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#The2Llife: Week One in the Books

GUEST BLOG By Harrison Thorne,
2L at UCLA School of Law

Week one in the books.  Literally.

I spent the whole summer eagerly awaiting my return to law school.  I like law school – you meet interesting people, talk about interesting things and learn a lot. But then I remembered that the grass is always greener when I cracked open the Bankruptcy Code!

Yes, I actually do like being in school again. I spent the summer externing for two Superior Court judges and learned a lot about writing. But now I’m ready to get back to learning.

That said, this week has been a bit different. As a transfer, I was given the opportunity to write on to UCLA’s law review. I say “opportunity” because that is what it is. Most people would kill for a spot on a UCLA journal. So instead of whining about doing the transfer write-on amidst tough substantive classes, I got the materials and put my nose to the grindstone.

Well, okay, I did whine a little. Well … a lot. But I am doing the work! In fact, I am in the middle of writing my comment as I write this post.

I think this write-on is indicative of law school generally and, likely, the rest of my life and career: When faced with a seemingly impossible task – like writing a ten-page comment, doing a huge Blue Book exercise and writing a personal statement in four days – there are three choices.

  • Choice 1: Shrivel up and refuse to do the work
  • Choice 2: Complain, waste time and do the work
  • Choice 3: Do the work

I began the write-on process in the Choice 2 category. I complained about how it’s not fair, etc. Then I quickly realized that I’m complaining about the opportunity to write on to one of the most prestigious legal journals in the country. That quickly motivated me and brought me into the realm of Choice 3.

With that, I need to finish this up. So, until next week, thanks for reading.

Follow me @The2Llife!
-Harrison

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#The2LLife: My OCI experience as a transfer student

GUEST BLOG By Harrison Thorne, 2L at UCLA School of Law

On Campus Interview (“OCI”) week is unlike anything I have ever done.

It starts with a long bidding process, where you pick which firms you want to apply to based on where you want to work and their threshold requirements. Once you bid, the school’s system spits out an interview schedule. I received 13 interviews. Over three days.

So, I did what any good law student would do. I ironed my suit, dry cleaned my shirts and frantically emailed everyone who has worked at any of these firms. I researched each firm and found out that they are … ALL. THE. SAME

So, after finding one or two differences, and after reciting my “elevator speech” ad nauseam, I was ready.

The interviews were held at a large hotel near my school and everyone was going to be stationed on the top three floors. The first day started great. I arrived early, looked like James Bond in my black suit and black tie, and was ready to take on the world.

Fotolia_56772222_Subscription_Monthly_M(1)However, I immediately spilled coffee on my white shirt. Not to worry, though – I can adapt. I buttoned up my coat and decided it was not coming off all day. Okay. Ready to get after it.

The first interview. I knock on the door, swallow the gum I forgot I was chewing and slowly step in. I’m surprisingly calm. I guess after interviewing at various places for the past few years, I have sort of faked it ‘til I made it.

After chatting for a few minutes, I get the sense that I should ask him some questions. So I do. I feel confident. I’m hitting all my prearranged talking points, and did I mention I look great in my suit? (Except for the coffee stain.)

The next few interviews, and three days in general, were very similar. I interviewed with 12 more firms and spent the remaining time walking into various hospitality suites and dropping off my resume. I probably recycled the same anecdotes and jokes to 65 or more people between Monday and Wednesday.

However, I learned something about myself. I like networking. A lot. I have always been outgoing and I have always liked meeting new people. I never realized just how important these skills would be in my initial job search and, most likely, for the rest of my career.

I also learned that the students at my new school are cordial, receptive and genuine. I was worried that the students would not want to associate with me – a lowly transfer student. However, in the past couple weeks, I have made several close friends and have had nothing but positive experiences. I look forward to starting school, meeting more people and networking harder than ever!

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#BarPrepLife: #BarPrepTweetsOTheWeek brought to you in the form of #BarPrepMovieTitles

GUEST BLOG by Lauren Thedford,
SMU Law School graduate and BARBRI bar review student

What do you do on a Monday night deep in the middle of bar prep? You manipulate popular movie titles into bar prep related titles. This definitely counts as human interaction for the day, right?

james_and_the_giant_peach_book_cover_by_thomas_wakely-d603qrx

Best studying, yet.

Make sure to follow @barpreplife and checkout the hashtags #barprep and #barpreplife for more!

Thed

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#BarPrepLife: I dunno

GUEST BLOG by Lauren Thedford,
SMU Law School graduate and BARBRI bar review student

Hello all,

It’s been a while, I know. There are really only a few things going on when you’re half-way through bar prep:

1) Stress

Most days I’m stressed because I have a lot to do. Every day has numerous tasks accompanying it and it’s very difficult to catch up if you take a day off or an accidental six-hour nap (it’s possible).

