Law School Study Habits

Now that I am a few weeks into Law School, my study habits have settled into a routine. It is working well for me. It has taken me a long time to develop good study habits; in High School, I could get by with A's without studying or working very hard. In Undergrad, I stepped up my study habits but still got by easily with minimal effort and a high GPA. Law School is a new ballgame; I really had to buckle down and hone my skills to be successful and keep up. I am sharing my habits in a hope that they may help someone else develop their study habits to be their most successful self.

Week 2 Recap: Law School is Getting Easier

I am happy to report that week 2 of Law School has ended and it is getting easier every day. Despite some crazy stuff that happened this week, classes are making more sense and my reading is getting faster which combines to a much lower stress level overall.

The Monday of Mondays

I might be here until midnight... thank goodness for hot tea in the most relatable mug I own.

#LawSchoolProbs

Well, Law School Monday 2/15 is complete... sort of. I still have probably 3 hours of work on my Legal Research and Writing assignment that is due tomorrow.... that was never explained to us and we have only had one class meeting. So that's really fun to try to figure out while flying completely blind.

A Recap of My First Week of Law School

Well.... I survived. The first week is finally over and I am completely exhausted. I think it is the mix of stress, nerves, hours of reading and just getting back into the swing of a school schedule. Overall, my first week was pretty darn good despite the Tornado warning and touchdowns in my area Wednesday night that sent my husband, pups and I to the basement for a little over an hour. That is certainly one of the more memorable parts of my first week. I only fumbled in class once, I mostly understood what was going on and I was able to complete all my readings and still find some time to take my dogs to the park, cook dinner and watch plenty of How I Met Your Mother. Thankfully I have no Friday classes so I can use that as a catch up day from this crazy week.

Law School Day 2 Recap

Day 2 is complete! In reality, this was the first meeting of my Tuesday/Thursday classes so it was basically another first day. However, I was feeling significantly more confident today. I again dressed classy casual in skinny jeans, an Express top and oxford shoes. I brought a sweater with me because there is one classroom that is freezing!

My First Day of Law School

Well, I survived my first day! It was in part not as bad as I expected and other parts worse than I imagined. Overall, not a bad first day; here is the scoop!

Law School Orientation Day 2

And that is a wrap on day 2 of law school orientation! Overall, it was another great day (day one recap here). I made friends, learned some tips and tricks and ate some great food. 

Law School Orientation Day 1 Recap

Well... I am officially a Law Student. Today was day one of Orientation and overall, it went pretty great.

5 Things to Do the Day Before Law School Orientation

Tomorrow I start Law School orientation. Tomorrow I take the first step in my legal career. Tomorrow, my life will change significantly.... but tomorrow is still 24 hours away so I am focusing on today.

Today I am binge watching How I Met Your Mother on Netflix, listening to the Woodstock playlist loud as could be while I clean my house, taking my dogs for a walk despite the overcast, windy weather, cooking a yummy dinner for my Hubby and soaking up the last few hours of not being a Law Student.

Last day that does not involve me going to law school. Enjoying my freedom by binge watching HIMYM and drinking several cups of coffee ☕️

— Brandy (@Legal_Duchess) August 16, 2016

I am also finishing some Property reading, ironing my orientation outfits, packing my tote and preparing for the exciting day tomorrow. I feel less nervous when I am totally prepared so that is why I am getting everything done today. Here is my list for feeling prepared to start Orientation.

1. Spa Day
To feel extra fierce for my first day as a Law Student, I am giving myself a manicure and pedicure to ensure that I have good first impression nails. I am also doing a face mask, a deep conditioner on my hair and whitening my teeth. I have always felt that looking your best can definitely help you feel your best. At orientation, you meet your peers and professors for the first time; you only have one chance to make a good first impression so any little things you can do to make yourself look and feel your best is worth it.

2. Pack a Tote
I am using my tote (similar) instead of my bookbag for orientation because I do not have much to carry and it goes much better with the required attire of business casual than a big heavy bookbag. I have packed my tote with the handouts, a notebook, pens and pencils, my computer, computer cord, wireless mouse, wallet, some beauty/toiletry necessities and a few granola bars just in case I get the munchies. Hopefully, I will have everything I need and then some.

