Daily Reflections on the 2022 CLEO Pre-Law Summer Institute

If you’re anything like I was when I was in my summer before law school, you may be thinking you will have 150 pages to read a week, will be in the library at absolutely every hour, and any sliver of a social life will be gone. After surviving a full year of law school I am happy to say that is not the reality! There is a lot of dense reading, the library or your chosen study space will be where you spend a lot of time, and your social life may have to be adjusted, but it should not need to disappear altogether.

Something I highly recommend is drafting a study schedule. When I made my first version it was packed with school and I would have a total of 5 hours of “me time” a week. This was unsustainable and I found myself getting burnt out very quickly. After talking with some upperclassman and wonderful staff and professors, I learned that it is just as important to take time to recover and rest as it is to be studying hard. Without down time your brain cannot fully absorb the information and you will not be at your sharpest. Taking breaks also reminds you that there is a world outside the law school and that you have interests and are a well rounded for person.

I took that old study schedule and restructured it. I did my best to have study times be like a normal work day from 8 am to 5-6 pm. I also took Saturdays off from school completely. Some of my classmates thought I was crazy but after sticking to this schedule for even just a week I felt more refreshed and like I could give my all to my studies. This is the schedule that worked for me, it may not be one that works for you and that’s okay. The most important thing is to remember how important it is to take breaks so you can relax and refresh and find what works for you.

So, while you are looking forward to your first week of classes with CLEO I encourage you to find times to take breaks so you can come back to your studies as your best self.

Good luck and have a relaxing weekend!

– Claire Murtha, CLEO PLSI TA

Before I joined my law school, I was scared to death. I was scared because of my identity. I am an Indian girl who was flying all the way to United States to live her dream – her dream of becoming a lawyer. I was scared that I will be treated differently because of my accent, because of skin color, because of my life experiences. I thought that I will never be able to make friends, I will never be good at what I will study and most of all, I was scared of failure. I was scared that I will fail myself and my parents. After coming to United States and when I was in your shoes, I was overwhelmed with all the advice that I got from my seniors, the faculty and the staff. Moreover, the mighty internet was always there to scare me with gazillion stories of how difficult law school is.

However, after finishing my 1L year successfully, I think what I will suggest to other incoming law students is – have patience and be determined. Law School will be intimidating no matter how mentally prepared you are. Your classrooms will be filled with most intelligent, hardworking and strong headed people who are there for a purpose. Everyone will be busy all the time. Library and common spaces will always be occupied with students who are studying. Even I wanted to ‘know it all’ so that I am on track in this law school race. But what I learnt is, law school curriculum is not a race. Law school is a discipline that needs practice and patience. The more you do it, the better you get.

When our classes began, my first aim was to learn how to read in law school. After spending the entire day in reading few pages assigned for next day’s class, I was still confused and clueless. The struggle was to study. There were so many other worries like 1L summer job, organization events, events organized by career’s office, pop-up clinics etc. Law students, like me, also go through our personal battles. There were times when I was lost, frustrated and angry. I would question my decision to come to law school every week. I have completed all my education in English and yet, I was always scared to speak in front of others because I would worry that others will not understand my accent.

What has kept me going was my determination that “If I am in it, I will do it.” I realized that law School will always be challenging, but the approach that you take towards this challenge is what will decide how will this experience turns out for you. I learnt that what works for me is that I have to be patient and concentrate at one thing at a time. I wanted to have 1-1 ½ day free every week so I made sure I am doing all my assignments beforehand. I realized that I am not a multitasker and therefore, I had to let go off many wonderful opportunities to participate in other events and pop-up clinics so that I can focus on my studies, I can prepare my outlines and study for the classes. It took me time. It is slowly and steadily that I developed my pace and understood what works for me and what does not. But I could only realize all this because I was determined that I will not let this dream go away.

If I can do it, you can too!

– Dharvi Goyal, CLEO PLSI TA

Congratulations on your completion of the first week! And thank you for your determination. I read blogs posted by students, TAs, and Professors and was deeply impressed. Keep going, and you will get it. Yes, you can.

I am truly excited and honored to participate in CLEO PLSI as a teaching assistant. If things were normal, I could have chances to see you all, but I’m glad that the program is still going, and I could share a bit of my experience.

