Summer of 2013 - Entering my 2L Year

I can't believe I am back.  I go to the same school, I live in the same place, I have the same friends, I drive the same car...everything around me has remained the same, but I have managed to transform so much so that I barely recognize the person I was just a year and a half ago.   The best indication?  It is Saturday night, and I am sitting on my bedroom floor in front of a laptop instead of trying to find the next cheap thrill.  Anyone who knew me before law school knew that if there was one person you could count on to be bouncing around at a concert, buzzed in a piano bar, or dancing like the world is going to end in some hazy Arabic club...it was me.  All the time, without fail, whether I wanted to or not, I was addicted to the here and now.  I am happy I lived that life, because I can find a connection with so many people from so many walks of life and I KNOW that everyone can do better.  Even more so, I am happy that I have made the changes to my life that were necessary.  I credit some of that to just getting older and wiser, but I can say without a doubt that law school changed my life.

3 months prior to law school

This post is not actually about that change, it deserves a much deeper reflection to really express it in words; but each time I begin a new entry, I am reminded of the struggles it came to get this far...and damnit, I am proud.

Onto the summer.  As I discussed in a previous post, I secured a paid internship at a criminal defense firm for the first half of summer.  Working there was quite an eye opener.  First, I am still not quite used to the idea that lawyers are people.  Before you enter a profession that has a certain reputation for being difficult or hard to obtain, you generally believe that the people in that profession are some sort of elite squad.  Going into my internship, I was nervous that the people in the office would eat me alive.  I thought they would point out how much I didn't know, give me impossible assignments, and make me feel inferior because I was a novice in their field.  

I was dead wrong.

Working at the legal office, I was greeted with nothing but excitement.  The attorneys and paralegals, while they expected me to work and didn't want to spend time explaining the law (they expected me to research the statutes on my own), were completely open and put time aside to go over each and every assignment I turned in. They gave me access to the high-profile cases they were working on and let me observe how they proceed from start to finish.  I attended client interviews, listened to billing calls, watched voir dire (jury selection process), watched DUI intake videos alongside our clients, wrote briefs that were actually turned in to a judge, observed the entire trail process and joined my attorneys in chambers...so many things I have only seen on television! I knew I would experience them one day, but when the day finally came, I had to make a conscious effort not to smile like the village idiot.

I can't talk much about the cases because of client confidentiality, but one of the most interesting ones I got to work on was the Schermerhorn trial.  A man from Arlington (my home town) was convicted of continuous sexual assault of a child; meaning that at least (2) times, ranging over (30) days, he had sexual contact with a minor under the age of 17.  The guy was in his 50s and the child was only 9 at the age of the first incident.  I struggled a lot with this case; not only because it made me sick to my stomach every time I thought about the emotional trauma this put on everyone involved and, in the case it actually happened, the lasting mental anguish the victim would go through, but rather because I felt like the bad guy.  My firm was representing this man.  I turned this over in my head a few times before I walked into our senior attorney's office and asked him, "How can you sleep?"  After getting over my boldness, he told me,  "The case was not about whether the man was guilty or innocent.  It is a defense attorney's job to ensure that the state meets its burden of proof.  If, as an attorney, I were to go with my gut instinct of guilty or not guilty, then I would be doing my client, the court system, and the Constitution itself an injustice.  If there is a shred of doubt that a man facing life in prison is innocent, then I must turn every stone to uncover the inconsistencies in the case.  If I didn't, and I realized some time down the line that I made a mistake that cost a man his life, THEN I would definitely never sleep peacefully again."  Needless to say, I learned more than how to make a legal file at that firm.

What the senior atty said before he snapped and walked off like a model.

Besides the law firm, I also took (2) summer classes.  Though I am used to being a busy person, I think I bit off more than I could chew with (6) credit hours and a part time work week over the course of 2 months.  I took Oil and Gas and Marital Property.  Oil and Gas is necessary for Texas lawyers because we bathe in oil and use it to grease our steaks, but I walked in with a chip on my shoulder since  I am a hippie when it comes to clean renewable energy.  Nevertheless, the professor was brilliant.  He only teaches in the summer because he is an actual practicing oil and gas attorney for XTO.  He did a wonderful job, and I received a great grade in the course.  Marital property, on the other hand....let's just say I will NEVER deal with (or hopefully participate in) a divorce in Texas!

Well kids...that gets you through the first half of summer.  I can't wait to write the next post about my study abroad in CROATIA! :)

Summer...and Beyond!

Oh blog world, I've definitely been neglecting you this semester!  Law school got real, fast.  I was so swept up in this semester that posting went by the wayside.  There are a few posts that I didn't want to share until after the semester was over - those will be up soon!

