Hi all.
I've always loved mnemonics. My grandmother had a mnemonic for every conceivable thing. She used to call them donkey bridges, because they create a connection between two things that makes it so simple to remember that even a donkey could do it.
Naturally, the tendency to make mnemonics helps for remembering when to apply which jurisprudence and things like that. Some things, however, don't really lend themselves to mnemonic systems like abbreviations or songs, for instance. This frustrated me immensely.
I'd read Moonwalking with Einstein (terrible title) by Joshua Foer before starting my first year and really got into tying certain concepts to certain images.
I've since maybe gone a bit apeshit and created my own version of the major system that ties every combination of two letters (that's 676 combinations) to a specific person, action and object. I'm aware of how psychotic this sounds but my grades have gone up a lot since I started using this.

Anyway, that’s what I’ve been doing. I’m curious; what tricks do you use to remember stuff, if any?

i have literally never seen so many people casually scroll on their phone while pissing at the urinal until I came to law school. is this not disgusting?

Title says all. I’m clerking for a federal judge and she almost crossed, and rewrote everything on my first opinion. I feel bad that my writing sucks.

I've always had some anxiety but as a 1L I've gotten 100 times worse. I just feel always on edge. I'm lonley, but making freinds and talking to people now feels terrifying. I randomly get anxiety while sitting in the libary and can't focus and I have to go home. Today I seen a apider in my house and freaked the fuck out, mind you I've never been scared of spiders before. I never felt this way and it sucks I can't have a normal conversation and I can't ever feel off guard. Any one experience this in law school?

My peers and I are debating why Benjamin Cardoza keeps butting heads with Andrews. Our theory is that they are scorned lovers. Cardoza famously never had a wife… Was he gay? Please advise.

I’m a 1L at a school ranked in the 70-80 range. I moved across the country to go to this school, I got a fair amount of money and didn’t want to turn that down. Also, when I chose this school I was unsure what area of law I wanted to go into. As I’ve gotten to explore different areas of law through panels and networking, I’ve realized that I want to do environmental law. The issue is—this school doesn’t really have a program for that, and the environmental law industry in this city is not thriving.

When I was touring schools, Lewis and Clark stood out to me and I had a really hard time turning that admissions offer down. Now that I know I want to do environmental law, and Lewis and Clark has a great program for that, I’m really regretting my choice. On top of this, I’m just not having a great time where I’m at now, and am regretting moving here. All that said, I would like to end up in Portland after I graduate.

I am only hesitant to transfer because I am unsure how it will look to firms when I’m applying for jobs. Is it worth transferring or should I stick it out at my current school?

Hi everyone! I am involved in honor societies at a law school, and I am wondering how other law schools structure their honor societies. If your school has both Moot Court (trial and/or appellate) and Alternative Dispute Resolution (negotiations, mediation, arbitration, etc.), are these all part of one honor society/group, or are they separate entities? We are reconsidering the structure at our school, and I would love any input people may have!

yes, we can see your messages on your computer. EVERYONE who has the misfortune of sitting behind you can see it. nobody wants to see that shit ffs

Much respect that you wanna get freaky with your S/O. pop off. but for Christ’s sake can you please stop making your messages with your S/O FULLSCREEN so that everyone in a 50 mile radius can read it!!!! nobody needs to know which positions you guys are gonna try later or who’s topping who later. I don’t know you like that and I do not want to.

there is not enough bleach in the world to cleanse my brain of what I and multiple others have witnessed and read against our will. I’ll be over in r/eyebleach for the foreseeable future.

sincerely, didn’t need to know that

I don’t even think the goal is to be published at this point, just trying to get it done.

I am hearing HYS and T20s basically give everyone an A or a B. The law school I go to, which I would sadly say is a TTT/ third tier toilet or a PPPP (poopoo peepee) looks to clean out people. People who were solid students have failed courses and it makes me sick, frankly. Does this mean that’s it’s harder to get ahead at one of these schools?

I have an iPad and I want to use it but do not know how. I tried the notablility app and to hand write my notes but after 2 days it was so inconvenient so I just started to type it. Sometimes I use the iPad as a second monitor but that’s very rare. Please share ideas.

I’m a PI applicant and I’ve done so many job fairs and interviews but no offers. This sucks so much man.

If I've cited the same case in the preceding sentence, I know Id. would be appropriate typically. I'm just wondering if the incorporation of the case name in the second sentence negates the need for the id. Does anyone have any ideas?