When I had an interview with Dean Dodge for the CLEO PLSI TA position, he asked me why I applied. I answered that I wanted to help students to succeed in their law schools by sharing my unique experience and tips. At that time, I had finished my first semester and in normal learning settings, namely, not in new normal settings. Now that I have completed my second semester in remote learning settings, I can share both experiences. I hope that my experiences and tips will help you settle in the new normal era.

Impacts: You will not physically attend law school. Instead, you will attend law school virtually, at your home, as you are doing nowadays. That means it is highly likely that you will not feel you are attending law school. You will be at home when the class starts. You will be at home when the class ends. You will be at home during break time between classes. You will be at home when you are studying. You will be at home when you are taking exams. Most importantly, there will be no boundary between your home and law school. I spent two days when my law school decided to proceed with the semester in remote learning settings to figure out what I have to do or what I have to change in remote learning settings.

Tips: Don’t forget that you are in law school, and you are a law school student, no matter what the circumstances are. Professors will teach you, staffs will help you, and your class will study with you. You will be a lawyer.

Read casebooks, make summary notes, make outlines, and make flashcards. Set up your study plan and keep the plan. Designate your law school place at home and study there. Ask questions and answer questions. Check the office hours and make an appointment. Ask for help and get help. Just do as a law school student as if you are at your school campus.

Dress up as if you are on the campus. Sit in front of your desk as if you are attending the class. Open your video as if you are in front of your professor. Open your mic as if you have a question in the class.

Nothing can substitute for in person, face to face circumstances, but do your best way to avail yourself of remote learning settings. In my case, it was easier for me to ask questions than when I physically attend law school. Professors will be right in front of you and can hear you loud and clear. Just open your mic and ask/answer questions. Even if you were wrong, believe me, you will feel much less embarrassed than physically attending classes. The other students are on screen, not right next to you. Also, it was better for me because I didn’t have to carry my rucksack filled with casebooks and binders.

If I could study remotely, you can do it. I am from South Korea, and English is not my native language. It was my first time living and studying in the United States. I am the first generation in my family who enters a law school. I am married, and my wife also studied at Dickinson Law at the same time. We have a five years old daughter, and her preschool was closed. We lived in a small apartment with two dogs. I washed hundreds of dishes and cups a day because we didn’t have a dishwasher. It was really hard for me to study remotely, but I did it. If I did, yes, you can. My biggest concern during the last semester was lack of toilet paper, not studying remotely.

Law school is tough. Studying law is hard. Remote learning does not make studying law harder. It just makes us study law in a different way. But you can do it. You will be a lawyer.

– Yangmo (Harvey) Ahn, CLEO PLSI TA

This afternoon I had the privilege of attending my first Zoom wedding.  Two madly in love students at Penn State Dickinson Law persevered through unprecedented challenges to find a way to exchange their vows and involve people that care about them.  I admit that I cry at every wedding and was curious if I’d do the same at this one.  Comfortingly, the waterworks started up almost immediately.  It was the same, but different.

I’m feeling that way about this year’s CLEO Pre-Law Summer Institute (PLSI) too.  My colleagues at CLEO and Dickinson Law worked so hard over the last nine months to get the logistics together for this summer.  Housing secured, classrooms booked, outings on the calendar, and more.  Then in mid-March, everything changed.  What worked for 51 other years could not be done this year.

Initially, we discussed cancelling the program altogether.  We were worried that we couldn’t be as effective with remote learning.  Students would simply not experience the sense of community and connection that comes from PLSI.  We couldn’t fathom how to convert an entire program online in such a short time.  The new normal of living – nay, surviving – in a pandemic seemingly shut down our work, banished us to our homes, and made us feel powerless.

Much like the wedding, it was love that turned things around.  We love the mission of CLEO too much to let a year go by where we aren’t advancing the diversity of law schools and the legal profession.  Bernetta Hayes, in particular, began by asking questions.  We brainstormed potential answers.  Stakeholders were brought into the conversations.  Budgets were revised.  Technology was addressed.  We stepped inch by inch into thinking about the program in a different way.  By the end of that exploration, a decision was made.  We were doing this.  It was too important not to.

