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@legalwatch.vcu
"Now more than ever, it is imperative that we put pressure on our governments. Our mobilization must be stronger. We cannot become desensitized to the endless killing of Palestinians.”
Rumaisa Saeed
"You must always have faith in people. And, most importantly, you must have faith in yourself." (Elle Woods)
Emily Flammia
"Government bodies that pass laws against their own citizens reflect a classic dystopian narrative, which France has worked into making a reality."
Rumaisa Saeed
"Lift your hands and don’t be afraid to speak the truth. Do not let Western machines of propaganda influence or scare you into remaining neutral or silent. There is no neutrality when it comes to violations of law."
Nafisa Hafidh
"An unfortunate truth that I have a hard time digesting is the mental strain that NDAs have on individuals. Conflicting with my better judgment, I would like to think that the government only does good work -- my definition of good work does not involve hurting or abusing good-willed individuals in our societies. However, that is not always the case."
Taylor Booker
"This case is yet another example of corporations and the wealthy playing by a different set of rules, as they will still be allowed to forum shop but they are attempting to take that right away from anyone they have harmed. It merely creates another barrier to people seeking justice and compensation for harm done by large corporations."
Dylan Conway
"On February 28th, 2023, the conservative majority Supreme Court heard oral arguments for over three hours on whether or not President Biden has the executive authority under the Heroes Act to provide federal loan relief to more than 43 million borrowers."
Rachel Delgado
"A classic distraction technique, distracting us away from the real issues that they were voted into office to focus on: jobs, healthcare, keeping our children safe from harm at their own school."
Nicole Esteban
"I remember taking the LSAT for the very first time and, as I prepare to take it again in the Summer of 2023, I have found some tips and formed opinions that I wish to share from my experience with studying and taking the LSAT."
Emily Flammia
"If someone were to ask you what law is, the answer may be more elusive than you think. Of course, we all feel like we have an idea of what law is. We understand one another when we refer to it and we can communicate with one another with moderate success when we discuss the law. That being said, are we all talking about precisely the same thing?"
Fraser Trotter
"In honor of Black History Month, I thought it would be especially important to shed light on not only what it means to be black and Muslim, but our deep history in this country."
Nafisa Hafidh
"No matter what financial background, racial ethnicity or age, all individuals should have equal opportunity to score well on the LSAT without any barriers. It should be a priority to develop strategies to help mend some of the factors, such as the LSAT, that are contributing to the limited diversity within the field of law."
Janielle Walker
"Although Affirmative Action has been established for quite a while, and receives much support on the liberal side of the aisle, the policy itself faces some legal hurdles by potentially being at odds with the 1964 Civil Rights Act."
Fraser Trotter
"When Congress and the President decide to commit to reform, it'll demonstrate that those in power understand the urgency of repairing the justice system–but most importantly, they'll finally see that Black bodies aren't just nobodies."
Nafisa Hafidh
"Use your government given voice and protect students around you by voting for people who want them to shine their brightest and most authentic selves."
Katrina Pazmino
"The start of the COVID-19 pandemic not only drastically affected the lives of most Americans, but also excessively altered how law school application cycles traditionally look."
Nanjibah Khan
"Although SCOTUS justices may seem to only be considering their own partisanship in how they decide, there is at least a fairly consistent legal rationale behind many of their opinions, if you look close enough."
Fraser Trotter
"Iranian women aren't fighting to be free from Islam, they're fighting to free themselves from an oppressive regime that exploits women and Islamic law."
Nafisa Hafidh
"Many African Americans have helped transform the legal system by ending discrimination and breaking barriers. Nevertheless, as future African American lawyers, it is still our job to continue to improve the legal system by overcoming racial injustice."
Janielle Walker
"A lawyer can benefit society in a variety of ways, and it doesn't always have to mean taking the route of public interest law."
Nanjibah Khan
"The main purpose of schools is to educate and keep students safe, she said, and "politics do not have to be a part of that." "
Katrina Pazmino
"Mock Trial at VCU was founded only a year ago, and although we didn't participate in the formal tournament, we had in-house scrimmages and laid the groundwork for a long-lasting student group. VCU will be officially competing for the first time this year!"
Katrina Pazmino
"If you're a student in the U.S. and you're taking the LSAT-oriented approach to applying to J.D. programs in the U.S., these are the steps you need to take in order to best complete that process!"
Emily Downs
"I am getting the degree I am supposed to get and doing everything within my power to make myself a good student and prime candidate for continuing my education, but it never feels like enough. No law school is going to meet me where I am so I have to find another way."
Olivia Surface
"Attorneys have such an extensive pool of knowledge available to them; knowledge that can be extended for good. It just comes down to the decision to make use of it in the right way."
Nanjibah Khan
"When people ask me for advice on how to prepare for law school my answer is simple, maximize your time but maintain your joy."
Molly Calo
"So, you're deciding between law schools, or maybe you're considering which law schools to apply to. These are important decisions that will greatly impact the path of your future professional career."
Madeleine McLean
"It is inherent in the nature of sovereignty not to be amenable to the suit of an individual without its consent."
Noah Merritt
"The ACLU of Virginia, who filed the lawsuit, tweeted out its own statement: "We are glad the court agreed: No student should have to risk their lives to go to school.""
Katrina Pazmino
"At its core, book bans are a mode of censorship, a prevarication or infringement upon free speech, and yet despite its controversiality, it is entirely legal. However, that does not stop challenges arising against the bans reaching all the way up to the Supreme Court."
