Since August 1, 2012, Blueprint JD has been hard at work giving law school and legal career advice, sharing law school exam outlines, and highlighting how the law impacts lives. Three months later, we’re thrilled to celebrate a milestone – 100 blog posts!
Thank You!
We at Blueprint JD are so thankful for your support. You’ve visited our site, followed our blog and recommended it to your friends. Since our launch, about 7,000 visitors have viewed our website more than 33,000 times. We’re also building a consistent following; about 700 folks follow Blueprint JD across our social media and e-mail platforms. We are growing because of you and are excitedly planning our next 100 posts.
We’re also incredibly grateful to the women at blogs Ms. JD and The Girl’s Guide to Law School for their support. They’re vanguards in the legal diversity blog space, and their warm reception let us know that folks continue to be interested in diverse perspectives.
Lessons Learned
On a personal note, I’d like to extend my heartfelt thanks to the hardworking Blueprint JD Editorial Team and Board of Directors. They include law students, Biglaw associates, judicial clerks, government folks, and nonprofit attorneys. Yet, they find the time to write, edit, and market Blueprint JD; recruit authors and volunteers; and help bring a long-standing dream to fruition. Together, we’ve learned a ton. Five lessons that stand out are:
- The more concrete the better. There’s lots of “big picture” advice out there, but not a lot of “step-by-step” guidance. Our most popular posts feature templates, outlines, and timelines that break down the law school or job search process.
- We must talk about failure. While we position folks for success, the road to success often involves setbacks. We’d do you a disservice if we didn’t discuss, for instance, what happens when you don’t get an offer or pass the bar on the first try. To overcome obstacles, we have to be willing to talk about them.
- Content flexibility is crucial. We initially launched as a Biglaw blog. However, reader feedback prompted us to include public service careers in our coverage. In the end, we’re here to serve you. Want us to write about a particular issue? Contact us and let us know.
- We’re lost without technology. This blog is a case study in how tech can help even non-tech people work magic. From WordPress (our blogging platform) to Asana (our article management tool) to Wufoo (our forms fairy godmother), tech helps this blog look great and lets us focus on our main mission – writing.
- Neutrality gets you nowhere. We are a diversity blog. So, we cannot sit by quietly while diversity gains are eroded. Stay tuned for our editorial commentary on this front – as we engage in frank conversations about why diversity programs aren’t working and how to gauge whether a law firm truly values about diversity.
How You Can Support Blueprint JD
We hope that you’ll continue to support us for the next 100 posts. You can do so by:
- Following us via Facebook, Twitter or email.
- Directing law students to our blog.
- Writing for us and sharing your story.
We’ve got 100 reasons to celebrate. We invite you to join us in the coming months for another 100 more.
Melinda Hightower
Latest posts by Melinda Hightower (see all)
- No Summer Fun for You – Bar Exam Advice for First-Time Test Takers - June 3, 2013
- I Hated Con Law and So Can You (Complete with Outlines) - April 30, 2013
- To Thrive in Biglaw, You Need a Sponsor - April 26, 2013
