“How do I know what area of law to practice in? I am worried that everyone says practicing law is very different from studying law, and that I might end up somewhere I hate. There are subjects I like studying, but how do I know if I should pursue them in practice? Read more…
“Did the time you dedicated to study at law school prepare you well for the hours you had to work as a junior lawyer?” – Jack, 19 In a word, no. In more words, no but it didn’t matter too much. In my first job I was contracted to Read more…
Dear Katie – How important are grades? “I’m currently studying at VUW and there has recently been a data release that seems to indicate we are graded much more harshly than other law schools. Even before this, I feel there is a real atmosphere that you must have the best Read more…
“How can I stay positive and optimistic about a career in the law, in the face of all the bad news stories that are popping up at the moment? There have now been a number of articles written by women who used to work in senior positions within the law, Read more…
When I was in law school I amused myself in lectures by writing dumb jokes and asides throughout my notes, and referring to all male litigants as “Dude” and all male judges as “Judge Dude”. I was going to find a cool example and share it in this column, but Read more…
What are some tips for managing stress around exams and assignments? – Exam stressed, 23 I have 1000 words here and I could give 1000 tips, but instead I will give one. Well, one with bits attached. Let me start by saying that there are a bunch of obvious Read more…
Dear Katie – Should I take tax law? “Does it matter what subjects I take at law school? Everyone says to do tax law, is this true?” – Lost and Confused, 23 Oh my gosh, please promise me you will not take tax law. Even after I tell you Read more…
Hello, readers. Welcome to the inaugural article in this advice column for law students and graduates. I am pretty damned delighted to be here.
One thing that your lecturers and advisers never tell you is that your essay can be improved dramatically just by having a friend proofread it. This doesn’t mean that they can go in and actually change your wording and rewrite the thing – because that would be plagiarism and it Read more…
By Mary-Rose Russell, an extract from Legal Research in New Zealand Components of the legal research process The legal research process comprises a number of discrete steps, each of which calls upon skills which law students are expected to acquire, whether or not they are taught them as part of the Read more…