Just Sat For The Bar Exam? Here is What You Should & Should Not Do While You Wait

With the bar exam now over many who sat for the bar are considering what to do.  We hope that you will celebrate this weekend and we wanted to provide you with some things to do and consider over the next few months.  It seems like ages ago (even though it was just two years) that I sat for the bar so I asked a more recent bar exam taker to write a guest post suggesting what you should do. He has some great ideas so take a look.  The guest post was written by Salaam Bhatti.  Salaam does in house counsel work for a rapidly growing rehabilitation and pain management practice.  You can check out his blog at: www.lawgspot.blogspot.com or follow him on Twitter @salawm.  Here is Salaam's guest post.

Welcome Back to Reality

The Bar Exam is over. What do you plan to do now?  For many, the Bar Exam was the edge of the world; after it ended, who knew what lay ahead?  After I completed the bar exam last year, my wife and I went straight to the mountains and camped for a week.  One of the bonfires was fueled by the hard copy of my bar exam notes (rest assured, the digital copy remains safe).  Fortunately, I was out of cell phone reception so I did not have to field any calls about “How do you think you did?” or “What did you answer for essay 4?” or even people saying the dreaded F word “I’m sure you did fine.”

I did something that many students do after taking a bar exam: go away. In times past when the economy was booming and lots of students had jobs in the bag before the bar exam, one could hear about students trekking across Europe for a few weeks. Times are economically tough for many, and the bar exam has not eased in any way, shape, or form.  So the vacation is still necessary.  If you are hanging around home (which probably has some evil bar study memories associated with it), then take a few days off to just go somewhere.  Go alone, go with a friend, go with a significant other.  Learn to fish, find a lovely sunrise, drive for six hours in one direction and see what you find, do something that has nothing to do with the law.  Just be mindful of not breaking the law.

 

Here are some things not to do:

1. Do not think about whether you passed or failed. I know, everybody is telling you that.  Let me tell you why: For the most part, everybody thinks they failed. I thought I failed.  A lot of people also felt they performed strongly in certain parts of the bar exam.  And why not? You studied for about two months, of course you know certain things that are on the exam.
2. Do not talk about the exam.  It is the same thing as crying over spilled milk.  Do you cry over spilled milk? No, right? Then stop talking about your answers.  This also means to stop looking at your bar study notes to see if you had all the elements in there for the property essay.
3. Do not sit on your bum all day.  Go exercise. Exercising will help you build a strong, positive attitude, which will show itself at interviews and networking functions.  You don’t have to join a gym.  You can run in your neighborhood or do calisthenics, yoga, aerobics, etc in your own home.  Besides, you probably have some bar study food to burn off. 
4. Do not talk about the exam on your social networks anymore.
5. Stay away from websites that have depressing news. 

Here are some things to do:

1. Go watch the new Batman film.  It’s an epic journey of a man who has to go from the bottom to the top.  And yes, it is perfectly okay to liken yourself to Bruce Wayne and call Bane the “Bar Exam”.
2. Look for jobs.  Network.  All that good stuff.  Go easy on the Craigslist search. Those jobs are hard to come by because everybody is applying for them.  When people say “Go ask everybody you know about a job.” They mean that literally. Go to career services first.  Become a familiar, friendly face and they will want to help you out.
3. Not finding a job? Then create a job.  Incorporate your own small business.  This will help you make a little bit of money as well as draft legal documents, which will help your brain from going into atrophy.  Create a business to help people learn how to use social media, start a bakery, develop a personal website, etc.
4. Go to a temp agency.  There is no shame in this.  SallieMae is probably chasing you, you need to pay rent, you have bills.  If you jump into temp work, you will find yourself in an entirely different network.  Take this opportunity to spread your name.  You never know when you just might start moving up the ranks at the temp job and have something great come from it.
5. If the market is tight in your area, then move.  A very rich doctor told me that wealth is for those who are not rooted.  The doctor immigrated here with only two suitcases, worked hard, and moved from place to place.  Now he has a massive house, great job, and a wonderful family.  In the words of Ms. Frizzle, “Take chances, make mistakes, get messy.”
6. Read some non-legal books.  Find joy in pleasure reading once again.  I have read many books since my bar exam and am absolutely taken by Sherlock Holmes. 
7. Conserve your most valued resources: time and money.  Stay away from Amazon Prime, Netflix, unnecessary subscriptions. Redbox is a great and cheap movie rental substitute.  Do you need a pricey cell phone plan? Do you require impulse buys from deal-of-the-day websites? You’re nearly a lawyer, analyze things in a beneficial way.
8. Be as productive as possible.  If, in a few months, you find you failed the bar exam, then you will have created enough distance from it so that the shock does not hurt too much.  Who knows, maybe you will have found a new niche where bar admission simply doesn’t matter.  But if you want to tackle the exam again or even want to do another one elsewhere, buckle down and get to it. Whatever the case, keep moving ahead.  And if you keep these items in mind, ahead is where you will end up. 

