5 Things I Wish I Would Have Known Before Starting Law School

Well, incoming 1L's... summer is flying by and you will soon be official law students. This time last year, I was a mix of nerves, excitement, and trepidation. I read everything I could get my hands on to help prepare but I was so very nervous. For all of you feeling the same way, just try to enjoy your summer.  Now that I am officially a 2L, I reflect back on my 1L year and all the things I learned. Here are 5 things I wish I would have known prior to starting law school.

Friday Five 4/7/17

It's finally Friday- YAY! What a week... I got a yucky cold, it has been raining every single day and I feel like all I did was outline property. However, there were some bright spots; one of my best friends got engaged and I got to put together the cutest little engagement gift box to send off to her. I also picked out a gift for an upcoming wedding we are attending and it was too fun. I love gifting- it is fun to take the time to piece together something you know that person will love and use and knowing the smile it will bring to their face. I love it!Law school finals are growing ever closer... as is my internship. On top of all the studying and outlining, I am starting to freak out about my internship and if I have enough "dress up" clothes.... I keep begging my hubby to take me shopping.

This weekend is my nephew's first birthday party and we will be going to our hometown and meeting up with some old friends so it should be a good weekend.

The 1L Appellate Brief

I have been pretty absent from blogging recently... all of my spare time, and then some, has been devoted to my appellate brief. For those new to the law school lifestyle, most law schools require a legal research and writing class. Generally, second semester of your first year, the big assignment that determines most of your grade is an appellate brief process over a big legal fact problem.

For my class, we were given a fact pattern involving trademark infringement. First, we did a serious of research reports, then a trial brief and lastly the 30-page appellate brief that I turned in on Monday. I still have an oral argument that is ungraded and I will be done with legal research and writing!

I am not going to lie- this was the hardest writing assignment I have ever had. It took forever, given the amount of my grade it represented I had to be a perfectionist, and we had a really complex fact pattern and law to deal with. However, now that it is over and turned in, I am feeling pretty good about the work I did and proud of myself for completing such a huge assignment.

What is an Appellate Brief?

(I am going to give you the cliff notes version because your respective professor will give you the precise outline and information on what you need to do.)

An appellate brief is submitted to urge an appellate court to affirm or reverse the lower court decision. The Appellant is the moving/appealing party seeking a reversal while the Appellee is the non-moving party asking for affirmation of the lower decision. It is generally a large document written very persuasivly in regards to your parties position. In real court, these briefs are what the appellate court looks to for the information they use to make a decision. In the law school arena, this is an exercise in legal research and persusasive writing. 

The Process

Basically, the way it went at my school is that we were given the fact pattern, assigned plaintiff or defendant and asked to start research when spring semester began. From there, we had a series of research assignments to really hone the cases and the related law. This was challenging because the problem we dealt with had an applicable 8-factor legal test to decide the case. That was a lot of law to consider and learn. All said and done, I think I used about 15 cases to make my arguments.

The next step was to write a persuasive trial brief for the plaintiff or defendant. I had plaintiff side and this paper rounded out at about 18 pages complete.

Once the trial brief was over, they adjusted our facts to add what happened in the fictional "trial" and we were swapped from our existing side and given the opposing side to write the appellate brief in favor of. This was the most challenging thing for me- I had to turn off my advocate in my head for the plaintiff and start advocating for the defendant. It took a bit to wrap my head around that.

I had about 3 weeks to write my appellate brief. It went reallyyyy fast. I worked steadily on it a little bit at a time and finally turned in the 30-page final project this Monday.

Sticking with the appellate brief sides, we are doing an oral argument next week for no grade but we get feedback and it doubles as a try out for moot court if you choose to do so.

Some Tips to Ease the Process

1. Start EARLY
I know you probably hear that from every teacher under the sun but seriously, start really early. This is not like those papers in undergrad that you could knock out in a long weekend or an all nighter. If you want a return of a good grade, you have to put in ample work over time to ensure it is quality. The more time you have, the more time you have to write a little bit at a time so you don't get burnt out, rework on a sentence level for maximum persuasiveness and to edit edit edit.

