The Girl's Guide to Law School®
Get In, Get Through, Stay You
This week we welcome back guest writer Alexandra Muskat to talk about the best way to go about choosing your 2L classes for next year.
When you first start law school, you are required to take a specific set of classes – criminal law, contracts, civil procedure, legal writing and research, property law, constitutional law, and torts. But, towards the middle of your second semester 1L, you’ll be able to pick your own classes for the following year. [Read more…]
We 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…]
This week we welcome back guest writer Kala Mueller who offers advice for managing your 2L summer.
I have such fond memories of my second law school summer, which I spent clerking at a district attorney’s office. From the adrenaline rush of appearing in court for the first time to lunches spent bonding with fellow clerks, it was the highlight of my law school experience. Having gone on to a full-time gig as a prosecutor, I know now that summer clerkships allow you to experience a lot of the really fun aspects of being a lawyer (especially if you’re certified under your state’s student practice rules) without all of the not-so-fun aspects like managing a huge caseload or meeting billable hour requirements.
My advice for you is to work hard, but also relish this moment in time. Live it up! Next summer you’ll be deeply immersed in bar prep and after that, most of you probably won’t have another “summer break.” Below you’ll find some advice on making the most of your last summer clerkship experience along with a reminder about the judicial clerkship hiring process.
Please welcome back 3L Shirlene Armstrong to discuss how she improved her GPA between 1L and 2L years and the lessons she learned.
At the end of my 1L year, I was a bit disappointed in myself. I had always been an overachiever and school came naturally to me. I enjoyed learning and studying, for which I was rewarded with excellent grades. Law school was a little different. In my first year I felt like no matter what I did, I was not capable of achieving all As or even one solid A. I was so overwhelmed. I am a first generation law student, so I felt completely lost and was trying to figure out the whole law school thing. However, my 2L year felt like a flip of a coin. I was enjoying classes, understanding the material, and despite being extremely busy, managed to increase my GPA by .5 by the end of the year. Here are my reflections on what I did during my 2L year in order to boost my GPA. [Read more…]
Please welcome back 2L guest writer, Shirlene Armstrong to let us know how she managed to avoid the 2L slump.
Like that Britney Spears song, “I’m Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman,” you made it through the first year of law school but you’re not a 3L yet. Instead, you are in the middle of the rut: you are a 2L. There is nothing per say wrong with being a 2L. Actually, there are a lot of positives about being a 2L: you get a lot more freedom to choose your classes and activities, you don’t have to stress about 1L classes and reading, the bar exam is a year away, and you are more respected by your peers and professors. However, 2L year is notoriously known as the “work to death year.” (Trust me, it is) So how is it that 2Ls seem to fall into this “slump” and how can you avoid it?
Please welcome back our 2L guest writer, Shirlene Armstrong, to discuss her first mock trial experience. She discusses everything from the preparation through the actual trial, and tells us what she learned.
As a 2L, I have the opportunity to participate in “professional experience” activities for credit, extracurriculars. These include (but are not limited to) moot court, mock trial, law review, journal, and/or contract drafting. Since high school, I always wanted to do mock trial but unfortunately never attended a school that had a program. Thus, I was really excited to have an opportunity to join the team. I tried out for mock trial at the end of my 1L year and was fortunate to receive a spot on the team. As such, my first trial experience was in the first semester of my 2L year during our in-house competition. [Read more…]
Today we welcome back guest writer, and now 2L, Shirlene Armstrong, to discuss her first week back to law school. It’s a totally different experience than 1L year, and she’s sharing it all with us.
The days are getting shorter, the leaves are beginning to change, and the weather is starting to get a bit colder. That’s right, back-to-school season is upon us. This year instead of starting my law school journey, I am continuing it with my 2L year. The year they say that you are “worked to death.” This is a recollection of how my first week went and how this year and last year are already much different. [Read more…]
Today we welcome back guest writer Shirlene Armstrong, rising 2L, to discuss the end of her summer experience and the anticipation of her 2L year.
My 2L year is rapidly approaching as we hit the mid summer point. Although it feels like I was taking exams and finishing my 1L year yesterday, it is almost time to go back to school and continue on my journey. Even though I feel like summer has been no time at all, I am thankful for all of the experiences from this summer and am looking forward to where my path will take me next. [Read more…]
3L Michelle Williams, author of the excellent Introvert’s Guide to Law School Networking returns with advice on a very important topic — deciding which law school classes to take.
During 1L year, I spent absolutely no time thinking about how to choose classes for 2L year. The week before 2L year registration, I was in a mild tizzy. I had no idea what to take and which professors to take. Thankfully, things turned out more or less fine.
I’m feeling nostalgic (and relieved) since I have just finished registration for my final semester of law school. Most law schools will soon release a tentative schedule for fall 2014. Rather than stressing yourself the week of registration, consider a few different class-choosing strategies now.
Today we have a very special guest, Bruce MacEwen, president of JD Match and Adam Smith, Esq. He’s at the leading edge of innovation in the legal profession, and routinely writes and speaks about the serious issues lawyers face in the current economy.
To say he’s got opinions about the value of law school is an understatement! Without further ado, here’s Bruce.
Do you really want to be a lawyer?
True story: Here’s what lawyers do.