Right now, it's 2AM on a Saturday night (Sunday morning?).  I would love to be driving home and passing out fully dressed with some disgusting fast food on my nightstand, but instead, I'm taking a study break!  I have completed (2) finals so far (Contracts and Civil Procedure), and I have one remaining (Property).  It's a take home final, so it can't be that bad, right? :-(  I may seem a little relaxed, but that's mostly because the panic is over.  I was worried about my first two exams (to the point of crying and vomiting), but now the end is on the horizon!

Before updating everyone on what happened over the course of the semester, I wanted to talk (well, maybe brag a little) about how incredible this summer is going to be! I have been planning every minute of it with a huge smile on my face.  Law school has opened so many doors for me.  Last summer, I was just going to parties, working at a hotel, and watching way too much TV.  But this summer...it's going to be unforgettable.

First, the boring part.  I am taking (2) summer courses. One is on campus, and I have to go (2) nights/week.  The course is Oil and Gas, and apparently the professor is some sort of O&G wizard.  As gross as it sounds, I am actually very excited about it! My father worked in the O&G field for several years, and since I live in Texas it will always affect my life in some way.  The other course is Marital Property, and it's online! I didn't know online courses existed in law school, and I can't wait to learn about how to swindle my first husband's money while in my pajamas.  Just kidding...I really just plan on making my own fortune and having a shit load of cats.

While taking courses, I will also be working a paid internship!  Paid internships are a rare treat for first year students.  Most attorneys simply don't feel we know enough about the law to be any sort of asset to their company over the summer.  A few of them offer unpaid internships, but they are also hard to get.  You don't know rejection until you cry over missing an opportunity to work for free.  I applied several places and even went on a few interviews. I wanted to work in the Dallas Immigration and Customs Enforcement Office since I plan to work in that field, but it didn't work out.  That was the last of my interviews, and I was pretty upset when I got the rejection letter.  As luck would have it, my personal attorney offered me a job for the summer just a few days later!  I will be working in a criminal defense firm working evidence and cases.  Though the job is exciting in and of itself, I think it's about time I shared how I ended up there...

Warning: I am not asking for lectures or judgments. I made a mistake and I learned a LOT from it - so be nice or else...

Last year in May, I was going out a lot.  Far more than I should have.  I wasn't worried about a thing in my life; I was headed to law school, I had a job that paid for all I needed and more, and tons of friends. I had started hanging out with a promoter (you know, the ones who get free tickets and free drinks everywhere they go as long as they bring some groupies along with them and post it on Facebook), and he invited me to a concert at the House of Blues. I was very busy during the day of the concert, and I forgot to eat.  When I got there, the party commenced, and so did the booze.  I drank too much on an empty stomach, and my friend offered to drive me (in my car) back to his house so that I could sleep it off.  It was the best idea, but he had something else in mind, and I immediately demanded my keys.  I drove all of (5) minutes when I was pulled over for - get this - not having the front license plate on my car.  Obviously, the police could tell I had been drinking and they booked me.  I spent the night in jail (TERRIFYING by the way, especially for someone who has never gotten in trouble in their life), and my friend bailed me out the next morning. 

When I got out, I tried not to panic.  I notified the law school, who lectured me but overall was very nice about it. I also hired an attorney to work my case.  I met with the attorney and went over the details, and we continued communicating throughout the course of litigation.  Around December, as I was applying for winter internships, I got a phone call from a potential employer who was otherwise a sure shot.  She notified me that they could not hire me because when they ran my background check, I had a warrant.  This was as much of a surprise to me as it was to them! The warrant, as it turns out, was for failure to appear.  Lots of times in criminal cases, your legal representative can take care of court dates without you having to appear.  I had one of those cases scheduled, but somehow my attorney overlooked it.  I sent him a frantic email, and he fixed the warrant, so I thought I was in the clear (though I didn't get that particular internship even after I explained the situation!).  Everything was fine, however, about a month later I was looking over my records online, and ANOTHER failure to appear showed up. This time, I emailed my attorney in a less polite manner and asked him what happened.  He assured me that his legal assistant was fired after this mistake and he apologized profusely.  Since it didn't turn into a warrant, I wasn't as upset, and I sent him a cheeky response and said that he owed me an internship for all the trouble. To my surprise, it worked!  After some back and forth, we came to an agreement for the summer and he officially offered me a job.  

What is the lesson here, my little law enthusiasts?  Never doubt yourself, and never be afraid to ask.  My bad judgment call resulted in a wonderful opportunity! And people say that nothing good ever happens when you drink too much...ha!  

