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Happy Medium: Finding Your Voice as a New Attorney
I often joke that there are two settings as a new attorney—one that is hyper-confident in their nascent skills and the other that knows that there’s a lot they don’t know so they hold back for fear of being wrong. It’s tough to find a happy medium, but that’s basically the beauty of your long career—you’ll get taken down a few pegs and get built up in other areas until you feel comfortable in your skills and seek out other ways to improve. But before you get there, one of the big hurdle as a new attorney is finding your voice in group settings. For new attorneys on both ends…
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Breaking Barriers: Myth-Busting Law School
I hate sounding like I’m ancient, but when I was applying for law school there were so many unknowns. Seriously, how did the world even work before internet? Books? #cray. Anyway, when I started applying, there were a few online communities and older students that I knew that helped guide me. But the online communities, especially, were just hyper-masculine arenas. The commentators seemed so thrilled to tell people how they’d never make it to law school and how much of a waste of time it was to apply because they’d never get into a T-14 school, etc etc. And this was before the Recession, so hubris was at an all-time…
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There’s No Crying in Baseball, or a Law Firm
Just like in baseball, there’s no crying in a law firm. Sorry, but I am staunchly on #teamnocry when it comes to showcasing emotions at work. I feel bad saying this because we should be able to show displeasure and sometimes we can’t control our physical reaction to anger or frustration. I am totally guilty of this–I actually cry pretty easily. But this is the stance I take because I fear when you allow your emotions to overcome you in a way that allows others to mark you as vulnerable, it’s an incredibly difficult hole to get out of–not that it’s not possible, but it can take a while to…
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One, Two Step: Mastering Law School Finals
Hope everyone had a restful break from work/school! I know all the students are starting crunch mode as you prepare for finals. I’m a bit removed from that but believe me, law school finals anxiety is a feeling you never, ever forget. In fact, my first holiday as an attorney was one of my happiest because I was so thrilled to not have to worry about any exams! You’ll get there eventually, but in the meantime you have to master your exams. I hate to say this, but preparing for your finals is a two-pronged process. The most important part of studying for law school finals is not just understanding…
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Do You Ever Need to Tone It Down At Work?
“It” being your latinidad? Ok so first, if you’re not watching Insecure–do what you must to get HBO because this show is so amazing! I’ve been a huge fan of Issa Rae forever–from Awkward Black Girl to Ratchet Piece Theater and even love her brother’s show The Fly Guys. LOVE them. Anyway, one of the characters is an attorney–a third year associate at a good firm. Molly has definitely learned how to play the part of being a woman of color in a mostly white firm. There’s a story line (video) where there’s a summer associate, a young black woman named Rashida, who either has not learned to adjust her…
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It’s the Final Countdown: Managing Stress and Time During Law School Finals
A reprieve from what’s to come tomorrow— Hey, law students, are you feeling a little stressed right now? I remember how HORRIBLE my 1L fall semester was right around the holidays. I still felt academically in the dark about everything; had no idea how to study; was in a nervous wreck about money; and just felt completely lost. I hope you’re doing better. But it’s tricky because you may think you get it, but you never really know until you’re graded on that god awful curve. It can feel overwhelming right now as you prepare for something that’s unknown to you. And even as a 2L, you know what’s coming…
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Beyond Identity: The Economic Importance of Knowing Spanish
Do you speak Spanish? I know there’s such an (unfair) assumption about our community’s language abilities and assume we should all have this skill. I happen to be fluent—actually Spanish is my first language, but I’ve never understood the backlash and weird arrogance some people display when they hear that other Latinas don’t know Spanish. Like stahp. Why do we add these barriers on top of each other? In reality, I’m actually lucky to still know Spanish and have become stronger in my language skills only because of my job. However, there was a time that I forgot Spanish because I lived in a small town with no other Latinxs…
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What To Do Your 1L Summer
For many 1Ls, you’re about a month away before you’re able to really start applying for summer jobs. I remember during my first 1L semester not really understanding the importance of looking for work that was still months away. I mean, how could I know the importance when I was still just a few months into law school and had no idea how the process really worked? I knew that people starting applying in the fall, but that seemed so silly to me—surely this could wait until spring, right? I totally didn’t know the ins and outs of summer jobs and how the “good” positions are offered before the year…
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De-Stressing & Self-Care in the times of Social Media
I consider myself super lucky in that when I started working as a full-time attorney there was a more open philosophy re: vicarious trauma and attorneys. While there’s still an old-school though that nothing we do should impact us emotionally, the truth is that many of us that work in various areas of the law are exposed to ugly human behavior-there’s no question that can impact our own mental health. That’s reality. Then we add the atrocious, urgent, and infuriating state of our country in regards to how people of color are treated and it results in feelings of sadness, anger, anxiety, etc. It’s not a great headspace to be…
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Get It Together: Must-Have Items for your Law Office
I have been in my the same little office space for four years now, and have very slowly acquired some must-haves to make things more bearable at work. Don’t get me wrong, I love my job but it’s still a job, you know? I spend most of my time at my desk, in my office, so it’s important that my desk is comfortable. Here are things at my desk that I reach for constantly. If you’re new to your office space and are unsure what items to bring I suggest the following: One. Things to make you look put together. If your firm doesn’t do business casual than you’re mostly…