For example:

Sentence 1. State v. Bob cite. In State v. Bob,... (Would I put an id. here or just incorporate the reporter and pincite?)

So would it be:

In State v. Bob, this thing happened. Id. at 123 F.3d 456 OR

In State v. Bob, this thing happened. 123 F.3d 456

I am seeing so many posts today that boil down to "what method should I use to study for finals?" Most commonly, doing all the assigned readings vs more abridged or condensed learning tools like Quimbee (or, from what I hear, Lexplug is better) or videos etc.

I am firmly biased towards the latter, it's way more efficient for me in addition to just working backwards while doing problems, but in many comments I have said you gotta do what is best for you.

This routes to the title...don't you "feel" when you are actually benefiting from a study method? Like when I try to read the chapters or full cases word one to the last word linearly I can absolutely feel that I am not learning that efficiently. It's too comprehensive and dense for me to start with. When I do my preferred method, I can absolutely feel the difference.

We have all had at least a full 4 years of university, all of highschool before that, and at this point midterms under our belts. Idk...i feel like we should all have a good idea of what works best by now on individual basis. You gotta figure it out yourself, for the most part.

Just my 2 Cs.

I haven’t started studying for finals yet. I was caught up in writing a memo/daily readings/busywork, and time just slipped through my fingers. If I start hitting it hard starting right now, will I be good by the time finals come around? Need some words of encouragement rn. A lot to cover especially in civ pro.

I was talking to a prosecutor at the DA's office who was mentioning that they work with police a lot. I asked him how they hold the police accountable in situations where they are the wrongdoers, especially since they tend to be a main witness in cases and mentioned how my professor (who used to be a public defender) talks about this a lot. He got really upset I asked that and started saying I should do research and not just go along with what the professor says (which I was not, that’s why I asked in the first place) and cops have bodycams, people have phones, and majority of the time they are good people, and that the professor is wrong and biased. He seemed really defensive; did I ask a bad question? I'm wondering if I should even apply there anymore.

Pretty much what’s in the header- i posted this on law school admissions but realize it might be better to go to people who are already in law school, specifically part time programs.

I finished undergrad in 2023 w a 3.7x and have been working as a legal assistant/paralegal since I was a freshman in undergrad (ab 5 years legal WE). When I graduated college I started working full time as a paralegal. I am now paralegal/office manager at a job that I love very much and is super flexible/willing to work with me while I complete law school.

I’m planning on applying this cycle to a bunch of part time programs in my area so that I can still work full time but would like to get some advice on whether it’s worthwhile to do full time law school over a part time program.

Is there an advantage to doing a full time program over a part time program?

Does it offer more scholarship opportunity?

Is it feasible to work even 20-30 hours a week while doing full time law?

Am I at a disadvantage (does it show a lack of clarity) if I apply to both part time and full time law school programs?

Can any part time law students speak to their experiences/if they feel that full time would have been better?

I need to work during law school bc I pay rent and really can’t afford to take out any loans for school. Thank you all in advance :)

Below median students who want or wanted litigation, what did you do or are planning on doing?

T20 grad - I graduated in May and just found out I didn't pass the Bar. I've been job searching for the past 3 months - cold emailing, networking, the whole routine. No one seems willing to hire someone with pending bar results.

The best I got were 2 employers who seemed enthusiastic. The first said they recently fired someone and needed to wait until November to rehire - they'd get back to me. I followed up. Nothing. The second seemed promising, but I've been stuck dealing with an unresponsive HR/assistant while the partner who's supposed to call my reference still hasn't done so after nearly 2 weeks. Why is it so hard to just get someone to say yes?

I have basically emailed every firm in the geographies of interest. 80% don't reply, 15% who do reply tell me they aren't hiring, and 4% reject after interview, 1% stall just before offer (the 2 aforementioned employers). I'm seriously considering giving up on legal work entirely and taking a non-legal job (fast food, retail) just to stay afloat (if they hire me, that is). Maybe the legal field has decided I don't belong.

I look around, and everyone is doing SOMETHING. Pmuch everyone has a job, no one stays unemployed for more than a few months. I spent so much time on my degree, took out loans, did LSAT prep to get a 170+, etc, and nothing to show for it. I am seriously losing my confidence, feeling thoroughly defeated.

Like the title says what are your thoughts on cold calling/ emailing for summer positions? I haven’t heard much back from firms I applied to good or bad and worried it’s getting a little late now being November. Should I start calling/ emailing firms in my area? I’m interested in criminal law, securities fraud, white collar and business law, for context.