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Like most new law students, what to expect and what is required of you in law school can be a grey area and very overwhelming to even think about. The first few weeks, and sometimes months can feel like you are drowning if you are not prepared for law school from day one.

I have created the ultimate product to help you get a head start that is perfect for any law student.

The concepts in my ebook are short, practical, and easy to follow to keep your head above water.  

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If you are still struggling to create a law school attack plan after finishing this E-Book, subscribe and stay tuned for the Luxe Legal Papeterie Physical Planner that will be available in Spring 2021

If you know me. Or get to know me. You’ll quickly realized I am super organized & manage my time well. It’s something I’m proud of.

I tend to show up early for events rather than late. I tend to have labels and a place for everything in my home. My closet is color coded. My pantry is organized. My refrigerator is too. This brings me peace.

Time management & Organization are my HAPPY.

While these things have become a part of who I am now, they haven’t always been. I’ve learned through deliberate action how to be productive.
Not only does productivity and organization keep me sane; no really, it helps to lower my anxiety and frustrations about not knowing where something is or “running” behind. It allows me to be the best version of myself.
When things are in order, when things are going according to plan, it sparks Joy!

Time management is a skill. It’s something that can be taught, but it has to be practiced! & boy does it take practice! It took years of me getting it wrong to finally be able to find systems that worked for me to get it right.

Law school taught me that there was no room for LATE in my profession & Hampton University taught me that; to be early is to be on time, & to be on time is to be late.

With those things constantly lingering in my mind, I decided to level up my time management which in turn boosted my productivity!!

I put together some basic ways you can better practice time management & flourish as well.

1. Make a schedule & STICK to it. I know this sounds basic. & easy. But it’s one of those things that sound good in theory but hard to practice. When you’re not intentional with your schedule and time, people will keep you busy & take advantage of your time for you!
   As much as possible, schedule your days & stick to the schedule.
   One thing I love to do, is {time block.} Outside of planned meetings or events. I block off time in my planner to GET THINGS DONE. I know that for x amount of time. I will be focused on whatever task scheduled for that designated period & nothing else. This allows me to hone in on what I’m doing, close some of the open tabs in my head & produce! The best way to do this, is to figure out the time (morning, mid-day, evenings) you’re most productive & get to work. Put your phone on do not disturb. Put busy on your messenger, & get the task you need to complete, done. When you write things down. Pen to paper, it makes it twice as likely to actually get done. Try time blocking in your schedule and stick to it!
   

2. Set clear expectations and guidance for how you’ll get things done. Nothing like having a lofty idea with no road map to make it tangible. A dream without a plan becomes nothing! Set your own deadlines. Deadlines help you stay on schedule and not create a mess down the road because you kept putting this off to the side. Be clear about how long something will take you. Plan for the unknowns & be honest about the expectations of your end goal!
   

3. Break down big task into BABY STEPS. I find this to be the easiest way to stay motivated. By checking off baby steps on your way to the big goal. This also helps me to not feel overwhelmed if I’m facing a big task or todo. Small steps make things manageable & you feel like you’re always moving towards the finish line.
   
   Say you have a goal to go on a vacation to Paris. Here’s a way to break that down: (1) open a savings account, (2) get a passport, (3) save money, (4) book the flight, (5) create an itinerary, (6) Vacation in Paris ✔️

4. Make list & priorities a PRIORITY- it’s no good to make a list if you’re not going to actually prioritize what’s on your list. The more clear you are with your task, the more likely you’ll complete it! I usually create a top three for each day. Things I must get done. Once those are checked off, I can focus on what’s left to do. I prioritize checking in on my top 3 before whatever time I created for my deadline. & when I don’t check it off, it carries over to the next day’s top 3! - but I try reallllyyy hard to get those top 3 done daily, because well, that’s my TOP priority for that day!
   
   List are a great tool but only work if you use them! Planning is cool & fun, if you’re actually going to be productive & follow through on your plans!
   

