But it’s no picnic for legal reading, either.

So strip some weight from everyone’s load. Try these 6 sentence shorteners:

🥵 TOO HEAVY 🥵 --> 🎈LIGHT 🎈

1: Despite the fact that —> Even though

2: In order to —> To

Thank you so much to Robert & Lindsey for hosting me.

💌 Amanda

Dear 1L,

When you get tired from reading—and you will this year—you’ll want to have some go-to podcasts to turn to.

-That way, you can keep learning even when your eyes simply cannot read another word.

You need a plan.

Sleep must be a key component.

Start a non-negotiable, full-night-of-sleep schedule, and start it now. You’ll likely need to practice & get acclimated so you can hit the ground running on 1L Day 1.

It’s official trademark status for Dear 1L!

I don’t quite know yet where I’m taking any of this, but it makes me feel proud to be building something that’s helping so many people.

Your support has meant the world to me. Thank you. Writing to you has brought me great joy.

But no law student wants to have to work at a firm only to find out it’s a 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 received a comment on my recent “5 Hacks” post from someone I don’t know. She seemed quite exasperated by it all:

“Writing great fiction is the antithesis of documenting complex transactions. . . . How can I restore the creative skill I possessed prior to becoming a legal writer?”

Today I aim to help lawyers & law students network on LinkedIn.

🟢 BONUS for law-related content creators & others who post: 
  —>  Drop a link to one of your recent posts. I will reciprocate by engaging with it, and I bet others will, too!

🔵 LAW STUDENTS:  I know that LinkedIn can seem scary sometimes. I still find that today.

Use these 5 hacks to make your brief fit the page limit—without cutting substance.

🔷 1: Convert sentences to active voice.

“The boy hit the ball.” (Active)

—is shorter than—

It started with a cold DM on LinkedIn.

And that DM started unremarkably:
It was a pre-law college student seeking experience in the legal world who wanted to know if I was aware of any internship openings or had any ideas, advice, etc.

Standard fare.

What’s the most important comma for clear legal writing? It’s beyond dispute. Follow this Rule:

Two

Independent

Clauses

Take

A

Dear Rising 2L,

Until now, you likely have not experienced many, if any, formal job interviews with BigLaw lawyers. Here’s what to expect and 5 suggestions to help prepare.

IN ADVANCE

When I review your writing, one of the first things I do is reword almost all sentences that start, “However, . . .”

“But starting sentences that way is grammatically correct,” you might protest.

And you’d be right. Even so, I suggest you limit your use of this sentence-starter.

Dear Rising 2L: If you use your 1L memo or brief as a writing sample for job applications, you have some work to do. Here are 7 key steps:

1️⃣ Incorporate the final corrections and edits from your TA & professor.

Dear Rising 2L: It’s best to include a short, concise cover memo with the writing sample you send to prospective employers.

Why? Because it’s a golden opportunity to set the stage and to start “making friends” with your Reader.