3. Review the Reading
My school had a few cases to brief and a professional development handout as the required reading for the orientation workshops. I completed the work weeks ago so I just want to review the information in order to have it fresh in my memory and to be prepared to discuss it at orientation.

4. Lay Out Outfit
Having a fierce outfit, including jewelry, laid out, ironed and ready to simply put on in the morning makes me feel so much more prepared. I know I simply have to wake up, put it on and can leave the house feeling ready to rock.

5. Relax and Destress
For me, this is Yoga followed by hot tea but it could also be a workout, a coffee date or a bottle of wine. Whatever floats your boat and helps you to settle your nerves before the big day tomorrow.

Despite all the stress and nerves, I am mostly excited about starting my Law School journey tomorrow. I cannot wait to meet my new peers, explore my new school and get started on this journey to my legal career. It is sure to be a very exciting day! Check back tomorrow night for my Orientation recap!

Why I Chose Law

Law School starts really soon. I may be slightly freaking out. It's time to get real; I might seem super prepared from what I have depicted on my blog but in truth, I am struggling to get my first-day assignments completed, stressing about what to wear at Orientation and silently questioning what I was thinking by wanting to become a lawyer. A million questions are running through my mind: will I be good at Law School? Will I make the grades? Will I hate it? Can I ever be a good Lawyer? In the midst of my slight anxious breakdown, total frustration with my Contracts book and second-guessing, my husband reminded me of something I had lost sight of: my dreams.

15 Random Must-Haves for College Girls under $15

It's back to college time! Summer is very quickly coming to an end and it is bittersweet. I may be going to Law School but I feel that the must-haves are very similar to those needed for undergrad. Below I have compiled a list (with links) to 15 items I found impossible to live without in undergrad and I am sure will also be fantastic in Law School. Best part? Each item is less than $15!

1. Water Bottle
College classes are long and dry, study sessions can go on forever and if you make it to the gym a good water bottle is a necessity. Staying hydrated is so important for your health and wellness. I personally have a few of the Camelbak Eddy bottles and I love them! You can add a monogram decal for a fun girly touch :)

2. Travel Coffee Mug
I could never have survived college without coffee. That being said, for morning classes, I usually did not get out of bed early enough to drink a cup or two before those 8am's. A travel coffee mug solves that problem easily. I love this autoseal mug because it will not spill and it keeps drinks hot for a long time. I not only took my morning coffee but also hot chocolate and hot tea for late night study dates or cool walks to class. Law School will be no different and I will probably have a travel coffee mug practically glued to my hand.

3. Wireless Mouse
I HATE the mousepad on laptops. It just drives me nuts. Therefore, my wireless mouse is seriously my BFF and I couldn't live without it.

4. Crossbody Purse
I usually carry a giant "mom" purse or I just throw my wallet in my bookbag. However, there are times that a small-ish crossbody bag is a lifesaver. Whether it is for going out with friends, a date, a trip or sightseeing event of any kind and just so many instances where it just comes in super handy.

5. Weekly Planner Pad
I literally live by these things. I make one out every Monday morning and it just keeps all the assignments, work, meetings, dates and everything else so nicely and concisely organized.

6. Portable Power Pack
Long days on campus = no more battery. Keeping a portable battery pack charged and ready will save your phone and occasionality your sanity.

7. Cork Board
I keep a small cork board above my desk for random papers and important things like business cards, etc. It is nice to have a small spot to collect all those random little papers that can easily get lost.

8. Nail Polish Drying Spray
Sooo I hate nasty looking nails and I also have no patience for waiting for my nails to dry. The answer to this predicament: nail polish drying spray! Paint your nails, spray, blow on them for a minute or two and off you go to class, the bar or a meeting with lovely nails and you didn't have to wait!

