It’s easy to focus on the chaos of 1L fall; there’s so much to learn and seemingly not enough time. But somewhere between the stress and the multiple Lexis tabs open on my computer, there’s a lot to love about being a law student this time of year.
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A Haunting on the Docket: When Appellants Met Apparitions
In the early 1960s, the children of Nyack, New York spoke of the “haunted” house on the hill. The old Victorian’s newest tenants, The Ackleys, would soon learn first-hand. Phantom footsteps and slamming doors set the supernatural stage. Most mornings, ghosts roused the Ackley children by violently shaking their beds. After reaching into their pockets, they might have found baby rings left by unseen hands. Like many of these “gifts,” they came as quickly as they went: little trinkets, coins, and even silver sugar tongs appearing and vanishing out of thin air.
Continue readingLessons from a Jesuit Education: Growth, Purpose, and the Practice of Law
Because, I, too, once didn’t know what a Jesuit education entailed. Now, I can’t imagine who I’d be without it.
By way of background, I’ve been a Catholic school kid pretty much my whole life—since second grade, technically—and I actually liked it. When my parents offered to switch me to the local public school after we moved when I was nine, I chose to stay where I was. I wanted to keep wearing my jumper and tie (yes, girls could wear ties too) and keep going to religion class.
Continue readingThe Life of a Showgirl? No, the Life of a 1L
Last Friday, Taylor Swift released her highly anticipated 12th studio album, “The Life of a Showgirl.” In honor of this milestone coinciding with the first full month of law school coming to end, let’s take a look at how 13 (if you know, you know) of Taylor’s lyrics relate to the life of a first semester 1L…
Continue readingI Survived the Waitlist—and You Can, Too
Because the admissions cycle is hard enough, here’s a little story of having hope during (and surviving) the process.
When the word “waitlist” appeared in bold on my decision portal, I slammed my laptop shut so fast it nearly caught my fingers. I had braced for rejection, prayed for acceptance, and instead landed in the purgatory no one prepares you for. I’m not a betting woman, but if you had asked me then whether I thought I’d get in, I would’ve said no. Still, seeing it stung.
Continue readingSurvival Tips for Commuting in Boston
Boston’s charm lies significantly in its ancient origins that locals and tourists alike can still sense to this day. The vast expanse of Boston Common, centuries-old churches lining busy streets, and historic event markers all play a role in shaping a familiar image of the city. I firmly believe that no other big city in the United States can claim this aesthetic to the extent that Boston can. This memorable layout does, however, come at a cost.
Continue readingDiscovering Advocacy Before the Courtroom: My Journey to Law School
One Monday morning in the summer of 2022, I was greeted at work by my boss eagerly telling me today I would be meeting the defendant in the self-defense case I just started working on. After anxiously waiting until lunch, I watched with surprise as a young boy—barely five foot seven and still sporting a baby face—walked through my door and told me he was just seventeen yet was being tried as an adult for second-degree murder.
Continue readingHow My Grandmother’s Escape from Persecution Helped Me Discover My Own Path
Ilovik, Croatia, is a sparsely developed island with a compact area of just five square miles. With only 60 permanent residents and a modest influx of expatriates each summer, Ilovik’s way of life is characterized by its isolation and limited resources. The idyllic beauty of the island belies the history and complex legal struggles of many of its inhabitants. I have spent most of my childhood summers visiting my Baba, Croatian for grandmother, in Ilovik. During these visits, as I listened to Baba’s poignant recollections of her time on and off the island, I discovered my calling to pursue a career in law.
Continue readingA Sit Down Chat with BC Law Legend Professor Bloom
Generations of BC Law alumni have found common ground in relating their experiences with the institution’s most revered fixtures, names like Hillinger, Brodin, Blum, and Katz. This week, I had a chat with Professor “Bob” Bloom, an alum himself and a remarkable legal educator whose one-of-a-kind style has left an indelible mark on any student privileged enough to take his courses (BC Law Magazine published a lengthy Q&A with him last spring; read that here).
Continue readingFour Notorious 2L Summer Associate Stories
Every 2L summer associate dreams of a smooth path to a six-figure salary. But not everyone makes it to the finish line. For a select few, the summer ends not with an offer letter, but with a quiet email, a closed-door meeting, or in some cases, an HR debrief no one forgets.
Inspired by the most recent crazy case of the summer “Biglaw Biter,” the following are four other infamous examples of 2L summer associates who really went off the rails. All of them, for better or worse, are unforgettable—so unbelievable, you might think I’m making them up (so I included sources for you to prove it).
I probably don’t have to tell you this, but let this be your reminder: Biglaw firms are watching—and they never forget.
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