On a more serious note, a DWI is a very terrible thing.  It can harm you and those around you, and the legal fees and headache aren't worth it! I voluntarily went to some meetings and talked to some people in the community about being a more responsible drinker, and I abstained from it for a while. If you need a ride, call me, unless you're one of my random readers from Germany...then call a cab.  And don't judge. It could have happened to you!

"oh you'll know when I pull up..."

Now, back to my summer.  Once finals and my internship are over, I am headed to CROATIA!  I am doing a summer abroad trip to study Intellectual Property in the European Union.  As luck would have it, I will be accompanied by several classmates on the trip, so I won't have to hang out with strangers the whole time. Perfect!!

Beautiful pic of Croatia

Details about my program can be found here: http://www.law.msu.edu/croatia/index.html

As soon as my last final in Croatia is complete, I am jumping on a plane and getting back to the states as soon as possible to attend a training session for my new position as a Teacher's Assistant!  I will be in charge of a group of 1Ls (first year law students).  The program meets once a week during the school year and my co-TA and I will give the new students advice on time management, studying, and how to avoid the panic attack that is always looming over law students. I am very excited for the opportunity!

Next year, I am also going to serve as the Vice President of the Student Bar Association at my law school. I won the election (which was a little upsetting since I was running against a good friend) about a month ago.  SBA is the liaison between the students and the administration, and we also put on a lot of awesome socials throughout the year.  

The next year is going to rock.  I can't wait to see what new opportunities and friends await me.  Usually I am a lot more sarcastic, so sorry for those who were looking for some rude comments.  They're coming next time...don't worry.

Cheers!

Finals

Sorry for the lag between posts, shit got real.

I am in the dreaded finals period of law school.  Classes ended 2 weeks ago, and law students were given "dead days" to study for final exams.  

The last part of the semester was busier but easier than before.  I know how to do research.  I have an overall study schedule down. I have learned the patterns of the professors: what sort of questions they ask, how they like their essays, and what to expect on their exams.  

I'm not sure if I posted since midterms, but here's how I did:
-Torts (civil law, which I consider my strongest subject) - 23/25
-Criminal Law (hot mess) - 12/15 (mad at myself, oh the rage)
-LARW (technically not a midterm, but rather a memo that counted for 25% of my grade) - B+, which was graded on a low curve, so it was apparently one of the higher grades in the class, and
-Leg Reg - 18/20 (hooray! except this counts for about .05% of our grade)

Overall, I am in a good place.  I really want to make Law Review (a board that writes the publications by the law school, reserved for the top 10% of the class) so I am really working my tail off here.

Also, before finals started, I handed in a memo in LARW that counts for 50% of my grade.  It was over the Lindbergh Act, and it was 4500 words in length.  I don't think I will get my grade back until January so...fingers crossed!

Back to finals.  I took my first one on Monday (2 days ago) in torts.  It's against the honor code to discuss the specific items on the exam, but I think I did really well.  There was one question I didn't know at all, but that's not bad considering there were 20 multiple choice, 4 short answers, and one long ass essay.  This final is worth 80% of our grade and, again, I won't know how I did until January.  I want that grade now. 

Next week I have my Criminal Law final and my Leg Reg final.  Leg Reg is really nothing to worry about in my book, I understand the material and I know exactly what the professor wants.  Criminal Law on the other hand...

Since I am terrified of this test, I have placed myself on a strict study regimen. I have (3) supplements (textbooks that are not required for the course but which present the material in a way that can assist us in learning it).  Each day, I'm reading (100) pages in each one.  Along with that, I am working on transcribing all of my notes from the semester.  Also, I am writing one past essay each day, and fitting in some multiple choice questions here and there.  When I start to lose my sanity, I facebook, eat, smoke hookah, or workout (pretty much in that order, which is why I've gained about 10 pounds since starting law school).  What I am trying to say here is...law school is dead freaking serious.  There isn't time for old friends (who I miss a lot!), I haven't been to parties, I've missed birthdays, and having a booze and movies day is out of the question. I stated in an earlier post that I did have time, but when the finals era is upon us, hanging out is a joke.  If I do go out, I feel guilty for not studying, which is why I usually have my Kindle (loaded with supplements) in my purse.  Thugggg lifeeeee.

