Beyond the Books

Navigating Law School as a Person of Color

Christy Harris, 2L

Congratulations! You did great in undergrad, scored well on the LSAT and made it into law school. Despite all of your achievements, being a person of color in a predominantly white institution (and field) can have you questioning your place in the midst of it. From the micro aggressions, feeling unseen, unheard and is some cases, blatant racism, law school can be difficult to navigate. As a person of color, here are nine tips to help maintain a strong mental and emotional dynamic, while earning your JD:

1. Diverse Desks, Diverse Minds:

Law school can be a bit like a courtroom drama from the ’90s – traditional and lacking diversity. But guess what? Your unique background is an asset. Embrace it. Share your experiences and challenge perspectives. Your view is of value!

2. Participate in Affinity Groups:

Build your tribe. Join affinity groups, connect with students who share your background, and create a supportive community. Having a crew that understands your journey is priceless.

3. Be Your Own Advocate:

It’s not just about defending cases; it’s about defending your space. If you encounter bias or stereotyping, speak up. Be your own advocate, and let your voice be heard. Your perspective matters, and it deserves respect.

4. Mentorship Matters:

Seek out mentors who’ve walked a similar path. Their guidance can be a beacon of wisdom in the sometimes-murky waters of law school. Learn from their experiences and let them be your legal compass.

5. Network, Network, Network:

Networking will be the MOST IMPORTANT thing you do, while in law school and beyond. Attend events, connect with alumni, and build a network that extends beyond the walls of your law school. Your connections can open doors and create opportunities.

6. Balance is the Verdict:

Yes, law school is demanding, but don’t forget to balance the scales. Take breaks, indulge in hobbies and STAY CONNECTED TO WHO YOU ARE. It’s not just about doing well on exams; it’s about maintaining a healthy and holistic approach to your legal journey.

7. Rise Above Stereotypes:

Stereotypes may try to shadow your brilliance, but it’s YOUR excellence that got you into law school…REMEMBER THAT! YOU BELONG! Let your accomplishments be the counter-narrative. Show the world that brilliance knows no color, and the legal arena is richer for it.

8. Celebrate Your Wins:

From acing that tough exam to surviving your first moot court, celebrate your wins. Every triumph, big or small, is a step toward breaking down barriers and paving the way for future trailblazers. Even if your grades aren’t where you desire them to be, focus on being KNOWLEDGABLE, COMPETENT and EFFICIENT. That is what your clients will appreciate. They will not care about your rank.

9. Inspire Others:

Remember, you’re not just navigating law school for yourself; you’re setting a precedent. Your journey inspires others to follow their dreams, regardless of background. Be the change you want to see in the legal world.

Navigating law school as a person of color is a journey worth taking, but not an easy one. Embrace your uniqueness, build your support system, and let your voice echo through the hallowed halls of justice. Be BOLD. Be BRAVE. Be BRILLIANT. You got this!

– Christy Harris is a 2L KU Law Student Ambassador from Dallas, Texas

Is Your Refrigerator Running?

The benefits of laughing while in law school

Wren Browne, 1L

There are a lot of jokes and stereotypes that revolve around exhausted, neurotic grad students. Law students fall into this trope very nicely, what with all the reading, writing, interviewing, cold calling, working and once in a while sleeping necessary to staying afloat. It’s a stressful three years – but there is a Superman-themed BandAid. Laughter is the best medicine.

No, seriously. There are studies on studies on studies that show the benefits of laughing in both the long and short term. Laughter can make you feel better both physically and mentally.

The stress relief from a good laugh is quick, it’s easy, and best of all: it’s free. Laughing relieves stress by activating and releasing your stress response. What that means on a very basic level is that your heart rate and blood pressure both rise and then fall, allowing you to feel relaxed. This is especially noticeable if you’re already pretty stressed, and maybe haven’t allowed yourself a study break in a few hours or have consumed more Red Bull than water in the last week, when the rise and fall might be a little more dramatic. Laughter forces you to take deeper breaths and your muscles to relax. Also, laughter gives your pain tolerance a boost – very useful for those Con Law readings.

Laughter has also been shown to be a mood booster. Even fake laughter can leave a person feeling not just relieved, but happy. Long term, this can mean combating extreme bouts of depression. Also, many – if not the majority of – law students start their first semester not knowing a single person. Good news: laughter can help with that, too! Laughter helps build bonds between people. You find the same things funny, which is a simple but effective way to link and even create a friendship. Laughter indicates to others that you aren’t stressed, which can signal that you aren’t a threat or that your environment lacks threats. This not only gives you the joy of connection, but also creates long-term bonds that have long-lasting stress relieving effects.

There’s a lot to be stressed about, sure. Midterms, finals, assignments, the construction this summer (as long as they don’t touch those third-floor ceilings; Green doesn’t have the best ceilings I’ve ever seen, but they’re up there). But there’s also the 1L Pub Night skit, being silly with your friends, and this picture of my friend’s dog.  No one said law school would be easy, but it doesn’t have to be miserable either.

