tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-295337712012-01-23T20:04:38.174-08:00Advice from law students on how they would do things over.Calculating Bitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04725875509364955198noreply@blogger.comBlogger771100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29533771.post-39317113496417413092011-06-03T16:45:00.001-07:002011-06-03T16:45:46.403-07:00Bitching, questions, hypos and madness welcome.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29533771-3931711349641741309?l=wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Butterflyfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10107438909973957940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29533771.post-33554168447042949752011-02-10T02:59:00.000-08:002011-02-10T03:45:14.116-08:00we've had a few responses to our <a href="http://wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com/2011/02/ask-away-ask-away-ask-away.html">questions post</a> so far. these are my responses...as always, i don't promise that they're right, but i do promise they reflect what i've learned from my experiences in law school.<br /><br />**<br /><br />first, MEK asked:<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">I'm going to a 4th tier law school and just completed my first semester. I got just below a 3.0, but I want a good summer internship. Also, this is a second career so I'm not the typical twenty-something. I'm not that interested in doing something related to my past career. I'm going to a public school so fortunately I won't have crazy debt when I get out. I'm perfectly willing to do a free internship. What's your best advice for landing a great summer internship? Do you have any suggestions for types of internships that most people won't think of or ones that are more available than one would expect?</span><br /><br />first and foremost, apply early. i don't support applying for internships before grades come in, since so many employers say to come back when the grades are out. but, once you have your grades, get those resumes out to as many jobs as you can find that may interest you. especially in a market as saturated with law students this holds for both paying internships and unpaid ones, both public-interest and private-sector -- since virtually every law student is trying to get a legal summer job, there are invariably more law students (1Ls and 2Ls both!) applying for any given organization than there are positions they're offering. your biggest advantage, no matter what your grades are, is to get that application in before they start interviewing and hiring.<br /><br />secondly, cast a wide net. if a job posting you see looks even remotely interesting, apply for it. you have nothing to lose by putting your name into consideration: if you don't get the job, you're in the same place you were if you didn't apply. if you get it, you have an option for legal employment for the summer, and may end up really liking it if you take it. sending a lot of applications is time-consuming, but worth it if it's more likely to result in a job.<br /><br />personally, i never had any particularly interesting tactics for finding job leads; i consulted my career services office, as well as online postings. my 1L summer i worked an unpaid public interest position in a legal clinic in St. Louis for victims of domestic violence; my 2L summer, i worked for a large law firm in Chicago. both jobs i actually took i ended up finding through my law school's career services office.<br /><br />i knew a lot of people who had a lot of luck finding internships through people they knew. i wasn't in a great position for that, since i was going to school in a city where i didn't know anyone outside the law school, and whose job market was particularly distrustful of those who were not born and raised there. as a second-career law student, you're more than likely in a better position to find jobs through people you know, especially if you're attending school in the market where you've previously lived and worked. ask around -- people you've worked with in the past, people you know from clubs or involvements around town. if they're not lawyers or working with companies who hire legal interns, ask if they know anyone who does. it seems daunting at first, but this really is the best way to find out about unadvertised job opportunities -- and there's the added bonus that if you're applying to work for someone who knows you or a friend of yours, the fact that you come highly recommended is going to overshadow your grades, the tier of your law school, or anything else.<br /><br />***<br /><br />Joe asked:<br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br />How do you deal with gunners? I had a scored assignment where the two of us were opponents negotiating a contract and my opponent decided he needed to make the most one-sided ridiculous contract he could. He wouldn't move on his terms and as a result, I was graded down because I didn't really exchange numbers with him. I think he did it because he either didn't know better, or because he really wanted to win. But either way, he cost me.</span><br /><br />first off, these appear to be two separate questions: how to deal with gunners, and how to deal with someone who made a crazy one-sided contract in a negotiation competition. sure, the guy who made that one-sided contract may have done so to game the system (a classic gunneresque move), but it could also be because he didn't know any better, or because he thought he was generally somehow clever in doing so.<br /><br />as for how to deal with gunners? take any advice i provide on that question with a grain of salt. why? because, i have a confession to make: i was a gunner in law school. i may not have been the kind who spent large amounts of time (or, really, any at all...) in the library, but i sure did like to hear myself talk. i talked way too much in class, and annoyed the crap out of my classmates and even some of my professors. i wasn't the smartest guy in the room, usually far from it, but i compensated for that by talking 'til i was hoarse.<br /><br />so, what's my advice on dealing with gunners? ignore them. seriously. short of stuffing a gag down their throat or getting an injunction barring them from the law school premises, there's not a whole lot you can do to stop them from being gunners. you can tell them to stop their knock it off until you're blue in the face, but they're probably aware of what they're doing, and either don't care that you're annoyed, or are appalled that more people in class aren't getting the most out of their educations by being gunners like they are. cut your losses, ignore the gunners, and move on.<br /><br />as for the grading of the negotiation exercise, that's a much more difficult question. did the professor say in advance that exchanging numbers was one of the significant grading criteria? if not, then my best suggestion would be to adopt a reasonable tone, throw out a suggestion that's particularly favourable to your client (either a number in a client negotiation, a result in a mock trial, et cetera...depending on the event) instead, and bring up facts that support giving you what your client wants. it's good to adopt a reasonable tone given the out-there suggestions your opponent was making, and trust that you're going to look good for calmly making demands far more reasonable than your blustering opponent. if that doesn't get your opponent to calm down in a reasonable amount of time, though, go ahead and play hardball, and call him on being unreasonable.<br /><br />if, on the other hand, the professor did tell you in advance that discussing numbers would be a grading criterion, then it was your responsibility to remember to do that within the time of the negotiation, no matter how ridiculous your opponent tried to get. in future negotiations, make a note of that (or any other criteria that the professor gives you in advance) before going into the negotiation.<br /><br />always keep in mind that these "negotiation exercises" or "mock trials" or "moot courts" or anything along those lines that you see in law school don't necessarily reflect real-life work. it's a game with a finite time limit, and there will always be a series of rules that you're going to have to follow to maximize your score. following those rules may deviate from what you'd do in a real-life situation with looser rules or more time, but they'll lead to a better grade in the exercise.<br /><br />(and, that was one of my biggest gripes about law school as i went through it...there seemed to be a lot more contrived situations to deal with than there was anything actually useful to prepare me for legal practice.)<br /><br />***<br /><br />Feel free to keep asking questions, or chime in on the questions already asked, in the comments!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29533771-3355416844704294975?l=wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>nicollehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06716670894851820337noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29533771.post-11509161900664159462011-02-06T10:46:00.000-08:002011-02-06T11:33:40.776-08:00Lawyer/Mommy/Blogger extraordinaire <a href="http://lagliv.blogspot.com/2011/02/faq-should-i-go-to-law-school-2011.html">Lag Liv</a> posted her thoughts on whether and under what circumstances law school is a good investment.&nbsp; Lag Liv is a Biglaw attorney who graduated from Chicago, and she was answering a query from a reader who got into a few top-30 law schools and who is interested in a career in Biglaw.&nbsp; I would simply repost Lag Liv's thoughts (and have her permission to do so) but the comment thread her post generated at her blog is also very valuable and offers a broader perspective.&nbsp; &nbsp; <br /><br />She addresses, among other things, the importance of law school rank versus class rank and provides a snapshot of the current employment environment in Biglaw.&nbsp; In the comments, there is a discussion of how law school rank affects certain public interest jobs, clerkships, etc. <br /><br />I'll direct you to read her post and the comments <a href="http://lagliv.blogspot.com/2011/02/faq-should-i-go-to-law-school-2011.html">here</a>.<br /><br />Current law student, <a href="http://fallingoffablawg.blogspot.com/2011/02/should-i-go-to-law-school.html">Shan</a>, found that her comment was too long for Lag Liv's thread, so she generated her own blog post on the topic.&nbsp; She asks a prospective student nine questions, and if the student cannot answer <i>yes</i> to at least one of them, he probably shouldn't go to law school.