Besides that, I have some good news. I will start with a sad story about my internship experience.  I applied for an internship with the Dallas County DA's office, and the interviews went really well. My rep told me that as soon as my background check came through, I would be set to start.  The background check came through...and good news, I had a warrant.  I haven't posted about my run in with the law (that's right, I'm a hardened criminal y'all!!  just kidding, but I did have a minor issue over the summer), but basically I had a court date that my lawyer had to attend and I did not. Due to a clerk error, my lawyer never showed up, and they placed a warrant out for failure to appear.  Needless to say, that was a fun phone call to receive.  Even though I got it cleared up, I couldn't go down that route.  I had more or less given up because I was so upset about the whole experience, when an email sent from God himself came though, offering a winter internship with the EEOC based on the American Disability Act.  Ok, it wasn't actually from God, he prefers the angels in a cave method of communication.  I replied to the email and a few days later, BAM! I have an internship with the EEOC for the winter going over victim's interviews.  Pretty exciting stuff! I will get pro bono hours, and I got lots of likes on Facebook when I posted about it, which at the end of the day, is all that really matters.

They caught me.

Anyway, I wish I could write for days but I've got studying to do (shocker!). Can't wait to post the results!!!

Yay!

It's days like today that give me just the confidence I need to plow forward!  The last few weeks, I have felt a little uneasy about my performance and my ability to be (somewhet) near the top of my class.  Thoughts like this are lethal, especially during midterm season!  Today turned things around, for the moment at least.

Last night, I just couldn't focus.  I heard a rumor that some of the students have already started popping Aderol in order to focus, so I don't feel like my mood is too far from normal.  Anyway, I sat down to read and the evils of Facebook and YouTube starting their nightly calling...I caved in. I wasted so much time doing nothing, all the while thinking about how much productivity was slipping away.  I finally started to focus around 10, and I got through reading about half a chapter for my Criminal Law class...and it took me nearly two hours.  Usually, I plow through an entire chapter in about an hour to an hour and a half (if I have to re-read cases), and I take notes during that time as well.  Needless to say, something was off.  Thankfully, Netflix had some sort of error that I couldn't resolve, so The Walking Dead would have to wait until some other time. I dozed off with every intention to wake up at 6 to finish studying with a well-rested mind.


As I stumbled out of bed at 8:30, I was pissed at myself and the world.  Why was I so tired?  Why is Facebook so damn addicting?  Why are there so many cat pictures to look at online?  It's just not fair.

I strolled into Crim Law with just enough time to sit down and start passing out quizzes (on the day that seats were assigned, I was late and took the seat closest to the professor's podium, so I have the task of passing things out).  When it was quiz time, we had a very tricky question about a topic we had covered a week prior.  Usually, the professor quizzes us on concepts from the previous class, so I had wipe the dust of that part of my mind. Luckily, I selected my answer and was confident with it.  When the professor started going over it...over half the class missed it - but not this gal! I used the same reasoning the professor did and I knew the words before they left her mouth.  It was an excellent feeling, especially since I have been flailing the last few weeks when it comes to these damn quizzes.  As the class progressed, discussion clogged up our progress and guess where we stopped?  You got it, right where I quit reading! Excellent!!  I think the biggest horror I could ever encounter would be getting called on in class to discuss something I hadn't read.  Oh, the shame. Generally, I always read for class and I come with a pretty good understanding of what's going on...so don't get the wrong idea friends.  I'm allowed to have an off day damnit.

After class, I met up with an old coworker who, coincedentally, now works at a hotel that is literally next door to our law school.  It was nice to catch up and the friends that I usually eat with were busy anyway.  Score!

I was expecting an even bigger disaster during my second class, Legislation and Regulation.  I hadn't even cracked the book nor printed out the worksheet we were scheduled to discuss.  This professor has gotten into the habit of calling on people at random since she realized some people weren't prepared for class. I'm not good at concealing nervousness (since I rarely feel that strange emotion) so I just knew this was the moment my nightmares would come to fruition.  Instead of starting immediately, we were given our midterms.  I opened it up...and I received 18/20!!! I had done well in my preparation for this midterm and I knew the grading style so I was confident that I would get a good score.  I did make a couple of mistakes, but unlike some other students, I fully understood them and believed they were justified.  I honestly felt bad for some, because they didn't get the tip of her grading style, so they did an excellent job, but it wasn't exactly what she was looking for so they were counted off.  Things like that happen, I suppose, but I know the feeling of being disappointed when you thought you did well. Luckily for all of us, the midterm is not heavily graded!  The class ended up being completely centered on the midterm so...I went 2/2!  Completely unprepared and it didn't negatively effect me!  This isn't something I should be admitting, and I will definitely never do it again because the knots in my stomach bothered me all day, but it was a very unexpected break. 

In addition to all of these wonderful things, 2 students made comments to me today that made me feel wonderful.  They basically said that I was always on top of things and that I had never said something in class that made me look bad.  Someone even said I was "fearless"! Awesome!  In law school, some talk more than others, but everyone shares the fear of being told they are wrong by a professor, especially in front of peers. 

