Think You’ve Got a Lot to Do? We Talk to an Entrepreneurial Law School Mom!

Ciara VeseyToday’s interview is with Ciara Vesey, a multi-talented law student, mother, and entrepreneur. I have no idea how she finds the time to do everything she does, but she’s just launched a pre-law and law student advising program, which you’ll learn more about below.

Take it away!

Alison: It’s hard to imagine combining law school with being a mother, but you’ve done it. What tips do you have for other law school moms (or prelaw moms thinking about applying to law school)?

For those who are moms and thinking about law school:

I would just suggest they really think long and hard about what they want to get out of law school.

It is a significant time and financial commitment that many single persons find they cannot afford once they start. So, plenty of soul-searching and consulting with your loved ones is critical before you decide to take on law school.

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Feeling Overwhelmed? Go Take a Walk!

Take a walkDo you ever have those days where you’re just massively over committed? Monday morning rolls around, and it’s go, go, GO!

Yeah, don’t we all.

The solution I was reminded of today, which is so simple but really does work:

Go take a walk outside.

Maybe it’s the sun, or the fresh air, or the exercise (or all of the above), but within minutes of starting my outdoor errands, I felt calmer, more focused, and a lot less annoyed with life.

Added bonus, when I got back, I actually knocked several things off the task list — pow!

Now I think I deserve a nap, or maybe it’s time for another walk.

Take care, y’all.

— – —

Image by ihedgehog via stock.xchng.

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Feeling a Little Unprepared for Practice?

Faith PincusIf you’re feeling a little unprepared for practice (despite three years of law school!) or are thinking about clerking or starting your own business, today’s interview is for you.

We’re talking with Faith Pincus, former law clerk and lawyer turned entrepreneur. She runs a variety of businesses you’ll learn more about below, all designed to help you transition to practice and stay current on the law!

Without further ado…

Alison: I’m a 3L and I’m graduating soon. I don’t feel like I’m that well prepared to actually practice law! What advice do you have on how I can get up to speed, quickly?

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12 Things I’d Do if I Were An Unemployed 3L

Tips for unemployed 3LsWith all the gloom and doom reporting out lately (only half of graduating law students can expect jobs! and so forth), I’ve been thinking about what someone who’s graduating from law school in a couple of months without a job offer can do, right now, to improve their prospects.

I don’t guarantee these suggestions are right for everyone, and I’m sure there’s other stuff I haven’t thought of, but let’s at least start the conversation. If you’ve got other suggestions, jump in! (And don’t miss this awesome series from guest poster Katie Slater: Job Hunting for 3Ls and Recent Grads.)

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If I Could Choose Again, Would I Still Wait To Have Children?

ChildrenFocused on a demanding career as an attorney and married to a man who refused to become the “default parent,” Kate McGuinness waited too long to have a biological child. So she adopted a son, ended her marriage, and wouldn’t change a thing.

Childless women often view their declining fertility with ambivalence. Jennifer Westfeldt, director and producer of Friends With Kids, recently said,

I kept feeling like I’d wake up with absolute clarity, and I haven’t. And we have a pretty great life together. The chance that we’ll regret it doesn’t seem like a compelling enough reason to do it. I may wake up tomorrow with that lighting bolt, and I’ll have to scramble to make it happen.

Ms. Westfield is 42. “Scrambling to make it happen” would, in all likelihood, entail high-tech fertility rites with a low chance of producing a child with both her genes and those of her partner Jon Hamm.

I know firsthand the profound regret of having waited too long and the frustration of fertility treatments. But I sympathize fully with the difficulty of forcing a life-changing decision. 

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The Danger of Doing Things Because You’re Good at Them

Pow!Let me ask you a question:

Should you aim to make a career out of doing things you’re good at?

“Why, sure,” you say, “what else would I do?”

It’s Not that Easy

This is a question I’ve struggled with for a long time (see a three year detour into architecture school so I could try something “hard”), but I don’t think it’s so straightforward.

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Struggling with Your Student Loan Debt? The Law School Loan Expert is Here to Help

Heather Jarvis - Student Loan ExpertToday’s interview is with Heather Jarvis, a student loan expert who was formerly a capital defense attorney. Heather now dedicates her expertise to helping student loan borrowers make better decisions so that higher education can be a reality for all — not just those who can afford it. She’s got great info on dealing with law school loan debt, so let’s get to it!

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Thinking About a Non-Traditional Law Career? Get A Bird’s Eye View

Jared CorreiaJared Correia is back with another fascinating installment, this time about how he found his non-traditional career path. If you’re considering going off the school-firm-retirement pathway, this one’s for you!

Take it away.

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5 Non-Obvious Ways Law School Loan Debt Will Impact Your Life

MoneyIf you’re considering law school, there’s a very good chance you’re planning to take out student loans. (About 80% of law students graduate with some debt, and the average amount borrowed is over $100,000. That works out to over $1,000/month in loan payments on a standard 10 year repayment schedule.)

Scary numbers, when almost half of new law grads make between $40,000 and $65,000 a year.

But what about the less obvious impact of borrowing tons of money?

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Want to Start Marketing Yourself in Law School? Some Great Tips!

BlogJared Correia, Law Practice Management Advisor at the Massachusetts Law Office Management Assistance Program (LOMAP), is back with the second part of his interview.

Today we’re talking about how law students can use social media to market themselves while still in school, and get a jump on the competition!

Without further ado, let’s get to it.

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