5. Organization allows you to create a clear picture of what you need. What you don’t. What’s clutter, & what’s meaningful or of purpose! So get organized. Go through your closets, cabinets, and drawers and get rid of the things that have no purpose. Accumulation of things that serve no purpose in your life leads to unnecessary stress and frustration. Eliminate that by organizing your essentials. Less is really more when it comes to being productive. Getting rid of “stuff” to be organized isn’t always easy but having to organize less stuff in the future saves you so much time and effort that can be put towards the things you enjoy and love!
   

   Time management takes time. It takes practice. But learning new behaviors will literally shift the trajectory of your life, work, business, etc.

   If you hadn’t noticed Planning is the most fundamental part of time management! Being efficient in planning out your day, meetings and how you will accomplish things will help you stick to your schedule & be more productive!!
   

   You can get your life all the way together with my new Un-dated DELUXE Planner that will be in the shop soon! This planner will offer everything from Monthly & Weekly spreads, Goals, Budget, Meal Ideas, and More to help you plan and have productive days!

   In the meantime, head over to Luxe Legal Papeterie on Etsy to download some printables & start being productive today!!

Drop a comment below of your favorite time management or organizational hack?

The Luxe Weekly Planner (physical) has been delayed due to covid, but it should be here soon. In the meantime, the Weekly Verticle planner seen here is available on Etsy, shop here.

So usually I always disclaim how "I am not an expert" on any of the things I write about, I just share my experience.. well for this post. I feel like I am more than qualified based on my resume to consider myself an expert in this arena!

I managed to graduate from high school, college, & law school with a kid in tow & was “crazy” enough to decide to have another baby during law school.  So I think I have more than enough insight and expertise to share.

I want to start by saying this, having a baby in law school IS NOT for everyone! It would be a disservice to not acknowledge that everyone's SITUATION, dynamic and circumstances are different, as such, people should ALWAYS do what works for them.

However; I've been asked more than I can remember now, “what’s it’s like, if I should, & what to expect having a baby in law school” therefore, I am sharing my experience. Be it an aspiring law student, current law student who doesn’t want to wait to begin a family, and even inquisitive attorneys who sometimes ask "how I did it?!” because they just couldn't imagine adding the stress of motherhood or a baby while in law school. Here’s your answer.

Finally writing this post, almost three years post law school graduation, and two years as a practicing attorney to encourage someone else who may be on or considering the journey of law school and motherhood. 

First things first... like I said above; it is NOT for everybody. You have to know yourself and your abilities before consciously or unconsciously decide to have a baby period, & you definitely have to consider what that looks like to do so during such a rigorous course of study if you’re in law school or it’s in your sights.

If you aren’t in law school yet, & you’re still just considering applying, I will be the first to tell you IT IS HARD. Law school is like nothing I’ve ever done before. It’s long nights, it’s lots of reading, it’s lots of information to retain, it requires a ton of time, dedication, money & energy. But if you’re determined to go, determined to get a law degree; law school is doable- “What like it’s hard?!” Lol

For those in law school, you already know what the Journey to JD is like so there’s no need to even speak further about it. Solidarity.

But I will say this, even with a spouse. Even with a baby. Even with a family. Even with no money. Even with no support. You can still go to law school, have a baby, pass the bar & become a successful attorney if that is your goal.

Now back to the point of this post.

The decision to have a baby in law school. - My Case Study

For me it felt like it was only apropos. As I said before, I had a baby in high school, who followed me to college…. so why not have a baby in law school? At this point it's tradition right? OG School Momma. Haha ok, it's not that easy of a choice & definitely wasn’t the easiest journey, however I survived and you can to.

Here are a few things you should consider to determine if it’s the right thing for you.

• Timing. I think the most important aspect of this decision for me was the timing, and there weren’t many other “benefits” better than this.

When it comes to the outlay of your day, having a baby while in law school made the most sense to me. You're not on the clock from 9-5 which means just a tab bit of flexibility, & “freedom.” (I use quotation marks because let’s face it, there is no such thing as freedom in law school, that case law, those books, moot court, trial ad, law review-OWN YOU!) So you’re free “allegedly,” to create a schedule around your classes that fits YOUR school and family needs.

