How to Manage a Medical Issue When You Have a Full-Time, Demanding, Legal Job

How to Manage a Medical Issue When You Have a Full-Time, Demanding, Legal JobThis week we welcome back guest writer and lawyer Marissa Geannette to discuss dealing with a medical issue and being a lawyer at the same time.

Juggling a demanding legal job with all of your other life obligations definitely takes some work. On top of that, if you have a medical issue, it’s even more essential that you have a plan so that neither your work nor your health suffers.

So, how can you manage a medical issue and keep up with your job, all while taking care of yourself? This is such an individual question, and, in the end, what you choose to do or say (or not do or say) is totally up to you. However, we have a few tips to help you start thinking about how you might want to manage your own situation. [Read more…]

Five Ideas To Celebrate Your Law School Achievements

Five Ideas To Celebrate Your Law School AchievementsThis week we welcome back guest writer Tiffany Lo to discuss some ways to celebrate all you have done in law school!

My law school classmates have done amazing things: publish a student note, achieve a victory for their client in a clinic, argue in front of a court, finish an extensive research paper, present at a conference, organize guest speaker events, advocate with the school administration or local governments, put together student mixers, compete in moot court, ace a job interview, incorporate feedback and so much more. Whether you are about to (finally!) obtain your J.D. or simply want to reflect on your work in law school so far, it’s always a good time to celebrate your achievements. During the inevitable moments of stress and self-doubt, it helps to remind ourselves that we are on the right track.

Here are some ideas that you can use to celebrate all the cool things you’ve done in law school: [Read more…]

Following Your Own Law School Timeline

Following Your Own Law School TimelineThis week we welcome guest writer Zoila Sanchez to talk about how to focus on your own law school experience and adapt to what you need to in order to make it through school.

As you may have already realized, there is not a one-size-fits-all approach to experiencing law school as we are all different and rarely fall into the “traditional” law student mold. For example, some students are parents and attend school full or part-time. Some students are returning for a second or third degree.

You may have experienced feeling “behind” in some way. For example, you may feel late on securing an internship merely because someone else has already interviewed or secured one.

As a law student, I remember representing a bar prep program and promoting a prescribed schedule to help students stay on track. Specifically, there were dates on when to complete the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE). While the recommendation seemed to emphasize starting early to set yourself up for success, I came to realize how so much of the real-life law school experience for many is set to a totally different pace than what was on the schedule. [Read more…]

How To Respond To Questions About The Law From Friends And Family Members

How To Respond To Questions About The Law From Friends And Family MembersThis week we welcome back guest writer Tiffany Lo to talk about how to respond to family and friend questions about the law when you’re a law student.

It is a rite of passage for law students. At a family gathering, over a messaging app, or just out of the blue, a friend or family member asks you: [insert legal question here]? This can be a very general question: “what does divorce mean for property division?” or something much more specific: “how do I deal with my landlord who is trying to evict me because they want to sell the house?” “how do I contest a traffic ticket for failure to stop at a red light?” “how do sue someone in small claims court for not paying me for a job?” I have gotten a range of questions related to landlord-tenant laws, traffic violations, personal injury claims, family law, and business law, and have heard similar stories from fellow law students.

Perhaps you’ve studied the exact topic in a class, come across the issue while working at your summer job, or have knowledge based on your past academic research and work experiences. But more likely, you do not know the general area, let alone the relevant laws. You are probably hesitant to give information and advice, worried that it might turn out to be incorrect and lead someone down a wrong path. Moreover, since you are not yet a licensed attorney, you don’t want to be engaged in the unauthorized practice of law.

Law students are all different, with varying obligations, interests, and bandwidth. Each person would handle a situation like this differently. This blog post is not meant to provide a one-size-fits-all approaches, but suggests three approaches you can consider when responding to such a question.

[Read more…]

Carving Your Own Path in the Legal Field

Carving Your Own Path in the Legal FieldThis week we welcome back guest writer Zoila Sanchez to discuss how you can find your own, unique area of the law.

When I was an undergraduate, it seemed to me that most students fell into either pre-medical school track, psychology, or business. I recall our career center heavily focusing on business opportunity events, however, none of these paths seemed to spark my interests. We did not hear much about other possibilities.

[Read more…]

What Ted Lasso Teaches Me About Succeeding In The Law

What Ted Lasso Teaches Me About Succeeding In The LawThis week we welcome back Tiffany Lo to talk about what the show Ted Lasso has taught her becoming a success in the legal world.

