How to Build a Sustainable Routine
Around October, first-year students typically trade in their excitement for dread as they begin to tackle topics like proximate cause, summary judgment, and the parol evidence rule. If you were like me, you may have begun to notice the work piling up and wonder how anyone successfully navigated their first semester. Because I didn’t enter law school with a network of attorneys in my family or immediate circle, I assumed those who excelled possessed a secret roadmap that I did not have access to.
We Need YOU to Protect the Vote This Election
Help protect voting rights this November by volunteering as a poll monitor or election protection volunteer and supporting voters at every stage.
The Loneliness of Being Ambitious
Ambition can open doors while also creating isolation. Explore the pressures of law school, changing relationships, and finding community along the way.
Path to Mastery
Explore the skills modern lawyers need to achieve mastery, from nuanced communication and emotional intelligence to relationship building and AI fluency.
Active Studying, Asking for Grace, and Advice on the Twenty Four Hours Before the Test: Bar Study Tips From an Exam Coach
Reduce bar exam stress with expert study tips from exam coach Kerriann Stout. Learn active study strategies, time management, and test-day advice.
Rising Applications, Declining First-Gen Representation
Despite rising law school enrollment, first-generation student representation continues to decline. Explore how mentorship, pipeline programs, and exposure to the legal profession can help bridge the gap and expand access to legal education.
The Paradox of Progress
A few weeks ago, I was speaking to a group of students about careers in law when I shared a statistic that usually surprises people: for the tenth consecutive year, women dominated U.S. law school cla
How One Even Captured Ms. JD's Mission
At Ms. JD, we work to create a world in which every woman lawyer can have the career that fulfills her dreams and enriches the profession in a way that benefits all of us. That vision came to life on
Wisdom for Lawyers from Ms JD’s Limitless Honorees
Celebrate the Ms. JD 2026 Limitless honorees—Desiree Ralls-Morrison, Phuong Phillips, and Sheraya Bernard—sharing inspiring career insights, resilience, and leadership lessons.
TIPS FROM THE MOMFORCE: On Being a Mom and a Lawyer
Balancing motherhood and a legal career is challenging, but with support, flexibility, and realistic expectations, women can succeed in both roles.
Twelve Nuggets of Wisdom Every Future Lawyer Deserves to Hear
A thriving legal career requires wisdom about so much more than the law itself. Learn how do you make the most of your relationships with peers and classmates.
Failure is not an Option, it’s an Opportunity
To my students and to anyone hesitating on the edge of a new opportunity: don’t let fear of failure close doors for you.
No Room for Flexibility: Reflecting on the LSAT’s Shift Back to In-Person Testing
We must continue to ask ourselves not only how students perform on the LSAT, but under what conditions they are expected to perform.
Crafting your signature style in law school
Becoming a lawyer also means cultivating an image of credibility, solemnity, and poise, adding another layer of complexity to building your professional wardrobe.
Bridging the Gap to Practice: A Conversation with BARBRI
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 ski
SPEAKING UP - HOW TO MANAGE THE GENDER GAP IN LAW SCHOOL CLASSROOM PARTICIPATION
I heard something surprising from the daughter of a close friend last week. An extremely intelligent and confident 30-year-old and a first year law student on the east coast, she said that in most of
Strength Through Community, Purpose Through Leadership
Interview with NBLSA Midwest Chair Jasmine Felder highlights the association’s mission, leadership pathways, and community-building events supporting law students.
Behind the Bands & Briefs with Anjeli Narine
Over the span of our legal careers, we may find ourselves at different points on the legal practice spectrum for various personal or professional reasons.
To Law or Not To Law?