You can find out more about Salaam by checking out his blog at: lawgspot.blogsopt.com or you can follow him on Twitter @salawm

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The Law School Lowdown - Join LexisNexis and Law School Success Tips For A Free Webcast on What To Expect In Law School

Are you starting law school in the fall or have you thought about going to law school? Please join us on Tuesday July 10^th at 7PM EST for a Webcast on what you can expect when you go to law school.  We have partnered with LexisNexis and you can register for the FREE Webcast if you click here.  As a teaser, here are 6 of the greatest law school myths.  We will add 6 more during the Webcast as well as go over first year courses, the Socratic method of teaching, how you will be graded and how to do well in law school.  You will also have an opportunity to ask questions.  Here are the top 6 law school myths exposed and the reasons they are myths. 

#	Law School Myth	Why Is It A Myth
1	Your first year of law school is similar to your first year of college	The two are like day and night and for many law school is considerably more work.  Two key differences are the amount you must prepare for each and every law school class and the Socratic method (described below) of teaching.  Also, be prepared for one exam to determine your entire grade in law school.
2	You will not find a job after law school	Most people do find jobs in law related fields but at times it takes longer than you may think.
3	A law degree is as good as a money printing press	Not!  Some lawyers make lots of money and some do not.  If you are going into this profession for the money you should rethink why you are becoming a lawyer.
4	You will fail out of law school	Law schools grade on a curve relative to other students and typically the lowest mark that a student who does the work will receive is a C. There are of course exceptions and some schools apply grading systems similar to college.
5	You have to be an excellent public speaker to do well in law school and become a lawyer	This is absolutely not the case.  In order to be an effective lawyer and law student, you must write well but public speaking is not a requirement.  I have found that most people that get the highest grade in law school classes are the people you do not hear a word from all semester.  Also, contrary to what many think, most lawyers never see the inside of a courtroom.
6	You can make up for bad grades in your first year in your second and third year.	Although this is number 6 on the list it is the Number 1 myth of law school.  Your future as a lawyer is often based almost exclusively on your grades in first year. Make the first year count.

  

 To sign up for the free Webcast click here.

A Great Book For Law Students or Lawyers Looking For A Job: How To Get A Legal Job: A Guide for New Attorneys and Law School Students

In this tough economy recent law school graduates need a way to stand out and have to take advantage of every opportunity they can get.  Moreover, the age where “mistakes” were overlooked by employers has disappeared and inadvertent errors, a minor faux pas or a poorly constructed job search strategy can cost you the job of your dreams.  Even jobs with low compensation and benefits are competitive.  Recently, a Boston law firm received 50 resumes for a job that paid $10,000 per year.  (For those of you not familiar with Boston, the city has a cost of living similar to New York) 

To make sure you are doing every thing you can to ensure your chances of success you should pick up Shauna C. Bryce’s book How To Get A Legal Job: A Guide for New Attorneys and Law School Students.  I recently had the opportunity to review the book and it is a great tool for any lawyer or law student looking for a legal job. 

