When I started the video per day experiment, I was worried about being able to talk for a minute. Turns out that has not been a problem. What is a problem is thinking that I can tackle a topic in one minute. So, today, I am starting a law school life series that will continue during the rest of the month. Today’s topic scratches the surface of the Socratic method and classes so, of course, I had to add a bit more below.

The Socratic Method used in law schools today often consists of a professor assigning several cases to be read before class. During class, the professor will call on students to explain various aspects of the case. To be prepared, it is a good idea to know the case history, the facts, and the issue that the court is deciding. (I’ll cover a trick I use to help me prepare in a future video). Even in our third year, many of my classmates still dread the call. Personally, I don’t mind being called to answer–I say that because I go to class prepared; at the very least, I have done the reading. I have found that giving an answer with confidence (even if it is completely wrong) satisfies most professors. In one instance, I confused the poor professor so much by my confidently given, completely wrong answer that they changed the topic and had to come back to the subject the next class.

What courses law students should take is a hotly debated topic. The impending doom represented by the bar exam encourages most students to take “bar” classes (or classes in topics that will be covered on the bar exam). I fall into the camp that believes that students should take the classes that will be most beneficial to them in their practice, that will give them an understanding of many areas of law, and that are interesting. I also recommend taking classes that have practical application and will future proof their education. (For example, I think that any lawyer intending to practice business or work in estate planning should be taking courses that address blockchain).

In the end, there is not one path through law school and each student must decide what their path will be.

See more on the Video Per Day Experiment in my introductory post.

When people hear about the opportunities that I have had in my life, they sometimes say that I have been “so lucky.” There may be some truth in that, but I believe there is more to the story. They say that opportunity knocks–I don’t disagree with that statement, but I do believe that opportunity doesn’t come knocking on your door at home. I think that you have to prepare for opportunities. Then you must do something more than sit on the couch and wait. Finally, you must be open to opportunities when they find you.

In the video today, I talk about one opportunity and then write about another opportunity below.

[If you want to learn more about the Delta Model of Lawyer Competency, there is a pinned tweet with links to many articles on our Twitter profile page (@deltamodellawyr)].

A more personal opportunity happened while I was living in Japan. While returning home from Japanese class one night, I said good evening (in Japanese) to a woman as I passed. She stopped in her tracks and grabbed me by the hand. I don’t remember what was said, but I ended up in her house a few minutes later. From this brief interaction, I gained a friend and my children gained a Japanese grandmother. You see, she was terribly lonely after just moving to the area. Her husband was a prominent businessman that was always away on travel. She had studied English for years, but had never really had the opportunity to speak with a native speaker. The next three years were such fun as she introduced me to a side of Japan that I would never have seen. She even came to visit once we returned to the States.

My point is that this chance meeting would never have happened if I had stayed home. By taking Japanese (prepare), saying hello (doing), and going to her house (being open) I gave opportunity a chance to find me.

Now, I am preparing for my next opportunity by going to law school. By engaging in this experiment, I am doing something. And I am certainly open (and looking) for whatever opportunity comes next! So, what do you think, are my experiences simply luck?

See more on the Video Per Day Experiment in my introductory post.

How do you pick a law school? Silly me, thinking that my one minute video below would be enough to dig into this topic. Watch the video and then read on for a bit more information below.

As I mentioned, LSAT scores are huge in the law school admissions world. (Don’t take the exam cold! Please at least spend some time with a prep book). If you don’t get a certain score, many schools will be out of reach. So, let your score be a guide. If you don’t like your score, you can take the exam again, but it is expensive so make sure you commit to doing some work to prepare.

Applying to law schools is expensive. You must pay application fees to the school and then there are the LSAC fees for compiling the paperwork. One tip to help with these costs is to go to the LSAC information sessions. Many schools offer a waiver of their application fee if you sign up for their information. Other schools offer waivers to those who have signed up for information through the LSAC site. Barring that, it never hurts to ask the admissions office of a school for a waiver.

Check out lots of schools. Michigan State’s College of Law first came to my attention because they had pointers online detailing how to go through the application process, write the essay, prep for the year, etc.  They also offered webinars that were quite helpful. I’ll be honest, I had no intention of going away to school, but those resources were very helpful. When I learned more about the school, I saw programs that weren’t offered by other schools.

That leads to my next point: look at the programs the school offers. Do they specialize in the type of law that you want to practice? Are there student groups that meet your interests? Is the school able to meet any accommodations that you may need? MSU has a trial practice institute that I was very interested in pursuing. Since I have been in school, I realized that the Center for Law, Technology and Innovation was more suited to me and my interests. Additionally, the specialty certificate from the Indigenous Law and Policy Center has become important to me.

Finally, visit the schools if at all possible. Many schools offer some travel expense reimbursement that may allow you to visit-don’t be afraid to ask. Many schools have special events for admitted students. Although these events were good, they often fall on weekends when attending class is not possible. I learned more about the school and the students when I went by myself and attended a class or two. Trust your gut instinct! If a school feels uncomfortable, do you really want to spend three years in that environment?

Good luck and feel free to reach out if you have questions!

See more on the Video Per Day Experiment in my introductory post.