If you’ve used Vault’s resources before, then you’ve probably noticed that things look a little different around here. That’s because we’ve embarked on an exciting new journey, joining forces with Firsthand to form a comprehensive career engagement platform.

Today we’re excited to embark on a new chapter for Vault and Firsthand with the launch of our new career engagement platform. We’re starting this new chapter with a unified new brand and a familiar name: Firsthand.

What should you do if you’re staring down the barrel of your first midterm in a week or two, and you haven’t prepared as much as you planned to by this point in the semester? Or what if you have, but you’re simply not sure how to maximize your time and effort in the final days leading up to the test?

Your first open memo is due, and you’re not sure if you have done all the research correctly or found all the law you need to cite. Or maybe you’re staring at a blank page that needs to become a client motion, and you need some inspiration for crafting a winning argument.

Not sure where to start when it comes to outlining in law school? These tips will have you well on your way to creating outlines that will help you best prepare for final exams.

Starting as a 1L in law school can be extremely daunting. No doubt, you’ve seen movies and television shows portraying law school as a horrifying place where professors try to embarrass you, and your classmates are your worst enemies.

It’s disappointing when you don’t achieve the grades you were hoping for in law school, but don’t panic: Your career is not over, and you can improve. Here are some tips for what to do next.

In your 1L contracts class, you may read (or remember reading) a nineteenth century case called Hadley v. Baxendale.

If you've just finished your first year of law school, this is the time you might be thinking about applying to transfer law schools. The transfer application process can be confusing, and guidance isn’t always easy to find—especially because the process varies from school to school.

Even if a certain note-taking style worked for you in undergrad, you may find that your law school classes require a different approach. Below are some tips you may want to try.

For rising 2Ls, now is the time you may be going through a, erm, favorite law school tradition: the write-on competition. This competition, which involves hours of editing, reading, and writing, potentially results in the prize of a spot on your school’s law review or another journal.

Your resume was flawless, you made it through multiple rounds of interviews, you wrote the perfect thank-you notes, you’re sure you have the job in the bag, and then…  You get the dreaded email informing you that you didn’t get the job. Anyone who has been in this position knows it feels like a punch to the gut.

Diane Costigan is Winston & Strawn’s Director of Coaching & Well-Being. She offers bespoke, one-on-one coaching to attorneys and professional staff, and develops industry-leading programs that reflect Winston’s commitment to mental and physical health and well-being.

Do behavioral interview questions strike fear in your heart? You're not alone.

A polished, compelling cover letter is a critical component of a legal job application. This is your chance to make a great first impression and demonstrate why you're the perfect fit for the job.

Searching for your next legal job is a job in itself. But with some help, you can use social media to your advantage in finding your next career step.

Networking, researching, and practicing interview questions are all key to preparing for your on campus interviews. Use the tips below to get ready for your screeners and set yourself apart from the applicant pool.

There is no doubt that OCI can feel like an intimidating process. But, it is also a very exciting and important process for many looking to transition from law school into practice at a firm.

1. Focus on building relationships whether you are in-person or you are working in a remote environment.

By now, you’re a skilled sailor in virtual seas. You’ve attended classes, social events, and panel presentations through Zoom and have customized your workspace for optimal connection and participation.

If you’re reading this, chances are you’re seeking the perfect language to use in your out-of-office auto-reply for some upcoming time away from work. An OOO email is one of those messages that may seem simple in theory, but without an example, it can be hard to come up with the right wording.

As you navigate your first year of law school and begin your journey in the legal industry, it is important to build a network that you can lean on for support, guidance, and mentorship. There will be twists and turns along the way, and drawing on the experiences and advice of those who are walking—or have walked—the same path will be critical to charting your own course.

The concept of mindfulness is having a heyday in United States culture. This trend began picking up speed well before the pandemic—almost as though people were already burning out in the American work culture—and has only accelerated over the last two years.

Winston & Strawn’s Hiring Committee Chair William O’Neil offers advice to help aspiring lawyers stand out from the crowd during OCI and make the most of their summer associate experience. Vault: What are the key things you look for on a law student’s resume?

You may have heard the term “secondment” and wondered, “exactly what is a secondment and why should I consider doing one? ” Good questions!

As we quickly return to an almost pre-2020 normal, many of us have received announcements that in-person work days are about to resume. For some, it may be more than just a bummer to think about trading in the comfort of yoga pants; you may also be struggling to figure out what clothes you’re trading them in for—especially if your office has a business casual dress code.

Efat Elsherif is a 2L summer associate in White & Case’s New York office. Efat graduated from McGill University in 2016 with a B.A.

Taking a vacation as a BigLaw associate can be stressful. Clients are demanding, more-senior lawyers are demanding, and the workload is demanding—so how can you possibly step away?

The COVID-19 pandemic uprooted our traditional work habits and routines. But it didn't stall professional or business development.

