8 Ways to Prep for a Healthy Final Exam Experience

Law school finals are coming... it is time to prepare for the onslaught of outlines, notecards and practice essays. I have compiled a list of some of my best tips for staying healthy throughout final exams.... exams are super important but they are not worth sacrificing your health and wellness.

1. Prep Healthy Snacks and Dinners
I spent a good part of this weekend making myself some healthy snack packs and prepped some healthy dinners. I made baggies of carrots, celery, apple slices, crackers, pretzels, and blueberries. I love having them ready and bagged in my fridge so I can just grab a healthy snack on the go and avoid the temptation of a handful of Pringles or cookies.

For healthy dinners, I like having ingredients on hand for some easy dinners in the heat of finals week. A few of my favorites are chicken and rice casserole (only 4 ingredients!), tacos, grilled chicken salad, tuna salad sandwichs and shepherds pie. I always have broccoli and green beans for sides.  I would rather make something quickly at home with healthy ingredients than stop and pick up fast food.

As one of my professors recently said, eating crappy food makes you feel crappy so eat healthy and fuel yourself the right way! Having healthy food ready on hand is the simplest way to do this.

2. Mental Health is Important
During finals, especially as a 1L, it is very easy to psych yourself out and let the stress get the best of you. You have to right to stay right mentally. Take breaks, go for a run, take a bubble bath, have a good cry... whatever you need to do. Final exams is as much an endurance challenge as it is an academic challenge- take care of yourself and your mind so that you can make it to the finish line.

3. Exercise
Exercise is a great way to stay feeling healthy and energized. I enjoy a yoga session or a short run during finals as a mental break. As the great Elle Woods said, exercise gives you endorphins and endorphins make you happy! You need to be happy during finals so do whatever you need to. You can even take your books or outlines to the gym and read while you ride the stationary bike.

4. Sleep
It is tempting to pull all-nighters and skimp on sleep during the heat of finals. As much as that extra hour of studying seems appealing, the extra sleep will do you much better in the long run. Getting a normal amount of sleep during finals will help you so much. Your brain cannot process information when it is overtired so your studying will be far more effective if you are rested. Also, 2 weeks of little sleep will make you a walking zombie... don't let it get to that. Manage your time and plan for 5-6 hours of sleep each night minimum.

5. Take Care of Your Eyes
Studying involves staring at papers, books, and computers for outrageous amounts of time... this is very hard on the eyes- especially if you already have poor eyesight and wear glasses or contacts. I generally wear contacts and I have found that blue light blocking glasses help immensely when studying for long period of time. Also, I keep eye drops in my bookbag for long study sessions because my eyes inevitably get dry. I also alternate between contacts and glasses to keep my eyes from getting to dried out by my contacts. Keep your eyes feeling good so you can keep staring at the books!

6. De-stress in a Healthy Way
Law school exams are stressful, there is no denying that. But de-tressing should be done in healthy ways... basically don't drink away your problems. It will not help. Exercise or go to the park... find a healthy way to get rid of your excess stress and don't let it take over your life. I usually bake cookies, clean my house or take a bubble bath when I need to de-stress. Drinking away your stress will only lead to problems.

7. Surround Yourself with Support
You need people to lean on during finals. Spend time with the people who support you: family, friends, significant others, study groups. Avoid negative influences in your life. Find a study group that is productive or study alone if that works for you. Call your mom when you need to talk to someone. Have dinner with your significant other as a study break. Cuddle with your pet while reviewing notecards. Let your support system support you during this stressful time.

8. Eliminate Distractions
I find that removing social media app's from my phone during finals is a great way to cut out all that drama and distraction from my life. the important people in my life will text or call so I am not missing out on anything important. I am not sad about missing out on a Christmas party to study if I don't see the snapchats of it and I am not tempted to scroll through Instagram for 30 minutes if the app isn't on my phone. As soon as finals are over, I re-download but for two weeks, life is just fine without social media.

Best of luck!! Go crush those exams!

