Ms. JD is excited to partner with BARBRI to share insights on the transition from law school to legal practice. In this conversation, BARBRI leaders reflect on the challenges new lawyers face, the skills that set them up for success, and the resources available to support women throughout their legal careers.

Meet Our Contributors

Liz Arnkoff, Senior Director of Legal Education, BARBRI
Denalee McDonald, Senior Director of Legal Education, BARBRI

Please briefly describe your role at BARBRI.

Liz: As a Director of Legal Education at BARBRI, I work at the intersection of education, leadership, and strategy to help law students and legal professionals succeed at every stage of their careers. I partner with students, faculty, and institutions nationwide to deliver engaging educational programming—both in person and virtually—while translating complex bar exam and licensing requirements into clear, actionable guidance. In this role, I lead and mentor large, multi-state student ambassador teams, building collaborative cultures that consistently drive meaningful results. Through a consultative approach, I manage the full relationship lifecycle with students and institutions—from early engagement through post-sale academic support—while generating meaningful annual revenue and contributing significantly to regional growth. I am deeply involved in coaching students on substantive law, bar exam strategy, and lawyering skills, while also advising faculty and administrators on pedagogy, data-driven learning, and evolving legal market trends. As part of the Barbri team I host national webinars and live events, create training and educational content used across the organization, and serve as a mentor to new hires. What makes the role especially rewarding is the opportunity to advocate for students internally and help shape better learning experiences at scale—combining mission-driven work with measurable impact and leadership development.

What do you see as the biggest challenges students face in their transition from law school to practice?

Liz: From my perspective, the biggest challenges students face when moving from law school into practice fall into a few main concerns:

1. The shift from “learning the law” to producing value

Law school rewards issue-spotting, theory, and perfection. Practice rewards judgment, efficiency, and responsiveness. New associates are often surprised to learn that knowing the law is just the starting point—what really matters is applying it practically, on time, and in a way that helps a client or a supervising attorney make a decision. Learning how to understand what is really being asked of you (key objectives), ask the right questions, prioritize tasks, and deliver work product that’s “ready to use” takes time. So make sure you are comfortable asking for professional help/guidance/or examples.

2. Managing ambiguity and imperfect information

In practice, there is rarely a clean fact pattern or a clear “right answer.” You’re often working with incomplete facts, shifting client needs, and competing deadlines. That uncertainty can be uncomfortable, especially for high-achieving students used to clear benchmarks. Developing confidence in exercising judgment—and knowing when to flag risks versus when to move forward—is a steep but critical learning curve. It is also something that with time you become more confident about. Working to make friends in your workplace that you can ask for advice and guidance is essential. This will also help throughout your entire professional life making your place of work more enjoyable.

3. Understanding expectations that aren’t written down

Much of legal practice runs on unspoken norms: how quickly to respond, how much detail a partner wants, when to push back, and how to communicate bad news. New lawyers often struggle not because they lack ability, but because they haven’t yet learned how to read the room. I always encourage young associates to ask clarifying questions early—it’s a sign of professionalism, not weakness. ALSO- when you start a new job, make sure you are listening more than speaking. It will help you learn the culture of your work environment and allow you to develop more in-depth and meaningful professional skills.

4. Time management and sustainability

The workload and pace can be a shock. Long hours, unpredictable deadlines, and constant responsiveness can feel overwhelming—especially for those trying to maintain relationships, health, or family responsibilities. As a working parent, I think it’s crucial to help young lawyers understand that building good habits early—clear communication, realistic planning, and knowing when to ask for help—matters just as much as raw effort. I also believe you should expect the first year in any job to need three times as much effort as years going forward. Set yourself up with a lighter load outside the office if possible so you have time to recharge.

5. Developing a professional identity

Many new lawyers feel pressure to prove themselves immediately, which can lead to overworking, imposter syndrome, or burnout. The transition to practice is as much about learning who you are as a lawyer as it is about learning the work itself. Confidence grows with experience, and no one expects a first-year associate to know everything—what matters is curiosity, research, reliability, and integrity.

If I were preparing a young associate, I’d emphasize this: be proactive, be teachable, communicate clearly, and remember that this is a marathon, not a sprint. The lawyers who thrive long-term aren’t just the smartest—they’re the ones who learn how to work well with others, manage their energy, and give themselves grace as they grow.

What skills do you feel are important to build early on before entering the workforce?

Liz: Before entering practice, I believe the most important skills for a young associate to build are clear communication, sound judgment, and reliability. Being able to communicate concisely, ask thoughtful questions, and flag issues early builds trust quickly. Developing the ability to prioritize, accept feedback without defensiveness, and deliver timely, usable work product is far more important than striving for perfection and delaying your work product. Remember that feedback at work is not personal- it is business, try to grow from it.

