Build a Solo Practice, LLC, along with a host of collaborators, has embarked on what could possibly become one of the most valuable resources a new lawyer could have.  If you are currently a law student really interested in going solo after graduation you should check out the project, Solo Practice University.  There are lifetime scholarships available for the first 100 law students who offer to beta test the new project.  The last time I checked there were only 24 spots still available, so hurry.  This will be a valuable resource for networking as well as learning.  God bless and have a great day.

This week I read an article in our local newspaper about an 18 year old girl who was asked about her future plans.  She responded that she had thought about being a lawyer but then decided to become a doctor because she “wanted to help people”.  This article rather upset me.  Lawyers often times get a bad rap.  While it is certain that there are lawyers who are undoubtedly unethical and “play” the law very loosely, there are also lawyers who adhere to the ethical calling of their profession.  I choose to believe that this embodies the majority of lawyers in practice today.

Law is a nobel profession, and lawyers should strive to promote that nobility.  The law is meant to protect people, and lawyers do use the law to help people, namely their clients.  Lawyers are ethically mandated to put the needs of the client above their own. Of course lawyers are entitled to earn a living and charge reasonable fees for their services.  But those services are worth paying for, I believe, because people need them.

People benefit from lawyer’s services every day.  Whether a person relies on a lawyer to draft a will or assert a constitutional right, that person is benefited, and those services help that person.  The fact is that lawyer’s services help people everyday.  We live in a free country because of the vision of lawyers.  It is often said that people do not like lawyers…until they need one.

Every job or profession is mixed with people who “taint” that job or profession; the law is no different.  But lawyers do serve a valuable and necessary purpose in society and in the lives of the people they serve.  Take pride in your journey to become part of this nobel profession.  Above all, strive to be a lawyer that will serve the public as well as the perception of the profession.  God bless and have a great day.

Every one will eventually have what they consider to be the “killer” law school term; mine is coming up in two weeks.  Without exception, everyone I have spoken with in law school says that secured transactions is probably the most difficult class you will take.  Well, I have secured transactions and tax next term… together

Of course, the word “difficult” is a relative term.  Generally what they mean is that the class will require much more study to master the legal concepts.  For non traditional law students this means more time devoted to study and less time devoted to everything else.  When you have “easy” classes the temptation is there to get a little lax with your studying.  It is sometimes difficult when we fall into this trap to get back in full swing and excersize our legal minds.  On the good side though, by the time you take secured transactions you should have your legal mind pretty well trained.

Remember that more time studying will take its toll on the others in your life that may have become used to your “regular” study routine.  Just be sure to keep your head on straight and inform the others that may be affected by some extra study time that this term may be a little more intense.  I am sure they will understand.  Keep focused and don’t slack off.  By now the end is very near and the light at the end of the tunel is getting brighter.  God bless and have a great day.

Well, I took the MPRE last week finally.  It was not too bad, but it was more difficult than I thought it would be.  Many law students look at the MPRE as a “cake” test.  The theory is that if you did well in your Professional Responsibility class then you will have no problem on the MPRE.  This is partly true, but not entirely.

The MPRE is more difficult that simply studying for your average law school exam, in my opinion.  But with some good outlines and a few hours of study it should be no problem.  Just remember not to take anything for granted.  If it is a required exam in your jurisdiction to become licensed as a lawyer then take it seriously.  Even though it is not expensive or a very long test, you still do not want to take it twice :)  God bless and have a great day.

It is that time of year again - exams!  On top of exams this year, however, I also have the MPRE this Friday.  But I am taking Professional Responsibility this year, so I think the class has prepared me better for the exam, and the exam has prepared me for the final in the class.  If you can manage it I would suggest taking the MPRE this way.  The studies for the class and exam are reciprocal and overlapping.

If you are studying for the MPRE I wish you the best of luck.  I realize that this is probably our first “real” exam that is required for our professional license.  Just remember that there are other classes that must not be neglected.  Study hard, manage your time, stay focused, and take time to relax.  You will do fine.  Hopefully, so will I.  Good luck on the exams, God bless, and have a great day.

This past weekend I spent a total of 8 hours taking MPRE review courses.  One I paid for and the other was offered free through the law school.  I am currently enrolled in Professional Responsibility and thought taking the MPRE and the reviews could’nt hurt me in that class on the exam either.

Without jinxing myself I think the exam will be no problem to pass with the proper study.  Much of it is common sense it appears to me.  But I am still rather excited because this will be my first real-life exam that is required by the Bar.

I am sure that many of you as well are studying for this same exam.  I would advise you to take a review course; it will help solidify the concepts in your mind.  Also, try to take the MPRE very close to your enrollment in your legal ethics class.  The concepts will be fresh in your mind.  Wish me luck.  God bless and have a great day.

Well, I have been gone for a couple of weeks, but I’m back for awhile now.  Got a lot on my plate because the MPRE is coming up soon and I am studying for that.  I have my BarBri review course coming up this weekend.  Next term I am taking Secured Transactions and Tax at the same time.  With my limited scheduling choices it was too difficult to avoid.  Oh well.

I hope all of you are hanging in there with your law school experience.  Just a few more weeks and exams will be all over.  Take a well deserved break after that.  But until then, study hard and learn much.  God bless and have a great day.

Happy Independence Day everyone!  It is time to celebrate our nation’s independence and forget (if only for one day) about all the law school “stuff” we have been so earnestly studying.  Take this time to spend with your family and give your brain a well-deserved rest.  Keep up the good work and study hard . . . tomorrow.  God bless and have a great day.

While making my usual rounds trolling the law-school blawgs I came across a little tidbit of information at Law Ingenue.  Every non traditional law student has his or her own special way to study and manage work.  Here is just another example that you may find useful.  Check out the post here.

Disclaimer: Before you study at work be sure to have your supervisor’s permission

It is that time of year again when the kids are home for summer vacation.  Yikes!  I love my children with all my heart, but it can be a real challenge to manage law school when they are home all the time now.  My older kids are involved in community activities and have many other things to keep them pretty busy over the summer.  But the younger ones are very needy for there dad’s attention.

This is not a bad thing, just a fact of life.  I love to spend time with my kids, but law school is very demanding and I need time to study and prepare.  Balancing family, work, and law school can be a very, very big challenge.  But it is doable if you are willing to put in the time and effort.  No matter what the family must come first.  I just explain to them that I need to study and it will not be for much longer.

They are very understanding and generally leave me to my studies.  But I take the time to play with them and listen to what they have to say.  A conversation with your kids will go a long way.  If you ignore them they will only increase their efforts to vie for your attention.  This causes frustration for both you and them.  Take time out of your day to spend with your kids and they will be much more likely to respect the time you must take with your law school studies.  God bless and have a great day.