I became a lawyer because I hate math.
TAXES . . . I loathe you!
The end.
mom's law blog
Managing motherhood and life after law school, one day at a time
Tag Archives: Tangent
Tuesday’s Tangent (a day late)
Cover letters . . . where do I begin?! I have a love-hate relationship with these.
I saw a quick video on Business Insider that quoted a statistic that about 50% of employers actually read the cover letter. But, because you don’t know what half of those employers you are applying with, it is better to be safe then sorry. So, basically, always provide a cover letter with your resume and application unless it is specifically stated NOT to provide one.
Being on a hiring panel, I read a large amount of cover letters. The problem is I read a large amount in quick succession. So, when one “stands out” to me it is only because it stands apart from the other 19 I am reading within that same 2 to 3 hour period. And I guess that is the point, right? To stand apart from the rest?
But here is my predicament: I am applying for a job that doesn’t actually exist yet, that isn’t being advertised, and that I was asked to apply for by a partner of the firm. I was explicitly asked to provide a cover letter to supplement the resume they had previously requested. So . . . how do I make myself stand out against the competition when there is no competition?
Ahhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!! I feel like this is a HUGE test and I am just not sure how to complete it.
Tuesday’s Tangent
SIX MONTHS! I have been silent for six months on this blog?! I guess that is a little bit better than my nine month hiatus I took a while back! While I had excuses for that nine-month silence, I have no excuses other than:
- life
- a husband
- a three year old
- work
- home
- family
- medical issues
- mentoring
- being involved in bar association functions
- constant exhaustion
You know, the usual.
But I am here now! And I am glad you are too! I have a plan laid out for 2017 to be more present on this blog. I feel like I have so much to say, but getting the time to put it all down is the hard part. I am dedicating time each week to just being present on this blog. I have enjoyed looking through my previous posts and hope you enjoy what’s to come.
Tuesday’s Tangent
“Probably not.” This is my response to the persistent question I have been asked now a trillion times. “Can I get free legal advice from you now?”
First, I am not being rude. I simply just can’t give every person I know free “legal advice.” Building a book of business should be treated just as such, a business. While there are the occasional free consultations to get the ball rolling on a new business relationship I can’t just sit down with every acquaintance who asks. Plus, any firm I work for will probably want my acquiantance as a client not just a free consultation.
Second, I just don’t know the answer. Apparently the outside world believes law students leave law school knowing everything there is to know about every area of law. Sorry folks, that’s just not the case. We leave knowing how to read a case, synthesize information, and think critically. We do not know about every area that concerns the law. If we did, don’t you think we’d need a little more schooling?
Lastly, although I can give any person the low down on most issues of criminal prosecution in my own state, I won’t. As every law student knows the answer is “it depends” because each fact situation is different. So when an acquaintance comes calling for a recent arrest on an alleged crime I will point them to the directory of lawyers who will be willing to take their case…for a fee.
Tuesday’s Tangent
I love accomplishments. I love having that satisfying feeling that I have achieved something. I love having that sense of fulfillment when I complete something. But I am not a bragger. When I achieved good grades (although some may say they were GREAT grades) I didn’t go running my mouth about them. I told my husband and left it at that. I even got a little embarrassed a few times when he passed along the information about my good grades to his parents.
So why in the hell does it bother me when other people brag about what they have accomplished?! Especially on social media?! I know some feel that it’s not “real” until you post it on Facebook. But I just can’t get beyond the fact that it bothers me so much. Of course I am proud of each of my friends who achieve good grades, win a case as a Rule 38 student, just got a call back for a possible job. I would love to hear all about it. I think what annoys me most is 1) the posting on Facebook of that accomplishment and 2) that fact that I didn’t need validation from anyone else so why would they?
I am sure it’s just me and my own inner-struggle with something? Maybe self-doubt? Maybe envy? Maybe jealousy? Maybe the thought that people don’t think I am intelligent since none of my academic achievements are posted on Facebook? I am not sure. Maybe it’s a sign that I need to delete my Facebook and not be so put off about others need to brag.
This post brought to you by the increasing number of graduation photos filling up my Facebook News Feed.
Tuesday’s Tangent
Things that distract me while studying at school:
The smell of old Chipotle in the study rooms.
People peeking into my study room every five minutes looking for an empty one.
When one tube light bulb is out.
Overflowing recycle bins.
The sound of women’s clicking high-heels down the hallway.
Half erased dry erase boards.
Noisy doors.
The missing stapler from the copy room.
I think I may try to start studying from home. Although Little Bit may be a bigger distraction than all of these combined!
Tuesday’s Tangent
During this last semester of law school I have learned that I am a productive procrastinator. I’ll have bunch of chapters throughout a stack of books to read before the weekend ends and I will come up with a list a mile long of things that ABSOLUTELY need to get done before I start in on that homework.
This weekend that list included:
- Sorting through the lone sock pile to find the matches.
- Ridding Little Bit’s closet of clothes that no longer fit her.
- That resulted in me funneling more clothes into her closet that she can grow into.
- Reminiscing about the time when Little Bit was able to fit in those smaller clothes.
- Cleaning every single piece of bedding in my home.
- Wiping down all of the kitchen cabinets.
- Wiping down all of Little Bit’s toys.
- Doing 6 loads of laundry . . . which resulted in me having to hang and fold 6 loads of laundry.
On a happy note, my house is always fresh and clean come Monday morning. Ready for the neglect it will suffer the rest of the week.
Tuesday’s Tangent
Texting while in class. In law school. TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE! First, you are depriving yourself of a valuable education that you are spending tens of thousands of dollars on. Second, you are being totally disrespectful. Not only are you being disrespectful to the professor who is providing a lecture they have spent time preparing for you to learn from, you are being disrespectful to your classmates who you are distracting from the lecture. You essentially are stealing their learning opportunity.
Tuesday’s Tangent
Frazzled:
fraz·zle
informal
verb
adjective: frazzled; past participle: frazzled; past tense: frazzled
-
cause to feel completely exhausted; wear out.
I never thought I would use this word to describe myself. I have always prided myself on being organized, timely, and efficient. None of those words describe me these days. MPRE, last day of law school, finals, bar prep and then the bar are all approaching at a pace I am not able to keep up with.
Tuesday’s Tangent
One thing I dread hearing from anyone’s mouth is “what are you going to do when you graduate?” UGH! I don’t know! This late in the game you would think I had an idea, right?!
Atleast I know what I don’t want to do; oh yeah, narrowing down my options. I want to stay away from criminal law and family law. I am too disillusioned to prosecute and too scared to defend criminals. I also don’t have the sympathy necessary to work in family law. So, with that in mind, I took a look at this list and realized I better keep on choppin’ down my list of “want not’s” to make my list of “wants.”
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