&nbsp; Her post is <a href="http://fallingoffablawg.blogspot.com/2011/02/should-i-go-to-law-school.html">here</a>.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29533771-1150916190066415946?l=wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Butterflyfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10107438909973957940noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29533771.post-39446681362218590512011-02-04T00:26:00.001-08:002011-02-04T00:28:34.628-08:00hello, everyone!<br /><br />it's now February. first semester grades are in, and have been for a while, and you 1Ls are starting to figure out what kinds of study and test taking tactics work for you, and which don't. second semester is getting to be in full swing. the job hunt...that's probably also in full swing here.<br /><br />anyway, it's been a while since we've done an open question forum. is anything weighing on your mind? is there anything you're just plain curious about? ask here, and we'll do our best to point you in the right direction.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29533771-3944668136221859051?l=wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>nicollehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06716670894851820337noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29533771.post-54618554584818840192010-12-23T18:39:00.000-08:002010-12-23T18:40:31.359-08:00<b>The following was first posted on the now-deceased </b><b>blog, i.don’t.wear.skinny.jeans.&nbsp; By some freak of the blogosphere, I found this post and secured the author's permission to re-post it.&nbsp; Enjoy.&nbsp;</b> <br /><br />I rode the crazy train during my first year of law school as much as anybody.&nbsp; Answer a question in class; think you’re amazing.&nbsp; Get a question wrong in class, think you’re an idiot.&nbsp; Get a good grade; think you’re amazing.&nbsp; Get a bad grade; think your life is over.&nbsp; Get on a secondary journal; think you’re amazing.&nbsp; Don’t get on law review; think you’ve failed. <br /><br />And it won’t stop there.<br /><br />Get an offer for a firm for your 2L summer job; think you’re amazing.&nbsp; Don’t get an offer from Most Prestigious Law Firm for your 2L summer job; think your social status will crumble.&nbsp; Graduate in the Top X percent of your class; think you’re amazing.&nbsp; Don’t earn <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_the_Coif" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1293157936_2">Order of the Coif</span></a> upon graduation; think you’re a loser.&nbsp; Get a clerkship after law school; think you’re amazing.&nbsp; Don’t get a clerkship with the <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1293157936_3">Supreme Court of the United States</span>; think you’re a nobody.&nbsp; Start working and bill 2300 hours in your first year; think you’re amazing.&nbsp; Realize that everybody else is billing 2600 hours; think you’re a slacker. Get a fancy new SUV; think you’re amazing. Realize that you’re basically driving a mini-van; shed a tear.<br /><br />But how many of us grow up dreaming of getting an A+ in Contracts or working for Law Firm X?&nbsp; How many of us see that as our goal in life, even now?&nbsp; I’m not trying to be deep, like, “whoa, dude, our existence is fleeting,” or “there is no reality, we are all dreaming.”&nbsp; But while it’s good to take pride in what you do and strive to achieve good grades, law review, competitive clerkships, and prestigious jobs, there’s no sense in tying your happiness in life to metrics that may impact your delicate ego, but likely have no bearing on your definition of happiness, whatever that is.<br /><br />I write about this a lot, but it doesn’t always sink in.<br /><br />Law is a career where you can’t complain.&nbsp; Everybody has a war story that trumps yours.&nbsp; It seems like law school and the ever after is all about finding war stories that will one-up other people’s, just to impress them.&nbsp; You had to work 72 hours straight and had a partner throw a pen at you?&nbsp; That guy over there worked 100 hours straight, had a partner hit him in the head with a stapler, and that was in his first week at the firm!&nbsp; There’s no sympathy for the toil because everyone goes through it.&nbsp;&nbsp; But that doesn’t mean you’re supposed to lose sight of what you’re trying to get out of life.<br /><br />Maybe your dream involves finding that special someone and starting a family; maybe it involves finding that special pay check and buying a boat.&nbsp; Heck, maybe your dream really is about sucking up as much prestige as possible so you can forever feel superior to your friends and enemies.&nbsp; Whatever it is, don’t forget it as we go through the ups and downs of Early Interview Week and beyond.<br /><br />When I was growing up, the standard line was this: find a career doing something interesting, try to be successful in what you do (which could mean earning baller dollars, just enough to be financially secure, or doing something that satisfies that elusive <i>it</i>), and do <i>that family thing</i> that people do.<br /><br />For better or worse, a majority of law students end up on the private sector path, which presumably falls into the category of doing something interesting and becoming financially secure (but if your only pleasure in life is doing employment compensation, power to you).&nbsp; But it is unlikely that working at Some Law Firm is how you define yourself and your goals in life.&nbsp; If you remove the “oh em gee, I need to work at Vault Firm X” factor, I’m pretty sure that most of us are going to end up doing work that we find interesting, at a job that pays reasonable compensation, and putting in hours that make us want to cry.&nbsp; <br /><br />Tears of happiness, of course.<br />Up, up, an away,<br /><b>idwsj</b><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29533771-5461855458481884019?l=wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Butterflyfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10107438909973957940noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29533771.post-87846126089553710582010-11-29T03:59:00.000-08:002010-11-29T03:59:52.622-08:00<i><b>Re-posted with permission from <a href="http://fallingoffablawg.blogspot.com/2010/11/how-to-tell-if-you-are-suffering-from.html">Like Falling Off a Blawg</a>, by Shan.</b></i><br /><i><b>&nbsp;</b></i> <br />1. You are super excited to hand in your memo and be done with it. Until you realize it means you have to prepare for exams.<br /><br />2. You feel a surge of energy as you begin to prepare your outlines. Until you discover your first exam is CivPro. Yuck.<br /><br />3. You cannot wait to crack open the commercial outlines you bought and let their wisdom flow into you. Until you realize your professor is the crazy one who uses a completely different casebook and focuses on different cases than those in the outlines.<br /><br />4. You excitedly start counting down the days to the end of the semester. Until you start counting down the days to the end of the semester. WHERE HAS THE TIME GONE?!?! I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME! GAHHHH!!!<br /><br />5. You loathe the idea of applying for jobs already. Until you realize preparing your resume is a good distraction from studying. <br /><br />6. You responsibly vow to avoid Facebook so you can focus. Until you realize you're desperate to see if your classmates are panicking too, so you hop on Facebook.<br /><br />7. On the day of the Big Game you decide to watch with friends and take a break. Until you start arguing that Official Play Review is sort of like binding arbitration. Hey, Cougars, you AGREED that the official's call would be binding! SUCK IT!<br /><br />8. You wisely decide to forgo alcohol while studying. Until you go over Subject Matter Jurisdiction and pray that a glass of wine will wipe it all out again.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29533771-8784612608955371058?l=wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Butterflyfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10107438909973957940noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29533771.post-50197299925018091652010-11-12T11:29:00.000-08:002010-11-12T11:29:24.373-08:00<i><b>Re-posted with permission from <a href="http://fallingoffablawg.blogspot.com/">Like Falling Off a Blawg</a>, by Shan.&nbsp; I remember feeling #9 every semester...</b></i><br /><br /><br />1. Even the nicest girl in school can piss you off by doing nothing wrong at all. <br /><br />2. Little noises (like my friend's computer fan which whirrrrrrr whirrr whirrrs constantly all through class) start to sound like a drumline standing next to you.<br /><br />3. You find yourself more willing to gossip about people and be catty, just to talk about something other than school.<br /><br />4. Even the Luv Sac in the lounge that no one sits on because of The Incident a few years ago starts to look inviting. I could really use a nap, so...<br /><br />5. You suddenly do not care if you get an "'Atta boy!" from the professors. And yet cling to the ones you do get like they are the last bit of oxygen in the tank.<br /><br />6. Diet Coke for lunch, which used to seem insane, now seems perfectly healthy. And luxurious!<br /><br />7. Exercise, which you normally hate, is sounding really good. At least it's not CivPro.<br /><br />8. You want to punch Cardozo in the face. Or Andrews. Or any judge, really. Except the one that might give you a job this summer. That judge is awesome.<br /><br />9. You feel a strange tension between your Perfectionist self and your "Aww Fuck it" self.<br /><br />10. You dream aliens invade your house. And they offer to let you come to their home planet so you sell all your worldly possessions and then they leave you behind. So you want to sue them claiming you detrimentally relied on their promise. Or something like that.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29533771-5019729992501809165?l=wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Butterflyfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10107438909973957940noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29533771.post-59128988450006087562010-11-07T12:53:00.000-08:002010-11-07T12:57:13.843-08:00<span style="font-style:italic;">Note: At the request of <a href="http://butterflyfish1.blogspot.com/">Butterflyfish</a>, I've reposted this from my <a href="http://thenambypamby.blogspot.com/">blog</a>.</span><br /><br />Hi Litigation God, it's me, Namby.