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Law School Essentials

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Law school is challenging in so many ways. When I started, I didn't have a clue what I actually needed versus what was just fluff. This list boils down what you actually need (besides the obvious pens, highlighters, and notebooks).
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What's Inside My Law School Backpack

These are all the things I have inside my backpack to help me be successful in law school.

 
Amy Halusek profile picture
A portable stand is essential to saving your neck when going through a casebook. It makes it so simple to just divert my eyes from my laptop to my casebook and back when typing out notes or my outline. You definitely won't regret this!
Actto BST-09 Green Portable Reading/Book Stand
 
Amy Halusek profile picture
These quick reference guides are so incredibly helpful in every subject. They boil down the essentials to exactly what you need to know to be successful in each class. I have found that I got the most use out of the legal writing and legal research c...
Legal Writing: Quickstudy Laminated Reference ...
 
Amy Halusek profile picture
These quick reference guides are so incredibly helpful in every subject. They boil down the essentials to exactly what you need to know to be successful in each class. I have found that I got the most use out of the legal writing and legal research c...
Legal Research: a QuickStudy Laminated Law ...
 
Amy Halusek profile picture
A good pair of headphones or ear buds is essential to a successful law school career. Especially in this day and age where you will be taking some courses online. Use these to help maintain focus while studying in a crowded area or taking a zoom cour...
Raycon Fitness Bluetooth True Wireless Earbuds
 
Amy Halusek profile picture
A good pair of headphones or ear buds is essential to a successful law school career. Especially in this day and age where you will be taking some courses online. Use these to help maintain focus while studying in a crowded area or taking a zoom cour...
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II, Wireless
 
Amy Halusek profile picture
A good pair of headphones or ear buds is essential to a successful law school career. Especially in this day and age where you will be taking some courses online. Use these to help maintain focus while studying in a crowded area or taking a zoom cour...
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) Wireless Ear Buds
 
Amy Halusek profile picture
Hydration is essential during long study sessions. A good water bottle is so crucial. I love this bottle for so many reasons. But mainly, I love that it is a straw bottle so I don't have to stop reading just to take a drink. It minimizes distractions...
Simple Modern Water Bottle with Straw Lid ...
 
Amy Halusek profile picture
Hydration is essential during long study sessions. A good water bottle is so crucial. I love this bottle for so many reasons. But mainly, I love that it is a straw bottle so I don't have to stop reading just to take a drink. It minimizes distractions...
Stanley IceFlow Stainless Steel Tumbler w/Straw
 
Amy Halusek profile picture
Hydration is essential during long study sessions. A good water bottle is so crucial. I love this bottle for so many reasons. But mainly, I love that it is a straw bottle so I don't have to stop reading just to take a drink. It minimizes distractions...
32 oz Water Bottle with Straw Lid
 
Amy Halusek profile picture
A planner is essential to your law school career. I have used one every year and it is perfect for organizing not only law school but life outside of law school. Every mom needs a planner, but every law school mom needs a lifesaver!
Clever Fox Planner – Undated Weekly & Monthly ...
 
Amy Halusek profile picture
A planner is essential to your law school career. This planner has been a godsend. I have used one every year and it is perfect for organizing not only law school but life outside of law school. The focused planners are my favorite.
The Focused Collection™ Productivity Planners
 
Amy Halusek profile picture
A planner is essential to your law school career. I have used one every year and it is perfect for organizing not only law school but life outside of law school. Every mom needs a planner, but every law school mom needs a lifesaver!
Blue Sky Aligned 2024 Weekly and Monthly ...

The Perfect Bag

Backpacks are personal preference. But these are some of my favorites based on my experience.

 
Amy Halusek profile picture
This was the backpack that got me through my undergrad degree. Ten years later I found myself in law school with the same backpack. They no longer make that specific bag however this is the closest one I could find. I cannot recommend this brand enou...
SwissGear 5358 USB ScanSmart Laptop Backpack
 
Amy Halusek profile picture
A backpack is essential to a successful law school career. The SwissGear brand is the best I have found for a good quality backpack that can carry you through all aspects of life. I cannot recommend this brand enough. These are some of my. absolute f...
SwissGear Wenger Ibex Laptop Backpack, black ...
 
