Topping the Curve

In this Episode of Topping the Curve I interview Skylar Luke, a 3L at Georgetown University Law Center and summer associate at a big law firm in New York. 

During the episode Skylar talks about the OCI interview process and how best to prepare for your screener interviews and your callbacks. Skylar goes into detail about her experience in OCI and talks about the different processes’ that firms have. 

Skylar also talks about the types of questions candidate are likely to receive during the interview and the types of questions you should (and should not) ask during the interview. 

Finally, Skylar gives final pieces of advice for before and during the interview, so that you can leave a good impression on your interviewers.  

If you are preparing for OCI, this is an episode you do not want to miss!

You can keep up with Skylar on Linkedin: Skylar Luke

As always, I would love to hear from you all and you should follow us on instagram @ToppingtheCurve and subscribe to our website: www.toppingthecurve.com to never miss a new episode!

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Artist: Mello C,  Title: Pasikolu 

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Artist: Mello C, Title: Pasikolu

In this episode of Topping the Curve I talk about the pre-OCI process and securing early offers.

I start off by explaining the process of creating a list of firms and using vault and chambers & partners to rank those firms according to what is most important to you as a future attorney. I go through my process step by step and explain how to use the list to create your personalized list of “top tier firms.”

Next, I go into the networking piece of  reaching out to attorneys. This portion of the episode explains what the actual pre-oci process is and what it can potentially look like. 

Lastly, I’ll talk about questions you will want to ask attorneys and other pieces of advice that you should keep in mind throughout the pre-oci process.  

Pre-OCI is a process that I believe everyone should do, (even if you think you don’t need to), because it will only benefit you in the end!

As always I would love to hear from you all and you should follow us on instagram @ToppingtheCurve and subscribe to our website: www.toppingthecurve.com to never miss a new episode! 

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Artist: Mello C,  Title: Pasikolu 

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Artist: Mello C, Title: Pasikolu

Today officially marks the kick-off of our OCI bootcamp series! To help prep students for the upcoming interview season, the next few weeks we will be discus a different aspect of on campus interviews and the firm bidding process. To start, I interview Meaza Abraham, a rising 3L at Georgetown and a summer associate at Milbank LA.

The aim of this episode is to help law students who are going to school in one market, but hope to secure a job in another.

In this episode Meaza talks about her process of bidding LA firms for OCI while being at a law school in DC.  

She goes into details about how she was able to secure multiple offers from LA firms even though she is: 1. Not from LA, 2. not at a law school in LA, and 3. some firms had limited spots. She specifically highlights researching, networking, and perfecting her elevator pitch!

Make sure to listen to this episode if you plan to bid firms that are not in your local market, or are in locations where you have no ties. 

As always I would love to hear from you all and you should follow us on instagram @ToppingtheCurve and subscribe to our website: www.toppingthecurve.com to never miss a new episode!

Intro and Outro Music license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/legalcode
Artist: Mello C,  Title: Pasikolu 

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Artist: Mello C, Title: Pasikolu

On today’s episode of Topping the Curve I talk all about big law and securing a big law job your 1L year.

I begin with a general overview of what firms are considered big law firms and what exactly big law is. I then move into factors that you should consider when deciding if big law is for you. You’ll hear about debt considerations, training, and experience, and probably most importantly, exit opportunities. You will also get to hear about the downsides to big law and factors that might make someone not want to get into the big law life. 

After the big law overview I get into the details of how to prepare yourself to secure a big law position. Here you will hear how to create a list of firms to apply to and you will hear about the websites that you should be using throughout the process. I also talk about your materials and what you will need to make sure you have ready when it comes time to apply. 

I then move into timing. I talk about when you should apply, how many firms you should apply to, and at what point you should stop.

Lastly, I tie it all together and by this point you will have a full understanding of the big law process and securing a job your 1L year. 

You can keep up with me on Instagram at: phoraaboraa and on Linkedin: Sephora Grey

As always I would love to hear from you all and you should follow us on instagram @ToppingtheCurve and subscribe to our website: www.toppingthecurve.com to never miss a new episode!

Intro and Outro Music license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/legalcode
Artist: Mello C,  Title: Pasikolu 

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Artist: Mello C, Title: Pasikolu

On today’s episode of Topping the Curve I interview Cheyenne Freely, a 2L at Georgetown, and co-director of the Moot Court Division of Barristers’ Council. Cheyenne will be a summer associate at a law firm in New York this summer. 

In this episode we talk all about the externship process. Specifically, we discuss externships on the hill (that is, congress), how you get them, what you should do to prepare, and speaking on behalf of your congressperson. 

Cheyenne talks about her experience as an extern, her application process and how she was able to secure the externship for her congressman.

Lastly, you’ll get to hear about balancing externships with law school and if it’s something that you should consider doing while in law school. 

As always I would love to hear from you all and you should follow us on instagram @ToppingtheCurve and subscribe to our website: www.toppingthecurve.com to never miss a new episode!

Intro and Outro Music license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/legalcode
Artist: Mello C,  Title: Pasikolu 

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Artist: Mello C, Title: Pasikolu

On today’s episode of Topping the Curve I interview Jade Baker, a 2L at Georgetown, the first Black woman Student Body Association President, and incoming summer associate at Winston & Strawn.

In this episode, Jade gets into the nitty gritty of imposter syndrome and what it’s like dealing with imposter syndrome as a minority in law school. Jade drops tips on how she overcomes feelings of inadequacy and suggests preparation, support systems, and more whenever those feelings begin to appear. 