Who doesn’t love Ted Lasso? I am not ashamed to admit that I anxiously await every Friday for the new episode to drop.

The show constantly surprises me with new layers to its characters. They are complex human beings, all with admirable qualities that I hope to emulate. I think that law students can learn something from each and every character and apply these lessons to thrive in law school and in their careers.

Below are my thoughts on some of my favorite characters. Warning: spoilers ahead! [Read more…]

Nurturing Your Romantic Relationship With Your Non-Law Student Partner

Nurturing Your Romantic Relationship With Your Non-Law Student PartnerThis week we welcome back guest writer Tiffany Lo to discuss how to keep your romantic relationship going in law school, with a non law school significant other.

I have been with my partner through a lot of schooling. But when I started law school, I wondered how we could keep our long-distance relationship strong. I also wondered if both being graduate students in very different, but both demanding academic programs – I in law, and he in math – would change anything for the worse. Happily, 1L did not break us up, and after more than two years of juggling classes, teaching, work, research, internships, and other commitments, we are going strong.

I would be remiss not to mention that for couples, any strain that law school puts on the relationship is very real and valid. This would go for any other endeavor that is inherently time-consuming and taxing, My own experience is not representative of all, as my partner and I were lucky in many ways: we could visit each other once a month during 1L; we relied on technology when not physically together, we have dated through obligations in high school and college; we are both graduate students; and we spent a lot of time during work and zoom classes-from-home during the pandemic than otherwise possible. I am grateful for the circumstances that keep us connected, as well as the work we both put in to be understanding and loving. We tackled disagreements and mistakes with grace, and always supported each other.

Here are my thoughts on nurturing your romantic relationship with your partner, and especially one who is not a law student or a lawyer.

[Read more…]

How To Balance Your Child While You Work

This week we hear from guest writer Hillary Vaillancourt about balancing parenthood with a legal career at home.

Covid has brought significant attention to the need for childcare for working parents. Many of us have been trying to tend to work while simultaneously tending to children at home, and the result has been massive burnout, frustration, and chaos (at least at times in my household).

At the start of the pandemic, it was wonderful having my two-year-old son home with me. I don’t begrudge parents who happily rely on daycare, but for me, I struggled leaving my son with a caregiver. I wanted to be with him. I wanted to watch him learn and grow and play and laugh. I wanted to be there to comfort him if he fell and scraped a knee.

Despite my idealistic expectations for caring for my toddler son while building a virtual law practice, the reality of trying to manage both roles, mother and lawyer, at home at the same time proved more challenging than I anticipated.

Nearly eighteen months into this new lifestyle, I’ve learned a few tricks to keeping now both of my children (age 3 and 1) entertained while also keeping my law practice afloat. Here’s what you need to know:

[Read more…]

Create a Care Package for the Law Student in your Life!

Create a Care Package for the Law Student in your Life!This week we welcome back guest writer Tiffany Lo to talk about some ideas for care packages to make a law student in your life feel appreciated and cared for!

It is no secret that law school is hard and the legal profession has a serious mental health issue. I have experienced and seen first-hand the stress and anxiety that law students face, and have admired students’ and law schools’ efforts to alleviate these challenges, such as organizing study breaks or providing a therapist.

With many friends starting law school this fall, I started reflecting upon what would have made my transition into law school life more painless. And recently, in preparation for lunch with a dear friend and incoming 1L, I assembled a care package for her.

Now, I would like to share a list of things that could go into a care package for the law student in your life. Some of things are practical, while others are fun, but they all are important in my book.

[Read more…]

Law School Perspective – Tips to Help You Transition from Summertime to Studying

Law School Perspective - Tips to Help You Transition from Summertime to StudyingThis week we welcome back guest writer Shirlene Brown to discuss how to get back into school mode after a summer off.

Summer is the best time for law students. You can earn money through your summer jobs, catch-up with family and friends, and just relax! Unfortunately, summer went by so fast and the Fall semester is just around the corner. Now that the summer is winding down, it is time to get prepared for the school year to begin! I have been through three years of law school and thus I have lots of experience transitioning from summertime to school time. I have created a list of some tips that helped me get through the summertime sadness and get ready for the grind of a new school year. I hope these help you feel prepared for what another year of law school brings!  [Read more…]