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Well summer is over and the Fall semester has officially begun. Can you believe it? I know I certainly can’t. No matter how fast your summer went by, there is always something to learn. And regardless of whether you spent your summer at a firm, continued working in your pre law school career, or were preparing for your first semester of law school, you learnt something about yourself and where you are headed.

One of the more challenging aspects of each fall semester in law school is the seismic shift that comes with it. For some, they are returning to the grind of balancing full-time work and everything else in-between with law school. For others, they are doing a complete 180 and shifting their mindsets from “law practice” back to law school. Regardless of what shift you are going through, one of the issues that comes with them often goes under the radar. The change from summer to fall semester typically comes rapidly, leaving little time to reflect on your summer experiences and what you are carrying forward from them. Additionally, there is little time to think about and plan what your goals are for the semester. This issue aims to not only remind you—but also to help you—think about your summer experience and the semester that is already underway. Let’s get into it.

I. Take a Quick Inventory Before Jumping Into the Semester

Law school classes often take up most of your free time and bandwidth. While it is still early in this semester, take a small chunk of time to do a quick inventory check from last summer.

As the summer months approached, I wrote two initial “Summer 101” installments. The first was about how to craft a meaningful summer without a summer associateship/internship. The second focused on the flip side—how to make your summer associateship/internship count. At the heart of each installment was to build your skills, knowledge, and add to your story regardless of the path that your summer took you down.

Now that summer is in the rearview, a good place to start is with a simple question: what did it teach you? Don’t focus on whether you did the “right” thing, where you specifically worked, or whether it was entirely productive. You can’t change that now, and it’s not helpful. What is helpful is to start thinking about what surprised you, what challenges you faced, and the aspects that energized or drained you. Ultimately, you want to learn more about yourself. Here are some examples based on where you might have found yourself over the summer:

Those who had a summer associateship, internship, etc.

Focus on the types of legal tasks that energized you or the ones that you lost track of time when doing. Reflect on the type of supervision/feedback you were given. Was that conducive to your work style? What skills did you improve on? And the inevitable, what skills do you feel you need to work on the most?

Those who worked outside of law or who focused on school

For those that focused on school or worked outside of the law, did you craft a meaningful summer? If so, (and I really hope you did), identify the skills that you worked on. Think about the signals that you have gained that evidence your skill growth. And finally, reflect on the developing story that you now have crafted. Your summer story is no longer “I didn’t have a summer gig (associateship or internship)” it is “I used my summer to focus on [specific skills], while also working as a [insert if applicable], which helped me better understand that I want to further pursue [practice area], and this is how I intend to do so…”

Think about a short list of skills that law employers seek (aside from the technical legal ones like using Westlaw to research). Then think about the skills that you actively used and continued to develop in your role over the summer. Begin to identify the skills that are transferable. That is, how do they translate to the skills that a legal employer seeks? For example, you may have worked on your writing, had to navigate disputes, communicated with customers or clients, or distilled complex information for a report to company leadership. These all include skills that are directly marketable—and transferable—to the legal field. The important part is all about how you frame it, and that comes later. For now, simply identify some transferable skills that you used and developed over the summer.

Also, don’t forget about any legal pro bono that you did over the summer. This is practical legal experience that you should not only be reflecting upon but highlighting!

Those who were getting ready for their first semester of law school

Focus on what you were thinking about over the summer. What excited you about beginning law school? What practice areas were you interested in? What have you done prior to law school and how do these worlds connect?

Also, what about when you applied for law school? What was your process like? What made you apply and commit to beginning this semester? Law school isn’t something that most folks go into willy nilly, and it sure isn’t a walk in the park. So why now? Ultimately, why did you decide to pursue law? And go deeper than “¯\_(ツ)_/¯, I want to help people, I was told I’m good at arguing, or I like to analyze.” For some help with this check out the exercise I highlighted in Intro to the Why and Purpose (warning: this was the first substantive issue of The Flex Brief and isn’t necessarily up to the standards of my recent issues, but I think you’ll still find it useful!).

By thinking about and answering these questions you might just have a better idea of what you know about yourself as you begin your journey in law.

II. Choose Three (or so) Intentions—Not Fifty Goals

The problem with thinking about your semester is that it goes by way too fast. You probably have an idea of what you want to do, what you want to change, and how you are going to rock this semester. But then it seems by the time you’ve finalized what you want to accomplish, it’s already reading week. In the moment, the semester can seem as if it’s dragging by, but in the blink of an eye, it’s over, leaving you wondering where in the heck it went. That’s why you shouldn’t have a long list of goals.

OK, so I admit fifty goals is a bit of an exaggeration, but the language shift in the heading and purpose of this section are important. It’s tempting to make a long list of goals and aspirations with the start of a new semester: join organizations, outline every week (this is a good one), go to the gym, eat healthy, get ahead, volunteer, join an extracurricular…and the list goes on and on. The problem is that these goals often fade away as the weeks go by and the semester ramps up.

Instead, choose three (or so) intentions or priorities. Maybe start with one academic, one professional, and one personal. Be deliberate and somewhat specific here. For example, your academic intention might be to focus on improving your analysis section when writing essays or briefs; improving your case briefing; or staying on top of outlining. Your professional intention might be to attend two networking events, schedule three informational interviews, or have a polished up to date resume. Your personal intention might be to prioritize family dinners three times a week, exercise four to five times a week, or block off a certain time each week for the oh-so-coveted “me time.”

Instead of starting the semester with a laundry list of goals, start the semester with a short, specific, and deliberate list of intentions and priorities. Write them down and keep them visible throughout the day. By starting with a short list and writing them down, you’ll find that they don’t fade away as the semester progresses.

III. Build Systems Before Motivation Fades

In the same vein as last section, capitalize on that new semester energy (that I hope you have). Don’t let it fade away without establishing and building your systems. The goal here is to establish and build your system early, that way it’s habit by the time the motivation starts to dwindle, but the demands seem to increase.

These systems should be adapted to what works best for you, but they should also work with your list of intentions. Essentially, your systems help make your intentions easier to maintain. For example, establish a consistent system for outlining every week. (Sidebar: as a 1L, this was one of my favorite parts of the week. Every Friday I would outline while listening to a “new music of the week” playlist. This might very well be why I enjoyed it so much, but I digress). You could also figure out the days that you can go directly to the gym each week after work or another commitment and insert that into your calendar on your phone.

The point is to create your systems now, before the craziness comes knocking. And regardless of where you’re at in law school, it always happens. By establishing and building systems during the calm they will anchor you during the storms of craziness and stress that are on the horizon.

IV. Start the Semester Like the Lawyer You’re Becoming

Law school isn’t simply about achieving. Rather, at its core, law school is about becoming. As I’ve written before in Becoming the Person You’re Training to Be, becoming an attorney isn’t some magic trick that happens on a singular day. It’s not: pass the bar, poof, I’m an attorney. Your transformation into becoming a lawyer started the second you committed to law school, attended orientation, and sat through (anxiously I’d wager) your first class. The thing is, all throughout law school, as each semester begins, with each new experience, with every reading, every conversation, every random thought about negligence as you are walking through the grocery store, it’s all a part of you becoming an attorney. So, don’t forget that as you begin your first, or another, semester. Be prepared, professional, dependable, and kind! The things that will make you a good lawyer don’t appear once you’ve passed the bar, they are built and strengthened through your habits and choices throughout law school. So, keep building this semester.

Wrap-Up

Going from summer to semester can be challenging, exciting, and everything in between. Before you get swept up in the readings and pace of a new semester, take a moment to reflect on what the summer has taught you and how it plays into your journey. Bring those lessons with you. And as you begin the Fall semester don’t neglect to form your short list of intentions and build your systems to lean on while it is still calm—because before long, there will be a storm on the horizon.

And one more thing. No matter how your summer went, I hope you know that you belong here. But if you’re questioning that for any reason, let me remind you: you do belong. You are here for a reason. If you don’t know exactly what that reason is, it’s OK, it often takes more time than we’d like. Remember that law school isn’t just about learning the law; it’s about growing into the type of lawyer—and person—you want to be.

Here’s to a semester of learning, growing, and continuing to become the lawyer that you’ve been defining all along. Until next time, I hope you all have a wonderful two weeks. Stay curious and be kind out there.

Cheers,

Ryan

Welcome back to The Flex Brief, a bi-weekly Substack with an audio option for Flex/Part-Time JD students. If you enjoy The Flex Brief, please consider sharing it with your network.

Have ideas or feedback? Share them anonymously here.

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First, I want to apologize that there isn’t an audio option. It took all of the extra time I had to get this issue together and posted on time because I was swamped with the Flex orientation that took place this weekend.

Earlier this summer, I threw a “curveball” and wrote about five books that made me think about what it means to be a lawyer. Due to the popularity of that issue, I figured I’d throw another one at you, but this time a changeup. Since that “curveball,” I’ve done quite a bit of thinking on the influence that books, movies, tv shows and the like have on my outlook on people, life, and the world.

It’s no secret that one of the foundational educational goals of law school is to mold your thinking to be like a lawyer. As a result, law school changes the way you think, process, speak, analyze, and ultimately, how you see the world. Funny enough, a good book or movie can do something similar, but maybe in a different way. Truly moving books and movies can change the way you view an issue, a person, a cause, and even the world itself. This issue is going to explore five stories from books or movies that changed my outlook on people, life, careers, and the world.

I. Every Person Is a Story You Can’t Completely See (Book: James by Percival Everett)

When we interact with another person, we see the portion that they let us see. We don’t see everything that makes up the person, or maybe not even who they truly are. This is an important understanding to have not only as a lawyer, but as a person. One of my favorite recent reads gets at this.

James1 revisits The Adventures of Huckelberry Finn by Mark Twain but from the perspective of Jim. The book goes through scenes that feel familiar to Twain’s novel but through a completely different lens, with a much rawer and more intense feel. There are some absolute “oh my word, what!?” moments that I will not spoil for you. But when reading the last few pages, that’s when the culmination happens. The moment when a lesson about people comes glaringly off the page. Jim’s character throughout the book shows that people often are never showing their true selves, for many different reasons. The book’s gripping final scene brings this theme to a powerful climax, vividly revealing how people aren’t always showing their whole selves.

This is an important aspect of life and of being a lawyer. We must show different aspects of who we are at certain times. But it’s also important to understand this when interacting with others as we are likely only getting a portion of their story and who they are.

II. Success Rarely Happens Alone (Movie: The Six Triple Eight)

Whatever it might be, however big or small, success usually feels great. You might be happy, relieved, proud, ecstatic, or a combination of the like. One area that might go by the wayside when thinking about success is others. Often our successes are not products of our efforts alone. Other people or things contribute, even if in a minimal way, to our success. Yes, even those small wins are likely to have contributions from others. Some weeks, simply getting up in the morning is a major success for me (I know I’m not alone here). But this success is not always due to my sole (but often slow) effort to wake up. Maybe my wife set the alarm, or she made me a latte to go. Or maybe I know I have an important meeting with a student which fuels me to get up and get going. These might be small, and quite possibly even unintentional contributions. But they’re still contributions that come from others which lend to the (sometimes maybe not-so-small) success of getting up in the morning.

A movie named The Six Triple Eight2 explores this topic in more ways than one. The movie is broadly about the 6888^th Central Postal Directory Battalion. The Battalion was an all-Black, all-female United States Army unit that was deployed to Europe in 1945. Their mission was to clear a massive backlog of undelivered mail to soldiers fighting in the war—a task that seemed impossible due to the sheer amount of undelivered mail coupled with an urgent deadline. But the Six Triple Eight didn’t back down. They were brought together by their poised, determined, and inspirational leader, Major Charity Adams. At the heart of their groundbreaking success was the fact that the Six Triple Eight worked together to achieve the end goal. This paints a beautiful picture evidencing how success is rarely found alone. On a broader level, the movie gives food for thought about how the war was won. It was not solely due to the fighting troops. Through the Six Triple Eight’s efforts, the troops on front lines were able to receive mail from home. This raised the troop’s morale which enhanced efforts and helped lead to the ultimate goal.

In life and the law, you’ll very rarely find success from the sole efforts of yourself. Don’t forget to look around and be thankful for those that played a part, however minor, in what you achieve.

III. Never Underestimate the Power of Kindness (Movie: A Man Called Otto)

“Treat others the way you want to be treated.” It’s a phrase we’ve heard since kindergarten. But its meaning and cumulative effect seem to slowly fade from memory for some as the years progress. For some, life takes it away, for others maybe they are too busy for kindness. I admit that genuine kindness is not an easy thing to always maintain. But the power of kindness is something that goes drastically under noticed in this world.

This theme is explored in the movie A Man Called Otto.3 The movie centers around…well…a man named Otto. When we first meet him, he isn’t the kindest person. The people around him, including a younger couple who just moved in across the street consistently choose small acts of kindness even when they are met with resistance. This can be one of those times where it is hard to continue being kind. But the people around Otto continue to choose kindness and you can imagine the eventual effect. Kindness can be transformational, and we often forget the cumulative effect that showing kindness can have. I know life gets busy, and things happen, but as lawyers, and as human beings, we should never underestimate what the power of kindness can do not only for our clients, but for everyone.

IV. Small Choices Help Shape the Extraordinary Life (Movie: A Million Miles Away; Bonus Series: Genius, Season 1)

We look at some of the achievements or lives of others and think that they are extraordinary. Yet we don’t take into consideration all of the seemingly small decisions, the failures, the determination, and everything else in between that lead to the extraordinary achievement(s).

The movie that got me thinking about this is A Million Miles Away.4 The biopic follows the incredible story of Jose Hernández who was fascinated by the stars and space from an early age. The movie goes through Jose’s life and journey to becoming an astronaut. He applied about a dozen times to NASA’s training programs but was continually rejected. But Jose never quit. He chose to keep applying to the training program time and time again. He also chose to bulk up his application by becoming a certified scuba diver, obtaining his pilot’s license, and learning to speak Russian. Because of these choices, he was eventually accepted. Jose would later become the first former migrant farm worker to have traveled to space.

A large part of his successes he attributes to his dad’s “recipe.” The recipe goes something like: (1) determining your purpose in life; (2) recognizing how far you are from your goal; (3) drawing a roadmap from where you’re at to where you want to go (how are you going to get there); (4) if you don’t know how, you have to learn; and (5) when you think you’ve made it, you probably are going to have work harder. This seems like a perfect recipe to achieve your goals…and it obviously worked for Jose.

Now a little bonus for this section is from a TV show that I’ve been watching called Genius.5 Each season of the show is dedicated to a brilliant mind from history. In particular, I want to touch on the first season. This season documents the life of the person most folks associate with the word genius, Albert Einstein. Einstein was no doubt one of the most brilliant minds this world has ever seen. But most forget about the struggles that Einstein went through to get his work recognized. The show documents this by showing his early progression through school and eventually working at the patten office while trying to get his ideas recognized. Einstein always chose to follow his passion and dreams. He trusted in his ideas and in himself. His decisions (sometimes maybe not the best) reflected his trust, and it led to some of the greatest discoveries in physics in the twentieth century.

The point is simple. Do the things that will help you get to where you want to go. Try to always make the decisions that will lead you there. You might not be the next Jose Hernández or the person to prove the next Theory of Relativity, but be consistent in chasing your dreams and following your passion. That’s what makes a life extraordinary.

V. Happiness Isn’t One Thing (Book and Movie: Hector and the Search for Happiness)

Happiness is a funny thing (no pun intended) and understanding it is no easy task. Often, we think about and define happiness as its own entity, I mean it is its own emotion after all. Without going too far down the philosophical rabbit hole…what is happiness? What does it consist of? How do you find it? These are obviously deep and complicated questions about something that you can’t necessarily see, touch, or definitively define.

In the book6 turned movie7 Hector and the Search for Happiness follows a psychiatrist that sets out to answer these questions. He wants to understand what makes people happy so he can better help treat his patients. Though it’s characterized as a “work trip,” Hector is also curious about happiness for his own life. For his “research” he travels to many places making a list of life lessons on happiness. And while the lessons that Hector records in his notebook throughout his journey are great, what Hector ultimately discovers is probably one of the more important lessons about happiness and life. It’s not a single thing and nor can it be found in a single thing. Rather, true happiness is a combination of all our emotions and all our experiences, the good and the bad. Happiness has and needs context. Happiness is something that is found in how we live and go about our every day. It’s not the product of one thing and it certainly isn’t something that can be taught. It is something that you find by truly living life.

Wrap-Up

Law school changes the way you think and see the world. But the lessons that can make you a better lawyer and the lessons on life surround us. You can find them all around you. Including in a good book or movie. The way you see the world can change through many different experiences, so be intentional about reflecting and thinking…especially when reading a good book or watching an intriguing movie. You never know what you might learn about yourself, your career, or the world.

Until next time, I hope you all have a wonderful two weeks. Stay curious and be kind out there.

Cheers,

Ryan

Welcome back to The Flex Brief, a bi-weekly Substack with an audio option for Flex/Part-Time JD students. If you enjoy The Flex Brief, please consider sharing it with your network.

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Last issue explored the weight of others’ problems. A large part of being a lawyer is taking on the weight of other people’s problems. As I mentioned in last issue, you’ve already started taking on that weight. But what about the weight of everything you’re carrying? What about when everything that you have going on starts to become overwhelming?

