Dear Legal Writer: I once had a BigLaw partner wave an imaginary assault rifle and simulate a scene from “The Terminator” when imparting feedback on my writing:

“Who are you, the Terminator?” she asked.

The partner was very senior, and she was also rather rotund, wearing a floral house dress & ballet flats at the time—all of which made her act quite amusing.

Dear 1L,

Last year, you had to write a personal statement to persuade a law school to admit you.

You may have been told to aspire for an essay that would be “a pleasure to read.”

If so, you got some very good advice.

Dear 1L,

I just heard this memorable motto by Motown Records founder, Berry Gordy Jr., and I want you to say it over and again when getting ready for your oral argument.

If you can say only ONE thing to the panel, what will it be?

Don’t get caught stammering.

Have ONE refrain on the tip of your tongue.

Dear Legal Writer,

Some writers spin their wheels trying to create the perfect opening for the Introduction to their brief. You know, that catchy one-liner that seemingly encapsulates the gist of the whole case at once, often using analogy, metaphor, or other literary device to drive home the writer’s point?

I used to try that too.

Many of you will stop reading my letters soon, too, because you’re swearing off social media until after exams (I predict).

But before you think of doing that, please tell me: What are you struggling with? On what topics should I write? Tell me what’s on your mind. I love hearing from you & want to be helpful.

Dear 1L,

It’s normal to be nervous for your first oral argument. It’s a big unknown b/c you’ve never done it before. But that won’t matter if you’re the most prepared person in the argument room.

Here are 10 Tips to help you prepare.

1: Know your Case Cold.

Dear 1L, The 2L summer job search is right around the corner, and is very different today than when I went through it in the mid-1990s.

🔷 1L Summer Jobs

IN THE 1990s: There was little to no stress over finding a job for the summer after 1L because it didn’t really matter what job we did.

I wanted to live at the beach that summer, not in a hot city, so I:

This post is for those taking the February bar exam.
I had to take 3 different state bars over 15 years.
Every time, it was sheer hell. Mixed with panic.

The volume of material was prohibitive.
Unprecedented. Abnormal even.
And oh—so—painfully boring.

These days, it’s easy to get blue.

Another winter Sunday,

In the library, you will be.

School’s become a sole social outlet.

Your desk or bed-top where you dine.

It’s all work, no play.

I received this letter from the Pennsylvania Bar. It hit me kind of hard.

It’s not a bad thing or anything like that. But it’s a clear change in official status.

It is bittersweet, too, as I loved practicing law, and it will always be a big part of me.

Dear 1L,

The best interview advice I ever received was to ask the type of questions that my interviewer would enjoy answering.

Why does this work?

Many of you are writing summary judgment briefs under Rule 56 this spring. Yet in your fall Civ Pro class, you’re lucky if Rule 56 even came up. Worse still, you’ve never written a summary judgment brief before.

I thought a little primer on procedure, with some phrases you might use, would help.

Dear 1L, When you have to write -the kind of brief you’ve never written before, on a topic you’ve never written about before, in a court you’ve never practiced in before, please do not start without several good models.

Pull the briefs from the most applicable court cases you’ve found from your research.

Read models from legal writers who are better at writing and have more experience than you.

Dear 1L, I wish I had a magic potion. You all could take it and convert Bs, Cs & Ds into As this spring. But alas, I have only my words. So please listen:

If you want your spring grades to differ from those of the fall, YOU must do something different. It’s not enough to study “longer” or “harder” this semester. You need to study “smarter.”