9. Lunch Box
I was a commuter all through college and I hated having to pay for lunch on campus; there's only so many ranch chicken wraps you can eat before you start to hate them. For any long days on campus, I packed a lunch that either didn't require refrigeration or I would stick it in the fridge in my academic advisor's office area (he was cool like that). I saved a ton of money and ate a lot healthier just by simply packing a lunch.

10. Wristlet Wallet
Earlier I mentioned my habit of throwing my wallet in my bookbag before leaving for class. I got a cute little wristlet that holds my cash, cards, keys and cell phone. It was simple and handy to just move it from purse to bookbag or just carry it alone.

11. Throw Blanket
For anyone else who is perpetually cold, having an extra (non-bedding) blanket is perfect. I would curl up in it while studying at my desk, watching movies, eating dinner, any of the above. I am always cold soooo I tend to have a lot of blankets.

12. Bath Robe
To reiterate the fact that I am always cold, I live in my bath robe. Not only does it keep me warm and toasty in the morning; it also is quite handy when living with 4 other girls or 3 boys (thankfully that was only one semester). Bath robe = necessary.

13. Book Stand
Do yourself a favor and buy a book stand. It will make your life SO much easier when studying and save your neck.

14. Laptop Sleeve
During college, you are constantly on the go and you usually take your laptop. Laptops are expensive so invest in a laptop sleeve and protect your expensive equipment that literally is your lifeblood in college.

15. Wall Calendar
So you may have noticed a theme of organization and keeping everything straight? Wall calendar is another lifesaver in that department. I use my planner and weekly planning pad for everyday stuff but for the long term, a wall calendar is the way to go. t also has things like my then fiance/ now husband's work schedule so I know what he is up to as well as the long term things like finals.

So there you go! 15 things every girls must have in college all coming in under $15 to fit within the college budget! Hope they help you as much as they help me!

Things to Watch Before Law School

I am a firm subscriber of both Netflix and Amazon Prime. I have had some spare time before Law School and I have been catching up on my lists of things I wanted to watch. Movies and TV shows relating to the Law and/or Law School are few and far between but below are some of my favorites found on Netflix and Amazon Prime as well as a few that need to be rented!

Movies

The Paper Chase (Netflix)
An oldie but a goodie, this is one of the best Law School representations in media. You see the Socratic method at it's fiercest, Law Students succeed and fail all at the esteemed Harvard Law School. It is certainly worth a watch!

Legally Blonde (Netflix)
My personal favorite. The pretty blonde follows her ex-boyfriend to Harvard and instead of getting him back, she gets a legal education and defies all expectations. Let's all aspire to reach the same level of fabulous perfection as Elle Woods.

A Few Good Men (Rent)
Tom Cruise as a military attorney is perfection. I love this movie for several reasons: seeing the main character find himself in the courtroom, the storyline and the themes of humanitarianism and truth will win are timeless.

Bridge of Spies (Rent)
A snapshot into a tough time in our history as well as a unique use of a legal education to save lives. Tom Hanks stars in this intriguing Cold War era movie and it is a great legal and historical watch.

Nuremberg (search on Youtube and full movie can be viewed)
Another historical movie featuring strong uses of the law this time for prosecution of Nazi's following World War II at the Nuremberg Trials. The Cheif Prosecutor, played by Alec Baldwin, lays out damning cases against people who committed the some worst atrocities in history.

TV Shows

How to Get Away with Murder (Netflix)
Though not very realistic, this is a thrilling and entertaining watch. It does feature some fun personalities in the Law Students.

Reckless (Netflix)
Though it is only one season, I love this show and I wish it would have continued. It contrasts a northern attorney and a southern prosecutor as they clash in and out of the courtroom of Charleston, S.C.

Making a Murderer (Netflix)
I am just getting started on this one but it is enthralling to hear the story of one man and his quest for justice under the law. I can't wait to finish it!

SUITS (Prime)
I also just started this show and it is a fun watch. I am excited to get more into it and see more of the legal action.

Still Want to Watch

- Scandal

- Good Wife

What are your favorite legal movies and TV shows?