How to Get A Legal Jobprovides a comprehensive job search strategy and describes the processes and strategies starting right from the on campus law firm recruiting events in law school.  The book also covers lateral transfers and recruiting strategies for jobs outside of a law firm.  What struck me about the description of the on campus recruitment process in law schools was how much it mirrored my own experience.  Ms. Bryce certainly has hit the nail on the head and has captured this experience perfectly.  In terms of content, the guide covers a number of different areas including, establishing your career goals, how to find a legal job, benefits & things you should look out for when using a recruiter, how to research an employer, how to make an effective legal resume & cover letter, how to effectively interview and how to handle offers.

There are a number of reasons this guide stands out and why I highly recommend it.  Here are a few of the reasons.

How to Get A Legal Job Is Different From Other Generic Job Search Guides

I have seen many job search guides on the market but I have not come across many that focus specifically on the legal market.  When I started law school I had worked for over 10 years in an investment bank and thought I was a job search expert.  I was shocked to find out though that when it came to hiring the legal community did things differently. For example, when I went to see a career counselor at my school with my resume in hand thinking that it was already perfect, the counselor provided me with excellent suggestions that improved it and made my resume consistent with a legal resume.  The resume did not resemble my old resume at all and I learned the important lesson of how important it is to understand the specific market & conform your materials and strategy to the way people expect to see things.   A generic resume, cover letter or job search guide cannot do this. How to Get A Legal Jobdoes not just generically talk about topics like how to make an effective resume or cover letter but instead focuses in on how a lawyer or law student can pull together effective material and an effective strategy. 

The Book Contains A Number of Practical Lessons and Words of Wisdom

In every chapter, How to Find A Legal Job contains separately highlighted “lessons” or “words of wisdom” that are practical pieces of advice that you do not see in most guides.  The book labels these as “sidebars” and the key thing here is that these quotations and anecdotes are from real attorneys and hiring professionals.  I found these sidebars particularly helpful and they are things that often job searchers only find out after they have missed many great opportunities.

The Book Is Written By Someone Who Knows What She is Talking About

The key to good writing and engaging your audience is to write about something you know.  Ms. Bryce practiced law in a large top international law firm in New York, worked in a regional law firm, and also worked as in house counsel.  During that time, she reviewed resumes, conducted interviews, worked on a firm’s hiring committee, and mentored junior and mid-level associates.  She then brought her experience to job hunters becoming a professional legal resume writer and career advisor.  Moreover, Ms. Bryce graduated from Harvard Law School and successfully navigated her way through the on campus recruitment process there.  All of this experience shines through in her book and I really felt like I was reading the advice of an expert when I read it.

The price is $24.99 for paperback and $14.99 for Kindle and can be purchased on Amazon.  It is a great investment and you will be glad you purchased her book.  You can also visit Ms. Bryce’s website at http://brycelegal.com/or see her featured in this The Student Appeal article: Click Here 

You can buy How To Get A Legal Job on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0692015299 

10 Things to Remember About Your Summer Employment at A Big Law Firm

Just about to start your summer at a big law firm?  A full-time job at a large law firm is not for everyone but a summer at one is highly recommended.  Even if you do not have any interest in practicing at a large firm after the summer, a summer at one is a great experience and you will be paid around $35,000 for the summer.  You should be careful though, because many who have summered at large corporate firms and swore that it was just for the summer, often must have drank the Kool-Aid and went back after graduation.  If you have decided to work for a firm during the summer here are a few things to consider.

