Takeaways from Ms. JD’s Law Student Leadership Academy
A thriving legal career requires wisdom about so much more than the law itself. How do you make the most of your relationships with peers and classmates? How do you think about challenges in a way that keeps your confidence intact? How do you budget your time and energy to meet the demands of a heavy workload? How do you do it all without losing who you are?
In the past, answers to questions like these were transmitted in whispers to well-connected students who were lucky enough to have wise, honest mentors. Those who weren’t as fortunate had to live and learn, navigating struggles without guidance and too often, feeling alone.
Ms. JD is changing that. At our Law Student Leadership Academy intensives, two-day programs that take place at law schools around the country, experienced attorneys offer the next generation of next professionals the insights they will need to have successful and rewarding legal careers.
At March 27-28 Academy at Boston University School of Law, the interactive workshops, peer learning opportunities and leadership development activities were punctuated by nuggets of wisdom from accomplished speakers. As they generously shared their advice, attendees typed furiously and scribbled in notebooks.
Sheraya Bernard, 3L at Southern Illinois University Simmons School of Law, shared her top lessons from the event:
Peer-to-peer learning is underrated: Our future colleagues are sitting right next to us. Sharing challenges with fellow 1Ls/2Ls/3Ls provided a unique perspective that you can’t get from a traditional lecture.
Leadership is forged in failure: We often focus on highlights, but the speakers reminded us that true leadership is built during the setbacks, not just the successes.
The journey changes, the strategy evolves: The legal field is dynamic. What works for you now will shift as you enter practice, and staying adaptable is how you thrive.
Opportunities are built, not just found: Success isn’t passive. You have to be intentional about positioning yourself for growth before the opportunity arises.
Resilience is a skill: It’s about taking a hit, owning the experience, and using that momentum to push forward.
McKenzie Cotter, Senior Legal Counsel at Dell Technologies added the following takeaways:
Confidence grows through experience and repetition — keep showing up.
Setbacks can launch growth, perspective, and wisdom. Respond strategically.
When self-doubt arises, ground yourself in your skills and the work you’ve done to remind yourself you’ve earned your seat
Energy and time are finite — use both wisely.
Trust is earned through the quality of your work and the consistency of how you show up.
No one will champion your career like you can - advocate for yourself.
The clearer you are about your goals, the more effectively others can help you grow.
This is the kind of wisdom from leaders in the field that won’t be taught in the classroom and shouldn’t be kept secret. This aspect of the Leadership Academy experience matters because law students don’t learn about leadership, resilience, and real-world readiness if they aren’t connected to people who can teach these things.
“I am tremendously grateful for this experience, since it connected me with powerful law school students from across the nation and provided me with thorough advice regarding the legal field,” Arianna Barker, a 1L at the Boston University School of Law wrote in a post reflecting on the event.
“I’m grateful for the mentorship, community, and knowledge I gained from this experience, and I look forward to carrying these lessons with me throughout my legal journey,” Lauren Bedell, a 1L at Pittsburgh School of Law said about the experience. “I look forward to carrying these lessons with me throughout my legal journey.”