<br /><br />We haven't talked in a while since you've banished me to a sea of paperwork. It's not that I blame you for my lot in life; but it would be nice if every once in a while you smiled in my general direction. It's hard to focus on you when all I can think about is making my opposing counsel cower with fear, void his bladder and tear up his law license while giving me a large settlement check.<br /><br />But I can serve you better. I know I can. I just need the strength to get through the day. Please give me that strength.<br /><br />Would it be so much to ask to get a client that respected the advice that I gave? Or not lie to me at every opportunity that you get? Litigation God, just once, could you give me a client that didn't cause more trouble than his or her case is worth. Please give me a client with crystal clear liability and a massive deep pocket to pay my one-third.<br /><br />Now, I do have a job at a time when more and more lawyers are looking for work, and I am very thankful for that. But Holy LG, could you just make it a little easier to get from the start of the work day to the end of the work day without that one e-mail, phone call or fax that just makes you question whether or not the other lawyer has been blessed with a brain. Or humanity.<br /><br />In the name of the Father, the Son and Antonin Scalia,<br /><br />Amen.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29533771-5912898845000608756?l=wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>The Namby Pambyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04131063162941076828noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29533771.post-79440965157411160482010-10-28T03:31:00.000-07:002010-10-28T03:32:42.431-07:00This video has been making the blawgosphere rounds, so I thought it should make an appearance here as well.<br /><br /><br /><object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/nMvARy0lBLE?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US&amp;rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/nMvARy0lBLE?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US&amp;rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29533771-7944096515741116048?l=wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Butterflyfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10107438909973957940noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29533771.post-65525631825956714062010-10-15T18:52:00.000-07:002010-10-15T18:55:50.686-07:00<b>Rach1227 asked</b>:&nbsp; <i>So when does that point come where I feel like I'm actually on the right track??</i><br /><br />I had two good law profs 1L.&nbsp; One gave us a midterm, which he graded and provided feedback on, but it didn't count.&nbsp; When did I feel like I was on the right track?&nbsp; After I bombed that midterm.&nbsp; BOMBED it.&nbsp; By doing everything wrong, I was able to figure out what I needed to do right.&nbsp; I met with the prof once, reworked the way I did my outline, and finally understood what a "law school exam" was all about.&nbsp; I got the highest grade in that class on the final, which is all that matters, right?<br /><br />The other prof made all of his old exams available, with a checklist of issues as kind of an answer key.&nbsp;I knew I was on the right track when I practiced exams, at least by outlining the answers I would give, and my answers eventually matched the profs checklists.&nbsp; I wasn't a study group person, but sometimes I'd sit with a trusted friend and we'd each work on the same old exam question for 15 minutes in silence and just outline an answer, then we'd compare notes and fill in what the other missed.<br /><br />I don't know what resources you have available to you at your school or from your various profs, but the answer as far as I am concerned is, DO PRACTICE EXAMS.<br /><br /><b>Shan asked</b>:&nbsp; <i>How can I make myself do my outline? I keep looking at it and I just feel so overwhelmed. So I find more outlines to borrow from, but that just overwhelms me more.&nbsp; I get that it should be concise. But I feel like the cases we've studied should be in there too. How to format it? In order of the course, or in order like the commercial outlines do (e.g, contract formation order.)</i><br /><br />Like all things in law school, the answer is "it depends."&nbsp; Open notes or closed?&nbsp; Open notes, I tended toward a longer outline, a little more detailed, making sure I hit the little distinctions that turned up in those note cases.&nbsp; I would prepare a single page table of contents/checklist by topic and tab the shit out of the outline.&nbsp; My typical outline for an open note class was 15-20 pages.&nbsp; Con Law might have been a bit longer.<br /><br />Closed notes?&nbsp; Checklists, baby.&nbsp; Only the key case names, if at all, because they're useful shorthand (e.g. Tarasoff letter).&nbsp; I didn't get my notes down to checklist form without reworking the outline four or five times.&nbsp; I had a thorough outline, then as I did practice exams and internalized more, I was able to cut it down.&nbsp; In the end, I only included bare bones.<br /><br />So the answer, Shan, is to just start the outline. Its not gonna be perfect at this point -- its October, its hard to know exactly what you'll need yet. Just start it -- an outline is a work in progress, and in the end, very personal to your learning style and what you've retained and internalized versus what you need to reread and study. &nbsp;&nbsp; <br /><br />Here's something I pulled from by Torts checklist as an example. Hope its useful:<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="color: black;">BATTERY</span></b></span> <br /><ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; margin-top: 6pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A 1) deliberate act 2) intending to cause causing a) harmful or b) offensive contact and 3) A’s act causes such contact. </span></li><ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="circle"><li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; margin-top: 6pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Harmful = painful, any kind of physical injury</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; margin-top: 6pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Offensive = offend a reasonable sense of personal dignity</span></li></ul></ul><ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; margin-top: 6pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">EITHER, an act done by the person with the purpose to cause contact OR “substantially certain” (<i>not</i> merely foreseeable, must <u>know</u>) that such contact would result&nbsp; </span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; margin-top: 6pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Liable for all consequences intended and unintentional. The contact must offend a reasonable sense of personal dignity.</span></li><ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="circle"><li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; margin-top: 6pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">YES:&nbsp; punching, sic a dog on someone, touching a hat on head or plate in hand, <i>extending personalty.</i></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; margin-top: 6pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">YES: (close on contact) blowing smoke in one’s face (particles?)</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; margin-top: 6pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">YES:&nbsp; kissing stranger (not harmful, probably offensive to reasonable sense of dignity) </span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; margin-top: 6pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">NO:&nbsp; words alone; Hunter shoots what he believed was a deer, was a person, evidence it was a good faith mistake, sues on battery theory, loses because he had no intent to shoot a person;</span></li></ul></ul><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">(later in outline)</span></b><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><u><span style="color: black; text-transform: uppercase;">Defense and recapture of property</span></u></b><b><u><span style="color: black;"> </span></u></b></span><br /><ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Katko v Briney.&nbsp; Spring gun case. Holding: This was a battery since D did intend spring gun to cause harm. Could not hold up as self-defense because it was an unreasonable amount of force, and there also was no imminent danger to invoke self-defense</span></li></ul><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29533771-6552563182595671406?l=wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Butterflyfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10107438909973957940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29533771.post-72769226118014140062010-10-13T19:01:00.000-07:002010-10-13T19:01:28.304-07:00Prior posts:&nbsp; <br /><ul><li><a href="http://wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com/2009/09/outlining-101.html">Outlining 101</a>.&nbsp;</li><li><a href="http://wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com/2007/09/studyingone-gals-thoughts.html">Studying</a>.&nbsp;</li><li><a href="http://wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com/2007/09/follow-up-on-supplements.html">Supplements</a>.</li></ul>So, what can we tell you?&nbsp; Your 1L mid-semester questions answered... asap.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29533771-7276922611801414006?l=wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Butterflyfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10107438909973957940noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29533771.post-40219700901966668962010-08-16T13:38:00.001-07:002010-08-16T13:39:24.178-07:00[this is a cross-post from <a href="http://absentelements.blogspot.com">my blog</a>, but i thought it may be relevant here to law students and especially potential law students, so i'm posting it here in its entirety.]<br /><br />i'm no longer a lawyer, but i still keep my toe ever-so-slightly dipped into the blawgosphere. i still read <a href="http://www.abovethelaw.com">above the law</a> religiously. even though it's a world i'm no longer part of, i still find it occasionally entertaining and more-than-occasionally interesting to keep an eye on that world, since i did make the mistake of dabbling in it myself for a little while.