a look back

My time in law school has come to an end. I was mentored by and became friends with some of the best people I will ever know. I am thankful for the learning opportunities through internships, clerkships, and volunteer activities that spurred me on to learn as much as I could.  Also, I cannot say enough about my professors and advisers for their relentless dedication to diligent representation of their clients and the learning environment they created for me and my classmates.  I have the utmost respect for them. The basic truth - law school is hard. It is unlike any other singular life experience that I can imagine. It stretched and molded me in ways - good and bad - that will stay with me for the rest of my life. In addition to learning the law, I learned some important truths, which I share now with you:

• It takes time to create big messes, and it takes time to resolve those messes.
• Sometimes "wait" is the best response.
• Attack big problems by breaking them into manageable pieces.
• Be honest with yourself, and everyone else.
• When anyone else is speaking, be quiet and listen.
• Read the instructions.
• Motives do matter.  Question them.
• No one - and especially judges - will care what you think until they know that your opinion matters.
• Don't burn bridges.  Even the ones you think you will never cross again.
• Never lie.  It's not worth it.
• Work hard.  If your job seems "easy," you're probably missing an opportunity to do something important.
• "Having" time and "making" time are two different things.
• Learn about your audience before deciding what it needs to hear.
• Be nice.
• Think ahead.
• Waiting until the "last minute" is rarely a good idea.
• Think before you speak.  Always.
• Few people care about what you did last night.  Or what you ate for lunch.
• Vision is good, but the details are what will kill you.
• Know the rules.  Cold.
• Be friendly to everyone.
• Know yourself.

Thank you for reading ...