Thoughts Of A Non Traditional Law Student
I hope you have enjoyed this website. I am no longer a non traditional law student. I am now (happily) a lawyer. Because I will no be concentrating on getting my practice up and running, this site will no longer be actively posted to. This site will be left open in the hope that many non traditional law students can glean some valuable advice or help during their time at law school. God bless and have a great day.
I have been studying for the bar exam for several weeks now, and I have completed almost 2100 MC questions so far. I cannot attend the Barbri seminars, but I did get the materials. There is an overwhelming amount of material to process, but I am pushing forward slow and steady.
As a non traditional law student, managing work, family, and bar study can be quite the challenge. But starting early has been a real big help. If you are like me and getting ready to take the bar exam, start early! Setup a manageable schedule and stick to it no matter what. When you think that one day skipped won’t matter, that will lead to two, then three, then four…you get the picture.
Hang in there and it can be done.
As non traditional law students we probably have many more responsibilities than our traditional counterparts. Most of us have full time jobs and many have families. I personally work full time and have a wife and six children. The oldest is getting ready for college in the Fall (Woot!)
One of the hardest pills for me to swallow in law school is the simple fact that my grades sometimes suffered simply because I did not have enough time to prepare. This is not to say that my grades are bad (honor roll, deans list), just that I believe I could do better if I had more time. But then I think, what is really important in my life?
Sure, it would be great to go through law school making the deans list every single term and pulling all As. But the reality is that I just simply do not have the time to devote to getting all As in law school if I want to maintain some semblance of a happy family life.
When we decide as non traditional law students that we want that law degree, we must consider the demands on our time that we are willing to keep and to give up. For me, my family time is something that I treasure and value. Getting all As is just not worth my family or sanity. Although it was a hard pill to swallow, and perhaps a somewhat humbling experience, I am still a very blessed and happy man. Law school is for 3 years, family is forever.
God bless and have a great day.
One could argue that we have opinions because we are human, or that we are human because we have opinions. Either way, we are all human and we all have opinions. As law students, however, we are not allowed to merely have opinions; we must have opinions grounded in fact or reasonable belief. Many people can say abortion is right or wrong. But ask them why and you will generally hear rantings that have little or no basis other than that is what they think, and they know they are right.
It is often tempting to spout off in the heat of debate. Be wary lest ye look like a fool. It is great to have an opinion. Just remember, everyone has an opinion. To be truly intelligent and make your case you must have a reason for your opinion and be able to articulate it in a persuasive manner. This is what good lawyers do, and this is what good law students should be learning to do.
God bless and have a great day.
Graduation is in December! I have a major case of senioritis and I am ready for it to be over. I want to get the Bar Exam over with and start practicing law. But, as exciting as it is, this is the time that we as law students must be more focused than ever. This is the time that we can become lax and let our work slip.
I have known many law students that get so excited about finally graduating that they forget to put forth their best efforts during the last term. Generally speaking, non traditional law students do not have this problem to the extent traditional law students do. Perhaps that is because we tend to have many more responsibilities that continue regardless of where we are in our law school studies. Still, it can and does happen.
Remember that our GPA does not differentiate between the first term and the last. Remember that a bad grade in the last term is still a bad grade. In fact, a downward slide in performance during the last term or last few classes could actually work against us. Future employers do not want to see that we start strong and finish weak. If anything, we should always finish strong. Moreover, the last few classes are usually electives. If we cannot do well in classes we actually chose to take, what does that say about us?
Senioritis is a real phenomenon. Just don’t let it get the best of you. God bless and have a great day.
It has been a while since I have talked to all you non traditional law students. I have been extremely busy lately with trial classes and clinical internships. Because I am a weekend student (and must work full time) the only internship I could reasonably take was the Estate Planning Clinic. But how cool it is! I am meeting with clients and drafting their Wills, POAs, Letters of Instruction, Deeds, etc.
If you ever have the opportunity to participate in an internship, do it. If at all possible, find the time. The experience is phenominal. I don’t think there is any other class that I have enjoyed so much. I am given great responsibility and challenged every day with exploring the law in depth and thinking outside of the box to effectuate the best outcomes for my clients. The human interaction really puts things into perspective. In an internship you have the opportunity to take your abstract legal knowledge and apply it to real life situations. You have the opportunity to really affect peoples lives.
