It’s a Mistake to Overextend Yourself

Dear 2L, It’s a mistake to overextend yourself with too many extracurriculars this year.

Some 2Ls try to do everything under the sun.

-They do every affinity and interest group.
-They do law review and moot court.
-They assume roles on committees.
-They attend each social event.
-They even work part-time.

–> They have no free time.

Please don’t approach your year that way.

-You’ll start to give up your “me” time.
-You’ll stay up too late at night.
-You’ll start eating crap.
-You’ll eat too much.
-Or not enough.

And, over time, you’ll stress, you’ll tire, and you won’t fare well.

In fact, amassing a ton of extracurriculars may even hurt you.

➡️ I see loads of law-student resumes.

Many students recite long lists of groups and organizations in which they’ve been a “Member.”

👉 I am not impressed.

 🔻 That type of laundry list tells me no more than that you signed up for something and attended a few meetings.

Instead, pick 1-2 (or 3, max) and invest yourself fully.

 —Become an elected leader.
 —Start a new group initiative.
 —Accomplish something tangible you can discuss in a job interview.

Those are the types of resume entries that stand out.

So, stand out!

You’ve got an overabundance of choices.
Do a couple things you can really give your all to.
You’ll be better off in the end.

(And perhaps you can avoid being “worked to death” and find greater balance this year, too.)

Fondly,

💌 Amanda

#Dear2L

P.S. I see extracurriculars falling into 2 buckets—“scholastic” and “non-scholastic.”

A.Scholastic

1.—Law Review & Journals. For almost all, a chance to be on law review is a no-brainer. The benefits of other journals may also be too good to turn down—especially if you aim to publish a note or become an elected editor.

2.—Moot Court & Mock Trial. These, too, are deemed prestigious, and, like law reviews and journals, they require a big time commitment. Most students strive for either law review/journal or moot court/mock trial. A few each year pursue two. You’ll have to decide what works for you.

3.—Outside Internships, Clinics & Employment. These run the full gamut, and I am all for them. You may get writing or courtroom experience here that rivals other school-based offerings.

B.Non-scholastic

Into this second bucket, I put all other activities—affinity groups, charitable organizations, student bar associations, and the like. Choices vary widely depending on school.

👉 Pick activities that match your strengths, interests, and goals.
👉 And again, invest fully in whatever it is you do choose to do.

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🗳️ 3Ls and JDs: Which extracurriculars did you pursue that you found most valuable?