This summer might have been a crazy one for you, or it might have been a welcome reprieve from last semester. The wild thing is that the fall semester is right around the corner (where in the heck did summer go!?). For many, I know that this means the return to a hectic and seemingly non-stop lifestyle. You might be juggling work, family, school, an internship, a new position as an associate on law review (or another extracurricular), pro bono work, and everything else in between. Whatever the combination might be, it’s a lot…and trust me, I do understand. When you first start balancing all of these things that demand your time, attention, and energy it feels doable. But as time goes on, or simply depending on the day, everything feels overwhelming. I’m sure this sounds familiar.

We’ve all been there. It’s a Sunday afternoon, and while everyone else in the world is doing Sunday things, like lounging by the pool, you are working away on a reading that is due this week, you have a deadline to meet for work lingering overhead, laundry has been waiting to be folded since Friday, your family wants your attention, and there is just not enough time in the day.

This issue is going to talk about the times when we are overwhelmed with everything that we have going on. Let’s get into it.

I. When It Becomes Overwhelming

Law students are accustomed to a busy life. The amount of reading alone is enough to keep anyone busy. But more is required of you than simply reading. You must engage with the reading in ways you have likely never done before. You are required to regularly think deeply and analytically in ways that you may have never done. This takes a tremendous amount of time, effort, and energy. Often, this means that law school related tasks are involved in some way or another every day of the week. Then we add in everything else outside of law school: work, family, friends, exercising, internships, etc. This leads to a very busy life.

Being busy means that your time is heavily occupied, and that’s great, it’s part of the gig. The problem is when this transforms into being overwhelmed. You begin to feel engulfed by everything that is going on. Everything is urgent, unfinished, and mentally present all at the same time. This becomes a heavy burden, and you might begin to question yourself and even your decision to pursue law.

II. Feeling Overwhelmed Doesn’t Mean You’re Failing

When overwhelming feelings set in, it’s natural to question yourself. The self-critic in you comes out and you begin to question why you can’t manage everything. You look at others and they seem to be handling it fine. This can lead you to wonder if you’re really cut out for this.

The thing to remember is that your capacity level is not the same every day. We do not wake up with the same battery level of capacity every morning to go about our day. That’s why the same workload feels different from day to day and even hour to hour. So many factors are at play that affect capacity. Think about the amount of sleep you got, your health, work pressures, family circumstances, financial concerns, and every different unexpected issue that each day brings with it (there’s always something). That’s why the seemingly miniscule accident of a container falling out of the fridge as you open it might just cause a meltdown on some days.

All jokes aside, the important thing to realize is that what felt manageable yesterday may be daunting today, but you are no less capable. You’re not failing, you might just be lacking capacity due to many different interacting factors.

III. You Don’t Got to Handle Everything Today

When you become overwhelmed it’s easy to start combining immediate tasks with future responsibilities and long-term fears. This compounds the feelings that you are having. Instead of expanding the time horizon, you need to shrink it.

It’s easy to go from worrying about a reading that is due tomorrow to worrying about planning out the entire semester and whether what you’re doing next summer is sufficient. Your mind starts to take several different problems that belong on different timelines and combines them. When you feel overwhelmed, it’s common to take every concern about the future and make it feel as if it must be solved right now.

The key is to separate the different kind of responsibilities. Identify what requires immediate attention. Break your larger questions into smaller ones. Instead of “How will I survive this semester” or “What am I going to do next summer?” ask yourself, “What must be finished tonight;” “When is the next application deadline;” and “What is the next logical step and when does it need to be complete?”

You don’t need to solve everything on a Sunday afternoon. The key is to decide what that Sunday afternoon is for.

IV. Accept That Some Things Won’t Get Done

This is a hard thing to understand yet alone accept. But to manage the times when you feel overwhelmed, it’s important to understand that some things just won’t get done, or at least not to the standard that you might like.

The problem here is usually the fact that the competing responsibilities are all important. A good start is to distinguish the types of effort that are required for each of the responsibilities. Not just the quality of work that is required, but also the type. Distinguish between tasks that require your best work, competent work, or things that just need to be completed. Then figure out what the task requires of you. Does the task take emotional energy, thinking, physical energy, etc. This helps keep track of the bandwidth that you have in each category. Some days you might have more than the other. Those are the days to knock out the tasks that require that energy and quality of work.

Finally, you got to accept the imbalance. There are going to be times that school gets more attention than housework, or your family needs more attention than an extracurricular. If you’re working, it is inevitably going to reduce the amount of time you have for school. And the big one, you’re constantly going to feel like you have something to do, and rest seems like a concept that has been lost in time. This imbalance doesn’t mean that you have lost control, you’re responding to what this journey is requiring of you. It’s not always trying to figure out how you can manage and do everything. Rather, it’s deciding with intentionality—and no unnecessary guilt—what won’t get done at this moment, or at least what won’t get done to the level you’d like.

V. Don’t Be Silent

When you feel overwhelmed it might be tempting to put your head down and truck right through it without saying a word. But honest and open communication can be very helpful in times when you feel overwhelmed. You might fear appearing uncapable or uncommitted, but let someone in. It could be a significant other, friend, advisor, colleague, classmate, or whoever you’d like to talk to. Explain how many responsibilities are competing and what you have going on. Talk through the deadlines, what makes you feel the most pressure, and what you feel like you are continually sacrificing.

Be specific about what you’re seeking. If you just need a friendly ear to listen, say that. If you need a chunk of uninterrupted time this evening, make sure you communicate this. Or specifically ask your significant other, friend, family, etc. if they can take something off your plate for the week. When you feel overwhelmed, don’t be silent. Let someone in and be specific about what you need. You’ll likely find the pressure reduced by simply talking to someone.

VI. Finding One Non-negotiable

Often when you feel overwhelmed you might start thinking about ways you can save time. You think about things that you can cut out to devote that time to something else. You might cut some time from your gym session, stop watching your favorite TV show, not go for your typical evening walk, or whatever it might be. This is great for time management and to give you more time to focus on the responsibilities that are important right now, but don’t cut out everything.

You want to have at least one non-negotiable. This is something that you will not cut out and it doesn’t have to be related to your responsibilities. It can be whatever you like. For example, a nonnegotiable for me is cooking. I absolutely love to cook. So even during overwhelming and crazy weeks, I still block off time to get into the kitchen and cook with my tunes playing in the background.

Another non-negotiable I heard from someone was having dinner with his family. At the time (a long time ago) he had just started as a junior business advisor for the Washington Post. Even though he had just started and was a junior, he made it clear that absent some exceptions he was going to be home every night to eat dinner with his family. He would be glad to pick up work afterward, but dinner time with his family was a non-negotiable. (Sidebar: I recognize that both examples revolve around food. I promise that I’m not hungry…I actually ate a good lunch just prior to writing this section).

Some other non-negotiables might be the gym, reading your child a bedtime story, watching your favorite sports team, meditating, or whatever it might be. When you start cutting things out of your daily life make sure you think about—and leave room for—at least one non-negotiable. Trust me, it helps keep the balance when things become overwhelming.

Wrap-up

An overwhelming moment, day, week, semester, or year doesn’t define your capability or your future as a legal professional. It’s normal and it happens to everyone. Feeling overwhelmed is a product of the fact that you have a lot of responsibilities and a lot going on all at once. So, when you find yourself sitting there on that Sunday afternoon reading, thinking about an upcoming deadline, and wondering whether you are giving enough time to your friends and family, remember that you are capable. And when everything starts to feel like too much, bring yourself back to the here and now. Focus on the next task, the next decision, or the next step—and let that be enough for the moment. Oh, and don’t forget about those non-negotiables.

Until next time, I hope the next two weeks treat you all well. Be kind out there…especially to yourselves!

Cheers,

Ryan

Welcome back to The Flex Brief, a bi-weekly Substack with an audio option for Flex/Part-Time JD students. If you enjoy The Flex Brief, please consider sharing it with your network.

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After writing the last installment about books that made me think about what it means to be a lawyer, I started thinking about the last book more and its practical implications for lawyers. Ultimately, one of the central messages of the last issue is that the law is centered around people. And if that’s the case, the next logical question is: if law is about people, then what does that ask of us lawyers?

In law school, you spend a lot of time reading appellate decisions. You debate holdings, analyze rules, and dissect reasoning. This is largely how you learn contract law and almost every other area of law. You are also somewhat passively learning how to think, write, organize, and advocate like a lawyer through this reading. But somewhere along the way, another important lesson is lost. We forget that every one of those cases had a direct impact on people and their lives. We forget that the writing on the page goes far deeper than learning what the rule is for past consideration. The opinion wasn’t written for law students to understand that past consideration generally doesn’t satisfy the consideration requirement for a valid contract. Rather, it was written because a person (or people) had a problem. And guess who’s shoulder that problem fell on…a lawyer’s.

I. Behind the Case is a Person

I remember the phone call. A mom had called the office regarding an issue with her daughter. The daughter had recently moved to the state and was staying in an apartment. She had gotten involved with a man who essentially moved himself in. He became abusive and very confrontational. The mother was obviously scared for her daughter and wanted to set up an appointment for her to meet with us. We met with the daughter and heard what was going on. Instead of seeing just the legal issues behind the case (which I will not bore you with), we took time to make her feel heard, understood, and safe. We took on the burden she was carrying. We also took on the fear and the somewhat helpless feeling her mom was having. We became her hope and control of the situation. We took on the weight.

After the meeting was done and the girl was on her way out, my boss couldn’t help but give the daughter some fatherly advice (as he was a father himself). It was no more than a few sentences, and it was not necessary in our representation of her, but it was personable and perfectly gentle and compassionate.

Often times when presented with a factual scenario, we jump right to the legal analysis (especially for us real law nerds). The lawyer will see the contract dispute, a custody hearing, or an employment issue. But the client sees the business they built, their child, or their livelihood. The legal issue might be routine to you or very complex and interesting. But the life that surrounds the issue is rarely routine and almost always complex. A good part of lawyering is remembering that legal work—no matter how routine or simple—often represents important moments in someone else’s life. These are the moments that we are trusted with, and they become part of the weight that we lift as lawyers.

II. You Become the Keeper

This concept reminds me somewhat of the fantastic and profound book and later movie, The Giver. (Sorry, I just couldn’t help making another book reference after the last issue got me thinking).

Lawyers have a unique position. Clients often entrust us with things they haven’t told anyone else (hopefully!). The lawyer becomes the trusted keeper of fears, mistakes, secrets, goals, and the like. This is an incredible responsibility to have. This is probably why the Model Rules of Professional Conduct (MRPC) address confidentiality and professionalism among other things.

Even though the MRPC addresses the fact that lawyers are keepers of confidential and privileged information, it goes deeper than that. Clients don’t tell their lawyers something purely because it’s privileged and they just want to get it off their chest. Rather, they tell their lawyers these things because they believe that the lawyer can help them. Furthermore, the amount of privilege and confidentiality that is given to a lawyer and their client speaks beyond the trust that the client has for lawyer—they represent the trust that society places in the profession.

Every time you have a new case you become the keeper of everything that you are told by your client. Don’t forget this. It can be burdensome, but it is an incredible privilege—one that should never be taken lightly.

III. Empathy: Striking the Right Balance

Anyone who knows me would say I can struggle with the ‘right’ balance here. Often lawyers might feel that it’s one or the other. Either you got to be emotionally detached (this is serious business after all!). Or you must always and overly show that you feel and understand your clients’ struggles and pain. Neither one is right…nor healthy.

The right balance is finding the happy medium where you can understand why this matters to the client, but you don’t become overwhelmed with the client’s issues. The thing is, clients don’t need another person who is overwhelmed by their problems. They need someone who can understand why it’s important (where empathy and compassion come in) and be able to effectively navigate the problems (this is where the professional skills come into play). The key is to not be on either end of the empathy or detached spectrum. This can be difficult for folks who fall on either end. But overall effectiveness lies somewhere in the middle so you can not only understand the client (and make them feel as such) but you can also effectively do your job as a lawyer. Some might argue that one is more important than the other, but in my experience being able to balance both empathy and detaching is an important part of being an effective counselor.

IV. You Can’t Win for Everyone

This is a hard one. In most cases lawyers want the best outcome for their clients. But sometimes the favorable outcome doesn’t happen for our client. Regardless of how we think the result ought to have come out, it doesn’t always. Sometimes good people lose. Compelling arguments don’t win. A rock-solid case unravels. A client wins but will never see a dime. A jury surprises everyone in the courtroom…even the ‘winning side.’ A settlement deal falls apart. In the practice of law, sometimes there isn’t a satisfying outcome. No matter what you feel the client deserves, in some cases it’s just not going to happen.

The problem with this reality is that law students and young lawyers often internalize these outcomes as personal failures. And while mistakes are made, you cannot always put it on yourself. It’s important to distinguish your effort from the outcome and to do this as early in your law school and legal career journey as you can.

Your job is to provide competent and excellent representation, not to control the outcome. Don’t carry the tough losses around with you as evidence of your personal shortcomings. If anything, use them as fuel to continue providing the quality services that your future clients need.

V. Learning What Is Yours to Carry

This distinction might be the most important aspect of the lawyer’s role as a keeper. Along the lines with last section, there are things that you want to carry with you, but there are also those that you shouldn’t carry.

While it may not always be possible, it is important to recognize what we as lawyers should carry with us, and what we need to let go. You should always carry what is essential to being a good lawyer like integrity, preparation, competence, communication, professionalism, and good judgment. You should also carry the lessons that you learned from your cases and experiences. Finally, you want to try to always bring patience, honesty, and ultimately hope.

The things that you don’t want to carry are often from the client. Don’t take their guilt, anger, past, mistakes, or behavior with you. You also want to avoid letting a client’s impossible expectations (trust me, you’ll see this) weigh on you. As discussed above, the outcomes that are beyond your control shouldn’t be part of the weight you carry, unless you are using them for fuel. Finally, as many young lawyers realize, the glamor of being an attorney and the change you wanted to bring that inspired you to go to law school can quickly get lost when you start practicing. That’s why it is so important to recognize what you should and shouldn’t carry, so you have the room to never forget and continue to pursue the dreams and reasons that sent you to law school.

VI. The Weight is a Privilege

I mentioned it earlier, but I wanted to touch on it a bit more. The previous sections focused a touch more on the burden, now let’s see the flip side.

The law profession touches almost every area of life and this world. Very few other professions are invited into others’ lives during birth, death, marriage, divorce, businesses creation and dissolution, criminal charges, family conflict, medical crises, and everything in between. The law and the legal profession surround us, and we are the folks that are blessed to carry that weight. Not only the weight of other people’s legal problems, but the weight of a nation in which law is foundational to its very existence.

I say this not to stress you out, or to place any added pressure on you (I know you have plenty of that). But I want to emphasize just how much of an honor it is for lawyers to be entrusted with such a significant task. Lawyers stand beside people, businesses, states, and the government during defining moments. While that’s stressful, it is also incredibly meaningful.

The weight exists because the work matters. Try not to lose sight of this.

VII. What Does This Mean For You Now?

You might be wondering, “ok, so what does this mean for me now? I’m not a lawyer yet.” While that might be true, you’ve already started taking on the weight. Whether it be through internships, externships, pro bono, or simply further developing your knowledge and skills through classes, you have already begun to take on the meaningful task of being a lawyer. Pay attention and try to work on the habits and skills that will serve you in the future.

Start practicing listening intently before speaking. Try to be more empathetic. Take confidentiality seriously (even in hypotheticals). Protect integrity, fairness, and justice. And be deliberate about taking care of yourself! Professionalism includes emotional discipline, technical skills, and taking care of your well-being. By intentionally developing these habits now, you’ll be ready for the meaningful weight that lies ahead.

Wrap-Up

One day very in the very near future, you might find yourself closing your laptop after helping someone (or a business) through one of the hardest seasons of their lives. You’ll get in your car and drive home holding onto conversations that no one else will ever hear. That’s part of becoming a lawyer. That’s part of the privilege. The goal isn’t to become the lawyer that never feels the weight…frankly, I don’t think that would be a good thing. Rather, the goal is to become someone who can carry it with wisdom, empathy, and perspective—without ever forgetting that behind every case is a person who trusted you with the wonderful weight of being a lawyer.

Until next time, I hope the next two weeks treat you all well. Keep holding that weight with pride and be kind out there.

Cheers,

Ryan

Welcome back to The Flex Brief, a bi-weekly Substack with an audio option for Flex/Part-Time JD students. If you enjoy The Flex Brief, please consider sharing it with your network.

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The last few issues have been somewhat heavy. I thought we’d shake things up a bit with a fresh and (hopefully) fun issue.

If someone wanted to think like or learn about being a lawyer, you might point them to a casebook, textbook, treatise, or some YouTube video. These would certainly be good recommendations. But something I learned as a young attorney was that many ideas that shape us as lawyers come from unexpected places.

As lawyers, we spend our time navigating many different interconnected realms. We must deal with legal issues, conflict, and other problems. But at the same time, so many other things are at play such as human behavior, differences, opposing views, judgment, and complexity. These other subjects aren’t confined to our legal knowledge or texts. They can be learned from so many other things, such as picking up a good book on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

This issue is a bit of a curveball. And before the angst of those pesky summer reading lists creep in, this is not meant to be a summer reading list at all. Rather, it’s a collection of ideas from five different books that made me think more deeply about people, decisions, relationships, the world that we serve, and what it means to be a lawyer. Each section will have an idea and a book that pairs with this thought.