– Wren Browne is a 1L KU Law Student Ambassador from Midland, Michigan

Maintaining Motivation, Intellectual Curiosity and a Love for Law

How to manage burnout as a law student

Tanya Singh, 1L

As I’m sure everyone knows, law school involves a LOT of reading, which can quickly lead to burnout. This semester, more so than the past two, I’ve found it to be challenging to keep up with reading assignments. Sifting through decisions and articles chock full of legalese can be difficult (and that’s to be expected), but it doesn’t change the fact that they can be terribly boring and aggravating.

I’ve probably sworn to myself a thousand times that I will never read another legal decision or read for fun (I never follow through). Recently, I found that setting goals for myself and refreshing my brain has alleviated a lot of my burnout, keeping me motivated and reminding me of why I like the field of law to begin with.

Setting goals seems like an obvious way to remain motivated, but I find it difficult to remain motivated when I set big-picture goals – such as passing the bar exam or needing these credentials for a prospective career. Mantras like “I am going to be a lawyer” or “I will get this J.D.” do nothing for me because they are difficult for me to visualize now – I feel like I am still so far away from having either of those in my reach.

And if those large goals help you stay motivated, that’s great! Goal setting looks and works differently for everyone, so there is no one right way to do it. Personally, I need to focus on the short-term and the “now” when I set goals.

Creating a series of goals that I can readily accomplish within the upcoming week has been invaluable in keeping me motivated because these are goals that I am certain I can accomplish. Not only do I feel more productive when I achieve these goals, but I feel more incentivized to keep setting goals and accomplishing them for the future.

Engaging in activities to refresh or reset my brain has allowed me to remain curious about the field of law while learning more about other subjects I’m interested in. Obviously, brain refreshers can include a lot of the more typical self-care activities, such as napping, going to the gym, and hanging out with friends and family. However, I find it difficult to completely turn my brain off, so I usually turn to reading or studying something else.

This is probably where I should disclaim that I’m a major biology nerd, as my brain refreshers are overwhelmingly biology-related. Sometimes I’ll switch between reading my casebooks and articles from the Journal of Herpetology; I’m very partial towards snakes, especially pit vipers. Recently, I’ve been reading more about parasitology and astrobiology (I do have a favorite parasite and believe in extraterrestrials). Other times my brain refresher may be studying for the MCAT. 

The contrast between biology as a discrete, hard science, and law as a fast-paced, unpredictable field has allowed me to remain curious and appreciative of the legal field.

– Tanya Singh is a 1L KU Law Student Ambassador from Manhattan, Kansas

Litigation to Leading

KU Law student juggles academics and cheerleading for the Super Bowl Champions

Noell Hinsley, 1L
Photo courtesy of Noell Hinsley

Dads, Brads and Chads aren’t the only people in America whose eyes were glued to the TV this past Sunday for the Super Bowl where the Kansas City Chiefs beat the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 in overtime. One person had a much more up close and personal look at the recent Super Bowl. Noell Hinsley, 1L, finished her first season as a Chiefs Cheerleader at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Originally from Omaha, Nebraska, Noell and her family have always been diehard Chiefs fans and, after her graduation from Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona, she decided it was time to put that passion to use.

“I always knew that if I was going to dance for a team, I wanted it to be the Chiefs,” Noell said. “I didn’t want to stop my dance journey after I graduated from undergrad, so I tried out after I got accepted into KU Law.”

Noell at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
Photo courtesy of Noell Hinsley

The audition process for the Kansas City Chiefs Cheerleaders is just as intensive as applying for law school with several prep classes and rounds of auditions. Noell began her application process in March 2023 and progressed to the finals the next month. By May, she was on the team.

“I fell in love with the team from the first moment I went to a clinic or an audition prep class,” said Noell.

Prepping for each game and staying in shape for the coming season is just one of many things Noell manages in her day-to-day life. The team met at least twice a week to practice, but that changed based on the schedule of the football games or other attributing factors. Performing at the Super Bowl required extra time before their flight to join the team in Las Vegas.

On top of her duties as a Chiefs Cheerleader, Noell works hard to stay on top of her law school classes and remain involved in the KU Law community.

“It was definitely an adjustment at first,” said Noell. “It has taught me so much about time management and organization.”

Coming up on her official anniversary on the team, Noell looks back on her first year with the Chiefs fondly. Not only did she get to perform at her first Super Bowl, but she was able to travel the world with the team when they flew to Germany for the Chiefs vs Miami game in Frankfurt.

Photo courtesy of Noell Hinsley

“We all got to travel together, and it was a really good bonding experience,” said Noell.

Amidst the whirlwind of law school and cheerleading, Noell remains grounded, offering advice to fellow students also juggling multiple responsibilities.

“You can do it all,” she said. “It might feel overwhelming at times, but it’s all worth it in the end.”.

Currently in her 1L year, Noell isn’t quite sure where she wants her career to take her, but she doesn’t plan on slowing down and she hopes to keep dancing along the way. “I feel very grateful that KU has welcomed me with open arms and supported me as a cheerleader,” she said. “I hope to be dancing for as long as I can.”

