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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

My first post

I'm a 30-something leaving a good career as a technical writer to go back to school. Law school. I'm one of those geeky people who has "always wanted to be a lawyer". I remember in my early teens insisting that I was going to do environmental law. Then I wanted to be in entertainment law, then I think I wanted to be Jack McCoy.

At some point in undergrad, I lost my way and fell into tech writing during the dot com boom. It was a good ride. It was relatively easy for me to be a high performer. But I hate, hate, hate, hate my job.

About 15 months ago, I realized that I had to change my career or risk being really unhappy for a long time. So, I started studying for the LSAT, filling out apps, the whole shebang. I cried when I got my first acceptance. I felt such relief knowing that I wouldn't have to do what I don't like forever.

So, we've sold the house and I am dragging my DD and DH half way across the country for law school. And I can't wait to start.