Other days, I’m stressed that I’m not stressed enough. Should I be freaking out more? I trust the BARBRI bar review course and I’ll learn what I need to learn, but am I doing it right? Am I engaged enough? Am I studying enough? Should I be doing more?

Then there’s just the day-to-day stress of waking up and deciding whether you care enough to put on real clothes. Hint: You don’t.

The BARBRI lecturers are pretty good about warning you not to listen to what other people say about their study habits, but it’s nearly impossible not to ask. Someone is working during bar prep? Someone is on top of every single assignment on the Interactive Paced Program AND does extra MBE practice questions every day?! At the least, I’ve learned to have a healthy dose of skepticism. Either way, it’s an additional question mark that adds to the stress.

I haven’t had a bar prep freak out yet, but I credit that to my eating and working out skills, and the emergency pedicure. See below.

2) Eating Everything

Food makes me happy. Food is my study break. I try to eat healthy, but that’s just not as fun as rewarding myself with a cheeseburger after I catch the little Interactive Paced Program arrow.

Inner monologue: You finished your practice MBE? Good. Do another one and then you can eat dinner. Do a practice essay and you can have that cookie. No wine until you catch the arrow.

I don’t like my inner voice most of the time, but food is my favorite kind of reward.

Inevitably, stress eating leads to working out so that the guilt I mentioned earlier doesn’t expand to guilt over stress eating. IT’S A NEVER ENDING CYCLE.

At least it’s only two months?

3) Commiserating with others

Never has “misery loves company” been more true. If the #bargression post didn’t make it clear enough, there are a good amount of us bar preppers who enjoy releasing a little steam on Twitter. We find others who are in the same boat, maybe even on the same lecture topic, and at least feel as though we’re not alone.

I’ve turned to doodling my emotions, as well, and found a fellow doodler or two along the way.

Check it out:

Lauren's-doodles

Above Images ©Lauren Thedford

a salt and battery

Above Image ©Amanda Supey

As always, reach out on @barpreplife and use the following hashtags:

#barprep    |   #barpreplife   |   #YouMightBeABarPrepperIf    |   etc.

Until next time,

Thed

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#BarPrepLife: Bargression

GUEST BLOG by Lauren Thedford,
SMU Law School graduate and BARBRI bar review student

Bargression is a thing. Bargression is when, due to bar prep, one is irrationally angry or emotional for no reason other than being stressed and overwhelmed.

The catalyst could be tiny – a vibrating phone or a bubble gum pop. It could be huge – a family emergency or problems with a significant other. It may be somewhere in between – a poor MBE result or falling behind on assignments. Either way, “bargression” is real and apparently mid-June is prime time #bargression season.

I, myself, began twitching during bar prep class last week, when someone’s phone vibrated nine time (yep, I counted) during the first hour. Not only that, but two people who sat near me walked in late. That’s 11 disruptions of thought within one hour on a morning that was already difficult because people decided to argue with me about having to show their ID to enter the bar review course room (I am a location administrator).

My hand legitimately began twitching after I “shh-ed” in the direction of the vibrating phone. Fun fact: my friend thinks it was the professor’s phone that was going off. Oops? Not really. Turn that off. It’s distracting.

Speaking of #bargression, here is a “special” post that mixes the weekly blog with the #TweetsOTheWeek. Let’s be honest, I’m too busy to write a real post,and bargression tweets are more exciting, so enjoy!

 

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It’s true. We know it’s irrational, but that’s not stopping us.

 

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The knife, skull and other violent emojis
have become standard in my “Recent” section.
Extra points if you know the new emoji, coming out in June,
that will be the go-to for #barprep tweets.

 

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It’s best not to talk to/question/interact
with anyone going through bar prep.

 

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I know it’s happening … but I can’t stop it!

 

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She’s not kidding – things get destroyed.

 

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See. Told you.

 

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Last, but not least, I think Squidward really sums it all up.
I feel like I have become the living, breathing embodiment
of mean ol’ Squidward. Sorry (not sorry).
THE POINT.

Overall, the tweets of other bar preppers have, at least, let me know that I’m not alone. I’m not the only one feeling this way and this is something we can all get through together. It’s like culture shock: the more you know about what is going to happen to you and how you’re going to feel, the better equipped you are to handle the extreme changes.

I’ve resolved myself to taking VERY deep breaths every time someone walks in late, crinkles cellophane or leaves a phone on. Does it fix everything? No. But it has helped me to refocus my energy on what really matters: passing the bar.

Also. Wine.

Keep sharing with the hashtag #barpreplife!
Thed

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