Let’s get into it.

I. Solving Problems Doesn’t Mean Winning (Book: Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In by Roger Fisher, William Ury, and Bruce Patton)

Most go to law school with at least some part of them believing that it is about arguments…and winning them. In fact, I often hear students tell me that their friends and family consistently encouraged them to go to law school because they were always good at arguments. While being good at arguments and winning them is a nice skill to have, it’s not always what lawyers do. Over time, many lawyers recognize that a large portion of legal work doesn’t have to do with winning, it has to do with helping people solve their problems. And in the real world (even though I hate this phrase), issues are not usually solved in such a black and white fashion with one side being the winner and the other the loser. More often than not, the solution lies in the gray area.

The book, Getting to Yes, captures exactly this. Overall, the book provides a solid framework to deal with negotiations, which is a part of almost everything we do. In the preface to the third edition, the authors write: “there are cooperative ways of negotiating our differences and that even if a ‘win-win,’ solution cannot be found, a wise agreement can still often be reached that is better for both sides than the alternative.”1 Effective and efficient solutions don’t typically involve one side defeating the other. Good lawyers recognize this and all the other related factors at play (e.g., business relations, time, money, etc.). They don’t look at an issue with an eye towards winning. Rather they analyze issues from the perspective of “how can we move forward and solve this problem?”

II. Every Side has its Opposite (Book: Twelve Angry Men by Reginald Rose)

First, I must admit that the book here is technically a teleplay2 which led to the classic film.3 But please just roll with it.

One thing that you begin to realize as you go through law school is that two very intelligent minds can look at the same problem and reach different outcomes. In practice, the same is true, otherwise there would be no need for trials, litigation, or the legal system as we know it. The problem arises when folks focus too much on their position. They begin to lose sight of the opposite side and the reasons why “those folks” believe that they are right. Essentially, by focusing only on one side, the whole picture is lost.

Take, Twelve Angry Men for example. Almost as soon as they begin deliberating, eleven jurors are ready to convict and sentence a man to death. But what about the twelfth, you ask? That would be juror number 8. He is not ready to convict. He does not maintain that the defendant is not guilty, but he feels as if the group has not examined the evidence in its entirety. What follows is a rather entertaining parade through the evidence and the jurors’ recollection of testimony. As the back and forth between the jurors unfolds, the seemingly closed book case against the defendant starts to unravel. The other members of the jury begin to see the whole picture. They recognize that they were blinded to the other side because they were so focused on their position (he just has to be guilty!).

We could all benefit from being a bit more like juror number 8.

III. The Importance of Empathy and Other Soft Skills (Book: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee)

In law school you focus heavily on developing your hard skills that are necessary for the legal field (e.g., writing, analysis, advocacy, reasoning, etc.). But one thing that sometimes goes by the wayside is soft skills. These include various attributes such as active listening, sympathy, adaptability, and empathy to name a few. These soft skills are incredibly important as a lawyer…especially in the age of AI. I’ve seen clients lose trust in their attorney because the lawyer simply had no empathy and wouldn’t lend their client an ear.

The hard skills required in the legal field are emphatically important. But if we forget about the importance of our soft skills, the hard skills may never get a chance to shine.

As one of the famous lines from To Kill a Mockingbird goes: “‘You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view—’ . . . ‘—until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.”4 This is so important when dealing with clients and everyone else in the world. What might be a straightforward and relatively minor legal matter to you may be the most significant issue in your client’s life—and perhaps their first interaction with the legal system, which can be daunting in and of itself.

IV. Judgment and Complexity (Book: Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky)

Legal issues might seem rather simple on paper or when you read about them in a textbook. But people are usually a bit more complex. Often, legal issues in practice don’t fit into a neat box. They aren’t clean cut (as much as we might wish they were). But these complexities—both in legal issues and in humans—tee up one of the lawyer’s greatest skills, judgment.

While lawyers are notoriously risk averse, they are often prized in their ability to apply “good judgment.” In order to have good judgment, a lawyer needs to understand complexity. This is certainly a process. But armed with your legal education and as you gain more experience and meet more people you realize that the world isn’t simply “right and wrong” or “good vs evil.” There are so many intricacies and nuances involved.

Dostoevsky explores this concept (and others) in his psychologically rich and introspective novel, Crime and Punishment.5 The novel is centered on Raskolnikov, who commits a terrible act. The novel explores the motivations, rationalizations, and consequences behind this terrible act. Like many, as I read the novel, I was torn with my feelings toward Raskolnikov. I guess the lesson here is that understanding human behavior requires a lot more than a quick judgment—it requires curiosity, humility (back to those soft skills!), and a willingness to grapple with deep complexity.

Lawyers deal with this daily. Clients, witnesses, opposing counsel, and everyone else in between arrive with competing motivations and different stories. Effective lawyers learn that good judgment requires understanding enough of the picture to reach thoughtful conclusions.

V. What’s at the Center of it All? (Book: How Do You Live by Genzaburō Yoshino)

What is at the center of most (if not every) legal issue? I’d argue that it’s a human. Regardless of whether you are standing in court advocating for your client’s freedom or sitting behind a desk working on a merger agreement for two fortune 500s, it all goes back to a human. Advocating for your client’s freedom is easy enough to see. But you might be wondering about the lawyer drafting a merger agreement for two behemoth companies. Well, the easy answer would be the owners, or high-ranking officials (e.g., CEOs) and what their goals are. But what about the effect that the merger will have on the workers, customers, and consumers. That agreement being drafted has real effects that go far deeper than two businesses merging.

That’s what is at the heart of the thoughtful and playful book How Do You Live by Genzaburō Yoshino. We as humans are all connected. Our choices affect others in ways that may not be immediately apparent. It’s important to remember that the legal system exists because we are human. And in order to truly understand it, we need to understand how to be a human and see the people behind the issues.

In the book, which I can’t recommend more, the (nameless) uncle has so many wonderful lines and thoughts about life. Here’s one of my favorites: “Because a human being who doesn’t understand the essentials of being human, in other words, is a pitiful fool.”6 Ahh, if only the world recognized this.

Wrap-Up

To be honest, I had a hard time keeping this to five. So if you want more, please just let me know!

Law school teaches a variety of skills that are essential to lawyering. It also changes the way we think and see the world. That said, being a lawyer is much more than mastering doctrine and passing the bar. As these books reminded me, being a lawyer is about solving problems, understanding different perspectives, exercising good judgment, and never losing site of what is at the center of nearly every legal issue and our justice system as a whole…people. Some of the most valuable lessons you learn in your career as a lawyer can come from things that are far removed from practice or a classroom—like in the pages of a good book.

Until next time, I hope the next two weeks treat you all well. Stay curious and be kind out there.

Cheers,

Ryan

Welcome back to The Flex Brief, a bi-weekly Substack with an audio option for Flex/Part-Time JD students. If you enjoy The Flex Brief, please consider sharing it with your network.

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As always, right after the last issue went out, I started thinking about the next one. At first, I thought we’d continue our discussion on transitions by diving into the stages of transitions, but then life handed me another topic that feels a bit more important right now.

My wife is nearing the end of her Doctorate in Physical Therapy (woohoo). As part of the program, she must complete clinicals during the summer, which is very similar to how many law students spend their summer in their internships/associateships. Having knocked the first one out of the park, I figured she’d coast right into this one. Alas, that would not be so. The first few days didn’t go swimmingly. She didn’t make any major mistakes and there was no need to ask her lawyer-husband about negligence, malpractice, and all the other law topics that I love (phew!). And in fact, her clinical instructor reported that she was doing great. Then what was the problem? My answer: confidence.

My more than competent wife was struggling with something most of us have issues with when we are experiencing something new. Here are some of the phrases I heard: “I don’t belong there.” “I don’t know nearly what the PTs there know.” “I don’t even talk like they do.” “We haven’t even covered some of this in school yet.” “I don’t want to make mistakes.” “I feel like they expect me to know everything.” “I feel like it’s way more complicated than in school.” You might find yourself thinking or saying some of these too. I know I have…and still do (more often than I’d care to admit).

For you, the excitement from getting the offer is likely long gone, and as the newness wears off after the first couple of weeks, a strange feeling may have set in. You feel unsure whether you belong and you lack the confidence that you thought you’d feel. You have questions, but don’t want to ask them. You are making silly mistakes. You feel inadequate. And you are constantly wondering if everyone around you got the special secret that no one cares to give you. Hopefully this issue can serve as your special (not-so-secret) secret. Let’s get into it.

I. Why It Can Feel So Uncomfortable

Well, somewhat coincidentally, this is directly related to the topic of last issue: transitions. You are transitioning from law school to the practice world. These two worlds are often very…different. In law school, everyone is learning together. You get clear feedback on how you’re doing with the subject through your grades (even if it’s only one final exam). The expectations for you in law school are also relatively straightforward (don’t forget to read those syllabi and rubrics!).

In the practice world, you’re surrounded by folks who have years or decades of experience. Feedback is often sporadic, or it may even be nonexistent. Expectations are not always clear (something like “draft an ICA for the Jones case” will have you wondering what the heck an ICA is. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ ). This can be especially hard for first-generation law students and for folks who are changing careers.

Sidebar: that ICA scenario happened to me when I was brandy new and I felt downright stupid for not knowing what an ICA was. I thought it was something I should obviously know, and if I asked the partner, she would think I was an idiot. After wasting much time deliberating, I ended up asking one of our team’s legal assistants, and she helped me in a matter of seconds. Don’t forget that paralegals, legal assistants, and secretaries have so much knowledge. Be nice to them and lean on them for help when needed. For those wondering, ICA stood for the initial case assessment at this firm…which like most of the things that we worry about, is not something that I should’ve just known.

II. The Confidence Trap

Most folks think of confidence as the first step, followed by action and then results. But that isn’t quite right. Often, confidence comes near the end. We have to take action, gain experience (including failure), and build competence, which then leads to greater confidence. You shouldn’t expect to feel, or perform, like a seasoned attorney, just like a first-year associate doesn’t feel or perform like a partner.

This is all part of development. Just think about the future for a second. What if you stepped into your role as a first-year associate without the benefit of ever gaining summer experience? Imagine the gap that you might feel then. You’re on the right track, so don’t fall for the confidence trap.

III. The Detriments of Comparing Yourself

We all do it. In fact, law school encourages it to a certain degree by grading you on that darned curve. But comparing yourself to others, especially in your summer experience, has more cons than pros.

During your summer experience, you’re surrounded by polished attorneys and professionals. You see how well partners articulate their thoughts and the law. You sit in on a deposition where an associate—who is not much older than you—conducts a deposition seemingly without breaking a sweat. You watch in (terrifying) awe as two seasoned litigators sling case law and legal authority around at a hearing like they’re legal encyclopedias.

The problem is what you don’t see. You aren’t taking into consideration the years of practice and experience that got them there. What about all of the mistakes they’ve made? You’re missing the many moments of uncertainty. And you certainly aren’t thinking about the countless drafts or arguments that never left their office. Or better yet, all their drafts that came back to them with their writing hidden behind a wall of red ink. What about all the preparation that went into that hearing and deposition?

You see, the folks around you have built their experience to get where they are today. They’ve put countless “rungs” in their ladder to get there. You know what you’re doing this summer? You’re adding rungs to your ladder. But you’re just beginning, so it’s perfectly fine (and expected) that your ladder hasn’t reached the height of the experienced legal professionals around you. But it will.

IV. Focus on Your Growth

When you think about growth, it usually brings a positive feeling. Growth certainly happens when you succeed and during the moments that feel “good.” Growth also happens when we fail and during those moments that don’t feel so good. If your summer is going great and you feel confident, that’s excellent—you’re growing and excelling. But if you’re on the flip side and you feel confused, uncertain, and like you don’t belong, you’re also growing…and I’d wager excelling too!

Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Track progress from week to week or even day to day. Are you improving in any area? (Methinks you are). Set a goal for yourself each day and try to accomplish it. The goal here is not to become the seasoned partner overnight. Rather, it is to recognize that you are growing into the legal professional you want to be. Go into every assignment and every day trying to be a better version of the legal professional you were the day before.

A fun little experiment at the end of law school is to look at one of the earliest things you had to write for an assignment, such as a brief. Most folks react along the lines of: “Eww, I actually wrote that!?” This is because not only have they grown as a person, but their legal skills have grown and become sharper. You can do the same thing with your summer experience. Compare something you did at the beginning of the summer, or something you wrote early on in law school, with something you complete near the end of the summer. (Now, as last section would hint at, do this comparison graciously!). And just as a heads-up, you’ll do this sort of comparison throughout your career. Something you wrote as a junior associate will make senior associate you laugh. That’s because, yep…we’re all constantly growing.

V. The Evidence

To find the growth, you might turn to the evidence. But you have to let yourself see it. We aren’t looking for the ‘smoking gun.’ Rather, we’re looking for small pieces of evidence that, when put together, paint the whole picture.

For example: tasks that used to take hours now only take one, you know who to ask for help, you recognize terminology you weren’t familiar with on day one (ha, take that, ICAs), you need fewer instructions, you’re more comfortable with writing, talking to clients or talking to partners, and/or whatever it may be that you can do better or feel more comfortable with than you were on day one. These are your small wins. But when you add them up, they are incontrovertible evidence that you are growing and becoming.

VI. Some Alternative Questions to Consider

While the title of this installment may encourage you to ask yourself whether you’re feeling confident, it may be better to start with some alternatives. Consider asking yourself whether you’re learning, and what you are learning? Are you improving in any area? How are you responding to the feedback you do receive. Is the feedback trending positively? Are you asking thoughtful questions? And ultimately, are you becoming more capable as the weeks go by?

Start with these questions, which will lead you right to the evidence that shows you are, in fact, growing.

Wrap-Up

Your mission isn’t to prove that you belong—you ’ve done that. Your primary goal is to learn, improve, and keep building. You’re not going to know everything (and you’re not expected to!). So even if the motion gets denied and you don’t find confidence this summer, know that you are learning, building, and most importantly, growing. Keep on adding those rungs to your ladder. The confidence will come.

Until next time, I hope the next two weeks treat you well. Be kind out there.

Cheers,

Ryan

Welcome back to The Flex Brief, a bi-weekly Substack with an audio option for Flex/Part-Time JD students. If you enjoy The Flex Brief, please consider sharing it with your network.

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The other day I was talking with my parents on my drive home, and the topic of retirement came up (as it frequently does). My dad, who has been retired for several years now, says it is the best job he has ever had (no kidding, dad). My mum, on the other hand, is still working away, but the retirement topic lingers over her. As enthusiastic as my father may be about retirement, my mum remains ever hesitant. “How am I supposed to retire? I’ve been working for the past 50 years of my life. It’s what I know. That’s a huge change.” This brought up a favorite topic of mine: transitions. And so, we carried on with a conversation about transitions…

A few days later, as I passed by the bookshelf, a book I hadn’t picked up in some time caught my eye: Transitions: Making Sense of Life’s Changes. Noticing this book coupled with the (recurring) retirement talks with my parents seemed like a hint, hint that it was time we began our conversation about transitions. This installment will serve as an introduction to transitions. Future installments will delve deeper into the topic and provide guidance as you continue your transition into legal practice.

Like my mum, we all go through changes in our daily lives. Some are small and easy (like taking a new route to school), while others are large and rather daunting (like retiring…or going to law school and becoming a legal professional). Regardless, we need a process for dealing with the inevitable changes that surround us. That process is transition.

I. What It Is, and What It’s Not

Most folks tend to think about transitions as destinations. For example, “I’ve transitioned into a lawyer” comes only after one has passed the bar and begun practice. The problem is that we live in a world that is outwardly focused on outcomes. As a law student, you focus intensely on getting into law school (that’s a good start), getting the grades, securing an internship, landing post grad employment, and passing the bar. What we often fail to do is examine the in-between. We fail to recognize what is going on in between these outcomes, which leaves our identity shifts hidden by the shadow of arriving at the destination.

This leads people to believe that the transition has occurred only when they have completed a transformation and have conquered the change. The problem is that the arrival is only a small fraction of what transitions really consist of. In his book, Transitions: Making Sense of Life’s Changes, Dr. William Bridges identifies three stages of transition: (1) Endings; (2) Neutral Period; and (3) Beginnings. Future installments will address these stages in more detail. For now, think about transitions as the process that you go through when your old identity doesn’t quite fit anymore and you’re working toward your new identity.

II. What Do Transitions Feel Like?

What transitions feel like may be a little different for everyone. But there are certainly some common patterns.

When going through a rather large transition, you likely will feel emotions that are on completely opposite ends of the spectrum. One moment you might feel like you’re on top of the world and everything makes perfect sense (ahh, the bliss). The next, you feel like you are plummeting down to the lowest of the low and have not a clue what is going on (“What the heck am I doing!?”). At times you feel full of excitement, but this gives way to uncertainty. And most likely of all, you feel yourself beginning to fully embrace and accept what your new identity is becoming only to cling to the comfort of your old identity with the flip of a switch.

This sort of rollercoaster can invoke a lot of feelings including anxiety, instability, self-doubt, impatience, and flat out questioning who you are. But the important part is to recognize that you are going through a transition. This will allow you to feel the positive feelings that can be associated with transition. You can gain confidence, be at peace with who you are, be excited about the identity that you are shaping, and feel a sense of unity with what you are doing and who you are.

