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About Hillary Vaillancourt

Hillary Vaillancourt is a lawyer and writer at The Vaillancourt Law Firm, LLC. She has experience in a wide variety of matters including food law, education law, real estate law, family law, criminal law, contracts, and estate planning. She earned her JD from New England Law|Boston and is licensed in Virginia.

Why Being A Woman In Law Is An Advantage

May 19, 2020 by Leave a Comment

Why Being A Woman In Law Is An AdvantageThis week we welcome back guest writer Hillary Vaillancourt to talk about some advantages to being a woman in the legal field.

As women, we constantly hear about all of the reasons why the legal profession can be difficult. Clients assume we’re not tough. We have to earn clients’ respect. We have to earn the respect of our peers. We have to work twice as hard for half the pay. It’s impossible to have work-life balance. And, a family? Forget it.

But, there are many ways in which being a woman in law can be a great advantage. When you think of all the ways that being female is an asset (not a hindrance), you can see how to empower yourself in your career. Play to your strengths and you can accomplish whatever you set out to do.

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Filed Under: Life Tagged With: ,

Three Keys To Career Success

April 28, 2020 by 1 Comment

Three Keys To Career SuccessThis week we welcome back guest writer Hillary Vaillancourt to talk about how to achieve career success.

With everything you have to worry about while in law school, it’s sometimes hard to lose sight of the fact that you’re going to law school for the express purpose of getting a job after graduation, presumably in the legal field.

But, succeeding in your career isn’t just about getting good grades while in law school and landing the perfect job right after graduation. Succeeding in your career is a long-term campaign that requires some thought, consideration, and courage. [Read more…]

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Are You An Entrepreneur Lawyer?

February 25, 2020 by Leave a Comment

Are You An Entrepreneur Lawyer?This week we welcome back guest writer Hillary Vaillancourt to talk about whether you may be suited to take a less traditional attorney path as an entrepreneurial lawyer.

I don’t watch a ton of t.v. shows. But, one show I never miss is Shark Tank. I love seeing innovative new products and learning about price elasticity, franchise models, or advisory shares. I like to read business magazines, and I’m always tinkering with new business ideas.

After years of watching Shark Tank and reading business publications, I’ve noticed that a lot of businesses are founded by lawyers. It makes sense. Lawyers have a certain skillset that lends itself well to founding businesses. And, lawyers also tend to rise to challenges and be quality problem-solvers.

Could you be the next great legal entrepreneur? Here are signs you might make a great business-founder:

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What To Look For When Interviewing For Jobs

February 11, 2020 by Leave a Comment

What To Look For When Interviewing For JobsThis week we welcome back guest writer Hillary Vaillancourt to talk about how to find the best fit in a job when you’re going through the interviewing process.

Job hunting can be a very scary process. Sometimes you just need to accept whatever you can get and start earning a salary. But, hopefully you’re in a position instead where you can choose where you want to start your career instead of settling for a job.

If you are so fortunate as to be more selective in your job search, there are several factors you should consider about a firm or company. The reality is, an interview should work both ways. The potential employer wants to get to know you, the potential employee, and see if you might be a good fit. But, you should also try to get to know the employer to determine if it is the kind of place where you want to work. [Read more…]

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Three Signs You Need To Slow Down

November 5, 2019 by Leave a Comment

Three Signs You Need To Slow DownThis week we welcome back guest writer Hillary Vaillancourt to discuss some obvious signs that you need to take a breather and slow down your pace in law school.

There’s no way around it. Law school is stressful and busy. You are expected to read more than you have ever read before. You are expected to analyze cases you’ve never heard of. You must plan to answer questions on said cases in front of your peers. You need to prepare for summer clerkships or internships. You should be thinking about the bar exam. Participate in extracurricular activities. Write for law review. Eat healthy. Get enough sleep. Volunteer. Exercise. Read for fun. Apply for jobs. Re-read your notes. Prepare for exams.

The list of things you are advised to do as a law student is truly expansive. But, sometimes? Sometimes you’re just sick and tired of law school and everything associated with it. That’s ok. We all need to slow down occasionally, even if it’s for a short sabbatical before we tackle our never-ending to-do list again.

Here are three signs you’re ready for a break.

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Three Reasons Reading Fiction In Law School Is Important

October 8, 2019 by Leave a Comment

Three Reasons Reading Fiction In Law School Is ImportantThis week we welcome back guest writer Hillary Vaillancourt to talk about why adding some fiction reading into your law school routine might be a good idea.

Open any law school online forum and you will likely find numerous instances of prospective law students asking questions like, “I’m thinking of going to law school, but I also like to read for fun. Can I do both?” or “How do you find time to read for fun in law school?” Oftentimes you will find responses such as, “Read for fun in law school? I couldn’t even find time to read my horoscope.”

The real answer to whether or not you can go to law school and also read for fun is yes, yes you can. But, more importantly, here’s why you should read for fun in law school.

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Filed Under: Surviving Law School Tagged With: , ,

What To Accomplish As A 2L

September 17, 2019 by Leave a Comment

What To Accomplish As A 2LWe welcome back guest writer Hillary Vaillancourt to talk about goals for 2L year and how to get there.

There’s an old saying about law school that you’ve probably heard already. The saying goes, “The first year they scare you to death. The second year they work you to death. The third year they bore you to death.” That held true for me. I can absolutely say I worked harder the second year than I did either of the other two years. But, being successful isn’t just about working harder. It’s about working smarter. Here are a few tips on getting the most out of your busy 2L year. [Read more…]

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Five Ways To Prepare For Fall Semester

August 13, 2019 by Leave a Comment

Five Ways To Prepare For Fall SemesterThis week we welcome guest writer Hillary Vaillancourt to talk about easing into fall semester after that summer off from law school.

Transitioning from summer break to fall classes has its challenges. For some, the summer was spent at a law clinic practicing one area of law or at an internship maybe touching on a few legal subjects. For some, especially incoming 1Ls, the summer may have been spent working a retail job or simply taking time off.

No matter how you spent your time this summer, law school will be a big change come fall. Even if you spent time practicing law in a clinic or internship, the type of cases you’ll read in law school and the subjects covered will likely be different than what you experienced over the last few months.

So how do you prepare for fall classes?

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Three Things I Would Do Differently In Law School

July 9, 2019 by 2 Comments

Three Things I Would Do Differently In Law SchoolThis week we welcome guest writer Hillary Vaillancourt to discuss some changes she would make if she were going through law school again.

I still remember feeling like I was on the brink of something great the day I walked into my law school for my first day of classes. My whole career was ahead of me. The possibilities were endless.

I went to law school wanting to be Atticus Finch or Erin Brockovich. I was going to work for a nonprofit or move to Washington, DC and lobby on Capitol Hill for animal rights or children’s rights or the environment. Who needed to know estate planning or business law? Estate planners and business attorneys, not a future philanthropic advocate like me.

Turns out I was wrong about a few things. Here’s what I would do differently if I could go to law school all over again.

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