It is a great responsibility, but it has great rewards. I hope you can have as great a time as I am having now.
God bless and have a great night.
It is difficult to imagine anyone who has not heard of social networking. For we non traditional law students it is nothing short of spectacular. Social networking allows us to meet and collaberate with other like-minded individuals. There are literally hundreds upon hundreds of online opportunities to network. My personal favorites are Facebook and Twitter.
Probably everyone is familiar with Facebook, but you may not be as familiar with Twitter. Twitter is a micro-blogging platform that allows you to share short (140 chars or less) thoughts about anything. You choose people to follow, and people follow you who are interested in your “tweets”. Below you will find some of my favorite Twitter links. Click on them. Use them. Build your social network now so you will be more prepared for that great day when we will be addressed as “Counselor”!
145 Lawyers (and legal professionals) to follow on Twitter.
30 Twitter apps we actually use and 140 after that.
These are only scratching the surface of what is out there, but it will get you off to a great start. Just remember one thing; social networks are only as good as how you use them. Do not get involved with everything out there. Get involved and networked in a few really good networks and stick with them. I am actively involved in only 2 or 3 networks. But I have met some really great lawyers and learned immensly from them. As non traditional law students we are extremely busy. Social networking is a fabulous tool, but it does take time. Don’t spread yourself too thin.
God bless and have a great night.
P.S. Sorry my posts have been few and far between lately. Things have been especially hectic with my schedule these past few weeks. Hopefully they will settle down soon. Until then, have faith, study hard, and keep pushing toward that cap and gown!
Well, it is that time again. Just started my 8th term. This term I am taking Estate Planning, Estate Planning Clinic, Trial Skills, and Family Law. All of my profs are great! For all you other non traditional law students out there, I hope you are hanging in there.
Life is beginning to slow down after the holidays, thankfully. But, law school is still law school. Just remember to take each day one at a time. Keep your focus and try to get back into the “groove” of things as quickly as possible. This last break for me was 3 weeks; a very welcomed one indeed.
Best wishes to all you other law students out there in the same boat as me. The ride can be tough at times, but just think of the rewards to come. I cannot wait until this time next year when I will have that diploma hanging on my wall. Keep your mind on the prize and the time will go much faster. Be strong and never forget to keep your life balanced. Law is great, but it is not everything. God bless and have a great day.
Sorry for the long hiatus. December is a very busy month in my household. With six children the fun never ends around the Christmas season. By the end of the year I feel totally zapped. I am sure that you other non traditional law students out there know what I am talking about. But the year is almost over, and it is time to start the new year off with a positive attitude and a rejuvinated mind.
I start back to law school on the 9th of January, 2009! If you did not graduate this last term then you will be starting back around the same time I’m sure. Christmas is over, the holiday season will soon be wrapped up with the celebration of bringing in the new year. Before you go back to studying case law, tax codes, and outlining your notes, make sure you take the time to really relax and get re-energized for the upcoming term (and year).
Enjoy your family. Get involved with your church. Catch up on your (non law related) reading. Whatever you can do between now and the first day of law classes, do it. You and I both need the time to slow down and get re-energized for what lies ahead. God bless and have a great day.
Just finished my last exam of the term today. So, what should I do now? RELAX! I studied hard and did my best and I am not going to waste my time looking back. I see law students every year rush to their backpacks and rifle through their notebooks and casebooks after the exam to see if they got an answer right. Why? So they can feel bad if they got it wrong? Once the answer has been submitted it is over! You cannot change it, so why bother stressing out even more?
After my exams I never crack a casebook or look through an outline. Once my answer has been submitted I have recorded my knowledge of the particular question. The time for second guessing and analyzing is over. Don’t stress out about things you cannot change. My best advice to every law student who has just taken an exam is this: forget about it. You have earned the right to relax for a while.
Remember, if you cannot change it, forget it and move on. If you perhaps feel that an essay answer is appealable, then you can review your notes. Until then you should give your mind and body a well deserved break. God bless and have a great day.
