Back to Work *sigh*

Well I have spent a lovely week and a half since my last final doing absolutely NOTHING. I played Warcraft, spent some time with my Xbox, hung out (and nursemaided, he has a weird neck pinched nerve-y thing) with my partner, and avoided all things that had to do with real life. I even fulfilled last weeks 3x's visit to the gym I just joined. All in all I am feeling pretty chill. Well except for the fact grades haven't hit yet and my old text books have yet to sell so I can but new ones... but I have no control over that, so c'est la vie.

This week its time to get back to work to a point. I have plans of starting the bar app law students have to fill out. (Pray tell, wtf is the story with that?? I have to list every place I worked and lived since I was 18 and get letters from my employers? I don't even remember some of those years, that's why I am 32 and still IN SCHOOL!) I also want to get some resumes and cover letters ready to go out so I can find a job for summer. Along with those things we have a house to recover from the holidays and a living room and foyer to paint before we go out of town next week.

What is everyone else doing over break?

Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays!

I have been having a lovely and relaxing break so far. I have joined a gym to start getting healthier and to give myself a stress reliever that does not involve impotent glaring at strangers. I have also spent some time with those most important to me: my partner, my dog, my Xbox and Lara Croft (not necessarily in that order).

Grades have not been released yet so I still have no clue how the first real semester of 1L year went. In fact the day grades come out hubster and I will be at a casino and hotel (our Xmas pressie to ourselves) and I will not be able to look them up till i get home the next day. Thankfully casinos provide free alcohol. Unfortunately, it only takes a glass of wine to out me on my ass.... oh well.

Tort This

My haphazard studying for my tort final is appalling. I have spent most of the day devising a million things that need to be done RIGHT NOW (like writing this) as a way of procrastinating and avoiding torts. It's not that i don't like the class because I do. And I like the teacher, he is an absolute hoot. he is a cross between a preacher and Malcom X. There is at least one point during every class where I want to jump up and start talking in tort tongues. However, what I don't like is the fact that he wants us to be able to spit 50 million different analysis aspects back at him per question. Example, him going over our "practice exam" (paraphrased for your reading enjoyment"

"If you mention A, I will give you 2 pts, if you mention B I will give you 2 points, if you mention C, even though there are no facts to support it and its not really relevant to the matter, I will give you 2 points."

SO, basically if I memorize my entire outline and vomit it onto the exam paper I win?? I am honestly so burnt out on studying I could care less right now. Luckily my paralegal education gave me nice background in torts so i have a lot of passive knowledge to pull from. The rest will come from the tests/elements from the current class I think are important and exam likely, and the gift of bullshit I was so amazingly blessed with.

Now, I am going to go back to reading the Pendergrast novels..... I mean studying, or facebooking, or staring at my dog while he sleeps.... whichever......

Still Here. Just Buried

I am still here, just buried under a pile of legal pads, used up highlighters and Examples and Explanations supplements. I had two exams last week, property and contracts, that I surprisingly feel good about despite the fact I spent the majority of the semester surfing the net during class (don't do it kids, I hope I don't in the spring). Now I just have intellectual property and torts this week.... wish me luck.

On a good note I have an appointment with a local gym that is doing a fitness program and taking volunteers. I hope I get in. Its hard for me to stay motivated about my health whne I am in school, I am hoping being a part of something like this will help.

Well back to re-writing my IP outline over and over until I can recite it in my sleep. See you on the other side!!

"Finals" Countdown

My first final is exactly one week from today.

I have been studying hard and looked to really bat the whole finals study crunch thing out of the park, allowing myself to feel, maybe not confident, but pretty good about my legal knowledge.

At 12:30 I begin sneezing and now I can barely breathe through my nose. My eyes are watery, itchy and on fire. I have to re-read every sentence I type to ensure that I am not speaking gibberish due to the large layer of wtf-ever that has surrounded my brain.

*shaking fists in air, Kleenex waving furiously* WHY GOD, WHY?????

************

On a lighter note, vote for Namby. Or burn forever in the fiery pit of eternal damnation. Your choice.

Good Show Moron

It finally happened, I got called on and was completely unprepared for it. Right before class I had a, how shall we say, intense conversation with the hubster. One which we were continuing over facebook during class (yeah yeah, I know, I was supposed to be paying attention). So... of course, I am called on. I had read the case, but it was on Monday when I read it and I hadn't reviewed it like I normally do because I was otherwise occupied. And this is the day he called on me. So I stumbled through, did ok I think, but still feel like a complete ass. Perfectionist A-Type people take this kinda of stuff hard and it will haunt me until I get high on paint fumes from painting the house this weekend. Oh well.....

Maybe I need to leave the laptop in the locker next semester huh?