Holiday Gift Ideas for the Law Student in Your Life

Christmas is coming up!! Call me crazy but I have been listening to Christmas music and watching Hallmark Channel as much as possible. It is my favorite time of year!

I love shopping for Christmas presents and finding things I know the people in my life will love. But us law students... we are a special breed and our wants and needs can be different from most. For all those family and friends out there who want to be supportive and help out your law student, here are some gift ideas that will be helpful and appreciated as they finish their legal education!

1. Wireless Headphones 
These are so wonderful for law school!! I can listen to my music or recorded lectures, with no strings attached!! In loud and busy law school areas, these will be a law students best friend- particularly around exams!

2. A Coffee Mug 

Law students tend to go overboard with caffeine so a coffee/tea mug is never a bad idea. I think this one is perfect for any aspiring lawyer ... Trust me (I am almost a lawyer). 

3. A Professional Bag 

Every aspiring lawyer needs a professional bag for interviews and internships. This would be a super useful gift that will serve your law student very well through law school and beyond! 

For the ladies: 

For the men: 

4. Gift Cards

Law students are notoriously broke and stressed. Gift cards to take themselves out to dinner, for a relaxing shopping trip or most importantly, for coffee. If all else fails, you truly cannot go wrong with some gift cards to let the law student in your life treat themselves.

Also, gift cards to help law students build their legal wardrobes are a great idea. Express, Banana Republic, J. Crew are all great options for them to purchase professional wardrobe staples. 

5. Stress Relief 
Law school is super stressful... items to help your law student get some stress relief are always a good idea. Bath bombs, oil diffusers, a yoga mat, candles... etc.

6. Inspirational Items 

Your law student is probably always looking for inspiration... cute desktop signs or things to hang on the wall of their office to keep the motivation up in the heat of finals is a great gift idea. 

7. Travel Mugs and Water Bottles
Remember when I said caffeine is very important to law students?? Well, this is extremely true and travel mugs are a lifesaver in the morning when you are running out the door for class. I LOVE the Contigo no spill mugs.

Long days of class also call for lots of h2o. I have two favorites for this: Camelbak water bottles and my RITC tumblr (keeps ice cold for a full school day!). Your law student would certainly get lots of use from either of these. 

8. Amazon Student Prime Membership

Amazon prime is the greatest thing. Not only do you get access to Prime movies and TV shows and the Amazon music library, there is free two-day shipping on almost everything! For busy law students, that is the best way to shop. Your law student would be so appreciative of an Amazon Prime membership and for students, it is half price! This is the gift that keeps on giving all year long. 

Happy Holidays!!

Friday Five 11/10/17

Hello friends!
Another busy week... finals are coming on fast. I can't believe how fast this semester has been flying. I do not have any classes or work today in observance of Veterans Day so I have collected my 5 Friday Favorites this week.

1. reputation
I LOVE TAYLOR SWIFT. I have been obsessed since she released Tim McGraw, her very first song. Her songs have always been relatable and my favorite jams. I have followed her through the transition from country to pop and I love her no matter what. I have been anxiously awaiting new music and enter reputation, her newest album. It dropped at midnight and I have not yet had a chance to buy it but I will be soon! I am liking the new singles so far, even if they are different. It wouldn't matter though, I am a Swifty for life and nothing can change that!

2. Instant Pot
Guys... this is basically magic. I never seem to have enough time to cook dinner... night classes and extra reading just leave no time for cooking most days. I have been reading a lot about the Instant Pot and decided it was worth a try. It is a game changer. Fully cooked chicken and baked potatoes in 20 minutes. Spaghetti and meatballs in 15 minutes. I can't even describe how amazing this thing is. It cooks by pressure which is why it cooks so fast. It cleans up easily and had made dinner on busy nights possible. So worth the money!!