2. If possible, meet with Professor
Not all professors will meet with you in regards to the brief and looking over your work. If they are willing to, I highly suggest doing so. They are the grader and they have more experience so whatever they have to say will probably have a positive impact on your grade. Another set of eyes, especially the highly trained eyes of your professor, is always a good idea.

3. Make time to look at it with Fresh Eyes
Finish early and leave yourself ample time for editing. I find it best to take a little time away from the paper and returning to it with fresh eyes. I find that I catch a lot more mistakes and have better luck rephrasing when I do this.

4. Find a Stopping Point
There comes a point where you have done everything you can do and you need to stop nitpicking your paper. Eventually, you just need to stop and turn it in- staying up all night and editing will not make a huge difference- in your tired state you may do more harm than good. Start early, leave time for editing and find a stopping point to press submit and be done.


The appellate brief is hard but you can do it. The feeling you have when you turn it in is one of relief and extreme pride knowing you completed such a huge accomplishment. Then, you put it out of your mind as grades won't be out until after the semester and the exam grind is on.

As for me, I should probably get back to outlining! No rest for the wicked... or law students...

20 Things Every Law Student Needs Before Starting Law School

Are you gearing up for your first year of law school??? The last bit of time before the first year starts in nerve-wracking. I spent it trying desperately to prepare myself for the experience: what I would wear, what I would need and what an outline was. It is very hard to prepare and know what to expect from an experience like law school. Also, people were always asking what I needed. I didn't even know what I needed let alone tell them what to get me! So, I have compiled a list of the things I could not have survived my first year of law school without.

A Day in the Life of a Law Student

Welcome to a day in the life of a Law Student. I am going to outline my day, Tuesday, and break down what life really looks like when you are a Law Student. FYI, it is the furthest thing from glamorous....

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.

Friday Five 3/3/17

I"M ON SPRING BREAK! Granted, my spring break will be full of my appellate brief and outlining but I do not have to attend class or leave my house for a week so it's still super exciting. I am so ready for some time to relax, rejuvenate and catch up on life. Spring break came just in time!

Friday Five 4/12/19

Happy Friday!

This was my second to last week of school.... ever. I am ALMOST DONE. Overall, my week was pretty full of studying, outlining and getting ready for final exams. This weekend I have a banquet for Moot Court, judging try-outs for Moot Court next year and more studying for exams. Here are a few other snapshots from my week.

I spent my weekend at my parents farm hanging out with this guy. It was amazing. 

Anna Banana living her best life

'Tis the season for iced coffee

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.

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.

How to Rock a Moot Court Try-out or Competition

Moot Court is a big part of most law schools. At my school, and most law schools from my understanding, there are two big optional opportunities to try out for after 1L year: Law Review and Moot Court. Law Review is a more research and writing based activity where you spend your time writing and editing a not/comment on a specific area of law. Moot Court allows you to practice and hone oral advocacy skills through competition as well as practical legal writing skills through the accompanying written brief. Personally, as I want to go into criminal prosecution and trial work, Moot Court seemed like the right fit for me over Law Review because I really wanted to hone my oral advocacy skills. I tried out for Moot Court at my school, was selected for the Products Liability team and I am preparing for a national competition in March.

Throughout my process of trying out for and being selected for Moot Court and my interscholastic appellate advocacy competition this Fall in which I made it to the final four and presented my argument in front of three real federal judges, I think I have figured out a few tips for being successful in the Moot Court setting. For those preparing for Moot Court try-outs or oral arguments this spring, I sincerely hope this helps in your preparation.