We also talk about avoiding the trap of toxic motivation, focusing on what is best for you and your career trajectory, and balancing yourself in school.

Lastly, Jade talks about imposter syndrome in connection with your achievements before, during, and after law school. Here, we plant helpful reminders to help you overcome any feelings of inadequacy. 

Feel free to keep up with Jade here:
 

As always I would love to hear from you all and you should follow us on instagram @ToppingtheCurve and subscribe to our website: www.toppingthecurve.com to never miss a new episode!

P.S.- close to the end of the episode, you’ll hear how this podcast, is revealing the “secrets” of the legal field.

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Artist: Mello C,  Title: Pasikolu 

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Artist: Mello C, Title: Pasikolu

On today’s episode of Topping the Curve I interview Jordan Metoyer, a 2L at Georgetown, Barristers' Council Executive Director, and incoming summer associate at White & Case LLP, in their New York and Houston office. Jordan and I talk all about networking and the value of networking as a law student. 

In this episode, Jordan goes into detail about networking: what is is, how you do it, and most importantly why you need to do it as you are building a professional career. Jordan begins by breaking down what it means to network and how that definition may change as you progress throughout your career. Not only does Jordan talk about how networking is a meaningful way to create valuable relationships, but how it is also helpful on a personal level for understanding yourself and what you want to do. 

We  also hear about balancing networking with law school classes and what a typical 1L year may look like. Specifically, Jordan expresses that prime networking time is the time between the end of finals, and the beginning of your second semester 1L.

Lastly, Jordan talks about the distinction between networking with people from similar backgrounds, versus networking to build your career. You’ll specifically hear gems about sponsorship and mentorship and why they can be crucial to your success as a future attorney.

You can keep up with Jordan or ask her any questions via her Linkedin: Jordan Metoyer, or via email: [email protected].

Not only is this episode important for current and prospective law school students, but it can also be applicable to any professional career.

Intro and Outro Music license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/legalcode
Artist: Mello C,  Title: Pasikolu 

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Artist: Mello C, Title: Pasikolu

On today’s episode of Topping the Curve I interview my good friend Nabintou Doumbia and we talk all about the application process! Nabintou is a 2L at Georgetown University Law Center and she will be working at a big law firm in New York city this summer.

On this episode, Nabintou talks to us about why she decided to apply to law school and specific motivating factors that caused her to know law school was the right decision for her. Nabintou is particularly interested in immigration law and that drove her to apply to law schools that fit her interests and career goals

We will also hear about the how Nabintou studied for the LSAT, the materials she used, and the schools she targeted throughout her application process. Nabintou emphasizes that although she mainly applied to T-14 law schools, she had a list of factors that grounded her application cycle which allowed her to stay true to her goals and ultimately permitted her to turn down higher ranking schools.

Lastly, Nabintou will talk about financial aid (MONEY $$$) and how that affected her application process. Specifially, Nabintou talks about negotiating with schools to get them to give her more money!

You can keep up with Nabintou here:

IG: _nabintou
LinkedIn: Nabintou Doumbia 

If you are in the process of applying to law school, or thinking about applying to law school, you do NOT want to miss this episode! 

Intro and Outro Music license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/legalcode
Artist: Mello C,  Title: Pasikolu 

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Artist: Mello C, Title: Pasikolu

On todays episode of Topping the Curve I interview Christina Higgins, an attorney at Covington & Burling, in Washington, D.C. and we talk all about grades.

In this episode, Christina talks to us about how she prepared for law school, she examines specifically whether reading books about the topics she would ultimately learn was actually helpful once she started law school.

We will also get to hear about Christina's best tips for studying and reading for class, and ultimately prepping for exams. Christina gives us a "game changer" that even I can attest to— it works.

Lastly, Christina talks about outlining, taking practice exams, and finally taking the final exam. Christina runs us through the process of how she made sure she went in to the exam doing all she could, to top the curve.

If you are concerned or anxious about going in to final exams, or interested in learning more about being graded on a curve in law school, this is the episode to listen to!

You can keep up with Christina or reach out to her at:
IG: Christinaarenae
LinkedIn: Christina Higgins

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Artist: Mello C,  Title: Pasikolu 

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Artist: Mello C, Title: Pasikolu

Hi everyone! Welcome to Topping the Curve. My name is Sephora Grey, and I am your host! I am currently a 2L at Georgetown Law, and incoming summer associate at a law firm in Washington, DC. On this introduction episode, you will hear a little about me, the podcast, why I created it and what you can expect to hear from future episodes. 

Topping the curve is a podcast for current, and prospective law school students and aims to provide the crucial information that I learned while navigating my own processes’.

Topping the Curve talks about everything law school related, from the application process, grades, externships and internships, big law, public interest tracks, networking, mentorship, and even imposter syndrome. 

Outside of what may seem to be strictly law school or lawyerly topics, you’ll hear about dealing with mental health, stress, and relaxation while in law school. 

All in all, if you were looking for THE lawschool podcast, you have found it. I would love to hear from you all and you should follow us on instagram @ToppingtheCurve and subscribe to our website: www.toppingthecurve.com to never miss a new episode!

Be sure to follow me and keep up with me on my social media:
Instagram/twitter: @phoraaboraa

and connect with me on LinkedIn:
Sephora Grey

Intro and Outro Music: license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/legalcode
Artist: Mello C,  Title: Pasikolu 

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Intro and Outro Music license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/legalcode
Artist: Mello C, Title: Pasikolu