I looked at them, and for the most part I think the suggestions are (1) repetitive of what your law schools are going to tell you to read (unnecessarily), (2) pretentious, (3) not grounded in the reality of what you’re getting yourself into by going to law school and becoming an attorney. Maybe I’m just deep into the book I’m writing (to be released this fall) to help you decide upon and act upon your legal career, and maybe reading “Getting to Maybe” (and being the author’s research assistant in law school) just scarred me for life, but I’d rather you spend your summer reading books that will motivate you to hustle, get you to start thinking about how business works, how people hire, to start networking with attorneys and colleagues immediately, and to start exploring different areas of law.
The 6Ps of the BIG 3 for Job Seeking JDs by Amanda Ellis (@aellislegal)- a guide with concrete tips for social networking and other ways of building connections, specifically for lawyers (which is who you have to start thinking like – a lawyer)
Make it Your Own Law Firm by Spencer Marc Aronfeld (@aronfeld) – this will get you thinking about yourself as an entrepreneur and will help you see through to the purpose of law school when you are mired in the Socratic Method
24 Hours with 24 Lawyers by Jasper Kim (@jasperkim) – if you don’t know what lawyers really do or what their lives are really like, this is a great place to start
On Wednesday I’ll be hosting a Blog Talk Radio Show with advice for getting hired as a rookie attorney. Whether you’re about to graduate from law school or you haven’t even started yet, I promise you insights from people responsible for hiring. They will be sharing their suggestions for maximizing your chances of finding a good job after graduation. Please tune in live – you’ll be able to chat questions and add to the discussion. Here is the link to “Advice for Getting Hired as a Rookie Attorney.” Spread the word!
I hear from a lot of idealistic people – idealism is good. I’m a card-carrying idealist myself. And if you’ve been reading my blog for any length of time, you know how I feel about disgruntled lawyers – (in a nutshell: they should’ve gone in with open eyes, done their research, and should now conduct themselves professionally and honorably). Two clients sent me a link to this video in the last 24 hours and I just have to share it with you. Why? Because it’s funny. And why is it funny? Because it is absolutely based in truth. Why is the truth important? It will make you think. And if you think, and if you do your research, then you will know that -should you choose to go to law school- you will have done it for the right reasons, even if they are on the idealistic side.
I wanted to share a random assortment of some great resources for those of you applying to law school:
Studying for the June LSAT? Here’s a great tool: a FREE LSAT proctor download, complete with distracting noises to prepare you for actual test conditions.
When trying to decide where to apply, there is no better resource than the ABA LSAC Official Guide to U.S. Law Schools. (Check out my cool video review and check the “helpful” box. Should I do more of these?)
New Law School Interactive podcast site with a few good downloads already posted, and a schedule of promising topics to take you through the summer.
And, I have a brand new Blog Talk Radio Show coming up on Tuesday (May 11th at 8 pm EST/5 pm PST) – Don’t miss it! The Topic is: Is Law School Worth the Sacrifice? I’ll be interviewing recent law school grads about their job prospects and whether it’s something they would do all over again, knowing what they know now. Listen live (and chat questions for me to ask our participants) or download it (or listen online) anytime afterward.
A very good starting point for this discussion should be read by ALL law school applicants. (Yes, even YOU.)
On the ABA blog, see this article about whether law school is worth the investment. And, as an added bonus you MUST read the comments. Usually I hate the comments to these articles because they are written by disgruntled, rude, unprofessional people. However, these comments are (for the most part) an extremely valuable part of the discussion.
Please take 5 minutes to read this. And then add a few schools to your list where you might be considered for scholarships and/or where you might be able to live on the cheap.
I look forward to your comments and feedback on this one!
First, tune in MONDAY at 1 p.m. EST/10 a.m. PST for 30-minute interview and Q&A about my law school admission guidebook. The interview is being conducted by the first prospective law school applicant to read the book and promises to touch upon crucial issues relating to law school personal statements, career prospects and more. We will take questions from callers, too!
Upcoming Shows:
On Monday, June 1st at 1 p.m. EST/10 a.m. PST I’ll be talking with a panel of LSAT tutors about “Last Minute Tips for LSAT Takers” in preparation for the June 8, 2009 LSAT administration. (45 minutes)
If you’re able to listen live, you’ll have the opportunity to ask questions. If you can’t, you’ll be able to hear the interview afterward. Please pass this information along to anyone whom you think might be interested!
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Ann K. Levine, Esq., former director of law school admissions for two ABA approved law schools, is a law school admission consultant and owner of Law School Expert,
