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
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…
The Hardest Part to Write Can Be the Introduction
Dear Legal Writer, Some writers spin their wheels trying to create the perfect opening…
Dear 1L,
How are you holding up right now? It’s the eve of April, (when all…