With these good feelings buzzing, I went to visit two of my professors. I hadn't been to their offices before, and I thought a personal introduction was in order.  I discussed my midterm with my Leg Reg professor and my future career plans with my Torts professor.  I don't know if those sorts of things get on professor's nerves, but it's not something I do all the time so I'm not too worried at this point.  After leaving campus, I came home and drafted my ENTIRE memo that's due next week.  Last time we had a memo due, I wrote the entire thing in one six-hour sitting.  The page was covered in red, but I still received an "above-average" grade.  I don't think I will be so lucky if I try the same thing twice, but the motivation has definitely been lacking.  A quick blog post and I'm off to study for the midterm from hell...aka Criminal  Law.

For those of you who are accustomed to my sarcasm and perhaps frightened by this positive vibe, don't worry.  It will be back before we know it.  Happy studying!

It's Been a While!

...indeed, since my last post, quite a bit of time has lapsed!

Believe me, friends, this is not due to laziness.  I have, in fact, been working harder than I ever did in my undergraduate studies.  So, let's catch up!

Last week, I took my first midterm. I don't really consider it noteworthy, however, because it was in an easy course and we were essentially given the entire test in advance. The material covered Legislation and Regulation, or, interpreting statutes. Statutes is the fancy word used for laws that come from the legislature.  Most would assume that these are easy to follow, but ohhhh how mistaken they are.  Legislature makes the laws and leaves it up to the judges to interpret what they meant when it comes time to apply those laws to cases.  They do not, however, provide definitions of each term they include.  Let's take a look at my midterm prompt for a better example...

My midterm presented a question (essay format) of two men who had been living in an apartment together for 35 years.  Same-sex had not been enacted by the state in question, but it had not been ruled against, either; so the two men considered themselves "spouses," and their family and friends considered them as such, even though they were not legally married.  After these 35 years together, one of the men died.  The deceased man happened to be the only named tenant on the lease.  The apartment they were living in followed an Act that allowed landlords to evict people who remained in an apartment after the named tenant no longer held the lease or it had expired, UNLESS those remaining were members of the deceased individual's family.  The reason for the Act was to give the legislature a little control over landlords evicting people when it would cause dislocation and undue hardship in situations involving death.  Were the men "family"? Should the living same-sex partner be allowed to stay?

Questions like these are what gives judges their reputations as being strict, liberal, politically biased, etc.  Based on the outcome of the case, a new "precedent" would be created, and the courts would have to follow the ruling of the case in the future.  Not as easy as it seems, huh?

 

That's ok...we know it's hard.

I have another midterm coming up on Friday which I have been studying for quite a bit. It is over Tort Law, or Civil Law as some may know it.  This class covers things such as medical malpractice suits, negligence, false imprisonment, and the like. It is one of my favorite classes due to the interesting nature of the cases themselves and our brilliant teacher.  Send positive energy my way for that test though, I'll need it!

 

Me!

Other than testing, I have had other assignments. Most classes follow a grading system of a midterm which counts for 20% of the grade, and a final exam which counts for 80%.  Professors have the right to bump your grade up for class participation, and some give quizzes and whatnot as well.  One class follows a different model, which about 70% of our grade is based on a "legal memo," which mimics the documents that an attorney would circulate around a law office.  Though I do like this class and my professor...it is hard as hell for me. In high school and undergrad, students are taught to use creativity, metaphors, and style to make up unique and memorable essays.  Those that have let me edit your papers or begged me to write them for you know that I am the queen of stylistic writing.  Once one enters the legal profession, however, all of that is garbage.  You are encouraged to repeat the same words over and over so you don't midlead your reader, and you are expected to write sentences without any descriptive words.  Awesome, right?  Totally...


The actual work is enough, but another stressor for the law school student is the constant threat of depression caused by competition, exhaustion, and simply being overwhelmed.  I remember at orientation, we scoffed at the amount of lecturing that was given over this exact subject, but I actually get it now.  Last week, I hit a rough patch when I missed my second quiz (out of 5) in my Criminal Law class.  I knew the answer was wrong as soon as I turned it in, but it was too late.  Even though the quizzes are a small percentage of my grade and I can miss a couple without any negative effects at all, I caved.  I got mad at myself, and I panicked at the thought that one more quiz wrong and I would have 2 points knocked off my score.  It literally brought me down the whole week!  I remember missing tons of quizzes in college because I didn't show up to class and I still pulled off A's and B's.  I have been so caught up in this idea that nothing I have done academically really matters up to this point.  My slate has been wiped clean in that area and I am on equal footing with all the classmates around me.  Grades in law school are crucial.  If you make top ten percent, you're golden.  You are invited to be on Law Review (this magical board that publishes articles and makes every law firm want you); if you make top third, you are considered for advising roles, teacher's assistant roles, and possible scholarship increases.  On the other hand, if you fall below the top third, you can lose the scholarships you already have. If you fall below a GPA of 1.9, you are not even allowed to return the next semester.

