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As a first-generation law student, I didn’t know what to expect going into law school. I don’t personally know anyone who has gone to law school, so the only information I had on it was from conducting my own online research. My expectations were that it would be a large time commitment and a competitive environment and so far, I think that is true. I definitely feel like I am drinking from a fire hydrant. Although I am doing a good job of keeping up with my readings and assignments, I feel like I am not fully comprehending them. I usually consider myself to be a quick learner, however it has been difficult for me to digest such a large amount of new information at once. I know it is normal for 1Ls to feel this way, so I have been giving myself lots of grace because I know things will start to click soon! Even though this is not easy I have been making an active decision to maintain a positive mindset. Overall, I am happy with the way I have performed thus far in law school and think my closest friends and family members would be proud of me.

To maintain more balance, I could get more sleep. I am a morning person and typically wake up before six am to review my notes before class. Although this has worked out for me, I feel exhausted by the end of the day and wish I got more sleep.

I have met a lot of classmates who have been very welcoming! I am looking forward to building deeper relationships with them as they are very kind and supportive.  I have also resonated with several staff members who have spoken about being first generation lawyers. I find it inspiring to hear peoples successful career stories.

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Thus far, I have been enjoying the fall semester. The past three months have flown by, and I feel like I have grown a lot during this time. When I was in college, I strived for academic perfection. Here, I quickly realized that perfection is not only unrealistic, but should not be my goal. Instead, I have been prioritizing growth and learning from my mistakes. To do this, I have been focusing on taking care of myself, and doing what I know works best for me.

Coming to law school after working a 9-5, the most difficult adjustment was getting used to doing schoolwork outside of work hours. I had to find the balance between challenging academically and taking care of myself. At the beginning of the semester, I overdid it, and began to burn myself out. Now, I have begun to prioritize getting enough sleep and going to the gym. In turn, taking care of myself has increased the quality of my schoolwork and allowed me to have better focus and time management skills.

After I completed my first draft of my CIA, I did not feel great about it. However, once I got my feedback, I decided to use it as a learning experience. Through attending office hours and going to the writing center, I tried to internalize the advice I was given so that I could turn in a revised version I was proud of. Although I know my rewrite was not perfect, I am proud of myself for putting in the effort to understand where I went wrong, and not let my poor first attempt get me down. Having this mindset right before midterms was very beneficial to me. Instead of panicking during the days leading up to the midterm, I reminded myself that the midterm is meant to be a learning experience, and I maintained a positive mindset. Because of this, I felt like I was able to perform well. Going forward, I will be using these tactics as I write my CRM and study for finals.

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As this semester nears the end, I have learned a lot about myself and the legal profession. One thing that I will be putting into practice as I prepare for finals is to not get wrapped up in what other people are doing. After the midterm I know what study methods work best for me, so I will focus on myself and go at my own pace. Another thing I will be doing is making sure that I take care of myself and get enough sleep.

I plan to celebrate completing this semester by spending good quality time with my family. Because my parents and sister live on the other side of the country, I have not been able to see them since I started school.

I plan on committing to rest, recharge, and restore over break by enjoying the things I have not been able to do as frequently as I would like since starting school. I am looking forward to reading, going to the gym, and cooking. I am also excited to do nothing and relax as this semester has felt very hectic and busy.

When I get my first semester grades back, I plan on evaluating my overall performance and seeing where I can improve. I will take time to reflect on what study strategies worked, what did not work, and how I can better manage my time moving forward. I think this will be especially important for next semester as we have an additional class.

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Although I do not plan to work in litigation, observing and preparing to give an oral argument provides a valuable opportunity to develop skills that are transferable to my desired practice area. Because I plan on working in a transactional practice group with a strong emphasis on client service, observing an oral argument is particularly helpful for understanding how effective arguments are structured and delivered. For example, when I was watching the moot court competition, I was able to see how each participant organized their key points, responded to questions, and adapted their argument in real time. These observations tie directly into transactional practices. When advising clients or negotiating terms of an agreement, it's important to clearly communicate your thoughts and think quickly when asked complicated questions. Observing someone else skillfully navigate these challenges during an oral argument served as a great example for how I can implement the same skills in a transactional setting.

Further, preparing for an oral argument will also help me develop skills that will be useful in a transactional setting. The process of preparing to give an oral argument requires turning complicated legal issues into clear and concise points. Although I will likely not be arguing before an appellate judge, I will be regularly communicating complex legal issues to people who are not part of the legal profession. Therefore, practicing how to explain these topics clearly and effectively through oral advocacy will be a useful skill. Additionally, practicing for an oral argument can help improve my public speaking abilities and increase my confidence in talking about legal issues. These are just a few of the benefits of watching and preparing to give an oral argument.

