Monday, June 29, 2009
Free Sample of Coffee
Hey all you recent grads now studying for the bar exam. You probably need something to help get you through those long hours of studying! Check out this free sample of coffee from Dunkin Donuts.
Friday, June 5, 2009
When choosing law schools, think about the long term ramifications
Check out the featured answer to this ABA Journal Poll. You might want really think before applying to law school about where you want to end up and about the realities of the current job market!
Seriously...law school is demanding and expensive. You might want to consider going to best law school in the area where you actually want to practice, rather than just aiming for the top 20 or 40. You may also consider working while in law school so that you don't have to borrow as much, but I would not recommend this for first year students unless you work a job where you can study as well. When I was in law school, I was able to work at the library and still get some homework done at the same time. I know other law students who worked at campus computer clusters, at the bookstore, or as graduate assistants to undergraduate classes.
Also don't be like me and borrow the max you are allowed to borrow and also work. I would figure how much money you will make with your part-time job and reduce your loan amount by that much. Believe me, you will be thankful that your loan payments are lower when you're out in the "real world" and paying your loans back.
Be smart about where you go to law school, how much you are going to borrow, and managing your money in law school, so that you are not still living like a law student 5 years after you graduate!
Seriously...law school is demanding and expensive. You might want to consider going to best law school in the area where you actually want to practice, rather than just aiming for the top 20 or 40. You may also consider working while in law school so that you don't have to borrow as much, but I would not recommend this for first year students unless you work a job where you can study as well. When I was in law school, I was able to work at the library and still get some homework done at the same time. I know other law students who worked at campus computer clusters, at the bookstore, or as graduate assistants to undergraduate classes.
Also don't be like me and borrow the max you are allowed to borrow and also work. I would figure how much money you will make with your part-time job and reduce your loan amount by that much. Believe me, you will be thankful that your loan payments are lower when you're out in the "real world" and paying your loans back.
Be smart about where you go to law school, how much you are going to borrow, and managing your money in law school, so that you are not still living like a law student 5 years after you graduate!
Thursday, May 14, 2009
You can't befriend a witness
Check out this ABA article about an attorney's attempt to use a third party to "friend" a witness on facebook to access character information. I think its interesting! Also check out the comments below the article.
Friday, April 24, 2009
ABA Journals Career Advice
This is an ABA Journal 4-part series on career advice in this economy. Good luck job seekers.
1. 5 Tips to Planning Your Career to Beat the Recession
2. 5 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Career Coach
3. Why Thinking Like a Lawyer Is Bad for Your Career
4. What If Law Is Not for You?
1. 5 Tips to Planning Your Career to Beat the Recession
2. 5 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Career Coach
3. Why Thinking Like a Lawyer Is Bad for Your Career
4. What If Law Is Not for You?
The law school rankings are out!
Where does your school rank?! I know mine moved up :)
US News and World Report Law School rankings
Yale is at the top
US News and World Report Law School rankings
Yale is at the top
Monday, April 6, 2009
Great Stress Reliever: Wii Fit
Its nearing finals time and there's nothing like a little stress reliever to break up all that study time. I hightly recommend Wii Fit
. I really enjoy doing the yoga and hula hoop. But there's also boxing and tennis for you more athletic types. Or you can just take a walk or a jog to take a break from studying. My advise is to just take a break every 2-3 hours just to give your mind and body a break.
. I really enjoy doing the yoga and hula hoop. But there's also boxing and tennis for you more athletic types. Or you can just take a walk or a jog to take a break from studying. My advise is to just take a break every 2-3 hours just to give your mind and body a break.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Job after law school?
69% of my blog readers are worried about their job prospects after law school!
What are you all doing to find jobs? I know it took me about 6 months or so to find a full-time job and the job I found is not even a legal one. Are any of you willing to find a semi-legal job just to pay the bills? Law firms are reducing their number of new hires or even firing. But the economy has to improve, right? Good luck to all you job seekers out there!
