Amanda’s Archive
Welcome to my LinkedIn archive. Search by word to find what I’ve written on the topic of your choosing!
Get private Dear 1L letters.
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
LINKEDIN & PERSONAL BRANDING
When my LinkedIn notifications stopped being reliable, I looked for another way to make…
“The game is not worth the candle.”
I once had a debate with a BigLaw partner over the expression, “The game…
Dear Legal Writer: Today’s letter is about “is comprised by.”
“Is comprised by” is always wrong. Here’s why. ⤵️ “To comprise” = “to contain,”…
Do this in the 24 hours before an exam
Sometimes, when a final (or a bar exam) was just days away, I would…
3 Ways to Earn Extra Points on a Law-school Essay Exam
Dear 1L, Don’t forget to answer these questions to earn extra points in your…
Learn When & How to Use “i.e.” and “e.g.” [carousel]
Dear Legal Writer: My friend, Min Cho, suggested that I write about “i.e.” and “e.g.” To…
Follow this Start-of-Exam Routine to Ward Off Test Anxiety
Dear 1L, Create an exam ritual to stamp out nerves on test day. Here’s…
Do you give “TLs”?
I hope you start! Giving a TL to someone means relaying a compliment about…
Dear 1L, Here are 3 top reminders for final exams
1️⃣ Brainstorm and outline your answer before you start to write. If I had…
It’s Time to Blacklist “Prior to.”
Dear Legal Writer: “Prior to” is NOT a good synonym for “before” in legal…
ANNIVERSARY POST
Dear Matt, Marrying you was the best decision I ever made.What an extraordinary life…
What to Read the Summer Before Law School
Here are book recommendations contributed by hundreds of lawyers & law students for pre-law…
Musings on BigLaw Life
Dear 1L, I was an associate at two firms. Both were BigLaw. ♦️ FIRM…
How to Use an Em-Dash & Why You Should [carousel]
Dear Legal Writer: Before you use your next em-dash, make sure you know what…
Why I Took the NY Bar Exam from the Floor of a Private Office
I had to take the NY-state bar exam lying on the floor of a…
Dear Legal Writer: Is “terminate” a synonym for “fire”? Yes and No.
Dear Legal Writer: I once had a BigLaw partner wave an imaginary assault rifle…
Aim for an Engaging Style in Your Spring Advocacy Briefs
Dear 1L, Last year, you had to write a personal statement to persuade a…
“Don’t bore us. Get to the chorus.”
Dear 1L, I just heard this memorable motto by Motown Records founder, Berry Gordy…