Studying, Bar Apps and Resumes

I am hip deep in school work. I have memo's due, daily assignments, outlines to keep up and review to fit in. I am looking forward to Thanksgiving break, not because I have hours of fun-filled recreation planned, but because I am planning on studying, and over the weekend following, promoting my little direct sales biz at a local craft fair.

I also have an appointment with career services so I can try and start looking for a job for the summer, either paid or unpaid, at this point I would just be happy for the experience, money would just be a bonus.

Plus I am beginning work on the bar app I have to submit by October. October? Why I am worrying about it now? Because I have account for every address and job, and get signed affidavits from all my former employers that I am not a crackhead or some such thing. Being 32, that gives me A LOT of info to track down.... it's all about the 6 P Rule.

A Great Step Forward in a Long Journey

This is a little late because I got caught up in school, but The big news in the GLBT community last week was Pres. Obama signing the Matthew Shepard Act into law. This law brings the GLBT community into the classes protected from hate crimes. It was a long, painful road to get here, but it makes me even more optimistic that every day will bring more headway on the GLBT rights front. I get discouraged sometimes because it seems like everything we want to do is a fight. My beloved and I want to adopt a child within a couple of years of my graduation, we want to get married, and we want to protect what little we have scraped together while working towards our future. But to do all this we have to take 50 million more things into account than your normal couple.

For example, adoption. The state we live in makes it illegal for us to adopt a baby, since technically, we are still a gay couple. So we are looking at out of the country adoption but the international adoption book says that no country will KNOWINGLY place a baby with a gay couple. So I apply as a single person? Doesn't that disregard what will be a 12-13 year long, great relationship? Where does that leave Hayden as a parent? And what about us being a trans couple and Hayden legally being male by then? Or do I try to get pregnant even that it will cost a mint, and due to health problems, I might not be able carry it to term? But it will give us more protection as a family.

All of these things to think about just to start a family with my partner. In some ways its good because we can plan, but bad because we HAVE to plan. The hope I have for it all is that it will be easier for us because I am (well will be) a lawyer, that the rules will change, and that everything, as ususal, will work out exactly the way it is supposed to.

I am an Epic Fail

I am a published writer, as in books. Don't let my typos fool you.

I am the person who took graduate level English Classes in undergrad for fun, sometimes 2 at the same time when I needed "cheese" classes.

I am the person who had their papers used as examples for other students on the CORRECT way to write a paper.

I just got my first Memo back for review from my legal writing teacher. I haven't seen this much ink on one writing assignment in my entire life. My lofty sense of writing talent fell to the ground like a deflated balloon (don't worry, there wasn't a 6 yr old in it!).

I am the person who thought they could write, but apparently was mistaken.

I am epic fail....

*sigh*

Now, its a pride issue that I have to turn in the final draft of the memo that is AWESOME.... will keep you updated.

Calm Before the Storm

It's coming, the crying jags in the bathroom, 1Ls walking around, muttering to themselves and the 2/3L's looking at us with pity.

It will start the week after Halloween, when it hits all of us that finals are really only 4 weeks away and we really are expected to know all of this crap, er, legal knowledge that the proffesors have been talking about while we facebook-ed. Our hearts will skip a beat, or 5, or hands will shake and we will realize the reason that we have had so much free time this semester when everyone told us how hard it was going to be was because we were only doing 25% of the work we were supposed to.

How do I know all this, and how can I be so calm? Because I did the same this this past summer, and I am wiser for it.

For those of you saying, "NO!! We don't want to be those 1L's? What can we do?"

Well this is what I am doing: outlining after each class (Its a lot easier to outline 3 classes of notes per day, then outline 3 months of 5 classes in 2 days) and I try to do 2 review sessions per subject, per week. Usually this is either a chapter in one of my Examples & Explanations books, or a lesson in CALI. While this wont get me through everything leisurely by finals, it will give me a nice solid foundation of stuff I already know, so I can focus on points I have struggling with.

Good luck everyone. It won't be as bad as you think!

Girls in Tuxes?? Not if This School Can Help It!

An openly gay girl in Mississippi wants to wear her tux in her senior pic. However, she is told that the photo will not be included. Why? Because it is against the "convictions" of the people who run the school, even though there is not policies in place to effect that women can not wear tuxes, or other masculine attire. Translation for those of you who don't have the pleasure of living in the south. "These weirdo q*ueers freak us out and instead of trying to find common ground, we are going to pretend that they don't exist."

Take the time to email the people with "convictions" and let them know that everyone's convictions are important (and in this case, protected by the first amendment), not just theirs.

Of course, this just affirms why I, an openly queer woman, am in law school and is busting her hump to open her own practice. This is the kind of thing I hope to have a small hand, if not a large one, in abolishing.

"Freedom is not the same thing as being Free" ~ PC

*edited because of my lack of grammar skills at bedtime, :)

The Second Wind Cometh

I feel rejuvenated, not literally, but mentally. I am still physically tired and wish I could sleep in on weekends, but the fact that I wake up early all week has jinxed that.... but I digress...

