Author: Christopher Tan

The Conversations That Matter: How Mentors Changed My Life

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The coffee was burnt. The décor, forgettable—muted earth tones, a token abstract print on the wall. The air-conditioning droned overhead, numbing the space, while the espresso machine sputtered and sighed into the empty café. But the conversation was life-changing. I was twenty-two, sitting across from an attorney at Bloomberg in Hong Kong, trying to calibrate my enthusiasm, trying not to seem too eager, too green.

He sipped his espresso, glanced at a fancy watch, and then, just as I started doubting my ability to navigate this unfamiliar dynamic, he leaned forward and asked, “So, tell me about yourself?”

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Don’t Scroll Past This Article: LinkedIn and Law Students

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The feeling is unmistakable. An endless scroll through a LinkedIn carnival of contrived self-promotion and corporate-speak. Each post teeters on the brink of parody. “Thrilled to announce.” “Congrats mate!” “Excited for what’s coming!” You can picture the unseen scorecards flashing behind computer screens: applause, confetti, sympathy. And there you are, shrinking into the shadows, your own achievements contorted into trivialities.

For law students, this pressure is not just an unwelcome intrusion; it often feels imperative. If networking is our currency, LinkedIn is our trading floor. But is it a necessary evil, or just some Kantian illusion that we’ve convinced ourselves is indispensable to our profession?

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Interested in International Law? There’s an Org for You

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Whether you’re a prospective or current law student, or simply intrigued by the evolving landscape of international law, the new and improved International Law Society at Boston College Law School provides a platform where interested students can engage in meaningful dialogue, learn from experts, and explore the vast possibilities within international law. We interviewed the founding members and current E-Board of the International Law Society to uncover the inspirations behind its formation, its core objectives, and the exciting array of activities and events it has in store.

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A Glimpse into the Human Side of Justice: Visiting District Court

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The sky wears a cloak of gray. Snow falls, then melts. Indoors, the instant coffee offers warm sips of solace. Heaters hum in a clunky staccato. It is winter in Boston, and the start of the spring semester. 

This week, on another familiarly cloudy day, my criminal justice class and I visited the Worcester District Court where we had the privilege to speak with a judge and observe her presiding over arraignments. The building’s drab architecture echoed the nature of its solemnity. Inside, people spoke in hushed tones, only interrupted by claps of footsteps on marble and the occasional beep of a metal detector. We sat in the back of courtroom 14. Here, the air felt thick, with a sense of gravity and respect.

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From Prose to Precision: A New (Legal) Approach to Writing

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The end of fall in New England. The trees are bare. Leaves crunch underfoot. Mornings bring a frigid chill that whispers of the winter to come. During these reflective autumn days, amidst the trepidation of exams, I often ponder my journey so far through law school and particularly how it has reshaped my understanding and approach to writing. While in undergrad, writing was taught to evoke a more emotional response through vivid imagery and ideas, legal writing thrives on a different kind of grace — that of precision and clarity. 

Legal writing is a world away from the lyrical prose of Hemingway and Joyce. It is an economical discipline where every word carries weight, and the flourish of language gives way to the sharpness of mercilessly direct expression. In the world of statutes, case law, and legal reasoning, the ability to communicate complex ideas in a simple and effective manner is an exercise in disciplined succinctness. 

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Killers of the Flower Moon

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The air is crisp. The leaves are brown. The days ever shorter. Amidst it all, the paperchase rumbles on. 

At this point in the semester, with the crucible of case readings, legal research, and memo writing taking its toll, I found myself delving into the core of why I chose a legal career. What about the law drives us law students to put up with such demands? I needed a reminder, and a recent screening of the “Killers of the Flower Moon,” the new movie by Martin Scorsese starring Leonardo DiCaprio, helped answer the question.

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The Beauty of an American Legal Education: An International Student’s Perspective

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In the heart of Hong Kong’s Central district, under the watchful gaze of towering skyscrapers and amidst the city’s bustle, stands Lady Justice. Wearing a blindfold and delicately balancing scales in her hand, she acts as a beacon, symbolizing the enduring principles of fairness, equity, and the rule of law. She also represents Hong Kong’s British past, a colonial relic amidst ever-evolving cityscape and sovereignty that envelops her. As I left Hong Kong for Boston to attend law school, I thought of her journey, albeit stilted, through centuries of urban growth, shifts in sovereignty, and natural decay. With the statue of Lady Justice etched in my mind, I began my own legal journey in the United States.

So, as a Hong Konger, why attend law school in the United States? There are plenty of other common law jurisdictions to attain a law degree. The United Kingdom. Canada. Australia. Even Hong Kong itself. For me, the answer lies not just in the pursuit of a degree, but in the distinct ethos and philosophy of American legal education.

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