Hopefully, by the time you start your third year of law school, you've got case briefing down to a 10-minute science and the Socratic Method no longer gives you a stomach ache. And hopefully you've also got a permanent job offer in your back pocket. If so, you should make a point to enjoy your final year of law school.

No matter what kind of law you wind up practicing, your life will change drastically next year. Before you know it, the stress of the bar exam will rear its ugly head. Soon after, you'll be adjusting your personal life to fit around your work schedule. So this third year of law school is really a great chance to live it up a little before "real life" kicks in. We've got some tips for making the most out of being a 3L.

As you know, the legal market's a little slow right now. What that means for summer associates -- particularly those at big firms with large summer classes -- is that good projects may be harder to come by. Here are some tips for getting quality assignments that will show the firm how great you are, increasing your chances of getting that all-important permanent offer.

If only you were a summer associate three years ago, right? In those days, the economy was super charged and law firms were scrambling for extra bodies, hiring dozens of new lawyers from their summer programs. This year, of course, things are different. The economy's uncertain and, as a result, firms have slowed their hiring considerably, which puts pressure on summer associates already nervous about getting a permanent offer. But don't despair. We've got some tips for increasing your chances of heading back to school with an offer in your back pocket.

On Campus interviewing is around the corner. It can be the most exhilarating, exciting, exhausting and frightening time of the year. As former practicing attorneys, all of us at Solutus have experienced this process as both the interviewer and the student. Neither has an easy task. We thought it might be helpful to provide a few tips for both interviewers and students to help them through the process. The basics are obvious (for both): be polite, dress well, get a good night's sleep. But, we've discovered that there are a few very important rules that many good interviewers forget and many students do not respect.

You are being recruited. That is the fundamental purpose of a summer program, even in a tight market. People take you to lunch. People arrange fun things for you to do. Your work schedule is closely monitored so as not to interfere with having a good time and getting to know the other lawyers in the firm. But, they don't call you a summer "associate" for nothing. It is true that firms have significantly down-sized their summer programs so that they can continue to offer permanent positions to large percentages of their summer associates. So, if you are lucky enough to have landed a summer position, the chances are that you will receive a permanent offer. Still, a very serious evaluation process is under way. And, not all permanent offers are created equal. Your goal should be to shoot for a "good" offer, one that a firm makes with genuine enthusiasm. If you ultimately choose to join the firm where you summer, you are much better off going in with broad and deep support.