I am caught up in school work, so much so that all my classes are outlined to the most recent day, I am slightly ahead on reading and a written assignment and have had time to start reviewing. I realized I slacked off the first few weeks of the semester and now have to review that concepts I half ignored the first weeks cuz I was not on my game. But I am doing it!

I started a new, yes another biz venture (let me know if you want info) because I have a firm goal/idea for my solo career and want to work as hard as I can towards it, both financially and academically. For those of you that scoff and say I am only a 1L or that i should be doing something legal with my time, I say this... Proper Prior Preparation Prevents Piss Poor Performance. And while do intend to find a legal job 2L year, but in my podunk area they are harder to find then a person who reads. And to quote Ani DiFranco "you gotta have an alternate plan."

So, yes, I am still yawning, I am still tired, but I feel good about the semester, the year and my future.... lets see how next week goes, lol.

Fall Biz

Well I have to admit that fall is kicking my tail all over the damn place. School is busy as all get out, to the point where I am pulling 13-14 hour days some weeks. Add in my new business venture and tyring to have somewhat of a social life, and I feel like I am burning the candle at both ends. And the candle is precariously short.

Of course, part of me is enjoying it as well. I like the feel of deadlines, to do lists and generally being busy. I love my new little biz venture and feel like between that and law school, I am making my finals steps towards being what I want to be. I like the constant struggle of time management and paper shuffling.

But I miss sleep, I miss staying up until 2am and getting up at 9. I miss being productive when the urge hits me rather than when I am able to be awake. But I guess this freedom will come back after I graduate.... here's to hoping. And on the sleep note, f this post makes no sense, its because of the lack of sleep and feeling generally out of whack this morning.

Shameless Self Promotion

Time to plug my biz.

As a 1L I was, as the people at orientation put it, "stongly discouraged" from working my 1L year. Of course, even if I wanted to, I dont know where I would find the time as at least four of my days a week are 12 hr days between class, meetings and driving. So, in order to supplement the 1L income and start socking money away for my solo office I hope to open after graduation (well, its also so I have an excuse to talk/read about makeup and fashion... "but, baby, I have to read my Glamour now, its market research!!) , I am selling mark brand makeup. Its a lovely venture as I can completely ignore it on weeks I am swamped with assignments, and have some fun with it when I have time. I wont go into all the details here, I will just simply link to my other, non-legal blog so that you can choose for yourself whether or not to read more about it or check out my site.

Shameless self promotion is over, we now return you to your regularly scheduled blawgging.

High School

I have come to notice that law school is a lot like being back in high school, except for this time around, I could care less if I am popular. I am just finding it highly amusing to see us all gathered at our lockers between classes, the majority of the 1L class huddling together in their little groups in a vain attempt to look like they know what the hell is going on, and we still have the sorority sisters looking down their noses at everyone and snickering together.

Come on people, how old are we really?

I wish I could have looked at situations like this with humor when I was actually in high school, probably would have made me a less angsty teen :).

Group =/= Group

We were put into groups today in my Legal Research class. I, of course, had been dreading this all week. From my experience in undergrad group work usually meant that of the 4 people in the group, 2, at the most, would be doing the work while the rest traded stories of how big of a b*ong hit they could hold. I didn't expect the law school to be completely the same, but I still dreaded it.....

Gods be praised, this group is only required to work on the same assignment and share information through whatever means we choose i.e. facebook, email, phone, shouts across the building mall, etc. My whole group breathed a sigh of relief. Not only are we each turning in our own assignments, but we are not even required to actually talk to each other! Now this is my type of group assignment!

Is it too Early to Wish it was Over?

Its week 2 into the fall semester and I already feel mentally frayed (evidence: I am typing this when I should be glancing over my Torts cases, today will be the day I am called on, lol). By 8pm every night I am unable to speak coherently, especially if the words that are required have more then 1 syllable, and I can't read anything that uses brain cells (hence I am happily re-read my beloved Sookie Stackhouse series again). While I am keeping up with the work, I feel like I am reading every minute of everyday and am struggling to find the school/life balance that everyone says is essential to mental health (and my relationship, lol.) I am not stressed as a lot of my fellow 1L's are, just tired. I loathe being tired.
Since I live an hour away I am wasting 2 hours of my day just driving, plus in an effort to be more social I am trying to re-connect with friends and I actually joined an student association (those that know me in RL just fell off their chairs). While I am excited about being a member of our chapter of OUTLaw, I am stressed about meeting new people (my hermit ways is what made me decide to force myself out of them) and hate that our first social event has me up at the school for 13 hours so I can attend. But I think it will be good for me to see something other then my beloved, my doggie and my office walls.
I am already looking forward to my 2L year where I can choose my classes and hopefully get at least one day where I am not at the school every week. Hopefully this is just what I usually go through at the beginning of each semester and I will be in my groove by next week. Any suggestions?

