Law and social media didn’t always go hand in hand. In fact most law firms, in its infancy, didn’t like social media. It was a tool to be controlled and used by the firm itself and was often limited to the bosses of the firm. No one could release information without the go ahead from the firm partners. Putting too much of your business out there is bad and what if the employees said something unnecessary about the firm or embarrassed the firm as a whole. Business would be difficult to attract. It takes years for a firm to build a reputation and one bad work from the wrong person can leave a bad taste in any persons’ mouth.

Now it’s not such a horrible tool. Some law firms actually welcome the social media. I still find it to be very professional tool though. While things have changed and law firm’s use social media I still feel that it is heavily controlled by the bosses. But why not when it is their reputation on the line. Should social media be dictated by the bosses or by everyone? I find this to be a very important question. Some would say that everyone should have a hand in it. While you do work in a social setting with others you are an individual. You should be a person, most importantly the person you want to be. I don’t believe that social media should be stopped in any respect to a person.

However I fully believe that people should watch what they say and be mindful of what they write especially on social media because it is a public audience you are writing to and not just between friends who understands you. Also your actions and words do directly reflect the ideals of the person who has hired you. One thing I learned while managing this blog folio is that it is good to present a good front so that others will hire you. You should respect all thoughts and opinions but also know how to convey your thoughts appropriately. Because social media is so public you do not need to put all your thoughts in the public eye considering all the consequences. Also the internet has a long memory. Things I may have forgotten a long time ago will still be on the internet long after I’m gone.

I understand why law firms want to control the media when they want to present themselves. Some may say it is unfair that they restrict what employees may write or what gets put out a law firm’s public display but if it was my reputation on the line I would want to know what information or ideas are coming out of my firm because reputation means so much in this world. I am always conscience of what I put out because I understand that it is a representation of me and I want to leave a good impression on the viewers.

Writing in law can be a very difficult task. There is in fact a lot that goes into writing in the law field. A midst all the law firm lingo or jargon you have to know not only how to communicate with other people in your field but to your client as well. Efficiency is key and you must be strait to the point of what you are trying to say. Also you have to keep in mind the person who you are writing to and what they need to win the case.

Writing to a client is much different than writing to someone in your field or who possess the same legal knowledge that you do. Clients tend not to have the legal knowledge of a lawyer so something written to one should have a better explanation as to what the lawyer intends to do. What documents are needed and why? Explain in simple terms so that the client doesn’t get lost in the overall writing of the document. When writing my biggest problem was conveying the idea I needed to in an organized and clear manner. It wasn’t hard to figure out what I was trying to say but the problem was saying it period. Finding the main ideas and explaining them and then having them relate to each other was another problem. I had a lot of good points but not all of them related to my thesis. Clients seek help and often times if they do not understand your writing it can lead to you losing the client. Also your writing should indicate that you understand what the case entails. Clients like to know that you are interested and fully investigating their claim. This requires background knowledge of the case presented and viewing all sides of the problem so that you can better assist the client in their defense.

Writing to a lawyer is quite different because when writing to a lawyer they tend to have an idea of what you are talking about provided they are in your field or work closely with you. Sometimes it is necessary when you need information from another case or a different field to help you solve the issues in yours. Writing should be short and concise to avoid confusion or so you do not add information that isn’t necessary to helping your case. Most times lawyers have their own cases to worry about and making your point quickly and your needs apparent can help you greatly. That was another problem, writing fluff. It isn’t the length of your paper that matters but the content in the paper that matters most. I will admit I have fallen victim to writing fluffy papers that seem to go nowhere just to make the paper requirements. However as I later realized it is also a sign that you may not know what you are talking about and that is bad. Throughout my life I began to be more invested in the material I was learning so I could write more about the topics.

“Legal Writing.” LII / Legal Information Institute. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Mar. 2014.

Intellectual Entrepreneurship is an important step in the future of many graduate students live in the University of Texas. This program helps students not only learn about the field they are specializing in academically but also to experience the field they are in by going out and actually meeting the future field they are to work in. They can talk to people outside their field work on internships and jobs and help the students truly understand the field they wish to work in.