3. Seat Cushion
Law school friends... this is life-changing. I hate sitting at my desk for the massive amount of hours law school requires. I have scoliosis and my back is always so sore from all the bending over my desk and sitting in crappy desk chairs. I came across this seat cushion on Amazon and given how bad my back was hurting, I decided to give it a try. Best decision ever. The cushion is designed in a unique U-shape is recommended most by orthopedists and doctors to improve chronic and acute pain, by alleviating pressure in strategic areas surrounding the sciatic nerve. It has helped me so much in just a short time. I think anyone who sits as much as law students do could benefit from this!! Well worth the cost.

4. Hallmark Channel
I LOVE Christmas... like more than normal people. As soon as Halloween was over, I am in full Christmas mode. The Hallmark Channel has begun their 24/7 Christmas movie marathon and I am loving every second. The movies are the perfect study break- sweet, simple and festive. I love the sweet romance and adorable storylines... it feeds my inner sappy romantic. I know people say to wait until after Thanksgiving.... well 25 days just isn't enough Christmas for me so if anyone needs me I will be glued to the Hallmark Channel from now until Dec. 25.

5. CMA Performance by Carrie Underwood
I had a class canceled this week so I actually had time to sit down and watch the CMA awards on Nov. 8th. I am a lifetime lover of country music and this show was full of wonderful performances. My favorite artist of all time, Garth Brooks, won Entertainer of the Year again and Tim and Faith performed their new song *swoon*. But the highlight for me was this truly awesome remembrance performance of a classic gospel hymn by Carrie Underwood. I shed a tear when Tom Petty was shown, I shed a few more for Troy Gentry and I broke down sobbing on my couch when the Vegas victims came on the screen.... throughout the many speeches given throughout the night, a message of peace, love and unity was consistently present and this show of remembrance put me over the edge. It was great to see country music pulling together in the aftermath of tragedy and remembering those lost to a senseless act of violence.

Enjoy the holiday weekend! Thank you to all who have served our country past and present. 

Mid-Semester Finals Prep Guide

Well hello! It has been a full month since I last blogged. Life has been absolutely crazy- I made it to the final four in my law schools interscholastic appellate advocacy competition which involved 2.5 weeks of daily practices and constant revision on top of reading, class, work and food/sleep. It cumulated in an oral argument in front of 3 real, federal judges as well as our whole student body. It was stressful and exhausting but such a great experience. 

It is now midway through the semester and I know there are many 1L's out there getting stressed about final exams but are not sure quite what to do to start preparing. I have gotten a few questions about prepping for finals so I am sharing what I am doing at this point in the semester to start prepping for final exams. I hope it helps! 

1. Update Outlines 
I know every 1L ever is beyond tired of hearing the word outline but this is the time to be working on them and updating so you don't end up spending your whole Thanksgiving break outlining. I have been working on updating all of my outlines to the current point of material so that I can relax more on Thanksgiving break this year. For more on outlining see this post: A Guide to Outlining.

2. Meet with Professors
Now is the time to clear up confusion in the material. As you are outlining, make note of areas where you are confused or your notes were messy. Go get it cleared up by the professor sooner rather than later so you are not stressing at the last minute and fighting for office hours with all the people who waited until the week before exams to ask for help. Having your outlines updated will help you to know if there were confusing areas you need to get some help with. Then you know that whatever info is in that final outline is correct and you fully understand it.

3. Practice Essay Questions 
Law school essay questions are a new breed of essays you have likely never encountered. My biggest downfall my first semester of law school was not doing enough practice questions, not being comfortable with how to write them out and not having a solid plan for how to attack them. I highly highly suggest tracking down some practice essay questions for each subject and taking some time to write them out in exam-style conditions. It will help you to become comfortable with the feel of law school essays and make it less intimidating come exam day. The best case scenario is getting old practice questions from your professor along with model answers. If you can't get those, many of the bar prep companies give out free study materials on first-year subjects and there is also tons available online after a simple google search. There are often practice questions in your casebooks as well so make sure to look there.

4. Practice Multiple Choice
Just like essays, law school multiple choice questions are very different from other multiple choice. Find some to practice and get comfortable with them. It will make exam day way less stressful when you are prepared for the type of questions you will encounter. In addition, practice essay and multiple choice questions can pinpoint some weak areas in your understanding of the subject that need to be cleared up before exam time.