<br /><br />over the last year or two, there has arisen a whole genre of "scamblogs": blogs written by law school graduates that refer to law school as a scheme that convinced people to part with large amounts of money, enticed by promises of high starting salaries and financial security. these blogs are getting quite a bit of media attention now that the Newark Star-Ledger has recently published <a href="http://www.nj.com/business/index.ssf/2010/08/irate_law_school_grads_say_the.html">an article</a> about the writer of one of the older and more well-known scamblogs out there, <a href="http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:hD3j_oxXHmUJ:bigdebtsmalllaw.wordpress.com/+big+debt+small+law&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us">big debt, small law</a> [which is currently offline; the link goes to a cached version]. <br /><br />it's an interesting, and on some level, tempting argument made by this genre of blogs, but i think it is completely wrong. i think it's completely wrong even though law school has financially ruined me, and was by far the biggest mistake of my life for that reason and several others.<br /><br />the argument that law school is a scam is rather tempting. a lot of people who go to law school are enticed by the six-figure starting salaries at Douchebag & Douchebag LLP, and sign their lives away gladly, thinking they'll make big money and be able to pay it off in a reasonable amount of time. it's really easy to blame law schools for this. law schools don't come out of this smelling like roses, since the goal of their recruiting is to bring in a full class of students each year who are willing to pay the tuition and fees...and, preferably, bring in a full class of students with higher entrance statistics than the previous year, so as to raise their ranking and justify charging even more money next year. they have no incentive to highlight the fact that not every marginally bright person who goes to law school gets one of those high-paying jobs, or even gets a legal job at all. they have no incentive to bring prospective students' attention to the bimodal distribution of legal starting salaries. they have no incentive to portray the potential drawbacks of going to law school.<br /><br />but, that's not enough to make it the law school's fault that law school ruined my life, your life, or anyone else's life. the argument that law school is a scam rests on the flawed idea that it's a law school's responsibility to portray both its good side and its bad side to potential students. in short, it's not.<br /><br />would it be nice if they portrayed law school realistically? sure. but, law school is a product, just like anything else. very few products are required to advertise how using them could blow up in your face; the only things i can think of that have to talk in their promotional materials about potential negative side effects are prescription drugs, alcohol, and tobacco products. ads for subprime mortgages or credit cards always focused on what you can get, not the stress of paying them off. fleabag motels don't actually put pictures of their nasty beds in their advertisements. dicey vacation areas always show pictures of pristine beaches, not shantytowns. how do you find out what's bullshit in the advertising, and what the reality of the product is?<br /><br />you do your research.<br /><br />you find out what kind of work a lawyer has to do, and you find out whether you'd enjoy doing that sort of work or not. you find out what the distribution of incomes in the legal field is. you find out whether you'd be able to stand a job in biglaw if you actually managed to get one. you find out whether you'd realistically be able to pay off the exorbitant amount of debt if you can't get a job in biglaw. you assess your interests, capabilities, and life goals, and decide if being an attorney fits in with that. you decide whether making the sacrifice of going to law school is worth it. and, you ask yourself, whether you're willing to take the hit, to live with all that debt and all those years of your life, lost, if you find out that being a lawyer is not all it's cracked up to be.<br /><br />for some people, it's worth it. for me and many others, it isn't.<br /><br />i don't blame law school [either the specific one i went to, or the more general institution of law school] for the fact that law school was the biggest mistake of my life. i blame myself. i did some of my homework, but i didn't do all of it. i had insufficient experience in the real-world to realise how crushing all that debt would feel. i didn't take off my rose-coloured glasses and realise that the legal profession was as stodgy as it is, and that i didn't have the energy or desire to fight the good fight for weirdos in the legal profession. i didn't think critically enough about the actual work that lawyers do to realise that i'd find it unsatisfying--until i was actually out of school and faced with the reality of having to do it full-time. in short, i wasn't scammed. i did something really impulsive and stupid, and i have to pay the price for it for the rest of my life. it's my fault.<br /><br />in short, calling law school a scam is an excuse. it's an attempt to shift responsibility for doing insufficient research and making a stupid decision away from yourself and onto someone else.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29533771-4021970090196666896?l=wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>nicollehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06716670894851820337noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29533771.post-12125696866808219682010-08-16T05:14:00.000-07:002010-08-16T05:22:28.268-07:00<b>Kelly</b> asks whether she'd be at a disadvantage taking notes by hand as compared to a laptop. it's hard for me to conclusively say...i saw people who did it both ways in class. there didn't seem to be a noticeable correlation between how typists did and how hand-writers did. i always did it on a laptop, because i'm a ridiculously slow hand-writer but a pretty fast typist.<br /><br />if your biggest worry is about getting distracted with how they're formatted, that's really not a big deal. you'll get the hang of it in the first week or so, and then you won't even think about it anymore. make sure you know how the bullet-point features on your word processor of choice work, and you should be good to go.<br /><br />one more argument against handwriting them and typing them later, though...are you really going to take the time to recopy all your notes? will that really be the best use of your time? depending on your work ethic and the way you study, the answer to that may be yes. but, think about that. i knew i would never do such a thing on a regular basis...and also, liked having the already-typed notes to condense and edit into an outline come finals week.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29533771-1212569686680821968?l=wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>nicollehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06716670894851820337noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29533771.post-18167308880244347792010-08-09T08:53:00.000-07:002010-08-09T09:11:43.725-07:00alright, we've had a few questions in the last post on here, so i'm going to take a crack at providing some answers. if anyone else has anything better, feel free to comment or write a new post.<br /><br /><b>Jess</b> asked whether there were any other suggestions to getting law school books for cheaper than the bookstore, other than Amazon or half.com. for one, you can always ask around...sometimes people who took the class last year are willing to sell their books for cheap, or even lend them to you. if the edition hasn't changed (or even if it has...shhhh!), this can be a cheap option. <a href="http://shopping.google.com">Google Shopping</a> can also be full of win in this regard...be it books or anything else, i love its site-comparison features, and have had good luck finding things cheap through it.<br /><br /><b>jumi</b> asked about standard software. first and foremost...i got through law school without Microsoft Office on my box. i used OpenOffice...which was perfectly suited for law school even in 2005 when i started, and has only gotten better over the years. that, Firefox, and a .pdf reader got me pretty much everywhere in law school. the only other piece of software that comes to mind was ExamSoft's SofTest, the computerized test-taking software my law school (Washington University in St. Louis) used. when i started law school, it was Windows-only, and i was pretty uncomfortable even attempting to use a virtual machine to take my test at that point. (fast forward to 2010...i've become a linux geek who has forsaken the legal field to work in information technology. go figure.) i kept Windows on my laptop until graduation for the sake of running SofTest. when i was in law school, people either ran it from Windows, or ran it on their Macs using Windows XP on BootCamp. i never tested it from Linux in a Windows VM; ExamSoft says that SofTest is not supported by any VM software. i'm tempted to find a way to test this claim out just to satisfy my own curiosity...but i understand that law school testing is stressful and high-stakes, so can only suggest that you at least make sure to either have a Windows or Mac box, or one you can borrow, come exam week. i also know there are a few other testing software suites out there, but i'm not familiar with them since my law school didn't use them. SofTest is also the most common.<br /><br /><b>The Jogger</b> asked if you had to memorize things like the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure or the UCC verbatim. that wasn't my experience. as unrealistic as the expectations of law school often are, professors are generally not that crazy. when i took civpro my 1L year, we were issued a fresh copy of the FRCP to go with our exam. we were responsible for being familiar with the applications and caselaw interpretations of the Rules, but as for the text of the rules or the rule numbers for each rule, we could look them up. most of my law school exams were either open-book (bring whatever resources you wanted) or modified open-book (bring your course textbook and whatever else the professor speciically said you can bring). but, one caveat here...it is good to have at least a general idea of the layout of the rules, and the course material. you're not going to have enough time to look absolutely everything up, as well as write a satisfactory response to the questions, during the exam time. even in an open-book test, preparatory work pays off--if nothing else, you'll know where to look, instead of flailing around trying to find relevant information.