Many graduate programs focus on building students’ knowledge through academics. They are expected to go out on their own and gain experience in their field apart from the school in which they learn their specializations. I find this hard because I take enjoyment in the experience of a program not just the academic process. In my opinion it isn’t just about the grade but about how you feel when you learning. What drives you? This program changes that. It provides students with a basic understanding of their chosen field through doing. The school allows you to work on experience within the bounds of the school and doesn’t expect you to figure it out on your own. Sometimes that helping hand can make all the difference because many graduate students don’t quite know what to do when leaving their school of choice. Some don’t have enough experience or didn’t quite realize what they were in for when they leave the shelter of a school. By taking this extra step by working with the students in this way it gives them a better sense of what is going on around them and what to expect when they leave the school setting.

What I liked about this article the most is the idea of learning about one’s self which is most important in any field. “This is a discovery process in which individuals continually and regularly learn more about themselves and their areas of expertise”(Cherwitz and Sullivan,25). You must have an understanding of what you can do and how you can add to the field. Many walk into their field not quite sure of themselves. They are eager to learn and become a part of the field but do not know where they fit because they do not know themselves. This something I know all too well and I quickly figured out where I fit in after my first couple of years in college. If you know yourself well enough you can add an interesting perspective to the field you’re in and even further advance it than previously thought before. That’s what I feel is most important. To evolve and to become better is what changes the world and what brought society to what it is today. They key to becoming successful in any career is you. If you don’t step forward then you can easily be left behind.

Another great and important part of this experience is the Synergy Groups. They are integral to their learning experience because they provide so much. “Synergy groups also encourage participants from different disciplines and organizations to devise solutions to problems that reflect an integration of perspectives.” (Cherwitz and Sullivan, 26). I loved this idea so much because from the start you not also have contacts but also you have an idea of what you’re getting into. These groups allow you to work with others in the outside world and can help you understand the field so much better than you would have without them. You get outside thoughts and views and you can also see the impacts these decisions make on real people so it can have deeper meaning. If I could have this experience I would jump at it. This is a great program and it strives to better the students for their future and in so doing, the future of others.

I am Charlene Bell and I am a Philosophy Major at Stony Brook University. I use to be a Biology Major before I made this switch and it was a tough decision to make the switch. Through the course of my life I realized that some of the things I was doing and the things I was interested in wasn’t the things I was good at. Also looking back on my life I realized that maybe it wasn’t what I really wanted to do with my life.

Naturally I went into Biology so I could be a doctor. My uncle was a doctor and he also went to Stony Brook. It’s what brought me to this school. They have a good pre-med program and it was also close to home. I really wanted to know about the human body and how it worked and all the little parts of the system. I am good in math and I loved science. I use to sit up all night and watch the science channel. I now realize that my fascination with the body and my wanting to pursue a career in the medical field were entirely different.

When I finally went to college I took as many of my necessary courses as I could. I immediately fell into the category of students who studied relentlessly and wasn’t really enjoying the field that I was going into. I loved to do lab and to dissect but learning about all the chemical transactions that went into the body was tiring. I like to do. Also I felt that the medical field left little time for me to think about what I was learning. I really wasn’t into it but I was stubborn, as usual, and determined to get to the finish line. Learning isn’t going to be easy. My PhD wasn’t going to be handed to me on a silver platter I had to work for it. I stuck it out for quite a while until I realized that maybe this wasn’t what I was meant for.

My natural personality is competitive and I love to speak on tough issues. My mom is a huge news buff and she has very strong political views which she instilled in me and we often have talks about major political events. From watching the Tracy Anthony case and Trayvon Martin to name some major ones. She also talks about some of the policies overseas as well. We’d also talk about abortion and the legalities behind it as well as gay rights. She is constantly reading and talking about these issues in the house. We use to have deep discussions and often times we use to argue with each other over point of views and ideas that could help change policies.

I began to realize as I went deeper into the biology that I let my curiosity take over my mind and I needed to focus on what I was not only good at but what engaged my mind. I finally made the switch to philosophy and I will say I will never look back. It was the greatest change in my life and I’m happy I made it. Philosophy allowed me to think about my future and what I wanted to do. I started to think more in depth about what I was learning and enjoyed listening to the different views of life and of law. My Political Philosophy class brought great insight into the history of law and what some of the views put into our system. Our law system is actually greatly influenced by religion despite our saying it is secular. Most all law I found was grounded in some religious backing especially in the 1600s, though I will say this isn’t a surprise.

I found myself in a new world and I loved it. I even went to speech and debate club and I liked it. I will say that standing in front of a bunch of people I didn’t know was a bit scary but after a while I shrugged it off. I had a lot of fun and I wanted more. This was great for me and I began to see myself in the future of law. I am motivated and excited for what is to come and I wanted more!