Creating the Best Law School Study Group

If you’re in law school, putting together a small study group can be extremely beneficial. However, the quality of the group will hinge on those you include, so it’s important to weed out those students with abrasive personalities, a lack of dedication, and other undesirable traits. Additionally, these tips can help you put together a study group that will benefit each person involved.

Focus the Size and Schedule of the Group

To start, you will want to determine how many people will be included in the study group. While three to six members is ideal, you should try to maintain an even number of members, so the group can break down into partners when necessary. Additionally, you should know in advance what days of the week you’ll be meeting and for how long. Meeting for one to three hours is a good plan, but try to choose the days and times that will be convenient for most people.

Set Expectations for Participation

Whether you assign reading for each following meeting, or the group agrees to prepare for each meeting in some other way, establish that these expectations must be met. If your members aren’t following through with these plans, no one will be getting much out of the sessions. If necessary, it may be wise to create a system for eliminating members who aren’t regularly participating. While friendships shouldn’t be discouraged, the primary function is to help one another learn.

Choose a Proper Meeting Place

Moving the site of your study group sessions from week to week can be a distraction in itself. Ideally,choose a distraction-free place that you will be able to use every week. If you can’t come up with a meeting place on your own, contact the school administrators and find out if they have an available classroom you can use. You should choose someplace that’s away from noisy areas. You may also choose to eliminate the use of cell phones during sessions.

As your study group gets going, you can also consider how it will be managed. Will you always be in charge, or will leadership rotate from week to week? Encouraging more participation in setting goals and developing new projects will help keep everyone interested. Being flexible in managing your study group will help it improve over time, which will ensure everyone gets more out of the experience.

3 Tips to Help Prepare for Your Law School Interview

Preparing for a law school interview can be a daunting and overwhelming endeavor. Interviews, in general, can cause many people anxiety. When an interview can alter an individual’s career path and impact their future; however, it takes on a heightened significance.

One important aspect all candidates should understand from the outset is that the interviewing process is not cut and dry. Instead, most prospective students should expect a nuanced and detail-oriented approach geared towards getting to know each applicant better. That being said, here are some tips on how to rock a law school interview.

Find Out How the Interview Will Be Structured

Another consideration to ponder is that not all law schools conduct interviews. Of the institutions that do, the approaches may vary significantly. Some schools offer individual, one-on-one sessions while others prefer group interviews. Others may encourage in-person interviews, or they could send detailed questionnaires to gather more intel on potential candidates. Meanwhile, some institutions allow prospective students to request an interview, whereas others are strictly by invitation-only.

Many law schools are moving towards an online interview approach via Skype, Google Hangouts, WebEx, or other similar web conferencing tools. This shift has made the process much more streamlined, time-efficient, and cost-effective.

Avoid Repeating Known Information

This is one of the most common interview mistakes made by aspiring applicants. They have a tendency to repeat their resume or details already clearly outlined in their application. To avoid this misstep, prospective students should focus on mentioning any new accomplishments or information that was not included in their application packet.

Some examples worth noting might include awards, internships, research projects, published articles, leadership roles, or recent volunteer opportunities. By providing such tidbits, the admissions staff can form a more complete picture of the candidate and determine whether they will be a good fit for the school.

Be Prepared and Natural

Candidates should be prepared and do their research on any law schools they are considering. While the specifics should be reviewed before applying, it is crucial to do so if an interview is scheduled. Applicants should speak naturally, stay relaxed, and at ease. Moreover, they should feel the institution is a good match for their abilities and interests. Furthermore, they should be able to envision themselves as students there and feel it will be a positive and nurturing environment that is conducive to learning.

Also, try to connect with the interviewer. This tip will not only help a candidate’s chances of an offer, but it allows the person to view the applicant as a potential asset to the school.

By following the suggestions outlined above, a prospective student can rock a law school interview and bolster their chances of securing an offer.

What to Pack for Your Next Backpacking Trip

There’s nothing worse than setting out on a backpacking trip only to find you forgot something critical. Many avid campers and backpacking enthusiasts keep their backpacks stocked with essential items. However, even the savviest hiker forgets to restock important gear.