One of the best decisions I made, was to treat law school like a full time job. Your classes will usually fall between the hours of 8am-5pm with breaks in between. Utilizing the "free time" between classes to get work done, prepare for meetings, finish projects, etc. so that when I got home in the evening, I got a break, albeit small- before diving back into my books for the evening, was a game changer. This allowed me to truly have some semblance of balance. Also, when you’re pregnant this room in your schedule allows time for doctors appointments and “naps” when needed lol - Something you can’t take advantage of while working as an attorney full time. 

For me, this was a major factor in considering if we wanted to add a baby during or after law school. It made the most sense for us to take advantage of the flexibility I'd have in my schedule while in school, rather than having to take time off work had we waited until after law school. (Edited to add that although we “planned” this pregnancy for this very reason, God had other plans and I still had another baby my first year as a big girl attorney, a post on that will come later)

• Maternity Leave- in law school there is no such thing as maternity leave. 

You're still responsible for assignments

You're still required to stick to the attendance policy if your school has one.

You don’t get “sick” days or time off so that can be stressful. Not every pregnancy is without sickness or complications so this MUST be a major consideration.

• Health Insurance- You may not have the proper health insurance coverage which can lead to medical debt. I was covered by the insurance at my husbands job. However, we still had to come out of pocket a couple of grand for delivery :( I say delivery because, under the Affordable Care Act, prenatal care (leading up to delivery) is free for most, if not all women.

Some law schools offer a health insurance plan for students that can be rolled into your tuition. But unless you are paying for school without loans, realize this is a loan and money you’ll have to pay back so consider the expense/debt that comes along with this option.

• Childcare - I can’t think if any professional school that offers childcare, babysitting, or any similar service for their students if there is one, comment below so my readers can know :) Once the baby is born, you will have to go back to class, because again there is no maternity leave that won’t delay your graduation date. Unless your partner is a stay at home parent, or you have a live-in relative, chances are you’ll have to find care for your new baby outside the home. This is not always easy. Not only is it a challenge to find reliable caregivers, who are qualified, and will take great care of your baby I’m your absence. . For many moms, leaving their new babies in someone else’s care for 6+ hours a day leads to mental, physical, and emotional stress.

We had our baby in the final semester of my 3L year when my schedule provided much more flexibility than 1L or 2L year. I had classes only 3 days a week and had various breaks in between classes. I was able to partner with a classmate who I trusted who had an alternate schedule. Since we had classes on different days, she watched Ian on the days/times I had class until graduation. Roughly 3 months. She lived very close to campus so I would drop off Ian on my way to campus, with all his essentials. I would have to pump in between classes and would leave the milk with her on pick up for the next time he was over.

We found a system that worked for us, but it was not easy. I went to school just a couple of weeks after delivery (there was a short break in time for spring break) I lived over an hour from campus so car rides with a newborn to three month old was not always an hour. There were stops for diaper changes and feedings, and cuddling on many occasions, which made me have to adjust my schedule as to when I’d leave for class and so forth.

Thankfully we weren’t far from graduation so things weren’t too bad but this can be a huge game-changer for many in their 1L or 2L year.

• Money- Children are expensive I think the newest data out there suggest that it cost a little over $230,000 to raise a child until they are 17 years old. (This is 2020 data) The first year is usually one of the most costly. There are essential baby items you NEED: Car Seats, Basinet/Crib/ Clothing, Formula (if you are not breastfeeding- the formula for babies is EXPENSIVE) & all the other little things that babies need, they add up. So this is certainly something to consider. If you are a full-time law student chances are you do not (because you are not allowed to) have a job, and therefore you are either living off savings, family support, student loans, or a combination of these things. So the cost of having a baby should be one of the main things to account for when making this decision.

I hope that this was helpful, as I said before everyone’s situation is unique and you have to do what is best for you. My goal was to let you know what you should consider, and also, that it is POSSIBLE to do! If you end up on the wild journey of mothering and law school, feel free to contact me to chat via email or social media, I love making Law Mom Friends :)

"Money always flows away from those who don't manage it toward those who do"

Since my last blog post, I have had a few people ask me for a follow up post about BUDGETING. Some were really interested in how we paid down our debt, and others just interested in getting their finances in order for the new year.

