Slow month, a mile stone, and things to look forward to

I think this is only my third post of the month. Between finals and some unexpected family issues (which only seem to pop up during finals or holidays or both), I have been horribly absent... and not just from this blog. Seriously, I feel like I am going through life in some sort of haze. Since Christmas is over now, hopefully the family drama will die down shortly as well.

Finals sucked, ass. There's no nicer way to put it... there are of course many less nice ways to put it. It was just plain awful. I really honestly think that my GPA is going to take a serious nose dive. So it is. Nothing to do now. And realistically, I'm not so sure that there was anything that I could have done differently during reading days or the semester to make the utter annihilation I experienced any different.

But the silver lining of course is the fact that I AM HALF WAY THROUGH! Hot damn! Seriously. I like law school a lot. And I will probably go back to loving law school this coming semester because I won't have OCI torture. and next year even better because I SO will not make the mistake of running for SBA office. I enjoy law school much more when I am focused on the classes and learning the law or how to think like a lawyer. It's the peripheral crap that I've discovered I hate. Speaking of, I've got to get tons of law review stuff done this week. But I won't complain about that, at least not directly. And I do plan on running for a board position for that group.

I think my classes will be interesting next semester. I've got Evidence and Bus Ass as my two doctrinal courses. Then I've got Law Rev, my seminar, and being a 1L TA for fillers. It'll be a busy schedule but it's almost all academic. So I am embracing that. Ohh and my schedule is kind of bizarre, but I think that I will like it. I've got class for 1.5 hours m-w in the morning and then at night for a few hours m, t, th. We'll see how that works.

A rant on code-based class tests

Here's the schtick: exams for code-based classes, for example, bankruptcy, should NEVER be closed everything. At the very least you should get to have the frigging code. For Pete's sake, there is no possible way to remember all of the exceptions to the exceptions and whether the qualifying debt limit for secured debt is 900K in change for chapter 13 filings. Seriously. The people who win are the numbskulls who are good at memorizing, not the ones who can find wht they want with the actual language of the code.

Snarl! I'm tired, damnit

No more con law rants!

Wahoodillyhoo! I took my blastes 8 hour take home final for that ruddy course a few days ago. It was, well, typical of the sort of inanity that particular prof comes up with. Some straightforward and then wham some stuff out of the twilight zone. I have no freaking clue how I did. I am concerned about the number of super bright kids in that class... we'll see where it all comes out in the end.

But the POINT here is that while I might not have written an A test, I sure as hell didn't fail it outright. And that means *drumroll* no more freaking Con Law classes for me!!!!!!!!!!! Wheeee!!!!!!!!! I do realize for those of you who insist on peeing in my wheaties that con law topics will likley come up in various and sundry other classes. But I don't have to endure a whole painful, horrific torturous semester of it again.

And for anyone else who hates con law and is looking for help. Get Erwin Chemerinsky's hornbook. I love you Erwin! *smooch*

Another con law rant

So while I don't like Con Law, I'd like to know that there is a point to my taking the damn class. This semester's prof and book are almost as bad as con law 1's from last year. I can barely use supplements this semester because it keeps talking about elements, factors, and tests that my prof never mentioned, nor did the sad book that we use. Normally I embrace the notion of reading a paragrph or two of a case and being done with it. But I am finding that the exerpts are so painfully short and so heavily edited that I honestly couldn't tell you why or how the court came to the conclusion that it did. I can however tell you want a bunch of namby pamby con law scholars said about the holding in about 47 articles. Sigh.

I really hate con law--even more so now that I understand I will have to teach the real deal to myself before the bar. Suck.

Rodger, Dodger, only 1.5 weeks left of school

There is a god and he is going end my suffering, through con law 2 that is. And after this semester, I am bloodythehell well done with my con law requirements for law school. *loud cheers and applause heard throughout the land*.

I've finally caught up with all of my class reading. My outlines are still in sucko shape. I love how I write outlines implying that there are many. Really I have one wiht some stuff in it and 2 that have the words "class name--outline" up at the top... and that's all. Poop. So it is. What will be will be. And all of the other cliche let the river flow stuff you can think of.

At some point, and I predict it will be on the plane this week, I will have a horrible epiphany of how real and close exams are in my future. Then I will have a sick stomach and want to die. It's all part of the process. Embrace it.

Hey you, poser, wannabe in the library

Just so you know, proudly displaying your copy of The Economist to the side of your study table while you take a practice LSAT exam does nothing for you. You are not intimidating. You are not smart looking. Or whatever it is that you are trying to achieve. You are, however, a lerp.

I so want it to be over

I have finally succumbed to my undergraduate cyclical boredom. Like clockwork around the 8th week of a semester, I would start struggling to pay attention to my classes and homework. By about week 10, I was struggling to find the will to go to class, and by week 12, I just wanted it to be over. Take the final right then and be done with it. I liked the classes (for the most part) that I was in, but I had about an 8-week positive attention span for class on whatever the topic was.

I love 2 of my three classes this semester. But I just want them to all be over. I don't want to read anything new about the class topic. I just want to pull some concentration out of my butt and do my outlines and take the finals and be done.

Blech. At least I have next semester's classes hammered out, and it's not looking so bad. I'm sure that I will thoroughly enjoy those classes for 8 weeks too.

Dear Losing Minority Party Senate Candidate

I just wanted to thank you for running this past election even though you didn't have a snowball's chance in hell of actually winning. I am saddened that you live in a state where you and your party will never get a federal seat representing this state. Mostly, I am saddened because I thought that you were truly an amazing candidate that would have been great for both sides of the political aisle, who understood the real issues and had the nerve to say so.

Thank you for being wonderful enough to push me out of my comfort zone and not vote for my usual federal-election party. It was a freeing experience to me, and I hope to do so in the future should another steller candidate come along.

Finally, thank you for sacrificing a year of your life and career and income to run a losing race--one that even your own national party refused to help finance because of the political demographic of our state. You are truly a great man.

Somewhat back on track and wanting to smooch professors who

Embrace and accept the fact that they will never cover all of the material on their syllabus and just remove certain lectures rather than attempting to smush 3 days of lecture into every class from here until the end of the semester. Bless you Con Law 2 prof!

I'm trying to get excited about switching gears to consumer bankruptcy later today, but I'm just not feeling the love.

Last night hubby and I watched a documentary together and sniggered far more often than we felt thoughtful. Could it be that we a re a touch too cynical? too likely to strongly question where you got your statistics from? just what the entire context was around the soundbite that sounded so outrageous? Snigger. Snort.

Confessions

I've screwed around a lot this week--reading fun books, watching movies, and generally zoning out. Bad me! Shame on me! I am supposed to be working on my lovely con law 2 outline. Sigh.

You know it's bad (your lack of concentration and general grip on reality) when you are reviewing the outline on your computer and think, wow, that's pretty good--ooh and complete. This is great. And then you realize, um, yeah, that's some kid's outline from last year that you were looking at to make sure you didn't miss anything... then you switch to your outline and the only thing that makes it look NOT like someone on kindergarten wrote it is that it is typed and not in crayon.

Eek.

Yeah! I'm jobbed.

It's official folks. The offer has been given and it has been accepted. And thank the heavens for that. So now, with somewhat less mememe drama, back to our regularly scheduled program. Con law 2.

The absent blogger

Hello, friends, family, fellow tortured 2Ls. Anyone else feel like they are being slammed? I suppose feeling like I've only attended a small handful of classes and then discovering that we have FIVE weeks of school left is part of my trauma. No fears though. I have a plan. It's painful, ugly, and downright absobloodylutely no ruddy fun. But it will hopefully see me through the next 7 to 8 weeks of my life without significant damage.

Today I learned that I in fact learned little to nothing at all my 1L year either in torts or contracts about damages. But thank heavens my real estate transfer book took pity on me and assumed that I had forgotten. Cwap! Have I mentioned how much fun that class is lately. Even if I never practive anything remotely related to real estate, I will never walk into buying a house without an atty representing ONLY me. I will understand that I need to specify that the seller MUST maintain insurance on the house until closing and that if it is destroyed before then, I'm out with all my money. Seriously, could the law surrounding buying and selling a house 1) be more friendly to sellers (I think not) and 2) be more counterintuitive?

The rest of this week will be all Con Law 2 all week. Look forward to more reasons why I still hate con law.

The best part of this week will be taking my daughter trick or treating... it's my one play fun thing planned. oof.

OCI and it's long painfully drawn out process is over

five million interviews--check
one million callbacks--check
telling about 150 attorneys the same answer to the same question about 150 times--check
flyouts done--check
eating way too much food--check
diet started to fight the call back expansion in my ass--check
really fabulous decisions to make--check
total inability to concentrate on anything--check check

Which brings me to utter and sheer panic on the thought that not only am I GROSSLY behind in the reading for all of my classes, but here it is the freaking END of October and I have started diddly doo dah on my outlines. Cwap! At least constantly missing class for other appointments is done, so I have a shot in hell of learning something.

Time flies when you are crazy

I can't believe it's been a week since my last post. I think mostly I was "present" last week, but I'm not sure that I got anything out of it. I'm still in callback heaven/trauma/hell--pick your poison. For what it's worth, in some very superficial way, I really am able to tell a difference between the firms just by talking with folks for 30-40 minutes for a whole morning at their firm. And happily, the firm I thought that I would love best is still far and away my first choice (please, let them give me an offer!). I say happily, because I kind of thought that I had this whole "impressions" thing with firms going on. You know, some sort of conglomeration of impressions of meeting them at a firm crawl, or on campus brown bag, or even first interviews. So far, my thougths really haven't changed. the only really positive thing that I've gotten out of some of the interviews is that there seem to be a lot of really incredible women attorneys in this town. And that's kind of fun.

