Amanda’s Archive
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Amanda’s Archive
Dear 1L: on “However, …”
Dear 1L: On Starting a Sentence with “However,”
Dear 1L: MSJ Primer
Dear 1L, Most of you are writing summary judgment briefs this spring. You approach…
Dear 1L: IRAC Outline – Standing
Dear 1L, Here is the start of an outline template for an IRAC exam…
Dear 1L: Interview Tips
Dear 1L, I have been conducting mock Zoom interviews of law students during the…
Recent Posts
The Biggest Legal Writing Changes Since the 1990s
Legal writing has changed since the 1990s when I started. Here’s my run down…
The 10 Resume Mistakes I See Most Often
Over the past 4 years, I’ve reviewed over 100 resumes written by law students,…
I Encourage You to Stretch Beyond Your Comfort Zone
I’ve always felt a bit uncomfortable around law professors. They’re an exclusive club, and…
Grammar, the Main Culprit for Legal Writing Deficiencies
I talk regularly to law-firm owners, and I get an earful about their associates’…
Don’t Scapegoat Your Fears About Growing Up
Dear 1L, Don’t use LinkedIn as a scapegoat for your fears about growing up….
The Bad Ways to Say “Because”
Dear Legal Writer: Before you give that brief to the partner, make sure you’re…
The Best Legal Writers Use a 3-Pillar Approach
Dear Legal Writer, The best legal writers use a 3-pillar approach. Try it in…
Not Ready to Be a Podcast Guest
Hello from Matt and me in RI, where we’ll be spending this summer near…
My Top 8 Legal-Writing Accounts for You to Follow
These are my top 8 legal-writing accounts for you to follow, along with some…
“Legal Writing in Color”, A New Venture
I am launching a new venture. It is called “Legal Writing in Color.” Its…
Stop Using “Such” in Legal Writing
“Such” is vague.“Such” is overused.“Such” makes your sentences sound AWKWARD! Worse, when used to…
Our Whole Industry Is Built on Communication
It was the late 1990s, and my uncle was showing me how he played…
What Does AI Say About You?
I always heard “personal brand” meant the sum of things people said about you…
A Simple Editing Trick to Keep Your Reader Engaged
Want to keep your reader engaged? Here’s a simple editing trick that works every…
5 Tips for Law Students on How to Write a Cover Letter to Get an Interview
I don’t supply “model” cover letters for a reason: A “model” is the antithesis…
Big Law Breeds Alcoholics, and I Was One of Them
Chardonnay. You might think when I left Biglaw in 2016, the problem would have…
Don’t Write “Despite the Fact That.”
Dear Legal Writer, Don’t write “Despite the fact that.” It is the most debilitating…
The Current Entry-Level Job Market
In April 1991, I was a senior at Harvard—just one month from graduating. But…