So obviously I have some folks who are: tired of overspending, want to save money for certain purchases, get paid and have no clue where all their money goes; that follow me. Do any of these things sound familiar to you? Fret not, I wrote this post with you in mind.

I was once that person I just described above. After a few changes to my mindset surrounding money and some healthy adjustments to my spending habits, I can now answer those questions in the negative!  (Ok I still overspend at times on coffee - smh- it is a process.) 

Most people don’t like talking finances because it’s such a taboo topic. Myself included.

For instance Noah and I never discuss dollar figures & finances with anyone outside of our circle, (God, each other & our financial advisor.) Just because we feel as though its nobody else's business. I mean really it's not. But mainly because we have a healthy view and relationship with money that some people don't share. We view money as an object to make exchanges. We don't let money control us, we control our money. We don't think more money will take away our problems, we make it work with what we have. We spend within OUR means, and we allocate every dollar to what WE deem is important to US.

Some people really don't have boundaries when it comes to money. People also tend to think if you make x amount of dollars you have imaginary money that they like to spend for you. So to keep from having to run down the long list of expenses and places our money goes, we just choose not to talk about it with anyone outside of us.

We do however believe in discussing money with our kids, well mainly Kubb, Ian has no clue what money is right now. This is because a lot of the money habits people have are inadvertently handed down to them. So we want our children to understand money for what it is and have a healthy relationship with money themselves as they grow older and make their own financial decisions.

I also think it’s ok to talk about eliminating debt. Sometimes people just need to know that they can do it too. Wealth building and financial independence should not be a secret. (Especially when you're talking about what most millenials can relate to: STUDENT LOANS -- the added layer of Medical School  &  Law School type of student loans (6 FIGURES) yea, we all need some advice in that area - I will dedicate a post to this in the future) In the meantime if you're looking for more (Medical School Debt advice) the best place to start is- THE WHITE COAT INVESTOR. 

Ok, now back to the reason you're here. You want to discover the magic of mastering your finances in 2018, SO YOU CAN ANSWER NO TO THOSE QUESTIONS TOO. Guess what?! It starts with one word, BUDGET. Budgeting is the first step to financial literacy and freedom. 

Budgeting allows you to create a plan for your money and ensures you have enough for everything you need. Budgeting most importantly allows you to control your money instead of your money controlling you. 

Seeing where your money goes every month can be very eye opening.   

Realizing you over spent on groceries, gas, & eating out is not cool. Especially when that extra money could have gone to eliminating debt or building wealth.  

DISCLAIMER: I am not a money expert. I can only share what works for us & hope that it helps you! Talk to a financial advisor or CPA for individual advice and direction. 

First things first

STRATEGY

• Note your NET income (after pre/post tax deductions- in other words what you bring home)

• Track your spending for a month (Every item, every dollar- it is time consuming at 1st but it is for a great reason- don't skip this step)

• Set your budget -- Allocate your money. THIS IS WHERE YOU CREATE A BUDGET.

  • Fixed expenses first: Tithes, Mortgage/Rent, Utilities, Car Payment, Insurance (health, car, life) , DEBT, Subscriptions, Phone Bill.

  • Then variable expenses (things that change month-month): Household products, Gas, Groceries, Leisure, Personal, Misc.

  • Non-Negotiables ( Savings Categories listed below)

• Adjust if necessary : if you realize that you only spend x on misc stuff instead of yz then allocate that money somewhere else.

Also, review your budget month- if not every couple of weeks!  I do a mid month and month end budget check to see where we are. 

Savings - My mantra is pay God 1st, then yourself. Don't wait to see what you have left over to save, instead use what you have after you SAVE.

Here are some suggested savings categories. Think of what is non-negotiable (things you will put money to no matter what) and start funding those things first. 

• EMERGENCY FUND - Life happens. You can lose your job, have a huge medical expenses and so forth- Some people suggest having 3-6 months of income in an emergency fund. [DO WHAT WORKS FOR YOU] but don't neglect creating an emergency fund. Even if it is $500-$1000.

