A Primer To Law School Etiquette

Yale Law School remains the most selective in the country

Yale Law School remains the most selective in the country

Three Steps To Re-Applying For Law School

“It’s over.”
You’ll hear the hero utter that phrase by the end of every second act. For the past half hour, the villain has outsmarted, beaten, and humiliated the hero. Now, he is ready to cash it in. Thankfully, every screenwriter has been taught to bring back a mentor — a sensei (or wise butler) – in these situations. The mentor will bandage the hero’s wounds, remind him of his mission, and send him off with a nugget of wisdom.
This week, Shawn O’ Connor, CEO of Stratus Prep, plays Yoda to those candidates who were rejected by their law school. Is it time to give up? Are they prolonging the inevitable? No way, says O’Connor. He doesn’t believe that re-applying makes candidates look bad. It is quite the opposite: “…overcoming disappointment will demonstrate your commitment to the school and show that you are determined to attend.” Mr. Miyagi couldn’t have said it better!
According to O’Connor, the key is to “articulate how your candidacy has changed, and hopefully improved.” How can you do that? O’Connor offers three strategies:
1) Revise Your Essays: Insanity is defined as doing the same thing over-and-over and expecting a different result. Fact is, your story didn’t sell the admissions committee last time. You have two options. First, you can go back and flesh out your story, adding more examples or digging deeper into your narrative to better click with decision-makers. Otherwise, you can, as O’Connor suggests, add “a few anecdotes that occurred during the year after you applied to exhibit that you have made productive use of your time.” People love underdogs who don’t quit. They want them to succeed – and will sometimes help them along the way. O’Connor states it best:
“Show that you took advantage of the opportunity to fully prepare for law school, rather than being distraught that you were not admitted to your school of choice. This will indicate your drive, perseverance and maturity to the application readers.”
2) Take The LSAT Again: It only takes a few extra points to make you more attractive. And notching a higher score reflects an ability to improve. That’ll come in handy in your second year…and the admissions team knows it!
3) Write An Addendum: You lost the first battle. Who hasn’t? The key is that you got back up. And you used the experience to make yourself a better candidate. Now, it’s time to sell the admissions committee on the new-and-improved you. O’Connor advises that you should use an addendum to explain why you’re now a better fit for the school, along with citing how ”improved grades, a higher LSAT score, or additional work experience or activities” will increase your value to the class. As always, remind them why their law school is your first choice. Your school may not have reciprocated your affection, but make clear that your intentions remain the same.
Remember, it is hunger and persistence that makes great lawyers (and movie heroes too).
Source: US News and World Report

Preschoolers Help Law School Raise Funds

Has it come to this? Are law schools really this strapped for cash?
No, the bottom hasn’t fallen out (yet). Instead, University of Oregon law students have teamed up with preschoolers from the Vivian Olum Child Development Center to cut up and decorate snow flakes to sell. The flakes, which range in price from $1 for a small flake to $100 for a snow shower, will help fund the law school’s Public Interest Fund. This non-profit provides stipends to students who work in unpaid public service positions over the summer.
In past years, the fund has paid $3000 stipends to students who’ve performed legal work for organizations like the Alliance for Children’s Rights and the Lane Coalition for Healthy Active Youth. In 2012, 13 students earned stipends for their volunteer work, which enabled them to gain legal experience while serving juveniles, migrant workers, domestic violence survivors and the elderly poor.
Along with this “Flurry of Giving” program, the Public Interest Fund also conducts an auction and partners with area attorneys and alumni to support these organizations. No word on any future promotions, though a bake sale is probably in order.
To assist the university’s Public Interest Fund, please click on this link.
Sources: KMTR News, University of Oregon

What You Didn’t Learn In Law School: Networking

Oh, man! Do I really need to go?
We’ve all grumbled this line before donning our Sunday best for a community luncheon or awards ceremony. Sure, your boss tells you this is a great way to pick up contacts. In reality, you’re just there to be seen. People know who you are and what you do. Shouldn’t they be coming to you?
You’d think…but you’d be wrong. Whether you’re networking with other lawyers or prospective clients, those contacts can make-or-break your year. And out-of-sight is out-of-mind. But networking is no longer just the back-slapping, golf-club-swinging, face-to-face meetings of the past. Now, you have social media like Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, and YouTube. And that means you can stay in touch regularly and forge stronger relationships…without always making small talk about the weather.
Mind you, social networking isn’t a panacea. It is a supplement, not a replacement, to the charity events and association dinners you’re already attending. It is designed to help you set the stage for more personal, in-depth conversations about business.
Take Linkedin, for example. It is a vehicle for building professional networks. Here, you can identify people you’d like to work with, reach out to them, and build a strategic network for referrals. But just connecting with people one time is not enough. You need to follow up with them, build familiarity and credibility, and eventually meet to get down to business.
Best of all, you can build these social media relationships on your own time and under your terms. What’s more, it is based on give-and-take. Refer a few people to your new connection – and he is very likely to reciprocate. It’s polite and professional…and it’s human nature. And it’s a more targeted and effective way to build your book of business.
Source: Mycase.com

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