Welcome to my LinkedIn archive.
Categories: Dear 1L, Dear 2L, Legal Writing
By Year: 2026, 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021
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Dear 1L: Oral Argument Tips Part 1
Dear 1L,
Here are tips to help you prepare for oral argument—Part 1 of 3. Use these now, and save them for your future, lawyer-self.
The tips are a synthesis of:
▫️ several dozen comments on my original post;
▫️ an excellent article by Heidi Brown;
Dear 1L, This week, I am starting to get 1L requests for oral argument tips.
As I was more of a paper advocate than an oral one, I thought I would ask my network for help. Many of you are far more qualified than me to offer such tips!
If you could give a 1L one piece of advice for an upcoming oral argument, what would it be?
I will compile the responses and create a comprehensive tip sheet to circulate.
Dear 1L: In your Reader’s Shoes
Dear 1L,
When self-editing, put yourself in your Reader’s shoes.
Your Reader may be your professor, boss, partner, law clerk, or judge. But all share common characteristics:
🔹 They are susceptible to boredom and distraction (like us all).
Dear 1L: My 3L Back Story
Dear 1L,
For most, it is 1L that causes the most stress. For me, it was 3L.
On the outside, I seemed to have it all together: a job lined up for fall, and a Note ready to publish. What could I be stressed about?
As it turns out, a lot.
One morning that spring, I awoke to the worst pain of my life.
Dear 1L: Grammar & Usage Tips
Dear 1L,
Before I was doing what I do now, part of my law firm role was Editor for L&E and Appellate thought-leadership communications.
Over the years, I saw the full gamut of grammar and usage mistakes. Here are five of the most prevalent that require no further explanation
Avoid these mistakes to minimize your grader’s use of red pencil.
Dear 1L, Avoid these mistakes to minimize any Reader ire.
📍 INCORRECT —> ☀️ CORRECT
📍 the reason is because —> ☀️ the reason is that
📍 cite to a case —> ☀️ cite a case
📍 regarded as being —> ☀️ regarded as
📍 no doubt but that —> ☀️ no doubt that
Dear 1L, If you are writing a brief, I hope that you’re hanging in ok. It is a grueling week, like exam week. I don’t know which is worse. As an attorney, you will have weeks like this, too.
Get in the habit of taking care of yourself. Factor in that your brain needs to sleep. I know from experience that you can’t think straight --or write well--if you are a zombie. I have tried before and failed. You will just waste time and spin wheels, unable to see the forest through the trees.
Strive for working smart. You will be so much more efficient.
Dear 1L: Tips for Introductions
Dear 1L,
Here are some tips for the Introduction to your brief.
✏️ To BEGIN
Remember that your Reader is busy—think tiny attention span. Grab their attention and get to the point.
Your Reader seeks information. That can’t happen if they’re confused. Above all else, strive for clarity. Best are short, crisp sentences in an active voice.
Dear 1L: LinkedIn Basics
Dear 1L,
In September, I started posting original content on a regular basis. I still have loads to learn, but here are three basics I wish I’d known when I started.
✏️ TIP 1: HOW TO RECOMMEND A POST
If you read a post you really like and want others to see, too, don’t just “share.” Instead, or in addition to, drop a comment to the post.
Dear 1L: Just say because
Dear 1L,
In reviewing recent writing samples, I am reminded of just how many wordy ways there are to say “because.” Don’t go these ways. Just say “because”:
In light of the fact that
Due to the fact that
As a result of
For the reason that
On account of the fact that
On the grounds that
Cut these clauses. Just say “because.”
Dear 1L: State How the Court Came Out
Dear 1L,
When describing what happened in the cases you cite, make sure to include how the case came out procedurally. Do this for every case if you discuss its facts—whether you’re relying on it for support, or seeking to distinguish it.
SUMMARY JUDGMENT BRIEFS: If you are writing on summary judgment (SJ), include your answer to this question:
Dear 1L: on “However, …”
Dear 1L,
When I look at drafts of your writing, one of the first things I do is reword almost all sentences that start with “However, …”
“But starting sentences that way is grammatically correct,” you might protest.
And you’d be right. Nevertheless, I suggest you limit your use of this sentence-starter. Here’s why.
Dear 1L: MSJ Primer
Dear 1L,
Most of you are writing summary judgment briefs this spring.
You approach these briefs without the benefit of any prior, pre-trial litigation course. You also have never written a legal brief before. And in your fall Civ Pro class, you are lucky if Rule 56 even came up.
I thought a little primer on procedure, with some phrases to use, might help.
Dear 1L: LinkedIn legal peeps to follow
Dear 1L,
I was thinking about people (in the legal, LinkedIn world) who post original content regularly—substantive content, not sales. Their posts really seem to resonate with law students (and seasoned lawyers).
There are many, many names that I am forgetting, surely, but the names below came to me first, off the top of my head.
Dear 1L: Spring Semester Outlines
Dear 1L,
Five steps for efficient Outlining this spring.
Make your end-product a series of essay outlines. One for every Topic on which you might be tested.
Start with my template for Standing (I’ll put the link to that post in the Comments).
The goal for each Topic outline is to include all items you might put in an essay on the Topic (Rules, Elements, Explanations, Cases and Policies).