My Checklist for the Final 2 Weeks Before Law School

13 days until Law School! In two weeks I will be entering the first classes of my professional career.... that is pretty hard to believe! The journey thus far has been one of many ups and downs but to be this close to finally starting Law School is very exciting. That being said, there is a ton of last minute stuff to get done!

Student ID
I have to get my new student ID but I am still waiting on my name change paperwork from getting married. I want to start the year with my new name but time is running out.... hopefully it all gets done in time!

Books
I finally have all of my books in hand! They were super expensive, are super heavy and are just a bit intimidating. I ordered all of my books new off Amazon except for one that I rented. Thankfully they were cheaper than I budgeted.

Parking Pass
Coming in at a whopping $150 was my one-semester parking pass.... my undergraduate college offered parking passes for free so this was an unpleasant surprise. The nice thing is that the passes do not have to be stuck on the car or hung on the rearview mirror. Somehow they just know.

School Supplies
Pens, highlighters, folders, notebooks and all of the above. I have always loved school supplies shopping and this was no different. I wrote an entire post on my school supplies for Law School so reference that for specifics.

LexisNexis
This morning I received the email to set up my LexisNexis account. Now I feel like a real Law Student but the red Camelbak from orientation will really seal the deal. I read all about the LexisNexis rewards system and through online videos, tutorials and quizzes I have already amassed 800 points!

Orientation Requirements
We had some assigned reading and worksheets for the Mock classes and events in Orientation. I got them done to the best of my ability and it feels good to have it off my shoulders.

First Class Reading
Only 2 of my 5 classes have posted the assigned reading for our first class meeting. I am slowly working away at it a little at a time. Hopefully, the others will get posted soon so I don't have to do it all right before classes start. The assignments haven't been too bad.... so far.

Enjoy the Last Days of Freedom
I only have 13 more days of no classes, homework and stress. I am trying to enjoy it as much as possible and spend time with my Hubby, my puppies, Netflix and getting my house in shape. Summer is coming to an end very soon... The Olympics are perfectly timed; I love watching them and it is a great way to wind down these last summer days.

So there you have it! I am just trying to make the last days before Law School as enjoyable and productive as possible. I know the stress is coming.....

How are you preparing for Law School these final weeks? 

My Must-Have School Supplies for Law School

Ahhhh early August; When school supplies invades every retail establishment and middle school supply lists can be found in the front of every Walmart. Call me a nerd but I love this time of year. I love preparing and shopping for the upcoming school year and starting out feeling prepared. School supplies are one of my favorite things to shop for and I can spend an eternity (in the words of my husband) trying to pick out the perfect pens. As Law School grows ever nearer, I have been taking stock of what I have and what I still need in terms of school supplies. As of this week, I feel that I have everything I need and started organizing it, labeling, color coding.... you know typical crazy OCD stuff.

Choosing the Perfect Planner for Law School

20 days until Law School classes start! I am in full OCD organizational mode. First order of business- finding the perfect planner for keeping my sanity throughout Law School. I have always been a Planner user. I find that writing out my life and responsibilities really helps me stay organized and get it all done. That being said, my quest for the perfect planner to suit my needs has always come up a little lacking. My requirements are a bit steep: pretty, not super bulky, student friendly, simple layout, customized specifically for my needs and not ridiculously priced.

I did a lot of research into high-end planners in my quest for the perfect one. My senior year of undergrad I splurged on the famous Lilly Pulitzer Planner. Though beautiful, it just did not suit my needs and I ended up ditching it for a little leather planner I found at T.J. Maxx for $5. That planner also was not perfect by any means but it got me through graduation. In preparation for law school, I started researching again. I gave Bullet journaling a try as it is the craze of Tumblr but I just really couldn't make it work for me. It was just too much work and I gave up before it really helped me. This time around I came across the Erin Condren Life Planner which seemed to be great for juggling many things but the sticker price was a bit steep.

Enter, the Plum Perfect Planner. Priced lower than the EC planner, prettier, more customizable and a better student layout. I read a few reviews by other Law Students regarding the planner and looked around their website at all the options and I was sold within minutes. Usually, I wait around to make a decision to see if I change my mind. In this case, I picked a cover, layout and a few add-ons and ordered it faster than you can say "Plum Paper".