One of the hardest parts about transitions is the fact that there are not a lot of explicit signs that a major transition is happening. It would be nice if a sign popped up out of nowhere: “STOP, pay attention, you are going through a transition.” But unfortunately, our fairy godmother is not going to appear out of nowhere with this warning. Instead, we must pay attention to what is happening around us and how we are feeling so we can recognize periods of transition.

III. Embrace the Lack of Comfort

It’s no secret that transitions feel uncomfortable—in fact, discomfort is in their nature. When we go through transitions, we lose clarity before we can grow and clarity returns. This is not immediate, and it is what makes transitions feel so uncomfortable. There is this period with little to no clarity, and we feel as if we have lost what we had. For example, you might lose your routines, certainty, meaning, and ultimately…familiarity. As creatures of habit and familiarity, that’s terrifying, I know. But, for us to create new routines, gain certainty in other areas, find meaning in something else, and become familiar in a new realm, we sometimes must lose it. To grow, you have to let go (hey, that rhymes).

IV. Law Students and Transitions

There’s a lot of transitions involved with being a law student (duh!). For some, you have made the rather large step from college student to law student. Others of you took the daunting leap to enter law school after years in the workforce. You may then transition from student to intern (or clerk) at some point as you gain practical experience. Then you eventually transition from a student/intern to a full-time lawyer/colleague. You move from academic success to professional competence, which can be a drastic change in environment and tasks. Most folks think that stress comes from deadlines, workload, exams, and the like. But the reality is that a great deal of stress comes from having to constantly adapt to new expectations, environments, and the versions of yourself that help you succeed in these changing situations. Which brings us to the temptation to rush through the process.

V. The Temptation to Rush Through It

We’re going to get into this a bit more in future installments when we talk about the stages of transition. But I would be remiss if I didn’t touch on it here.

Often, folks try to avoid or rush their transitions (are we there yet!?). This is completely normal; we humans don’t like to feel uncomfortable. You might over-plan, focus on every little detail, force identity changes prematurely, and/or seek constant validation.

Unfortunately, as mentioned above, our world focuses primarily on the arrival, not on the journey that it took to get there. It seems that we have forgotten that the celebrated success is a product of the growth that we experienced in getting there. Now, I get it. We all want that next title, to reach the next level, to become the professional and person that we want to be. A trick to getting there faster (and with less stress) is to learn how to inhabit the uncertain space that comes before it.

VI. Reframing Thoughts on Transitions

When transitions come up, folks often think of uncertainty and interruptions. We tend to believe that transitions only affect us when we are going through disruptions. That is not the best way to view transitions.

Transitions are a large part of this world. They are how we navigate through this crazy thing called life and deal with the inevitable beast of change. Transitions provide us with opportunity: they test us, reveal our priorities and habits, force us to self-observe, build resilience, and sharpen our ability to adapt. So, please do not view transitions as a necessary speed bump to get to the other side. Rather, they are part of how we successfully navigate through the world.

Although we have instant access to answers and knowledge right at our fingertips, we are still surrounded by ambiguity. In our modern world this ambiguity is seemingly causing more problems. Is this because modern life and progress have slowly eroded the process of transition, resulting in a society that has lost touch with it? I don’t know. But regardless, to deal with the constant ambiguity we need to embrace transitions.

Wrap-Up

Before wrapping up, I want to look ahead to future installments. We will break down each of the three stages of transitions (likely through a mini-series with each installment covering one stage). I also plan to discuss some ways to navigate transitions effectively along with how they affect your process in becoming a legal professional.

The goal isn’t to navigate every change in your life with seamless grace. Or to understand where you are headed at every fork in the road. What matters is understanding that there is a process for you to deal with change, and it’s not always a fast one. It takes time and effort. But one of the most grounding things about change and transitions is that you do have control. You can choose to recognize when you are in transition. And if you recognize it, then you can actively participate in the transition, which gives you the power over change. If you haven’t realized it yet, life is not defined or measured by a single arrival point. Rather it is measured by the countless transitions that shape who you become along the way.

Until next time, I hope the next two weeks treat you all well. Be kind out there and try to embrace that uncertainty between chapters…it only means that you are growing.

Cheers,

Ryan

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Last issue explored how to create a meaningful summer without a summer internship/associateship. So now, it feels only right to address the flip side of that coin for the folks who do have a summer gig lined up but aren’t quite sure what to do with it (or expect from it).

For many of you who don’t have lawyers in the family, this whole summer associate thing probably sounds like it comes from another planet. What do I do? What should I expect? What are my goals? How the heck does this work? Trust me, I know exactly where you’re coming from. And that’s why I am writing this. Even if you have had a legal position or summer associate position before, there may be things you haven’t thought of.

When students accept an offer for a summer associateship/internship position, they often wipe the sweat off their brow: “Phew, I’m glad that’s over.” The stress of the recruiting process melts away and the excitement of what’s to come starts to seep in. But accepting the offer is only the beginning—what’s to come is the important part. Now, you must make the summer count. I’m sorry if this is causing the stress that you just shed to come swarming back. But fear not, this issue should have you all prepped and ready for your summer position so you can go back to relishing your excitement for the summer.

I. Show Up Like the Professional You Are

Many folks think success lies in what they know. While yes, being sharp and able to apply the knowledge and skills that you are learning is important, this is not what will distinguish you from the pack. What makes a summer associate stand out is in the details.

This consists of a whole host of things. Make sure you’re on time. Follow through, even if the task seems minor. Respond promptly, even if it isn’t to a superior. Show genuine enthusiasm, excitement, and curiosity. Take notes and be prepared! This means show up to the project meeting with your notebook, a pen, your laptop, and everything you need. Better yet, anytime (and I mean any time) that you go to your supervisor’s, or another attorney’s office, bring a legal pad and pen. Even if it’s just for a simple question or the attorney said, “come by my office for a quick chat.” Yup, you bring that notepad and pen right along with you. Even if you don’t write a single thing on it over the entire summer (highly doubtful), you are demonstrating enthusiasm, preparedness, and that you are a professional.

This all might seem rather simple, but I can’t emphasize how important it is. How does that saying go? … Ahh yes, the devil is in the details!

II. Focus on Skills, Not Just Tasks

Don’t just focus on how busy you are over the summer (though I’d wager you’ll be quite the busy bee). Think about the skills that you are learning and further developing. You will likely be given plenty of opportunities to: improve your writing, speed up your research skills, experience how deals and cases play out, understand how lawyers communicate, and build your professional judgment.

When you are given an assignment, don’t just look at the task, think about the skills that are involved with it. How is it helping you develop those skills? How can you proactively develop these skills with the task at hand?

A large part of your summer is gaining experience in a practical legal setting and continuing to build on the skills that you need for the profession. Focus on these skills intentionally. Pay attention to the ones you developed and strengthened—and how you did this. You’re going to need to articulate this as you begin interviewing for next summer or your post-grad position (not recruiting again!).

III. Start Building the Good Habits Now

This category includes a whole host of things (that you might very well already be good at). Think about time management, prioritization, punctuality, etc. Here’s a few specific habits to keep in mind for the summer:

Billing

When asked about billing, most attorneys will grumble. I know it was one of my least favorite parts about practice. But, it is a very important aspect for the business of law. Alas.

So, if you have to track your time this summer, be sure to stay on top of it. Do not put it off until the end of the week or even the end of the day. Keep track of every task in real time. Develop a system that works for you. For me, I used a mini legal pad and wrote the task, start time and end time. There are so many different ways to do this (technology, apps, your firm’s software). But whatever way you choose to do it, make sure you stay on top of it.

Even if you don’t have to bill, it would be great practice to track your time as if you did have to bill.

I promise future you will be very grateful that you started building good billing habits now.

Email

Stay on top of your emails. This may sound simple, but email can fall by the wayside when you are working on many different tasks. But at the same time, the constant “ding” notification of an email coming through can take you out of the groove when you are working on a task that demands extended periods of intense focus.

One trick I recommend is setting specific times to check email (e.g., right when you start your day, midmorning, lunch, midafternoon, and before your day is done). When it is not during the time to check email try to stay away from it and focus on the task at hand. Very rarely are you going to receive an email that you need to read the instant it hits your inbox. If the issue was that serious, the sender likely would have picked up the phone and called.

That said, don’t delay responding to emails. The classic scenario occurs when you read an email that needs a detailed and long response requiring quite a bit of leg work. Don’t let the time go by while you do the leg work without sending a response. Rather, send a short note acknowledging that you received their email and that you will have the requested information by [insert time (e.g., end of business, today)]. This shows professionalism and that you are on the ball. Oh, and don’t forget to actually send the detailed response by the date/time that you said.

The Rough Draft Dilemma

When asked to “get a rough draft together”…don’t fall for it. They do not mean what you think they mean. Their idea of a rough draft and yours are likely light years apart. What you turn in should be a polished, completely proofed (multiple times), finalized draft. And when it comes back with a laundry list of edits, do not be discouraged. This is completely normal. You are learning and this is part of the process. What you do with these edits is the truly important part. Don’t just simply make the edits and check off the box. Learn from them and don’t make those mistakes again.

Pro tip: use the feedback to make checklists. You can use post-it notes, a whiteboard, a notebook, whatever you’d like. Regardless of form, you want to make checklists for yourself so you can avoid making the same mistakes when drafting or editing. For example, let’s say one portion of feedback you receive is to ensure everything is fully justified (if you know, you know), you put this on your checklist. While it seems easy enough to remember “I’ll just switch it to fully justified when I start my next motion.” Your preset formatting can get thrown out the window when copying and pasting text from a deposition, or a case, etc. It might sound silly, but these mistakes are easy to make when you are putting so much thought and effort into what you are writing. It also doesn’t help that these documents can get lengthy and you may be working on them incrementally. Having a checklist that you can use when you are drafting, proofreading, etc. serves as a visible reminder so you don’t make the same mistakes twice.

IV. Build Relationships

Yup, back to our ol’ friend networking. You are in a prime position for it, and you likely don’t even know it. Or on the other hand, you simply don’t take advantage of it. Think about all of the legal professionals that you now have direct access to. Everywhere you turn there are lawyers, paralegals, and other folks in the profession. Talk to them! This is a rare low-stakes opportunity to build meaningful professional relationships naturally. Since these folks work at the same place where you are interning, they likely will be even more inclined to chat and help you out.

Often times firms will have multiple social or cocktail hours throughout the summer. Now, as someone who is inherently introverted, I know it will be very tempting to hole yourself up in your workspace and skip out on these social events. But please, go to them! I can’t tell you how important they are.

Don’t forget, these folks are your current colleagues. And they very well could be your long-term colleagues. You also may find someone who opens the door for another opportunity, a mentor, or dare I even say…a friend.

V. Add to Your Story

Every moment you spend during your internship is a chance for you to build on your story. You are actively adding to your professional narrative. Pay attention. This all becomes part of your story and how you advertise yourself.

Be sure to note specific examples that you can use in future interviews. In particular, pay attention to times when you: succeeded, failed, worked under pressure, managed competing deadlines, collaborated with others, found a creative solution, had to deal with difficult feedback, etc. These instances become your answer to the “Tell me about a time when…” questions that we all dread. These are also the answers to the “What did you learn this summer” question that you will likely be asked (and the very question you should be asking yourself).

VI. Leave Better than You Arrived

As another saying goes, “leave it better than you found it.” Your goal here is to leave better than you arrived. Are you sharper than when you started? Did you make your colleagues’ lives/work easier? Did you gain clarity on anything that you wanted to? And, ultimately, would they honestly want you back?

This is the mark of a successful summer internship. It’s not just a line on your resume or LinkedIn (although that is nice).

Wrap-Up

Now you can hopefully shed that stress again and look toward your summer internship/associateship with excitement and confidence. You’ve got this. Show up like the professional that you are, focus on the skills you are honing, build good habits and relationships, add to your story, and leave better than you arrived. The folks that get the most out of their summer internships are the ones who treat every assignment, conversation, and challenge as part of the foundation they’re building for their career.

Good luck this summer. Remember, this is primarily a learning and developmental experience—you’re not expected to know everything. But take ownership of this opportunity.

Until next time, I hope the next two weeks treat you all well. Be kind out there.

Cheers,

Ryan

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Summer is fast approaching which means the buzz in most students’ conversations (other than finals) revolves around where folks are “summering.” And no, unfortunately we’re not talking about idling away the summer months at the vacation beach home in the Hamptons (sigh, ain’t that the dream). Instead, summering in the law school context typically means switching out the flip flops and sunbathing for business attire and brief writing. It has become the norm over the years for law students to spend their summers either at a firm or organization where they gain hands-on experience and continue to shape their career trajectory.

For some Flex/Part-time students there is quite a bit of angst when this conversation and time of year comes around. For some folks, summering isn’t possible because you already have a full-time job and can’t leave it just yet for a whole host of reasons. For others, you may not be summering for a variety of reasons (to focus on classes, didn’t land the firm you wanted, etc.). Regardless of the reasoning, you likely feel behind…like you’re not doing what you’re supposed to and you’re missing out. Classmates are talking about the firm that they will be at. Postings on social media make you feel like an outsider. And the inevitable conversations that start with “What’re you doing this summer” are awkward and give you the feeling of stagnancy.

Whether you’re without an internship and a job or working full-time in a non-law job, the question remains the same: “How do I get a meaningful experience out of my summer?”

The answer lies in intentional structure. A productive summer isn’t defined by your schedule—it’s defined by what you choose to do with it.

I. Redefining What ‘Counts’ as a Productive Summer

Most folks will broadly assess whether their summer was a success or not based on whether they have an internship/summer associateship lined up. If they got one, it equals progress. If not, then they are falling behind the pack. I’m here to tell you, that’s not how you should think of it if you do not have a legal position lined up.

A productive summer is grounded in three things. First are skills. That is, what can you do better at the end of the summer than you could before. Second are signals. These function as your evidence. What proof can you offer up into evidence to show your growth? Third, is your story. This goes to your narrative.[1] Essentially, how do you explain your summer in a way that shows direction. How does it fit into or build upon where you’ve been, where you’re at, and where you’re going?

If you can do and articulate these three things (skills, signals, story) and how they help you with your progression as a legal professional…now that’s what we call a productive summer in law school! Importantly, this progress isn’t assigned to whether you have an internship over the summer—rather, it’s built through intentionality.

II. A Few Scenarios…The Same Goal

As we touched on earlier, some of you might be going into summer with more open time than expected. Others of you will still be trying to balance law school, family, and your job. These might look like very different scenarios, but again, the objective is the same: you want to create credible progress that you can identify and explain with confidence. Employers don’t necessarily evaluate where you spent your summer, rather they are assessing how you used your time, the skills you gained and strengthened, and whether you can articulate what you have learned and how it has shaped your direction.

Scenario A: students with no full-time job and not summering. The central risk here is drifting. Without a formal role and with a lighter course schedule, summer can become reactive. The thought is “well, I can’t start until I hear back from applications,” or “I’ll start next semester.”

Instead, what you want to aim for is verifiable progress. What does this look like, you ask? Think about your development and what employers want to see. Improve your legal writing (and writing samples), do some digging on practice areas to get a better understanding of what a M&A lawyer actually does, consistently network and build your social capital, fine tune your resume, LinkedIn, and materials package, and start to develop a clearer professional direction.

If you do this, how you frame what you did over the summer shifts from “I didn’t land a summer position” to “I used my summer to sharpen my legal writing, learn about [insert practice area] from research and practitioners, and better understand where I’d like to go professionally.”

Scenario B: students who can’t summer because of that wonderful thing we call work. The central risk for you folks is that you have limited capacity and time to invest. You don’t have 30 hours a week to focus on your legal development, and that’s fine. Start with what you do have—your job. You are building skills everyday and these can transfer to the legal field; it’s all how you frame it. You might be developing communication skills, analysis skills, judgement and discretion, managing deadlines, and/or client/customer interaction. These are all great for the legal field and for your legal development.

Also, with a lighter class schedule, use the time to work on your legal writing (including your writing sample) and take the time to really think about and plan your transition or bridge to the legal field. For folks established in a career, legal employers care a great deal about your transitionary vision.

By doing this, your explanation of what you did over the summer shifts from “I was working as a nurse,” to “While working full-time as a nurse, I intentionally focused on improving my legal writing skills and exploring healthcare law. This sharpened my time management and organizational skills while also reinforcing my interest in healthcare regulatory compliance.” Now, I know that your aspirations and current full-time position may not jive as perfectly as my example—and that’s completely fine. Regardless, the key is to show that you have carefully thought about the transition, your path, and why it makes sense.

Whether you are expecting to have a lot more time or a little, employers care about if you used your circumstance to grow, engage with your goals, and if you can articulate the story clearly.

III. Putting Skills, Signals, and Story into Action

Skills

These are what you are building and some options to get you started could be: legal writing, practice area exploration, and networking.

For your legal writing, implement the feedback you received on your last writing assignment. Take a detailed look at your writing sample and identify the areas that you could improve it, and then do it. By the end of the summer, you will have a completely polished and ready-to-go writing sample. Additionally, ask your mentor, teacher, or our new-ol’ friend AI for hypotheticals that you can then use to practice your legal research and writing skills with.

