Law School: A Few Short and Plain Statements

Erin CDN Albert

Description

Do you want to go to law school? Better read this book first. With the crush of the economic downturn and tight job market, law school might be the right choice for you...or not.

After having a first profession, author Erin Albert decided to attend law school, and graduated in May, 2012. After publishing several books, Dr. Albert wanted to publish a book about what law school is "really like."

Here are the Top 10 Reasons Why You Should Read This Book:

10. You can live vicariously through the author's experience instead of putting yourself through the very expensive and time- consuming process of law school.

9. You want to learn about what it takes to be a part-time law student–on top of a life and a day job.

8. You want to learn about law school mistakes–and how to avoid them.

7. You want to learn what the #1 most important question to ask yourself is prior to heading back to school–and studying the law.

6. You want to find what it takes to go through the grind of law school.

5. You want details on the curriculum and the "extra stuff" - like law review, moot court, etc.

4. You want to understand how you will think differently about life after law school.

3. You are a professional already and are thinking of adding on law school to supplement your first career.

2. You need a good reality check on law school before you head back to class.

1. You want to avoid making potentially the biggest mistake of your life.

Sujets

• Legal Education
• Droit et juridique
• Law

Informations

• Publié par: eBookIt.com
• Date de parution: 21 février 2013
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781456612085
• Langue: English

Extrait

Copyright © 2013 Yuspie, LLC,
All rights reserved.
Published in eBook format by eBookIt.com
http://www.eBookIt.com
ISBN-13: 978-1-4566-1208-5
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Limit of Liability/Disclaimer of Warranty: While the publisher and author have used their best efforts in preparing this book, they make no representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents of this book and specifically disclaim any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. No warranty may be created or extended by sales representatives or written sales materials. The author is NOT a lawyer.
The advice and strategies contained herein may not be suitable for your situation. You should consult with a professional where appropriate. Neither the publisher nor author shall be liable for any loss of profit or any other commercial damages, including but not limited to special, incidental, consequential, or other damages. The information contained herein is not necessarily the opinion of the author or publisher.
Designations used by companies to distinguish their products are often claimed by trademarks. In all instances where the author or publisher is aware of a claim, the trademarks have been noted where applicable. The inclusion of a trademark does not imply an endorsement or judgment of a product or service of another company, nor does it imply an endorsement or judgment by another company of this book or the opinions contained herein.

 
 
Also by Erin Albert:
 
The Life Science Lawyer
The Medical Science Liaison: An A to Z Guide
(with Cathleen Sass)
Plan C: The Full-Time Employee and Part-Time Entrepreneur
Single. Women. Entrepreneurs.
Indianapolis: A Young Professional’s Guide
Mentored books:
 
Prescription to my Younger Self: What I Learned After Pharmacy School
(multiple authors)
Pharmacy and Me
(multiple authors)
 
 
 