The thing is, I'm smart.  I don't think that's being obnoxious, because being smart is something you are born with, just like being born with dark hair.  It's a product of genes and there's nothing wrong with being happy if you were blessed to receive it.  Now that I've made my statement of humility, I can get to the point. In undergrad, most of my classmates were used to being one of the brightest kids in class with little to no effort.  Some of them have started their own business, worked in firms before, and have had very impressive resumes and life experiences in general.  Competition was always present in our lives, but we usually came out on top with a little effort and some extra coffee.  Now, all of those kids are put in the same room.  People grit their teeth when someone thinks of a point or a loophole they didn't notice themselves.  They freak out about quizzes and papers, even if they don't count for a grade.  People go to the library for God's sake.  Madness!  The point of this is...even people like me, who know that we are smart and have made it into law school, base a lot of their confidence and, sometimes, even their self-worth on the grades they receive.  I don't think this is fault with the system, but rather I think it is a good introduction to the stress and the need to be prepared in our future careers as legal professionals.  That last sentence was kind of lame...uh, even though it's for a good purpose it still sucks pretty hard.

The classes themselves, on the other hand, are going moderately well.  Without naming specifics, I will give a little insight into what is happening in each one.  I have two small classes. In one of these classes, the professor is upbeat and quirky.  She calls on people to participate, but the class is pretty fun and we are all pretty chummy with one another, so this usually isn't an issue.  The material that we are learning is not overly difficult, it just requires precision in every sense of the word.  My other small class is, well, boring.  It covers interesting information, but it is set out in a lecture format mostly, and some people do not take it very seriously because it's not as stressful as the other classes.  The professor has started to pick up on this, so now she calls on people, but discussion is usually pretty lame.  In her defense, she warned us at the beginning of the year that it wouldn't be the most interesting of courses.  I also take two large classes (about 100 students in each). One of the classes is adored by the students who take it.  The professor uses the Socratic method (the preferred method for the first year of law school), in which she calls on one particular student and asks them questions regarding cases that we were assigned while they stand up.  We are expected to know all the details and history of the case, and she often asks questions based on our personal and legal opinions.  It serves as a great way to shape our understanding, and since we're all terrified of being embarrassed in front of our classmates (we're called on at random), we show up prepared.  The second of my big classes covers interesting information, but it is often jumbled and hard to keep straight.  My professor is a peach, and she's very quirky and entertaining.  Sometimes we're called on, but she usually allows volunteers and she is definitely not concerned whether you have the correct answer or not, just as long as you know what we're talking about.  The usual annoyances in classrooms are still there.  There are people who have nothing to add to the coversation but still feel the need to raise their hand in class.  There are those who talk out loud when they're not called on (and when no one is interested in what they have to say).  There are those who are smart and do actually add to the conversation, but they just talk too damn much.  There are those who sit in front of you with their laptops open and order pretzel chips on Amazon. It's all there, unfortunately.

 

Yea...this happens.

Socially, law school is fun.  It's usually rather amusing to enter a new workplace or school setting (for outgoing people, I suppose...) because there's so many new and strange people to meet.  Cliques have started forming, and the gossip is sometimes top notch. I have even been included in some of that gossip, but thankfully it didn't get around too much before I set the record straight.  I don't think any couples have started forming, but groups regularly attend happy hours and study groups together (sometimes concurrently).  I got elected to the Student Board Association, so I am getting a lot of cool inside info on the law school which makes it all the more fun.  Since I'm from this area, I still reserve the weekends for my "old" friends from the pre-law school days, but exceptions are always in order! :-)

One thing I am very happy about is that my social life has not ended.  I knew I could handle the workload of law school, but I wasn't sure if I could deal with the separation from my friends and family that everyone warned about.  So far, this has not been an issue.  On the weekends, I work with some of my close friends at a flower shop.  I take bellydancing and flamenco lessons. I go out dancing, to bars, and to movies, just like I did before.  One weekend day, usually Sunday, is reserved for studying; but it doesn't seem that bad since I have a 4 day week at school.  Studying in your pajamas just doesn't seem as stressful as being in class.  Overall, I'm happy and I haven't lost the initial excitement I had about school. Ask me again during finals season and we will see if my story stays the same...