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29533771-1816730888024434779?l=wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>nicollehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06716670894851820337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29533771.post-26738422039894592452010-07-31T16:51:00.000-07:002010-07-31T16:51:52.016-07:00Ok pre-Ls... one month or so til law school. Any questions?<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29533771-2673842203989459245?l=wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Butterflyfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10107438909973957940noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29533771.post-85758073747707088572010-03-25T17:17:00.000-07:002010-04-13T04:33:14.243-07:00<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">This post was originally posted at <a href="http://idwsj.wordpress.com/2010/03/24/law-school-timesavers-typing-shorthand-keyboard-shortcuts/">i don't wear skinny jeans</a>, a blog written by a current NYU 1L.</span><br /><br />Reposted here with permission.<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />The comments on <a href="http://idwsj.wordpress.com/2010/03/24/law-school-timesavers-typing-shorthand-keyboard-shortcuts/">his post</a> may have more useful shortcuts added since he wrote this text. You should check it out. Also, you should read his blog.<br /><br /><div class="entry-content"> <div class="snap_preview"><p>It can be tiring to take lengthy class notes and write briefs on your computer (for those of us that still brief). To make it easier, we use shorthand. I thought it would be useful to compile a list of the keyboard shortcuts and typing shorthand that people find helpful.</p> <p><strong>Typing Shorthand</strong><br /></p><ul><li> Attorney = <strong>atty</strong></li><li>Common Law = <strong>c/l OR cLAW</strong></li><li>Consideration = <strong>ø</strong> or <strong>cx</strong></li><li>Constitution = <strong>C</strong></li><li>Contract = <strong>K</strong></li><li>Court = <strong>ct</strong></li><li>Defendant = <strong>D</strong> or <strong>∆</strong></li><li>Federal =<strong> fed</strong></li><li>General Rule = <strong>GRULE</strong></li><li>Jurisdiction = <strong>jdx</strong> or <strong>juris</strong></li><li>Majority Rule = <strong>majR</strong></li><li>Minority Rule = <strong>minR</strong></li><li>Negligence = <strong>neg</strong> or <strong>negc</strong></li><li>Plaintiff =<strong> P</strong> or <strong>π</strong></li><li>Rule Against Perpetuity = <strong>rap</strong></li><li>Standard of Review = <strong>sor</strong></li><li>State = <strong>st</strong></li><li>Statute of Fraud = <strong>sof</strong></li><li>Statute of Limitations = <strong>sol</strong></li><li>Strict Liability = <strong>SL</strong></li><li>Summary Judgment = <strong>sj</strong></li><li>Supreme Court of the United States = <strong>SCOTUS</strong> OR <strong>SCt</strong></li><li>Two part words (e.g., affirmative action) = <strong>x/y (e.g., a/a)</strong></li><li>About = <strong>a/b</strong></li><li>Amendment = <strong>ame</strong></li><li>Argument = arg</li><li>Because = <strong>b/c</strong></li><li>Between = <strong>btw </strong>or <strong>b/w</strong></li><li>Commercial = <strong>comm</strong></li><li>Different = <strong>diff</strong></li><li>Discrimination = <strong>disc</strong></li><li>Each = <strong>ea</strong></li><li>Employee = <strong>EE</strong></li><li>Employer = <strong>ER</strong></li><li>Employment =<strong> emp</strong></li><li>Ending with “-ion” = <strong>^n</strong></li><li>Especially =<strong> esp</strong></li><li>For = <strong>4</strong></li><li>From = <strong>f/</strong></li><li>Government = <strong>gov </strong>OR <strong>govt</strong></li><li>Not = <strong style="font-weight: bold;">!</strong><span style="font-weight: bold;"> or </span><strong>≠ or % </strong><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span>Point = <strong>pt</strong></li><li>President =<strong> pres</strong></li><li>Probably = <strong>prob</strong></li><li>Property = <strong>prop</strong></li><li>Reaction = <strong>rxn</strong></li><li>Required = <strong>req’d</strong></li><li>Review = <strong>rev</strong></li><li>Should = <strong>sd</strong></li><li>Something =<strong> sthg</strong></li><li>Standard =<strong> std</strong></li><li>Statement = <strong>stmnt</strong></li><li>Within = <strong>w/in</strong></li><li>Without = <strong>w/out</strong></li><li>With Respect To = <strong>w.r.t.</strong></li><li>Would = <strong>wd</strong></li></ul> <p><strong>Keyboard Shortcuts</strong><br /><em>OneNote</em></p> <ul><li> Ctrl + (Shift + L) OR . = <strong>Bullet point</strong></li><li>Ctrl + / = <strong>Numbering</strong></li><li>Alt + Shift + (Left Arrow OR Right Arrow) = <strong>tab line left or right</strong></li><li> Ctrl + 2 = <strong>Star</strong></li><li> Ctrl + 3 = <strong>Question Mark</strong></li><li> Ctrl + 4 = <strong>Yellow Highlight</strong> (of the entire line of text)</li><li> Ctrl + 5 = <strong>Green Highlight </strong>(of the entire line of text)</li><li> Text + Tab = <strong>Creates a table</strong></li></ul> <p><em>Microsoft Office (for <strong>Macs</strong>, <strong>Ctrl = Apple</strong> button)<br /></em></p> <ul><li>Alt + 0167 (or customize as Ctrl + Shift + S) /<strong> Mac</strong>: Option + 6 = <strong>§</strong></li><li>Alt + 8710 (or customize as Alt + P or Ctrl + Shift + P) / <strong>Mac: </strong>Option + J= <strong>∆</strong></li><li>Alt + 227 (or customize as Alt + D or Ctrl + Shift + D) / <strong>Mac: </strong>Option + P = <strong>π</strong></li><li>Alt + 0248 / <strong>Mac: </strong>Option + O = <strong>ø</strong></li><li>Ctrl + (B or I or U) = <strong>Bold</strong> OR<strong> Italics</strong> OR <strong>Underline</strong></li><li> Ctrl + (C or V) =<strong> Copy</strong> OR <strong>Paste</strong></li><li> Ctrl + (Z or Y) = <strong>Undo </strong>OR<strong> Redo</strong></li></ul> <p>If you have any to add, leave it in the comments and I’ll update this post. I realize I may be a minority in doing stuff like this.</p> <p>Obsessive and compulsive,<br /><strong>i.don’t.wear.skinny.jeans</strong></p> </div> </div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29533771-8575807374770708857?l=wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Butterflyfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10107438909973957940noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29533771.post-89804440560974432112010-02-22T18:05:00.000-08:002010-02-23T02:35:00.630-08:00This post originally appeared at <a href="http://www.dennis-jansen.com/">Dennis Jansen.com</a> and is re-posted with permission.<br /><br />It’s that time of year again. Law school acceptance letters have gone out and the future <span style="text-decoration: line-through;"><em>victims</em></span> students are trolling the student blogs. <p>My advice? <em>Run</em>.</p> <p>If you’re not going to run, then consider these 5 tips:</p> <ol><li><strong>Do not go to law school just because your humanities major did not give you any marketable job skills.</strong> That’s like signing up for the military because you won’t condescend to work retail as a B.A. <a href="http://abovethelaw.com/2010/01/this_week_in_layoffs_012310.php">The legal job market collapsed last year</a>. If you were looking for riches and employment, then try Starbucks or <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3FTaljUVcU">business school</a>…or the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4wVf4KxFPE">military</a>. At least they’ll pay for school if you survive.</li><li>When considering schools outside of the top 10 <em>(or maybe top 20)</em> focus on the schools in the state/market you want to practice in. Your New Mexico JD isn’t as powerful in Maine, even if the New Mexico school is ranked slightly higher than Maine’s Bumble School of Law.</li><li>If you are choosing between a well-ranked school and a scholarship at a less prestigious school, <strong>ask whether the scholarship is contingent on your GPA or class rank.</strong> Most students at these schools will lose their scholarships because of the curve. And yes, your competition is as smart and motivated to keep their scholarship as you are.</li><li>Much of the prep during the summer before law school is a waste of time. Your time is best spent working, because your scholarship or loan money may not come in until classes start. Working out also won’t hurt, because law school is the land of coffee and pizza.</li><li>If you really want to know what law school is like then read law student blogs. An outline of my <a href="http://www.dennis-jansen.com/1l/outline-of-1l-year-pt-1-fall/">1L fall semester is here</a>, and an outline of <a href="http://www.dennis-jansen.com/1l/best-year-ever-outline-of-1l-spring-semester/">1L spring is here</a>. There more blogs are linked on the left-hand column of <a href="http://www.dennis-jansen.com/">dennis-jansen.com</a>.</li></ol> <p>Again, I recommended that you <em>run</em>, so don’t batter me with nasty messages this fall about how I ruined your life because <a href="http://www.dennis-jansen.com/">this blog</a> convinced you that law school is all sunshine and lollipops. <a href="http://www.dennis-jansen.com/2l/2l-fall/bitterness/">It is not.</a> <em>Run.</em></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29533771-8980444056097443211?l=wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Butterflyfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10107438909973957940noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29533771.post-85730787546072251832010-02-16T17:16:00.001-08:002010-11-05T18:48:07.473-07:00A reader asked: <span style="font-weight: bold;">I am planning on attending </span><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1266369402_0" style="-moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold;">law school</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> as a 1L in the fall but I just found out I am pregnant and would be due in October of my first year. I am now discouraged. When I saw your blog I was encouraged. I was wondering if you had children while in law school and how you managed that?</span><br /><br />My reply: I had an 18 month old when I started <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1266369263_0" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer;">law school</span> with a husband in Iraq. I can talk to you about it at length, but it is not quite the same.<br /><br />A number of women bloggers had babies while in law school -- four spring immediately to mind:<br /><br /><a href="http://lagliv.