Amy Halusek profile picture
A backpack is essential to a successful law school career. The SwissGear brand is the best I have found for a good quality backpack that can carry you through all aspects of life. I cannot recommend this brand enough. These are some of my. absolute f...
SwissGear 1900 Scansmart TSA 17-Inch Laptop Backpack
 
Amy Halusek profile picture
Sometimes the best bag is a tote bag. Especialy when you are in an internship program. I love this bag for so many reasons. Specifically, I love that the bag is so roomy for all the essentials at school and the office.
LOVEVOOK Laptop Bag for Women, 15.6 inch ...
 
Amy Halusek profile picture
Sometimes the best bag is a tote bag. Especialy when you are in an internship program. I love this bag for so many reasons. Specifically, I love that the bag is so roomy for all the essentials at school and the office.
Amazon.com: 15.6 inch Laptop Tote Bag Leather ...
 
Amy Halusek profile picture
Sometimes the best bag is a tote bag. Especialy when you are in an internship program. I love this bag for so many reasons. Specifically, I love that the bag is so roomy for all the essentials at school and the office.
17 Inch Laptop Bag for Women, Large Convertible
 
Amy Halusek profile picture
A bag on wheels is great if you have a lot of items to carry but don't have the strength to carry them. I've experienced back problems since I was a teenager and have utilized a rolling bag when having flare ups. These are some of my favorite bags fr...
EMPSIGN Rolling Laptop Bag Women with ...
 
Amy Halusek profile picture
A bag on wheels is great if you have a lot of items to carry but don't have the strength to carry them. I've experienced back problems since I was a teenager and have utilized a rolling bag when having flare ups. These are some of my favorite bags fr...
Rockland Double Handle Rolling Backpack, 17-Inch
 
Amy Halusek profile picture
A bag on wheels is great if you have a lot of items to carry but don't have the strength to carry them. I've experienced back problems since I was a teenager and have utilized a rolling bag when having flare ups. These are some of my favorite bags fr...
MATEIN Rolling Backpack, 17 inch Water Resistant
 
Amy Halusek profile picture
Once you get closer to the end of your career and you don't have as many large casebooks to carry, a bag that is just for fashion is just as nice as a bag for function. Being close to the end, I now use a fashion forward bag more than a function forw...
LOVEVOOK 15.6 Inch Professional Laptop Backpack
 
Amy Halusek profile picture
Once you get closer to the end of your career and you don't have as many large casebooks to carry, a bag that is just for fashion is just as nice as a bag for function. Being close to the end, I now use a fashion forward bag more than a function forw...
VANKEAN 15.6 Inch Laptop Backpack for Women
 
Amy Halusek profile picture
Once you get closer to the end of your career and you don't have as many large casebooks to carry, a bag that is just for fashion is just as nice as a bag for function. Being close to the end, I now use a fashion forward bag more than a function forw...
YALUNDISI Vintage Backpack Travel Laptop ...

The Tech Stuff

I'm an Apple girl through and through. But I've included some products I think would work well if you weren't an Apple person because I've had friends tell me they love them.

 
Amy Halusek profile picture
I use my iPad for everything! From taking notes to ebooks for casebooks to online flashcards. My 1L year, I didn't use my iPad as much and I regret it! Don't make the same mistakes I did and just get it from the start!
Apple iPad (9th Generation)
 
Amy Halusek profile picture
You had to see this coming. I love my MacBook almost as much as I love my iPad. This works with about every program you could ask for so well, including the exam softwares used. I have so many friends without Apple computers who have had issues throu...
Apple 2023 MacBook Air Laptop
 
Amy Halusek profile picture
Note taking has never been easier. If you have a great stylus, then you have everything. This Pencil is everything I have ever wanted. It makes taking all the notes and highlighting in ebooks so much easier than I could have ever asked for.
Apple Pencil (2nd Generation)
 
Amy Halusek profile picture
Okay so full disclosure. I have never used this. But there is a very specific reason I am recommending it. If my friends don't have an iPad and MacBook, they have the Surface Pro. It is either sworn by for one or the other. I feel that I have to do m...
Microsoft QIL-00052 Surface Pro 9 13" Touch ...
 
Amy Halusek profile picture
Now the same disclosure applies to this as the Surface Pro. My friends who swear by the Surface Pro swear by this stylus pen. Any type of tablet you have definitely needs a pen!
Metapen Stylus Pen M1 for Microsoft Surface