What are you all doing to find jobs? I know it took me about 6 months or so to find a full-time job and the job I found is not even a legal one. Are any of you willing to find a semi-legal job just to pay the bills? Law firms are reducing their number of new hires or even firing. But the economy has to improve, right? Good luck to all you job seekers out there!
Monday, February 16, 2009
Lawyers should have white teeth
In light of the fact that I believe its very important for one to maintain a healthy and sparkling smile, I'd like share this freebie with you. Get free sample of Crest White Strips! You have to register, but you'll get your sample shortly. I got mine last week!
**Update** March 31, 2009. I think the free white strips offer has expired, but you may want to check back from time to time to see if it comes back. I know this is not related to law school, but its my blog, I can do what I want! :)
**Update** March 31, 2009. I think the free white strips offer has expired, but you may want to check back from time to time to see if it comes back. I know this is not related to law school, but its my blog, I can do what I want! :)
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Free Motown music!!!
This makes me so happy! Free Motown Music from Itunes:
We hope you enjoy your free Motown 50th Anniversary Sampler featuring 10 Motown classics. Be sure to redeem the code before it expires and check back often for more free music, TV shows and more. And spread the love around, share this with your friends so they can get their free 10 song Motown 50th Sampler as well!
Get the song from iTunes here
If that doesn't work or if you don't already have iTunes downloaded, follow these directions:
* Download iTunes for Mac or Windows, free of charge, at www.itunes.com.
* Open iTunes and click iTunes Store.
* Click Redeem.*
* Enter the code below. Your download will start immediately. Enjoy.
Free Music Code: YAH9MLE6WK34
Code Expiration Date: 3/31/09
We hope you enjoy your free Motown 50th Anniversary Sampler featuring 10 Motown classics. Be sure to redeem the code before it expires and check back often for more free music, TV shows and more. And spread the love around, share this with your friends so they can get their free 10 song Motown 50th Sampler as well!
Get the song from iTunes here
If that doesn't work or if you don't already have iTunes downloaded, follow these directions:
* Download iTunes for Mac or Windows, free of charge, at www.itunes.com.
* Open iTunes and click iTunes Store.
* Click Redeem.*
* Enter the code below. Your download will start immediately. Enjoy.
Free Music Code: YAH9MLE6WK34
Code Expiration Date: 3/31/09
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Lumen Legal
This article may be of interest to you readers out there due to our current economic state. It is an interview with Lumen Legal's founder David Galbenski. He discusses best practices for the legal industry. Also Lumen Legal is a great place to look for a legal job or a temporary job to tide you over while looking for full-time work.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
From Student to Lawyer: The Transition to the Real World
I've been out of law school for about a year and half and I can honestly say that nothing in law school prepared me for life afterwards. Okay maybe not nothing (sorry for the use of a double negative), but few things prepared me for some of the things that I did face after I took the bar, packed up my apartment, and moved back to my home city into an affordable apartment with no job and anxiety about the future.
When you graduate you are studying for the bar exam, looking for a job or getting ready to start one, your loans are still in deferment and life is basically at that stage of transition.
I paid rent in law school out of the abundance of loans, I didn't really budget or anything like that. It wasn't until after law school when I was unemployed for a few months, that I knew what it was really like to struggle, to budget, and to cut corners to make ends meet. I sold books and cds to make money while waiting for job interviews.
With this economy I understand that many law students, recent graduates, and newly minted lawyers are worried about their job prospects. My advice: Be wise and creative and take any job that pays the bills. You can always transfer or move to a new position once better opportunities arise. I know I got desperate and started applying for internships and temp positions with temp agencies. You can even ask if any law professors need research done and see if the law school would be willing to pay.
Eventually times will get better and more jobs will be available for lawyers. In the meantime, you may have to take a non-legal position or a job that pays less than you want. Just make the best of whatever job you do get, shine in that job, and learn from every experience, because that's what will make you a better employee and a better job candidate in the future.
This post feels rather rambly! Let me know if you have any comments or questions.