Summer Starting & Orientation Lewtz

Today was day 2 of 1L orientation. The first day I did not have to attend because I got the super-duper condensed version a few months ago at the start of the summer semester. However, all 1Ls have to go the the professionalism seminar given by the state bar association. Basically it involved some speeches from the Dean, Chief Justice of the State Supreme Court and then some small groups with local attorneys and judges where we talk about being an ethical lawyer and how to face the myriad of crappy choices we could come up against as practicing attorneys. However, we ended the day with some nice walk aways such as a jump drive from Lexis and some really good info from other organizations. Plus it was really cool to see all the people that started with me in summer and it really helped me get back into the groove again for the coming fall.

I do want to say that I am glad I was a summer starter. I feel like it gave me a nice and easy introduction as to what to expect from the coming fall. I was able to see what kind of studying methods worked for me for the exams, I had both a closed and cheat sheet exam, and get me used to how classes went with only the stress of having two classes. If you are a pre-law and don't mind spending your summer in a class room, I definitely recommend starting in the summer. It definitely gives you a leg up on fall and you can enjoy the beginning of the semester instead of having panic attacks every night before bed :).

Non-Traditiona"L"s

I just created a new social network for Non-Traditional law students at ning.com. Its a lot like Facebook without all the creepy "If you were a Juice Brand, What Brand Would You Be?" quizzes. Its pretty sparse right now but I hope it will continue to grow over time in both members and content.

You can make your own profile page, complete with comment enabled wall, create interest focus groups, make blog posts and what not. Hope on over and join :)!

1L - Part Deux (or Fall Semester)

So, 1.5 weeks from now will find me back in the real beginning of my 1L year. I think of this summer as more of a primer really. A nice quick, intense intro to what the next year is going to be like. But Fall is slowly creeping up on me. Within the past 2 weeks my email has been inundated with book lists, orientation emails (some I get to ignore as a summer starter thank god) and various other offerings reminding me that my blissful weeks of reading a NOVEL and not a CASE, playing Warcraft until late, spending time with the hubster (his semester started tonight) and drooling on myself are coming to an abrupt end.

On one hand, I feel pretty good about the upcoming year because of this summer. I have a handle on what king of studying works for me, what to expect in class, and how much time I should be spending on the reading materials. Thank god for the one thing I have found handiest from my paralegal education, the fact that reading legalese and briefing is second nature to me. It helped tremendously. If you are a 1L reading this, brief the cases for the first few weeks of the semester, then move to book briefing. being able to pull out the important facts from each case is invaluable and saves a lot of time.

On the other hand, I am nervous yet again. This fall is going to be way more intensive then than the summer. More classes, more classmates, more assignments and more activities. That's what gives the most pause. I. Am. Not. A. Joiner. I loathe group activities (unless it is with my friends), hate school related social functions and work best when just left the hell alone. But I am trying to change that in law school, especially since I plan on being a solo. I need to be able to network and *deathly, strangling, choking noises* ask for help/advice (can you tell I HATE asking for help, lol). So, here I am, forcing myself out of the shell I live in, trying to become social.

The other hurdle to me getting involved is my hour commute to school and the fact that my hubster is also working and going to school full time. Between his job, my 1L year, his full time school schedule and everything else in life (hell just us having a life that involves each other and our friends) something has to give, and I fear it will be deep involvement in law school except for any law journals I might (and that's a big freaking might) get invited to and one student group I have planned to join for 2 years. Part of me is totally fine with that sacrifice (she is usually sitting in the back of my head, smoking cigarettes and threatening anyone who comes to close with a sharp pointy stick) but the other half hopes I am not missing out on something because of it.

I guess I will just have to play it by ear, say hi to a few people now and again, and put one foot in front of the other. I would love to know how involved the other Non-Trads got and how it effected them later if anyone would like to share.

Book Review - Later in Life Lawyers

The guys over at Non-Trad Law were nice enough to send me a copy of their book Later in Life Lawyers: Tips for the Non-Traditional Law Student. I loved it. I wish I would have had it about a year ago when I became serious about law school and studying for the LSAT. It gives you a great overview and realistic look at the LSAT, getting into law school, the 1L year and the rest of the trip.


I was able to skim the first part because I had already passed the LSAT, gotten into law school and been through my first mini-semester over the summer. However, it answered all the questions and filled in a lot of blanks that I had when I started thinking about law school such as how to put the LSAT into prospective, how to choose your school and what to do when you do/don't get in. Plus it gives a nice overview of all the issues you, as a non-trad student have to consider like work, what bag to use, health insurance, balancing like and school (and trust me you need to find this balance and it is possible)brief, how the classes run, etc.

I definitely recommend this book for any non-trad student anywhere between pre-law and their 1L year. I wish I would have known about a year ago. It would have helped me skip a lot of aimless wandering around I did trying to figure out what the heck I was doing.