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1266369263_1">http://lagliv.blogspot.com/</span></a><br /><a href="http://bettertogetherinca.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1266369263_2"></span></a><a href="http://magiccookie.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1266369263_3">http://magiccookie.blogspot.com/</span></a><br /><a href="http://ceepalmer.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1266369263_4">http://ceepalmer.blogspot.com/</span></a><br /><a href="http://attyworkproduct.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1266369263_5">http://attyworkproduct.blogspot.com/</span></a><br /><br />Cee and <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1266369263_6" style="-moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer;">Magic Cookie</span> each took a semester off and graduated a semester late. Lag Liv and Attorney Work Product graduated on time (I think). All were employed upon graduation, all four are married. However, you'd have to read their respective archives to understand how they did it. They each faced very different challenges bringing their babies into the world while law students. They are amazing, inspiring, clever and wonderful women and reading their blog archives would be a great way to spend an afternoon.<br /><br />But NONE of them did it first semester 1L. They had summer, 2L or 3L babies. <br /><br />1L is stressful. It is wonderful. I'd do it again. But it is the most important year and you need to be able to commit fully to it. <br /><br />Advice, since you asked for it: I would defer admission for a year. Seriously. It is much easier to start law school with a 10 month old than to give birth right before 1L first semester finals.<br /><br />I am going to poll the MILPs and see if they wish to add their insight in the comments -- they might disagree with me.<br /><br />Also:<br /><br /><span style="font-size: 85%;">The Weekly MILP (Moms In the Legal Profession) Roundup is hosted on a rotating basis between <a href="http://ptlawmom.com/">PT-LawMom,</a> <a href="http://butterflyfish1.blogspot.com/">Butterflyfish</a>, and <a href="http://attyworkproduct.blogspot.com/">Attorney Work Product</a> blogs. We originally rounded up just the moms in law school, but then discovered that those women eventually graduate. Who knew? So now all the moms in the legal field (heh... MILFs) are represented. We aim for Sunday posts.<br />See the past Round Ups <a href="http://butterflyfish1.blogspot.com/search/label/MILS">at my other blog here</a>.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(pregnant in law school; baby in law school; pregnant law student; pregnancy law school; infant law school)</span> </span><br /><span style="font-size: 85%;"> </span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29533771-8573078754607225183?l=wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Butterflyfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10107438909973957940noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29533771.post-16213784715908247382009-09-23T20:29:00.000-07:002009-09-23T20:32:09.880-07:00<p><span style="font-weight: bold;">This was originally posted at </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://butnothanks.blogspot.com/2009/09/outlining-101-on-figuring-out-what-this.html">Thanks, But No Thanks</a><span style="font-weight: bold;">. Nobody, the author, alternates with the Legal Underground and writes the weekly law school roundup. Reposted with permission. </span><br /></p><p>Recently, one of the test prep companies on campus made the (grievous) mistake of inviting me to come in and speak to the 1Ls on "Survival Tips for Your 1L Year."<br /><br />Hey. Quell your laughing, guys. They were serious, though I sort of suspect I was their backup choice. I <span style="font-style: italic;">love</span> this sort of event, for the same reason I like blogging: giving out unsolicited advice is one of my favorite hobbies.<br /><br />Anyway, I spoke on a panel of 4 upperclassmen from varying backgrounds and of varying academic interests. We had to answer all the token questions: Do you have any smart survival tips? (<a href="http://butnothanks.blogspot.com/2008/07/psa-first-week-of-school-advice-version.html">Obviously</a>. Some more <a href="http://butnothanks.blogspot.com/2007/11/consolation-coffee-monday.html">useful</a> than <a href="http://butnothanks.blogspot.com/2007/08/first-rule-of-criminal-law.html">others</a>.) Is there anything you wished you knew? (<a href="http://butnothanks.blogspot.com/2007/10/terms-terminology-beginners-guide-for.html">Yes</a>. Enough to write a book on it), Do you have any Socratic method horror stories? (I gave them the gory details of <a href="http://butnothanks.blogspot.com/2007/08/initiation-and-other-socratic-horrors.html">my first day of school</a>)<br /><br />We also got this one: <span style="font-weight: bold;">What do I do about outlining? </span><br /><br />This is what I said:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1. Just Do What Works for You: </span>Mwhahahahah. Kidding. Sorry. Everyone says this in law school. What "just do what works for you" actually means is "I'm not that confident about my own system, and frankly, I've stumbled through so many that I can't remember how I got here anyway." The Just Do What Works For You approach isn't all that helpful if you have no idea what works for you.<br />The approach I recommend is the Don't Freak Out If Someone Else Does It Different approach. Someone is going to have a longer, more color-coded, outline than you do. Someone else will have an index. It will all be ok: you are good enough, smart enough, and you've spent enough damn hours on this outline that you're going to have to live with it.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2. Remember, Outlining is About Access: </span>You do not need to know what Justice Storey said on page 49 of that opinion. I promise. Your outline should not contain this material. What your outline <span style="font-style: italic;">should </span>do is provide a roadmap to the class. This means that major themes are featured, recurrent questions are addressed, and materials are synthesized (more on that later) in a way that makes them easy to access in your mid-exam flurry.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">3. Class counts: </span>If a topic is highlighted in class, you should have it in your outline. Your book notes will be helpful filler, but in 2.5 years of law school, I have yet to encounter an exam that favored topics exclusively covered in the book over lecture notes. Think about it. Your professor has several hours a week to hear himself talk about whatever he'd like. If he wanted you to ignore what he was saying, he would have made this a paper class.<br />My rule is this: if it is mentioned more than two days in class, the topic gets its own heading in my outline. Less than 10 minutes, and it doesn't make it in.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">4. On the role of the book: </span>One of the biggest mistakes I made 1L year was trying to synthesize the enter textbook into my outline. I ended up with a torts outline that was 109 pages long. This made people look at me like I was a crazy person (accurate) and was pretty much impossible to use during the exam, because it was so long and bulky (see #2).<br />I think this is a common 1L problem. Laying too heavily into the book not only ties up the time that would be better spent outlining or studying, but it can cause you to neglect the information that was focused on in lecture.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">5. Easy there, turbo:</span> Step slowly away from the squib cases. It is hard, when you're outlining, to resist the urge to put <span style="font-style: italic;">everything</span> in there. To avoid this temptation and assuage my neurosis, I bring (a) class notes, (b) reading notes and (c) a copy of the assigned texts into my finals, when it is allowed. Here's the beauty of that approach: you don't <span style="font-style: italic;">have </span>to put everything in your outline. If your professor throws you a curveball question, you will have your class notes, reading notes, and your book (which you've been taking notes in the margins in all along) to help you out. If none of those things help you, take a deep breath: everyone else is screwed too.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">6. The Best Outline Prep is Reading: </span>Seriously. Stay up on your reading. You're going to be almost $100k in debt for this- you might as well make your class time worth it by being prepared. That said, if you get behind (and you will)- it is ok to focus on the "big" cases and let the shorter ones slide when you start outlining. If it comes down to really understanding <span style="font-style: italic;">International Shoe</span> or not, you're going to need to damage control. Get the big 'uns, and resist the urge to "catch up" on all of your reading when do you your outline- you do not need to have assiduous notes on every case, so long as you can <span style="font-style: italic;">find</span> a case if you need it.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">7. On Timing</span>: I started outlining in mid-October, realized that nothing I'd done was useful, and started over again in November. This was later than I would have preferred, but not the end of the world. On a 4 unit class, I spent approximately 20-30 hours on my outline, over the course of the semester. I suspect this skews to the heavier side, but I could be wrong. I say this to warn you: it is easy to underestimate how long this process takes, especially first semester 1L year. I recommend starting in early to mid-October.<br />I <span style="font-style: italic;">don't </span>recommend starting earlier- its hard to figure out the big picture of your courses when you're still trying to figure out what the hell is going on. As a 2L, I outlined in the last 2 weeks of the semester. That was about perfect for my purposes.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Here's What Works for Me: </span>Candidly, this is how I outline. No one would give me a <a href="http://butnothanks.blogspot.com/2007/10/natives-are-restless.html">straight answer when I was a 1L</a>, so I've done my best to explain my system. If it doesn't make sense, feel free to ask for clarification. There will be 2L and 3L readers that think I am full of crap- they may be on to something, but this is the system I have worked out:<br /></p><ol><li><span style="font-style: italic;">First, I grab the professor's syllabus*</span>: He writes the test, so I figure he probably knows whats important. I use the syllabus as the framework for my outline. So, if Section I on the syllabus is "Personal Jurisdiction"- guess what is Section I in my outline?