy, has tons of space, comfy to carry and a nice laptop area. I suggest a heavy duty bookbag for Law School- casebooks are heavy. Something that is comfortable to carry is also great because you will be lugging it around a lot.

What's in your Law School bookbag?

Spring Semester Goals

My second semester of Law School is just 3 short days away! Break has flown by. As I prepare to start another semester, I am making some goals for myself to try to further improve my learning and study habits. Hopefully I will stay on track.... Here are my 10 goals for my second semester of Law School.

How I Spent My Break from Law School

The last few weeks have been glorious... After finals, I was so ready to detox and relax for a while... and it has been wonderful. I do not know how the time went so fast. I am back to school in 6 short days! Part of me wants break to last forever and the other part of me is ready to get back into the swing of things. I have filled my break with lots of wonderful things but here is the top 10.

Bring On 2017

Well, 2016 is over. Hallelujah. I had many high moments in 2016: I graduated college, bought a house, got a puppy, married my high school sweetheart, started law school and made some amazing new friends. However, 2016 was also pretty rough at times... I lost some friends, I dealt with some personal challenges, I lost a dog, was academically challenged more than I ever have been in my life and moved to a new city. After first-semester law school finals and a leaking toilet that flooded my house, I am ready for a new year.

First Semester of Law School Recap

Well... I did it. I finished my first semester of Law School. I am not going to lie- it was the hardest semester of my life and it tried me in ways that I have never been tried before. I studied harder than I ever have in my life, I read more than I ever have and stuffed more knowledge into my brain than I thought was possible.

A Law School Update

Sorry it has been so long! Life has been so busy I could barely find time to cook dinner let alone blog. But, without further adieu, here is an update on Law School.

I just turned in my final legal memo for my research and writing class. It was a huge challenge and seemed to overtake my life for a week or so and I am so relieved to have it turned in. However, now the anxiousness of waiting for the grades may just give me an ulcer.

Classes are simultaneously getting harder and winding down at the same time. We are to the point where everything has interwoven and has come full circle.... it is a lot of information to keep straight.However, at the same time, we are getting shorter reading assignments, let out of class early and things are noticeably slowing down. I start to get excited and think I have spare time and then I remember that exams are sneaking up really fast and get right back to work.

On the subject of exams, I am scared to death. I have been outlining and making notecards but I feel like I have so far to go in so little time. Thankfully the memo is out of the way and that frees up a lot of time for studying and outlining.

Another thing that had started to take up my time is professional development. They are officially talking us through the internship search process and we have to turn in resumes, cover letters and etiquette events. Also, we have at least one networking event every week that require dressing up business professional and take a good hour or so.

So long story short, Law School has officially gotten crazy, hard and stressful. It is testing me in a way I have never been tested and challenged before in my life. But it is a means to an end... it will be worth it when I am done and I can add Juris Doctor to my name.

Back to reading! Hope everyone's semesters are going well. 

My First Law School Midterm

Happy Halloween!!!! Law School is getting real folks. Want to know what sacred me today? I had my first midterm this afternoon. I realize this is a lot later than most schools but my teacher pushed it back a whole week to ensure we covered the last chunk of material. My exam was over Estates and Future Interests of Property Law. According to my professor, this is the hardest material we will cover all of 1L year... I am pretty sure I believe him. That stuff was hard. 

Cozy Fall Outfit

I am all about this cool weather. Sweaters, blanket scarfs and boots every day! Today I was pretty pumped bout my outfit. It was a brisk 35 degrees this morning and I was thinking cozy, cozy, cozy as my inspiration.

Don't mind my crazy long hair that needs a trim!

Group or Solo: Pros and Cons of Studying for Law Students

Law School studying is a new beast in comparison to my previous schooling. I have had to adjust my study habits and increase my study time. I heard that Law School was a place of dueling study groups and people stealing books, etc before coming (think Legally Blond); thank goodness I have not encountered any of that. Studying may be hard but my classmates are all in it to help each other succeed and it is wonderful. I have experimented with solo and group studying and would like to share some of what I have learned and my thoughts on the pros and cons of each.

Rock the Monday: 5 Tricks to Start the Week Right

Let's be honest, Mondays tend to suck. In general, it is the worst day of the week. However, a good Monday will set the tone of your whole week whether you like it or not. Over the years, I have learned it's like domino's,; if Monday goes well, the rest of the week chips will stay standing or if Monday goes bad, it will knock down the next chips and the whole week will go badly . So how do you make it better? How do you make Monday rock so much your whole week goes better? Well here are my 5 tips!

Overcoming Insecurities in Law School

I wish I could call Elle Woods right now and ask her how she managed to stay so fabulous in the midst of the crazy that is Law School.... and then I remember she is a fictional character and real people aren't like that and it makes me sad. Law School is rough. I have never been so academically challenged in my life nor surrounded by so many people who are so much smarter than me. It is quite the adjustment. It is easy to get wrapped up in your own confusion and feel stupid when the person a few rows in front of you seems to have no issues and handles their cold call like a 3L. It is really easy to let insecurities get the best of you in the first semester of Law School.

Mobile App's for Law Students

Law School is very much in a modern, technological age. I have yet to need to enter the library and actually use the books, most of my assignments are due online and I take computer notes in all but 2 classes. As a result of this digital age, I have found several applications that are absolutely necessary to help me in Law School.