1. You will likely get a job offer but do not take it for granted.  Most large firms extend offers to 100% of the summer class but the poor economy has changed this.  While you will likely get an offer you should not assume that you will get one and act accordingly. This does not mean that you should stress out and worry.  Just do a good job and you should be fine.
2. Do not get drunk at firm events. This sounds obvious but many students drink and act silly at firm functions.  There is a summer associate legend that worked at a firm one summer and she jumped into the Hudson River while on a boat cruise.  Even though this happened years ago, people still talk about it.  Do not let this be you.
3. Bring a pen and paper to every meeting.  You would be shocked at how many people do not do this and it looks really bad.
4. Do a bit of research about an assignment before you meet with the lawyer. Generally the staffing person will at least tell you the company name and you can Google the company and perhaps bring a print out of some documents to your first meeting to show you took initiative.  During my summer, I printed out one Internet article about a company prior to meeting with the lawyer and she noted this as a very positive element on my review.  As a summer associate it does not take much to please.
5. Communicate with lawyers and tell them when you have too much on your plate.  While the law firm wants you to enjoy yourself, they also want you to do work.  You are ALWAYS better served though communicating that you have too much on your plate rather than just accepting work and either not finishing it or not finishing it well.  If you communicate that you are too busy and explain why, the worst thing that will happen is that they will find someone else.  Remember that every lawyer you work with thinks that you are only doing work for them so do not assume they know about your other assignments. 
6. You will quickly see that you will be wined and dined during your summer.  This does not mean though that you have encountered a bonanza.  Do not order the most expensive things on the menu or alcohol during your lunches.  Order as if you or your parents were paying for the meal.  I remember one summer associate that ordered around 7 diet cokes during lunch (at $4) each and lawyers commented to me how they thought that was inappropriate.
7. Check in regularly with lawyers regarding the status of the assignments you are given.  The lawyers you are working with will greatly appreciate if you regularly update them with status of the assignments they have given you.  Do not let them think that the work they have given you has fallen into an abyss and a simple call or email will go a long way.  Also, let the lawyer make the decision if you stay late. I would often ask a lawyer when they needed the work product and offered to “stay late” if he/she needed it. Nine times out of ten they would indicate that sometime in the future was fine and that staying late was not necessary.
8. Let your secretary know where you are if you leave. There is nothing worse than people looking for you and no one can tell a partner or senior lawyer where you are. 
9. Treat your secretary with respect.  They have lots of power in firms and can make your life miserable if you treat them badly.  Moreover a good working relationship with someone that you will see every day just makes sense.
10. Enjoy your summer!  The summer perks are amazing and you should make sure that you are enjoying the lunches, the theatre, the scavenger hunts, the bowling, the concerts, the parties and more.

Two more closing points!

Avoid “Cold Offers.”  You can read what I think about cold offers here.

Also check out great summer job tips at The Girls Guide To Law School.

Good luck!

10 Things You Should Be Doing if You Are Sitting for the Bar Exam in July?

Congratulations to all of you who have completed law school!  As many of you are preparing for graduation you may also be thinking about the pending bar examination.  Here are 10 things you should consider and do to ensure success.

1. Sign up for a bar preparation course like Barbri.  There are many good bar preparation courses but I can attest that Barbri is fantastic.  While self study may work for the LSAT or other exams, the bar exam is different.  Invest the money and take a prep course.
2. Attend the Twitter Chat hosted by The Student Appeal Journal.  The Twitter chat will occur on Thursday May 24th, 8PM EST.   Get details here!
3. Relax and do not study until after graduation. I did not pick up a book until May 27th and given you will intensely study for the next 2 months virtually every day, you should relax so that you are energized.
4. Follow your study plan. Barbri and other organizations will give you a study plan that outlines exactly what you are supposed to accomplish each day.  Do not fall behind as you will have more and more added on to your schedule each day. 
5. The bar exam is a marathon and not a sprint and you cannot cram for it.  There is just too much material that you have to learn.
6. Understand the big picture and understand exactly what the exam is made up of.  The bar is made up of various pieces and you have to understand the composition of the exam so that you can allocate time accordingly.
7. The key to success is on the bar exam is doing as many practice questions as you can.   The Bar preparation organization should give you more practice multiple choice and essay questions than you could ever do. All you have to do to guarantee success is complete the questions.
8. Make sure you do the practice questions under timed conditions. Time management is a key to success and you may as well get used to the time restrictions.  See my post on time management and do not borrow time from exam questions.
9. Do not stress yourself out as you will likely pass. See my blog post that shows there is almost a 90% chance you will pass on your first attempt.
10. Take study breaks during the process.  You should try to take a day off every few weeks.  You will find the schedule extremely hectic but a day here and there will help you energize.