<br /><br /></li><li><span style="font-style: italic;">Then, I grab my book: </span>I take the assigned reading, and I go through section by section, incorporating it into my baby outline. If it is bolded in the book, it goes into the outline. I add each case as well, noting the casebook page for each case.<br /><br /></li><li><span style="font-style: italic;">Then, I grab my class notes: </span>I go through my class notes and fill out the "meat" of my outline. I like doing things in this order because, once I've incorporated my class notes, I can really see where the gaps in my learning are. This is also a great way to check (a) that you have all the class notes, and (b) see graphically what the prof has focused on.<br /><br /></li><li><span style="font-style: italic;">Then, I incorporate my reading notes: </span>My reading notes fill in the gaps where my lecture notes are missing stuff. For cases, I include a bullet point or two summarizing the reasoning or significance of the case, and a quick byline that reminds me what the case is about. When I am feeling particularly anal-retentive, I make sure that each case is labeled with the page number of the reading material it is on (disclaimer: I have never used this feature).<br />For example: <span style="font-style: italic;">Hawkins v. McGee</span> (hairy hands case), CB 321<br />- Damages should be difference between what was bargained for and what was recieved.<br />- Pain and suffering are not compensable here because pain and suffering are part of the deal for surgery.<br />- It is way too easy to make a masturbation joke here.<br /><br /></li><li><span style="font-style: italic;">Finally, I "synthesize": </span>Every prof will tell you to do this. I am not entirely clear on what it means, but here's what I do: I go through my outline, and I read it, top to bottom. I go section by section, and I re-write. During this stage, I do a lot of condensing- this is helpful because (a) it helps me to recognize recurrent themes in the course, and (b) it makes my outline less unwieldy. Often, this is where I discover that there are some unanswered questions in my notes- I start to realize what I don't understand, and what I have a good handle on.<br />More generally at this point in the game, I try to figure out what each case stands for, and the major themes of each section. Looking at the notes, I ask: what was the point of including this case? (note: this is differnet than "what was the point of this case?") I edit my outlines frequently, and re-read them frequently- outlines are all about the process of outlining, so this is basically review, channeling my OCD tendencies into something productive.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></li><li><span style="font-style: italic;">Last but not least, I share: </span>This is not a required step, but it is often very helpful. Once I have a solid outline (or at least a solid outline section), I go through it with someone else. Often, in talking about the material, we each tease out new questions. Two heads are better than one, in many cases, but be careful: just copying someone else's outline is often more confusing than helpful.<br /></li></ol>That's what I do. Tables of contents, color codings, and Advanced Outlining will be covered in Outlining 102: Oh My God How Is It Thanksgiving?! ....But you should do what works for you.<br /><br />Happy outlining!<br /><br /><br />*Why does that sound so dirty?<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29533771-1621378471590824738?l=wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Butterflyfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10107438909973957940noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29533771.post-29808039989807066132009-09-07T11:24:00.000-07:002009-09-07T11:37:00.589-07:00From my mailbox: <span style="font-style: italic;">A writer described </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(136, 136, 136); font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">an awkward situation with gunners and people who argue with gunners and tension mounting in a 1L section and ended with a general question about appropriate classroom participation level.<br /><br /></span></span>If you have to ask, you may be over-participating. <br /><br />Keep your "head down" in class for a week or so... only answer if called on. Listen to your peers for that week -- I mean really listen, don't think of counter-arguments or clever retorts. In your head, categorize the comments they make as follows: helpful/responsive; helpful/tangential; unhelpful/tangential. In future, make sure your own comments fall mostly into the first category and occasionally into the second.<br /><br />I am a fan of class participation; I do not think it makes you a gunner just because you contribute to the class discussion. But make sure you actually <span style="font-style: italic;">contribute</span> something. <br /><br />Remember, you can't <span style="font-style: italic;">make</span> your reputation in law school by any single comment in class, but you can sure as hell <span style="font-style: italic;">break</span> it. If you really want the rep as the smartest guy in the room, shut the heck up and ace the exams.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29533771-2980803998980706613?l=wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Butterflyfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10107438909973957940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29533771.post-83974437513342401742009-08-16T18:37:00.000-07:002009-08-16T18:40:26.978-07:00How long is it?<br />What did you do?<br />What did you wear? <br />What did others wear? <br />How many times did you hear the words: "You'll find what works for you."<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29533771-8397443751334240174?l=wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Butterflyfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10107438909973957940noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29533771.post-47251849913680605832009-08-15T09:12:00.000-07:002009-08-15T09:34:19.768-07:00This blog has historically tried to be positive -- realistic, but positive -- about law school. When the founders of this blog started it in 2006, the legal market was very different, but even then those of you who dreamed of BigLaw were cautioned that law school rank and <a href="http://wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com/2006/10/on-campus-interviewing.html">grades mattered</a>.<br /><br />If you are considering law school and think that its the golden ticket in this economy, know that law firms have trimmed their summer associate programs for 2009, <a href="http://abovethelaw.com/2009/04/start_date_watch_more_firms_de.php">delayed start dates</a>, and some are canceling summer programs for <a href="http://abovethelaw.com/2009/08/canceled_summer_mccarter_mcguire_woods.php">2010</a>. This is in addition to the mass lay offs that often affect even first year associates.<br /><br />If you're thinking "well this post isn't about <span style="font-style: italic;">me</span>, because I want a [small/ mid-sized/ family/ public interest/ clerkship] position," ask yourself where do you think all those folks with almost-stellar credentials who cannot get work in BigLaw are going to end up?*<br /><br />I'm not telling you <span style="font-style: italic;">not</span> to go to law school. I just ask you to knock the stars out of your eyes and look very seriously at what you're getting into and make sure you know what you want out of it.<br /><br /><br /><br />_______________________________<span style="font-size:85%;"><br />(* See <a href="http://abovethelaw.com/2009/06/massachusetts_clerk_ethical_dilemma.php">Massachusetts</a>)</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29533771-4725184991368060583?l=wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Butterflyfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10107438909973957940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29533771.post-47765178817883062012009-08-03T16:52:00.000-07:002009-08-03T20:03:40.918-07:00<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Welcome to the First (and probably only) </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Wish I Would Have Known Law School Supplement Give Away </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span>(some restrictions apply)</span><br /><br /></div><ul><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Comment below to list the supplements (MAX 3) you would like. </span></li></ul><ul><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Then EMAIL ilovebutterflyfish at yahoo.com with shipping information. </span></li></ul><ul><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">First come, first served. I only have one copy of each. Limit THREE books per address.<br /></span></li></ul><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">RESTRICTIONS:<br /><br />1. These books are not totally free. </span>When I receive your email, I will send a request for PayPal payment to offset the cost of shipping/packaging/handling. I think $5 each book is fair... I'll probably actually lose money at that rate.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />2. I want these books to go to a law student who will use them this year. </span> So please don't pick the books you're pretty sure you can turn around on Amazon for the quickest profit, mmmk?<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />3. Limit THREE to an address.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">And now, the books:</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br />Aspen Examples&amp;Explanations</span><br /><ul><li><strike>Civil Procedure (Fifth Ed.) Glannon</strike></li><li><strike>Criminal Law (Third Ed.) Singer &amp; LaFond</strike></li><li><strike>Evidence (Fifth Ed.) Best</strike></li><li><strike>Property (Second Ed.) Burke &amp; Snoe</strike></li><li><strike>Torts (Third Ed.) Glannon<br /></strike></li><strike></strike></ul><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Hornbook</span>:<br /><ul><li>Introduction to the Law of Real Property (Third Edition) Moynihan &amp; Kurtz</li></ul><span style="font-style: italic;">Other</span>:<br /><ul><li><strike>Problems and Answers: Estates in Land and Future Interests (Third Edition) Makdisi <span style="font-style: italic;">(Probably the hardest thing to understand in property law, this book was so approachable that I didn't need to relearn this area of the law for the bar exam.)