After 30+ years of practicing law, I sometimes forget that I didn’t always follow a traditional professional path. A year after joining a national law firm as a first year associate , I wasn’t sure I
Moving to Mastery: Rethinking the Role of Memorization in Legal Education
Each fall, as midterm season rolls around, my office hours fill with anxious undergraduates asking, “Will this be on the test?” “Do we need to memorize this case name?” “What about this quote from the
Breakneck Innovation and the Law
The world has been experiencing the breakneck pace of the 4th Industrial Revolution, marked by emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), neurotechnology, automation, blockchain techn
The Stoic Advocate: What the Ancient Greek Philosophy Can Teach Us About Lawyering
Popular culture would have us believe that in order to live a good life, we must indulge ourselves frequently and think only good thoughts. Worried about the future? Manifestation is king: all it requ
Beyond the Billable Hour: Embracing the Unconventional Legal Path
When I graduated from law school and started as an associate at a labor and employment firm in Washington, D.C., it felt like I was on the path. You know the one: late nights in the office, long hours
Unlock Better Learning by Evolving Your Style
Our approach to learning can shift rapidly due to us moving through different professional roles, educational levels, or cultural environments (Source). In my personal experience, I have found my appr
Why More Women Should Compete in Law School
Despite making up nearly half of law school classes, women remain underrepresented as trial attorneys, appellate litigators, and high-stakes negotiators. Courtrooms and boardrooms continue to be domin
Of Pool Fobs and Stress Overload
This blog post is about recognizing stress overload, the deluge, being slammed, drinking from a firehose, burnout - whatever we choose to call it—and what you can do to regain focus, clarity, and control over the deadlines and obligations you’re facing.
The Art of Lawyering: Where Creativity Meets Craft
Why is it that we are so often taught to view lawyers as one-dimensional, when the practice of law demands someone who can think effectively outside of the box—not just logically, but creatively? The two are not mutually exclusive.
A 1L’s Guide to Supplemental Resources
Whether you’re entering law school directly out of college or after decades in the professional world, starting graduate school can be disorienting for even the most seasoned student. For 1Ls, there is a path less trodden that may yield even better results: finding the right supplementary materials.
The Journey Through Law School is Just the Start
Dear Friends in the Law,Wow! This is my last blog post with you. The year has flown by, and I have enjoyed our time together. Hopefully, you find some downtime this summer before starting (or continui
Feeling “Some Kind of Way,” and Still Passing the Bar Exam
The last time I sat for the California bar exam, I felt… different.Not because I had studied smarter than ever (though I had), and not because I’d finally mastered all of the testable subjects (debata
Becoming an Authentic and Values-Driven Legal Professional
In our series so far, Jennifer Riggs and I have shared information and research about how stress impacts the brain, mindset shifts for resilience, and ways to improve your brain health. In this last p
Tough Topics in the Law: Maintaining Well Being
Dear Friends in the Law, With summer arriving just a few short weeks ago, I definitely feel the pull toward warmer weather, barbeques, and reenergizing for the academic year ahead. Classes generally
Latinas Uprising: Nubia Willman on Bar Success, Brand Building, and Rising into Your Own Power
Nubia Willman didn’t set out to become a digital pioneer for Latinas in law, but that’s exactly what happened when she launched Latinas Uprising in 2014. At a time when social media was still finding
The Body-Brain Connection for a Healthy Legal Career
Jennifer and I are excited to continue our series on wellness in the legal profession (if you missed our first post, feel free to catch up here)! Today, we are focusing on physical strategies for stre
You Belong Here: Paulina Vera’s Journey to Becoming—and Making Space for Others in Law
Paulina Vera is a Professorial Lecturer in Law at the George Washington University Law School, where she leads the Immigration Clinic, mentoring students and representing clients in immigration court.