5. Start Studying
I know it seems crazy early, but it is time to start actually studying. Practice essay questions and practice multiple choice are a part of that but substantively studying the material is most important. I like to start making flashcards and reading over my outlines at this time. I also start meeting with my study group or study partners to go over out outlines and ensure that we have everything/there are no holes. I love group studying but it is not for everyone. If you are studying solo, start making a habit out of studying and find a good spot for it. If you plan to group study, start meeting with your group and ironing out the kinks. Law school exams require you to know and understand a massive amount of information. The earlier you start studying, the better.

6. Relax and Stay Healthy 
Don't get me wrong, this is a stressful time and working hard is vital. But doing so at the sacrifice of your mental and physical health is not good. Eat well, get plenty of sleep, take some time for yourself and the things you enjoy, exercise and spend time with friends and family. Law school takes over your life but you have to fight back a little bit and keep yourself happy and healthy. Also, it is cold and flu season so it wouldn't hurt to start taking a multi-vitamin and vitamin C- it is no good to be sick during exams!!

Shop my exam printable materials here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/LegalDuchessShop?ref=simple-shop-header-name&listing_id=1059870419

Here is a free printable to help you stay on track! 

Print HERE

Best of luck to all! Thankfully, the light at the end of the first-semester tunnel is growing closer.

How to be Prepared for a Law School Class

I have been so busy and I just have not had the gumption to get around to writing up posts. I finally got a little reprieve thanks to a canceled class and felt caught up on life enough to make time for a little blogging.

Today's post is all about how to properly prepare for a law school class. It is so different from how I prepared in undergrad. My class preparation in undergrad was something along the lines of skim the assigned reading, pack the book, a notebook and pencil bag in my bookbag and show up to class. That was it and it was good enough to get me through a majority of my undergrad classes. When I hit law school, class preparation took on a whole new meaning: reading the assigned reading multiple times, taking reading notes, doing additional outside research, typing case briefs, packing my bookbag until it almost burst... law school class prep was a whole new world. Now halfway through my third semester of law school, I finally feel that, through lots of trial and error, I have perfected a class preparation that works perfectly for me. It may not work for everyone but this is my method and maybe it will help you to develop your own method.

1. Choose Class Materials 
I have a binder for each class. I take all my notes on reinforced loose-leaf paper organized within the binder and I also add any additional class papers to the binder: syllabi, powerpoints, handouts, practice questions, etc. The night before class, my bookbag will be packed with my class binder, casebook, my planner, my pencil case (filled with my favorite Uniball Gel Pens), laptop and laptop charger.

      

2. Read Before Class
Something everyone thinking about law school or starting law school has heard a hundred times is always always always read for class. I will echo that- I always read before class except for the rare occasion when I am sick or crazy busy when I will still do a skim of the reading instead of reading it deeply. I never want to go into class without an inkling of what we will be covering. My process for reading for class is to read each case straight through once to get a just of it. Then I skim back through it, pulling out the important bits and I write those down in my reading notes. Sometimes, if I am really struggling to get the point out of a confusing case, I will look up a case brief online to help me identify what is important. I do that rarely but desperate times sometimes call for desperate measures. I take my reading notes on loose leaf paper in black ink, leaving space on the page to be added to later in class. I also like to get to class 10-15 minutes earlier to skim over my notes once more before class starts so that if I get called on, I am ready.

3. Prepare Your Body
This may seem a little weird but in the spirit of full disclosure... I make sure to never go to class on an empty stomach and I keep a few granola bars in my bookbag just in case I get hungry. I have trouble focusing when I am hungry so I avoid that at all costs when I am in class. Also, I make sure to have a full water bottle- it drives me nuts when people leave in the middle of class just to go fill up a water bottle. I also bring coffee to my morning classes because otherwise, I would fall asleep. I keep peppermint gum in my bookbag at all times because I think it helps me think. Additionally, I have trouble focusing if I am too cold. Our school tends to run on the cold side so I am always dressed in layers and sometimes I even carry a blanket. I refuse to let something as preventable as being cold keep me from focusing to my full potential. Also, full disclosure, I use the restroom before every class. I have a small bladder and I hate leaving in the middle of class just to use the restroom and potentially missing good information. I try to eliminate as many distractions, stressors, annoyances, etc. to ensure that I can focus and get the most out of my classes.