1. Prepare for Everything 
Moot court try-outs are fashioned after the format of the competitions. You will write a brief or be given one, you must read every case cited and be able to competently discuss them, be fluent in the relevant law and anticipate any possible holes in the logic. Whomever the judges on your panel are, they will attack any weakness in your argument. You must be prepared for this and be able to consistently counter with your argument strengths. If you are prepared and have practiced your argument and answers to possible questions, you will do great.

2. Be Confident
This may seem silly and basic but it is simple truth. You must argue with confidence. Be confident in your argument, your material and yourself. If you can present an image of poise and confidence, you will have a better chance. Fake it until you make it they say; even if you are nervous, if you can project an image of confidence, you will be in good shape so long as you are also properly prepared.

3. Dress to Impress
Boys, wear a dark-colored suit. Girls, a dark-colored suit and low heels. I know it is formal and boring but it is the nature of the profession. I know more about what the girls should wear than the boys so I will focus on that. A dark colored suit is necessary; traditionally, a skirt suit is best but a well-fitting pantsuit is not wrong. Invest in a quality suit and if it is not a perfect fit, a good tailor can make it lok custom made. Simple hair-do's are best. No bright colored nail polish but make sure nails are clean and not chipped or overly long. Wear simple jewelry such as small studs, a simple chain necklace and a watch. Flesh colored nylons are encouraged. Low heels are best in a neutral color. Some say to wear only matte leather or suede but I always wear patent leather 3' heels and I have never gotten chastised for it. Soft makeup is best; don't overdo it. Your outfit and appearance should be classy and modest and allow your argument and intellect to shine through.

Example of what I wore during my competition this Fall: Black J. Crew Skirt Suit, a royal blue blouse, flesh-colored nylons, black patent leather 3" heels and simple hair and makeup

4. Formalities are Key
Ahhh Moot Court formalities. They are annoying but necessary. Here is a fairly comprehensive list:

• Open every argument with "May it please the court"
• Make sure to have a roadmap at the beginning of your argument outlining your main premise and your numbered points of argument
• Always thank the judges at your argument conclusion and conclude clearly with a prayer for relief (what are you asking the court to do)
• Show deference to the bench- refer to them as your honor, thank them for questions, be respectful at all times and in all manners
• For heaven's sake, have eye contact with the judges, particularly to whoever is asking you a question
• Scan the bench as you are talking; don't fixate on one spot or one judge in particular
• All the primary elements of good speaking are still necessary: speak clearly, speak up, don't say "um" or "like", don't mumble, stand up straight and don't wave your hands around all that fun stuff

5. Don't be Stuffy 
While Moot Court is a formal activity, it is also important to make the process conversational. You are not preaching; you are having a formal conversation with the judges. Smile, try to be natural and have some fun while you are doing it. It can be very invigorating and enjoyable to compete when you are prepared and can maintain your position. Try to make it a fun experience and not a scary/stressful one.

I hope this is helpful! I wish everyone the best of luck in Moot Court try-outs and oral arguments this spring.

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!

Supplies for Law School: What I Actually Use and What Was a Waste of Money

So I have about 2 more weeks of summer before my 3L year of Law School. I do not know where time has gone- it flew by! I had a reader request this post and I think it is a great one. I will be talking all about the supplies I use in law school and compare/contrast what I bought for my 1L year and all the things that were a waste of money because I never ended up using them.

I have always LOVED school supplies shopping. I would beg my mom to take me shopping for new school supplies at the beginning of August so I would have a few weeks to completely organize and decorate my binders and notebooks. College didn't change anything except now I had to buy my own school supplies. When I was getting ready to start law school, I was so pumped to get all new fancy school supplies. A lot of those things I bought 1L year, I still use... but a lot of things I never really used and ended up being a waste of money. So today I am laying out all the things I truly use in law school for the last 2 years and all the things that were a waste of money. 

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.

Friday Five 8/21/20

Happy Friday! 

