Student Life
What I Learned My First Semester of Law School
As the spring semester is about to begin, I find myself reflecting on my first semester of law school. Grades and class ranks have been posted. I have a pretty good sense of what worked for me last semester, as well as what I need to do to improve next semester. I know many 1L law students are in a…
First-generation Team Takes on Textbooks
A massive portion of time in law school is spent reading, and the material does not come cheap.The cost of textbooks can overwhelm any law student, but the high prices can be especially challenging for first-generation professional (FGP) students. First-Generation Professionals - a student…
My Top Five (Non-Law School) Study Spots
As a non-traditional student and soon-to-be first-generation attorney, transitioning to law school presented a host of new challenges. During the first semester of my 1L year, one of my biggest areas of growth involved “finding my lane.” Not only had I been working for a few years after undergrad,…
Living with The Bluebook: Three Essential Rules
As I discussed last year, while the Bluebook is, at its core, an Eldritch Abomination, there are certain tips and tricks we can use to turn the humble “Uniform System of Citation®” into something you can understand and appreciate. To build on that knowledge, I give you the Bluebook rules that…
Why Lawrence is the Best Place to Live While Going to Law School
While exploring law school options, you will hear a lot about the towns the law schools reside in. In fact, you have likely already heard some things about Lawrence, Kansas. You probably heard the cost of living is affordable, and the commute from Kansas City is doable. I want to fill you in on the…
Studying for Your First Law School Exam
Taking a law school exam is a daunting task, but the lead-up is perhaps even more stressful than the actual exam. Everyone studies differently, but over the years, I’ve learned a few tips that can help prepare you for your very first law school exam or any law school exam. I’ll be focusing on the…
Procrastinate Procrastinating, From a Procrastinator
Last week was Law Student Mental Health Awareness Week, and it got me thinking about my mental health and how I’ve managed the stress of law school over the last two years.A topic that came to mind as I was beginning the process of writing this blog post was procrastination. If you’re like me, you…
My Study Break: Finding Motivation in Movies
Since beginning law school, several of my professors have referenced or played clips of movies in class that somehow related to the material we were discussing. Law school isn’t always about getting cold-called! In Contracts, Professor Platt played a clip from The Paper Chase …
Graduate Profile: Blake Saffels, L’21
Blake Saffels, left, with his wife, Hillary, and their children.Following his first year of law school, Blake Saffels took a field placement with the Missouri State Public Defender’s office in Kansas City, Missouri. The experience put him on a path that will continue after his graduation from the…
Graduate Profile: Samantha Natera, L'21
Third-year law student Samantha Natera. Photo courtesy of Samantha Natera.Student dedicated to immigration, employment casesThird-year law student Samantha Natera dedicated her summers during law school to working on immigration and employment cases.Following her 1L year, Natera completed two…