Madeleine McLean
"As a nation, we are at a time of great polarization that while benefiting no one, both the Democratic Party and the Republican Party are heavily participating in. The negative effects of this have a bigger impact than most can imagine, and as a country that others look to, we need to reflect and change."
Katrina Pazmino
"The Supreme Court of the United States handed down an important voting rights decision in Merrill v. Milligan on February 7, 2022 via its shadow docket. The shadow docket is when the Supreme Court issues emergency orders or summary decisions without hearing oral arguments, often not explaining their reasoning."
Noah Menotti
"I have analyzed many of the most popular LSAT prep courses out there in terms of pricing, quality of the materials, length of the course, and how much individualized help you get from it and have compiled a list of the best ones in order to assist you in finding the prime one for you based on what you're prioritizing on this journey."
Ginny Khan
"I applied to law school in 2021. During that process, I gained so much insight into putting together a law school application. I hope that you can gain some insight from what I learned."
Molly Calo
"untethered, in any causal sense, from the workplace."
Noah Merritt
"I believe that many parents, along with the governor, who are adamantly opposed to the mandates, are recognizing the paradoxes that are revealed all in the name of "public health.""
Jacob Dunn
"International law is composed of two main sectors: public and private. Cornell Law School defines public law as law that, "concerns itself only with questions of rights between several nations or nations and the citizens or subjects of other nations." Contrastingly, Cornell defines private law as law that, "deals with controversies between private persons." Recently, however, the distinction between these two sectors has become increasingly blurred as there can be overlap. The dealings of private law might include public law and vice versa."
Madeleine McClain
"Going to law school is a big decision – and one that could potentially cost you. At the very minimum, law school is composed of three exhausting and emotionally draining years that often leaves one with a six-figure pile of debt. We want to help, but it is a deeply personal decision to make, and there's no right answer or path that works for everyone – so we did the best we could: we compiled a list of questions to ask yourself before filling out that application."
Emily Downs
"Of course, Legally Blonde is meant to be a frivolous movie, so accuracy was not the primary focus when it came to creating the film. But how accurate is it, exactly?"
Ginny Khan
"With the newest amendment to the Virginia Constitution in full toil, the issue of trust in the redistricting process has arisen and become a mainstream topic for citizens of Virginia."
Olivia Surface
"Prison overcrowding is not an effect of rising crime rates but a consequence of criminal justice policy and diminishes the ability of prison systems to meet basic human needs."
Katrina Pazmino
"...environmental law is a barrier between greedy, reckless human activity and the destruction of the Earth and its inhabitants."
Isa Merritt
"Have you ever found yourself watching a show on TV and thinking to yourself 'there's no way this is really what that's like'?"
Emily Downs
"Before jumping into a legal career, make sure it is something you are passionate about and interested in."
Molly Calo
"This past summer, that is a reality that college students across the country were faced with when colleges and universities across the country handed down mandates. Instead of rolling with the punches, eight students at Indiana University pushed back to an exceptional degree."
Jacob Dunn
"To celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, we will be highlighting two Hispanic legal professionals to recognize their incredible historic contributions to the legal profession."
Molly Calo
The abortion is a controversial procedure and the "right to choose" is highly debated among American citizens. It will be interesting to see whether or not the Supreme Court justices will vote to overturn Roe v. Wade after 50 years of constitutional and legal abortions in the United States.
Maddie Quigley
Time management is key in any student's life, but especially so in the lives of those who are considering pursuing a career in the field of law. The sooner you can recognize, accept, and internalize this, the better off you will be.
Emily Downs
Broadly speaking, it would be misleading to claim that there is zero relationship between those on the bench and the environment they operate in; legal realism advances that the influence of this external environment can have a liberating effect on the legal process and stimulate social and legal change.
Carl Warf
As American educator Stephen Convey iterates, "the key is not to prioritize your schedule but to schedule your priorities."
Hannah Pilli
Last fall I was a rising junior. On paper, I had everything figured out. Then, one afternoon last fall I opened a Zoom link to a meeting that would change my life.
Molly Calo
The most common pathway to a big law job is through being a summer associate during law school.
Sai Pendurthi
It is important to recognize that while many women are able to succeed as lawyers, there is still a long way to go in order for the legal field to be equal for women.
Maddie Quigley
Over time the Chevron decision became a flashpoint and a lens through which to view the role of bureaucracy and the scope of the modern administrative state.
By: Carl Warf
Save time with a multitude of styled components designed to showcase your content
Emily Downs
Finding a balance between these worlds is just the cherry on top. So, how do attorneys manage work, family, and social life?
Hannah Pilli
One piece of advice emphasized by the panel was the importance of widening one's circle of relationships before, during, and after law school. This ultimately requires one to make their own opportunities. That begs the question: how does one create their own opportunities?
Blane Murphy
Law School is an investment in yourself and your future so if you know it is something you want to do you should start saving for it now.
Kelsey Russel
Trigger Warning: This article discusses mental health. Reader discretion is advised.
Molly Calo
The purpose of the LPI and LPR is to be able to embrace diversity, keep families together, grow the economy, protect workers from exploitation, improve the employment verification process, and promote immigrant and refugee interrogation and citizenship.
Sai Pendurthi
The Constitution gives Congress the power to control federal spending, but historically Congress has granted the executive branch authority to spend federal funds during times of war or national emergency.
Maddie Quigley
With what appears to be ever-increasing support for court packing, one may wonder what the reasons for slow change in the area are. Obstacles include history as well as the lack of support from current leadership in both Congress and the White House.
Carl Warf
They've worked behind the scenes with the Pre-Law Society's executive board for months to get this operation up and running, and now they're finally ready to come forward.
Emily Downs