My note is due tomorrow. dum da dum DA dum! I have officially met the minimum page count :) which is really what it is all about. OK not really. But seriously, I am so sick of the darn thing. I did want to be published, but honestly, turning it in tomorrow is nothing more than a ticky mark on my gigantic list of things to do. I've got about 5-8 more pages of stuff that I need to put into it this afternoon to solidify the whole thing. But it ain't pretty. And I'm honestly not all that particularly sure that it is useful to anyone. Gotta love going through this process only to discover that it was really a big fat waste of time.

Sigh, and at the end of classes last week, I tried to talk to a guest lecturer we've had for almost three weeks while our real prof is off galivanting somewhere and discoverd that guest lecturer dude really doesn't like me and rightfully so. I didn't know who he was the first day of class and he attended our lecture. i went to ask the real prof something and basically ignored this guy (I thought he was another student waiting a turn to talk to the prof). At some point during my conversation with the prof I realized this dude was in fact not a student and I did the chicken out thing and just finished my conversation and left. No apology, no backpeddling no nothing. And I've never apologized. And I feel kind of bad about that. Especially now that I know he really can't stand me. I don't like that. And I really don't like that realizing that is the only thing that has lit a fire under me to apologize. guh. ew. I'm a tiny little person. being a big person sucks.

To top my week off, my kid is sick yet again and now *drum roll please* she's got pneumonia. Lovely. That about makes my week. Thank heavens that our fall break is around the corner. Or I might have to step in front of a bus just to get some rest.

*raspberry*

Big Firm Attraction

I admit it: there is something sexy about working in a gorgeous downtown skyscraper. There is.

And there is also something really sexy about making some serious cash in the summer, and for the rest of my life.

I admit it, and I won't apologize for feeling that way.

Doggy paddling

Yup, that's about all I can do at the moment. Being sick really set me back this last week. And while I am digging the oci love I have received, it sure makes getting my law review note and regular course work done in time. I'm living for fall break. Or for next Monday when the note is due. Just to have something off of my plate even for just a few days, would be astronomically helpful.

Woof.

Oh and a quick follow up to my sickie interview... about 15 minutes into it, the interviewer busts into French. Cwap. Yes, I speak French. Yes, I lived in France for a few years. And yes, I am reasonably comfortable with it. However, I was having a difficult enough time with English that day. Le sigh. I held my own, but seriously. It's not like his firm had an office in Paris.

I'b sick. Dabbit

Well it had to happen sooner or later the juicy, gooey, ooey crud that my daughter and husband have been passing back and forth finally attacked me. And won. I don't have time to be sick right now. Damn.

3 pages of law review note finished... just 42 pages shy of the minimum. woot.

On another note. I have an interview in 10 minutes. It's 30 minutes long. I have no idea what I am going to talk to this guy about. The usual only takes 15-20 minutes. Maybe I'll just take a nap under the interviewing table, think he'd mind?

Goal for interview: try not to sound as snotalucious as I actually am.

I am entertained

I just took the city that matches you quiz linked from Think like a Man. Act like a woman and had to snigger a wee bit when the #1 city it had for me was the one that I moved from before law school. Nice to know that I have no where to go but down. Generally, I hate quizes like that. They're usually so wrong, so I was surprised. Of course, it had Miami down as a close second. Um. No. Just no.

I have succumbed

to the temptation of watching my shiny new Grey's Anatomy Season 2 set. 3 pages of my note down... and 24 more episodes.

I'm so weak.

Must concentrate, but I so can't.

I'm tired. I'm borderlined cranky. I'm stressed and in some cloud of "did I nail it? was i an idiot, I don't know." I'm painfully aware of the fact that my note is due in 2 weeks folks... and I've read a tiny little bit that I might be able to squeeze 5 pages out of... that leaves me, uh, rather short of the minimum page count. I can't concentrate. I haven't done my law review copywork yet; I haven't started on my assignments yet. In short, I'm not doing. I'm floating, smiling, researching, obsessing, but I am most assuredly not doing.

To put the icing on the cake: yesterday was the 4-year anniversary of my stepfather's tragic death. I feel very Scarlett O'Hara about it... I won't think about it today; I'll think about it tomorrow, after all tomorrow is another day. Unfortunately my mom needs me to think about it yesterday and today, and as long as she needs to get refills on her lovely medications. God I miss him. You'd think after 4 years that it wouldn't feel like a punch to the gut anymore. But I am transported to that week and then that day and then that horrible phone call that I hope Inever get again. I miss you Wayne. God bless.

Interviewing starts and other fun

I had my first few interviews today. I was much more relaxed this year than last year, so that in itself is a great thing, but now the trick is figuring out if that made me seem more personable. And I just have no idea. The bottom line for me is that I did not apply anywhere that I think that I would hate to work, but I did, out of desparation, apply to a couple of places that I think would not be as much fun or suited to what kind of practice and lifestyle that I want to pursue. So, as long as I get one offer which means then, at least one callback, I'm fine. But of course I have preferences. A top 5 if you will. i had firsts with 2 of my top five this morning. Now I guess there is nothing to do but wait.

On another somewhat related note: on occasion, I read a work/life blog for attorneys called Up to Par. They've pointed to another related blog (JD Bliss) with an fun billable hours calculator. It's always comforting to me to see that it isn't really that hard to hit targets for firms that I've applied to. Good thought.

May God bless them all

I will never forget where I was or how I felt on that day. I will never forget frantically trying to get through to my dearest college friend who's spouse worked in the twin towers. I will never forget how vulnerable I felt that day nor the horrific images burned into my mind.

I will never forget.

The new law school back pack

I finally broke down and bought a new backpack for school. My old one was almost 10 years old, lacking in padding and the zippers were becoming tempermental. So I got this one from LLBean. And I'm in love. The padded straps mean no more backaches for Joey. And there are so many useful pockets. Sigh. It's great. The best part is that I can fit most of my books in it without squishing my laptop. Happy happy joy joy.

I'm loving the new blogger beta!

Yeah! Love the template features. I am totally a drag and drop kind of gal. Thanks to Zuska for the heads up or I would never have noticed the tiny little blogger beta announcement.

Also, I think you can still make comments on other people's blogs with the beta. Just log out of blogger and log back in under your old account. Annoying. but at least it is possible.

Edited to add: no, it's not. thanks for pointing that out to me Z.

Hooray, yet another way to push off the hell that is writing a law review note

job update

I thought about posting just the title and letting the blank space speak for itself. But then I realized that while there are no fruits of my labors, I have been laboring. I've started hearing the usual vicious rumors that many of the local firms ocming to OCI are not actually hiring, and instead, they are resume perusing. So on the tail of that, I went into a three day panic and applied far and wide. I'm not really in the mood to move... ever again, but I am not in the mood to not have a job either.

Here's a kick in the pants: I actually already got a response back from an out of town firm, but the line was something like "Next time you are in x city, let us know. We would like for you to come in and have a series of interviews." Now, maybe it was different in tech, and maybe I was spoiled, but um, don't firms fly you out? tech jobs certainly did. So is this code from the firm for "sure, you aren't a bad candidate, but meh. We'll interview you if it doesn't cost us anything." Because that is what is smacks of to me.

Other than attend class (where I surfed and looked for jobs), I have done nothing law related this week except job stuff. It sucks. So here's looking forward to a weekend filled with catching up on homework, and oh yeah, that law review note that I am supposedly writing.

I pass legal ethics muster

It's a wonder isn't it? But I passed the MPRE. The test where I walked out of it knowing that I answered only 3 questions with a certainty correctly. I guess I didn't do too bad of a job guessing on all the rest. None the less, I am one step closer to being a lawyer. Frightening, isn't it?

So, so, so tired

This was the week that never ends, and next week there is extraneous non-law school class poo filling up my entire week. But while I am exhausted tonight, it's a happy exhaust. My daughter's school was out today, so since I didn't have class, I took her to school for the OCI drop, then the zoo, then nice lunch (followed by a well deserved nap), then to see a movie. Oy! What a day! It's been a long time since I had a mommy/daughter day though, and it felt really great.

It's a gorgeous day here in yaya-land

And I am sitting on my couch avoiding writing myriad cover letters. But if I have to do it then by all means let it be on this gorgeous 78-ish degree day with all my windows open and lots of sun. I love this time of year. My favorite season is Fall. It always has been. I like the crisp air and snuggly jammies and blankets, spiced cider. All wonderful things.

This is my first Thurs of this semester where I feel like I am in fact taking a light load. Love it. Love it. Highly recommend it.

That's it. I'm done

being paranoid about grades that is. I worked myself into a right tizzy over my summer grades: one because the prof is a notoriously hard grader and the other because I still to this day didn't know what she wanted. And I whined. And I worried. And I worked damn freaking hard. And it wasn't a big deal after all.

Unless, of course, the reason they weren't a big deal was because I freaked and worked so damn hard. Hmm. I see a place with white, padded walls in my future.

How to identify out of state firms to apply to?

There's the obvious list of firms who come to OCI. I am not applying to all of them, like the ones who are only litigation or who have only men and I've heard unpleasant things about their attitude toward women. But after those firms... who else? There's really only one, possibly two, major firms in town who do not come to OCI, so I am going to apply to those separately.

But when I reach the state borders, i am a little less sure of who to apply to. Nalp Directory is a good tool as is infirmation, but you still don't get the bigger picture you could get by talking to people who summered there last year. My school is a regional school with the odd alum working in a big city or city far, far away. So I don't have the alum out of state connection thing so much. My husband has changed his position from definatlely wanting to move out of state to mostly wanting to stay here, unless we can do somethign really cool like move to London. I think that is part of my problem with wanting to apply in the "major" midwest cities like Kansas City or St. Louis or even Chicago; hubby is no longer really down with that. But I have confidence questions about being able to get not only a first interview, but then a second interview and finally a bona fide offer from a local firm. We are a teeny tiny, itty bitty market.

This is why my throat and ears hurt.

A law-mommy moment

Tonight I took my daughter to the school that she will be starting next week. It's just a new location for her current preschool, and some of the teachers and a very few of her classmates are moving with her. As I stood in her new classroom watching her buzz around the room and check all the new toys, books etc out, I realized that she is growing up so quickly. Soon she will be in regular school, and I'm not ready for that . . . ready for her to get up in the morning and get her own cereal, but not ready for her to be a "big girl."