Best of Luck!

New York’s New Pro Bono Requirement – What Is All The Fuss About?

Generally speaking, in order to become a lawyer in New York you must get a law degree (3 years), pass the bar exam, pass a professional responsibility exam and pass a character assessment test.  Going forward the 10,000 or so prospective lawyers who meet all of these requirements will also be required to perform 50 hours of pro bono legal services before they can become lawyers.

This has caused a stir among some who say that this is among other things “indentured servitude.”  Another wrote, “I feel really bad for law students that graduate these days. And having brand new attorneys forced to be the ones to handle most pro bono smells like bad policy considering they have little to no experience and will invariably do a bad job of it.”

I am not sure what all of the fuss is about and I think a mandatory pro bono requirement is a fantastic idea!  A few points on this topic.

First, 50 hours is the amount of time you will spend during your first week of employment.  We are talking one week of work spread out over your law school career and the year after it.  The requirement is certainly not locking you into some long drawn out act of service.  It is 50 hours not 50 weeks or years.  In many countries, you must article (practical training) for next to no money before becoming a lawyer and this requirement is often 2 years.  Come on it is 50 hours helping those who need the help. 

Second, the requirement will not impact the majority of students as they already fulfill the requirement in law school.  I went to a law school (Harvard) that has a 50 hour pro bono requirement in order to graduate and this policy is not uncommon in law schools.  At the end of the year, Harvard published the actual average number of hours per student and it far exceeded the 50 hours.  Moreover, the requirement can often be met by clinical work performed or any volunteer work done while in school. 

Third, the more practical experience that one gets while in law school the better.  In some cases, fulfilling this requirement will be done by meeting with clients, drafting legal documents and perhaps even arguing cases before administrative tribunals. I met my pro bono requirement by working in an immigration asylum & employment law clinic and I was able to do all of the items listed above.

Finally, what is wrong with giving lawyers a taste of what it is like to give back to the community?  Also, as lawyer help others for free, isn’t there another benefit where the at times negative view of lawyers can be reversed?  This idea of giving back is already emphasized and encouraged in our professional responsibility requirements so why not formalize this a bit for new lawyers. As discussed above, this will not have an impact on most but will give those who would never have considered pro bono work an opportunity to see what helping someone else out without getting paid feels like.

As far as I am concerned, it is just another requirement to become a lawyer the same way that sitting for the MPRE, getting a character assessment or taking certain courses are requirements.  Not sure why anyone would be against this.  I would be interested to hear your thoughts.

WVHCA Issues Policy Statement for Public Witnesses

On April 11, 2012, the West Virginia Health Care Authority announced a new policy regarding the testimony for witnesses from the public before the Authority at certificate of need and rate hearings. The policy statement issued by James L. Pitrolo, Jr. Chairman, is effective from April 11, 2012 and states as follows:

I. PURPOSE
To establish procedures and guidelines governing the testimony for witnesses
from the public.

II. CANCELLATION
This policy cancels and supersedes all prior memoranda regarding testimony for
witnesses from the public.
 
III. POLICY
In order to ensure an orderly public hearing, all witnesses from the public
shall register in person during the first day of the hearing. If a witness fails to
register during the first day of the hearing, the witness will not be allowed to
testify during the hearing. If multiple witnesses are present on behalf of one
party, the group can elect up to three representatives. The representative's
comments will be limited to five minutes each up to a maximum of 15 minutes.
Individual comments will be limited to five minutes each. Further, a witness in the
hearing that has provided testimony shall not testify as a witness from the public
in the same hearing.