You are here: Home / Archives for choices

Changing Paths: Becoming an Attorney as a Second Career

April 14, 2020 by Leave a Comment

Changing Paths: Becoming an Attorney as a Second CareerThis week we welcome back guest writer Mark Livingston to talk about his path to becoming an attorney after another career.

During the 20th Century, it was common for people to have one job for a lifetime. People would begin working for one company, and decades later, retire from that same company with a gold watch, a handshake, and a hearty thank you. In 2020, the trends have changed. People change jobs, career fields, and industries, in some cases, every few years. My professional journey has been unique, but admittedly my mid-career shift to the law was not unusual. After several years working for a variety of state agencies, I made the decision to go to law school and become a lawyer. The following is a glimpse at the challenges and rewards of this change in career paths. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Jobs Tagged With: , ,

Being a More Effective Communicator

March 31, 2020 by Leave a Comment

Being a More Effective CommunicatorThis week we welcome back guest writer Stephanie Nweke to talk about learning to become a better communicator, a crucial skill for any lawyer.

“Communication” is a word we throw around all the time, especially when it comes to the job search. At one point, I used to think that communication meant my ability to get in front of a crowd and give a presentation on a topic I wasn’t passionate about. But I’ve learned that’s not an accurate depiction of communication. What does it actually mean to have good communication skills, and why is it that communication is a skill that seems to pop up in every application? In this post, I explore six different aspects of effective communication and how to incorporate better communication into our everyday lives. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Tips Tagged With: , ,

How to Figure out Which Type of Law to Practice

March 24, 2020 by Leave a Comment

How to Figure out Which Type of Law to PracticeThis week we welcome back guest writer Briana Borgolini to talk about how to decide what kind of law you want to eventually practice.

Of the many challenges law school presents, identifying which area of the law you’re interested in can be one of the largest. While some students may come to law school knowing what type of law they want to practice, many students won’t have a great idea of their exact interests. Further, interests may change for many students once they are exposed to different courses and areas of the law. While deciding which area is best for you may seem like a daunting task, there are some things you can consider doing to help you make the best decision possible.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Jobs Tagged With: , ,

How to Pick Classes for 2L

March 17, 2020 by Leave a Comment

How to Pick Classes for 2LThis 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…]

Filed Under: 2L Tagged With: , ,

Questions to Ask Yourself When Choosing a Law School

March 10, 2020 by Leave a Comment

Questions to Ask Yourself When Choosing a Law SchoolThis week we welcome back guest writer Briana Borgolini to talk about what to keep in mind when making the decision of which law school to attend.

If you’re trying to decide which law school to attend, take solace in the fact that the largest hurdle to law school (admission) has now been cleared. However, the decision of which law school to attend can seem equally imposing. While choosing a law school is a highly personal process, there are a few questions you should ask yourself to ensure you make the best decision possible. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Preparing for Law School Tagged With: , , , ,

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:

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Jobs Tagged With: , ,

Post- Semester Blues: How to Bounce Back from a Bad Semester

January 21, 2020 by Leave a Comment

Post- Semester Blues: How to Bounce Back from a Bad SemesterThis week we welcome guest writer Stephanie Nweke to talk about how to recover if first semester didn’t go well.

It’s a new year, and a new decade. Congrats on making it through another semester, or if you’re a 1L, your first semester of law school.

Things happen unexpectedly during the semester, and it’s unfair that your class grade is usually the sum total of your performance on one exam. That’s why law school grades aren’t always indicative of how great of an attorney you will be.

Regardless of your satisfaction with your grades from last semester, you should always take time to reflect and prepare for the upcoming semester.

So, from my personal experiences, I want to share some of the things that have helped me bounce back!

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Surviving Law School Tagged With: , , ,

How to Have a Social Life in Law School

November 19, 2019 by Leave a Comment

How to Have a Social Life in Law SchoolThis week we welcome back guest writer Alexandra Muskat to talk about balancing a social law and law school – it can be done!

It can be extremely hard to balance having a social life and being in law school. I witnessed this a lot in law school and found that there are two types of law students: those that party too much, and those that don’t let themselves have a break.

When I was in school, I fell somewhere in the middle. I was a bit older than my classmates, and I really enjoyed both my alone time and my family time. But I knew a lot of individuals who fell into both categories. My friends tended to fall into the “party too much” category, always attending every social function with the same fervor as they would have on a night out in Boston when they were 19.

I had a very regimented approach to balancing school and social activities: I micromanaged my time so efficiently that I knew how many hours I could take off to hang out with people and still get enough sleep to be able to study or go to school the next day. I micromanaged my balancing act, and it worked out very nicely. I rarely had FOMO (fear of missing out), and I always had all my work done. Win-win.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Life Tagged With: , , ,

Having It All In Law School – At Different Times!

October 22, 2019 by Leave a Comment

Having It All In Law School – At Different Times!This week we welcome guest writer Elizabeth Knox to talk about what it’s like to go to law school as a parent – an offers some advice for making it through!

She was beaming, thrilled by the pomp and circumstance. The crowd cheered for her as much as they cheered for me. Holding my five-year-old daughter’s hand as I crossed the stage to accept my diploma at my law school graduation was one of the proudest moments of my life so far. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Life Tagged With: , ,

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.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Surviving Law School Tagged With: , ,
« Previous Page
Next Page »