She's so independant now. She's starting to try to read. She's so damn tall. It's stupid, but I am having my first mommy-nostalgia moment.

A sense of entitlement?

So I've had the first "good" consequences of OCI come my way--a lovely gift in my mailbox from a firm. It wasn't a bad gift, but the letter that accompanied it kind of made my teeth hurt. Hooray for you, your shit doesn't stink. Congratulations on making law review. Ok, so perhaps that is not what is actually said, but that was pretty much the sentiment. I went home and showed my spouse the gift and we were both amazed that just because I made law review some lawyers think i should have a gift. it's an odd world here in the tiny law community.

After the "gift-day", I had an opportunity (read not mandatory but mostly) to hang out with some of the law review board people. First, they were all very nice. Sincerely nice. Which was great. Second, it was surreal. None of them would ever say that they were entitled to anything, but there is already this aura of "I'm going to be rolling in money" around a lot of them. And I think they all know that they are dripping with "smarts." It wasn't unpleasant per se, but it was odd. And I think that what made it seem odd to me was that I was supposed to be a grub-level member of this club. And I'm not sure if I really fit in with that, or if I really want to. I'm sticking with my first thought: it's just odd. Thank heavens they are nice. Otherwise, well I just don't want to think about it.

The second year, they work you to death

I'm not sure that it really is SO much more work than second semester of 1L, but they do schedule things so that your life has to suck. Period.

Before I harp on the negative, I should say that I am in love with my classes this semester, even Con Law II, which I thought I would hate based on my Con Law I experience. So far all the reading is interesting, class time is interesting, discussions in class are awesome and truly discussions with lots of people providing input. I love it.

What I am not loving is the out of class stuff. SBA is still the bane of my existence. It's taking up too much time becuase our pres is a nimrod. Seriously. Law review. Well, I'm not complaining about it exactly. I just wish that the note deadline was a little more realistic. It's like some sick hazing that the note and OCI are all at the same freaking time. I feel like I am not doing either of them well. Not enough time to put into either of them, and things are getting overlooked. I'm still not sure that I should stick with the topic that got approved. And we got our first copy work this week. sigh. The author was a the cow prof that I hated before... the one who is loosey goosey and detail schmetail-oriented. So far of the 6 footnotes that I have tried to check, um, only 2 have anything to do with anything. 2 are wrong and 2 are something the prof pulled out of its a$$. I'm looking at about 10-15 hours just on that this week. Eek!

Finally, the spouse has been working psycho hours, so I have had significantly less study time than I really need. I think I am going to have to consciously decide to blow off some class assignments over the next few weeks and hunker down on my note and apps. If I can get one thing off my plate, then I think that I will come out alright.

And now for the wind up to Fall OCI and our OCI process

The list of firms coming has been out for a few weeks, and I spent last weekend carefully looking at each firm and yea'ing or nay'ing them. (important interuption, should I be concerned that it smells like something is burning? I'm in the library?) Anyway, I've got a good pile that I want to apply to. And just to make things fun and interesting, there are a couple of firms with offices in London that will take law grads straight out of school.

I've lived overseas slightly longer than a 1/3 of my life and loved it. In fact, my first major live over seas moment was when I was my daughter's age now. I've always thought that raising my daughter for several years overseas would be a good thing. it helps to give a person perspective. And in London, she would have it easy with the language. The only serious drawback is how bloody (practicing, just in case) expensive it is to live there. Still, it won't hurt to apply.

So back to the normal jobs. I was actually surprised by a couple of the firms in my current city. They sound rather progressive and are focused on areas of the law that I salivate over. Happy happy. Joy joy. I also want to do some nalp searches for a couple of specific cities and see what I can find to apply to the old-fashioned way.

I am not looking forward to the time that it takes to interview or even just write cover letters to all of the firms. But I am looking forward to getting a job. Hopefully.

From Kristine's post, it seems like not all schools do OCI the same way? I don't know why this surprises me. At our school, you get a list of employers coming. You make a package for each of them and turn them into the career office on the appointed day. Just for funsies and to make sure they drive you all the way to the looney bin. They give you 4 "preference" stickers. You can attach them to any 4 packages. This is so that firms know you really are serious about them. However, you only get 4. And you've got a bazillion packages. It's kind of obnoxious really. And the most fun interview question is "so why didn't you preference us?" Then you get notified if the firm picked you for an interview and you have to dash to the online scheduler and make your appointment before everyone else or you end up interviewing at 7 am or the last interview of the day. The firms come to school for about 3 weeks. So you might have 4 interviews Wed, none Thurs, one Fri, none next week, and so on. It sounds like at Kristine's school they try to compact it all and get it done before school starts. Would that it

Because it wouldn't be the first week of school without...

My daughter being sick today. Tomorrow is the first day of class, tuesdays are my longest day, and my husband has presentations and important crap all this week and can't help out.

Poor bunny has the stomach flu and did the barf - o - rama thing at the dr.'s today. I love getting chunky barf in my hair and down my shirt into my bra. Squishy is great. Poor thing though. She's positively green. Sigh.

I love the first week of school.

People think I know stuff

It's frightening, isn't it? how one little year of law school starts brother in law asking about his property problem or mom's contract problem or uncle's tort problem. It's also frightening that the school thinks I'm a model "law school mom". Yeah, I participated (as the voice of wisdom *snigger*) in a few 2L panels for the 1l orientation this last week. For the most part, it was a good experience. I do have some strategy for dealing with sick kids etc, but overall, I was a little concerned about the incoming class. They're so freaking quiet, except for their 2 class jerks. Seriously dude, don't ask in front of your whole class how to get yourself "hooked up" with a study group of the top students that were admitted. At least in my world, there are no "top" students once you start law school... not until your law school grades come out. LSAT and GPA mean crap. And some small, tiny, little person seriously is fixated on this? Gimme a break.

None of the questions were surprising. I think Law and Mommyhood had it about right when she said that the answer to all of the questions at these kinds of panels is "whatever works for you." I honestly don't think that I used any of the info or tips the 2Ls gave us last year, but I did have piece of mind after the panels. Just knowing that everyone does it differently and still survives was a nice security blanket.

I order the book that they forgot to tell us about from Barristerbooks.com. I'm the rep for them at my school, so I was able to use my rewards points that I earned to offset the cost of the book admirably well and have super fast shipping. So hopefully I will have it by Wednesday.

I'm about half way through my real estate transfer homework for the week, and so far it is really interesting. It's got my brain turning around why people use buyer's brokers at all. It would be tons cheaper for everyone in the long run if buyers just used an attorney. But that's a whole other topic.

Your lack of planning, unfortunately, is my emergency

Frustration with the administration once again. We've had our class book lists for about 2-3 weeks now. Which is why i was able to purchase all but one class's books online. The last book was no where to be found. So fine, I will buy it at the bookstore, but they don't have it yet. Lovely. Then I realized, wait just a sec, how can my class really have only one book that is only $25? Impossible. And of course I was right. I just saw the reading list for next week and shock of all shocks, there is an actual $100-ish case book for the class after all. And no, the bookstore did not order it all.

So I discover this at 5 something Friday night before the first week of class and am now scrambling to find it online. And I have, but the soonest I can get it is likely next Friday. Sigh. I hate stuff like this. it drives me batty.

Just call me June... Cleaver that is

I can't believe I just vacuumed my house while wearing heels. Wonders never cease.

So is half.com a rip off for selling text books?

I thought it seemed pretty great until I sold a couple of case books. Both were requested to have expidited shipping (how do I turn this option off?). So I sent off a torts book and the shipping cost me $10.80. What?? Half.com only reimburses $5.40 for expedited hard binding books. So this seems like not so good of a deal. Am I missing something? How does everyone else sell their books?

Joey's travel adventure, part I

The French have a great phrase they use when somthing is tiring, a bother, or just generally icky and they don't want to deal with it: "je n'ai pas le courage." That is how I feel about re-living my travels from last week and weekend.

Overall, I am really happy that I went on my mini vacation. All by my self (which was glorious), I went to a small harbor town in Maryland to visit a rather pregnant best friend of mine. I've known her nearly forever. She's on her own, recently returned from overseas duty (military girl) and in an old family house. The house is wonderful, on the water etc, but rather dated and in want of a serious scrub.

So I start my adventure on Thursday morning at o'dark butt-early. Imagine my chagrin upon arrival at the airport to see a major line in security and everything backed up. I asked around about what was going on and people looked at me like i was pathetically uninformed. Well, sorry but when I have to wake up in the a.m. and the little hand is still pointing at "4", I don't usually take time to sip a cup of tea in front of the telly. In any case, it soon became clear that whatever the reason, I had to chug my water and put my lotions in my checked bag. Fine. No biggie. I'd rather not blow up.

Fast forward 35 minutes, where I am starting to sweat it, hoping that I will make my plane. Security announces over the PA that no chapstick or lipstick will be permitted either. Um, OK. The security dudes apparently can't believe that women would not automatically think of lipsticks and chapsticks when told no LIQUIDS or GELS. So here's the problem. I've got 30 minutes of line ahead of me and at least that long behind me. My flight is in 45 minutes. Clearly getting out of line to take my makeup sachet back to my checked bag (which would no longer have been there anyway) is not an option. I sighed and said a sad farewell to my sachet of clinique lipsticks... that would be $15+ a stick times many sticks (I love lipstick). So as I get to an end in the switchback line, I ask a lady not in the line to put the sachet into the garbage. Whereupon, this wonderful angelic saintly woman asks why i am throwing something so pretty away. i explain the no lipstick thing and she asks ifI buy good lipstick. I said yes and she said "me too, and I would cry if I had to throw them all away." In short order she has my address and promises to send it to me. Hooray! I finally get through secutiry and get to the plane and get on. We leave with about half the seats empty. They are not waiting. Fine.