DOMA & Marry Memories

The ABA is asking Congress to repeal the section of DOMA that denies federal benefits to legally married gay couples. I absolutely love the fact that the ABA is standing up for GLBT rights. While I do wish that the DOMA in it's entirety would be struck down, I also realize that small steps forward are still steps.

In fact, sometimes I am amazed at how far gay rights have come since I came out 15 years ago. I was cleaning out my bookshelves over my break and flipping through my gay book collection. One book I have is The Essential Guide to Gay and Lesbian Weddings. I remember buying that in my local Books-a-Few 9 years ago, I remember the stares and down right evil looks I got as I paid for it, and how certain people would no longer shop in the store I worked in within the same mall after I bought it, I remember how hard it was to hold me head up and look people who liked me a second ago in the eye as the hate washed over their faces. But what struck me most about it was the fact that it was a handbook on how to make your wedding the best it could be with what little, if any, resources the GLBT community had back then. There was nothing to fall back on, unless you lived in a MAJOR city, when planning your wedding but your own creativity and desire for the ceremony.

Now there are gay couples getting married on TV, theKnot.com has a same-sex ceremony site, cities and states are legalizing our marriages and unions, gay honeymoon packages abound, the new edition of The Essential Guide to Gay and Lesbian Weddings is available, and there are more marriage resources than you can shake a stick at.

I guess the point I am trying to make is, yes, it is frustrating to still be fighting the homophobes that shriek when we walk through the door and clutch their children in fear, it is frustrating that we are denied basic human rights, but we HAVE made progress and continue to do so. Every little step still is a step pulling us closer and closer to equality and farther away from the time where a girl had to be afraid to buy a simple little book. And I am glad that I am becoming a part of the fight to go forward.

Back Again

I know I have been quiet for the past few weeks. I was originally putting the proverbial nose to the proverbial grindstone for finals. I was so wrapped up in CALI lessons, E&E hypos and class notes that I barely had time to breathe much less blog.

The finals were over, grades were posted, I breathed, I was pleased with how I did. I spent the next week doing nothing but playing Warcraft and reading all the books I couldn't over the summer semester. I even spent some time doing nothing but staring off into space. Quite enjoyable of I do say so myself.

But I am feeling intellectually healed again so hopefully I can get some blogging done over the next 2 weeks of my vacation. I plan on doing some Westlaw training (I want to score a WL Student Rep post), reading some more books including Later in Life Lawyers, which the folks over at Non Trad Law were nice enough to send me. I am looking forward to that book, some Grisham (who after years of refusing to read him, I find I actually like legal fiction!), and some plain only escapist fantasy/science fiction.

That coupled with my hubby's and I mad dash to reno our home office before his semester starts should keep me busy over the vacay.

GLBT Roundup

In the past month I have neglected to post about some interesting events within the GLBT world. I had read about them but my priority at that time was studying for my first round of 1L finals rather than blogging, so here is some things I wanted to write about but never got the chance.

The Matthew Shepard Bill is moving through the legislature and towards approval. 10 years in the making but definitely a step in the right direction. There needs to be more hate crimes laws passed that include GLBT words rather than narrowing the scope of the laws to protect for racial or religious reasons only.

The M.A. A.G. is suing the US Government to force them to extend benefits to the gays couples who are legally married in that state. While this will not affect the marriage rights of gay couples in other states, if she wins, it does give us some legal precedent to start moving forward with. With small legal victory only sets the stage for larger ones down the line. I have watched GLBT issues change and grow since I came out 15 years ago, these legal battles will continue that growth.

Bill O'Reilly had a grand time mocking Oregon's Trans Mayor Stu Rasmussen. The fact that Fox News allows this man to openly mock someone for their sexual and gender identity in 2009 shocks me to the core. These larger companies have to see that by allowing this to be said in national television it only reaffirms the hate and fear people carry concerning members of the GLBT community. My partner is Trans and we know first hand how fear and hatred can be potentially dangerous and lethal. While I do not advocate censorship, Fox News needs to stick to reporting the facts and not let hateful personal opinions pollute their airwaves. Would they allowed it had the insults been racially or religiously motivated? I highly doubt it.

Three cheers to the following for coming out in support for GLBT rights: Bill Clinton, Miss Universe, YWCA, St. Paul, M.N., Vermont Senator Leahy, and the Quakers! Hurrah!

More after finals!

I am in the final stretch before my first law exams. I have one next Friday and then one the following Monday. I plan on being back here within a couple days of the last final to blog about some very cool developments on the Gay Rights front. I have just been to busy making sure I am not going to completely bomb my first exams and have to go back to bringing people more ranch dressing for their salads. See you in a week!