Practice area exploration can be done quite easily using technology or by having informational conversations with practitioners. There are also plenty of “Day in the Life of a [insert practice area] Lawyer” or “What Does a [insert practice area] Lawyer Actually Do?” videos on YouTube (bonus: they’re actually pretty entertaining).

You could also bridge research/writing and practice area exploration by doing a “case of the week” exercise. Every week, explore a case in a practice area of interest and write a reflection/summary paragraph.

Networking can also be done in a variety of ways and is not as time consuming as you might think. I won’t belabor you with more networking strategies, as I have written about it at least once or twice.

For folks with more time, aim for 3-4 sessions per week where you focus on one of these (or another identified skill). Treat it like a job. For those with less time, aim for 1-3 sessions per week. Focus on consistency and quality over volume.

For everyone, put these sessions on your calendar and set push reminders on your phone for them. Putting it on your calendar and setting notifications will help make you consistent and shift your focus of mind to building the skill at hand.

Signals

This is how you make your growth visible. These serve as proof points that you can show to evidence your skill growth.

For your research and writing, you now have at least one completely polished writing sample. If you do the “case of the week,” you have multiple entries and a better grasp on case law in an area of interest that you can discuss with employers. You also have explored practice areas deeper and have a better understanding of the day-to-day responsibilities of a lawyer in that practice area. Another way to show signals is to post short reflections on your summer progress on LinkedIn.

Obviously, most of this isn’t formal experience, but it is self-development. It also shows consistency, engagement, and interest. You took it upon yourself to stay engaged, explore, learn, and grow.

At the end of the day, you are aiming to get something visible, something concrete. Because if it’s not concrete, it’s harder for you to talk about—and it’s near impossible for others to see.

Story

If you’ve truly put the effort in for the past two, this part is a breeze—you simply have to intentionally recognize what you’ve done. So instead of “I didn’t have an internship,” or “I have a full time job to pay the bills which means I couldn’t summer anywhere,” your summer story becomes “I used my summer to focus on [insert skills], while also [work experience if any], which helped me better understand that I want to further pursue [practice area], and this is how I intend to do so…”

Your summer doesn’t have to fit into the normal box to be impressive—it simply needs to be explainable.

IV. Schedule, Schedule, Schedule

A sample weekly schedule for someone with more time than expected could look like: Monday/Tuesday: skill building; Wednesday: networking/outreach; Thursday: writing/posting; and Friday: review, reflect, and plan.

For someone with a full-time job, a sample schedule would be to block off 1-3 weekday evenings for 30-60 minutes and one weekend deep work period consisting of just 2-3 hours.

Once you figure out the time slots and what works best for what you have going on, put them in your calendar and set reminders.

V. Some Additional Thoughts

Regardless of your time availability, consider some different ways to gain some practical legal experience in small doses.

A great first option is doing some legal pro bono. This is a great way to get some hands-on legal experience under your belt and on your resume. Typically, you can find organizations that have remote options and flexible schedules. Seek out some smaller firms or lean on mentors to see if they have projects that you could tackle. Another option is to see if there are any research or other opportunities that your law school may have or know about. Also, I’ve written in a bit more detail about finding legal opportunities when you have little time to spare that might help give you some ideas.

Think outside of the box here. You’re simply trying to build your skills and your momentum.

Wrap-up

The risk of a ‘nontraditional’ summer isn’t that it departs from the mold—it’s that you’ll let the weeks pass you by without deciding what you want to get out of them. Some of you will have more time than you anticipated this summer. Others will have less than they’d like. But folks in both situations should be asking the same question: “What will I do with what I have?”

So, identify the skills you want to grow. Produce the signals that prove that growth. And craft the story that shows where you’re headed—and how you used this summer to move closer to it. Be intentional! Your summer and the progress that comes with it isn’t defined by summering, it’s defined by what you decide to build within it.

Maybe one day I’ll see you in the Hamptons. But until that improbable dream magically comes true, start planning what you’re going to make of your ‘nontraditional’ summer.

Until next time, I hope you all have a wonderful two weeks. Be kind out there.

Cheers,

Ryan

[1] For a bit on this, check out: ‘Tell Me About Yourself...’—Turning Your Answer into an Opening Statement and Owning Your Story: How to Talk About Your Path with Confidence

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In the last issue, we used a legal theme (opening statements) to help sharpen your answer to the “Tell me about yourself” question. Sticking with a legal theme, we are going to examine some “laws” of self-reflection and observation.

In law school, you are trained to analyze everything, from cases to legal theories. This typically changes the way you think about everything. You become more analytical, think more deeply, and learn to weigh the strengths and weaknesses on both sides of an issue. But regardless of how strong those analytical skills become, how often do you apply them to yourself? In other words, how often do you truly observe yourself—the choices you make, the patterns you fall into, your decisions, and the identity you’re forming. What if you approached self-observation with the skills you have gained in law school…like how you analyze a case?

I. Observing as a Legal and Reflective Skill

Throughout law school, you are trained to notice subtle differences in fact patterns. You sharpen your ability to identify patterns and spot inconsistencies. While these are very important skills to have for school and work, they aren’t just simply skills—they are ways of seeing. It’s true, after law school, you don’t look at things the way you did before. The same is true for looking at yourself.

You can apply that same precision internally. By using this precision intentionally, you might notice patterns in your focus arc, emotional reactions (e.g., avoidance or stress, etc.), and how you deal with pressure. Think about the last time you had a thought about yourself. I’d wager that your thought presented as a truth: “I’m stressed.” The problem here is that the thought is framed as a fact rather than an observation. When you think about yourself using statements that sound like truths, you tend to just be stuck with them without learning, noticing, or building.

Instead, when you adopt the mindset of an observer, “I’m stressed” becomes “I notice that I’m feeling stressed right now.” By shifting from a declarative truth to an observation, you create distance—which allows you to notice more, learn from it, and build intentionally. By observing rather than stating, you open up the door for follow-ups: “why am I feeling stressed,” “is there a way I can decrease this stress,” “is my stress warranted,” “is this good or bad stress,” etc.

Law #1: You understand yourself better when you apply the same analytical skills you use on cases to observe your own thoughts and behaviors.

II. Your Precedent—Past Choices

In law, precedent creates a degree of predictability (at least in my little idealistic world!). In life, your “precedent” is in your habits and reactions. Together, they create default patterns that you instinctively gravitate to.

Here are some examples (some good, others not so great): you may always look at the big picture before diving into the details; prefer to work on assignments as soon as they’re given; put off difficult tasks and end up stressed at the last minute; act as a “yes‑person” and feel constantly overwhelmed; avoid uncertainty and miss out on opportunities; or shy away from conflict and struggle to advocate for yourself.

When you think about it, these patterns feel natural—almost like they’re just part of who you are. That is because they’ve been your go-to reactions for a while and have been reinforced over time. These are learned responses, not random reactions—you’re following the precedent of your habits.

It’s also important to note that while we all have precedent, we can distinguish between what might be considered “binding” versus “persuasive” precedent. Deeply ingrained habits and personality traits function as binding precedent, while patterns picked up along the way tend to be more persuasive. Unsurprisingly, addressing binding precedent tends to be more challenging than addressing persuasive precedent.

To start identifying your precedent, start with one recurring behavior. Then ask yourself three questions:

1. When does this behavior typically occur?

2. Is there an emotion or situation that precedes the behavior?

3. What results does this behavior typically lead to?

Law #2: Your habits are part of your precedent—pay attention to them!

III. Observation Without Judgment

After observing, you might be tempted to immediately judge what you notice. But self-observation is useful when it isn’t immediately followed by criticism. Most of the time, you notice a flaw, judge it, which turns to frustration and then…nothing changes. When you analyze a case or an argument, you don’t immediately condemn it (most of the time), you first understand the facts and premises. Same goes for when you analyze yourself. Judgement creates resistance, not clarity and it fuels discouragement over awareness. The key is that evaluation and self-criticism are not the same. Evaluation helps you understand and implement change, while self-criticism tends to lead nowhere (aside from maybe a pint of Ben and Jerry’s).

Your goal is to shift from the critical mindset of “this is bad,” to “this is a pattern I want to understand.” So, instead of saying “I procrastinated again—I’m terrible with time management,” pause and go deeper. Understand the facts, premises, and precedent, which shifts the previous statement to “I tend to keep delaying when the task is overwhelming or if the deadline is far removed.”

Law #3: When you start observing without judgment, you begin to create awareness. And awareness without judgement opens up the opportunity for change.

IV. Burden of Proof: Some Evidence, Please

The strongest arguments are those backed by evidence. Don’t forget about this when you are self-assessing. Most of the time, you likely jump to conclusions without at least glancing at the evidence. One of the biggest problems with this is you typically look at one data point rather than patterns. You slipped up in a presentation and think “I’m not good at public speaking,” instead of looking at the countless other times that you nailed a presentation.

Also, be sure you are distinguishing between emotional impressions and observable facts. Emotional impressions are important, but they don’t always have the facts to back them up. This is where you want to turn to the patterns of evidence and see if the emotional impressions are warranted. Stress, comparison, and fatigue are all part of a Flex student’s normality. Be sure that you recognize this and ensure that you turn to the hard evidence before jumping to conclusions.

Don’t give in to imposter syndrome (as I’ve written about before); don’t overgeneralize from one tough week; and don’t inflate your mistakes while dismissing the wins. Rather, ask yourself what evidence supports this belief? What contradicts it? And just like I’ve also written about before: would this belief hold water in a cross examination?

Law #4: Beliefs about yourself should be backed by evidence…you’ve got to meet the burden of proof!

V. Let’s Review the Standard of Review

Courts apply different standards of review depending on the circumstances. Most of the time, you are likely to apply close scrutiny to yourself—often without even realizing it. When you’re self-assessing, pause and ask whether close scrutiny is warranted for the situation. When you constantly apply harsh standards to yourself it can lead to burnout and being in a state of constant dissatisfaction.

You have a lot that you are juggling, while embarking on one of the hardest academic journeys there is…remember that when you select a standard of review for yourself.

Law #5: Not every slip up requires close scrutiny.

VI. What’re the Remedies?

You’re not asking for a total reinvention of yourself. Rather, the remedy you seek is proportionate and fair—personal growth and understanding. You want to avoid identity conclusions and focus on behavioral remedies. Instead of “I’m bad at time management,” you focus on practical ways that can help manage tasks: earlier check-ins, break down large tasks into small ones with incremental deadlines, and implement environment changes. Ask yourself: what small change (or realistic experiment) might reduce tension or friction next time this scenario presents?

Law #6: Sustainable change is usually a product of narrow remedies, not total reforms.

VII. Dissenters?

I always love reading dissenting opinions. What comes right to my mind were cases for Criminal Procedure class in law school. In particular, Justices Ginsburg and Scalia would write some awfully entertaining dissents (with quite the sharp pen!) … but I digress.

Here you aren’t necessarily looking for someone to disagree with or write any sharp opinions, you simply want external feedback. Self-analysis has limits: we have blind spots and biases. Seek out perspectives from mentors, supervisors, peers, and people in your inner circle. These folks know you and can help give you angles you haven’t thought of. Don’t try to seek validation, you want feedback that can help bring clarity.

Law #7: Seek the input from outside perspectives (“dissenters”) to test your conclusions and uncover blind spots.

Wrap-Up

With that, I’ll end on my favorite number and say that’s enough legislative writing for one day (because I’m sure that’s how legislatures do it).

Law school teaches you to carefully observe facts, analyze arguments, find patterns, and come to conclusions. The “laws” of self-observation ask you to take those same skills and apply them inward. We can’t reach our peak performance without first understanding ourselves, our precedent, what works, what doesn’t, and who we are. By applying the unique skill set you develop in law school to self‑reflection, you begin to better understand yourself and your identity, creating space for small, meaningful changes for growth. The better you observe yourself, the more you notice, and the more you resist autopilot which all leads to life being more intentional.

If you treated your thoughts, actions, feelings, and habits like a case, what observations would you make?

Until next time, I hope you all have a wonderful two weeks. Be kind out there and happy observing!

Cheers,

Ryan

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We’ve all been there, you have your best interview outfit on, you shake hands with the interviewer (or exchange verbal greetings on a virtual interview), sit down, and the first question is more of a casual statement then a pointed question: “So, why don’t you tell me a bit about yourself.” This sounds like the easiest question of the day. All you got to do is just…talk about yourself. Seems simple, right? But then you begin talking and it goes downhill (and you might not even know it!).

I remember how I used to answer this question. I would begin with where I was from, and then go through college, law school, and finish off by touching on my work experiences…yawn, boring! Today, I would have a completely different answer.

What makes this question one of the hardest isn’t the content for your answer (you’ve lived it!), it’s the lack of both reflection in preparation and structure in delivery. The goal in answering this question isn’t to tell your life story, it’s to tell a clear, relevant, intentional, memorable, and impactful version—just like an opening statement does in a case. So, let’s get into it!

I. What are Interviewers Looking For

One of the biggest mistakes students make is thinking that the “Tell me about yourself” question is just an icebreaker question. While this question does serve as an icebreaker of sorts, there is a lot more value to it both for the interviewer and you. The interviewer is likely evaluating your communication skills, how well you understand your path, and whether you can connect your experience to this role. On your end, the value is in being able to tell your story and how it aligns with the employer and the position. You get to the set the stage for how the rest of the interview goes, and how you’ll be remembered.

II. A Simple Framework

Answers that come out as rehearsed typically fall flat. But answers that are based on a framework are clear, organized, and often more impactful. A simple, yet strong, framework to remember is: past, present, future. Think about your answer to this question as your opening statement. You want to provide context, the outcome you seek, and why that is the correct outcome—just like what a good opening statement does.

Your past should include relevant background and key experiences that shaped your direction. Avoid rehashing your resume (they’ve already read it). The goal for the past section is to provide context—a solid foundation to springboard from.

The present should be grounded in who you are today. Focus on your law school status, current job or responsibilities and the skills that you are building. The goal here is to explain how you’re actively developing to get to where you want to go. Which brings us to the future.

For the future, you want to convey intention and alignment. You should include your practice areas of interest, what you’re hoping to gain, and why this opportunity makes sense. Of course, you don’t need to have everything mapped out but demonstrating that you have a thoughtful direction is the key.

The most impactful answers to the “Tell me about yourself” question are ones where the past, present, and future align. That is, the logical flow of your answer from past to future is apparent to the listener. The aim is to show how your past led to an interest in the law, how your present is building the relevant skills, and how your future aligns with this specific position.

III. Common Missteps

There are some common mistakes that folks make when answering the “Tell me about yourself” question. First, and the most common, is the resume recital. Like I mentioned earlier, they’ve already read it, so you don’t need to rehash it. The problem with a resume recital is that you’re not providing any narrative or connection, which falls flat. You’ll know if you’re falling into this pitfall if you find yourself simply listing your experiences.

Next is starting too far in the past. “Well, I grew up in Maine. My parents and I moved in with my grandmother to take care of her…” Completely unnecessary, and while very important to me, the interviewer probably could give a hoot. Now, this pitfall has an exception (as does every rule in law school). Which is when something in the distant past directly ties into your pursuit of law and/or what you want to do in the future, you certainly can include it.

Another pitfall is being too vague. The goal is to provide clear context and merely stating “I’ve always been interested in the law” is not only vague, but a rather run of the mill answer—it doesn’t set you apart from your competition. On the other hand, don’t overtalk (another mistake). A good time to aim for your answer is around sixty to ninety seconds.

Finally, another pitfall is direction. You don’t want to end your answer without tying it to the particular position. You also don’t want to be jumping all over the place with nothing logically connected. But luckily for you readers (or listeners), if you follow the framework, you shouldn’t have to worry about this pitfall at all!

IV. Tailoring Your Answer

Don’t forget to tailor your answer based on different factors. Think about the type of role this is: is it an internship, first year associate, law firm, government, etc.? Also, what practice area is it in? What is your level of experience, both in law and in the professional workforce? All of these factors should shift the focus of your answer. Your answer and your emphasis should change, but the framework stays the same.

V. How to Practice and a Tidbit on Confidence

Like most things, practice is important. But here, you don’t want to sound scripted or mechanical. So, practice structure and framework, not memorizing exactly what you are going to say. Try to speak naturally and adjust based on how the room feels. Remember, you’re not delivering a speech—you’re giving the opening statement for the conversation.

Don’t worry about having the perfect story—you have your story, and that’s an important one to tell. Especially when you tell it in a clear, honest, and intentional manner. Don’t forget, your path is not a weakness, it adds depth and character, so use it! Your experience and your path are part of your unique advantage, don’t leave them by the wayside.

Wrap-up

“Tell me about yourself” isn’t just an icebreaker or another interview question—it’s a chance to tell your story and to define how the rest of the interview goes. Often, how you answer this very question decides whether you will be engrained in the interviewer’s head or lost in the pool of other applicants. You don’t need to have the answer, or have everything figured out. You simply need to show that you’ve thought about where you’ve been, where’re you’re at, and where you’re headed.

Just like opening statements, your answer to the “Tell me about yourself” question doesn’t need to win the case—it just needs to make whoever is listening want to hear the rest. Keep it clear, keep it intentional, and let your opening statement do what it’s meant to do: set the tone for everything that follows.

So, if someone asked you this question today, what would your answer be?