4. Class Set Up
When I am in class, I keep my casebook, binder, pencil case, and planner on the desktop. On our tiny little desks, that is all I have space for and that is really all I need. I do not take computer notes so I leave that in my bookbag. I always have my casebook open to the page we are covering for easy reference and I have my reading notes on one side of my binder with a blank sheet for class notes on the other side. I take all my class notes in a different color than reading notes- this way when I am looking back at my notes, I know exactly what the professor said in class in comparison to what I got out of the reading and I can ensure I am getting the correct information in my outline. I keep my bookbag and purse under the desktop by my feet and I leave my phone zipped inside my purse to avoid distractions.

5. Focus
You have seen all the actions I take to avoid any distractions that would keep me from focusing in class. Therefore, when I am in class, I try to be in it 100%. I listen, I take notes, I participate when I have something compelling to say. It is easy to zone out during class so I make a constant effort to stay engaged. I am not saying I am always perfect- I have been known to write my grocery list in my head during Constitutional Law every once in a while but I do try my hardest to avoid that and stay focused on class information.

I hope this helps new law students to form a method of preparing for class that works for them. It certainly takes a little while to determine what works for you and what is the best process. Once you get it figured out, it takes a lot of the stress out of law school because you know what to do and you just have to sit down and do it.

Happy studying! Enjoy your weekend! 

15 Questions to Ask While Visiting a Law School

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!

Printable List

How I Have Changed My Study Habits as a Second Year Law Student

Hello friends!

I feel like I have been neglecting this little blog. School has been crazy- I am in the middle of an oral advocacy competition and I have to make new arguments and go head to head each week in addition to class, reading, writing an appellate brief for moot court and working in admissions. Blogging just got pushed down the priority list. But I am back!

Now on to today's topic... as I am a few weeks into 2L year, I have made some adjustments to my study habits. Some of my upper-level courses are structured a little differently than my 1L core classes which have forced me to adjust as well as my own shifting and evolving learning process and knowledge base. I have posts from 1L year about my note-taking and study habits and I do believe that they served me very well at that time and for those classes. The adjustments I have made are more due to changing class structures and my ever-evolving way to understand the law as best I can and as thoroughly as I can... and I have become busier so efficiency is my #1 priority now. Here are the changes to my law school study habits.

1. Class Reading/Preparation
Unlike many of my classmates, I continue to read everything for class and take notes on my reading. Many of my classmates have dropped down to just book briefing but I find that taking notes is the best way for me to truly understand the material and have the best retention of it. Unlike my 1L year, I actually take more detailed notes from the reading and I count on them more in class as I participate more. 1L year I was content to answer cold calls, sit and listen and only voluntarily talk if I truly felt confident in what I had to say. Now that I am a 2L and a lot less nervous, I raise my hand whenever I have something to contribute and therefore having good reading notes helps me to follow along with class and have insightful comments. Also, my real life experience of working in a prosecutors office has given me some real-life legal context for some of the things I am learning in class. Therefore, when reading for class, I jot down notes of real-life examples that are related to bring up in class or in office hours. I find that having some real-life context is really helping my retention of the material so far this year. Additionally, my classes are structured a little different: one of my classes has little to no case law and is based on problems... Another is based purely on statutes. It has required me to read and learn differently.