Scary as Shit

Me = The Litte Girl

Final Exams = The Bird

Scary as Shit indeed

Practice Exam

The practice exam was a complete wash. The Prof said there wasn't even a B paper in the stack. You could see the panic fly around the room as all of us wondered if we could get a management job at Burger King. However, some good did come out of it. Our Prof who was nice enough to give us the exam in the first place, went even further and spent the entire 2 hour class going over the mass majority of mistakes (alliteration anyone?) and giving us some much needed tips on what to do in future exams. May thousands of blessings fall upon his head for that. Then our Civ Pro teacher gave us last years exam to look over.

So, while bombed the practice, I know what is expected. I got the main points of law, I just didn't analyze enough. Paralegals are taught to be very very short and sweet. I have to get past these preconceived notions I have from being a paralegal student and start thinking like a law student. Armed with that knowledge and some supplemental study books, I feel more secure about finals in 3(ish) weeks. Lets hope I am right :)

PWNed by my Practice Exam

Our Crim Law Prof sent out an email today with the model answer for our practice exam we took Wednesday. From the answer he sent I can see that I am going down the right road, I got most of the charges dead on and made the correct arguments. however I can see that I am not going into nearly enough detail and making my answers and thorough as they need to be. I hate not knowing what to expect and how exactly to nail a question. As someone who had an easy time of it in undergrad making good grades, figuring out what the teacher wanted and giving them that, law school is making me feel inadequate and moronic. I know I am neither of these things and I possess what I think is a good legal mind. I just don't know how to get that across on my paper. Ugh! I can't wait until this is old hat and no longer the issue it is now. Am I a 2L yet??

Still Here,

I am still here. School has been keeping me quite occupied (for the record I loathe outlines).

In a fit of generosity my Crim law professor has decided to give us a practice exam. Perhaps the way the entire 1L summer class turned pale and started drooling at the word exam has given him a hint that the majority of us are terrified of the first test, or perhaps he is just a nice guy, I vote for both. But I have been trying to prepare for that as I would a graded exam just so I know what I have gotten myself into....told ya I was a nerd :)

Plus, I am feeling the stress of school and being a noobish 1L. In fact, I am becoming convinced every night before I fall asleep that I am going to:
A) Flunk out of law school
B) Put Hayden and I in the poor house between not working the 1L year and trying to find a job after I graduate. Pretty soon we will have to tie a "Will Look Cute for Kibble" sign around Piggy's (our shih tzu aka Radclyffe) neck and send him down the street door to door. (I jest and exaggerate here, I promise)
C) Never learn the secret that EVERYONE knows but me about succeeding in law school

In the light of day these ideas make me laugh, but for those moments between shutting your eyes and falling asleep, these are true... I'll be glad when this first test is over and I know what to expect. Type A personalities like myself hate the unknown. Or maybe I will just starting drinking a bottle of wine before bed....who knows.

Hopefully I will have some more to post soon :)

Paralegal v Law School

Criminal Law class is really bringing home the difference between my training as a paralegal, and what I am learning in law school. Today we were talking about mens rea, an issue I was familiar with but never really had to think to much about as a paralegal. Now, as a future attorney, I have to think about it a whole lot more.

As a paralegal you are trained to think about the law only so much so that it helps your attorney. You have to understand the elements of each case so you can find cases that are on point with your clients, you have to be able to draft legal documents and you have to know how to follow your attorney around and pick their head up when they forget it.

As a lawyer you have to know how to actually handle the client's case. How are you going to defend them, can they raise certain defenses, what is the other side going to do and how will you handle that, what would you do as the prosecutor? I naively walked into law school thinking oh, I got this, this is all old hat. And yes, some of it is old hat, some of it is familiar and some of it makes me feel like the legal idiot I was when I first started down this road. I am dead thankful for my paralegal background because it gave me case brief skills, introduced me to legalese and the fundamentals of the legal community. But in law school its a whole new ball game. I am challenged in every class to think in new ways, keep my emotions out of the case (I will never be able to practice in criminal law, I would be GREAT at it I think, but I don't think I could leave it at the office), and see the other sides POV, even when I think it is moronic....

..... and you know what? I LOVE EVERY EFFING SECOND OF IT, so ignore the petty bitching I may do about it from time to time.

Student Loan Forgiveness

MSN just posted an article about a Facebook group trying to push for a bill that will cancel out all student loan debt. Wow...

I don't know if I agree with that. On one hand, the Type A side of me is think "Great!!! One less thing for us to worry about!" But, on the other hand I feel like I have the education, I will (hopefully) reap the financial gains from said education, so shouldn't I pay the for the education? I borrow the max amount I am allowed. Some people think this is stupid, but to me it allows me to not work if I choose not to, and allows me to focus completely on school. My grades are great because of this and I feel that it is debt well incurred (ask me again in 10 years, lol.) Now, this doesn't mean I don't agree with the forgiveness programs for lawyers, nurses and other fields. I hope to take advantage of those programs myself and benefit from both the forgiveness of some percentage of my debt, and help some people out in the process. My sister-in-law works in a hospital as a Med Tech and instead of forgiveness, she receives X amount every month on her check to pay toward her student loans. That is great. But to totally wipe out all student debt? I don't know, you can walk into Target, blow $3000 bucks on a plasma and then want the price forgiven. You are enjoying the TV, you need to pay for the TV.