As I read each participants’ blog posts, I can’t help but be inspired.  They are having an experience that’s valuable to them that also builds on the half century plus legacy of the Pre-Law Summer Institute.  Our goals are being met and we have our participants, instructors, TAs, and administrators to thank for that.  In the end, it is the same, but different.

-Jeffrey A. Dodge, CLEO PLSI Director & Penn State Dickinson Law Associate Dean of Academic & Student Services

Grateful. That’s how I’ve felt every day of this program so far and it’s only week one! I’m sure I’ll continue to be amazed and forever humbly blessed with the amount of support and assistance we continue to receive from all our program coordinators. On day three, we finished up our workshop with Professor Ana Otero. She was such a well-rounded professor to learn from, that provided a lot of necessary information and guidelines to manage our 1L year and even this program itself. I feel like I would’ve been so lost or confused at the start of the school year but now I feel a certain level of understanding of what to expect, realistically.

I am looking forward to beginning the “class” portion of the program to put some of my new found skills to use. I want to learn how to best organize myself and enhance my metacognition skills in these courses. It will give me a certain sense of stability in a time that I know will be chaotic at first until I fully figure out the reigns of law school.  Professor Otero and Professor Lain, each instilled in me that in those times when things feel too difficult to manage or in times of doubting myself and feeling not ready or good enough for this journey, to always remember my “Why?”. My “Why?” will remind me of my purpose and why I decided to embark on this journey. My “Why?” will outweigh my fears or doubts and propel me forward.

Thank you to every single person involved in this amazing mission and thank you to my fellow participants for the support and amazing camaraderie. I look forward to what the future holds for all of us.

-Somarys Alcantara, CLEO PLSI Participant

You may have already had your first cold call and found out if you’re one of the lucky ones who finds answering a cold call exciting (or at least just okay) … or if you’re like me and find them difficult and stressful.  I’ll give you my best advice for answering cold calls.

Bring written notes

If you’re finding that the most stressful part of getting a cold call is fear of saying something wrong, I suggest you to come to class prepared with a written brief.  Having a written out (or typed and printed) brief physically in my hands made me feel more assured that if (and when) I was cold-called I’d be in a better position to answer.  In classes where I had done the reading but had not prepared a brief, I always had a little extra worry in the back of my mind the whole class.  Students take different approaches to briefing cases and each class will probably require a slightly different approach as well. But what was consistent for me was just knowing I had my notes with me and available brought my cold-call stress level down.

What if you haven’t read?  I found that cold calling was a pretty effective way to keep me on track, but once or twice I just hadn’t been able to get through the entire reading for the day.  If your professor has a policy of a “pass day”, I recommend you take it up front.  Don’t wait for the entire class to pause while you explain you can’t answer.  Also, if you try to fake it through a case that you didn’t read or barely skimmed, it will be a painful experience for all involved!  I think it’s best to be upfront that you haven’t read, apologize and let class move on.  You can always speak to the professor after class or in office hours if you feel you need to.

Remember that your classmates are focusing on their own cold calls

In my first month of law school, my main fear of cold calling was I’d say something so off base and embarrassing that I’d get laughed out of law school altogether.  With time, I came to realize that if one of my classmates was struggling on a cold call I was usually thinking “wow, I am glad I wasn’t called for this question!” If you have prepared for class, and you’re struggling with a cold call, chances are most of your classmates would struggle with it as well, so don’t be too hard on yourself.

Keep it in perspective

Finally, cold calling was really in the forefront of my mind during my first semester and a big source of worry.  Most courses, though, do not assign a heavy weight in your final grade to your participation or how you respond to cold calling.  You should assign it a proportional amount of weight in your mind.  Take it seriously, but don’t think the world will end if you mess up a question.  If your classes are being recorded, go back and listen or watch yourself on the class recording on a day you took a cold call.  You’ll likely find that a pause that seemed to stretch on forever to you was just a couple of seconds!

Remember, most law students have a “memorable” cold call story or two, but I assure you that they are MUCH more memorable to you than your classmates!

