1️⃣ Remember #Dear1L?

Yeah, that was the hashtag I started and grew to 2,810 followers.

—I started #DearLegalWriter, too. That one I grew to 1,722 followers.

Then LinkedIn said ❌ to hashtags.*

👉 Lesson: Be careful building on rented land.

Three years ago, I started a pinboard to help me stay motivated.

It hangs on the wall next to where I write.

On it, I’ve collected 10 mottos.

1: Don’t compare yourself to other people. You do YOU.
2: People think about you FAR less than you believe.

I’ve been in your position 3 times:

Every time, it was sheer hell.

The volume of material was prohibitive.
Unprecedented.
Abnormal, even.

And ohhhh, soooo painfully boring. 🥱

But yesterday, this happened: [see photo]

I truly am both humbled and honored.

I have always looked up to Ross and been in such reverence of his life work.

—Ross’s book, Point Made, is nothing short of extraordinary. I learn something new from it every time I read.

It was Sept 2021–

very much still in the pandemic.

My initial posts were titled, “1L TIP TODAY,” and while they did not do too well, they started me on a weekly posting schedule.

Gradually, more and more 1Ls caught on.

A most unexpected eventuality:

My book’s just hit #1 in the “Law” category!

Now, I’m not so naive.
Nothing’s guaranteed,
The rank is just for one day.

My book came out on Amazon, but I’m panicked that no one will focus on it,

—> which will cause Amazon to bury it in their search results.

I’m just me here.
—I have no publisher or big team,
—I fear that I’m running out of steam.

But I REALLY believe the book will help so many new law students.

I can’t stop thinking about this statistic:

▪️ Studies say 95% of 1Ls predict they’ll make the top half of their class.

While I love the optimism, unfortunately, the math doesn’t add: it’s statistically impossible.

Fortunately, though, there is a statistic you CAN control:

You also aren’t sure what to say.

Here are some things to avoid and some guidelines on what to say:

🔴 PHRASES THAT HAVE LANDED FLAT:

🔻 “I ‘noticed’ that you practice __ law.”

Kindle: https://lnkd.in/gecBqjGd

Paperback: https://lnkd.in/gJHmkWKs

Both versions will “publish” in 4 DAYS:

👉 Tues, June 25, 2024

Order TODAY to lock in promotion-week pricing!

It’s a premier law-school admissions consulting firm, and it’s got a popular podcast that’s chock full of helpful tips for pre-law students.

I was thus SO honored when asked to join Spivey pre-L coach Jordana Confino on the podcast.

When I started, I didn’t even know how to “tag” someone. In fact, I didn’t even know it was called a “tag.”

I recall asking someone (who seemed non judgmental):

— “How do you make it so a person’s name lights up in blue bold so they get a notification that I mentioned them?”

I’m spending the weekend in a final push on the book:

going through the last round of comments from the final proofreader.

A surreal feeling suddenly came over me on this early June morning, and I thought I’d share.

Yet no one wants to start working at a firm only to find out it’s a culture mismatch.

You really need to do some detective work first.

Here are 6 markers of firm culture to look for & some ideas for how you might go about uncovering them:

I had just returned to my desk after an early orientation meeting and was on the way to the loo, when my phone rang.

“Could you stop by as soon as possible?”

It was a partner. I’ll call him MB.
I was genuinely excited.