Then the flight attendant accidentally dumps orange juice all over me. I love it. You can't bring liquids, but you can wear them. Change planes, lather rinse repeat. I will say that the flight crew were very pleasant the second leg. I took United for the first time in a long time and thought, I might take them again. (not anymore)

Anyway, I arrived on time, shockingly. I was rather spent and it looked like security was a bugger everywhere.

Point of part I. I don't mind if I can't take regular stuff with me, but let's not be chumps about informing flyers what you can and can't take when you are checking bags. A little more effort on the check person's part would have alleviated many a person's stress level. And I am totally greatful that my daughter was not with me. She could not have handled the chaos and very random method the security dudes were using for determining which families could take liquids. Sigh. I hate traveling anymore.

Look for part II soon. And why I won't fly United again (unless they are at least $100 cheaper than everyone else, yes, I can be bought).

Advice needed--keep commercial paper?

So, one of the blessigns of taking summer school is that I can slack off thereafter in terms of credits. One way to do this is just take 12 credits a semester. Another way is to take a really light fall, 10 credits-ish, and then take 13 or 14 to make up for it. After totally reorganizing my fall and spring schedule (and now I am MUCH more excited about my classes), I am taking (for sure) con law 2, real estate finance, and bankrupcty in the fall. I am currently signed up for commercial paper too. it's only two credits and it meets just once a week. My faculty advisor thinks that I should drop it. He pointed out that I will have a lot more going on with law review and interviews and that all of those classes are relatively challenging to really understand.

In my heart, I know he's right. And I am SO freaking tired right now. And my LR note has to be written by October 1. And it always takes me 2-3 weeks at the beginning of a semester to be able to read my cases quickly (there's just a huge upcurve on the lingo in a subject and deciphering what your prof thinks is imporant). The only reasons I want to take it are 1) I'm actually interested (I know, I'm a sicko), 2) I'm not sure if it will be offered next year, and 3) there are SO many interesting classes that I want to take and not enough time to take them in.

So what do you think?

One final down, one paper down, the MPRE, down and one paper to go . . . and it's killing me I tell you

So last week pretty much sucked. Bad. Big. Ugly. Honestly, I don't recall being this tired after finals (or during) for Fall or Spring last year. Maybe it is the cumulative effect of going full time 3 semesters in a row. Whatever it is, I'm so tired I could cry.

This is also the first semester where I actually got to a point where I calculated what the minimum grades were that I had to get to keep my percentile. Sigh. It's that bad.

One class is totally done. I turned in my paper for that on Wednesday. There are only 16 people in the class, and I think that all but 2 are in the top 20%. What does that mean... the curve is going to be a bitch. We missed not having a curve by one person. And where does that leave me: I have no idea if the paper that I turned in was a total piece of shit. I would give myself and A for research and an E for effort for the writing part. heaven only knows what will come out of that.

Another class has a final and a paper. I had the final Wednesday too (yes, Wednesday was a really great day). It sucked. I can't explain exactly how it sucked. Well, yes I could. And I think that I will. My professor is on crack. That's the only explanation for it. Actually, there is another explanation for it: she's just plain evil. I hate her. A lot. So heaven only knows how I did on the test. And her paper is the one I am supposed to be working on as I type. Sigh. I still don't know exactly what the woman wants from me. And I still need to do quite a bit of research. So the goal is that I will finish the research (finding and reading) today, and write the little POS tomorrow. Edit monday. Re-edit and blue book Tuesday and turn it in. That's the plan anyway. Cute little plan, isn't it? Yeah, we'll see how that goes.

Oh and of course, just to add more fun to the mix, my law review topic is due now. So I spent last night and the better part of the morning trying to find something 1) novel and therefore not overdone and 2) interesting enough so that I wouldn't want to throw myself off a cliff in the next month or two while I research it and write it.

At least I only have this damn paper staring me in the face. When I am done with that, I have 4.5 lovely days of fun in the sun wiht my best friend in another state. No hubby, no kid, no law school. And I'm living for it I tell you.

Lovely, lovely

I just had a lovely lunch with two alums who work at one of my top 3 firms in town. It was awesome. I love it when the school sets stuff like this up because it is such a relaxing atmosphere, and I feel relaxed like I can be myself. The food was great. The conversation better. And they were both really candid about their jobs. Hurrah. I love it when i do something "extra" and it is totally worth my while.

Update: Zuska asked for more details, and instead of burying it in the comments, I thought that I would put it up here:

they were both litigators and newly christened partners. One of them works under a partner who is reputed to be the best litigator in town. For whatever that is worth. I asked them both about family lifestyles and if it is possible with litigation. The woman, who has one child, an 11 month old, said that it is hectic sometimes and the hours can be long, but she does a lot of it at home in the evenings when her daughter is asleep. The man, who has a 3 and a 6 year old, felt the same--it's demanding, but exciting. It is hard to plan for long term big things, like europe vacation etc, but they both enjoyed what they did so much that it didn't seem to bother them all that much.

I thought that it was interesting and significant that both of their spouses have more of a 8-5 job gig. And it seems like that really give the partners more peace of mind.

Notably, they said the people with permanent smiles on their faces at their firm are the trusts and estates people. They envy the real relationship that develops with T&E attys and their clients. They said that some clients seem to look at them as family advisors. In litigation they felt that you really don't get to know the client as well because they aren't in a "get to know you" mood. They have a problem, 99.9% of the time dramatically affecting their wallet and they want it fixed, yesterday.

One last comment they had was that litigation can be tough because you never have win/win situations. it's you win or you lose. period. and that can be heartbreaking and hard to pull through.

hindsight and procrastination

hindsight:
I think (know) I am really going to regret doing the SBA thing. I really don't see eye to eye with the pres, who I am reasonably certain lives in outer space because he sure isn't a part of this world. Sigh. He's a leap before you look kind of guy... but in an odd way. He considers leaping off of three different cliffs, then picks one and goes. Sounds like looking first, but he doesn't and this is what is so frustrating. He's not a long term planner/thinker/dealer with consequences person. Double sigh. If I were not in an elected position, I would quit. Truly I would. Because the amount of mental pain I'm going to have to go through is just not worth it. Alas, I was a sucker and ran for soemthing. And now I'm stuck with it. And it's practically against my religion to just be a flake. I wish I didn't have such scruples. Oh well. I won't think about that today. i will think about it tomorrow.

Which brings us to procrastination.
I had family in town this weekend, so that means that since Wed last I have done practically zip, zero, doodah. Where to find inspiration to get on it? Threat of failing doesn't make me do, it just makes me freak out. Sigh. Quadruple sigh.

Still, it could be worse. I could have the bar tomorrow. good luck all you bar takers.

Drowning

I don't know when my summer got completely psycho, bit it is, and I tell you: It's killing me. Seriously I have slightly less than two weeks for 2 papers, one of which is awhole grade, the other is half my grade... the other half of that grade is multi-choice. and we all know how I feel about that and then I have the MPRE.

And to put a little icing on that ulcer, I've found out that my Law Review topic is due the first week in august and the first required submission (not first draft, read: publishable draft) is the first week in October.

Someone please come and shoot me now.

BTW--is anyone else having problems getting to volokh.com?

Do I really want to graduate when...

I see the shellshocked looking recent grads as they come into their last week or so of studying for the bar. Seriously, these people look spent, most look like they could use a shower, and the tension in the library is so thick you could cut it with a knife. Poor souls. Oh, the things to look forward to.

Spring schedule and networking

We have to register for both semesters at the same time at my school, which I suppose is a good thing because it forces you to focus on more trees. When I initially registered, I did NOT sign up for moot court. I just thought: 1) it's one piddly credit that destroys my entire winter break, 2) based on my experience this year, I think that I will suck at it, and 3) meh.

But now I'm starting to think about OCI and fall interviewing in general. And for whatever odd reason most of the attorneys that firms send to our school are litigators. I'm thinking that even if I don't ultimately take moot court, it might be helpful to register for it (since the transcript shows what you sign up for) just so I can play both sides: sure I want to try litigation; sure I want to try transactional.

Next week, I am going to call the wife of one of the clerks i worked with for my externship. She's at a firm in town that I love for all kinds of reasons, not the least of which is they expect people to want and have lives outside of work. They are hurting for good women associates ... even more for good women partners. It seems like almost all of their women have babies and call it good. In any case, they also have a really really rocking real estate department, and I am so into property. So what's the trauma you ask, networking. Oh, I hate it. I feel so awkward and uncomfortable. The only trick that I've learned so far is that I relax if I force myself to smile. Relaxing makes me seem more personable, I think anywy. So, point: wish me luck. It's just a call to see if we can do lunch, but I think it will really be the key to getting interviews at that firm to start with.

What are your networking secrets?

Holy Cats! Only three more weeks until...

• The MPRE
• finals are over, which means I owe 2 papers and a MC test

Suck. I'm in deep doodoo. Breathe.


____________________________________


Update: A fire is officially lit under my tush. I've just ploughed through 2 of the books I thought would help me on one of my papers. I'm hitting 2 more today and some law review articles.

I will survive.

Wow, it finally happened, the post that I didn't post

I've just spent that last 10 minutes writing a post about a conflict I have with a prof. I tried to be as vague as possible, but ultimately, I think if the right person were reading, they'd have me. And so, this is the first time I will not be putting down my real thoughts about a law school issue because of fear of discovery. No one is ever anonymous on the web. Sigh. I could have used the catharsis that comes from bitching too.

Do you like your SBA?

Do you think that they are useful? What do they do? What do you think they should do?

I went through my first year with the SBA being largely our cruise directors. There were a couple of more academic issues that they settled, but by and large they were the party committee. Well USNews rankings came out around the time that we had elections for this coming school year. Let's say that our school was not delighted with the rankings. So most students felt that the SBA failed them. That maybe we should be less concerned about cruise directing and more concerned about increasing our reputation. Well and good, and I ran for office (a minor office) on that theory... as did the guy who won pres.

now that we are in it, we are finding that we have a conflict because we only have so many monetary and people resources and we don't think the cruise directing was that good either. So now we are trying to decide how party the SBA should be and what we can realistically do as student reps to increase our rankings.