2. Class Notes
Another change I have made from 1L year to 2L year is I take all of my class notes by hand. I found that when I took computer notes last year, I more easily became distracted and I did not retain as much of the information. This is reasonable because many scientific studies have been done that prove handwriting aids in retention and better understanding. By hand writing my notes, I am forced to synthesize the professor's points because I cannot physically handwrite every word as easily as I could type every word. This is a constant practice in analysis, issue spotting big rules and synthesizing which are important legal skills. I find that I remember the information better and when I type it up later into an outline, I am working from my own synthesized words and rules, not the professor's words and it helps me to have a deeper understanding. I have found that simply word-vomiting the professor's words/phrases onto an outline does not equal full understanding and was not the most effective way for me to outline. I also color code all my class notes because bright colors are easier for me to remember long term and it distinguishes class info from reading notes; I take all reading notes in black ink and class notes in a color designated for that specific class (ex. Constitutional law is blue, criminal procedure is purple...). I also love the freedom handwriting notes provides- I can make graphs, pictures, tables, etc. Whatever I need to do to get that information, I can. Sometimes computers can hinder notetaking in my experience because of the formatting problems and having to pause during class notes to fix the bullets or margins, etc.

3. Outlining
I learned my lesson first semester of 1L year- outline as you go. I spent last Thanksgiving break frantically outlining and it was the worst. Now, my approach to outlining is to outline after finishing a section or chapter. This way, I am outlining throughout the semester and I can address questions, confusion or concerns sooner rather than later. It also helps that the information is fresher in my brain when I outline it and it helps me to formulate and synthesize it better into the outline thus creating a much more effective study aid come finals. I just finished the fourth week of the semester but I have all my outlines started and 2 are completely up to date...the others will be up to date by the end of this weekend. I refuse to stop making my own outlines- I think it is such a valuable skill and learning tool... simple printing another persons outline will not allow me the same level of understanding nor the learning provided during the outlining process. Overall, outlining no longer scares me the way it did 1L year... I just buckle down, set aside some time each week and get it done.

4. Review/Practice Problems
Kind of like outlining, I have started reviewing throughout the semester instead of just at the end. Not only is outlining itself a form of review, I make a point to review my notes after class, twice after reading and to attend office hours. I attempt to make sure that I understand everything right away instead of waiting until the end of the semester to figure something out. There just is not enough time to do it all at the end of the semester and I need excellent grades so I am putting all the extra effort in. I have started doing some of the practice problems from the casebooks and as the semester moves on, I will be completing multiple choice questions each week and practice problems that I can take to professor office hours for feedback. This is something I neglected 1L year and I think I did myself a disservice. After reviewing my past exams, I have identified a few issues I would like to work towards resolving in the future when taking exams- I am not waiting until the end of the semester; I am starting right away to do everything in my power to be as successful as possible for exams this semester. Unlike 1L year, I know exactly what I need to do to be successful... I just have to buckle down and do it.

5. Organization/Planning/Efficiency
My schedule is a little more diverse this year. I have more responsibilities beyond just reading, class, studying. One thing I haven't changed is my dependence on my planner. I would seriously go insane without it. Beyond that, I have had to be a little more inventive with my time to fit everything in. I multitask- cooking is also my Netflix time, I work in between classes to make money, I do my reading right when I get home from class so I don't procrastinate, I outline and review on Friday afternoons before 5pm so I can have Friday nights off. For my appellate brief for moot court, there is very little structure. Therefore, I set aside time each week within my planner to work on it and stay accountable. I have started to do this with everything- I plan time for cleaning, grocery shopping, outlining... everything is planned and I do my best to stick to it. I meal plan and utilize a crockpot often to make sure that we eat decently without wasting a bunch of time in the kitchen puttering around or doing the "what sounds good" or "what do we have" discussion. I record my oral advocacy competition arguments and listen to them while driving to and from class to enforce my memorization of my arguments. 2L year for me is all about efficiently and effectively using my time so I can get everything done and still have some time to relax.

For me, 2L year has been about implementing the lessons I learned 1L year and making myself a better student and a more efficient person. I do not regret the things I did 1L year... I was not the same person I am now and I am choosing to move forward to be the best I can be. 2L year is definitely different and is stressful and difficult in different ways than 1L year. However, I am confident that I will be successful and I am more confident than ever that the law is what I want to do.