You will also have questions which you volunteer to answer, and it will also make you more comfortable with cold calling.  As you get to know your classmates and your professors better, cold calling will get easier.   Finally, don’t be afraid to clarify if you don’t understand the question.  If the introduction to cold calling has been difficult, don’t panic!  It’ll get easier in time.

Good luck!

Kate Kuhn, CLEO PLSI TA

The only way online classes work is through user engagement, which this year’s CLEO students have already shown to be a strength.  I am impressed and rejuvenated by the professionalism of the 2020 summer class.  And I’m learning so much about law school from the professors, even as a rising 3L!

The risks of remote learning include the temptation to discretely multitask, the prevalent feeling of isolation, and the constant threat of unstable wifi.  (The first two are not that different from in-person class tbh.)  But as one student mentioned in a discussion this week, it’s hard to have a growth mindset when you are back in your childhood home.  Its hard to feel like a real law student when there is no separation from the usual family dramas.  I get that.  How does growth happen when circumstances indicate regression?

Time feels circular these days.  Political and current events make progress seem exceedingly incremental.   A friend of mine was protesting national police brutality right here in quaint Carlisle today, and he was spat on by an angry passerby.  I texted him to get tested for coronavirus and then logged back into class.   Maybe I should have been protesting with him.  But as another student and Professor Lain said, we have to pick our battles.  If I didn’t have time to protest today, there will be plenty more in the future.

I am filled with gratitude to be a part of this CLEO program as the tech TA.  I hope I can support a safe and focused environment.  I also hope to bring honesty about my law school experience, both good and bad, to help prepare this group of impressive attorneys for their future.

One of the other notable missing elements in remote learning is the absence of spontaneous gatherings after class.  I have often grabbed coffee with a classmate who I ran into while leaving the building, or had casual conversation for a moment in the street.  I’m sad that I don’t have that now with this group of amazing individuals.  But, with the state of the world right now, I’m glad that CLEO was not cancelled.  I know we can thrive online.  And I believe in meaningful connections across cyberspace.  I have personal career mentors from Singapore to Oklahoma that I’ve never even met in person, and I only have those opportunities because of the internet.

If anyone else acknowledges the need for casual conversation and wants to have coffee hour I’m totally down.  We could even incorporate that into some scheduled TA time if anyone is interested.  Spontaneous social time is as important as structured class time.

It’s important for us to identify and meet our needs.  This group seems very equipped to do so, and I’m just here to facilitate that.  Thank you for an inspiring first week!

-Jacqueline Stryker, CLEO PLSI TA and Technology Coordinator

Organize.  Plan.  Market.  Recruit.  Review.  Evaluate.  Select.  Coordinate.  Notify.  Implement.  These are just a few of the tools used to ensure participants matriculate at the CLEO Pre-Law Summer Institute (PLSI).  Every year, upon completion of the PLSI, the planning for the next summer institute begins.  Thus, the above cycle repeats itself.  Did I say all of this is done by one person?  The Council on Legal Education Opportunity, Inc.,  though nationwide in scope, has a small staff of six.  So while we operate as a team, only one person is devoted to each program.

PLSI is a labor of love I have performed for the past 10 years.  And I wouldn’t trade this responsibility, this mandate for anything.  I take CLEO’s mission to “inspire, motivate, and prepare students from underrepresented communities to succeed in law school and beyond” very seriously.  It is a heady feeling to know that you have helped hundreds of young people realize their dream of going to law school.

Contracts. Forms. Homework. FAQs. Information. Working with the host law school brings another layer of synchronization.  “Did you get the information I sent you?”  “What happened to the documents?”  “Is XYZ still enrolled at the PLSI?” “Do you think we can get ABC to speak at a lunch and learn?”

Then, finally it is the big day.  The day the students, the facilitators, the deans, and the administrators have all been waiting for—the opening of the Pre-Law Summer Institute. Students have butterflies, administrators have sweaty palms, and professors are anxious.

Throughout the six weeks, students have questions or problems.  During the institute, participants want to know how they can get a better law school package.  “Should they interview with MNO law school?”  “Can CLEO help me get into another law school?”  “Can I be excused from this class since my dog died?”  Each problem has its own solution.  And, we help to find answers.