However, the article does bring up bill coming through this year. One that caps payments at 15% of your income and then forgives any portion left over after 25 years, if there is any(I also think they are lowering interest rates too, I could be mistaken). Now this is a great idea. It allows people to make payments that does not conflict with their income, especially in these times, and it forgives a portion if you still have some left. This combined with different payment options, to me, gives people a little more leeway to pay their debts. It also teaches responsible borrowing.

What do you think?

Supreme Court FTL

The Supreme Court turned down the challenge to the "Don't ask, Don't Tell" policy citing that the policy contributes to the necessary cohesion of the military.

What?

So knowing the guy standing next to you is gay will make your unit less cohesive? If this is true, and gay people are still that freaky and threatening to the other members of their unit, why not spend some time educating the phobes within the unit? Teach them that everyone is different (and that's OK), something I thought we all learned in kindergarten, and that just because your bunk buddy is gay, doesn't mean he wants to screw you.

But instead of spending sometime educating people, and forming cohesion through genuine friendship, the government instead sees fit to preserve cohesion by forcing people to live stealth, to not get married, if they are lucky enough to live in a state they can, and to pretend they basically have no life outside of their military role. I call BS.

From what I understand the military strongly is in favor of family support and ties, knowing that military personnel need it more than most people do. Too bad they feel that only state sanctioned families count.

Week 2 down

This was the first week that us Summer 1L's had both classes we are taking this semester (Crim Law was canceled last week due to the prof attending a conference) and I feel like things are going to be ok. I have to say it is taking up a lot more of my time then I thought it would. I am usually doing homework until 9pm every night and I am finding that my time isn't stretching nearly as far as it did in undergrad, where I was able to make A's with minimal effort. However, it is mostly busy work, ie. reading, briefing, making sure I have pulled the most important legal jargon out of the reading, that is taking the most time.

Whether it is a combination of some legal knowledge and interesting classes, or the fact I am ignorant as to what I am in for, I don't seem to be as worried as my class mates are. I guess finals in 6 weeks will let me know which on it is. Until then I am going to keep doing what I am doing and find time for myself and my beloved.

1L at Last

I have been away from my blog for a few weeks. I have been winding down my undergrad career, graduating, spending time with family and myself, and getting ready to become an offical 1L. As of yesterday I started my first year at Law School. 2 days in and I am amazed at the difference between attitudes between grads and undergrads. People are nicer, more willing to take a few minutes to talk to you and give you thier veiws on what got them through and so on.

I dont feel as nervous as the others in my section seem to be, but I chalk that up to the fact I have been working with legal jargon and forms for the past few years. ALthough I was suprised to see my legal education taking to the next level, I feel like I have been spending the past few years learning what each part of a car is used for, now I get to step back and see how they all work together to make the car run.

I look forward to the next step in my career and hope that I can keep an eye on the prize when my first law school stress meltdown hits :).

Turning the Tables

The ABA journal posted this article about gays suing various people and intuitions that refuse to take part or be connected with same sex ceremonies. Among them are the eHarmony website, a Christian photographer that refused to take pictures of a same sex ceremony and state entities that want to bar services to gays.

Being part of the GLBT community myself, I understand the fight for equal rights and wanting to be treated fairly by everyone as the straight community is but this is absurd. For example, why force people to perform same sex ceremonies, photograph them or otherwise participate in them when they obviously do not want to. First, this is supposed to be the happiest day of your life. Why ruin it by having it performed by some sour faced minister that thinks you and your partner are repugnant forms of humanity that should and will burn in the fiery pits of hell for all eternity. I would prefer someone who actually was happy for me blessing my new life. Second, there are churches, officiants, party planners, photographers etc etc that would be THRILLED to get their hands on our "dual income- no kid" wallet. Let them and support those that support us.

But most importantly, when we force our beliefs and morals on the Religous Right we are, essentially, no better then them. How can we wave our fists and demand the right to marry without them throwing King James at us when we are going to march into their churches and demand they marry us? Now we are the asses forcing others to believe our way, when we have been fighting against that same thing for decades.

Lets do what we have been telling them to do to us for years. Leave your beliefs out of my life.

Vermont Legalizes Gay Marriage and Overrides Veto

Gay Marriage is now legal in Vermont.

In a past post I stated that a bill had passed through Vermont's legislature to legalize Gay Marriage, however, the Governor was expected to veto the bill. Which he did. But, but with the lowest margin possible, the Vermont legislature voted out the veto effectively legalizing marriage between GLBT couples.