Helpful printables: https://www.etsy.com/shop/LegalDuchessShop?ref=simple-shop-header-name&listing_id=1059870419

The Best Bag for Law School

What kind of bag do you need for law school? I am not sure why but this question drove me nuts before starting school. Should I use a bookbag? Should it be a professional tote? I went on a mad search for the elusive "perfect law school bag". I  bought and returned about 6 from TJ Maxx (I worked there at the time) and I still wasn't pleased. I ended up with a backpack and big leather tote before starting school. I have made some adjustments through my time as a law student and now that I am a 2L, I feel fairly confident that I know what the best bags for law school are... or at least what works for me and what I see working for some of my classmates.

Bookbag
I think every law student needs a bookbag of some sort. Law school books are stupid heavy and you also need to carry around a laptop, writing utensils, notebooks, binders and all sorts of other stuff if you are type A and super prepared for any situation like me. This will not all fit in a purse so a "bookbag" of your chosen variety is a must. There are several varieties that I have seen around my law school: traditional two strap bookbags, rolling bookbags, weekender type tote bags and large tote bags. I personally carry a large two-strap bookbag and my everyday purse to law school every day. My bookbag has plenty of space for all my books as well as a special laptop pocket.

I have linked additional styles and ideas- everyone is different and you have to choose what works best for you. There is no wrong bag to carry books- if you have a bad back, get the rolling bag. Do what you need to do!

A simple, easy bookbag with plenty of space, comfortable straps and a designated laptop area is what you should look for if you chose the standard two-strap variety.



Why carry books when you could roll them? Many of my friends with back problems use a small carryon bag as a rolling bookbag. I haven't switched over yet because I prefer the freedom of a two-strap backpack but I do envy the lack of back ache that this would cause.



Plenty of space in this! A few of my friends carry this exact bag and they love it. It has tons of space and is easy to carry. It's a "weekender" style but it works for the day to day cargo you have to haul to and from school.


An extra large tote is never a bad idea... I have a few friends with this exact tote and they love it- they throw anything and everything into this cavernous bag and seem to never run out of space. 

Professional Bag

Law school is full of professional events so having a professional bag is important. I personally have a navy blue leather tote, cognac leather tote and black leather tote so that I have something that matches any outfit I wear- these are all simple, sleek leather tote bags with a zipper and enough space to carry my laptop, a notebook, my portfolio, keys and a wallet. These are perfect for job interviews, internships, etc. I also recently ordered this monogrammed beauty because my black leather tote is getting a little too worn. Isn't the monogram just adorable? I splurged for the matching wallet because life is short and I love scallops. 

From MarleyLilly

Here are a few other options for a great professional tote:

This one is reversible!!! Black and Cognac for the price of one! It is a great staple for the professional wardrobe to have a simple leather bag. 

A great navy option for those who want something a little different or wear a lot of navy. 

For those like me who love the look of a Longchamp but don't like the pricetag, what a great option!

Boys, I did not forget about you. My guy friends from law school all have nice leather messenger bags for professional internships and interviews. They look very classy and trendy at the same time. Here is my suggestion based on what they carry. 

I hope this helps you to narrow down what bags to have for law school. It seems trivial but it is also important to be prepared with the right stuff. 

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!

Tips for Taking the LSAT

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!

Married at 22- Why I Love Being a Young Wife

I am 23 years old. I have been married for over a year. I cannot count the number of times I hear, "You're married? Already? How old are you?" when people see my ring. I get those looks of pity like they think I truly don't understand what I am got myself into. One time a person started jokingly calling me Jessa Duggar because they thought it was a religious thing that my family had made me court and get married before we could even kiss. Someone asked me once if we had a pre-nup because getting married young ends so often in divorce. To all those people who think we were crazy for getting married young and feel the need to give me these kind of comments, I have a few things to tell you.