Mindsets for Stress Resilience
I met Jennifer Riggs, JD, PCC, through LinkedIn when she reached out after reading one of my previous posts on Wellness in the Legal Profession. When I read through her biography, I was instantly draw
The Inner Critic: Quieting Imposter Syndrome
The content of this article is strictly editorial and personal opinion, not to be construed as medical advice. When you are the most vulnerable, I am the voice that whispers in your ear, “You will nev
Best Practices for Interviewing
Dear Friends,In my prior post, we discussed some job search tools and strategies. Identifying those potential opportunities can be challenging, especially amidst the preparation for exams, deadlines,
Your Hero’s Moment Is Now: Letting Go After the Bar Exam and Learning to Trust Yourself
If you’ve recently taken the bar exam, you might be feeling the unmistakable weight of post-bar-exam regret, which is that fun mix of anxiety, self-doubt, and obsessive second-guessing that sneaks in
The Ethics of Gratitude
Ethics is “the disciplined concern with what is morally good and bad and morally right and wrong” (source). Ethics are a guiding star in a legal career; you take courses related to ethics and professi
Life Doesn't Stop for Law School
It’s two weeks before finals. Classes have stopped, and my only job (aside from my actual job) is to memorize what we already learned and figure out how to apply it in an essay. My study group and I f
Fundamentals of Job Searching
Dear Friends,I often think about you, my readers, and what might be currently going on in your life. Maybe you’re a 1L and are navigating the opportunities surrounding a summer internship. Perhaps you
No Más! How I Finally Laid Down the Law on Setting Boundaries (and How You Can Too)
Hard-Earned LessonsYou know how life loves to keep throwing the same lesson at us until we finally get it? For me, that lesson was around setting personal boundaries and let’s just say I was a slow le
Nervous System Regulation for Professional Success
In this next post of the Wellness in the Legal Profession series, I discuss nervous system regulation for professional success. Although this may seem like an unusual topic for a blog post...
Making Networking Work for You
You may have heard the expression “your network is your net worth.” This really epitomizes the importance of networking as legal professionals. Networking is an essential fabric that you are weaving into the tapestry of your professional journey.
From Goal Ghosting to Goal Crushing: A Millennial’s Step-by-Step Plan for Creating and Achieving Your Goals
How are your goals going so far this year? If you’re crushing it, kudos to you, go-getter! But if January has felt like one big Monday and you’ve already stumbled, you’re not alone. By the second week
Fundamentals of Branding
With a new year comes the opportunity to make goals, refresh priorities, and begin anew. Our topic today is professional branding and I find it to be extremely fitting. After reading this, you may want to think how YOUR brand can be introduced (or re-introduced) for 2025!
Design Your Best Year Yet: A Transformative Guide to Setting New Years Goals Your Future Self Will Thank You For
In less than two weeks, we’ll be ringing in 2025– the first quarter of the 21st century. That’s right, we’re going to be 25% into the new millennium. Are you ready to step into the new year with your
Self-Determination Theory and Well-Being in the Legal Profession
The Self-Determination Theory (SDT) is “a theory of human motivation and personality that suggests that people can become self-determined when their needs for competence, relatedness, and autonomy are fulfilled”. To feel motivated to accomplish a goal or task, humans need all three elements.
Elevating Your Elevator Pitch
Dear Friends,From my lens, I see the academic term both ramping up and settling down. Students are wrapping up classes, presentations are concluding, and winter break will be here before we know it. H
Career Counseling
Greetings All!Today’s topic is all about career counseling. As we round out our discussion on career exploration (personal & professional inventory, crafting a career plan, and informational interview
Introduction to Wellness in the Legal Profession
In this first of a series of posts on Wellness in the Legal Profession, you will be introduced to the concept of wellness as it applies specifically to pre-law students, law students, and attorneys. You'll also get tips to help support your well-being, now and how to develop a foundation to support your well-being in the future.
Informational Interviews
An informational interview is an opportunity to network and build a professional relationship by connecting directly with an individual in an area of interest to you. While not a job interview, it’s an opportunity to speak with a professional who has expertise in an arena of interest for you and to learn from their real-life experiences.
There's No Secret Door to Narnia
In the upcoming months, I will be chronicling my experience as a part-time online law student in an ABA-approved school. 7/1/2024 —T-minus Four WeeksOne L is notorious. It’s hell. It’s sleepless. It’s
Crafting a Career Plan of Action
Hello Colleagues! I am pleased to be back to share more advice for your journey toward a career in law. Today we’re going to talk about creating a plan of action for your career.
Igniting Curiosity: A Legal Career is Much More Than a Job
Discover how to use your own strengths, background, interest, and motivations to find your perfect legal career.