So why did I choose this planner? Five big reasons.

1. Personalized
Call me basic but I love having personalized/monogrammed things. Having something that is pretty and special for some reason makes me more apt to use the item and since I HAVE to use a planner to stay organized, I wanted to to be pretty and inviting. I absolutely love that Plum Paper offers so many pretty designs and customization options. I chose to have my name and a monogram on the cover. The design I chose is clean and bright and just seems so inviting. It is pretty and I love whipping it out at every opportunity because it makes me smile.

2. Student Friendly
Plum Paper offers a specific student planner but I did not choose that because it was expensive to add in all my classes and it didn't really allow for real life to be integrated into the planner like I wanted. I chose the regular planner in a vertical morning-afternoon-evening layout. This helps me to lump my day into time frames for studying, classes, free time, etc. I have plenty of space for class assignments, meetings and study schedules as well as appointments, bills to be paid and any other events within my life. I love the monthly layout for looking at the big picture of what my month will entail and the goal setter/to-do page at the beginning of each month. I ordered the 7x9 size and it is just right- big enough to write everything down but small enough that it doesn't take up too much space in my purse of backpack.

3. Add-On's
The add-on's really made this planner a winner to me. I chose to add on the Monthly To-Do lists and a blog planning section. I think these will really help me to stay more organized and it keeps everything in one spot: school, blog, life, to-do's. Being able to add these extras really made Plum Paper the planner for me. In future planners, I might even add in other extras like a fitness planner, bill tracker and who knows what else. The options are nearly endless for total life organization (wow that really shows my OCD loud and clear).

4. Durability
I use and abuse my planners so I had to make sure this would hold up. I read a lot of reviews and never saw any major concerns with durability. After receiving my planner, it lives up to my standard thanks to the plastic protector on the front and the nice firm spirals holding it all together. We will reconvene on this aspect when I am done with it but I am confident that Plum Paper will live through my school year.

5. Price
For the level of customization, add-ons and quality provided in Plum Paper, you seriously cannot beat the price point. The base price is $31 and with my add-on's of blog planning and to-do pages my total plus shipping was $46.25. I know I said that $50 for the EC planner was too much and then I went and spent nearly the same on the Plum Paper but the difference is I got exactly what I wanted and needed. The EC planner felt like I was paying for a name and was getting something I would have to conform my needs to fit. With Plum Paper, it is customized to my specific needs from the start. That is, in my opinion, worth every penny.

As you can see, my choice in a planner was a bit of a process. I did a lot of thinking and research and thankfully ended up with what I believe is the perfect planner for my Law School journey. Too any other 1L students looking for a good planner, I highly suggest the Plum Paper Planner. Allow for at least 3 weeks for your planner to arrive. It took my planner a solid 2 weeks to arrive and you would not want to cut it close on not having it in time for school.

Overall, I am pleased as punch with my planner! Thank you Plum Paper for this wonderful product. Also, thanks for the sweet handwritten note- now thats customer service!! Now, I shall return to my planning and color coding. Oh how I love a perfectly color coded planner page :)

What planners do you use for Law School???

Life Update

I'm back! After a whirlwind few weeks, I am ready to jump back into blogging. I got married on July 16th and it was a dream come true. We then went on our honeymoon to Disney World and Universal Studios. We had a blast!

Now it is back to the law school prep grind and getting our little blue house put together. Here are the 5 things I am working on this week:

1. Thank You Notes
Weddings are great and our guests were SO generous. Now I need to take a chunk of time and write a thank you note to everyone. It will be time-consuming but worth it to give thanks to each and every person who helped us celebrate.

2. Settling in Our Home
My husband has been living in our house since we bought it in May but I have only now moved in full time following our marriage. There is a lot of things to do and organize and decorate. It is starting to feel more homey but it is still a work in progress. Some fun DIY projects are in the works :)

3. Orientation Reading
Law School orientation is coming up quick and I have some cases to read to prepare for the mock classes. It will be a good time to get to work on my reading skills and perfect my highlighter process of note taking.