In the meantime, I'm dealing with our account being overdrawn, the board members not seeing eye to eye on what we are supposed to be doing, and deadlines looming for orienation cruise directing. Sigh.

So it's time to figure out 2L classes

So my school does an odd thing (at least i think so): you have to register for fall and spring cases at the same time. It's a good thing/bad thing. I like it because if something doesn't work out on your fall schedule you know to fix it for spring right away and vice versa, But i don't like it because I don't know how I am going to feel or still be interested in come spring.

So right now, I've signed up for fall:

• Bankruptcy
• Business Organizations
• Real Estate Finance
• Appellate Practice

I will now also have one credit of law review. I only need to take 12 credits a semester to graduate, thank you summer school. now I'm nt sure which substatnitve class to drop. Originally, it was appellate practice. Now I don't know.

Spring is:

• evidence
• con law 2
• and something i can't remember

I'll also have 2 credits of law review and two credits of TAing for a 1L class.

yeah so that's it. I'm not as excited about it as I was when i signed up.

So if you are a prospective law student mom, and you ask a law student mom what it's like, do you want to hear the truth?

I've been pondering this lately. Our admissions folks routinely send me emails of moms who are interested in law school and want the low down on feasibility. And i've been giving it to them. There are lots of factors, not the least of which is what is your goal and how does that relate to grades. Because frankly, if you want to do a federal clerkship and work for a schmancy firm etc, then being a mom in law school is a whole lot tougher because you really need to be at least in the top 10%. If you don't need top 10%, then no sweat. I generally give a run down of what my 1l schedule was like, how I studied and when and realistically how that affected my family time. I also tell them that without my husbands support with my daughter, I would be dead in the water. Shoudl I not be sharing this? Should I be more encouraging. I mean, I don't feel like I am discouraging; I say repeatedly that a mom can be successful, but it does mean some sacrifice and you have to have your head screwed on straight.

What do you think? Too much honesty is bad? good? I hate to ever think that someone didn't go to law school because I made it seem too hard. But it isn't easy, and while I have enjoyed success, it's been a crap load of work. I would have wanted someone to be honest with me.

Wah-freaking-hoo!!!!!!!!!!!! I made law review!!!!!!!!!!!!

Holy cats! I am so excited that I could bounce off the ceiling. Wow. And really, this news could NOT have come at a better time. I really needed this shot in my arm.

Remind me that I was this excited come fall and I am hating my life at 3 am doing cite checks.

*smooch* everyone have a great fourth weekend!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Worst day of my life

Ok, so that was rather hyperbolic, but I am definately having a downer day. I feel like i have faield at my externship. I know that I am over-reacting, but I can't help but feel it's partly true. In the last 5 or so weeks I've written three things for the court. One that is polished and pretty... which the judge has yet to see. And two things that were drafts that the fulltime clerk wanted to see after I finished a draft. And that was it... a draft. I gave it to them and said... the citations need cleaning, and I need to do a serious organizational and grammatical edit. You know, this is a first draft. Sigh. So imagine my utter horror at THAT VERSION being given to the judge. Shit.

And I feel like the clerk I gave this stuff to now no longer thinks I can do anything. It was a first freaking draft. Lesson learned: when they say draft... they mean pretty damn close to finished. Sigh. Damnit. From a networking way, I just feel like these weeks were totally wasted. Shit.

Writing lessons:

• The passive voice is loved by me... i know this but I usually clean that up on edit. I need to write in active voice to start with.
• My transactional phrases at the sentence level suck. I usually forget the phrases and just go with the single word transition like rather or however or moreover... and those are lovely but there are lovely transitional phrases that read well too.
• i need to outline a wee bit more before I write... so i realize when two different claims have the same element ahead of time, so i don't write like an idiot.
• And i need ot spend less time researching and just start writing already.
  

Not a happy day for Joey. But hey, it's almost over, right?

trying to put a good face on it: I really have learned tons and tons about what good writing is and nuances on pleadings that i don't think i would have learned before.

still... it's going to be awkward to say why i don't have a letter of recommendation from this judge when it's interviewing time. At least I still have an "A" in my writing class to try and talk around.

I'm already in research hell... and this is a good thing

So I realized that between my two classes that end in early aug and taking the MPRE on the 4th of Aug. i've got 2 papers (of the research variety) and 2 tests to do in a 7 day period of time. Yowza!

For whatever reason, that lit a fire under my butt and I am happily, OK maybe contentedly, researching my first topic. Oddly enough, I have found only books that are on the direction I want to go and one web site. Sigh. I need a meaty law review article. Hmmm. I guess I will find that later.

Is anyone confused yet as to what the heck I am talking about? Good, so am I. All this summertime anonymity kind of blows when it comes to comprehendible posts. Sorry bout that.

I am cursed

Why why why!? I ask you again. Why? How is it possible that the one psychotic grade/rank gossiper in my school is the only person I see at campus tonight. She kidnapped me for almost an hour about the finer points of whether she would be number 3 or number 4. I don't give a rats ass. Don't tell me who got what. Don't tell me your ambitions... just don't talk to me.


On a happy note, I had a better grade than her in a class and I could see her visibly deflate at that. :) There is a god.

The best part about family weekends is the ending

At least on either side of my family. there is no such thing as our family events going out like a lamb. They always go out like a lion. Sigh. Arguments. Pettiness. General declarations of woe is me but I'm too lazy to help myself. Lovely. Inspiring. Cheers to the fact that we won't have to do that again until at least Christmas.

So begins another week. And a long one at that. I've got 2-3 weeks to do the summary judgment order. Which is probably too much time. Blergh.

Sick Sick Sick

We're all freaking sick. Argh. My Sister in Law is getting married tonight, so I've got to make nice with people I don't know. All the while there is a snot revolution going on in my head. Sigh. So it is.

I finished my first order at the court this week and was given another order to start. A summary judgment motion with oodles and gobs of facts from both sides to poor through. I still think clerking is the coolest.

On a side note, I watched a hearing before a different judge yesterday... the poor plaintiffs. They thought they had it in the bag because the judge let it go on and on for about 2.5 hours... of which the defendant's counsel spoke only for 15 minutes (thank heavens for that too!). In any case, then the judge goes on and on about how Defendant's are being obnoxious and too strict and not cooperative... blah blah blah. Then in the last 30 seconds he says that unfortunately though, he has no authority over the matter (it was an admininstrative agency) so Plaintiffs lose. Ouch. They never saw it coming. But I give myself some kudos because the whole hearing I kept thinkjing... can this judge override the agency? I don't think so because the Plaintiffs aren't attackign the actual statute the agency is enforcing... just the result of the statute as it applies to them.

Sigh. Good times.

Hurrah!

Grades are in. And I didn't stink it up after all. Thank heavens for that. Now I can move on and continue doing what I've been doing.

-------------------------------------------------------

So thinking about it still... how on earth did I get the grade that I got in my con law class? It was pretty good. And while I like to think that reading close to 4000 pages (no, there aren't too many zeros in that number) helped, I have a hard time believign that I could do that well when I got nothing out of class discussion. It's the oddest thing. But then, I can't really remember what the test was about. That's the only good thing about how long it takes grades to be posted in law school... you can't remember what the test was on anymore :)

So here we are, another semester underway

So I am taking a fullload this summer in an effort to get instate tuition at my school by Fall. Yeah, good luck with that I know. The first half of the summer I am clerking for a judge and taking a class and the second half I have 2 classes. One of the classes is my ethics class. You would think there would lots of sexy itneresting stories to keep the several hour long classes entertaining, you would think... but you would be wrong. Gah! Fun suckers. They've sucked all of the fun right out of my class. So it is. It's also got lots of touchy feely kinds of assignments instead of just a test or paper at the end. Blergh.

On a happier note, I love love love clerking. Too fun. And intimidating really. I'm still working on my first order, but I should have that done by tonight. Lots of interesting topics and sexy facts. I've been able to sit in court several times as well. And let's just say some of the attys are freakign brilliant and others are, well, um, less so? It's been enlightening to say the least. And next week, i get to sit in on a trial. Yeah. I'm so excited.

I so want to be a real clerk right after grad, but we'll see. Grades come out today, so I may be weeping in my pillow.

Does anyone know if the rules for lawyers changes substantially each year?

Just wondering. One of the books I ordered used wa my ethics rulebook, but I got it and it is the 2005-2006 version, not the 2006-2007 version. Do these rules change substantially each year? Any advice here would be good.

Stick a fork in 1L, I'm done

Seriously. I'm tried. That's really the only way to describe what I am feeling right now. Not euphoric, not relieved, just tired. And a little concerned if my speech will ever be the same again... I've been spitting out spoonerisms over the last week like it's going out of style. Seriously, I don't sound like a bright girl. So it is.

Tomorrow we are going on a family vacation for a week. Originally, it was going to be for a week and a half, but this way is better, so I have a few days to, you know, do laundry etc when we get back before I start my externship and Summer classes. I bought the two books I need for my ethics class today. Thank you amazon marketplace and half.com for saving me $70.

So we'll have radio silence for the next week or so here at the yayarolly. Enjoy your beginning of summer. I'm going to Disneyland.

Honestly, were you raised in a barn, or are you just maliciously disgusting?

Gagging. No, really. I'm gagging because of the stench. My carrel in our library at the end of some shelving stacks on the first floor. They get a lot of traffic, and while that's annoying, it's to be expected. HOWEVER, what is not to be expected is that some nasty, nasty man come all the way into the shelves (read: close to me) and let one rip. My eyes watered, I contemplated whether I should make a run for it. Gag. Really. Seriously. Have you no manners.

And just because I'm in a complaining mood... chick at the main tables with your food and crap scattered everywhere, yeah, you. Don't freaking put your nasty, and clearly dirty, BARE freaking feet on the table top. ew.

