Amanda’s Blog
My letters are often described as a light in the storm. I share the unwritten rules that no law professor will ever tell you. I aspire to simplify and improve the quality of your law school journey and to promote your greatest possible success there. A significant portion of my letters is also meant for all lawyers and law students. I write a lot about legal writing (my greatest passion). Thank you for reading!
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Categories: Dear 1L, Dear 2L, Legal Writing, Spotlight
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
3 Top Exam Tips + an IRAC Template
My 3 Top Exam Tips + an IRAC {CREAC} Template This is for all…
9-Point IRAC Primer
—EXAMS: How to Structure an IRAC Essay— Dear 1L, Follow these 9 steps to…
Watch me on the Zealous Advocate Podcast
Hi all. I was on a podcast! I hope you’ll listen. Generous thanks to…
3 questions you should NOT ask a law student this Thanksgiving
3 questions you should NOT ask a law student this Thanksgiving: 1: What kind…
Poem
Every 1L needs a marching band,Where allies flock to lend a hand. One who…
What is an IRAC Exam & How do I write an IRAC Essay?
Dear 1L, Doctrinal classes teach you to:—read legal rules & cases;—see both sides of…
How I found my “voice” when I first started posting on LinkedIn
When I first started posting on LinkedIn, I struggled to find my “voice.” Here…
Dena Lefkowitz
There’s something magical about meeting in person. It was 2-2-2022 when I first reached…
“Time and Sweat”
Dear 1L, I thought you might relate to these words by Justice Antonin Scalia….
The Memo is a Bear
Dear 1L, These weeks with the memo were the most brutal of 1L for…
Be careful with the word “draft.”
Dear Legal Writer, I got 2 kinds of contradictory, negative feedback when I was…
Are you making these 4 common mistakes in your Memo?
Dear 1L, Every year, I see the EXACT SAME substantive mistakes in 1L legalmemos….
Law schools do students a disservice
Law schools do students a disservice by treating legal-research & writing (LRW) professors like…
6 Ways to Slog Thru Legal-Writing Fog
Dear 1L, No 1L wants to spend all weekend inside writing a legal memo,…
Dear 1L,
When you’re new to legal writing, it’s natural to think: —Courts’ words sound better…
“Utilize” is a stilted and stupidiciosis* word
Dear Legal Writer, If you think your reader wants sophisticated words, thinkagain.Case in point:…
Dear 1L,
On Oct. 1, I set out to start putting together all my letters into…
I got a note from “Thus” and “Therefore” overnight.
I got a note from “Thus” and “Therefore” overnight. The note said: 1: “We’re…