Skip to main content

10 Things I Would Go Back & Tell My Law School Self


My 2nd year of law school at Texas Tech
(I had 2 children during law school, this is Kiki my first)

I think about my third son Spencer all the time as he just started his first year at Cornell Law School. This week, I came up with this list for him. These are the things I would go back and tell my young, full of wonder self  27 years ago. Maybe this can help other young law students or aspiring lawyers.

10 Things I would go back & tell my law school self:
  1. Focus on writing. It’s how the top lawyers in their field help other lawyers and share their knowledge en masse with the world. Publishing is essential.
  2. Give back. Look around and remember how your fellow students are struggling and need financial aid. Make it a goal to give back. It’s a worthy endeavor that I wish more lawyers would do.
  3. Show gratitude. Appreciate your professors. They have sacrificed an exciting life in the ring to teach. This is huge.
  4. Be kind. As you look around and feel the surging blood of competitiveness, know that true winners combine competitiveness with kindness. In the real world, clients don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.
  5. Don’t be naive. The law is what judges and those in power determine it to be. This will shock you later. It is integrity and persistence that makes things right. You will have to work extra hard to fight bad laws, including getting involved at the lesiglature. 
  6. Perfect preparation. Trials involve more preparation that you can imagine. Great work requires many hours. There is no substitute. Find a life partner that can be patient and respect this.
  7. Learn to listen. Law school teaches you how to argue. In the real world, the best lawyers are expert listeners and master storytellers. You can’t tell a story unless you learn to listen. Lawyers love to talk. You can’t learn the facts when you are talking. Storytelling is captivating. Learn the art.
  8. Develop meaningful relationships. Everyone is important. Some of your fellow classmates will do things you would never predict, including quit the practice.  Lawyers have one of the highest rates of substance abuse and suicide. Always be that someone that anyone can turn to. 
  9. Follow your passion. You don't have to know what kind of lawyer you will become. Trust that If you follow your inner voice, work prodigiously hard and care deeply about the people you are helping, the work will come to you. It is then that you will immerse yourself into the continued training and opportunities that will establish you. 
  10. Intensely investigate. Learn to be the best at research. In the real world, this will save you time and time again. Knowing every case that remotely touches your case will distinguish you. Get used to the massive amounts of reading. In the practice, you just have to do it faster.

Spencer Crawford at Cornell Law School
Love you Spencer, I'm always here.
Can't wait until you join the legal profession.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Texas Not Following Accrediting Agency Standards in Blood Testing

Mimi Coffey in a Gas Chromatography Lab 2023  Everyone knows you can’t compare apples to oranges yet this is what many Texas forensic laboratories are doing. ANSI/ANAB standards (who accredit Texas crime labs) are very specific on both quality control and method validation requiring some whole blood samples to be tested to adjust for the matrix effects that blood samples introduce in gas chromatography testing. Yet, most north Texas labs still ignore these “shall” (not optional) mandates opting to use aqueous samples (water based). Blood has compounds that interfere in analytical readings that water based calibrators and controls go not have. Does this affect the result? 100%. Absolutely. One study in Austin estimated an increase in alcohol (ethanol) by 20%. This is just one Texas government lab’s findings.  Bottom line- don’t trust the blood result. The State must do better. 
Post a Comment
Read more

Covid-19, Violent Offender Release

The News has reported that inmates in jails are being released due to covid-19.  Is this true? Yes. It has been reported and confirmed that inmates in Harris County, Dallas County, some Texas prisons and a juvenile detention center have the coronavirus.  This is a problem due to increased community spread in the jail environment; which outside of putting inmates' health in danger, endangers the lives of the jail and prison staff and adds more pressure to the hospital community. Are jails and prisons releasing inmates? Yes. This is not a blanket wide release of everyone in jail or prison. Each state, jurisdiction (federal or state), and county is making their own guidelines on release.  75% of all inmates in Texas county jails are not convicted. They are awaiting their case resolutions.   What about the release of violent offenders? Govenor Abbot issued executive order GA 13 which forbids the release of anyone who has been convicted of ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Can A DWI Affect My Eligibility For Global Entry?

In general, all United States citizens and lawful permanent residents possess eligibility to apply for Global Entry. This is a program through Customs and Border Protection that allows for expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travelers. That said, Customs my deny eligibility for a variety of reasons such as providing false information on the application and a finding of customs violation for *any* country (not just US Customs violations). However, there are 3 important reasons related to criminal defense that everyone should know. First, Customs may deny eligibility if you have been denied for the purchase of a firearm. This restriction is important because firearm restrictions may, on occasion, be a condition of a criminal charge, even if the charge is dismissed. Further, a denial of a firearm purchase may show Customs that you are not a “low-risk” traveler based on the reason for denial. Second, Customs may deny eligibility if you are the subject of an *ongoing investiga...
Post a Comment
Read more