The last phase of 1L hazing: law review write on

So I have mixed feelings about this whole thing. I am happy that I have more than a shot in hell of getting onto our law review because everyone has to write on. Grades factor in, but no one gets in solely on their grades. After this last round of finals, this is a very good thing for me.

And I had 2 happy restful days between turning in my paper and starting the write on. I watched about 6 episodes of Gilmore Girls, first season; hit major sales for suits and shoes, and generally vegged. Oh, and I reminded my daughter that I am in fact, her mummy.

So the bad thing is that I'm still tired and I don't want to work. But the good thing is that I am not confused. Really, I had this epiphany that I really, truly learned useful things this year that I will really, truly use in everyday practice. The write on is an interoffice memo that LRev gives you like you are an associate; they've done all the research for you. You just have to read through the research, ferret out the red herrings, and write the memo. When you think about it, it's pretty much the same thing that will happen to you as a summer associate... except you will have to do the research too.

In any case, after I read the assignment and read through a few of the cases, while I was and still am a little puzzled about some of the "terms of art" sprinkled throughout these cases (and we are NOT allowed to use a legal dictionary, sigh), I understood the main arguments we would need to make and was able to ignore the stuff that is just background noise. So score one for me. I can take a legal problem, break it down, and apply research to make my point.

I know I'm a sick puppy, but this is kind of fun.

One paper left and the semester is over, kind of

Property final was yesterday morning. Multiple choice. I hate multiple choice. I don't generally do well on multiple choice tests. So I'm not really expecting a whole lot out of that final. I do have hope that my usual multiple choice grade doesn't result because I loved that class and I'm supposed to be a TA for it next year. So it is. Nothing I can do about any of that now.

So now, all that's left is a paper. A paper which is already about 85% done. Only 35% of the grade is on content. My prof is really focused on organization and commas. Sigh. So today I'm editing it since I haven't looked at it in two weeks. It's really not fun to write about something that you have little to no interest in. If I get on a journal, I will not make the mistake of writing my note on something I don't care about.

Paper is due on Friday and the write on starts on Friday. Is there no rest for the weary?

Well that was about as fun as a root canal... the crim law final that is

Gah! That was easily the most difficult final I have had thus far in my law school career. Holy cats. It was 2.5 page fact pattern and a rather challenging set of policy questions. I knew the stuff, but there were just so many issues and I kept second guessing myself. Not good. no confidence. My GPA is now in the crapper. Lovely thought. Which is why I am in the library studying for Property. Sigh. Almost over now.

I know what I am doing this summer!

Hooray. I knew that I was doing the whole summerschoolgetenoughcreditstoqualifyforinstatetuition thing, but the jury was still out on whether part of my credits would be from an externship with a judge. Well the jury has rendered a happy verdict with my number one choice. Hooray. I've been to this judge's courtroom a couple of times for school outtings as it were. The judge seems to be pretty progressive procedurally. I think I will really enjoy it. And in some demented kind of way, I am stoked that I will be writing so much. Nothing like doing lots of writing to get really fine-tuned in a particular style. (Yes you can remember this when I complain about it later).

I don't think I can talk about anything else related to this, but I just wanted to share my bliss.

Yippee Skippee!

Hooooofreakingraaaay! Con law is done. Kiss my patootie! I am reasonably certain that I won't have to retake it, that it hammered my GPA, and that, yes, I will to test another day. I would express my many lamentations of what con law could have been, if only... but there's no point, and I am happy to forget about it.

The rest of today in crim law outline finishing/streamlining. Tonight I take a crim law practice exam, which prof crim law will go over with us tomorrow. Hooray. Crim I think I can do... if I can type quickly enough to get everytihng in there.

Cheers

ethical dilemma for law students and profs to weigh in on

So here's the ethical dilemma. I've come to find out that some people will write a verbose answer to a given topic in their outline like executive power or standing. Does everyone do this? Is it OK to do this. Most people that I've queried at my school say, well, you are allowed to bring in anything that is your own work product, so that would fit. But everyone seems to say that with an uncomfortable pinching look on their face.

Part of me says, well, great, if you want to put that much effort into your prep for the exam, go you. But the other part of me says, but wait, that saves them TONS of time on the test. They can't copy and paste, but they can transcribe quickly, which in the end might be unfair to people who come to the test with only an outline, which as I was taught in jr high, is not something containing complete sentences.

What do you tihnk? I'm really on the fence here. But I am leaning toward it not passing ethical muster. It's the gut reaction. It just feels wrong. I've found that siting down and taking timed practice tests are the only way to go because just writing it down once or twice helps me get started on the actual test. I'm not sitting there thinking I know this stuff, but how do I write it down best.

I truly welcome both sides here. Let me know what you think.

I stil really really hate con law.

I am sick, sick to death of con law. I hate it. I hate everything about it. I hate my prof. I hate his tangents. I hate the detainee cases. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it.

And now back to your regularly scheduled programming.

Recommendations please... something to look forward to

I realized that I need to read something that is not a case book. SO I am soliciting your recommendations. I like generally anything except western, harlequin-type romance, and non-fiction science books. Other than that, I'm open.

Despite my hatred of con law, on my list of summer reading is The Brethren. I ran across some hilarious quotes from it while writing my torturous paper for the class with no point. Ooh, and I am going to read Robert Jordan's new book (Ok, i know it came out last fall, but it's new to me).

Help me expand my horizons. I would love some suggestions for fun, drivel too.

Wow, 1L classes are over

Seriously, this last year has to have been the fastest mad dash of time in my memory. But I made it through. Ironically enough, first day of class my daughter was dog sick and last day of class my daughter is dog sick. Which sucks generally. We're starting to talk about getting tubes in her ears, but I guess she is a little older than when they usually do it? I don't know. I just wish she didn't have to be sick so much, poor thing.

Which brings me to the firm declaration, that you, a mom, can go trhough law school and survive. Sometimes you feel like it is by the skin of your teeth, but nonetheless you come out OK.

I'm not going to talk about finals right now, I'll think of that tomorrow.

So 1L class recap for me:

favorite class: this is a toughy, it's a toss up between civ pro, contracts and property, leaning toward contracts.

least favorite class: Con law, hands down.

odd thing i learned that i didn't plan on learning: hmmm, 2 major ones I guess. law school is like jr high, complete with gossip or getting used to the administration, which is so not operating from a business model, but embracing gleefully an academic model (translation: talk, talk, talk, do nothing)

favorite prof: prof contracts. bless that woman and her love of the UCC. Don't worry prof contracts, I'll wait 'til you come back from visiting and take your other glorious UCC classes.

biggest nonacademic perk: amazing freaking people that I go to school with. really, there are only a few big stinkers. I'm touched when I think of the dear friends that I have made here. Surprised at some of them being 10 years my junior. But overwhelmed by the decency of my classmates. Here's to us, collegial atmospheres and just being who we are!

Ew... You know it's finals time when

the main study hall smells like a boy's locker room. Just ew.

Oral arguments are over, thank heavens

Yeah, um that sucked. No really. That was just bad. I will say, I'm sure it could have been worse. But not by much. I was just not prepared for the line of questions that the "judge" threw at me.

To add insult to injury, my opponent is one of those annoying put herself up by putting you down kinds of people. And she likes to publish her victories. Which is annoying. I'm being small. But I got creamed by the judge. I don't know if I actually got creamed by my opponent because I think i was shellshocked at that point, so I didn't really follow her argument.

Can I go crawl into a hole now? Only if i take my conlaw hornbook with me.

so the study plan is going only marginally well

Rats. The good news is that I think I have amassed all the research for my paper. This is very very good. The bad news is that I still have to right the damn thing.

The other good news is that I did read all of my reading for the week, except for con law... which i have just been reading the supplements and hornbooks for. The bad news is that I think I need to read the cases from class today. I have no idea what my oh so great prof is talking about. A classmate and I have decided that based on his diagrams the prof's actually calling in life was geometry professor. Lots of triangles and unintelligble scribbling.

Tonight is my oral argument. eek. Actually I am not all that freaked out about it yet. The key word is yet.

Law review write on, getting organized and stress headaches

Blurgh! That about covers how I am feeling these days. Exhausted and just blergh. But somehow, some way, I will pull some energy out of my butt and make it through to the end of finals... um, I mean law review write on. Our school does NOT have a grade on option (not that I would necessarily qualify anyway), so we all have to go through the torturous hell that is write on. My one big problem with write on is this is the first thing in law school that I really really want so badly I can taste it. If I don't make it, I will be so disappointed.
No point in worryabout that right now.

Rather, what I should be worrying about is learning the material we are covering in classes this week (oh, and the material I am supposed to have been learning all semester). I've also got moot court this wednesday night. Terrifying. And a paper for my paper as final class that would be ideal if it were in tip top shape by next Tuesday.

To that end, here is my battle plan:

• No more fun. Not after school. Not at school. It's just for a few weeks. Really, it's time to buckle down.
• Must go to bed early.
• Will do all my reading for the week today.
• Thereafter, commit to 2 major topics each day of a core subject; today will be crim law.
  
• Thursday night and Saturday are all paper.
  

That's all so far. Let's hope it works.

By the way, my frequent updates are in no way related to my desire to procrastinate studying for finals. And if you believe that, I've got a life estate in a bridge in Brooklyn that I would like to sell you.

Reflections on time

As I was walking to church this morning, i noticed that most of the trees and early flowers on my street are in bloom. It's beautiful and smells so good. The sun was shining. I didn't have to wear a coat. Spring is by far my favorite season. It just seems like there is so much to look forward to... like finals, for instance :(

Which brought me to my next thought. My 1L year will be over in less than a month. Wow! Time flew. Really, really fast. But it doesn't feel like it was particularly fast. You know that odd sensation inside when real time doesn't match up with your impression of time. I've learned so much this year. My brain is still kind of extra squishy trying to put itself back together after being so thoroughly deconstructed by all my profs. Still, as I told my hubby earlier this weekend, my worst day at law school is still a bazillion times better than my best day at my old job.