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While watching the moot court competition, it became clear how the procedural rules can make it difficult for someone to fully articulate their claim before the court. When the competition first started, I was surprised how quickly the judges intercepted to ask questions. It seemed as though before the participant could fully complete her argument she was interrupted. This made me realize how important it is to practice being flexible and continue making your point after getting sidetracked.

After observing several oral arguments, I realized that clarity and confidence play a major role in making an argument effective. One thing I especially admired about the first group who presented during the Van Fleck competition was their ability to deliver their argument without using filler words such as “like” or “um”. It was also clear how prepared they were as they did not hesitate when answering questions from the judges. This made them appear much more confident and like they fully understood the argument they were making. From my perspective, this level of composure made them the clear winner.

I think watching the Van Fleck competition set a great example of what effective oral advocacy looks like and gave me a better understanding of the skills I should work on in my preparation for oral argument. It highlighted the importance of preparation, clear communication, and the ability to think on your feet when responding to questions from the judges.  During my first oral argument, I felt somewhat thrown off when the judge asked me a question, and my response felt a bit rigid. For my next argument, I plan on practicing responding to questions in the middle of my argument so that I can become more comfortable with switching the flow of my argument.

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Case 1: USA v. Day

Case Number: 25-300

Hearing Date: 3/10/2026

Link to Recording: https://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/media/video/?20260310/25-300/

Case Summary: Appellant lived on one lot with his mother that had two separate houses with different addresses (1500 and 1502). A warrant was issued to search the property at 1500. Although Appellant lived in the house at 1502, his driver's license listed his address as 1500. On appeal, he argued that the warrant was not sufficiently particular under the 4th Amendment because it covered the whole lot rather than his specific house.

Case 2: USA v. Martinez

Case Number: 24-6495

Hearing Date: 3/4/2026

Link to Recording: https://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/media/video/?20260304/24-6495/

Case Summary: Appellant sold a bag of fentanyl to a woman in a vehicle and was charged with conspiracy. On appeal, he argued that there was insufficient evidence to support the conspiracy charge, claiming the incident was merely a sale rather than an agreement. He further argued that there was an absence of limiting instruction in his testimony.

I shared the link to my google drive with the video via email, but also attached it here.

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Before my oral argument, I felt nervous because I did not know what to expect. Although I had been practicing all week leading up to it, I was unsure of how it would go. If asked on a scale of 0 to 5 how prepared I felt beforehand, I would have rated myself a 4 because I had spent a significant amount of time preparing. However, in hindsight, I would now rate my preparedness as a 2 because I wish I had prepared differently.

While preparing, I spent a substantial amount of time refining my statutory interpretation arguments. However, during the actual oral argument I hardly spent any time talking about this as the judges were more focused on the facts of the case. I also wish I had practiced delivering my points more concisely, as I often felt unable to fully develop an argument before being interrupted. This left me feeling confused in the moment about whether I should return to my point to finish it or move on to the next issue. I likely had some awkward transitional phrases during these moments, so I wish I had practiced smoothly transitioning between topics.

After my oral argument, I did not feel great because I knew I could have done better. However, given that this was my first real oral argument and the judges were rather difficult, I think I did a good job, and I am proud of myself. Thus, I would rate myself a 3 out of 5.

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Dear Grace,

Thanks for your reflection! You’re so right, “reflection is not just a class requirement, but a tool to actively learn, reset, and grow.” It’s the reason we’ve built reflection into the curriculum for you. So much of the first year is about teaching you foundational skills for life as a lawyer, which include taking notice of learning inside and outside of the classroom. Becoming a self-aware learner and one who is intentional about their professional identity formation requires significant opportunity for reflection over time. It sounds like you gained a lot this year. Indeed, it's been a joy to watch your growth in the classroom and to see your friendships blossom. As sad as it was to have Mychael transition this semester, I’m thankful it gave you an opportunity to deepen your bond with your tribe here at GW Law. Some of those ties will grow even deeper as the years pass, but you’ll always have a special bond with your section mates and fellow classmates. I hope that as you continue to hone your lawyering skills, you’ll continue making and maintaining meaningful relationships along the way. Lean into the lessons you’ve learned about professionalism, persistence, and progress that have built your solid foundation of competence and confidence. Beautiful photo; I can see the excitement in your eyes. I hope you keep that -- there are so many good things coming your way. I hope that you’ll stay in touch so I can celebrate with you along the way. Congratulations on taking big steps to becoming a tremendous attorney, counselor, and the happiest of summers and beyond. Best, Professor Whetstone