Life has been hectic lately. We are still super busy whipping our new little farm into shape: we adopted 4 rescue kittens, we have 8 chickens, we are clearing and fencing a new area for horses, we completely redid our barn and we've been painting and decorating the house in between. On top of that, I started back working in the office full time at the beginning of August which changed up the rhythm as well. So needless to say, blogging has continued to be a backseat project along with many other things. 

I do not have much new to report outside of that. My life has been pretty boring but in the best possible way. We are loving our space and land. It has been so fulfilling to work hard on our property and see it transforming before our eyes. My soul is happier to finally be back in the country and back to my farm girl roots. 

The stalls we built by hand in our little barn! It was a lot of hard work but I am so proud of our efforts

View of deer right out of my kitchen window. I love being in the country!

How Different is Law School from College

Happy Saturday!

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.

More: HOW TO BE PREPARED FOR A LAW SCHOOL CLASS

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.

More: TIPS FOR TIME MANAGEMENT IN LAW SCHOOL

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.

The Weekly Schedule of a Law Student- 2L Edition

Happy Labor Day!!!

It is a little ironic that I am posting my average weekly schedule on the Monday of a 4 day week... pssh details! Regardless, it is the beginning of my 3rd week of 2L year and I am finally feeling like I am back in law school gear. The first two weeks were a little tough just getting back into the law school groove and figuring out how my schedule needs to work. Not to mention I came down with a horrible stomach virus and was sick off and on for the entire second week and missed my first ever law school classes as a result :( I finally feel like I have life organized and a routine that works. Without further ado, here is a snapshot into a week in the life of a second-year law student, Moot Court member and student representative for law school admissions.

Monday
7:30- Wake up, Shower, get dressed, eat breakfast, play with puppies and get ready for class.
9:30- Drive to school and review reading for class
10:10- Class
11:40- Head into admissions for a bit of work while I eat lunch
1:00- Class
2:30- Back to admissions for a bit more work
4:30- Head home for the day and start reading for next day
5:30- Take a break to cook dinner while catching up on Netflix
6:15- Eat dinner and watch some TV with my husband or take the dogs for a walk
8:00- Finish reading assignments
10:00- Pack lunch for tomorrow, pack bookbag for tomorrow
10:30- Nightly beauty routine, read a few chapters of a novel
11:00- Bed time!

Tuesday
8:00- Wake up, do a quick workout of Yoga or Toneitup
8:30: Shower, get dressed and eat breakfast
9:00- Sit down at desk with my coffee to do some work while a load of laundry is in the washer/dryer
10:50- Drive to school
11:00- Head into admissions for a bit of work before class
1:00- Class
2:30- Home for a long break between classes
2:50- Start reading for next day and run the dishwasher
5:00- Cook and eat dinner while catching up on Netflix
5:40- Back to school for night class
6:00- Class
7:30- Headed home for the evening
7:45- Spend some time with my hubby and puppies watching TV
9:00- Finish reading for tomorrow if I have not already
10:00- Fold laundry, Pack lunch for tomorrow, pack bookbag for tomorrow
10:30- Nightly beauty routine, read a few chapters of a novel
11:00- Bed time!

Wednesday
7:30- Wake up, Shower, get dressed, eat breakfast, play with puppies and get ready for class.
9:30- Drive to school and review reading for class
10:10- Class
11:40- Head into admissions for a bit of work while I eat lunch
1:00- Class
2:30- Back to admissions for a bit more work
4:30- Head home for the day and start reading for next day
5:30- Take a break to cook dinner while catching up on Netflix
6:15- Eat dinner and watch some TV with my husband or take the dogs for a walk
8:00- Finish reading assignments
10:00- Pack lunch for tomorrow, pack bookbag for tomorrow
10:30- Nightly beauty routine, read a few chapters of a novel
11:00- Bed time!