So here's to flowers and trees in bloom, squishy brains, and the approaching end of 1L.

Meditations on mock trials and trials in general

So, I got to go and participate in a mock trial this last week for some 2 and 3 Ls who playing lawyers. It was actually really cool. And it was the first time that I thought, maybe, just maybe, I can do litigation. Part of this was that of the 4 law students participating, 3 were stellar. Just strong, incredibly bright, and quick-thinking. The last one, well, being nice, not so much. I don't know if it was just nerves, but man the opposing counsel sure seemed to know their stuff much better. And I guess that was apparent to the judge too, who granted the opposing counsel's motion to exclude some rather key testimony that I personally tihnk should have gotten in. But the unprepared guy just was not able to be persuasive. Oh, and temper, temper.

So, major takeaway for all genders there, be prepared, know the law and the depos and everything inside and out.

For the ladies: let's talk presentation. I realize this sounds sexist but short of a guy showing up to court in khakis or bermuda pants, it's hard for them to screw up. I've seen at least two times now where women lose the battle in court before they say a word, and I think they both thought they looked great. Tip 1: If you choose to wear a grey suit. And if you choose to wear one that is "chicly" cut (read: more form fitting that not) and if you choose to wear a blouse that is not meant to be tucked in, you've got to wear a jacket. Seriously, I though this girl was wearing grey jeans at first glance. She looked sloppy. Not chic. And honestly, I never thought I would be one of "those" people, but I had a hard time getting past that for credibility. She looked like she was playing lawyer, not actually a lawyer (or soon to be one). Tip 2: big hair=bad in court. I don't care if you had it done by a "professional" before you showed up to court. If your hair is the first and only thing I notice about you, not good. I observed a federal court proceeding about a month ago where this defense attorney came in and I couldn't a) see her face or b) take her seriously. It was long. It was elaborately curled (think little girl). It was hair sprayed within an inch of it's life and had about a 3 inch vertical from the top of her head to wear her hair stopped.

Throw things at me if you want. I feel like I am betraying the sisterhood, but really get several opinions about your outfit and hair (and not just the saleslady who is trying to make a commission) before you go with "that look". Eek.

It's all crim law, all week

Yup. I'm getting the outline together. Sigh. I will pull the motivation out of my butt to do this. I will.

Say it with me: all crim law, all week, all crim law all week... maybe I should do some online shopping?

Time for an awfully close to the end of the semester update

court brief--turned in, check
optional draft of funky class's paper--turned in check (piece of incomplete trash, check check)
panic about finals setting in--check

Things left to do:

• teach myself con law
• outline for crim law (for real)
• do the Q&A supplement questions for property
• write something decent for the funky class to replace the piece of trash
• continue to ignore the need to prepare for oral arguments

Oh, and my hubby is turning 30 next week. I should really think about doing something for that.

The 1L person you don't want to be

I guess that I should say people because there is certainly more than one category that you don't want to fall into. Now that I have my oh so significant (whateveh) experience as a one L, I think I've got a handle on who you don't want to be (BTW--"queen" is used here asexually... I'm not just down on girls. We've got plenty of guys who fit into these categories too:

• personal gossip queen--don't be the one that no one wants to tell anything too because they know that you will say that Billy and Jane made out at jane's instead of going to Property. Just don't go there. A) it makes you look like you're 12 and B) no one cares except for you.
• grade gossip queen--don't be the one that makes it their mission to figure out who got what grades in each class and who the top 20 students in ranking order are. It's icky. People don't want to talk to you because they think you are always angling for some piece of info to fit into your sick puzzle. You also make people crazy, even the ones who aren't grade-centered. You have a disease and it's catching. Just shut up.
• Job gossip queen--don't be the one to tell me that billy bob has seconds with x,y, and z firms. Isn't that billy bob's prerogative to decide whether to broadcast? Even if you think you are talking to other job gossip queens, don't ask, don't tell. We all will get along a whole lot better. Oh, and don't whine about the one interview you didn't get when the people you are talking with would have killed for just one interview, any interview. And certainly don't be gauche and talk about the trauma you are having picking between offers. Puhleaze. One of these days, someone is going to shoot you, and everyone will clap.
• Teacher/course gossip queen--it's good to share knowledge like oh, he likes to test from the footnotes or he always tests commerce clause. But it is NOT NOT NOT good to take random comments like that and make inferences about them and then pass those on as gospel. Seriously, we've got people running around thinking they can't get As unless, fill in the blank. And it's pretty ridiculous stuff. But it goes the rounds as credible because we are all paranoid. It's also not particularly fair to the teacher.
• Dating queen--male or female, don't systematically date your class. Just ew. People will know you are a skank. Period. Preferably, just don't date people in your class.
  
• Study Martyr--I could give a rat's arse how many hours you study, how late, how many supplements you read. If you have something useful to share, share it. if you are trying to get sympathy or intimidation points, shut up.
• "I don't like so and so" person--this is the one that is hard, and I've been in this category, I think we all have, but it's just ugly, especially if you go to a small school. I don't care how big of an ass the person you don't like is... just keep your opinion to yourself. I promise it will get back to them, and you will look oh so jr. high. You can not like them all you want. And you can know that everyone around you doesn't like them too even if none of you ever say a word about it.
• Loud person in the library or study hall--Just don't. Have some respect. People might think you are funny at first. But they will all hate you in the end.
• Person who is only nice the day before they run for something--enough said
• wannabe gunner--this is the guy who comments every class but contributes virtually nothing, other than possibly derailing the whole conversation. Shut up. I dont' care what japanese philosopher Justice Scalia reminds you of. You wanna suck up to the prof, do it on your own time, not mine.

You'll notice that actual gunner is not on my list. At this point, he's my friend. If you ask intelligent, relevant questions or give thoughtful relevant comments, I am all about listening to you. After all, the more you talk, the less likely I'll actually get called on. Seriously though. I don't mind thoughtful participation even from the same person everyday. It's just the people who repeat what the prof just said or who ask about their condo rules that drive me batty.

Can you tell I've been feeling a little pent up frustration lately? really, I like 95% of my class. 2.5% I don't know and the other 2.5% I can't stand. But that's my little secret. I'm just tired and stressed. And I wish the stupid BS would stop. Fat chance, but still.

This all goes triple for one Ls going to small law schools or who go to school in a small law community. And it goes octuple (is that real?) for those of you who go to small schools in a small law community.

Now, true confessions... some of those categories are about people I can't stand, but some of those categories I only realized when I took a hard look in the mirror. Yowza. Self-evaluation is painful at times but totally necessary. Peace out.

BTW, rankings are leaked again. And I know they don't rule the world, but @^%&!$@ is all I have to say about it.

If I had to do it all over again...

I would forego buying my con law case book, and I would buy only the Chemerinsky hornbook recommended by Kristine. Seriously, my book is poorly organized and poorly written and completely unintelligble.

I love the hornbook. So clear. So pretty. So everything that I need. So late for me to figure this out. On my honor, I promise to guide 1Ls next year to a better way.

What we have reduced public libraries to

I don't ever pay to rent a movie. Period. If I have a free coupon thingy, which happens on occasion, then I'll go to one of the megablockwood stores and get a movie. But I don't pay. Which is why g-d invented libraries that have DVDs. He knows me. He knows I'm cheap. He knows that I will sit patiently while I am number 34 on the hold list of 43 library patrons for Grey's Anatomy season 1.

Pathetic.

(You thought this was going to be some moral highground about how having libraries be the free blockbuster is ruining our public library system, didn't you? I'll be able to afford that highground sometime way after law school)

No more laptops!

Wah!!!!! I have a hideous class that I hate hate hate. And now, to add insult to injury, the prof has realized that we are all glazed over playing games or surfing on the net, so we are not permitted to use laptops for the rest of the semester. Wah!!!!!!!!!!

Kristine brought up some good reasons for having a no laptop class, but I'm going to agree with her that I would only want to do it in a class I was really interested in and with a handpicked teacher.

I usually use this classtime to work on my paper for the class or to play games. I've only really listened to guest speakers, but the rest is pretty useless. Sigh. Total waste of my time. I'm collecting crosswords from the papers now to get through these weeks of class.

Looking forward

So 4 weeks of class left. then 2 weeks of finals. then 2 weeks of law review write on competition. then disneyland and socal vacation for a week. then summer school starts. I can rest on August 2. Unless I get onto law review, in which case, I need to write my note in August.

I'm tired. So basvcially, I've decided to go to summer school and extern for a judge for credit. I'll take 2 classes as well so I can get in state tuition. I'm hoping the clerkship will be enough of difference from regular classes to feel like I get a break. the happy thought then is that for the rest of law school I need only take 11-12 hours a semester. Yeah. I can feel good about that.

I still really really hate con law

But I have come to realize it's not the topic's fault. It's entirely my prof's fault. Someone shoot me please. I can't do this for anothe 7 weeks. It's like one disjointed history lesson, heavy on the war, light on chronological order.

Please someone help me! I hate this class.


On another note, I decided to give my laptop a vigorous shake on Sunday night and lo and behold the D started to work. Thank heavens for that.

agnabbit!!!!!!!

So you are won_ering what the hell '_agnabbit" is... well i'll tell you. What things are in common in these wor_s? _ogs, _inner, _elicious, _umb, _amnit... why yes, they are all missing a character at the front of the wor_. That is because... that character is no longer working on my _amn laptop.

Sigh. An_ my warranty plan is only goo_ mon_ay through fri_ay. Snarl! Coul_ this come at a worse time? So, I'm going out to buy a USB keyboar_ so that I can you know, finish the million things that I have to freaking type.

It's over already? no, the agony

Gah! Fast freaking week. Wah! I feel like getting on the floor like my three year old and throwing a whopping good tantrum.