Also now I do have a full-time job with benefits! Nope, it doesn't pay as well as I would like, but I am gaining valuable experience and learning a lot. I was unemployed several months after law school and that was not fun at all and I had to live a different lifestyle in order to survive. Now that all my loans are coming due, I also have to be careful and budget so that I can make my payments. This is the real world! I no longer live off borrowed money. Furthermore, God was in control of this situation the whole time. Even though I did have to cut back on spending, I always had enough to pay my rent and utilities, buy groceries, and get the necessities. He took care of me and continues to and I'll trust Him to do what's best.
If you are in law school, please be wise about how much you borrow. Just because you can borrow the maximum amount, don't unless you really need to, because you will end up paying that back three times over! Try not to live to frivolously in law school, because again you will end up paying for it for many years, maybe even 20-25 years! Do you really want to be paying off your 2008 Spring Break Trip in 2038!!
Anyway, this is just my unsolicited advice. Good luck for all you job hunters out there and for those of you who have a job, consider yourselves blessed!
Also check out some books that offer advice and tips for transitioning from law student to lawyer!
-The Legal Career Guide, Fifth Edition: From Student to Lawyer
-The Curmudgeon's Guide to Practicing Law
-A Lawyer's Guide to Networking
-What Can You Do With a Law Degree?: A Lawyer's Guide to Career Alternatives Inside, Outside & Around the Law
When you graduate you are studying for the bar exam, looking for a job or getting ready to start one, your loans are still in deferment and life is basically at that stage of transition.
I paid rent in law school out of the abundance of loans, I didn't really budget or anything like that. It wasn't until after law school when I was unemployed for a few months, that I knew what it was really like to struggle, to budget, and to cut corners to make ends meet. I sold books and cds to make money while waiting for job interviews.
With this economy I understand that many law students, recent graduates, and newly minted lawyers are worried about their job prospects. My advice: Be wise and creative and take any job that pays the bills. You can always transfer or move to a new position once better opportunities arise. I know I got desperate and started applying for internships and temp positions with temp agencies. You can even ask if any law professors need research done and see if the law school would be willing to pay.
Eventually times will get better and more jobs will be available for lawyers. In the meantime, you may have to take a non-legal position or a job that pays less than you want. Just make the best of whatever job you do get, shine in that job, and learn from every experience, because that's what will make you a better employee and a better job candidate in the future.
This post feels rather rambly! Let me know if you have any comments or questions.
Also now I do have a full-time job with benefits! Nope, it doesn't pay as well as I would like, but I am gaining valuable experience and learning a lot. I was unemployed several months after law school and that was not fun at all and I had to live a different lifestyle in order to survive. Now that all my loans are coming due, I also have to be careful and budget so that I can make my payments. This is the real world! I no longer live off borrowed money. Furthermore, God was in control of this situation the whole time. Even though I did have to cut back on spending, I always had enough to pay my rent and utilities, buy groceries, and get the necessities. He took care of me and continues to and I'll trust Him to do what's best.
If you are in law school, please be wise about how much you borrow. Just because you can borrow the maximum amount, don't unless you really need to, because you will end up paying that back three times over! Try not to live to frivolously in law school, because again you will end up paying for it for many years, maybe even 20-25 years! Do you really want to be paying off your 2008 Spring Break Trip in 2038!!
Anyway, this is just my unsolicited advice. Good luck for all you job hunters out there and for those of you who have a job, consider yourselves blessed!
Also check out some books that offer advice and tips for transitioning from law student to lawyer!
-The Legal Career Guide, Fifth Edition: From Student to Lawyer
-The Curmudgeon's Guide to Practicing Law
-A Lawyer's Guide to Networking
-What Can You Do With a Law Degree?: A Lawyer's Guide to Career Alternatives Inside, Outside & Around the Law
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Are you Linked In?
Are you LinkedIn? LinkedIn is like Facebook for professionals! According to its website, "LinkedIn is an online network of more than 30 million experienced professionals from around the world, representing 150 industries." You set up a profile with your educational and employment information (sort of like a resume). After that you can request someone to be added to your network. You can only add people that you already know or get introduced to via another contact. You can search for jobs, network, or just keep in touch with people you used to attend school with or used to work with.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
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