To the law school class of 2013,
and all future law school classes:
May you get what you want,
and may you want what you get.
- Adapted from an old Gypsy curse
Contents
Introduction
What Classes I Took and When: The Class Decoder Ring
The Short & Plain Statements
Pre-Law School
1L
2L
3L
4L
Reintegration to Society: Life Post Law School/Bar Exam Prep
Post Bar Exam
Acknowledgements
Other Books By The Author
Introduction
Once upon a time, one of my mentors asked me “what I was.”
“Are you a pharmacist that teaches, an entrepreneur that happens to be a pharmacist, or a lawyer underneath it all?”
Since I do a lot of things, I was a little befuddled by his question. He had very good intentions, as I think he was trying to get me to think about what—of all the things I do—I value the most. However, it really isn’t a very easy question for me to answer.
I’m a generalist. I like to know a little about a lot of different things. I’ve now been to the hallowed halls of higher education 4 times – undergrad (a 5-year BS in pharmacy), business school, pharmacy school for the “D,” and in 2012, completed law school. This, I find interesting, because “learner” has never been part of my top strengths (explain that one, Marcus Buckingham!) Maybe Marcus needs to add “professional student” to his Strengthsfinder .
But I think above all, I love to write. And writing, much like the law, permeates everything. Not to overwhelm you, dear reader, but I wanted to explain why you might consider reading THIS book about law school, because frankly, there are a TON of books on law school already. I don’t honestly know if I can add much to the cacophony of writing out there on law school itself – there are more books than even I could consume on the subject.
However, what I can bring to the table: my own unique perspectives and reasons for going to law school I think are different from the average bear. For example, I only applied to one school. It was my first choice, because it was my only choice, as I was not going to stop my day job to go back to law school (and nor should you – I’ll have more on that later). Also, I already had a first profession (pharmacy), which I argue is something YOU need before you consider law school. (I know what you’re thinking – why? I’ll have more on this later too.)
Begin with the most important question of all.
If you haven’t yet been asked, you will be:
“So, why do you want to go to law school?”
You will have everyone, including your friends, family, even other lawyers you interview, ask you this question. As cliché it may appear by me reiterating this point, it is a very, very, VERY important question to have a valid answer. There are books that tell you what are, and are not legitimate excuses for going to law school. I’ll let you hunt them down on your own should you want and/or need some validation for your answer. I’m here to judge no one.
Whatever you answer may be, I hope it is the right one, for you. And whatever it is, I want you to do yourself a huge favor. I want you to get out a piece of paper and your favorite writing utensil – and I want you to write a letter – to yourself. I literally want you to sit down and compose a letter to yourself outlining and succinctly explaining to your future self why, it is, that you wish to go to law school.
I know what you’re thinking: this. Is. Hokey. Perhaps. However, it was one of the best gifts I could have given to myself, because recently, after taking the bar, I unearthed my own famous letter (I sealed it in an envelope and put it in my safe in my office) that I wrote to myself over four years ago now. I found it hilarious, and honest. It’s an important exercise, because sometimes, it is the one and ONLY thing that gets you through classes.
It is also important to note that I went to law school part-time at night, after my full-time day job. This, on top of trying to keep two companies afloat and publishing three books during law school. So, my reasons for wanting to go to law school could be vastly different from someone fresh out of undergrad that doesn’t even have a first or second profession, whereas I already do (pharmacy, in case you were wondering is my first, entrepreneurship my second).
While I love education (I think it is the only way we can truly be free), law school at times can be a drag. Monotonous. Redundant. Boring. Painful. Headache-inducing. And after a long, hard day at work, sometimes the last thing you’re going to want to do is go sit through four hours of law school classes during the evening until 10:00 PM, especially during the last half of your program (part-time programs are typically 3.5-4 in duration).
My job here is to share my own experience with law school, from my own point of view. Law school isn’t fun. But, over the past four plus years, I’ve been writing about my life before, during, and after law school. In this book, I’ll share my diary and my thoughts with you.
If there’s any great advice I can give on law school, it is to ensure that you write down in a letter to yourself why you want to go in the first place. That way, you’ll have a fine answer when all those people ask you why you want to go. You’ll also have something to keep in mind those nights when it is raining, snowing, icing, your friends are going out and having fun—while you’re headed to class.
And I cannot resist sharing part of my own letter, with you, dear reader, right now. Here goes. I am the only person on the planet that has seen and re-read this letter, until now.
_______
Date: 6.16.08
Dear me,
So this morning I read a great article that suggested I should write myself a letter as to why I wanted to attend law school, seal it, and only open it after graduation. Here goes…
Why I Want to Go to Law School
1. I want to continue to change the world for the better , and having a law degree will give me more access to higher levels of playing fields. Senator Albert? President Albert?
2. If you can’t beat them, join them – as a business owner, professor, and human being, I need to know about the law because it is an unavoidable part of life. And, if you can’t beat lawyers at their own little game and in their own little club, you must work from the inside out by understanding them – in order to make positive change.
3. I need brain candy .
4. I want to carry my earlier professions forward. I think it is important to remember your law school application essay: you wanted to carry pharmacy forward, not abandon it for a second career in law. Same deal with being a writer and an entrepreneur—you are going to law school to learn how to better advocate for the professions you already are lucky to have in your life.
In conclusion, there are many who have gone before me who went to law school but did other things besides “practice law” – Tim Russert, Mitch Daniels, Daniel Pink, Jerry Springer – to name just a few.
So, dear, when you graduate and are looking at all those great new opportunities – I hope you read this and remember why you went to law school in the first place, and rejoice in your new knowledge which should help you change the world for the better!!
XOX,
me
_____
Here comes a 4-year, dear-diary/blog sort of chronicle of my law school career. If you’re thinking of going back, read it before you invest the time and trouble. If you’re on the fence about law school, I’m going to keep it real here and share you my thoughts and worries about my own brain on law school.
I thought about waiting for a “happy ending” for this book before publishing, which still hasn’t yet come for me. You can read on to see what I’m talking about. But I was also encouraged to publish this