Emotional intelligence—understanding different working styles, managing stress, and advocating for yourself professionally—also plays a critical role. Remember that you are new and not the center of their work world. You need to be humble and also open to showing who you are beyond work- let people get to know you professionally and lightly add in your personal qualities, like hobbies or interests. Finally, I strongly encourage building sustainable work habits early; strong organization, realistic planning, and self-awareness support long-term success. Curiosity, accountability, and a willingness to learn matter more than knowing everything on day one.

What tips do you have for students to develop a bar study plan that feels rigorous yet sustainable?

Denalee & Liz: From my perspective—as a woman attorney, a working parent, and someone who’s guided many students through this process—the most sustainable bar study plans balance structure with flexibility. This is my feeling for a solid life success recipe.

First, start with a realistic assessment of your time and energy, not an idealized version of what you think you should be doing. A rigorous plan is one you can actually execute day after day. If you are studying with Barbri, it will help to use the customizable calendar and be realistic with your consistent daily schedule, but leave buffer time for catch-up and rest so one unexpected day doesn’t derail the whole plan. Consistency matters far more than occasional marathon study sessions. When I studied for the bar exam, I had the privilege of full time study all summer. I went into a public space to study (my law school and the local public library) 5 days a week with an hour of MCQs, 3 hours of lectures, an hour for lunch and 4 hours in the afternoon of study. Then if I had energy after dinner I would do some light review of outlines or flashcards after I caught up on the phone with family or watched a show or exercised. Weekends were to catch up on places I felt needed attention. IF you are working while studying it is imperative you start studying early so you can be on a more “part-time” study schedule.

Second, focus on active study over sheer hours. Prioritize practice questions, essays, and self-review, and use the assessment data in your course to guide where you spend your time. Studying everything equally feels busy but isn’t effective; a sustainable plan targets weaknesses while maintaining strengths. When you are studying with BARBRI, the best added value to your course is the “recommendations” button, it will re-curate your course every morning to provide your daily assignments based on your work product and your calendar timing. While you can always switch over to “entire course” and choose your own study path, letting your course give you the best assignment on the right day will yield you serious study success and less stress. The ABA did a study looking at UBE bar exam test takers that showed, BARBRI students putting in the same amount of work as students choosing another study path, yielded an average of a 19 point advantage. Knowing this, should give you confidence and comfort using your course as it is designed for you.

Third, break the plan into short, manageable goals—daily and weekly benchmarks that give you a sense of progress. This helps maintain motivation and prevents burnout. Build in regular check-ins to reassess what’s working and adjust as needed. The “recommended” course will do this for you.

Finally, protect your physical and mental health. Schedule breaks, sleep, movement, and time with people who support you. When you have time built in to look forward to, it gives you a goal to accomplish your daily bar prep tasks. If you feel like you are endlessly studying, it will be easy to say yes to distractions that do not actually fill your cup. On that note, beware of anyone around you that doesn’t have the same agenda as you- to pass the exam one and done. Burning out is not a badge of honor, and it doesn’t lead to better outcomes. The students who succeed long-term are the ones who treat bar prep like a marathon not a sprint: disciplined, intentional, and compassionate with themselves.

What gives you hope about the future of women in the legal profession?

Denalee: As a woman in the legal world, I recognize that many glass ceilings remain. However, we are witnessing a pivotal shift: women are no longer just entering the legal profession; they are leading it. It is incredibly encouraging that women have comprised the majority of law school cohorts for a decade. This sustained presence has fueled the rise of vital networks like Ms. JD, which foster the mentorship and connectivity necessary for long-term success. As we see more women ascending to the bench and taking seats of power, I am hopeful that these collective networks will be the engine that finally bridges the equity gap and secures our place at the highest levels of the law.

What BARBRI resources do you think are most valuable for Ms. JD’s community to utilize?

Denalee: BARBRI has many great resources no matter what stage you are in your legal journey.

For first year law students:

We have our free 1L success program that has black letter law outlines, lecture videos and practice questions as you prepare for exams. As you make your way through your class readings we also have a free 7 day trial of Quimbee study aids that is a great supplement to help prepare case briefs for class: Unlock Everything You Need for 1L Exam Success.

Second and third year students:

Upper level students can still take advantage of the free 7 day trial of Quimbee study aids. This comes with access to the Quimbee learning hub where students can link their casebooks and be directed to helpful study aids and videos. Additionally, we have 2L/3L success that has black letter law outlines, lectures, and practice questions for the upper level doctrinal classes. That can be accessed: Unlock Free 2L and 3L Success Resources | BARBRI

BARBRI also offers a FREE MPRE course students can enroll in here: Free Online MPRE Prep Course | Best MPRE Prep Class | BARBRI

Bar takers:

For those planning to sit for an upcoming bar exam, BARBRI offers comprehensive bar prep packages for every student and for every jurisdiction. We have many helpful free resources including state checklists, a bar exam digest that has filing information on every jurisdiction and a free bar prep preview course where students can test drive the BARBRI program.

Practicing Attorneys:

BARBRI offers over 6000 professional development courses. Attorneys can learn more about our courses and packages available at: CLE Courses for Attorneys & Law Firms | BARBRI.