• RETIREMENT FUND - (401K, 403b, IRA, Roth IRA, TSP) My suggestion here again is to do what works FOR YOU. Every one's financial situation is unique. If you're able at the very least put in enough to get your employer match if there is one - it is FREE MONEY)

• CHILDREN EDUCATION FUND - Post about different ways to do this coming next month :)

• INVESTMENTS - (Mutual funds, Index Funds, Stocks- whatever you PERSONALLY decide to invest your money in. If you don't know where to start, do some research or talk to a financial advisor.)

• DEBT PAYOFF - (NON-NEGOTIABLE) Paying off your debt allows you to save more money. The money you would have paid in interest can go to something else, if you make extra debt payments with any extra money you have monthly (even an extra $50 a month) can save you a ton on interest.

• SPECIFIC PURCHASES -(If you know you're going to be needing a new car in 6 months, or planning a big party/wedding, vacation etc. those things should go here.)

• SINKING FUND - ( Car maintenance, house repairs, birthdays, holidays etc.)

Budgeting can be difficult the first few months but if you hang in there it will pay off -- Pun Intended ;)

It takes practice, and discipline, but you will be so happy you did this once you begin to see results.

~ HAPPY BUDGETING ~

The MAJOR Financial Move I’m making to ensure I reach my financial goals in 2018: A NO SPEND YEAR. I will go into detail about this in a later post, but yea- it means what it says! 😅  One caveat: I did purchase myself a very nice "gift" (mainly with christmas money) to sate my desires for the duration of this challenge. I also purchased a back orderderd & pre-ordered item back in 2017 before I decided I was going to do a no spend year. They will both come as a great "surprise" & I can still receive gifts ;) - Although, gifting will require discipline because shopping for others usually leads to finding things for myself, lol.  But for the most part I am not spending  money on any"THING" other than necessities in 2018!! 

Here are a few suggested  Budget Planners, & books to get you started Budgeting the RIGHT WAY. 

For those looking for great apps to track your money & budget I suggest MINT, YOUNEEDABUDGET, & EVERYDOLLAR

BTW,  If anyone ask; don't be afraid to say...

Being on a budget doesn't mean You're CHEAP or BROKE, it means You're smart.

This still feels like a dream. I can't believe it was over 3 years ago I began this "Journey to JD" Blog & now I have finally obtained my degree.  

I will not say that the road was easy, but it was certainly worth it. I not only did this with a tweenager & a husband but I was also brave enough to have a baby along the way 😅 

I commuted over 1000 hours in 3 years to and from class. (1L Year we lived 45 mins each way from my law school) & 2&3L Year we lived an 1hour & 15mins each way, thanks to my husbands residency!) I sacrificed sleep, food, & fun because I was determined to make my dream a reality and here I AM. 

My car became my sanctuary. I spent many mornings praising God on my way to school, & a bunch of evenings crying & venting to him because I was just tired and overwhelmed (especially during finals) lol but I survived!  

He brought me through. He who began a good work in me, was faithful to complete it.

Most women complain about being a "residents wife" & the lack of help they get at home but I can honestly say, I would not have survived law school without my husbands help. 

From making the bed every morning because I never had time to, washing and folding the laundry on his 1 day off because my weekends were spent studying, taking my heavy books to the car for me so I didnt have to carry them, being my mock professor for presentations and papers, being my free99 editing pro with no complaints, but more importantly being my biggest critic when I was procrastinating and falling off.  I can not complain about not having help from my resident husband because I receive a ton. I'm grateful to have such a hands on spouse who's been through a rigorous graduate program so he GETS IT. I would not have been able to hold it all together without him. 

Many of my classmates marveled at my ability to "balance" it all. Family, commute, school, personal life.. & when they asked how I did it, my response was always because I had no choice. There were sooooo many moments where I felt like this was impossible, but I just kept going and before I knew it, I found myself doing the impossible!! 

From Teen Mom to JD -- God has been so good to me!  

Honorary Grad. He did one year 😂

The Family

CGS