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The Introvert Lawyer’s Guide to Networking
By Claire Parsons • April 25, 2018 •Writers in Residence, Careers, Other Career Issues
A few years ago, a meme that I found hilarious circulated the internet. It read “Introverts of the world unite! Separately. In your own homes.” That meme is both true and not true, and maybe that’s why it is funny. It is true because introverts tend not to like large group activities, but it is also not true because it doesn’t mean they can’t do the things that we tend to categorize as activities for extroverts. I’m a trial lawyer, I love public speaking, and I am an introvert. Networking is a part of professional life for most lawyers, even…
Great Alternative Legal Career Options
By Dennis Hung • April 20, 2018 •Careers, Firms and the Private Sector, Nonprofits and the Public Interest, Other Career Issues
Going to law school is an educational dream for many people. While many of the people that complete law school will end up working for a larger legal firm when they graduate, some may choose to pursue a different career path. For those that are looking to use their legal degree without working for a larger legal firm, there are several different great career paths to consider pursuing. Corporate Compliance Specialist One common business area for someone with a legal background to go into is compliance law. There are far more regulations set forth on business than ever before. Business…
You’ll Pay for This: Choosing The Right Repayment Plan
By Kerriann Stout • April 18, 2018 •Ms. JD, Writers in Residence, Careers, Other Career Issues, Law School, Pre-Law, Other Law School Issues, Issues, •Other Issues
After going to law school, I like to think that I have a pretty high threshold for the “I have no idea what I’m doing” feeling and can ultimately figure most things out with enough research. However, when it was time to figure out which repayment plan I should use to start paying back my law school loans, I was in tears of confusion in 5 minutes flat. I was immediately paralyzed by questions, such as “Why are there so many options?”, “Why do they all sound the same?”, “How do the payments range from $0 to $3,000?”, “How do…
To be a Woman and to be “Workplace Ready”
By Ava Lee • April 18, 2018 •Ms. JD, Conference, Ms. JD Book Reviews, Ms. JD Weekly Roundup, Writers in Residence, Careers, Firms and the Private Sector, Other Career Issues, •Law School, Choosing a Career and Landing a Job, Other Law School Issues, Issues, Balancing Private and Professional Life, Mentoring and Networking, Sexism, Sexual Harassment, and Other Forms of Discrimination, Women and Law in the Media, •Features, Guest Bloggers and Profiles of Women in the Law, Myths & Truths, First Women, Superwomen JDs and What You Can Learn From Them
For a man, the common mantra is “seize the day.” For a woman, the common mantra is “act accordingly.” Women are conditioned to believe their self-worth is based on following rules or being "good." The ideal woman projects grace, cooperation, and compliance. She tailors herself to be pleasant and acceptable. She accommodates and sidesteps her wants for the greater good. Unfortunately, this outlook can leave one professionally stagnant. Being assertive, firm, and steadfast are required to achieve personal and professional objectives. But these traits are often downplayed for fear of being rejected or worse, "unlikeable." I remember my first day…
Delaying The Bar? It Could Reduce Your Debt
By Anna Johansson • April 18, 2018 •Careers, Other Career Issues
The bar exam: in many ways, it’s the culmination of your law education. Pass, and you get to start your career. Fail, and you’ll be sidelined. So if the bar is so important, are there any good reasons to delay? One of the leading reasons for postponing the bar exam among graduates is feeling under-prepared. In recent years, a spate of predatory and often for-profit law schools have left students loaded with debt and lacking sufficient knowledge of the law. And considering the price of taking the bar, and the time lost to test prep and job searching, delaying could…
“Speaking Up” Is Essential for Success as Women Lawyers
By Susan Smith Blakely • April 05, 2018 •Careers, Other Career Issues
Many women were raised to speak only when spoken to. Maybe you heard that from your mother or your grandmother. That might have been fine in days gone by, but it has no relevance in today's world. Today, women need to learn to speak up and be heard, and that certainly is true of women in a male-dominated profession like law. It is not sufficient to wait until someone invites your opinion or comment. You should not be reluctant to express yourself without an invitation as long as you have something relevant to say that will be an asset to…
You’ll Pay For This: It Is Time To Dig Out Of Your Financial Hole
By Kerriann Stout • April 03, 2018 •Writers in Residence, Careers, Other Career Issues, Law School, Other Law School Issues, Issues, Other Issues
Welcome back! So far, we’ve covered the bleak reality of the student loan crisis and learned how to read our student loan statements (all highly riveting, I assure you.) This month, we are ready to discuss how to start digging yourself out of the financial hole in which you find yourself. Now, you may be wondering why you should take any advice from me -what with my $200k+ student loans and all - about paying debt off. Well, my husband and I used the following 6 tips to pay off over $60,000 in 2 years (and managed to save money towards…
Straight From The Source: An Interview with Meredith Cohen from Momentum Search Group (Part 1 of 2)
By Diana LaMorie • March 28, 2018 •Writers in Residence, Careers, Other Career Issues, Law School, Choosing a Career and Landing a Job
Recruiters are the unsung heroes of a JD’s career. Vastly underrated and underappreciated if you ask me. My current and prior jobs were both obtained through recruiters. I would go so far as to say that if you are not in touch with recruiters, then you are not in touch with your career. Who else can give you the immediate scoop on the marketplace, your relative position in it, your earnings potential, what roles are out there for you, etc. … for free? With a glance at your resume and a five minute chat about your work history, a recruiter…
The Mindful Mindset: Managing Anxiety the Mindful Way
By Pia Das • March 24, 2018 •Writers in Residence, Careers, Other Career Issues, Law School, Other Law School Issues, Issues, Balancing Private and Professional Life
"Fear keeps us focused on the past or worried about the future. If we can acknowledge our fear, we can realize that right now we are okay. Right now, today, we are still alive, and our bodies are working marvelously. Our eyes can still see the beautiful sky. Our ears can still hear the voices of our loved ones." - Thich Nhat Hanh Mindfulness encourages us to pay attention intentionally to the present moment and non-judgmentally observe what is happening within and around us. It is not uncommon to be living on autopilot where our responses become an automatic reaction…