Whether you are a novice in the backpacking world or returning after an extended absence, it’s tough to know just what to bring without overloading your pack and your back. These tips should help you fill your backpack with the necessities. Time and experience will bring the confidence necessary to create your own customized list.

Most experts agree that the best backpacking tip they have is to keep it light. Keep your essential items weight-free as much as possible. If you plan to bring a book, think paperback instead of that hardback edition.

Short-Term Backpacking, Hiking and Camping Essentials

If you plan to head up to the mountains to hike for a few days, you’ll want to include most or all of these things in or on your backpack. Basic items start with a tent for a way to provide shelter. Next, a decent sleeping bag is important even during the summer months. Invest in a good sleeping pad to avoid sleeping directly on the hard ground and possibly risk getting wet and chilled.

Food and water are essential for existence. To this end, consider a lightweight, compact camping stove and a sturdy water bottle. Don’t forget utensils. A water filtration system or purifier is prudent no matter how clean the water looks. Expertsalso recommend matches, a headlamp or flashlight, a first-aid kit, and a map/GPS system. Layered clothing and proper footwear are vital to avoid injuries and protect your body.

Longer Backpacking for Mixed Environments

If you plan to use your backpack while traveling through cities and rural areas as well as for camping purposes, you may wish to include additional items. These essentials include a sturdy lock to stow your backpack securely while exploring a new town or city. If blogging is your passion, do not forget your laptop and a universal travel charger.

Wearing a security belt with a hidden money pouch keeps your funds secured far better than a slippery wallet. A folding day bag makes it easy to take only the items needed from your backpack for a quick trip to town. Don’t forget a towel for use after swimming or a shower. A mesh laundry bag is practical for stashing dirty laundry until you reach a laundromat. Finally, a folding toiletries bag keeps personal items organized and keeps them handy.

Organized backpackers recommend keeping a checklist of items you want in your backpack. Before setting out for the day or for a month-long journey, check off each thing on your list once it’s stowed safely within your pack.

How to Safely Manage Your Money While Traveling

There are so many things to worry about when traveling. How do I get where I’m going? What do I do if X happens? Will the taxi driver scam me? One of the most common worries is how to manage your money while you’re traveling. As with any of these worries, a solid plan of action is the best way to keep yourself safe and put the worries off to the side so you can enjoy your travels.

How to Use Your Credit Cards While Traveling

It used to be true that exchanging cash or using traveler’s checks were the best ways to pay in a foreign country. That’s no longer true. Whether your travels are domestic or international, your credit cards are a safe way to pay. If you lose your card or it’s stolen, you won’t be responsible for the charges you didn’t make. You can call the company to have your card frozen immediately. You can’t get your cashback once it’s gone.

If you’re traveling internationally, your credit card will usually give you the best currency exchange.

Two Bonus Tips for Credit Card Safety

The first is that you need to check your terms and conditions if you’re traveling internationally. Do you pay a foreign transaction fee? There are many great travel cards that have a 0% rate, so you might want to get one before you go.

The second consideration is how you will handle your money while traveling so you always have a backup. It’s better to travel with at least two credit cards so if one is lost, stolen, or the company puts a hold on your card for suspicious activity, you have a backup. If you have two bags, pack your cards in different spots.

How to Carry Your Money

Fanny packs became a tourist cliche for a reason. It keeps your money in a bag that’s wrapped around you so it’s tough for a bag snatcher to grab. It gives you easy access. And hey, the 90s are back, and lots of people are walking around with fanny packs these days. If that’s not your style, consider a money belt or a passport wallet you can wear under your clothes for managing your travel money safely.

Always put your wallet in your front pocket, not the back. This makes it more difficult for pickpockets to grab.

If you’re particularly concerned, think about carrying a fake wallet. Put some old cards in the fake wallet and carry it in a pocket that’s more obvious. The pickpocket will grab that without looking further.

They also now sell travel vests and jackets with inside pockets to keep your valuables safe.

