Law School
-
Latinas, You Should Go To Law School.
I feel like I’m breaking a code when I discuss the negative aspects about law school. Above all, I do not want to dissuade anyone from achieving their higher Ed goals. And the reality is that we need more Latinas in the law, for real, but I also want to give practical information and be as real as possible. And the reality is that the job market still sucks—especially for those interested in public interest/government jobs. There just hasn’t been a bounce back like we’ve seen in the private sector. This, on top of the crazy amount of student debt so many of us have to take on if we…
-
Planning Ahead for the New Semester
I am so eager to get back into the rhythm of my normal. The last three months of 2015 were kind of out of control-I easily worked every weekend to meet some deadline/research. It was really out of the ordinary for my job. Thankfully, I think things are settling down and getting back to normal. Having said that, I really like the beginning of the year. It’s totally cliché, but the idea of starting fresh just really appeals to me. Maybe because I went to school for a million years so I’m still used to starting fresh in January. For those that are actually in school and starting a new…
-
New Year Motivation
A reader had the brilliant idea to share some motivational movies/reading materials for people pursuing the law. And what a better time to get some motivation than during the new year! For those on break, take the time to read or watch things that will inspire you to take on spring semester. For those practicing, any time is a good time to be reminded of why we do this. Now, these recommendations are mostly fictional and somewhat frivolous–I questioned whether to post this now in light of the recent events involving our criminal justice system; because honestly the motivation we should have as people of color is the constant injustices…
-
Life After Law School Finals
This is re-post from last year, but it still holds true! Enjoy your break! And for those of us practicing, take advantage of the season to indulge in self-care! Seven years ago, my husband (then boyfriend) and I celebrated our first Christmas together after finishing my first semester of law school. I recently stumbled across a picture of our tree: I have to smile at the sparseness of the apartment; the newspaper wrapping paper; and the window treatments because the apartment was always freezing! The struggle was real! Aside from upping my decoration game, this picture reminds of the difficulties of that first semester. During the midst of my first…
-
Gift Guide: Pre-Law to Attorneys
This gift guide is a little more inclusive and also my favorite because it’s less about practicality and more about inspiration. Can I just say that 1) I have loved discovering new Latina-owned businesses online? Latinas are increasingly more likely to start their own small businesses and the things I see online make it obvious why–such good products! And 2) it is crazy how adding a few touches of motivation can really inspire you to do work. This gift guide are items that I have found to be inspiring and that I think other Latinas in the Law, whether pre-law or seasoned attorneys, will appreciate. Kick-ass Tees. I paired…
-
Gift Guide: Law Students
I remember how eager I was for winter break my 1L year. First semester is no joke and it’s not just because it’s stressful–it’s also intimidating because you are so much in the dark about the process. Are you understanding the material? Will you know how to do the essay the right way? Will you beat the curve? What is the curve?! It’s tough. But here is some light towards the end of the tunnel: presents! If you’re looking for special items that law students will love here are some guaranteed favorites: Stress Relief. Manzanilla, lavender, etc all have some calming influences that law students need. Not only are…
-
Final Freakouts: Handling Mishaps during Law School Finals
If you’re in the midst of studying for finals, you’re likely stressed (ha!) so I don’t want to add more to your plate, but I want to give a one small warning about finals. Not the study time leading up to the actual exam, but the day of and the (minimal) possibility of an emergency during the exam. An emergency meaning you have a mini-freakout because something goes awry. What would you do if your software exam crashes and you suddenly can’t type your exam? What if the person next to you has a cold that means they’re constantly making distracting noises? It may seem like overkill, but there is…
-
Latinas in Law School: What Made You So Lucky?
A few months ago I was at a forum where the moderator asked the panelist (all Latinos working in large firms/government) what made them so lucky in the face of dismal statistics that say Latinos can’t make it in law. It’s a difficult question and I think the instinctive reaction is to think of the hard things you did to make sense of how we overcame a system of oppression to join a privileged profession. Because if I think back on my journey to become an attorney, I can pick out countless of examples of difficult things I had to do to succeed—long nights; working multiple jobs; feeling lonely because…
-
Creating Good Habits in Law School
I’ve never felt a constantly physical ill feeling until I started law school and neared finals. It felt like such a do or die period and I was so 1) completely ignorant of the process and 2) incredibly nervous. I started having a lot of physical symptoms (b/c that’s how I manifest stress) that resulted in making a lot of bad choices because those brought instant-gratification and would quell my stress. But of course, that became a vicious cycle because often that bad choice would eventually make me feel worse–and did little to help my stress. I’m sure many of you who are starting finals are beginning to feel that…
-
Culture Conflict: Extracurricular Activities and Latinos
Last week we talked about the importance of cultivating soft factors for law school. Most of that entailed getting involved in activities outside of school. However, I’m classifying getting involved in extracurriculars as a cultural conflict because Latino involvement in these programs is the lowest compared to other ethnic groups. There are many reasons why our participation is low: 1) our cultures really encourage children (girls, especially) to stay home; 2) finances may severely limit a family’s ability to pay for extraneous things; 3) parents (who may not have obtained their education in the U.S.) don’t understand the importance of these activities or connect how they relate to advancement in education;…