Until next time, I hope you all have a wonderful two weeks and be kind out there.

Cheers,

Ryan

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A few months ago, I was talking with my boss about legal experience/opportunities and Flex/Part-time students. At one point in the conversation, she said something along the lines of “They need to break down the door.” That metaphor stuck with me, and it is what inspired this installment of the Flex Brief. So, let’s get into it.

Often folks in the Flex/Part-time program may find it difficult navigating the uncharted waters of opportunity seeking in the legal field. I’ve written about the importance of gaining legal experience in law school as well as ways to gain legal experience as a Flex/Part-time student. But once students realize the importance and start looking, they sometimes discover something frustrating: the door doesn’t always open easily.

The frustrations are legitimate: job boards and postings seem thin, most opportunities seem designed for full-time students, and you follow the strategy of “applying widely,” but nothing is materializing. You can’t just stand outside the door waiting for the perfect posting and for someone to let you in. The truth is that many opportunities aren’t posted—they are created. So, you need to knock, push, and in some cases, break down the door and walk right in.

I. The Perfect Opportunity Myth

There are a few common misconceptions that come up frequently. First, students often believe that positions must be formally posted for there to be an opening. Students also feel that they have to meet every single requirement before applying or reaching out to a potential employer. But the reality is that many firms don’t post openings. While this happens at both small and large firms, it is more common for the former. Think about it, at a small firm, the person who would write the posting and get it posted is often also the person who is the attorney. Time spent on a job posting is not billable time…which is what keeps the lights on.

Many folks also hesitate about reaching out to attorneys. However, the majority of attorneys welcome outreach as they want to help the next generation of lawyers. What matters is how you go about it. A thoughtful outreach email goes a long way. Here, you want to prioritize your learning and curiosity, not the fact that you are seeking an opportunity. So instead of asking “Do you have any job openings?” you introduce yourself, state your interest in the attorney’s/firm’s practice area, and ask if they have some time to chat about it. This works because you aren’t putting the attorney on the defensive right away (we attorneys are already defensive enough!). Rather, you are signaling genuine interest and opening the door to mentorship.

The perfect opportunity rarely arrives as a neatly packaged job posting. More often, it begins with a conversation.

II. Informational Conversations Create Opportunity

There is somewhat of a natural progression that stems from informational conversations: a follow-up email, a budding relationship, and eventually, opportunities. After having an informational conversation, follow up in writing. If all goes well, you will end up creating a relationship with the person. And this relationship can often blossom into opportunities for you down the road. These opportunities may not be instantaneous, but they might appear as research help, a small project, observing/shadowing a trial, referrals, or even a job. Many positions don’t necessarily begin with a job posting, but with someone saying, “You know, I might actually have something you can help me with” or “I have someone who would be perfect for that job.” Though finding an opportunity may be your end game, your approach should be grounded in relationship building.

III. Small Opportunities Can be Just as Impactful as the Big Ones

Students often overlook and don’t take advantage of opportunities because they seem “too small,” and aren’t the big full-time position that they are seeking. But these small opportunities serve as a means to demonstrate skills that you’re learning and experiences that you’re gaining.

Examples include pro bono work, assisting with a research project, becoming a teaching assistant, or helping an attorney with a short-term project. While these all seem small, they compound. They build legal experience for your resume, expand your references list in the legal field, and may very well directly lead to deeper opportunities. So do not let these pass by because they appear small and seemingly won’t make a difference. They may end up serving as your battering ram to break down the door. Even if this is not the case, these experiences are rungs in the ladder that build up to the big opportunity or your ultimate goal. As Sun Tzu put it: “Opportunities multiply as they are seized.”

IV. Use the Experiences You Have

Everyone brings past experience, so use it to your advantage. For those with extensive professional experience, this is something that the majority of law students do not have. The abundance of professional experience is a key to the door; make sure you’re using it! For those with any amount of professional experience, what is it in? This could serve as your crowbar to pry the door open into a niche practice area by combining your past career with your legal education.

What about the folks who have no professional experience? Identify any work or academic experiences that built transferable skills. Also, your major (or minor) may uniquely position you to open a door you hadn’t thought of. The bottom line here, as I’ve alluded to before, is that your experience could very well break down doors to opportunities that you never thought were possible.

V. Practical Ways to Break Down the Door

So, what immediate actions can you take to start prying away at the door? One tried and true method is to start reaching out to alumni. Graduates are often happy to help students of their alma mater, so take advantage of this. Even better if you can identify folks who graduated from your school’s Flex/Part-time program as they most likely will be even more willing to help current students in the program. Along the same lines, use the resources and people on campus. Talk with classmates and other folks on campus. Don’t forget, a lot of people who work at a law school have good connections within the legal community…shocker, I know.

Another practical action is to start meeting with attorneys. A great way to meet lawyers is to go to places where they go (another shocker, gosh I’m on a roll). Attend local bar events, whether they be specific networking events, mixers, or educational programs. Additionally, look into specific sections of your local bar that interest you. Sections often have their own meetings and social gatherings. Find a few sections that interest you and reach out about joining as a law student or attending an upcoming event that they are having. Most sections welcome law students to their events with open arms.

As mentioned earlier, volunteer in legal environments. Legal aid organizations often welcome help. This gives you hands-on legal experience and can expand your network in the legal community.

Finally, follow your curiosity. If an area of law interests you, find attorneys that are in this area and learn everything you can. Opportunity tends to favor those who are curious, prepared, and willing to reach out.

VI. Rejection Isn’t the End of the Conversation

It probably won’t come as a surprise that many of your outreach attempts won’t lead anywhere immediately, and you may not hear back from most. This is completely normal. Don’t let it deter you and don’t view your outreach and the rejections as negatives. Rather your outreach attempts are planting seeds for the future. You are also building familiarity within the legal community…you are getting your name out there. And when you do get a response, it’s an opportunity to expand your network and learn something. Sometimes breaking down the door involves slowly chipping away at it one conversation at a time.

Wrap-Up

Waiting for the perfect posting can feel safe. But this keeps the door closed. Cold emailing and attending events are scary. Small opportunities may seem like low impact ones in the moment. But these compound and keep you banging on the door, until it eventually opens.

The students who find the most meaningful experiences in law school—and ones that work for their schedule—are rarely the folks who wait for the perfect posting. They’re the ones that take action by asking questions, taking advantage of opportunities, following their curiosity, and starting conversations. In the legal profession, doors do open, but often only after someone knocks…or breaks it down.

Until next time, I hope you all have a wonderful two weeks. Be kind out there and keep prying away at that door…you will open it!

Cheers,

Ryan

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A few months back, I wrote about imposter feelings. Having had some time to further reflect and think about that issue, I think we ought to address your inner critic. Ya know that pesky little voice you hear questioning whether you are good enough, prepared enough, or if you are even cut out for this. I know that this voice can get loud in law school and in your professional career as a lawyer. But, like all some witnesses, your inner critic doesn’t always tell the truth and nothing but the truth. What if you could put your inner critic on the stand and cross examine it? Separating the inner critic from yourself and asking it the tough questions.

We spend years learning how to think critically, and often our inner critic takes that skill and turns it on us. We begin to think critically of ourselves and what we are doing. We begin to convince ourselves that we do not belong. Well, it’s time that we put that inner critic in the hot seat.

I. Identifying That Voice

It’s important to identify your inner critic, because you can’t cross a voice you can’t recognize. Often the inner critic masquerades as realism or the voice of truth. But it’s usually fueled by fear and not truth…not the whole truth at least.

The voice that truly motivates you is your inner standard setter. This is the part of you that establishes goals, guides your effort, and pushes you toward growth.

Then you have your inner critic. This is a voice rooted in judgment, not growth or success. A quick way to identify it is to ask if the thought is purely negative without any constructive purpose and is…well…critical. In particular, does the voice simply provide a negative critique without anything positive or motivational. If that’s the case, then this is your inner critic. For example, “you don’t belong here” or “you are behind, everyone else has it figured out” are examples of what your inner critic might say. Now that we’ve begun to identify the voice, we can lay out the framework for our cross examination (like every good lawyer, we must be prepared!).

II. The Cross-Examination Framework

Good lawyers don’t take a witness’s statements at face value—they test it. You can do the same thing with your inner critic. When you notice that voice, ask:

1. What’s your supporting evidence? That is, what proof do I actually have that this thought is true?

2. Is there another explanation? Could this stem from lack of sleep, comparing myself to others, fear as opposed to fact and truth, etc.?

3. Would this hold up in “court?” If you said the same thing about a friend, would it come off as fair, encouraging, motivational, or just simply cruel?

4. Provide some precedent, please? Have I felt this way before? If so, what actually happened? Why did I have those thoughts at that time?

5. What’s the closing argument? If I were my own advocate, how can I reframe this thought toward growth. And if it can’t be reframed, then how can I release it entirely?

III. Reframing (Your) Verdict

The verdict here is your internal narrative, thoughts, and feelings. Aside from those of you who will one day sit on the bench as a judge, this is one of the only times when you get to write the verdict—you are in complete control.

Once you have crossed your inner critic, it’s time for you to write (or re-write) your internal narrative. For example, your inner critic saying, “I’m not smart enough for this” becomes “Law school is challenging, but I have successfully figured out difficult things before.” Here’s a few more common inner critic statements with healthier (and more accurate) reframes:

1. “I don’t belong here” becomes “I was admitted for a reason, my path just looks a little different, and that’s OK—it’s my path after all.”

2. “I completely messed that up; don’t speak up next time” is re-written as “I made an error, and I’ll make many more. But I’m glad I spoke up because now I understand the rule better than before.”

3. “Everyone else is more confident than me—they have it figured out” becomes “Confidence isn’t equivalent to competence. My competence is growing daily, and I am actively working on building my confidence.”

When you cross examine your inner critic and re-write the verdict you aren’t shutting down the inner voice completely. Rather, you are teaching it to speak truthfully, grounded in growth and moving towards success, not simply judgement and negative criticism without any constructive purpose.

IV. Show Me the Evidence…and Some Compassion

Law school pushes you to grow at every turn and can be one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of one’s life. It teaches you to think critically and to separate your emotions from your argument. But when dealing with your inner critic, the answer isn’t to remove emotion. Rather, it is to pair logic with compassion. The best advocates argue from both a logical and empathetic perspective, ensure that you are using both with your inner critic.

Your inner critic often presents some “evidence,” and it can seem airtight (e.g., a memory of a botched cold call, a low grade, etc.). But the inner critic forgets context (e.g., workload, circumstances, etc.) and other evidence (e.g., your growth, the times you nailed the cold call, your best class, etc.). Don’t just look at the evidence your inner critic puts forth. Widen the record and look at all the evidence—include the late nights, the effort, the learning curve. By doing this, you won’t miss the pieces of evidence that proves your progress and you won’t “lose the case” based on partial evidence.

When you use compassion, it doesn’t mean to let yourself off the hook. Rather, it’s about seeing the whole case. Compassion gives you access to a more complete and fuller truth. Importantly, you can (and should) hold yourself accountable, but you can be kind and fair to yourself while doing so. This is where using compassion with your inner critic comes into play. Compassion doesn’t erase standards—it keeps them human. By using compassion in your judgement, you will deliver a fairer “ruling.”

Don’t just think of compassion as self-indulgence, it’s professional preparation. If you can practice compassion with yourself now, you’ll bring it into your work later—in how you treat clients, colleagues, and even opposing counsel. Lawyers who can balance truth and empathy build trust faster and judge less harshly, both in practice and within themselves.

Wrap-Up

Your inner critic might always be there trying to take the floor. It’s not your enemy, it’s an overzealous witness that isn’t using all the evidence. It remembers the stumble, not the effort. The fear, not the progress. It testifies without context. So, when that voice gets loud, pause. Step into the role of your own advocate and cross-examine your inner critic. Present the whole picture: enter effort into evidence, admit compassion as testimony. Deliver a verdict that is fair, balanced, true, and grounded in growth and progress.

Lying in a truth that remains firm beneath the doubt your inner critic purports, the verdict is in: you’re doing better than that inner critic would have you believe—and you do belong. You’re growing, capable, and still learning to practice justice…starting within. Let the sound of the gavel ring out!

And with that, case closed…for now. Until your inner critic speaks up again, but you’ll be ready for it with evidence already in hand.

Until next time, have a wonderful two weeks and be kind out there.

Cheers,

Ryan

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While writing this, I couldn’t help thinking of my 96-year-old grandmother, “B,” who cared so deeply about her appearance whenever she went out into public when I was growing up. How consumed, you ask? Well, she would go so far as to iron her paper money before using it to ensure that the bills were crisp and had absolutely no wrinkles. Now, B may have been consumed about her appearance to avoid Mrs. Macroy’s gossip. Or maybe she understood that we are constantly making an impression on others, even if we don’t utter a word. Either way, B and that generation might have been on to something when it comes to the importance of how we present ourselves (though I think that ironing money goes just a bit too far!).

This installment is going to focus on making impressions. We’ll explore where impressions matter, the elements of effective presence, and a five‑minute reset you can use anywhere.

It only takes five minutes, or even less, for people to form an impression of you. Whether you’re walking into class, meeting the hiring partner, or logging into a virtual interview, the first few moments tell a story. The question is whether they are telling the story you intend to share. Last issue explored becoming the person you’re training to be. Now it’s about letting others see who that person is. This issue aims to help you refine how you show up in the moments that matter.

I. What Are (and Aren’t) First Impressions

Many folks think strong impressions rely on being perfect and completely polished—being the most confident, talkative, or correct. That’s not the case. Rather, first impressions hinge on coherence. When your tone, body language, and preparation align with who you’re becoming, people feel it—and your impression deepens.

II. Where First Impressions Count

While avoiding gossip is one thing, there are multiple settings where your actions have a direct impact on impressions that are more important than dear Mrs. Macroy. In the classroom, think about how you prepare and participate. Are you prepared? Do you seem curious and engaged? Are you respectful?

For a lot of you, another important setting is work, whether that be in a legal job or not. At work, your time management, communication style, and responsiveness to feedback shape how others see you.

Along the same lines, what about your emails and other written communication? Pay close attention to your tone, clarity, and your professionalism. How do you want the recipient to perceive you when they are done reading that email?

In virtual meetings, consider your appearance and actions. Be mindful of camera placement, lighting, eye contact, background noise, visual distractions, and whether you appear fully present.

Finally, we once again come back to our ol’ friend, networking. When you are networking, impressions are literally everything. Consider how you introduce yourself—is it warm, confident, and concise?

Across all of these settings, there are five-minute opportunities to communicate reliability, composure, character, professionalism, and confidence—the qualities of the person and budding lawyer that you are.

III. Elements of a Strong Impression

As this Substack is for law students, I know that you will appreciate a good old-fashioned elements test (hopefully this is a bit easier than some of the elements test you find in your textbooks). Some of the core elements to create a strong impression are: presence, preparation, professional warmth, body language/tone, and authenticity.

Presence refers to where you are. That is, ground yourself in the moment. A simple way to accomplish this is to take a breath before heading into class or a meeting. Use these few seconds to align yourself and focus.

Preparation is about how well prepared you are. Did you put in the work, and do you understand the purpose behind it? Before class or a meeting, review notes, check names, anticipate questions, and think of talking points.

Professional warmth is found within the perfect combination of how you conduct yourself. You want to display a blend of confidence and kindness. Introduce yourself and answer questions with pride and conviction. Smile and greet people by name. Importantly, listen actively by actually listening to what others are saying and showing that you care.

Body language/tone are very important whether in a virtual or in-person setting. Sit up, make eye contact, and maintain a steady and inviting tone. Avoid multitasking, even virtually; it’s more visible than you think. Keep in mind that even when you are not speaking, you are communicating. Your body language says a lot—whether you’re engaged, upset, annoyed, etc. Good body language and tone also help convey professional warmth.

Authenticity is vital in making a strong impression. If you aren’t authentic the other elements lose their veracity. So, ensure that you are being yourself while satisfying the other elements. Authenticity can be as simple as acknowledging when you don’t know something but are eager to learn. You don’t need to impress—you need to express who you are and who you are already becoming.

IV. The Five-Minute Reset

Often as Flex/Part-time students, you are running from one thing to the next, without time to truly shift gears. The five-minute reset is a tool you can use to ensure that you show up and are fully present. First, ground yourself by taking a breath. Then remind yourself what you want people to take away from this interaction. Think of one value that you want to project during the interaction. Finally, focus on what is about to happen and release all other distractions. Now you are ready to give your full attention and presence to the interaction, whether it be class, an interview, a meeting, etc. All it takes is five minutes before the interaction to shape the five minutes that follow.

V. Getting From Anxiety to Alignment

Being nervous about the impressions you are making is completely normal. In fact, if you are nervous it likely means that you care! Don’t focus on trying to perform perfectly. Try to align your presence with your goal. Often, the most memorable people aren’t the loudest, they are the most grounded people who are truly present in the moment.

Wrap-Up

The first five minutes aren’t some sort of test with a rubric that you will be graded against. Rather, it is a unique opportunity for you to align who you are with how you show up. When these two match, you don’t just make an impression on someone, you make an impact. The first five minutes belong to you. So, keep showing up—every time you do, the lawyer you’re becoming steps more fully into view.

Until next time, have a wonderful two weeks and be kind out there.