For those of you who don't know about the awesomeness of flamenco...Cheers!

Flamenco Dancer

My Schedule

School has been going very well.  The last week flew by, in fact.  Though I'm constantly covered in ink and I'm never totally finished with my homework, I feel like (perhaps falsely) I am in control. 

Time management and scheduling are the most crucial aspects of tackling the monster that is law school.  My schedule goes something like this:

6:00AM - Alarm clock goes off, so I can get ready for the gym.
6:02AM - Alarm clock successfully turned off, back to sleep.
8:30AM - Climb out of bed, angry, feed cats and get ready.
9:00AM - Realize that if I don't leave in 32 seconds, I will have to park at a meter since all the student spots will be taken.
9:03AM - Change my earrings again and grab coffee to go.
9:20AM - Arrive at school, drop books in locker to relieve some back pain, go sit in class to review notes.
9:23AM - Decide to talk to my friends for a few minutes before reviewing my notes.
9:45AM - Shit, I still haven't looked at my notes.
9:55AM - Strange 5 minutes of silence when professor arrives...look at notes.
10:00AM - Class! Fight inner dialogue, usually something about cats or shoes...or cats in shoes...or the lady who sits in front of me with a side ponytail. Who wears side ponytails?
11:45AM - Lunchtime! I pack my lunch the night before, so I grab it from my locker and head to the student lounge to eat.
12:15PM - Go to computer lab to study
12:25PM - Facebook status successfully updated.
12:35PM - Did you guys see that article about Ke$ha? I need to get my eyes checked for STDs...
12:45PM - Yay study!
1:00PM - Bookstore for coffee.  Afternoon classes make me sleepy.
1:05PM - Head to class to look over notes...same pattern as above.
1:30PM - Oh yea, I'm not getting called on!
3:00PM - Class is over. At this point, I really go to the library and study. No jokes.
6:30PM - Freedom! Go home, change, eat with my family, then...
7:30PM - Study! That's right, it takes me over 6 hours of studying a day to complete everything I need to get done.
11:00PM - Wrap it up. I take lots of breaks so I don't get bogged down during my study session.  I usually text and smoke hookah concurrently, have to keep up with all the people and things I love you know?
11:01PM - Don't eat the chips, don't eat the chips...
11:05PM - Eat the chips, pack lunch for tomorrow, get in bed to watch a little TV
12:30AM - Perhaps I should sleep...I have to wake up at 6AM to go to the gym...

This is the schedule I follow Monday through Wednesday.  Thursdays, I have an online Spanish class that I take, so I go home straight after class to work on it (it's a virtual live classroom deal).  On the weekends, I generally devote one full day and one half day to studying.  Fridays, I work in my friend's flower shop - great way to clear my mind and avoid losing all my social skills.  I do see my friends on the weekends, I make it a priority actually, but I find myself focusing quite a bit on what I have to take care of the next day.  It's just not the same.

Some of the things that I have noticed so far on this routine:

1. My room is a constant disaster and I don't think about doing laundry until I trip over it.
2. I find it hard to make time for things like oil changes, grocery shopping, and the like.
3. Scrapbooking? Comedy routine? Writing? Bellydancing? All the things I used to devote serious time to? Forget about it.
4. I can't sit through a movie or TV show without glancing over my notes, checking my university email, or making to-do lists.
5. I forget that it is not appropriate to debate over every single detail of what is going on around me.
6. My cats are mad. Like, seriously mad. I've walked in on conversations between them about emancipation.
7. Working out, something I used to enjoy, is an act of God these days. This is something that really has to change or things could get ugly...
8. I forget to answer texts, emails, Facebook messages etc. because I tell myself I will answer when I finish a case, but my short term memory is slowly being devoured by the court system.
9. When I do go out, I find myself talking about school. Jesus, I'm that girl now.

I'm loving this.  I'm happy. But that does not mean it's not demanding and that my life has changed more than I ever imagined.  They say the first year is the worst, and two weeks in, I believe it. Wish me luck for the rest of the semester!

First Day Down.

I am extremely sleep deprived and I think that all of the new information being thrown at me is eating the braincells which are responsible for my social skills, so forgive me if this post is random and nonsensical.

My current level of social skills.

Now that we have the formalities out of the way, all I can say is...holy shit.  I have only been through the first two days of school and I can say without any exaggeration that I have already studied more than I would in an entire semester of undergraduate studies.  I will try as best as I can to talk about my schedule, but seriously, I'm frazzled.