First, to those who say we don't know what we are got ourselves into, I have been with my soon-to-be husband for almost nine years. That is longer than the average 30-year-old dates before they get married. I know him better than anyone in the world and vice versa. We made it through high school and college together, we have seen each other at our best and worst for years, we have witnessed each other grow and change and are still in love. He is still my favorite person in the world. We did not get married on a whim of young love; it was a long-term relationship and we both have talked about marriage and what we want out of life extensively. We were/are prepared to make this marriage work and last. We are not in this for short term, we are in it for life. We were engaged for two years, which is plenty of time to figure out what we wanted and to make sure marriage was truly what we wanted to do. Just because we are young does not mean we are incapable of making decisions... if we are old enough to chose a career, aren't we old enough to chose a life partner?

Second, to those who said I was throwing away my life and I should "find myself" before tying myself to a man, you are so wrong. I did not throw away anything. I gained a person to share my life with and build a beautiful, crazy life with. We travel together, explore together, learn and grow together. Why not experience life with the person you love beside you? Why not have a person there to cheer you up and support you every step of the way? What is so wrong with that? As for needing to "find myself" before settling down; I can find myself and be myself single or married. I know who I am and what I want out of life. So does he and he supports me in everything. Being married isn't a prison sentence, and it does not change your innate character or cause you to shut down. I will still grow and change and he will too. The best part is that we get to do it together and explore every bump, curve and change in the road together.

Third, to those who say we should have dated other people to know what we like, I say, "oh well." I didn't know that my now husband would be my first and last kiss. I never planned to only date one person and end up marrying them... But when you meet the right one, there is no reason to throw it away just to play the field a bit. I also saved myself a lot of heartache and bad dates, so no complaints there. I fell in love when I was 15 and I haven't fallen out yet. Many years ago, it was normal to marry your high school sweetheart... and marriages tended to last a lot longer then... so I just don't see a problem with marrying the person you fell in love with no matter how young you may have been. Maybe I am just a romantic at heart, but I believe that sometimes the first is the best. I also bought the first wedding dress I ever tried on so maybe that is just me and well, that is OK.

Fourth, I did not give up anything to marry my love and I will not waste my 20's. I am still going to law school, I will still travel the world, I will still make mistakes and do crazy things and enjoy my 20's. I will just do all of that with my best friend beside me every step of the way. All I see is gaining a partner in everything I do and a support system... no loss there.

Lastly, to those that give me the pitying looks, I actually pity you. Feeling the need to look at me that way for doing nothing more than marrying the love of my life when I was 22 is a bit ridiculous. Stop worrying about me and my life and worry about your own a bit more. For hundreds of years, people throughout history got married young and yet had more lasting marriages than we do in today's world. So what is wrong with me doing something that has worked so well in the past?

Marriage is great... I come home everyday and hang out with my best friend. I love nothing more than making him a batch of gluten free cookies after a long work day and he wakes up and makes me breakfast every Saturday, We go on vacation and have a blast. We spend Friday nights sitting on the couch watching Disney movies and try to out-quote and out-sing each other. We still go out with friends and get slightly wasted and wild. We make big decisions together and lean on each other when times get a little tough. We parent our furbabies for now and dream about the future... together. Don't get me wrong, we fight, we get annoyed and things aren't always butterflies and sunshine. Marriage takes work... lots and lots of work. Marriage takes so much compromise. You have to put your marriage first. You have to want it every day... basically that scene with Noah and Allie in The Notebook when she is trying to decide to stay or go? That's real life. It's really really hard but it's worth it if you want to spend life with that person.

Getting to spend your life with someone you love is a beautiful thing. I am so happy I got married at 22. I have shared the most wonderful year of marriage, love and laughter with my best friend, my soulmate, my husband. Getting married young simply gave us all that many more years to enjoy life together and I simply can't wait. There's really nothing wrong with that. I am a young wife and I am loving every minute... even when that involves dirty boy socks on the floor.

So here's to my sweet, 23 year old husband... I love your red curls, dimples and ability to always make me laugh. Thank you for understanding my need to always carry a to-do list, keeping my sane during law school and enduring my crazy every single day. I will never completely understand why you chose me out of that Freshman communications class but I will forever be grateful that we get to spend this life together.