Cheers,

Ryan

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Wow, it certainly has been chilly down here in Florida the past week—it feels like I am back in Maine! And just like adjusting to a sudden cold snap, becoming a lawyer is full of moments where you’re pushed out of your comfort zone—and those moments are where the growth happens. This installment is going to discuss becoming the lawyer that you are training to be (at least the cold weather gave me a nice little segway to start this issue!).

It’s safe to say that you have been (or you will be) asked to give legal advice at least once as a law student, and you instinctively say, “I’m not a lawyer yet!” While this is certainly the right answer (we don’t want any issues with the bar!), there is sort of a paradox of being both a student and a future lawyer. Becoming a lawyer doesn’t just happen on one day, it has already started—and you are in control of it. Every late night of studying, every case brief, every question you ask, it’s all part of the becoming.

I. The Myth of Arrival

Many folks think that you ‘become’ a lawyer the day that you are admitted to the bar. This myth of a single ‘arrival day’ can stall your development and intensify imposter feelings. It encourages students to delay acting like legal professionals until they feel ‘official,’ which can make the transition to practice harder.

Yes, the bar is an official milestone—but the real transformation happens years before that day. That is, your identity evolves long before official titles do. Think about it like this: when you critically analyze a case and the arguments, you are thinking like a lawyer and when you are explaining a complex rule to a colleague (or a family member who asks about some legal issue on TV), you are communicating like a lawyer. So, you’re not waiting to become a lawyer, you are already in the process. Myth busted.

II. Practicing the Habits of the Professional You Want to Be

What type of lawyer do you want to be? Not in the sense of “I want to be a criminal lawyer or a sports lawyer.” I’m talking about how you will…well…lawyer. Identify the professional habits that you will need and then start practicing these habits now. Some examples of these habits are preparation, communication, integrity, time management, teamwork etc.

How do you practice these habits now? Well, reading cases early and briefing with purpose in law school translates to managing case files ahead of deadlines and being fully prepared for hearings in practice. Writing polished and professional emails in law school translates to writing professional emails to clients and opposing counsel in practice. Acknowledging and owning your mistakes in law school translates to doing the same under the professional rules in practice. Treating class deadlines seriously in law school translates to managing your time and not missing deadlines in practice. Contributing to group projects and participating in study groups in law school translates to collaborating with different folks or practice groups at your future firm.

There is a ‘student version’ for every professional action you can think of. So, pick the professional habits you want to have, and start practicing them today. The small, repeatable choices you make in law school become the automatic instincts you rely on as an attorney.

III. Values are Bigger than Titles

Somewhat related to and overlapping with habits are our values. We often chase titles and feel like that is what makes us who we are. But the truth is that having Esq. at the end of your name isn’t what makes you the lawyer that you are. It’s about your values, not your title. Think about what you want to do in law. What do folks in that area value? Start living those values now. For example, if you want to advocate for justice, embody fairness, kindness, and courage. If you aspire to corporate law, begin living out integrity, responsibility, and professional excellence. For public interest work, practice empathy and service. For litigation, value truth, confidence, and resilience. Values map into every part of the profession.

As you learn the law in school, you’re also learning who you are—and where you belong within the law.

IV. Practicing Confidence

Becoming who you are training to be also means showing up confidently even before you feel ready. I know this is challenging but start experimenting with self-trust now, that way it’s not so hard in practice. Speak up in class, apply for that position you don’t feel qualified for, and introduce yourself as a law student and budding lawyer with pride and enthusiasm. I can assure you, confidence is not something that is hidden in a treasure chest at the end of law school. It’s something that you build in small ways daily, so start now! Set one goal per week—ask a question; apply to an opportunity; answer a question in class with conviction (not “well I might be on the wrong track here but…”). Recognize moments when you showed up even when you were unsure. Practice reframing self‑doubt (“I’m learning this,” instead of “I’m bad at this”).

V. Call to Action

Put this in motion now: who is the lawyer that you are becoming? What would that version of you do differently last week or right now? What’s something that you can do right now that aligns with the lawyer you want to become? Try writing down a short little description of the lawyer you’re becoming and keep it somewhere visible. Let it help guide you in your daily decisions.

Wrap-up

You are not becoming a lawyer someday—you’re practicing being one every day. Every brief that you write, every sleepless night, every concept you wrestle with, every small act of persistence that keeps you moving forward is all part of your becoming. You don’t need permission or the finish line—you are already walking on the path. The lawyer that you are becoming is watching, learning, and taking shape with everything that you are doing every day. So, keep becoming—quietly, steadily, and absolutely unapologetically!

I hope you have a wonderful few weeks. Be kind out there.

Cheers,

Ryan

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I hope that the start of the semester is going well for you all! I know that it has been a busy one for me (where the heck did January go!).

Everyone is crafting a “story” about who they are, what they want to be, and where they are going. Something that Flex/Part-time students may have a hard time doing. This is especially true in law school. Students are shaping the lawyer that they want to be. To do this, you must tell a story, which consists of so many aspects of your life, strengths, weaknesses, personality, and identity. Today’s topic is going to focus on your story, how to own it, and how to talk about it. Let’s get into it.

Introduction

The dreaded phrase: “Tell me about yourself.” For many Flex/Part-time law students, that phrase invokes a lot of thoughts and emotions: “Do I start with my day job?” “Do I talk about my past experiences?” “Do I talk about law school?” Does this all make me sound random or sporadic?”

One of the first questions I ask students I meet for the first time is “Why law school for you; why do you want to be a lawyer?” Most often, the responses are along the lines that law school was always a dream—which is great! The issue is when some folks explain their paths defensively (“I’m in the Flex/Part-time program because …”) rather than owning their path confidently. Often it seems that Flex/Part-time students need to explain away their past and justify their path to law school. But the truth is that your path isn’t something to justify or excuse. It’s your proof. You’ve pursued a degree (a dream), built a career, and stayed the course in multiple demanding worlds. The key is learning to tell your story with purpose.

I. Why Your Story Matters

Employers, peers, and just about everyone tend to remember narratives, not your resume. This means that the way you frame your path to law shapes how others perceive you as a professional and your potential as a lawyer. The beauty of this is that you are in control of this narrative, it’s yours!

A coherent story is what you want to aim for. That is, connect the dots between what you’ve done and what you are becoming. This can be difficult whether you have a lot of experience or a little. For those with a lot of experience it can seem impossible to connect those dots. While those with little experience may think “I have no dots to connect.” Whether you have a lot of experience or a little, everyone has a path that brought them to law school. For some, it takes more time and self-reflection than others. Regardless, connecting the dots between where you’ve been and where you’re going is an extremely important aspect of your transition into a lawyer.

As I’ve written about before, your past experiences can very well translate directly into what practice area you enter. Your path also includes learning moments and so many transferable skills, even if they are not directly related to legal skills. But your story goes deeper than just the skills and experiences you have had—it’s your narrative that conveys to people why you’re transforming your identity into a lawyer.

II. The Reframe: From Explanation to Ownership

As we discussed above, many Flex/Part-time students justify their choices, rather than owning them. For example: “I’m in the Flex/Part-time program because I have to work.” Instead shift this to ownership: “I’m in the Flex/Part-time program because I’m integrating my legal studies with professional experience.” Here’s a few more examples:

1. “I’m currently juggling a lot right now.” Shifts to “I’m successfully managing two professional commitments at once.”

2. “I know, I don’t have any practical legal experience yet.” Shifts to “I’ve successfully built [enter years of experience] in [enter industry] to transition into [enter practice area or field].”

3. “I’m a nontraditional law student.” Shifts to “My path has given me the opportunity to gain a broader perspective on law and my career aspirations.”

So, reflect on what the theme of your path is. Is it leadership, advocating for others, problem-solving, persistence, curiosity, innovation, etc.? Whatever it may be, once you discover this, it becomes your personal brand and the heart of your narrative.

III. Crafting Your Story with A Simple Framework

A simple framework for crafting your story looks at three areas: your past, present, and future (I don’t think you’ll be visited by these ghosts to help you with this, though that might be helpful…or terrifying).

For your past, you want to identify what led you to law. What motivated you? For example, you may be in law enforcement, and you saw how laws play out in everyday life and how they affect real people. Or you may have had a class in undergrad on law which completely shifted your career aspirations.

For your present, you want to identify what you’re doing…well…now. What are you learning and building. For example, through your studies you may be developing knowledge and advocacy skills that can help you ethically advocate for justice in the criminal law area. Or you may be developing your understanding of various areas of the law so that you have a broader understanding to help you make an informed decision about your future as a lawyer.

Your future is all about where you’re headed! Here, you want to explain how you want to apply the legal skills that you are developing. For example, you may want to focus on criminal prosecution to ensure that the administration of justice is carried out in a fair and consistent manner to uphold the rule of law. Or, you may not know where you want to go. If this is the case, take a step back and think broader. What type of work environment interests you? What type of law interests you? What type of legal tasks excite you? Once you home in on this, you can articulate your future, albeit in a bit of a broader context. For example, you might know that you are excited by technology and advocacy, so your future statement would be that you want to use your legal skills to further the technological advancements in the legal profession, particularly in the advocacy realm, to help address access to justice issues.

You want to tailor this narrative to different settings (e.g., networking vs. formal interview). Additionally, you don’t want your narrative to sound robotic, chronological, or apologetic. Rather, try to keep it conversational, flowing, and forward looking—because that’s where you’re headed!

IV. The Power of Alignment

The best, and most convincing storytelling, comes from alignment and believing. Alignment is when your reasons and goals make sense to you. So, ask yourself: “What does my story say about my values, my long-term vision, and what truly matters to me?” Authenticity wins out over a marketing pitch. Don’t try to impress, rather, try to convey a clear sense of self and purpose. What makes your story memorable, and impressive, is when you believe it when you tell it.

V. Now Bring it to Life

Review your LinkedIn summaries and change the language to take ownership of your story. Practice your answer (which is…your narrative) to the dreaded “Tell me about yourself” question. Test your narrative at the next networking event you go to. And please, the next time someone asks, “What do you do?” respond like the lawyer that you are becoming, not as the student/working professional that you are.

Wrap-Up

You don’t need to sound like someone else, make excuses for your path, or justify it. Your path is your narrative—and that’s a story that is worth telling in its own right. Owning your story isn’t a one-time deal, it’s something that evolves as time goes on and as you navigate the different chapters of your journey. Remember, by believing in your story, others will see who you were and who you are more clearly…which is the lawyer that you are becoming.

Until next time, I wish you all a wonderful two weeks. Be kind out there.

Cheers,

Ryan

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I hope you all had a nice New Years and are ready for the next semester to begin. We were back in Tampa for New Years, and despite how cool it was for the area, it was certainly warmer than Maine!

Today’s topic is one that I could write (and talk) a lot about. It is also a topic that hits rather close to home for me, as it may for many of you. Our goal today is to explore imposter syndrome in an effort to normalize these feelings and provide ways to spin these feelings into growth and motivation. We’re going to start off with a bit of a different introduction and then go through four sections (I. identifying why you might have these feelings as a Flex/Part-time student; II. what it means; III. how to reframe it; and IV. turning it into fuel.)

Introduction Story

I’ll never forget the day. I graduated law school, passed the bar, and had been practicing for a bit. I was invited to a lunch interview with a partner at a firm and I went. The interview went great (I was later offered a job), but that is not why I remember that day so vividly, it is because of one particular part of the conversation I had with this person. As we were being served our tasty lunch (truth be told, I have no recollection of what I ordered), he asked me if I had any questions for him. For one of my questions, I asked him what advice he would give a younger lawyer and/or what he wished he knew when he first started practicing (sidebar: I only suggest asking this question during interviews with genuineness and only after you’ve ‘read the room’ and are confident the interviewer will receive it well).

His response went something like: “I wish I had known that you will never know everything. The law is such a vast landscape of information, and it is impossible to know everything. Don’t feel like an imposter, there is too much law out there for you to know everything—even in your area of specialty. And yes, someone may know something that you didn’t today, but tomorrow you may very well know something that they didn’t. You are smart, and you do belong, otherwise you wouldn’t be here. Ultimately, don’t let those imposter feelings in, or at the very least, don’t let them bother you.”

It was a true lightbulb moment. This was the first time that I had heard anyone talk about imposter syndrome and everything he was describing resonated with how I had felt for most of my life, never mind in practice, or even law school. After this interview, I went home and did some research on imposter syndrome (ya know, like every lawyer would) and between that and the conversation I had with that partner, I learnt so much about myself and the feelings I had had for so many years. Since then, I have been able to take deliberate actions to minimize these feelings the best I can. It’s not easy, and it’s always there, but knowing what it is and why it’s there has helped me immensely. I can’t be more thankful for this conversation—it really was enlightening and altering (what I said last issue is true: every conversation is important, and you never know who you’re talking to!). If you have these imposter feelings, hopefully this installment helps like the conversation with that partner helped me.

I. Why You Might Have These Feelings

For those of you that are shifting careers, it may feel like you are starting over, especially if law is a complete 180 from your current industry. This in of itself is challenging and may cause feelings of not belonging to creep in.

Along the same lines, you may feel like you are leading a double life (and not quite as glorious a one as Bruce Wayne or Clark Kent). You might go from being the leader of a project or the go to expert on something at work to the absolutely bewildered law student who can’t for the life of them figure out how to apply the Erie doctrine. You may feel like you are stuck somewhere in the middle and you don’t belong in either world.

Imposter feelings may creep in due to comparing yourself to full-timers. Don’t do this! First, it’s not productive. Second, it’s not true—Flex/Part-time students are not inferior to full-time students.

Another—and perhaps the biggest—reason for these feelings may just be law school in general! No doubt, you are smart and accomplished—otherwise you wouldn’t be in law school. But now you are surrounded by others who are also extremely intelligent and accomplished. It is tempting to compare yourself to your classmates and think that you don’t belong because it seems everyone else has it all figured out. Especially if you have never worked in a legal setting before, and you are surrounded by those who have. But remember, you’re all on the same playing field. Law school is new to you all and nothing, not even working in the legal field, truly prepares one for this adventure.

II. What It Means

Having imposter feelings doesn’t mean that you don’t belong! Rather, it is a sign that you are learning and growing. You will always be developing and learning in your career as a lawyer (don’t forget, we do call it practicing law—regardless of if you have been doing it for 2 years or 50!). So no, it’s not that you don’t know enough, or that you don’t belong. You are learning, and in this line of work, you always will be—it’s part of the fun (at least most of time!).

III. How To Reframe It

When those thoughts start creeping in, name it! “That is the imposter feelings talking.” This separates these feelings from your identity and you as a person. This also provides an opportunity for you to address it. Don’t focus on emotion, try to focus on the evidence (this is a newsletter for law students after all!). You can do this by keeping a list of the things you have done well, from small wins to big wins (e.g., moments of insight; nailing a cold call; and positive feedback from a class, internship, or paper, etc.). When imposter feelings start to creep in, address them with the evidence of your success and why you belong—because you do!

Comparisons, as we discussed above, can cause imposter feelings, but they can also be useful. Remember that the only useful comparison is between your past and current self. That said, compare these productively and wisely (e.g., “first semester me wouldn’t have raised my hand to answer a question out of fear of getting it wrong in front of everyone. But today, I just did it, and I was right!”). The key here is to mark and recognize your growth and successes.

Finally, don’t forget about all the strengths that you came to law school with. These consist of your past experiences, your current career, your maturity—your story. These aren’t detours on your way to becoming a lawyer and law school doesn’t erase them—it adds to them.

IV. Turning It Into Fuel

When you have these feelings, try asking “what it is trying to teach me?” Most folks in law school are deeply driven and with that comes an intense desire to succeed. This can create the perfect breeding ground for imposter feelings. That said, these feelings signal your deep desire to succeed; remind yourself that you are already succeeding and you will continue to do so. The goal here isn’t perfection, it’s to progress with purpose towards your goal of becoming a lawyer.

Also, confidence follows action, not vice versa. So, when those feelings creep in: send the email, ask the question, raise your hand, volunteer for the project, apply for the job/internship, accept the new position—take the action.

Wrap-up

You are a successful and accomplished person, otherwise you wouldn’t be in law school—and you do belong there. Your successes, failures, and everything in between brought you to law school (and you probably have more successes than you give yourself credit for, methinks). You will succeed and you do belong. You’re not an imposter—you are someone who is learning, growing, and transforming all the while juggling so many other things. Be open about these feelings, talking about them can help you reframe them and shrink them. I know it’s helped me.

Until next time, I hope you have a wonderful few weeks and be kind out there.

Cheers,

Ryan

P.S. I had to put two (as opposed to one) quote images below because there were simply too many great ones!

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I hope you all are having a wonderful holiday season with your family and friends. We are enjoying time with our family and friends in Maine—and let me tell you it has been freezing compared to our normal temps in Tampa (temps have been well below freezing and we just got fourteen inches of snow—’twas a white Christmas for us indeed). But it is completely worth it to be around the warmth of our family and friends. Anyways, let’s get onto our regularly scheduled program.

Today’s issue is about the dreaded networking. I wasn’t kidding when I told you in the previous issue that it wouldn’t be the last time we discussed our ol’ friend networking . . . and here we are already at it again. Though by now some of you may feel that networking is more like a darn cold that you can’t get rid of. I promise networking is an ally and should be one of your closest friends throughout your legal career (hence why we keep talking about it!).

