Free NYSBA Webinar: How will COVID-19 impact the NYS Bar Exam?

Law students have been invited to register and sign up for this free NYSBA webinar scheduled for Thursday, May 21st from 3:30-4:30pm. Register here.

Panelists:

  • Henry M. Greenberg, President, New York State Bar Association
  • Peter Doggett, Senior Director, Kaplan Bar Review
  • Lisa Young, Director of Academics, Kaplan Bar Review
  • Adam Maze, Senior Academics Director, Kaplan Bar Review

Topics:

  • Fall Bar Exam Administration: Impact on Students
  • Studying for the Bar in a Pandemic
  • Access to Accommodations
  • Mental Health of Bar Students
  • Supporting Academic Success Programs

Virtual 5K Results!

Thank you so much to everyone who participated in the Virtual 5K and donated to the Student Emergency Fund! It was a beautiful day in Albany to enjoy some sunshine and support our students. If you still want to donate to the Student Emergency Fund you can do so at the link below: https://securelb.imodules.com/s/977/18/interior-one-col.aspx?sid=977&gid=1&pgid=675&cid=1370&bledit=1&dids=65

Virtual 5K & May Events

On Sunday, May 3rd, the Wellness Initiative will be hosting a Virtual 5K to raise funds for the Helen Wilkinson Student Emergency Fund. There is a suggested donation of $10 to participate. Donate here.

Join us for Wellness Events during the first week of May! Dr. Cornish, resident Albany Law counselor, will be giving exam tips on 5/5 via Zoom. Dean Queenan, Olivia, and Carly will be hosting a show and tell for the children of students, staff, and faculty on 5/6 at noon. On 5/6 at 5:30 pm, Rugby and the Wellness Initiative will be co-hosting a CardioYoga class! NOTE: Dr. Cornish is also still available for private sessions via Zoom. Contact him to arrange a time if you are in need.

As always, contact Olivia, Carly, or Dean Queenan with any questions or concerns!

Sharp Knives Aren’t Only for Chefs – Law Students Need Them Too

By Nicholas Wall, 2L

“Sometimes you have to sharpen the knife to keep cutting.” It is a simple concept, really. To cut something, you have to have a sharp knife. No sharp knife, no cutting. In a less metaphoric sense, sometimes you have to take some time to relieve stress or do something fun, in order to continue producing your best work.

I heard it first from my girlfriend’s dad, a NJ lawyer who specializes in family law. “If you wake up and only live, breathe, and speak law school, you’re going to go crazy,” he said to me when I was stressed about potentially missing an entire Saturday of schoolwork in order to play in a rugby game. However, I don’t think he expected me to take the saying to heart as much as I have. Now more than ever we need to have a sharp knife. As Meghna pointed out in an earlier post, many of us have personal goals and expectations; and with the semester coming to a screaming, fiery, NASCAR-highlights level end, we need to have the sharpest knife possible to achieve those goals.

Now, everybody has different ways that they destress or have fun, so I won’t try to make an all-inclusive list. I asked around what people do and thought I would pass along what they said:

  1. Watch a new show. Netflix, Hulu, and other streaming sites are a law student’s kryptonite. However, if you’re able to do so in moderation, watching an episode of a new show while you eat or right before bed could be perfect.
  2. Get outside (respect the distancing). Getting outside when the weather’s nice and doing something you like to do will do wonders for your sanity. Personally, I thought this would be a great time to work on my rugby kicking. But if rugby isn’t your thing, (as it should be) go for a small hike, bike ride, or take a minute to work on your golf swing.
  3. Schedule Zoom meetings with friends. Just because we can’t physically hang out with our friends, doesn’t mean we can’t see them. Finding the time when everybody has a bit of free time to schedule a virtual hang out and catch up is an excellent way to destress.
  4. Watch a live music show or Broadway musical. In the wake of the shutdown there are a ton of channels popping up on YouTube that are offering free live shows or concerts from past performances.
  5. Read. No seriously, some people like to do that outside of law textbooks. Wind down at the end of the day, go outside (see above), or just take a few minutes to pick up that book that’s been waiting for you.
  6. Stay active. Doing yoga, running, lifting heavy things like taking out the trash, playing with your dog, these are just a few ways to continue to stay active. It is proven that keeping up with being active will mean you have a better ability to recall information when needed. This is essential for the end of the semester.

Again, this is not meant to be the end-all list. If there is something that is your go to for when you need a break, do that! Continue keep your eye on the goal, but remember, sometimes you have to sharpen the knife in order to keep cutting!