1️⃣ Fully justify your body text.

—That will cut lines b/c full justification fits more letters per line than left justification.

2️⃣ Working from the bottom up, systematically attack each paragraph with only a few words in its final line of text.

Here’s the built-a-business side of the story.

1️⃣

In 2016, I got laid off from a BigLaw firm. I can’t lie: that stung.

In the intervening years, I “tried on” many roles. None quite fit.

THIS is what it’s all about.

The comment on my post from a 2L made my day. It stands for everything I longed for when I started Dear 1L®.

Thank you to every member of my community.

Some gunner with a briefcase asked me that during my very first week. I didn’t even know what an “Outline” was.

Here’s what I wish I knew then:

🔷 It’s not the Outline itself that matters.

I can’t wait to dive in.

What’s on your reading list today?

💌 Amanda

But be careful after a negative verb: “because” causes ambiguity.

Here are some examples:

1️⃣ She was not promoted because she is female.

—Was she promoted? That isn’t clear.

My goal is to help you learn what those terms mean and, hopefully, if we get good comments, to learn about some different practice areas and how real lawyers actually spend their time.

1️⃣ “Transactional” lawyers work on deals.

Some of these lawyers’ functions include:

Some 2Ls sign up for every committee.
They do a journal and moot court.
They attend every social event.
They even work part-time.
They have no free time.

Don’t be like that.

You’ll start to give up “me” time.
You’ll stay up too late at night.

Dear 2L,

They really didn’t give you much of a break this summer, did they?

Since right after exams, you’ve had:
- the write-on,
- your first “legal” job,
- early recruiting,
- OCI, and
- whatever you’ve had going on in your personal life.

Dear Legal Writer, Next time you’re trying to cut words or add some punch, try this:

Replace “is not required to” with “need not.”

For example:

❌ Instead of: “The defendant is not required to disprove the plaintiff’s claims.”

Dear 1L,

If you’re “beyond confused,”
If you think you’re “the only one” experiencing self-doubt, or
If you worry everyone else “gets” it, when you don’t:

🔷 I am sorry you’re experiencing these feelings. The cases at the beginning of law school can be bewildering.

From Lindsey Avalos.

Everyone’s 1L experience is different, but I always found it comforting to hear stories from students who had just been through something new that I was about to start, so I’m sharing in the hopes of reaching more of you.

Dear 1L, Here’s a legal-writing tip that will save you time this fall.

1️⃣ In the legal world, we spell the word “judgment” without an “e.”

—> Change your Word settings so they autocorrect “judgement” to “judgment” when you type.

Dear 1L, At the start of law school, there will be braggarts.

🔹 They may say they took a comprehensive, pre-law prep course and feel “ready to go!”

🔹 They may boast that they already:
-read the first month’s worth of reading, 

Dear Legal Writer: As a junior associate, you’ll be asked to complete a lot of written projects, and you’ll want to show that you take ownership of your work.

One way to do that is by being proactive about gathering all relevant background information BEFORE you start.