But let’s be honest, it’s a lot easier said (written) than done. Networking often feels awkward or draining, especially when your schedule is already packed. The title says it all, networking is no fun. As quite the introvert myself, I know it’s not fun. Come to think of it, I have never met anyone who is overjoyed to network (even those extroverts in the room). But it is an essential component in your legal career journey. I often hear that networking for Flex/Part-time law students is difficult. For some it’s because they have never really done it. For others it is because they have never networked in the legal profession. But for the majority, it is likely due to the little amount of time that you have to spend doing it. This is completely understandable, but please do not neglect building your web of connections—it is more important than you give it credit.

Smart Networking for When Time is Tight

No, don’t worry, I’m not saying that you got to get dressed up and go down to every event that your local Bar association hosts to mingle and network with attorneys (though this isn’t a bad idea!). Rather, today’s advanced technological world provides you with numerous ways to network right at your fingertips.

I have previously written about how you can use LinkedIn as a means of “permissionless networking.” This is an excellent way to get a good sense of the skills and experiences you should be acquiring on your journey for positions that you are interested in. But now we are going to take it a step further. LinkedIn also provides you with a method to begin actively networking while you’re on your couch in a hoodie and sweatpants, all within minutes. You simply can start by “connecting” with the attorneys that you have been researching. You then can take this a step further by messaging the attorneys, informing them that you are an [insert year] law student at [insert school], you are interested in [insert practice area], and you’d be delighted and appreciative to chat with them if they have the time.

In lieu of LinkedIn, you can also use email to connect with and start a dialogue with attorneys in your area (both in the geographical sense and practice interest). You can do this by googling some firms you are interested in and using the email provided for the attorneys who pique your interest. Also, make use of lawyer directories such as Martindale legal directory and each state’s bar association’s website. These directories typically provide means to search for and find attorneys—and their contact information—using helpful filters (e.g., practice area, certifications, and where they graduated law school). Hint, hint: try to connect with attorneys who graduated from your institution’s Flex/Part-time program as they have been through this program before. As mentioned last time, they are likely to hold a special connection to Flex/Part-time students. Consequently, they will likely be more than willing to chat with and even help you throughout your journey.

Now act on this. Before the beginning of next semester, make four new connections (with at least one being an alum from your school’s Flex/Part-time program) and send them a personalized message. Then set up a short ten-minute Zoom meeting with at least one of your new connections by the end of the first week of next semester. Ask them about how they got to where they are and what their practice looks like (presumably, you are interested in their practice area). You might also ask if they have any tips to help you on your journey toward that practice area.

Extra, Extra: Easy Networking Gems You Might Be Missing

This section covers a few odds and ends when it comes to networking. Though you don’t have to go to every local bar event, do consider joining a section of your local bar and attending certain events to meet local attorneys. Be sure to keep an eye out for virtual events and webinars provided by your local bar association (e.g., bar association panels).

Your law school has resources for you as well. Meet with folks who have connections to the law community (alumni office, career office, student affairs, etc.). Also, consider joining a student organization at your law school in an area of interest (e.g., international law society, criminal law society, etc.).

We looked at LinkedIn earlier, but so far, we have only viewed it from one side—using it to view and connect with others. On the flip side, don’t lose sight of your own profile. Be sure to keep LinkedIn up to date and be active on it. Think about your page from the perspective of others—this is what they will see when they view your profile. (Hmmm…I really ought to make use of my own advice here).

Don’t forget about relationship management! It takes time and effort to build relationships. After meeting someone, follow up with a thank you letter (or email). Check in with your connections once every few months—not because you need something, but simply because you want to see how they are doing. Comment on your connections’ LinkedIn post instead of merely giving it a thumbs up.

And most importantly, be yourself and be kind, no matter where you are. As my father always said when I was young: “you never know who you’re talking to.” Being genuinely kind can and will take you far. People tend to appreciate, want to connect with, and want to help those that are genuine and kind.

Stories From the Field: A Case for Networking

Let’s finish off with a real example that shows just how powerful networking is for your career as a lawyer. As I was scrolling on LinkedIn the other day, I came across a post about an attorney (who we’re going to call Gil) reflecting on his career journey as a lawyer. Gil didn’t do that well in his first semester of law school and thought his poor performance would hinder his ability to practice law. Determined to find out if his poor first semester performance would impede his path to practicing law, Gil set up over fifty lunches and short chats with attorneys in his area. He did this by simply reaching out to attorneys and asking if they had some time to chat with him. Little did Gil know that he was building his web of connections. Now reflecting on his legal career path, Gil accredits his internships and clerkships throughout law school and all (yes, all) of his post law school positions to those connections that he began to foster in the second semester of law school.

Wrap-up

Your web of connections matter. Now’s the time, don’t wait until you need something or put it off until after graduation—that’s too late. Building connections doesn’t happen overnight and it isn’t about asking for favors—it’s about building genuine relationships over time. So, if you haven’t started yet, now is the time. Start small, stay consistent, and don’t forget that every conversation is another opportunity to open a door, which is critical for your legal career. We’ll be discussing how to open doors—better yet, how to break them down—in a future installment. Stay tuned!

Sidebar: I’d wager that most of you have a bit of extra time on your hands with no classes right now. While resting, rejuvenating, and spending time with family and friends is extremely important during this time of year, invest just a bit of this downtime into building your web of connections. You’ll thank yourself in the (not-so-long) long run.

Until next time, I hope you all have a wonderful—and safe—New Years. Be kind out there.

Cheers,

Ryan

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For those that are done finals—phew—you can breathe! For those that may have one or so remaining, hang in there, you’re in the last stretch. You’ve got this!

Two issues ago we discussed the importance of gaining legal experience while in law school. For a quick refresher, gaining legal experience is a pivotal aspect of your application materials for post graduate legal employment. Last issue we discussed the importance of, and how to market, your past non-legal experiences. And now, here we are folks, it’s time to answer that lingering question: “how do I gain legal experience during law school as a Flex/Part-time student.”

Many of you come to the table performing an extraordinary juggling act. You are working professionals by day and law students by night. If that tremendous undertaking wasn’t enough, you also are juggling that job and law school with family, children, friends, etc.—ya know, that funny thing called life. Looking at this list, it seems quite clear that nothing more should be added. If anything, something should be subtracted! So, how can you gain legal experience without dropping the ball? Here are nine different strategies that hopefully help with this dilemma.

Before diving into the options, don’t overlook the power of communication—with your current employer, potential legal employer, and your law school. If possible, and if you feel comfortable doing so, you should have open conversations about your situation. By engaging in this dialogue, you may be surprised with the level of reception and flexibility that you are met with. Simply by having these conversations, you may find yourself gaining legal experience which you never thought to be feasible with an employer you had never thought possible. Now, let’s get into those nine strategies.

1. Externships

These are experiential learning opportunities that are comparable to internships but typically come from a partnership between your school and the host organization. Depending on availability and the options your school has, you have the possibility to gain practical experience and exposure to a wide variety of practice areas. Additionally, depending on the institution, you can gain course credit hours for your externship. Externship schedules can vary greatly, so talk with your clinic and externship office and potential hosts to identify options that might work for you.

2. Clinics

Clinics—on and off campus—typically focus on a specific area (e.g., civil rights). By participating in a clinical experience, you will gain hands-on practical experience in real legal matters. As with externships, you may receive course credit for your clinical experience, depending on the institution. Some tasks may include legal research, drafting various legal documents (e.g., memos, pleadings, etc.), attending court, and interacting with clients. Clinical schedules vary, so check with your clinical education office for opportunities that might work for you.

3. Your Current Employer

A good number of Flex/Part-time students work outside of school hours. While some work in legal settings performing legal tasks in some capacity, what if you don’t? Well, there still may be a way for you to gain some legal experience with your company. You should know (or find out) if your employer has a legal department. And if they do, that’s the first step. Depending on your comfortability with your employer and supervisor ask them (or whoever you feel comfortable with) if it is possible for you to work a few hours per week (say 5 or so) in or with the legal team. Same goes for those of you who work in law firms, just not in a legal role. Ask if you can start taking on some legal tasks (e.g., a research project, drafting a memo, reviewing discovery responses, etc.).

You may find yourself feeling a bit skeptical of this option (the lawyer senses in you are tingling!), but I promise that I have seen it work multiple times. Transparency and comfort are the keys here.

4. Networking

Ahh, and here we are back to talking about our dear friend, networking (and this certainly will not be the last!). Kidding aside, building connections is critical to obtaining legal experience. Especially if you are looking for something to fit into your already hectic calendar. Without connections it may prove to be difficult to find a flexible opportunity, as firms may not advertise these sorts of positions.

Along the same lines, don’t forget about the folks who came before you. Connect with some graduates of your school’s Flex/Part-time program. This has the makings to lead to some flexible work for you. Don’t forget, these alumni went through the program too and may have a special connection to—or even a soft spot for—Flex/Part-time students (a soft spot in a lawyer? Stop the presses!).

5. Pro Bono

Regardless of if your school has a pro bono requirement for graduation, legal pro bono opportunities can provide flexible and meaningful work arrangements for Flex/Part-time students. Not only can you gain marketable legal experience, but you also get the chance to help out folks in the community who need your legal knowledge. Start by looking at your law school’s website, talk to campus contacts, and explore some local legal aid organizations. Most organizations include a section on their website about law student pro bono opportunities and how to apply. If not, you can always pick up the phone and call them (yes, an actual phone call—wild, right?).

6. Contract work/Internships/Other Opportunities

This here is the hodgepodge category, if you will. It’s here to remind you to keep your eyes peeled for an opportunity. Make sure that you are checking your law school’s job board (e.g., Symplicity), public job boards (e.g., Indeed), LinkedIn, and other sources for opportunities that fit your schedule. Enable alerts for these sites and use key words such as “part-time law clerk, part-time legal intern, etc.”

7. Career Transition

This may be the very reason that you came to law school, but now that it has come you may not be ready—or a bit terrified—to make the transition. And with that, you have no time to take part in your school’s on-campus recruiting program or to participate in the exact clinic or externship that you want. In some circumstances, and at some point, this may be where you close the chapter on your prior career and begin writing the next chapter … as a lawyer. I know this is a lot easier said (written) then done; transitions are hard. This can be an emotional, challenging, and quite frankly terrifying leap. But remind yourself of why you began law school in the first place, those reasons can help carry you through the trying times of transition.1

8. Time off (PTO, Leave of Absence)

Sometimes there are just no alternatives. You may have your eye on a particular externship or clinic. You may very well want to participate in the on-campus recruiting program. There might plenty you’d like to do in law school … but your schedule wouldn’t allow it! (Hope you caught the Grinch reference here—‘tis the season). This is where using some paid time off and planning to build up PTO can come into play. Additionally, some students have also taken leaves of absence to pursue different opportunities (summer associateships, clinics, externships, etc.). Regardless of whether it’s PTO, a leave of absence, or a combination, having an open conversation with your employer can be very helpful.

9. Other Extracurriculars

Check in with your law school to see if there are any research projects or anything of that nature that you can assist with. This will help build those practical skills and may provide a flexible schedule to do so. Additionally, don’t forget about law school extracurriculars such as law review, mock trial, moot court, dispute resolution, etc. These all hone your practical skills and help your resume standout. While some may be more conducive to Flex/Part-time students, take some time to investigate your school’s requirements and how you might be able to fit it into your schedule. We’ll be discussing these in more depth in an upcoming installment dedicated to the topic of your personalized curriculum. So, stay tuned for that!

Wrap Up

I know that every option is not feasible for all Flex/Part-time students. What I hope is that this helps illustrate that there are plenty of creative and … flexible … ways to gain legal experience as a Flex/Part-time student. Sometimes you simply must seek them out. Some might say the secret sauce of the juggling performance that you all partake in is time management. Especially when considering adding another “ball” to the routine. We’ll be covering time management coming up soon. Keep an eye out for that.

As we head into one of my favorite times of the year, I want to wish each one of you a wonderful, joyful, and warm holiday season. Take the time to rejuvenate and enjoy this special time of year with your loved ones. Until next time,

Cheers,

Ryan

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I want to start by saying that I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family, friends, and loved ones. I know I ate my fair share of ham and all the fixins (yes, no turkey for me—I lost my taste for it the first time we hosted Thanksgiving and had to prepare one). Anyways, on to our regularly scheduled program.

Last issue we talked about the importance of legal experience. As I was contemplating what we’d cover next, I thought we ought to address prior experience. A lot of Flex/Part-time students go to law school having already had an abundance of rich professional experience—which is not always legal or even law adjacent. Consequently, this often creates somewhat of a paradox: “I have years of experience in [insert profession], but it’s not even remotely related to law. So how does that translate to law practice—and how do I market this to legal employers?” This installment aims to answer these questions. Let’s get into it.

The Importance of Your Experience

As I hope was made clear in last issue, legal experience is a crucial aspect (a pillar if you will) to gaining post graduate employment. What we didn’t cover is the importance of your previous experiences—even if they seem far removed from the legal profession.

First, I want to share something I heard from a part-time graduate. She recalled interviewing with multiple firms for a summer position during law school. Prior to coming to law school and up until this point, she had held several different professional positions that were not related to law. At first, she wasn’t sure if this would help or hurt her but was leaning towards the latter.

Interestingly, an interviewer gave her a fresh way to reframe her thoughts. The interviewer was interested in her experience stating that it was a great advantage in that she was “tried and tested” in the professional world. That is, she had been successful at working in professional environments and building a career. Moreover, the typical learning curve that comes with transitioning from the life of a student to that of a professional is well behind her.

This is such an important aspect for you to latch onto and remember. Your past experiences have provided you with exposure to the professional workforce and setting. This in of itself is of unique importance.

Next, though your legal experience may in no way be related to law, it could very well be your ticket to practicing in a specific (or even niche) area. Your experience provides you with insider knowledge of the field. You understand the ins and outs, how it works, the lingo that is used within the industry, etc.

For example, let’s say you work in the construction industry. You understand the terminology and how construction teams operate. You also have participated in the design process, the building process, etc., and consequently have a solid understanding of (and hopefully not firsthand experience with) where things often fall apart (pun certainly intended—I had to). Additionally, you are familiar with what the typical and acceptable practices are. Armed with this rich backdrop of knowledge you may very well be a great candidate for (and absolutely love) working in construction law. Think about it this way, when disputes arise over budgets, blueprints, or crooked frames, you’re not just reading the jargon—you have had life experience with it. That gives you a unique perspective, making you a translator between the two worlds. And that’s exactly the kind of value legal employers look for.

The same applies to most other professional experiences. The practical understanding that you bring from your experience combined with a license to practice law—and the knowledge and skills that should come with that—position you uniquely to practice in an area that very well might combine your prior professional experience with your future one ... as a lawyer.

Now even if you want absolutely nothing to do with what your prior experiences were in, they are still valuable. Just as mentioned above about being “tried and tested,” it is all in how you frame it, which is what we’re going to discuss now.

How to Market your Past Experience to Legal Employers

If your experience is in the law field, great, that makes this part more straightforward. But what if it’s not—how do you market this experience as valuable, other than the fact that you are “tried and tested” in a professional environment?

How to market your past experiences boils down to one word: transferability. This gets at the heart of how to effectively market your past experiences. Here, transferability is referring to the skills that you have gained that are … well … transferable.

This seems rather straightforward now, but then when you sit down to start modifying your experience section you suddenly run into the wall that is writer’s block (that pesky thing!). The problem here is that you shouldn’t start this process by simply modifying what you already have written for your experience. Rather, you should start fresh and redraft your experience from scratch. But when you do this, draft your experiences through the perspective of the legal profession, identifying the skills you’ve developed that translate to legal practice. That is, what transferable skills have you gained from your previous experiences that will aid you in the legal workforce.

Undoubtedly, your past experiences contain transferable skills that legal employers value and often seek out. For example, some of these skills include problem solving skills, negotiating skills, research skills, writing skills, analytical skills, client communication/satisfaction skills (from customer service roles), and financial/transactional skills (from banking/financial roles). Rattling off some of the obvious skills like research and writing is rather simple, but it goes deeper than that. What about leadership experience and dependability? Those are transferable. Also, does it come across that you have taken control, or ownership, of your career (promotions, working upwards, putting in the extra without being asked). Taking ownership of your career as a lawyer is an important skill, one that cannot necessarily be taught—and firms value this attribute.

Marketing your past experiences doesn’t stop at your resume, take advantage of that wonderful application document called a cover letter. Don’t overlook the power of this document. Use a portion of it to tie everything together. Why do you want to be a lawyer—how have your experiences led you to embark on the journey of becoming a lawyer. Essentially, how do your experiences tie into your decision to become a lawyer. Also, don’t forget to sprinkle in some specific examples of your past experiences that will aid you in the legal profession.

Wrap Up

On a final note, recognize (and embrace) that these experiences helped shape the person—and the professional—that you are. Without these experiences, you very well might not be in law school on your way to becoming a lawyer. So, regardless of your sentiment towards your ‘past life,’ it matters—it was a stepping stone on your path to law and has provided you with skills that legal employers seek. Ultimately, it’s all in how you frame it.

Until next time, take care. For those that have finals approaching, good luck! And remember, almost (if not every) attorney out there made it through finals, and so will you. So, try not to stress too much; you’ve got this!

Cheers,

Ryan