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Ms. Pre-JD: Goals for a Successful Fall Semester
By Nikki Datta • September 05, 2017 •Ms. JD, Writers in Residence, Law School, Pre-Law
Fall always marks the beginning of school for me. I know the leaves change color and pumpkin spice lattes return to Starbucks, but as a college student in Manhattan, I don’t see the leaves and I make my own coffee to save money. What I do encounter often are the surface of my dorm room desk and the reading rooms of the library, places I haven’t had to visit in months. Students are lucky for many reasons, but I think this is one of the best parts about learning full-time: you get to have multiple New Year’s Days. One on…
App Happy: The Basics (Part Two)
By Tatum Wheeler • August 26, 2017 •Law School, Pre-Law
Now that you've got a grasp on your LSAC account, let's get to work. After reviewing multiple law school applications, I've included this comprehensive list of information to help fellow applicants gather background material so that there are no surprises when you go to fill out applications. Biographical Information: Given and preferred name, birth date, gender, and place of birth. May also include Social Security or the Insurance number provided by LSAC. Contact information: address, email (the professional one you check often, not bossgirlsk8s) and phone number. Your current address is where you reside the day you submit your application, permanent…
App Happy: The Basics (Part One)
By Tatum Wheeler • August 26, 2017 •Law School, Pre-Law
Happy Women’s Equality Day! May your celebration of the 97th anniversary of the Nineteenth Amendment include recognition of the strong women around you and the strong woman you are! I wanted to start a series that takes a deep dive into common law school application questions, concerns, and conundrums. To kick off this series, please find below a list of application components. For those of you looking to apply as close to the opening of the cycle as possible (some schools open applications on September 1) or those that just want to get a jump start, please use this series of posts…
Ms. JD Interview with Katrina Lee, Law Professor at The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law
By Genevieve Antono • August 21, 2017 •Ms. JD, Writers in Residence, Careers, Firms and the Private Sector, Legal Academia, Nonprofits and the Public Interest, Other Career Issues, Law School, •Pre-Law, Choosing a Career and Landing a Job, Curriculum and Classroom Dynamics, Internships and Clerkships, Other Law School Issues, Issues, Balancing Private and Professional Life, Mentoring and Networking
Today’s guest on the Ms. JD Pre-Law blog is Professor Katrina Lee from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law where she teaches business of law, legal negotiations, and legal writing. She is also author of the new business of law coursebook, “The Legal Career: Knowing the Business, Thriving in Practice.” Prior to academia, she was a litigator and equity partner at Nossaman LLP. Professor Lee earned both her law and undergraduate degrees from the University of California at Berkeley. Hi Professor Lee! Let’s start with: What is the business of law? Can you share some of the themes…
The Truth About Pregnancy
By Brenda L. George • August 17, 2017 •Writers in Residence, Careers, Other Career Issues, Law School, Pre-Law, Other Law School Issues, Issues, Balancing Private and Professional Life, •Other Issues
This post is really late. Almost two weeks late. That is mostly because the topic I chose to write about is a tough one. Admittedly, I was on vacation as well, but I think that is why I was so reluctant to simply sit down and crank out a blog post. In fact, I may have had too much time to sit and reflect on what I am about to write below. As I sit down to write this, it is 5:00 a.m. and it took a bout of pregnancy induced insomnia (I woke up at 2:00 a.m., tripped over…
Ms. Pre-JD: Interview with NY AAG Kristen Vogel
By Nikki Datta • August 02, 2017 •Writers in Residence, Careers, Firms and the Private Sector, Nonprofits and the Public Interest, Law School, Pre-Law, Choosing a Career and Landing a Job
This past Spring and Summer, during my internship in the Attorney General’s Litigation Bureau, Assistant Attorney General Kristen Vogel served as a model for the approach I hope to bring to my professional life. My primary lesson from her about soft skills as a female professional was an unspoken one: there is a delicate balance that should come naturally. Kristen always spoke her mind, but made it clear that her opinions were unbiased. She dealt with everyone in the same way, had patience, and stated otherwise negative things in a matter of fact way. While I may have been afraid…
Sneak Peek of The Law School Admission Game: Play Like an Expert, 3rd Ed.
By Tatum Wheeler • July 28, 2017 •Law School, Pre-Law
Law school applications are just around the corner (some law schools begin accepting applications on September 1!) In order to prepare, you may want to check out The Law School Admission Game: Play Like an Expert, 3rd Ed. by Ann Levine, a law school admissions consultant, founder of Law School Expert, and author of the book. I had the pleasure of interviewing Ann in the past and have read both of her previous books. They provide thorough answers to many law school application questions and include helpful sample essays in an easy-to-read format. Topics in the book include GPA and…
Ms. Pre-JD: Career Trajectory Reflections
By Nikki Datta • July 06, 2017 •Writers in Residence, Law School, Pre-Law, Choosing a Career and Landing a Job
(First, I hope everyone enjoyed the Fourth – belatedly, Happy Independence Day!) If I’m being honest, I can’t wait for school to start again. I always remember the shiniest parts of the semester, the perfectly organized reading schedules and new, unedited syllabi, my color-coordinated calendar and a refilled set of black gel pens. The glamour lasts for about two weeks of the semester, and then it gives way to a much more havoc-filled (and realistic) mess. On a more typical Monday morning, my reading isn’t done, I can’t find a single pen, and I’ve forgotten to put any of my…
Citizen’s Academy: From a Pre-Law Perspective
By Tatum Wheeler • June 29, 2017 •Law School, Pre-Law
I recently participated in and completed a Citizen’s Academy. For those that are unfamiliar—and believe me, I was unfamiliar before participating—a Citizen’s Academy is a program that provides a deeper look into local government’s inner workings including operations, policies, and services. My local citizen’s academy was a three-hour long class that met once a week for two months. During the program, we received visits from various local agencies including the District Attorney’s office, Shared Hope International (a human trafficking organization), and various Sheriff’s Units including Property Crimes and Street Crimes. We also had the opportunity to tour local facilities such…