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Hi all -

I'm going to be participating in one of my law school's journals as a 1L. Having had discussions with current journal members, I've discovered that it's difficult, but not impossible, for 1Ls to be asked to join following the the write on. We have a legal research and writing course, but it's clear we won't cover nearly enough before the write on to be of much use here.

So, not unlike many other students, it looks like I'm flying solo to figure out how to gain a working knowledge of the Bluebook and written work components of the write on. Does anyone know of helpful resources for both/either? My intention for the written component is to look at other pieces submitted in the journal to try and get a sense of what they're looking for. So, I'm worried mostly about the Bluebook exercise. Any lessons or resources out there?

Thanks in advance for any help.

The Bluebook has an index that is actually very helpful. Learn to use that.

Get the electronic subscription to the Bluebook.

FKASunny wrote:Get the electronic subscription to the Bluebook.

+1. It is sooooooo early for you to be worried about the write on. I didn even think about it until we actually got the packet, just work hard in legal writing. My legal writing prof was the only one i met with for office hrs my 1L year which i think helped me (I wrote on). I would say the only extra that my help is getting the writing manual your lr uses (i.e. texas manual is what we use) and get to learn some of the minutia for the edit portion if your write on has one. Little things like em and en dash knowing when to spell stuff out or use the symbol can be huge and really focus during your 1L on learning to write with active voice and structure paragraphs and sections. Precision and conciseness are also huge pluses and all these things will help on your 1L exams as well.

For the most part it will all come with experience and practice thought throughout your 1L. Focus on your classes for now.

atcushman wrote:

FKASunny wrote:Get the electronic subscription to the Bluebook.

+1. It is sooooooo early for you to be worried about the write on. I didn even think about it until we actually got the packet, just work hard in legal writing. My legal writing prof was the only one i met with for office hrs my 1L year which i think helped me (I wrote on). I would say the only extra that my help is getting the writing manual your lr uses (i.e. texas manual is what we use) and get to learn some of the minutia for the edit portion if your write on has one. Little things like em and en dash knowing when to spell stuff out or use the symbol can be huge and really focus during your 1L on learning to write with active voice and structure paragraphs and sections. Precision and conciseness are also huge pluses and all these things will help on your 1L exams as well.

For the most part it will all come with experience and practice thought throughout your 1L. Focus on your classes for now.

The OP said that they were going to participate in the write-on as a 1L, though - that is, to be on the journal during 1L, before having taken most of their LRW course.

OP, that said, I wouldn't worry terribly - you won't be behind anyone else, and most people at the end of 1L don't have that great a grasp on the Bluebook, either. You get decent at it (or not) actually working on the journal, not so much before that.

my bad yea i spazzed on the whole reading comprehension thing (i just got out of my firms end of summer happy hr)

just set aside time to work on it honestly having just graded write on submissions a few weeks ago the most obvious thing you can tell are the people who crammed it last minute and those who put some effort into it

atcushman wrote:my bad yea i spazzed on the whole reading comprehension thing (i just got out of my firms end of summer happy hr)

just set aside time to work on it honestly having just graded write on submissions a few weeks ago the most obvious thing you can tell are the people who crammed it last minute and those who put some effort into it

Excellent. Thanks all for your advice! I appreciate it.

It's surprising how many cases and law reviews have already Bluebooked sources, most of which are available on WL/LX.

hiima3L wrote:It's surprising how many cases and law reviews have already Bluebooked sources, most of which are available on WL/LX.

Yes, although you wouldn't be allowed to consult those for a write-on competition.