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Mixed Berries in Heart Shaped Bowl

Why We Created the Student Wellness Association

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Enrolling at Temple Law was, hands-down, the best decision I’ve ever made. After just one year in law school, I’ve already taken classes that have shifted my perspective on the world, engaged with top-notch professors who always make time for their students, and, perhaps most notably, been consistently blown away by both the intellect and genuine kindness of my fellow classmates. As many other authors on this blog have noted, the Temple Law community is a uniquely welcoming place, and I am so grateful to be here. What I often neglect to mention about my law school experience is that my 1L year was also one of my most challenging. When I first started at Temple Law, I believed I had a solid self-care plan in place. I meditated daily, attended a local yoga class two times per week, and prioritized taking time to relax with friends and family. Because my background includes counseling individuals with anxiety and depression, I knew firsthand how important it was going to be for me to take care of …

Police lights in car mirror

If The Driver Had Been White…

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As the nation reels after multiple shootings of civilians by police and the subsequent attack on police officers in Dallas, Texas, the words of Minnesota’s Governor that, “Would this have happened if those passengers would have been white? I don’t think it would have,” bear examination. Was he guessing? Condemning a specific police officer? Or simply suggesting that an implicit bias caused the officers to perceive a threat when none was present? The word “bias” needs explication, in particular as “cognitive bias.” “Cognitive bias” does not connote prejudice, an overt and explicit hatred of an individual or group. Instead, it is a psychological term and means that hidden cognitive processes drive what we see and our interpretations of those observations. That racial bias can affect how information is processed cannot be doubted. Study after study has shown that respondents will judge the same scenario differently depending on the name of the suspect; for example, more people were likely to vote for the death penalty when reviewing a case file if the name of the defendant …

Job Interview

How to Crush Your On-Campus Interview

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Interviews are really just conversations. It’s not meant to be an inquisition. It’s just an opportunity for the employer to get to know you – and for you to get to know the employer. The employer is looking for something that sets you apart from other candidates, your interest and enthusiasm, your motivation, and whether you can fit in. Interviews are really simple. At the end of the day, it comes down to the employer assessing, “Are you smart enough to do the work that I have on my plate? Are you smart enough and do I like you?” That’s really all there is to it. It’s not that much more complicated. Enthusiasm and Fit You might think that grades are the most important thing, and for some employers they are, but don’t underestimate the importance of enthusiasm. Enthusiasm can really go a very long way in making the right impression on an employer and making up for any perceived deficiencies in other skill sets. Similarly, a lack of enthusiasm can hurt you. Employers don’t …

Write-on

Write-on: Yes it’s Hard. Yes it’s Worth it

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When finals were approaching during my first-year spring semester, I remember considering whether to try to get a spot on law review. I understood that it was a great credential, but I didn’t quite understand what it meant to be part of the law review. Looking back now as a 2L, I am so glad I gave it a shot. Being part of the Temple Law Review family has been one of the most important parts of my second year – I have learned so much about the law, about working on a team, and about myself. Students are given a large packet of information and asked to write a scholarly paper about the materials. The end product is a written case note, which, upon submission, is graded anonymously by current law review staff editors. Case notes are graded on a combination of writing quality, thoroughness of the argument, and how well a student uses the sources of the write-on packet, among other factors. It is then considered with other information, including grades and a statement …

The Rome Colosseum

Pizza, Pasta, and Prada: Why You Should Participate in Temple Law’s Rome Summer Program

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For most people, pizza, pasta, and Prada are the only reasons they need to visit the Eternal City. As a law student, however, we must give careful consideration to how we spend our time and money at this critical time in our careers. Almost a year after enrolling in the Rome Program, I look back on those warm, sunny days and appreciate not only the cultural and culinary aspects of the trip, but also the academic and educational aspects that enriched my law school experience. Take classes you wouldn’t otherwise take Between bar courses, practicums, and writing requirements, six semesters is just not enough time to delve into every appealing legal topic. The Rome Program gives you the opportunity to sneak in 3-5 credits worth of classes you might not otherwise take. For students interested in international law, Rome is an opportunity to complete prioritized classes faster than they would otherwise. I would have graduated without having taken a single international law class had it not been for Rome. This means I would have left …