The good news:
appellate brief--in damn fine shape for my meeting with prof writing on Monday
presentation--one of the 4 guys I work with is an ass. And I got to do a bunch of unplanned work
on it over break (asshat)
extra fun paper--neither extra fun nor remotely done.

In sum, I've relaxed, my friends. But being the dummy I am, I only had one weekday where I officially declared "screw it" and just relaxed without feeling guilty.

Anyway, so here I am coming up on the weekend with no con law or crim law read; crim law outline barely started, other extra fun paper barely started. Ugh. I hate that class. I'm reading the trial transcript that never ends for it right now. Mostly I could give a rat's arse. It's a problem. Wish me luck.

My appellate brief is due in a week. I hope to feel somewhat relieved then.

well, I'm off to my last interview of the season

Yup. I get to retire the suit after today. Temporarily anyway. And will be so glad. I'm not even sure that I want this job, but I'm going to the interview anyway. More practice is good, right?

So I have to say, overall this year's OCI for me was a bust. But I learned a lot. Like my resume scares people off. Like don't be too uptight in an interview. You want them to talk about the old lady they stopped in the road to help, or when they were stuck in a hurricane and had to eat ramen for 4 days, or how they can't put their vanity back in their bathroom until they tile the floor, and they can't tile without running water, which they can't have until the vanity is back. These are good things to talk about.

Summer school. Here I come.

3 more days until spring break

And I'm not sure I'm going to make it. Holy cats! I so needed Spring Break about hmmm 2 weeks ago. My arse is dragging. I go to class and all I hear is Charlie Brown teacher-esque mwahmwahmwah. Sigh.

I just got my latest draft of my persuasive memo back from my TA. She was not unduly harsh, it was just frankly that bad. I still haven't done my part of the group presentation work that I need to give to the group on Friday. That's what's in the hopper for tonight. If I can just get that off of my plate, then I'll only have my crim law outline, new draft of memo, and writing a paper for a stupid perspectives in the law class. Yeah, that ought to wipe out the break.

In order to make sure I don't get homicidal, I am doing the following three fun things on break:

• go see a matinee (anyone else feel decadent going to a movie at 1 in the afternoon on a Tuesday?)
• get a spa pedicure (my traditional break time pampering
• go take lunch to a friend who had twins last Fall whom I have not been able to see since and play with her babies.
  

Also, I'm going to lunch with my mother-in-law. Between all that, I am doing my work and unpacking my house. um, yeah. Big fun. But the break from class will be so awesome.

Are we having fun yet?

Update: Yeah, it's now about 6 or 7 hours later and that "new draft" of my memo is finally done. Holy cwap. I'm in trouble.
___________________________________________________
Seriously, gah! I am so freaking tired and overwhelmed. This week stink stank stunk! Can you say no fun at all? I can .

All of my family's belongings are finally now in one house, the new one. All that remains to be done at the old house is clean... and I'm thinking, we are not likley to get any of the security deposit back anyway, so I won't be knocking myself out.

My daughter is finally "Well". For the moment.

I won't feel obligated to go home right after school next week so I can move crap from one house to the other. This is a good thing.

However, this last week I got in ZERO studying. And I mean zero. So here I sit at the library contemplating which of the following I should do next:

• Do a new draft of my persuasive memo?
• Work on my group project for my lame class?
• Work on my paper for the same lame class?
• Work on my conlaw outline for the midterm next week
• Do my reading for the week (prof con law and prof crim law were feeling particularly evil and assigned roughly a bajillion pages)
• Redo the takings part of my property outline since prof property did one of those fun: here's several weeks of how we analyze takings. On the last day, BTW, have of those got overruled in a case at SCOTUS last year. Sigh

Really there are myriad other things too, but I can't enumerate them or I would cry.

I think I will do draft of memo first, then con law outline. Then we'll throw darts and work on the rest.

Caffeine. Need more.

Need a recommendation for a good Con Law I hornbook

OK, so let's face it... my con law teacher that I was worried about is the nicest man on the planet, BUT I am not learning con law. Can anyone recommend a good hornbook. I've got several supplements, but I think some hard hornbook reading would really help... anyone? anyone?

It's getting hotter; I'm now in the seventh circle of hell

Gah! Memo is almost done... which is great because then I can just jump right into a paper for another class that I have no idea what I am doing in. On top of general school psychoness, DD is sick, sick, sick. Again. All the while we have moved... mostly. Actually I'd say about half of our crap is in each house. Lovely.

Calgon take me away.

I'm in persuasive memo hell

Hell, I tell you. I can't even put my finger on exactly what makes it so torturous, but man, it so totally is. Is this a bad sign of things to come? Am I going to hate being an actual attorney. I'm sticking to my guns and saying, no, I'm going to love it. For some reason, I think that getting to write more than one major memo a semester is going to help. I mean, i know you can work on the same darn case forever in practice, but I have to believe that you will work on other things too. And maybe if it's real people or real money involved (other than my tuition money) I'll be more enthralled. Here's to hoping right?

I spent the better part of one afternoon and evening this week putting together the outline for the takings section that we just completed for prof Property. Yowza. You can always tell when a particular subject is the prof's specialty by how many million tests and factors they throw at you. I swear I spent about 2 hours trying to figure out the logical order and reasonable usage for each test. Go me though; it's done.

I went, I saw, I interviewed... and now back to our regularly scheduled programming

So, it went OK. reasonably well. Let's face it, the only good thing to come out of it is that I got some practice in before the interview at the firm I really really want, which is next Tuesday. I did NOT get a call back for the firm from this week. And the only people I know who did each got a 4.0. Sick isn't it, that they are actually capable of getting 4.0s. even more annoying, they're 2 of the nicest people I know at school, really. You can't even hate them.

So here's my question of the hour: if you only want to offer to the people with the highest GPAs, why do you interview 12 candidates? really, doesn't this seem like a waste of time to everyone else? But who am I to complain, I did get practice interviewing, right? right.

As far the regularly scheduled program goes, I'm working on the appellate brief this weekend, all weekend, and if I am feeling particularly organized and ambicious, I am going to start my Con Law outline. Heaven Help me. Yeah, that sounds about right for a three day weekend, non?

I need to pick a segment of time to be a fun mom though... I am starting to feel like my kid thinks I'm only the hired chauffeur. Not good this early in the semester.

Happy long weekend everyone.

Putting on my game face

Update: It went OK. Actually I think it went well, but I am hesitant to jinx it. Two interviewers. One guy, one woman. From what I had heard, i thought that I would connect with the woman without too much effort, and the guy would be hard to crack. But it was the opposite. I think I've got the guy's vote. He liked my background a lot... and what I had to say about writing and research. The woman. I just don't know. But after talking to them, can I say I really really want this job. It just sounds too cool. Lots of diverse work, low pressure, nice atmosphere. Sigh. Cross everything for me. Oh, and it works into 10 hours a week during the school year too.

_______________________________________________________________

Original:
OK. I admit it. I'm panicking a little bit. My first interview is in about 30 minutes and it is my top choice and I am not feeling it. My kid was up a lot last night (sick), so I'm tired, but mostly I'm not feeling on top of the world, which is critical for me so I can relax in the interview. Sigh.

OK. Talking myself up. I'm relaxed. I don't need this job. I can go to summer school and be happy about it. So this isn't everything, which means I can go in there and just be my usual charming (?) self and knock this out of the ball park. We are going to talk about everything... I'm going to pay attention to their interests and draw that out. I am someone they want to work with. I am relaxed, but alert. I am charming. Sigh

A little creepy isn't it.

An update on Spring OCI

I applied for 10 firms through OCI and 2 on my own. I thought that I would get about 4-5 interviews. And let us say that this has been a humbling learning experience. I have 8 of 12 reporting back and so far only 2 interviews. Which is OK because, thank goodness, they were my number 1 and number 2 picks. So at least there is that. But man, this is some pretty serious competition. I feel even more pressure to keep my grades to at least the level they are currently. It shouldn't be the psychotic... the whole process.

First interview is this week... wish me luck!

on volunteering and writing as a 1L

So, yeah, I am still a 1L, so who knows if I am the best person to be dispensing such advice, but I feel pretty strongly about this: don't volunteer unless it's something you are passionate about, especially if it involves writing. I missed the memo at the beginning of the semester warning that this semester is infinitely harder than the last. Yowza, you're not kidding. I've got an extra class as compared to last semester and my major paper for my writing class is due about a month earlier in the semester.

So, in short, I think my helper monkey goodness was a poor choice. If you volunteer during 1L, you've got to choose something that has an exact time commitment. Every other week from 6-8, that kind of thing. I thought writing the paper would be exciting, interesting and useful. But it hasn't been. It's been an exercise in frustration. honestly, it's hard to write a good persuasive paper when you don't buy your position. Not impossible to do, just hard. The other thing is, in general (based on my experience and those of some of my peers), it turns out that many non-profits are, well, organizationally challenged. I spun my wheels trying to contact some people across the nation that this org had given me as "good starting points". Only to discover... that everything those contacts could give me, those same contacts had already shared with the same org I am working with. Would it have killed them to go through their email and give me what they already had? And there are no length requirements or restrictions, no particular focus. It's just frustrating. And someone as anal and type A as I am has a hard time saying, OK, here's my line, I will not go farther than x for this paper.

I did send the org a rough draft this morning. One of two things will happen, ok, three... 1) they'll say it's fine as it is, and we'll be done (god willing), 2) they'll say, nononooo, we wanted it to be like xyz, at which point I will bite through my tongue and sit on my hands to avoid exclaiming rather rudely that I have been asking for that VERY SAME INFO for the last month! or 3) (and this is the most likely) they will sit on it for a few weeks and send me a nasty gram about the end of Feb when my appellate brief is due asking if I was planning on every writing their paper, to which I will reply by forwarding the email and attachment that I sent them this morning.

Sigh. Very frustrated right now, but then, I'm no dummy, and that's why I said in my email with the draft that I would not be doing any further work on the paper until I got comments back from them.

Lesson learned.