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LSAT Prep Has Staggering Costs for Certain Students
By Shanti Brien • June 14, 2018 •Careers, Other Career Issues, Law School, Pre-Law, Issues, Sexism, Sexual Harassment, and Other Forms of Discrimination
Recently a young Native American woman and aspiring lawyer asked me if I knew any free or low cost LSAT prep courses. I had previously tried to dissuade her from law school--just as my grandfather had given me 29 Reasons Not to Go to Law School before I enrolled--but alas, she, like I, was determined. I didn’t know much about LSAT prep but soon felt the shock of the $1300 price tag. Soon thereafter, the $1300 grew much more significant when I realized the enormous negative impact of high-cost prep courses, especially on low-income people and people of color, but…
Disability & the Summer Associate Gig: To Disclose or Not to Disclose?
By Katherine Macfarlane • June 03, 2018 •Writers in Residence, Law School, Choosing a Career and Landing a Job, Issues, Sexism, Sexual Harassment, and Other Forms of Discrimination
During my 1L year, I was thrilled to receive a summer position at an employment rights firm that represented plaintiffs in anti-discrimination suits. I’d convinced the firm to waive its practice of hiring only rising 3Ls for summer law clerk positions. I entered my summer job with high hopes about the extraordinary cases I’d be a part of, and an understanding that, as a rising 2L, I’d need to prove myself. I knew that the firm’s associates worked around the clock, but for summer law clerks, the hours were reasonable. Feedback on my research and writing was strong, and it appeared that…
The Barred Life: A Series of Indefinite Length - Part I
By Jannet Matthew • May 30, 2018 •Careers, Other Career Issues, Law School, Other Law School Issues, Issues, Balancing Private and Professional Life, Other Issues, Features, •Advice on Passing the Bar Exam
PART I A Personal Thing, but a Family Affair I’m a December graduate of Southwestern Law School in Los Angeles and took the February 2018 California Bar Exam. The month is May but I've been an emotional wreck since February. I write this post sitting two days away from knowing my fate and an alien feeling has come over me - my emotional wreckage is finally settling. The closer I’ve gotten to the result date, the more I let go of my anxiety, fear, numbness, and desire to control. This is a major breakthrough I'm profoundly proud of because I've…
Selfie with no Filter: the 1L Life - Academic Advice
By Britt Wiegand • May 29, 2018 •Writers in Residence, Law School, Pre-Law, Curriculum and Classroom Dynamics, Other Law School Issues
Whew. It's over! Finals ended over two weeks ago and I still have days when I'm still not sure that I completely feel it yet. Sometimes I think I do, then (like the other day) I'm driving to meet friends for lunch, see someone with a backpack crossing the street, and automatically think "sh*t I've gotta get back to studying!" Though the feeling is still sinking in, I've received grades and gotten a chance to reflect on what I would do differently. Since I can't go back, my hope is to shed some light for future students. I did a good bit…
Innovative Law Schools: Aspirational or Unattainable?
By Shundra Crumpton • May 29, 2018 •Writers in Residence, Law School, Curriculum and Classroom Dynamics
UPDATE: I graduated from law school on May 11, 2018, so I am now Ms. Innovative Psychic, J.D.! I cannot believe that three years of the Socratic method, curved grades, and outlines are finally behind me. I still remember my first day of law school. As commonly experienced by many beginning law students, but rarely uttered, my main concern at the time was whether I should wear a suit to my first class or jeans. Over the years, I went from dreading cold calling to wishing that the professor would call on me so that I could be “off the…
First Generation Success Story: The Costs of Law School
By Shirlene Armstrong • May 28, 2018 •Writers in Residence, Law School, Pre-Law
I had decided on which schools to apply to but actually had to go through the application and deciding on what school I should actually go to. I decided to apply to Michigan State University, Wayne State University, Washington University in St. Louis, and a few other schools. In order to apply for law school, there are several things you need to do. You have to take and pass the LSAT, fill out extensive applications, write personal statements, update your resume and other documents, and pay so many fees. As a first generation law student, no one really told me…
Straight From The Source: An Interview with Meredith Cohen from Momentum Search Group (Part 2 of 2)
By Diana LaMorie • April 29, 2018 •Writers in Residence, Careers, Firms and the Private Sector, Other Career Issues, Law School, Choosing a Career and Landing a Job
Last month, I sang the praises of recruiters as instrumental assets in forging your career. I also shared an enlightening info session on the JD Preferred marketplace with Meredith Cohen, Managing Director at Momentum Search Group. This month, the conversation continues about Meredith’s personal experience as a lawyer turned headhunter (a “JD Preferred” career path in its own right). Without further ado, let’s take a peek inside Meredith’s world. ***** You started out in BigLaw straight out of law school. What made you want to leave? And what drew you to recruiting as your new career path? I always knew…
Friend or Foe? Technology In Our Everyday Lives: Artificial Intelligence
By Keisha M. McClellan • April 28, 2018 •Writers in Residence, Careers, Firms and the Private Sector, Law School, Choosing a Career and Landing a Job, Internships and Clerkships
Fear that robots will rule the world, even the world of lawyers, is a major source of trepidation about developments in artificial intelligence (“AI”). But looking beyond headlines and considering other points of view is necessary. AI and the automation of certain legal tasks is not something to fear or outright reject because “AI in the legal profession is not a rogue robot storming the halls of justice.” Rather, AI has the potential to enhance the practice of law rather than simply decimating the roles of attorneys. According to the Brookings Institution, AI is a technology tool that “enables people to…
First Generation Success Story: Choosing Law Schools, Where Should I Apply?
By Shirlene Armstrong • April 28, 2018 •Writers in Residence, Law School, Pre-Law
I had finally received my LSAT score and was ready to begin the application process. However, I couldn’t just apply to all of the law schools in the country. Applying to law school actually takes a lot of time and money. Personally, I had limited funds (since I was paying for it myself and a fresh college graduate) and was working full time (so had very limited time). Thus, I knew that my next step was figuring out where to go to law school or where to apply to at least. Since I was going to be studying at a…