Thursday
8:00- Wake up, do a quick workout of Yoga or Toneitup
8:30: Shower, get dressed and eat breakfast
9:00- Sit down at desk with my coffee to do some work while a load of laundry is in the washer/dryer
10:50- Drive to school
11:00- Head into admissions for a bit of work before class
1:00- Class
2:30- Home for a long break between classes
2:50- Do some work at my desk
5:00- Cook and eat dinner while catching up on Netflix
5:40- Back to school for night class
6:00- Class
7:30- Headed home for the evening
7:45- Spend some time with my hubby and puppies watching TV
9:00- Vacuum and scrub the floors, dust, clean the kitchen counters... general tidying up
10:00- Fold laundry, Pack Hubby's lunch for tomorrow
10:30- Nightly beauty routine, read a few chapters of a novel
11:00- Bed time!

Friday
8:00- Wake up, Shower, get dressed, eat breakfast, play with puppies and drink coffee
9:00- Drive to school to work in admissions
2:00- Head home for the day
2:15- Do some yard work
3:00- Do a light workout
3:30- Back to my desk to get some work done... usually outlining or synthesizing what I learned through the week
6:00- Make homemade Pizza
6:30- Homemade pizza and movie night with my hubby. I take the rest of the evening to just relax with my husband and forget about school for a bit
11:30- nightly beauty routine, read a few chapters of a novel
12:00- Bed time!

Saturday
Saturdays are for sleeping in around here! Usually, my husband makes us a big breakfast and we lounge around the house most of the day or go find something fun to do. I try to take most of the day as a break from law school but sometimes I have to break out the books for a few hours during busy times in the semester. Sometimes we go visit family or do something else but generally, Saturday is a day for rest, relaxation and some quality time with each other and our 3 pups.

Sunday
Sundays we usually sleep in again and then tackle the house cleaning. After that, we spend some more time together and then get started on homework and prepping for the week. I usually take a mid-afternoon break to meal prep and go grocery shopping. We cook up a nice dinner and then it's back to the books to make sure I am ready for the week and all my reading is done. The more I can get prepped and organized on Sunday, the better I feel heading into the week.

So that is a generalized outline of what my weeks look like. Obviously, life is crazy and sometimes things change but I do find that a routine helps me to stay organized so I try to stick to this roughly. This week is irregular because I have no class on Monday so I am spending it hanging out with a friend, cleaning out my closet to make room for fall clothes and getting jump started on homework for the week. I find it very important to keep a balance between school and regular life and as a 2L, it's hard but not impossible to find time for both in my weekly schedule. As finals get closer, this schedule becomes a lot more focused on studying but for now, this works.

One thing you did not see on my weekly outline is blogging. This is because I never parcel off specific time to blog- because this is a hobby and creative outlet, I simply fit it in whenever I have a little spare time, while dinner is in the oven or when I need a break from casebooks. Some weeks I have more time for it than others but it is somethign I enjoy so I try to at least make a little time for it each week.

Enjoy this short first week of September!

Thoughts on Starting the Second Semester of Law School

Well.... I just completed my 3rd week of the second semester of law school. SOS.... it's been rough. First semester sucked.... second semester is so far even harder. Does someone want to remind me why I thought law school was a good idea?

So far, I have twice as much reading each night compared to last semester, legal research and writing assignments every weekend, professional development activities left and right, making time to review my exams from last semester and trying to find an internship. Outside of law school, I was rear-ended in a hit & run accident, my car is in the shop, I have been sharing a car with my husband and driving him to and from work, we got a new dog and my house chores are so overdue it's not even funny. It has been crazyyyy. 3 weeks in and I already had a meltdown.

One thing I know that is weighing on my mind is my grades from last semester- they were not at the level I had wanted, though they were not bad. I am working twice as hard thus far trying to set myself up for success this semester and to raise my GPA. I am reading more thoroughly, taking excessive reading notes, raising my hand twice as much in class and I have already started outlining. I sure hope it pays off because I am exhausted.

As for the internship search, I have an interview next week (hallelujah!!). I know it will be a huge relief once I have something pinned down and that isn't hanging over my head and stressing me out anymore.

I hope your second semesters are off to a better start than mine!