The last thing you want to do is confuse a witness, fact, or document from one case with that of another.

So you really need a good organization system.

👉 Enter the 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝘁 & 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗼𝗻

but I can barely make 50K a year.

So is there cause for celebration?

As a solopreneur, I don’t know.

It is so hard, and it feels like a constant climb.

Some days you are on a really high high.
You think you are living the dream.

-You feel like you have to be perfect.
-You get scared to let your guard down.
-You strive not to let them see the tears, the struggle, the sweat.

That makes for a stressful existence, and it can really take a toll.

Over time, I developed a practice of keeping 3 folders in my office that really helped me feel less daunted and more in control.

If you did not get the grades you’d hoped for, there is nothing wrong with you, and you are not some sort of screw up.

—> What happened is you got screwed by the curve.

I do not fully understand why law schools grade this way, or why the curve at one law school can be so dramatically different from that at another.

So here goes. ⤵️

I’m fifty-five, female, and married to Matt for twenty-six years (he’s a lawyer, too). We live in a suburb of Philadelphia and have three daughters in their 20s, including one who is a 3L now.

I grew up in a suburb of NYC. My father was a lawyer and my mother, an English teacher. (Yes, I know; go figure.)

-those who get assigned to you; and
-those who notice & find you.

🔹 The first type isn’t too hard to find.

In fact, your school or firm may even give you one without your asking.

I’ve had many like that.

I’m starting tips for law students who’ll be in their first “lawyer” jobs at firms in 2025.

—As you may know, I was an associate at a top law firm for the first 10 years after law school.

—Then I took a job working as in-house counsel at The Hershey Company, where I spent 2-3 years before returning to BigLaw as a Counsel for 7 more years before “retiring” 😉 in 2016.

Perhaps you know the Vampire Weekend song?

Well, here’s why you should give a BIG f*ck:

⬇️

During my first year on LinkedIn, I posted a recommendation that you use the Oxford Comma—always—when writing in the legal context.

The results were unexpected—both good and bad.

Here’s a recap:

🔹 The OFFER (for those who missed)

As you may recall, my offer was to mail a signed copy of my ‘Dear 1L’ book to 3 incoming law students. I shared both on LinkedIn and in 2 Facebook (FB) groups:

(I’ve also got a FREE gift 🎁 offer for you,
so make sure to see the end of the post.)

First, here’s why the 900 number means so much to me:

—This is my first self-published and self-marketed book
—I've spent ZERO on advertising or outside marketing support
—No law professor has assigned the book to their class yet

They carried me through the hardest parts of the process, and I am forever grateful.

N.B. There are many others who I have or will thank separately, but the below all post regularly on LinkedIn and merit your follow.

🔹 John Espirian— follow for all things LinkedIn & personal branding

🔹 Jordana Confino— follow for an unending source of positivity;

Unfortunately, most 1Ls do it the wrong way.

They:

—read the question,
—try to figure out the answer, and
—write an essay to justify that answer.

Instead, the better way is to do this:

Dear 1L,

I thought of you as I woke today.
A still-dark scene on my window bay.
Forever it took for the sun to arise,
And away it did go then, long before 5.
So while, on exams, you’ve a one-track eye,
Please do this ONE thing for me.
Here is the why:

❤️‍🩹 Up to 40% of you will graduate with mental health problems.

🔹 The very first weekend at the new firm, there was a mandatory, 3-day, all-attorney retreat at some resort that was 3-4 hours away from home.

I was still nursing.

—My heart was still beating as one with my new baby.

—on an empty campus,
—away from family,
—eating dining hall food.

But for many, that’s the plan.

—Home is hours away.
—Exams are not far away.
—There are only so many hours in a day.

And so, students stay.