4. Blogging
Time to get back to blogging for real. I have a ton of blogging ideas not I just need to sit down at my desk and get to typing!

5. Relaxing
I only have a few more weeks before school starts and I do want some time to relax. This weekend my husband and I are going to a baseball game with an old high school friend and we hope to check out the local zoo next week and find a good dog park. There must be some time for fun and relaxation amidst all the preparation and work.

So that is what I am up to! Hope everyone else is enjoying these last weeks of summer!

How I Got a Full Tuition Scholarship to Law School

Let's get real; the road to law school is HARD. College is hard, the LSAT is torturous and applications can drive you insane... not to mention the waiting game and choosing process. I can say personally that I highly underestimated how difficult it could be to make my way from Undergraduate Freshman to admitted law student. Most things I put my mind to in life I accomplished easily and with flying colors. This was a challenge I did not expect but one I am also proud to say I accomplished. 

I was lucky to have a wonderful undergrad advisor who guided me through the process as much as he could. I will never forget the end of my first semester of college when he told me that if I kept up my work ethic, I would end up getting a full ride to law school and have my choice of schools. I laughed and called him crazy at the time but in my head I decided I would settle for no less and try my absolute hardest in the process. 

Flash forward 4 years and here I am, sitting here writing a blog about law school while admitted to a great school with a full ride scholarship redeemable all 3 years as long as I stay in good academic standing. Want to know how I did it? 

How I am Preparing for Law School

51 days until I start law school.... that blows my mind. Needless to say, I am on the backstretch of the preparing for law school stage. This summer has been dedicated to two things: my wedding and preparing for law school. Now that my wedding is just 2 weeks away and most of the prep is done, it is time to shift some of my focus to law school and how I must prepare myself for that. Below are the 10 major ways I am preparing for law school. 

Why I Started Blogging in Law School

I started this blog throughout my Law School applications process. Right around the same time I was finishing my last semester of undergrad, buying a house, moving to a different city, finishing up wedding preparations and we had a new puppy. Doesn't sound like a good time to throw blogging into the mix does it? Yeah well, it probably wasn't in hindsight but my reasons for starting a blog hold true still today.

I started this blog as an outlet for thoughts, ideas and just a place to share my own unique voice. I love writing; I always have. Being able to use that in a creative way that is all my own is a nice outlet for me. It is almost therapeutic. When my family and friends get tired of me talking about London, I can blog about it and I know there is someone out there that will love to read it.

There is also something so awesome about knowing that I can share my own unique thoughts with the world in just the click of a little orange "publish" button. In this great big world, I am just another blonde girl who had some horses and dogs and wants to be a lawyer. But on my blog, I am a writer, a sharer of ideas, an inspiration and a voice all my own. I find it motivating; Blogging about Law School keeps me excited about Law School. Blogging about my house gets me motivated to finish that DIY project I have been putting off. It helps to hold me accountable for all the random ideas that flow through my head and gives me a place to share them.

My final reason for starting this blog was to help future law students in their roads to Law School. I searched the internet high and low for Law School bloggers and came up pretty empty. There were a few blogs but nothing was really giving the voice and input I was looking for. So when you can't find what you're looking for, make it yourself! I started this blog in the middle of applications and choosing a school so it is a true representation of my Law School path- from beginning to end. I hope that my voice and my experience can help some future law students to be better prepared and feel like they understand the path better than I did starting out.

So there it is; my random reasons for starting this blog. It is more than just a Law School blog; it is a blog for my thoughts, ideas, projects, life lessons and for my voice to shine. I hope it makes you smile, think or at least not be bored.

Cheers for now!

My 1L Fall Schedule for Law School

My information packet for law school arrived! Earlier than I expected, I now have all the course info, my schedule, orientation info, an email address, a student ID and a book list. They sent me this cute little personalized flash drive with everything on it and I can reuse it later! I love freebies! I also love that I can finally start buying books, planning my schedule, emailing my teachers, making my folders, reading ahead.... can you tell my OCD has hit overdrive???