We’re back! After an unintended hiatus, sponsored by the generous folks at WhatDayIsItAgain? Inc., Chris, Cat and Rachael reunite for an episode of reflection. We started Zooming Through Law School when, as Chris aptly put it, we were all trying to make a virtual law school happen as fast as we could. Now, a year and some change later, we are emerging out of pandemic-panic but we are not back where we started. Moreover, we no longer have last year’s fantasy of ever being back where we started. Instead, we are all working to wrap our minds’ around what-is-next of it all when it comes to learnin ..read more

Hey, law students, have you been wondering whether legal jobs and bar exams still exist in this alternate reality? We think these are extraordinarily relevant questions! At the top of the episode, Cat, Chris and Rachael talk about the thorn-bud-rose of it all when it comes to bar exams. The current climate in which public health needs stand in opposition to the needs of the July bar exam of yore has left us with a mixed bag when it comes to what the future holds. We get into what we know, and what we don’t.  Then, in part one of two in our discussions about law careers during COVID-19, Ch ..read more

In this final episode before we come back at you this fall, Chris, Cat and Rachael talk J.O.B.’s. This summer is probably not what you banked on, law students (and if you did bank on it, please contact us to talk stock markets and lottery numbers). Nevertheless, there are things to do! We discuss summer opportunities related to building expertise that will differentiate you in the post-pandemic legal marketplace and possible avenues for finding meaningful legal projects. In an interview with Devin Lintzenich, Director of Professional Development and Retention for Nashville law firm Bass Berry ..read more

There is a lot of downside, to be sure. But what if this moment of extreme adversity gives you a unique window for growth? What if you could emerge more empathic, focused, and able to withstand life’s stressors? This isn’t a pipe dream: it’s a reality! Listen to Cat and Rachael’s interview with attorney and founder of the Stress and Resilience Institute, Paula Davis-Laack, as they break down why you should look forward to the “you” who will emerge from this experience. Expect lots of advice and insight into how to best harness this opportunity, and to take good care of yourself in the process ..read more

It’s that special time of year when you get to climb the mountain of legal coursework that it took you 3 months to climb all over again in a matter of days. Except – plot twist! – now you have to do it with no printer, law library, or Starbucks. (And maybe you’re a little hungry because suddenly you live with your caloric-blackhole 18 year old Cross Fit-enthusiast brother.) Let Cat, Chris and Rachael talk you through the strategies and even the opportunities during this time. With special guest Madie Carpenter stopping by to offer a window into how Vanderbilt Law Review’s incoming EIC is appro ..read more

In this inaugural episode, Cat, Chris and Rachael take on why law school matters right now. And why it matters for varied, urgent reasons: your mental health, your academic future, and your personal path as a future attorney. Oh, and it’s arguably more true for those of you finding yourself in a pass/fail regime. Full show notes with links to resources and references: http://bit.ly/ZLSshownotes ..read more

Remember that two-week school break in March that turned into an episode of Black Mirror-meets-higher ed? Yeah, we do, too. Nevertheless, we didn’t call off learning and in spite of all of the Zoom cold calls, saliva testing, and nightmares where you can’t find the “down” stairwell, you all are doing it. Guess who’s doing it, too? Lawyers! They are working from home, going to court in masks, and Zooming the day a way. What does that mean for your future legal job? We bring back Nick Alexiou, VLS career counselor and jobs contributor at Above the Law, to chat about how the pandemic-as-baseline ..read more

Welcome, law school class of 2023! And welcome back 2L and 3L students!  This year’s law school journey begins amid a public health crisis that will present unique challenges to you as a human and as a future lawyer. The delivery of your education will be different. And your opportunities to find your place in this outstanding community will, more than ever before, require a commitment to engage in and embrace this experience. Your law school’s commitment to you remains the same, but with your professors and administrators have their eyes wide open about the myriad ways things are not law ..read more

In this episode, Cat and Chris speak to Alyson Carrel, professor at Northwestern Law and legal innovator extraordinaire, about what it means – empirically and practically – to be a high functioning lawyer. Alyson and our very own Cat Moon are co-creators of the Delta Model which is a multidimensional paradigm of what it takes to practice law. Of course, it takes knowledge of the law itself. But it also takes a human who knows how to take charge, play well with others, and to self-reflect and assess. This model is not merely descriptive, however, but is itself a call to action. This discussion ..read more

It’s always wine-o-clock somewhere when you have law school Zoom classes with people around the world. But should you indulge in a quiet glass of Sauv Blanc, and maybe some pithy Etsy tea towels to really commit to this life of a semi-shut in law student? Or, do you need to reduce or avoid alcohol intake in order to stay healthy? There is no one-size-fits-all answer. And there is definitely no universal taste in tea towels (but Rachael likes this one a lot). There are, however, realities we all need to reckon with. Namely: law students statistically suffer from mental health issues and substan ..read more