Nice job Vermont!! It is amazing to see the legislature band together to ensure that all their constituents have equal rights and protections under the law.

Iowa Rules in Favor of Gay Marriage

The Iowa Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the Iowa definition of marriage existing only between one man and one woman was unconstitutional. This suit, started when 6 couples were denied marriage licenses in Polk County. This year is shaping up to be an exciting time in Alternative Family and Gay Rights Law.

Read the full decision here.

Elusive Internships

Reading through some of my morning blogs I visit, I noticed a trend in people being unwilling to take the prospect of "free labor," whether it be from student interns (undergrad, law, etc) or attorneys who have been laid off due to the economic climate. They are afraid that they will be un-motivated, perform poorly or feel that they are too good for the work that they are given.



I say, judge each situation on the individual who is applying for the work. In my case, I had to have my internship this semester in order to get my Paralegal B.A. I looked for 6 months, taking resumes around every week to solos, firms, courts, banks, etc. No one would give the time of day. They said they didn't have the work for the employees they did have, much less someone else, they didn't want to train someone, or they had poor interns previously. Needless to say I was frustrated. Now I am not someone who shows up unreliably nor does shoddy work. I am in the top of my class and run a successful business, but all people saw when I went around for my internship was the fact that I was a student who was free labor, therefore I must be sub par.



Luckily I finally found an internship in a local court. They loved my credentials, loved the fact I didn't expect to be paid, and appreciate my punctuality and work ethic. I think that this internship is perfect for me as a future lawyer as I get to work closely with the judges and lawyers who spend their time at the court, and I get to see how the court works from the inside rather then from the out.

Volunteers, interns and other free labor should be judged on the positives that they bring to the table and what they can contribute to the business/firm/organization. Just because we are free doesn't mean we, or our work product, are sub par.

Vermont and New Hampshire

The Vermont Senate and New Hampshire HOR have both voted to legalizes Same Sex Marriages within their state borders. While the measure needs to pass the other side of the legislatures and the state governors, it is a good sign that more and more states are willing to see that all people deserve the same rights and protections under the law. Civil unions, while a step in the right direction, still give a second class standing to the GLBT community because they only offer a fraction of the rights that marriage gives couples and are not recognized in other states within the U.S.

Cheers to these states for taking a stand for their constituents rights and well being.

The 6 (7?) P Rule

A lot of my friends wonder why I am even thinking about my own practice when I haven't even had my first day at law school yet. Simple, the answer boils down to a motto my first Intro to Law professor drilled into our head: The 6 P Rule (Well technically there can be 7 P's, you figure it out).

"Proper Prior Preparation Prevents Poor Performance"

Truer words were never spoken. I have seen this happen time and time again both academically and within the business world (Background: My best friend and I opened a business in a local mall that she owns and I have ran since it opened 2 years ago. I will be stepping down in May however). The business, while it still continues today, was done by the seat of our pants. I got to see first hand, and suffer the consequences, what happens when you rush through everything. By starting to plan for my practice now I can begin making business outlines while the business world is still fresh in my head, I can start building on the form bank started in my paralegal training as a narrow the scope of what areas I want to practice and I can start squirrelling away supplies and other stuff I might need. Hopefully at the end of my schooling I will have a basic idea of of where I want my practice, what i want to practice, and a nice little selection of tangible and intangible tools at my disposal. 2.5 years might seem like an eternity to some, but I think it fly by once school starts and the bar exam looms on the horizon.

By preparing now, I hope to cut costs, headaches and much needed time when I am out of school, studying for the bar and trying to open my practice.

Welcome!

Welcome to my first foray into the world of blogging. I have noticed how helpful and prevalent blogging in during the course of my academic career, and think its a great way to get my name out there in the legal community.

A little about me:

I am 31 yrs old and have a little more on my plate then your average law student. We (my partner and I) have car payments, a mortgage and a small clump of other debts. Plus, not only am I in school, but I finally got his tail back in school as well.

I will begin law school at the end of May. I have to admit, this is not where I pictured myself when I was younger. In fact, law was something I saw as completely out of my reach. I, like many people unfamiliar with the law, thought that to be an attorney you needed to be able to rattle off statutes, case decisions and the like. I didn't look at law as a viable choice for a career until I became a paralegal major. Of course, once I went further in my paralegal schooling, law school seemed like a natural next step for me.

I hope to open my own practice when I graduate law school. I have never been one who was happy working for others. I am independent, opinionated and work best when its my name on the line. Of course my problem right now is deciding what areas of law to focus on. I am mainly interested in Intellectual Property, Alternative Family/Gay Rights Law, Business Law and Real Estate, but every day in class or while surfing the net, I find 10 more practice areas that sound challenging. How is one to decide?

Topics I want to have in this blog: being a non-traditional law student, exploring various practice areas, law school itself, ideas for solo practice and the like.