From financings to joint ventures to land use issues, and more, real estate lawyers tackle myriad areas, making the practice both challenging and exciting. For many, working in real estate law is exhilarating because they can see their efforts directly as they walk through their neighborhoods.

The most frequent question we receive from law students and fledgling attorneys is how to differentiate among legal practice areas. Launching your legal career with confidence can be difficult if you're not sure what each practice area entails and what kinds of tasks you'd tackle in certain areas.

Masters of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code and experts in wearing many different hats, bankruptcy lawyers are a nimble bunch who work across disciplines.

It’s the middle of tax season, so what better time than the present to shed some light on this legal practice area? For many law students and new lawyers, tax law is an area shrouded in misconception and mystery.

Vault’s Emerging Lawyers Series highlights the legal careers of recent law school graduates, exploring how they landed their first law job, what it’s like working as a junior lawyer, and any advice they have for law students pursuing similar paths. Christine Kearney is the Compliance Advisor at TASC, Inc.

Vault’s Emerging Lawyers Series highlights the legal careers of recent law school graduates, exploring how they landed their first law job, what it’s like working as a junior lawyer, and any advice they have for law students pursuing similar paths. John Pavletic, a 2018 graduate of Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, is currently employed as a judicial law clerk for a federal appellate judge.

One of the best parts about practicing law is the range of people with whom you will work. There is not one set background for a lawyer, so you will find yourself collaborating with former teachers, scientists, artists, doctors, writers, finance professionals, veterans—you name it.

How can the legal profession be more supportive of students and lawyers with disabilities? This was one of the topics presented during day one of this year’s NALP Annual Education Conference.

As you think about the upcoming summer, you have probably started a list of everything you would like to accomplish during your summer program: receive substantive work, impress the attorneys in your practice group of interest, make new friends, etc. On top of all of that, I highly recommend that you add one more item to your summer to-do list: get involved in affinity groups.

Angela Han is a lawyer and a life coach. She helps lawyers get results by transforming blind spots into strengths.

Kalyn Johnson Chandler is the founder and creative force behind the signature paperie, Effie’s Paper :: Stationery & Whatnot. Following a ten-year legal career as an environmental transactional lawyer at Jones Day, Kalyn returned to her first love, fashion, in 2007.

Steve McManus is Senior Vice President and General Counsel at State Farm. He is a first-generation college and law student, worked for State Farm while pursuing a law degree at Seton Hall University at night, and joined the Law department in 1991.

Neha Sampat is CEO and founder of GenLead|BelongLab, where she focuses on building belonging and true inclusion and developing authentic leaders. After earning her J.D.

David Van Zandt has served as the president of The New School (the alma mater of three of Vault’s editors! ) since 2011.

Paula Davis-Laack is the founder and CEO of the Stress & Resilience Institute, a training and consulting firm that partners with law firms and organizations to help them reduce burnout and build resilient leaders, teams, and cultures. She’s a former commercial real estate attorney who left law to pursue a Masters in Applied Positive Psychology, which led her to teach others about the detrimental effects of stress and burnout, and the skills needed to build wellbeing at work.

J. Kelly Hoey is a networking professional, speaker, and author of the book Build Your Dream Network: Forging Powerful Relationships in a Hyper-Connected World.

It's no secret that becoming a lawyer isn't a cheap endeavor, but one easily overlooked set of costs are those associated with the bar exam and bar membership. This infographic covers the expenses you should be prepared to cover, from the MPRE to score transfers.

When you’re preparing for the bar exam, you hope that your support system will be there to cheer you on at every high-stress step along the way, not to mention celebrate with you when it’s over. After all, this exam is a big deal for you and your legal career—it’s the grand finale after years of hard work.

The bar exam is only a few months away, which means it’s time to start prepping. Bar prep seems like a daunting time, but it does not have to be.

You’ve mastered the Socratic method and hit your groove with law school exams, but the bar exam is entirely different animal. Instead of dreading the upcoming exam this July, however, take control of your bar exam preparation by preparing in advance.

The February bar exam is just two weeks away (I know, you probably didn’t need the reminder). For many people, this is about the time you start to really freak out and wonder if you’ll ever feel ready.

If you are currently studying for the bar exam, you will most likely spend long nights in front of your books while memorizing various elements. Just because you are studying does not mean that you cannot take time out of your schedule to treat yourself and unwind to feel refreshed.

Did you know that this Sunday, June 20 is World Productivity Day? If you feel like you could get more out of your time, you're not alone—and this is a great time to assess and tweak your work or study habits.

The prospect of moving to another law firm can be overwhelming. Not only are you already busy with work, but you probably haven't touched your resume or thought about the legal interview process in quite some time.

The old adage is true: you never get a second chance to make a first impression. When making a lateral move, you want to put your best foot forward on day one and start off with a bang.

For more than a year, we’ve practically lived on Zoom, and video meetings don’t seem to be going anywhere any time soon. Making the right impression during video calls is critical, right down to what is in your background.