Be Aware of ATM Fees

While credit cards are the way to go in most situations, sometimes you need cash. If you’re traveling internationally, consider opening a checking account with a bank like Charles Schwab or HSBC, which have no ATM fees. In fact, Schwab reimburses the ATM Fees charged by the other bank at the end of the month.

You don’t want to pull too much money from an ATM in foreign currency because then you’re walking around with a wad of cash, but try to think ahead and pull out more at once to pay fewer fees.

Don’t Worry Too Much

You need to be smart and aware while traveling, but don’t let the worry ruin your fun. You manage your money every day at home. You can do it while traveling just as well.

3 Things to Consider Including in Your Law School Personal Statement

Among the rites of passage involved in becoming an attorney, writing a stellar law school application is often a difficult first step in what can ultimately be a rewarding career. Writing law school application materials such as personal statements can be a confusing process, so don’t give yourself a hard time if you’re not sure what to do at first. Here are just a few concepts to include in your law school personal statement, and why doing so can really make your application stand out from the crowd.

Why You Want to be a Lawyer

While most applicants to law school say that they are pursuing a career as a lawyer in order to help people,the truth is that admissions committees will have heard some variation of this line a million times before.

It’s great to want to help people, of course, but showing law schools how you’ve explored areas of the law related to helping people can make your application truly stand out. Have you volunteered with a public interest law firm? Have you worked at a soup kitchen in order to help the homeless? Explaining how you’ve developed a desire to become an attorney that helps the public can show admissions committees that you’re genuinely committed to social change.

Why You’ve Chosen to Apply to a Specific Law School

As you might imagine, people choose the law schools they apply to for a wide variety of reasons. A law school may be close to where they currently live; they may want to study with a particular faculty member; they might be interested in an area of legal practice that the school specializes in. However, many law school applicants make the mistake of sending the exact same personal statement to all of their law school picks. If your statement is excessively vague, for example, admissions committees may feel that you don’t really care about getting into their school.

Describe Your Career Goals

If you truly want to be an attorney, show admissions committees that this is a career that you’re committed to. A career as a lawyer is not easy, and many attorneys burn out after only a few years of working. Indeed, having a strong sense of purpose can often mean the difference between a dissatisfying legal career and one that brings happiness into your life. If you show admissions committees why you’re in this for the long haul, they’ll be much more likely to give you a shot!

For these reasons, showing admissions committees that you’ve made an informed and thoughtful decision to become a lawyer can really set your law school application apart from the competition. Filling out law school applications isn’t easy, but putting in the time and effort to wow schools with your effort can really pay off. And that is a great start to a legal career!

When Should You Hire a Lawyer?

Depending on who you are, you are either loathe to hire a lawyer to handle your legal issues or you are quick to start looking for one every time you have a brush with the law. There are definitely times whenyou do need a lawyer, but there are just as many times when you do not.

Criminal Charges

The best reason to hire a lawyer is when you are facing serious criminal charges. This can be anything from a DUI to drug charges to being charged with a serious felony that can result in prison time. Since many people do not know their rights well enough to defend themselves in court when facing these charges, you should always find a good lawyer if you’re facing anything this serious.

Divorce

Going through a divorce is never fun, but it can be especially harrowing if your divorce is a really ugly one. Emotions are running high, which can cloud the judgment of yourself and your spouse. You need someone who is not involved who can keep a clear head, which is exactly what a good lawyer can be for you.

Wills and Trusts

Everyone should have a will or trust set up to eliminate as much confusion as possible when they pass away. A lawyer can help you navigate the complex legalities of a last will and testament so things are as clear as possible for your surviving loved ones

Business Startups

Starting your own business is always a hassle, and it’s easy to miss something that sinks your startup before it gets off the ground. Even if you only need a brief consultation to go over your paperwork and make sure everything is in order, you should definitely hire a lawyer to help manage your business in its earliest stages.

Lawsuits

Although some civil lawsuits are small enough to not require a lawyer’s intervention, you shouldn’t hesitate to hire someone if you stand to lose a significant amount of money or property when you are sued by someone. At the very least, a lawyer can help you learn about your rights in the lawsuit, and at the most, they can help you come to a settlement that makes all parties happy.