– By Emma Herrman

Running on Empty

How to keep up with your hobbies even when you’re a stressed-out law student

Madi Stapleton, 1L

It is no secret that law school can be a stressful time! One way that I (and many other students) stay afloat is by keeping up with other hobbies that have nothing to do with law. For me, that is running! Taking the time to do something I enjoy helps me take my mind off of school and remember who I am outside of being a student.

You have to give up a lot of your own free time in order to succeed in law school, but continuing to make time for an activity that gives you joy is always worth it in the long run (no pun intended). Here are a few suggestions for how to make sure you don’t get lost in the weeds of school and forget about the fun and fulfilling things you like to do:

First, figure out your routine and set aside non-negotiable time every week to do something for yourself that you enjoy, whatever that may be. If you get in the habit when the semester starts, it will be automatic to continue doing so as things get busier towards the end. That’s when you’ll need it most!

Secondly, I don’t necessarily recommend trying to find a “new” interest or hobby. Maybe that will work for you, but for me I had too much new information coming at me already and it was nice to go to something I already enjoy. Instead of making it into another task on your checklist that you “should” do, try to just pick something you already love and you know you don’t want to give up. Maybe that’s reading, yoga, biking, baking, music, knitting, playing/watching sports, gardening or something else entirely. 

Finally, depending on the activity, I recommend finding other people who enjoy the same thing and doing it together! Or, at least have someone to talk with about it. This helps you remember why you enjoy it and also keeps you accountable. I am part of a super amazing group of runners at Kansas City Running Club and have been running with them almost every Saturday since 2021. They have been rocking with me through the whole journey of studying for the LSAT, applying to schools and completing my first semester. It has made a huge difference to have a support system that is there to listen and also to remind me to take a break and do something for myself.  Everyone eventually finds their own way to manage their schedules to best meet their needs, and looking back on my first semester I am so glad I continued to run even when I felt like I didn’t have the time. While you figure out what works for you, I hope that you don’t forget that your interests outside of school continue to matter! It will make you a happier person (and a better student) if you take space away from the law school to tend to some of the extracurriculars that bring you joy.

– Madi Stapleton is a 1L KU Law Student Ambassador from Olathe, Kansas

Opportunity in Community

Student finds community outside of his hometown

Will Orlowski, 1L

By the end of my first semester, I was feeling ready for a break, and in this, I doubt I was alone. Immediately following my last exam, I picked up my girlfriend and drove directly to the airport. After spending three months at a study carrel it was essential that I get out of the city and get my Thoreau on. I proceeded to spend the next two weeks in three different time zones, seizing the opportunity I had to travel with my loved ones and nourish my mental health.

Traveling is essential to our understanding of the world and our place within it. I am far from the first to recommend spending vacation time exposing oneself to other cultures and perspectives. However, an underappreciated benefit of exploring new communities is the potential to reinforce appreciation for one’s own. I ate like a king for two weeks and spent some wonderful and invigorating time outside, but I also slept in beds not my own for an extended period, to say nothing of how dearly I missed my cats. Everywhere I went I met kind and interesting people, but I was consistently reminded of the kind and interesting people I am fortunate to spend time with here in Lawrence. When I returned home, I was struck by an overwhelming gratitude for the places and people that make up the local community at large and my own personal experience within it.

It is this concept of community I want to focus on. We as law students have a phenomenal opportunity we are unlikely to experience again. Green Hall is home to a profound diversity of students and faculty. We are surrounded by hundreds of undeniably brilliant and capable folks, but beyond our capacity for academic success there is little we have universally in common. I personally get to learn from folks much younger and older than myself. There are people from all over the country, representing countless different intersections of identities and values.

This dovetails incredibly with the nature of our studies. Just as an example, the majority of first-year students are currently studying criminal law, Constitutional law and property. These doctrinal bodies critically assess the very serious flaws within our society, from legal, structural and cultural standpoints, among others. To be in the position to analyze the origins and historical context of our laws and country alongside this extraordinary variety of perspectives and experiences is a chance we should not only strive to take full advantage of but relish for what it is during the short time we are here.

A dear friend and classmate shared several moving observations with me just days prior to writing this. He discussed the inherent anxiety of meeting so many new people at once in a setting that also necessarily demands accountability and consequences. There are too many people to be close with everyone, but too few to run from mistakes or avoid anyone. Classes can be too big to feel intimate, but too small to blend in. And yet despite this backdrop of simmering anxiety and unease, he and I genuinely enjoy law school. I submit it is this intersection between content and community we resonate with.

These three years are undeniably stressful and will continue to pose challenges and frustrations. Nevertheless, they provide us an opportunity for community that is invaluable. In my many years, I have gained an abiding love for the city of Lawrence. I treasure the businesses I frequent, the people I know all over town and the University we share. Travel is essential, and horizons exist to broadened, but never forget that we have, for a brief moment, the chance to participate in a beautiful thing. We will take what we learn here and use it to shape the law of our future communities, and in doing so memorialize the one we find ourselves in currently. I hope that you can be as glad for that prospect as I am.

– Will Orlowski is a 1L KU Law Student Ambassador from Lawrence, Kansas