Law Student

According to the National Law Journal, only about “55% of [recent] law grads found full-time legal employment” in the nine months following graduation.

To make yourself a more competitive candidate for employment, consider developing the qualities of successful law students: keep your GPA high, gain experience and network. There are plenty of resources, both online and in-school, to help you develop » FULL STORY

Types of Loans

There are several types of loans that law school students can apply for. Each loan offers its own benefits and downfalls. The loan that most often used is called the Federal Direct Stafford Loan. The loan has a set amount of $20,500, broken into both subsidized and unsubsidized parts.

Up to $8,500 of the loan is subsidized, meaning the student will pay no interest until six months after completing school. The loan is based on FAFSA, the program that the government uses to determine financial need.

Another type of loan that is used often by law students is the » FULL STORY

If you are preparing for law school, you may enjoy this video diary of Shawnee, a law student, talking about the challenges of law school and tips for new law students.

The videos are from a real law student who decided to make a video to help others who are considering law school or new to law school.

The video diary (Law School Diary #1) starts when she is about half way through law school:

» FULL STORY

A new law student recently asked me how much law school books and outlines will cost each semester. Law students may want to know this for budgeting their finances or for requesting the correct amount of student financial aid. » FULL STORY

I have a news flash: it is hard to land a job you really love. You will see plenty of reports in the news about the unemployment numbers, and about the fierce competition, especially among law school graduates, to get a job offer right out of law school, but I’m not talking about just any job. I’m talking about the job you’ll really love. Those are even harder to find.

Over the course of my career – both in helping students navigate law schools and in my current role in matching the brightest young professionals with some of the Twin Cities’ best firms and corporations – I’ve learned seven key points to succeeding in both launching and advancing your law career. » FULL STORY

One aspect of law school that I found most challenging was figuring out the recipe to success as a law student. Most other law students are focused on the same thing, which leads law students in many different directions.

Here are some of the best law school tips I have found: » FULL STORY

Should law students use LinkedIn?

Similar to the ways that law students can stay connected on Facebook, LinkedIn provides new attorneys opportunities to stay connected and expand their network as they meet other professionals.

For ideas particular to the legal profession, Lawyerist offers these great tips for law students who are wondering how to use LinkedIn: » FULL STORY

Those who are considering law school may have heard the recent conversation in the legal community about how there are too many law students, too few attorney jobs, and the pay is much lower than many law students expected.

Does that mean there are no dream jobs left? No.  Rather, there are just less of them.

The lesson for potential law students is this: go to law school if you believe you will enjoy » FULL STORY

You have probably heard about the difficulty law school graduates face in finding jobs today.

In this video, CNN’s Tony Harris speaks to a law school graduate struggling to find a full-time law job and repay her law school loans.

She earns $7.50 per hour at a coffee shop and $12 per hour part-time at a law firm.

Here is a humorous video raising some interesting questions about the motives for going to law school and the reality of the attorney job market today.

There’s no doubt that law school is a tough proposition for even the brightest of minds; but what’s even tougher is the real world. When you graduate, the legal practice is waiting » FULL STORY

The emergence of legal advice sites is one of the latest trends in the legal industry. For example, I offer Ask a Minnesota Lawyer. This article explains this new online service to the public and discusses how it may affect law students and attorneys.

The legal industry has seen a number of trends in recent years including a shift towards a paperless office, a move away from hourly billing towards more flat fee billing, and an increase in Internet advertising for legal services. For the past few years, a number of question and answer websites have arisen on the Internet including Yahoo Answers, Answers.com, etc.

Legal Advice Sites

Now similar sites are offering legal advice. For example, consider » FULL STORY

Is there such a thing as a happy law school student? Is it even possible to have happy and law school in the same sentence? Well, yes it is, especially when it comes to costs.

It’s clear that the decision’s already been made to attend law school and that those sleepless nights are bound to happen, but living frugally and being happy about it is doable for the next two to three years that one beats their head against their books. How? Consider it elementary.

Here is a list of law student do’s and dont’s for living frugally: » FULL STORY

Throughout life there are certain tests that are critical to your career path. These include the LSAT and bar exam for law students, the GMAC for business students, and the MCAT for medical students.

The outcome of these exams often determines whether you are eligible for a particular career track and able to get into the schools you want. The test score may have an impact on your finances worth hundreds of thousands of dollars over your life. So preparing for these exams is critical.

Here are a few tips that I have learned can be helpful for these monumental exams. Although these tips may be useful for small tests, the ideas suggested here may be overkill for small exam situations.

Test preparation starts months before the big exam. » FULL STORY

Most people, including lawyers, believe that law school is an excellent investment in yourself, regardless of whether you eventually practice law or use your legal education in another career. Of course, you must balance the cost (time and money) of law school with the benefits.

But the rising costs of law school tuition and the decreasing average salaries for attorneys are causing many to question » FULL STORY

This is a great video providing tips to those who are applying to law school. The video covers the importance of a “personal statement,” which is an essay attached to a law school application and why law schools require a personal statement.

I don’t recommend hiring a law school admissions consultant, but this admissions consultant does seem to have a good understanding of » FULL STORY

This video is purely for entertainment purposes, or perhaps, as a lesson in how NOT to treat a judge.

Most law students know they should never interrupt a judge. It should be even more obvious that you don’t interrupt by saying, “That’s your opinion.”

In defense of the law student, arguing with a judge is probably much more tempting in an entertainment forum like Judge Milian’s television studio in The People’s Court. Judge Marilyn Milian previously served as a Florida state circuit court judge.

Most law schools have opportunities for law students to work on actual legal matters. This “real legal work” may be through local nonprofit organizations, working with professors, or volunteering in pro bono legal agencies.

Here is one example of how a law student’s work made a difference.

» FULL STORY

What is law school like for a law student? The law students in this video describe their experiences.

Occasionally I try out new law firm software in hopes of finding one I actually like. Most law firm software is viewed as a necessary evil: old, cumbersome, and frustrating. This is a review of Easy Legal Billing.

What is Easy Legal Billing?

Easy Legal Billing is 100% web-based software that allows for usage on any internet-connected computer. Easy Legal Billing is a web-based legal invoicing platform that allows for » FULL STORY

Below is a review of Clio updated in November, 2012, followed by an old review from 2009. The 2009 Clio review has become obsolete due to substantial improvements since 2009.

2012 Clio Review

My first experience with Clio in 2009 led me to conclude that Clio was not ready for our firm, and I suspect that many other attorneys had similar conclusions. But that has changed.

I have used Clio for over a year and now consider Clio to be a fantastic option for small law firms and solo attorneys.

Five attorneys and a paralegal in our firm tested Clio in a comprehensive way for over a year. We have been exceedingly impressed by how robust it is and yet Clio remains simple to use.

In short, I think Clio is an outstanding option for small law firms or solo attorneys. Despite my earlier recommendation against Clio, I think Clio now has exactly what small law firms need to provide case management for their practice with all the important features and an efficient, simple, time-saving user interface that eliminates » FULL STORY

Leora Maccabee is one of many law school graduates preparing for the bar exam. She offers some good advice on finding balance in the chaos and stress leading up to the bar exam: Bar exam studies under way? Tips from someone in your shoes.

For blogs written by students preparing for the bar exam (or who previously took the bar), go here: Law Student Bar Exam Blogs.