So what really goes on behind the scenes to put on a CLEO Pre-Law Summer Institute?  Hard work and grit.

 

Bernetta J. Hayes

Director, Pre-Law Program Operations

Council on Legal Education Opportunity, Inc. (CLEO)

Today in class with Professor Lain, we discussed the importance of a Growth Mindset. In law school, students who had a growth mindset realized that failure is not permanent and that the fight to do well in class is best won by having grit, passion and perseverance. It has been a lifelong dream of mine to excel in law school but after losing both my parents, I began reevaluating whether I would ever regain the strength to perform well this Fall. Well overcoming that struggle is being made a reality with the CLEO Pre- Law Summer Institute. Professor Lain’s class today, in a very emotional way encouraged me to take control of my future by remaining resilient. She provided us with countless opportunities to connect with our peers during break out sessions on how to confront negative thinking.

We also focused on how mindset and achievement are closely connected. Students who committed themselves to having little to no social media presence, a strict study schedule and managed to maintain self-care all contributed to them often times being in the top 10% of class. This class today was extremely important for me. I am grateful for how Professor Lain is helping me to turn one of my private trials into a public VICTORY.

Kaci L. Stewart, CLEO PLSI Participant

I just finished teaching the two-day “1L Prep –Attitude is Essential” workshop for CLEO’s 2020 Pre-Law Summer Institute. First, I want to thank everyone at Penn State Dickinson Law, who has contributed to the success of this great program.  In particular, Dean Dodge, Jacqueline Stryker, and Linda Evans. Jackie, Dickinson’s tech coordinator and a TA, monitored my workshops with a calm and poise that is infectious. I so appreciate her interactions with the students, vetting and answering emails, and alerting me about specific questions that I needed to address.  We could not have done this without your assistance, and I am deeply grateful.

For me, it was a great experience! Students were highly engaged and asked thought-provoking questions about law school, assigned materials, and the practice of law.  Throughout the two days, the level of enthusiasm and engagement never wavered. On the first day, I offered an overview of the Uniform Bar Exam to show how 1L year relates to the ultimate test. We discussed the American Legal System and its foundation for an understanding of the differences between the federal and state governments. We also discussed the purpose of case briefing and reviewed the assigned cases by using the Socratic method.

For their homework, students completed the briefs of the assigned cases, identified new terminology, and worked on drafting the rules of law. I called on students to answer questions on the cases, and they were all well-prepared and eager to answer.  Even when I asked questions regarding complex legal issues, their answers were thoughtful and insightful.

On our second day, we continued examining and briefing the cases. Students were quizzed on hypotheticals and in the identification of the components of a case brief.  The challenges of remote teaching did not deter this group of engaged students who consistently kept their hands raised. Throughout the two days, both Jackie and I vetted and answered questions regarding the process of law school, studying strategies, outlining, and exam writing. Their questions evinced thoughtful and critical minds poised for hard work and determined to succeed.

We also discussed critical reading, analysis, synthesizing rules, and creating outlines.  At the end of class, we reviewed a practice exam based on the intentional tort of battery. I asked students to explain how they would draft the answer and got very accurate responses.

On the second day, I played a clip of oral arguments before the United States Supreme Court in a death penalty case where the defense lawyer was arguing that the execution of the intellectually disabled violates the 8th Amendment. The students were energized by the arguments and impressed by the defense lawyer’s handling of the bombardment of questions by the Justices.  We had a vigorous conversation about the role of an appellate lawyer in advocating for his client and the rigor of preparing for arguments before the Supreme Court. They loved this reality TV moment!

During the two days, I strived to maintain the same level of academic rigor that I implement in law school.  I was candid about the law school process and encouraged questions about what to expect in their first weeks.

Overall, I am thoroughly impressed with this group of students! During this challenging time of public health, economic, and social justice crises, I feel privileged to teach this new crop of students who will, undoubtedly, become stellar lawyers. The passion, commitment, and tenacity I observed during these challenging times speak volumes of their determination to become successful lawyers.    I am proud to teach students who will join the ranks of lawyers willing to serve the needs of the marginalized and who will make an impact on social justice.  I am grateful for the generosity of institutions like Dickinson Law in advancing these noble causes.