As a rule, you should consider hiring a lawyer if you believe that you have a lot to lose. Incidents such as speeding tickets, small claims court, or small lawsuits that are not worth disputing can be handled without a lawyer’s help. But, it always pays to at least know of a lawyer at all times. You will never know when you will need their services.

Introduction to Civil Litigatoin

Civil litigation is popular and frequently employed facet of the law. This type of legal proceeding helps resolve disputes between millions of people per year.

Civil Litigation Define

Civil litigation is the legal process by which two or more parties can resolve non-criminal disputes. For example, if one party was injured or incurred property damage as the result of another party’s negligence, the former might initiate a civil action (lawsuit) designed to recoup financial damages. Additionally, litigants proven guilty in civil actions are not found criminally liable. This means they do not serve jail time. However, they will be required to remit whatever financial penalty an adjudicating body deems appropriate.

Specific Types Of Civil Cases

Civil law can take several different forms. Arguably, amongst the more common civil disputes are personal injury and product liability cases. That said, there are numerous other types of civil cases that are argued. These include environmental issues, the validity of intellectual property, employment conflicts, real estate disputes, divorce proceedings, and workers compensation issues.

The Resolution Of Civil Cases

Many civil proceedings require the involvement of numerous varying steps. These steps might include investigation, pleadings, discovery (where further information is gathered and the parties in question are interviewed) and trial. In certain instances, the issue at hand does not proceed to trial and the respective parties agree to a settlement.

That said, the claimants (plaintiffs) in civil cases must successfully demonstrate that several important issues occurred for a court or other adjudicating body to award financial compensation.

In many cases, the claimant hires a litigation lawyer possessing experiencing trying personal injury cases or the facet of civil law in which they require assistance. Specific regulations vary from state to state.

However, under most circumstances, plaintiffs must clearly illustrate that an injury or some discernible damage against them, the party being accused is responsible for the events that resulted in their injuries or other matters (such as unfair employment termination or discriminatory housing practices) and that the injuries or hardships they claimed to have incurred were the direct results of the defendant’s actions and from no other injury or event. The slightest doubt could significantly hinder the plaintiff’s chances and, in some instances, they could walk away empty-handed.

Best Travel Destinations for Frequent Travelers

Traveling allows us to explore the world around us and expand our views on things that happen in different cultures. Travel allows us to become more empathetic to the people around us and allows us to be more well rounded. But for some people, they have the opportunity to travel all the time and claim to have “seen it all.” It’s time to broaden your horizons and try somewhere you never thought to visit!

Mauritius

Located in the Indian Ocean, this tiny island nation is the perfect spot for active travelers. With endless turquoise waters perfect for relaxing on the beach to water sports, there is something for everyone. Visitors can also explore Mauritius’ colonial trade hub history and sample local rum and street food. Mauritius is also home to churches, temples, mosques, and lighthouses all within walking distance of the panoramic beach views.

Kazakhstan

The ninth-largest country is the perfect destination for anyone who loves architecture. Kazakhstanis known for its city tours and expansive wilderness. With destinations stops in Almaty, home of clothing markets and upscale restaurants, to the Tian Shan mountains to hike the sacred forests, Kazakhstan is perfect for any adventurer.

Ecuador

Tucked along the Pacific Ocean, Ecuador offers mountains, beaches, rainforests, volcanos, and the Galapagos Islands. This oasis offers the best of both pre-Columbian and Spanish colonial culture perfect for any history buff. Ecuador is also a great location for anyone looking to travel on a budget.

Samoa

The island nation of Samoa is part of a ten island chain full of volcanoes, waterfalls, rainforests, beaches, and a variety of swimming holes. Whether you’re looking to swim in a natural ocean blowhole or dive deep into a cave pool, there is a swimming adventure for everyone in your travel party. Samoa is also the perfect destination for anyone who isn’t fond of staying in fancy, over the top resorts.

Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea may be towards the top of the U.S. State Departments travel caution list due to high crime rates, doesn’t mean that you should skip this amazing destination. Trips to Papua New Guinea should be planned through a reputable travel agency so you can explore the country’s stunning and diverse landscapes. Papua New Guinea is perfect for anyone looking to pack a bag and go on a hike!

How to Travel on a Budget

American’s let hundreds of hours of vacation go to waste every single year. Many claim they just can’t take time off work, but for a large majority of people, the cost of travel is what keeps them from packing their bags and hopping on the next flight out of town. If you’re looking to take advantage of your vacation days but worried about the cost of a trip, the following tips are for you.

Off-Peak Times

One of the best times to travel to places where its more expensive is during “off-peak” times. While these times vary by location, so it’s important to do your research before booking tickets and packing your bags. Traveling during the offseason will lead to cheaper flights, cheaper hotels, and less crowded travel locations.

Hostels

While there are budget-friendly hotels, staying in a hostel will get you a lower price than any hotel. Staying at a hostel allows you to meet new people, share transportation, dinner or even day trips. Hostels also come in a variety of types for any budget and sleeping preferences. From party hostels, relaxing hostels, rural hostels, and exotic hostels, there is something for everyone in your travel party. There are even apps like Hostelworld that let you find and directly book the cheapest accommodations in the country you are traveling in.

Take the Path Less Traveled

Sometimes when people travel the often want to check out places that their friends, coworkers or family members have recommended, but these locations can be crowded and ruin your trip depending on the time of year you’re traveling. To save money, check out a less popular travel location. Not only will you be finding a great, new place, but you won’t have to deal with a bunch of people. Destinations that appear to be a little more “off the beaten path” are becoming more popular with backpackers and travel enthusiasts.

Airports

It is much easier to fly in and out of the same airport, switching up the airport you fly in and out of in one city may save money! Airlines also offer discounts, and cheaper flights at smaller airports and some countries will even offer discounts for flying in for a layover in their country!

Flexibility

The most important thing to remember when traveling on a budget is to be flexible. Being able to switch up your plans at the last minute will allow you to take advantage of different deals and opportunities that can pop up during your trip. Do not let your travel plans be set in stone. You might miss out on some great opportunities on your trip!

What is Criminal Law?

Criminal law focuses on the enforcement of laws that prohibit certain behaviors and actions. Criminal lawyers can either prosecute individuals suspected of crimes or they can defend clients against criminal charges. When thinking about criminal law, here are a few things you will need to know:

Offenses and Charges

An offender is charged with the violation of law. It can be a local, state or federal law. Charges might differ depending upon the jurisdiction in which they occur. Though charges might differ, they fall under one of two categories. A felony charge is a serious charge that will result in a longer sentence. A misdemeanor is a less serious charge and may result in jail time at all.

If convicted of a felony, a person will spend a year or more in a state or federal prison. If convicted of a misdemeanor, an individual will spend less than year at a local jail or under supervision. Alternatively, they may spend no time in jail but will be required to pay fines, fees or perform community service.

Constitutional Rights and Criminal Law

Criminal laws aim to keep the public safe. However, criminal laws cannot supersede constitutional rights. Search and seizure, for example, might be required in order to prosecute a suspect. However, the police cannot improperly search or seize. They must first go through the process of attaining a warrant. This guarantees that the individual’s constitutional rights have not been violated.

Criminal Procedure

In keeping with the intersection of constitutional rights and criminal law, individuals within the legal system must adhere to certain procedures to ensure that constitutional rights are not violated. For instance, police must adhere to procedures that ensure a suspect understands their rights. Defense attorneys must follow procedures when seeking evidence that supports their client. Prosecutors must follow procedures that ensure the defense receives all evidence.

A solid understanding of the United States Constitution and in-depth knowledge of regional and local laws assist prosecutors in determining the appropriate charge. Defense attorneys are tasked with advocating in their client’s best interest. This simple overview of criminal law, reveals how much legal knowledge is required to protect the rights of everyone within a courtroom.