Ms. JD Fellows Present...Acing Law School | Page 8

changes. It can be incredibly helpful to ask others who have been through the same experience for advice. They can serve as your mentors and be a great “go-to” resource for suggestions on how to stay the course.

Mentorship opportunities

Anyone can be a mentor and most people are willing to take on this role if you are willing to ask. A mentorship does not need to include a formal ceremony or crowning. Start with approaching an upper-level student or professional and asking questions. Chances are that you

already started seeking other’s help in just getting through your undergraduate years and completing the law school application process.

Be honest and let your potential mentor know that law school and the legal profession are new worlds for you. As a first generation law student, your familiarity with the law school experience is extremely different from that of your law school colleagues with lawyers in their families. Do not be ashamed of this fact, despite appearances, there are several other law students who are just like you. Instead, be proud of your background, the richness in your history, and that you pushed through several doors to this point.

Find out if your school offers mentoring opportunities with alumni or with upper-level students. You may also want to do your own search for mentors through local bar associations and law student organizations. Consider searching for attorneys with whom you share commonalities such as being alum of the same undergraduate institution or law school. By

meeting over a cup of coffee or a brief phone call, you can begin to solidify a relationship that can last well beyond your law school experience.

Advocating for yourself with the Deans and professors

If there is a specific area of law that you

might have

interest or are in a class that you are particularly enjoying, make an appointment with the professor. Most students do not utilize office hours and professors welcome students to whom they can share their experiences with and offer advice. This also applies for interactions with Deans. Though they may seem like untouchable figures, Deans and law school professors are former practitioners with vast knowledge and connections. Deans and law school professors are happy to share their knowledge and resources with interested students. To go that extra mile, make yourself a “household name” in your Dean’s Office by getting to know the faculty that work there. This skill set is useful wherever you end up in your career; office staff is invaluable.

Ask many questions, what is next, what should I do, who should I talk to?

In general, the best way to get an answer and gather information is to ask questions. Even if you are not speaking to the “right” person, they may be able to connect you with other people. This is how you begin to create your own network.

If you are planning to talk about a particular topic, do a little research before your discussion. Research about current events and latest legal developments will enable you to ask informed questions that will give you a clearer idea about your next steps. If you are meeting with a professor, review and ask about her latest editorial, book, or journal. Wondering what you can do with a focus on a specific legal field, seek out the professor teaching the course in this field. Try to always leave the

conversation with a to-do list, including a recommendation of which next professional to speak with next. Often, your mentor or professor will be very impressed with your enthusiasm that they will offer to send a warm introductory email on your behalf.

Return back to, and report your progress to anyone who sat down with you and gave you insightful advice. It is a mistake to capitalize on an introduction or an opportunity and not thank the individual who helped you get everything started. Over time, formal or informal mentors, appreciate that you take advice well, follow through, and can be involved in your progress. They are the ones that love to answer your questions the most and do not mind that you come back to them. Your success is their success too.

1 Law School Cost Calculator, AdmissionsDean, http://www.admissionsdean.com/paying_for_law_school/law-school-cost-calculator.

2 Get My Free Credit Report, Federal Trade Commission, http://www.ftc.gov/faq/consumer-protection/get-my-free-credit-report.

3 Budget Worksheet, Harvard Law School, http://www.law.harvard.edu/current/sfs/workshops/pdfs/budget-worksheet-09-10.pdf; see generally Need Help With Your Budget? Try A Weekly Budget, Money Under 30, http://www.moneyunder30.com/need-help-with-your-budget-try-a-weekly-budget.

4 Catherine Alman MacDonagh & Beth Marie Cuzzone, Perfecting Your Elevator Pitch, Law Practice Magazine, American Bar Association, http://

www.americanbar.org/publications/law_practice_home/law_practice_archive/lpm_magazine_articles_v33_is3_an2.html; see also Jody Greene, How to Create an Elevator Pitch, Forbes, http://www.forbes.com/sites/chicceo/2013/02/05/how-to-create-an-elevator-pitch/.

...

Yellow:

#CA9753

Purple:

#61365E