On day one, I had two new classes. I had not met either one of the professors.  Before classes began, we were given the syllabi and we already had assignements due.  Before class, I arrived early to look over my notes on the first chapter and I was met by virtually all of my classmates who wanted to review as well.  My first class was Criminal Law.  The students number around 100, and I thought I was so slick by getting there 20 minutes early to pick out a prime seat.  After being backhanded by reality, I took my seat in the second to last row next to my old beer pong buddy.  My seating strategy is such a big deal because if I am going to show up to class, I want to be active and participate.  In addition, law school grades value class discussion and participation highly, so being visible and likely to get called on is terrifying, but a necessary evil to excel.

Gawww...it's Caturday even on the first Monday of law school classes.

The class wasn't nearly as bad as I made it out to be.  The professor has a very kind demeanor, but she tends to get a little off topic.  Several students wanted to be a part of the discussion...but some shouldn't have.  If you don't have something original to say, or if you're just going to repeat what the person right before you just said using different terminology because you're a narcissist, please shut up.  I would say this applies to all students regardless of grade level or area of study.  Ugh.  Thankfully, I found another friend in this class.  We met at orientation and she is just as awesome as me.  It's nice to find like minded people you can study with and who you can tolerate when you're not focused on a discussion regarding battery and baby killers.

Baby killers, you say?  Yes indeed.  The first day's reading assignments were about the all-too-frequent case of people who leave their children in the backseat of their cars on accident, resulting in the hyperthermia and death of the child. This may seem appaling, but after studying the cases of these poor parents, you tend to pity them rather than desire to hang them out to dry. Most of their situations involve having a change in their daily routine, a high stress situation, coupled  with a sleeping, silent baby whom they did not hear in the back seat.  Our research delves even further when medical experts claim that fact will prove that the brain virtually shuts down different areas when lack of sleep, stress, and other factors are present.  The article that we were assigned can be read here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/27/AR2009022701549.html

If you have some time and some tissues handy, I would check it out.  It really gives you a perspective into what was going through the minds of these parents and how their lives were virtually ruined when this occured.  Besides the incident, most of them were very doting parents, and some held very successful careers and looked like an outstanding citizen in every aspect.  This article and the class discussion really helped to open my mind to the law...things that seem like they would make you hate a person can actually make you pity them when the facts are divulged.

I spoke in this class. YES! Mission accomplished.  After Criminal Law, it was lunch time.  I grabbed some food with my buddy after picking up my ID (yes, it looks like a trannie with bright red lipstick on posing for a mugshot, thanks for asking).  I brought my lunch because there isn't a cafe in the law school and parking downtown and in the law school is a nightmare.  After I ate, I went to the library to study for my next class - Legislation and Regulation (baiscally, how to read and interpret statutes).  Our first assignment was an interesting one.  We were assigned to read the lyrics of Hotel California and answer a series of questions about what the song meant, what the authors intended it to mean, which one is correct, ambiguous terms in the song, etc.  Go check out the lyrics and make your own assessment.  It was an eye-opener as well.

My new ID photo.

The second class was much smaller because it didn't mix with the part time students.  Our professor is cool and funny, and she openly admitted that this class was dull.  I appreciated the honesty.  I spoke in this class as well - great success!!

Ahh...classes were over.  Back to the library. I thought I was doing well and that I was caught up.  Also wrong.  I was in the library at 3, and and 420 I checked one of my syllabi and realized I had overlooked a 60 page reading assignment due the next day.  Sweet!!  I also didn't have the books, which luckily were available for checkout at the circulation desk.  I read my little heart out until 7, then I decided refreshments and social life were in order, so I packed up and headed to the student reception being held at the nearby Omni Hotel Rooftop Bar.  It was awesome.  Drink tickets, food, everything I needed to revitalize.  What I neglected to mention here is that I still had about 15 pages to read and I needed to brief a case for the next morning ("briefing" a case is when you analyze the important facts and the legal question presented in a particular case to understand how the jurors decided their verdict).  Three vodka tonics later, I called it a night.  Even though I was tired, buzzed, and dreading the work that I still had to do, I was so happy I went.  You see, us 1L's generally limit our conversations to how stressed we are, questions about work, and comments about professors.  At the reception, I sat with a mix of 2 and 3L's, who were funny and able to speak candidly about their opinions of different classes and professors, as well as how pompous some of the other students were.  I got the gossip, the booze, and the cool points.  Now time to head home.


I studied for about 2 1/2 more hours.  I felt prepared and exhausted.  I believe I studied for about 9-10 hours in one day, not including the 4 hours that I spent in class.  Holy Moly.  Law school is no joke. 

Can't wait to tell you all about Day 2 and my first diss from a professor!!  Also, shout out to my regular reader from Germany.  That's right...I'm an international STAR!