Do you have a court hearing coming up? Maybe it’s a custody hearing or criminal court. Have you asked yourself: “What should I wear to court?” I hope so. It’s important to look your best. Don’t embarrass yourself with poor courtroom attire. Keep reading to find out what to wear to court. [Read more…]
Should I Go to Law School? Resources to Help You Decide
So you want to go to law school? If so, you’ve probably asked yourself (at least I hope you have!) if you actually want to be a lawyer. Unfortunately, figuring out whether you want to be a lawyer is difficult. How is a college student or recent graduate supposed to know what it’s actually like to be a lawyer? Keep reading to help find the answer to “should I go to law school question?”
Navigation
Click on the links below to jump to a section on deciding whether to go to law school.
- Get Legal Job Before Law School
- Exercises to Familiarize Yourself with Real Legal Work
- Suggested Books for Pre-Law Student
Get a Legal Job
One great way is to get a job as a legal assistant at a law firm. You’ll be able to observe the firm’s day-to-day operations and get a sense of the lives that attorneys lead. But not everyone is going to be able to do that. Below are a couple exercises that will help you get a sense of what it is that lawyers do.
Exercises
Before we get to the exercises, it’s useful to understand a bit about the legal field. Broadly speaking, there are two types of lawyers: litigation and transactional. Litigation attorneys deal with disputes between parties, i.e. lawsuits. Transactional attorneys deal with agreements between parties, i.e. contracts. I’ve provided one exercise for each type.
Should I Go To Law School Exercise #1: Litigation
Litigation is the process of resolving disputes using the legal process. It includes civil lawsuits, criminal prosecutions, actions before administrative tribunals, and claims in private arbitration.
The purpose of this exercise is to familiarize you with how litigation works in the real world (as opposed to the super exciting way it works on television and in movies).
To illustrate this, we’re going to use King v. Burwell. This case is one of the many lawsuits that stemmed from the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare). The exercise is going to take you through the process of Supreme Court litigation (appellate litigation). It should give you a sense of the work product that litigation attorneys produce. [Read more…]
5 Best Property Law Supplements for Fall 2017
Looking to get an edge in property law? Then you definitely need a supplement or two to shoot ahead of your classmates on the final exam. Keep reading to find the best property law supplements for 2017.
Best Gifts for Lawyers: 40+ Lawyer Gift Ideas for the 2017 Holidays
Looking to buy a great gift for that special lawyer in your life? You’ve come to the right place. This lawyer gift guide has 40+ gifts for lawyers. The gifts are categorized and are listed roughly from least expensive to most expensive. The links in this article are affiliate links. Keep reading to discover 2016’s best gifts for lawyers.
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Best Gifts for Lawyers: Stocking Stuffers
For me, the very best stocking stuffers are things that bring life’s little pleasures. I recently bought a few extra iPhone cables and adapters for the house and office. Imagine living in a world where you never have to leave the room to charge your phone. You can give the gift of that world to your special lawyer for about $20.
Along the same lines, I love never having to look for a pen. My favorite is the Pilot G2 in Blue. They’re super smooth, last forever, and photocopy just like black ink. A box of 12 will keep you well stocked for the year.
More Pens for Lawyers
Best Gifts for Attorneys: Less than $50
If you’re looking for something funny or ironic, then you’ll find no shortage of lawyer-themed mugs and t-shirts on Amazon. I like this legal decision maker.
If a board game makes sense, go with Lawsuit!
For the Practical Gift Giver:
Do you like to give practical gifts? Then these options might be for you.
Some lawyers prefer mechanical keyboards to digital ones because they cause less stress on the lower arms, enable faster more accurate typing, and make a more distinctive sound.
Levenger legal pads are the Cadillac of legal pads. The paper is thick, sturdy, and luxurious. Pages are pre-printed with detailed header box for easy organization as well as margins for Cornell Method note taking. Along the same line, Leuchtturm makes some really nice executive notebooks in many sizes.
Useful Legal Books
A Manual of Style for Contract Drafting by Ken Adams. This book would benefit any lawyer, but it is predominantly for transactional attorneys (i.e. those who negotiate and draft contracts). Ken’s manual is basically the only resource for those attorneys who are looking for a rigorous approach to contract language.
Black’s Law Dictionary. It’s a dictionary for lawyers.
Lady Justice
Best Gifts for Lawyers: $50 to $200
If you looking to sharpen up the decor in your lawyer’s office, here are some ideas for office accessories:
- Reed and Barton Alexandria letter opener and card holder
- Michael Aram magnifying glass and letter opener set
- Michael Aram candy dish
- Dacasso leather desk pad
- Marquis by Waterford: Decanter and matching glasses
Best Lawyer Gifts: $200 and up
If you’re thinking about getting your lawyer a tablet, I highly recommend the [easyazon_link identifier=”B01606KJ6C” locale=”US” tag=”theofanis-20″]Surface Pro 4[/easyazon_link]. Just about every lawyer that I’ve seen at court using a tablet has been using a Surface. There are a few models that vary in price from around $900 to $1,800. The lower end model is probably sufficient for most legal applications.
Best Brief Case for Lawyers
I see far too many lugging around their case files in bags that are unbecoming of a professional, such as messenger bags, backpacks, or even schwag bags from conferences (!!!). Even if your lawyer doesn’t do this, it’s always nice to get an upgrade.
Filson’s Original is a nice entry-level brief case made from water-resistant twill. It has two interior sections and 4 interior stow pockets. Zippers are quality YKK. It’s made in the USA.
If you’re looking for something more traditional, I like this classic model from Jack Georges.
Best Bags for Female Attorneys
Don’t worry, I consulted heavily with my wife on this section.
The Lodis Audrey Brera Cross-Body Briefcase is sleek, stylish and professional. It comes in a few other colors besides tan, of which red is next best.
For a larger capacity, the Michael Kors Jet Set can’t be beat. My wife uses this bag. I’m constantly amazed how much it can hold. Another huge plus: it comes in over 10 colors. The Tumi Sinclair Nell Tote is similar to the Jet Set, but comes in fewer colors.
And, if you’re hunting for big game, take a look at the Prada Saffiano.
Best Watches for Lawyers
I personally go low rent in the watch department. I wear a Timex Expedition with a nylon strap that I swapped in. If I ever decide to upgrade, I’m going with the Hamilton Khaki Field Watch.
The Komono Magnus is sharp choice for less than $100.
Best Shoes for Lawyers
Dress shoes are an important part of a lawyer’s wardrobe. A $1,500 suit won’t look impressive at all with a beat up pair of Oxfords. With dress shoes, you should go for quality. Make sure that they can be resoled when the sole wears thin. And make sure they fit! I think most people buy shoes that are too narrow. Not everyone foot width is medium. That’s why I love Allen Edmonds. The majority for their shoes, both casual and dress, are recraftable and come in many widths. Their flagship shoe, the Park Avenue cap-toe Oxford, comes in 6 colors and 9 widths! I’m sure you’ll love the fit. If you’re thinking of wing tips, go with the McAllister.
Hard to Buy For
If you made it this far, there’s a good chance your lawyer is hard to buy gift for. If that’s the case, I recommend the Kindle by Amazon. Who wouldn’t want their entire library at their fingertips? I love my Kindle and have gone through a few models over the years.
Happy Shopping!
5 Best Torts Supplements for Fall 2017
Looking for a best torts supplements for Fall 2017? Then you’ve come to the right place. Keep reading to find out which law school supplements are best for torts law.
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