</span></strike></li><li><strike>Learning Criminal Law as Advocacy Argument (complete with Exam Problems and Answers) By John Delaney (<span style="font-style: italic;">I preferred this for Crim over the E&amp;E!</span>)</strike></li></ul><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Emanuel</span>:<br /><ul><li><strike>Civil Procedure (21st Ed.) Steven Emanuel</strike></li><li><strike>Wills, Trusts, and Estates (7th Ed.) Peter Wendel. Keyed to Dukeminier/Johanson/Lindgren/Sitkoff casebook.</strike> </li><li><strike>Crunchtime: Corporations (2nd Ed.) Steven Emanuel</strike><br /></li></ul><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Case Summaries:</span><br /><ul><li>High Court Case Summaries -- Keyed to Sullivan's Constitutional Law casebook -- 15h Ed.</li></ul><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Examsmanship</span>:<br /><ul><li><strike>How to do your best on law school exams (complete with problems and answers) (Third Revised Ed.) John Delaney</strike>.<br /></li></ul><span style="font-style: italic;">Legal Skills</span><br /><ul><li><strike>Synthesis: Legal reading, reasoning, and writing. (Second Ed.) Schmedemann &amp; Kunz</strike></li></ul><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">BOOKS WILL BE SHIPPED ON OR ABOUT <strike>AUGUST 19</strike>.<br />Books requested on 8/3/09 may go out as early as 8/4/09! <br />This was wildly successful, huh?<br /></span></div><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Disclaimer</span>: none of these is the current editions. Editions listed above! They may in fact be two editions out of date. But most of this law has not changed in many years... the companies push out new editions with trivial changes each year to keep prices high. These are used books -- most are gently used, with little highlighting and few margin notes -- but they are used all the same. As is, all warranties expressly disclaimed, and whatever other legal mumbo jumbo you want to throw in here.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29533771-4776517881788306201?l=wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Butterflyfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10107438909973957940noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29533771.post-40790760944219707872009-07-19T18:49:00.000-07:002009-07-19T18:51:49.628-07:00Originally posted at <a href="http://www.no634.com/jansen/?page_id=4598">Jansen</a> / No.634. Reposted with permission.<br /><br /><a href="http://humarashid.com/">Huma</a> is right – I remember reading blawgs during the summer before law school and not knowing what the heck certain terms meant. Here’s a quick rundown of things that confused me, most of which are from the <a href="http://www.no634.com/?page_id=269">“definitions” page </a>of No.634. <ul><li><strong>ABA: </strong><a href="http://www.abanet.org/">American Bar Association</a>.</li><li><strong>Appellant:</strong> <a href="http://www.nolo.com/definition.cfm/Term/6C9E6266-F620-41DD-9B6B948768158A9E/alpha/A/">A party</a> to a lawsuit who appeals a losing decision to a higher court in an effort to have it modified or reversed. The person who won is called the <em>Appellee</em>.</li><li><strong>ATL: </strong><a href="http://abovethelaw.com/">AboveTheLaw.com</a>, which is the legal world’s equivalent to <a href="http://www.tmz.com/">TMZ</a>.</li><li><strong>Bar Review (Activity): </strong>a semi-formal gathering of law students at local pubs. Bar review is held weekly, and is an almost exclusively 1L-event. A few months into the semester, two types of people will still attend bar review: those have a really strong set of law school friends and those who have no friends outside of law school. Individual sections will also have weekly bar gatherings, usually on Fridays.</li><li><strong>Bar Review (Publication)</strong>: a libelous publication at UMN law school. This is how UMN students find out where the next Bar Review (activity) will be held.</li><li><strong>Biglaw:</strong> refers to large, private firms. </li><li><strong>Blawg: </strong>A law-related blog. These come in a variety of forms that include <a href="http://www.no634.com/">the personal blawgs of law students</a>, <a href="http://lawprofessors.typepad.com/">professor blawgs</a>, <a href="http://thenambypamby.blogspot.com/">attorney blawgs</a>, <a href="http://timesonline.typepad.com/baby_barista/">fictional blawgs</a>, <a href="http://www.becker-posner-blog.com/">judges</a>, and <a href="http://underneaththeirrobes.blogs.com/">scandal sheets</a>.</li><li><strong>Briefing</strong>: A semi tedious way that first year law students summarize cases. A case brief typically consists of the case title, procedural posture, holding, and a summary of facts. After first semester most students begin <a href="http://lawingenue.blogspot.com/2008/08/how-book-briefing-saved-my-behind.html">book briefing</a>.</li><li><strong>Civil Procedure</strong>: A typical first year course that deals with the procedural rules used for civil (as opposed to criminal) cases in Federal Courts.</li><li><strong>Clinic</strong>: a law school program providing hands-on-legal experience to law school students and services to various clients. (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_clinic">read on Wiki</a>)</li><li><strong>Discussion</strong>: <em>Lecture.</em> Professors, especially those presenting speeches/talks, will often refer to their speech as a “discussion.”</li><li><strong>FPP</strong>: Federal Procedure &amp; Practice. A legal treatise on Civil Procedure. It’s brilliant, and available on Westlaw.</li><li><strong>Gunner</strong>: The over-eager, inconsiderate person in every law school class that talks over her peers and monopolizes class time. The cliché is: “If after the first semester, you don’t know who the class gunner is, then it’s you.” <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnsQLbdCWfk">See video</a>.</li><li><strong>Hornbook</strong>: A legal treatise. These are long enough to be unhelpful unless you are utterly lost in the class. Remember, you don’t get any extra points for mentioning things that the professor did not cover in class. The most useful legal treatise is the FPP, which is available on Westlaw.</li><li><strong>Interest Meeting: </strong>Free Lunch. For the first semester at UMN law, student organizations hold “interest meetings” or sponsor talks almost every day during the lunch hour. <strong>This means free pizza.</strong> Towards the end of the semester when people are feeling obese and/or sick of pizza, the student organizations will try to entice you with Quiznos mini-subs and Holy Land food. Sometime during second semester you will realize that a hour in the middle of the school day is more valuable than the free food.</li><li><strong>Justice: </strong>an appellate judge, the Chief Justice and Associate Justices of the U. S. Supreme Court, a member of a Federal Court of Appeal, and judges of any of the various state appellate courts.</li><li><strong>Law Review:</strong> Typically the most prestigious journal at any law school.</li><li><strong>Law Revue</strong>: A theatrical/comedy troupe of law students (<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PP5Sw8pLVOc">the most famous is at NYU)</a>. At UMN this is called T.O.R.T.</li><li><strong>LexisNexis</strong>: an online research system (like Westlaw) that you get access to as a 1L at UMN. Some law schools do not give Westlaw/Lexis access to first year students. Lexis contains cases, treatises, a legal dictionary, statutes, and more. Do not buy supplemental books that contain statutes or restatements until you check if they are on Westlaw/Lexis first. Lexis offers reward points for research. It is very easy to rack up points and redeem them for Starbucks giftcards, &amp; etc.</li><li><strong>Lunch: </strong>priming for CivPro <em>(</em><a href="http://www.no634.com/?p=3135"><em>Stella’</em></a><em>s definition) </em>Reading assignments a few hours before class will seem unthinkable until your second month in school.</li><li><strong>Mandatory</strong>: Optional, unless you are specifically told what will happen if you don’t do the “mandatory” thing. A way that UMN tries to scare 1Ls into attending events is to “take attendance.” This stops working second semester when the 1Ls realize that nothing happened to the “rebels” from first semester.</li><li><strong>Nutshell</strong>: A <em>Spark-Note-like</em> study aid for a given legal subject. These are more useful than hornbooks, but tend to oversimplify the law.</li><li><strong>OCI</strong>: On campus interviews. This happens during the beginning of your second year, and is supposedly a “disaster” for <a href="http://www.no634.com/?p=3208">those who are not in the top of the class</a>.</li><li><strong>Petitioning</strong>: The application process to get onto a legal journal. At UMN, it starts after spring semester finals.</li><li><strong>Procedural posture</strong>: what happened to get the case to where it is. Who won below? Who appealed?</li><li><strong>Restatements</strong>: Restatements of law are treatises on legal subjects, published by the American Law Institute. Many restatements are eventually codified into law, and your professors (especially in Contracts) will probably assign portions of a restatement.</li><li><strong>SSG</strong>: Structured Study Group, a tutorial session at UMN led by an upper-year student.</li><li><strong>Sincerely</strong>: boilerplate</li><li><strong>Snark</strong>: Legalese for “<em>bitchy</em>“</li><li><strong>Talk</strong>: Lecture</li><li><strong>Torts</strong>: A typical first year class. This is the blood, guts, and hilarity class. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tort">On Wikipedia</a>: Tort law is a body of law that addresses, and provides remedies for, civil wrongs not arising out of contractual obligations. Typical tort cases include assault, battery, slip-and-fall, car accidents, etc.</li><li><strong>T.O.R.T.:</strong> Theater of the Relatively Talentless. The UMN equivalent to <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PP5Sw8pLVOc">law revue</a>. See <a href="http://www.tc.umn.edu/%7Etort/">Website</a>.</li><li><strong>Westlaw</strong>: an online research system (like Lexis) that you get access to as a 1L at UMN. Some law schools do not give Westlaw/Lexis access to first year students. Westlaw contains cases, treatises, a legal dictionary, statutes, and more. Do not buy supplemental books that contain statutes or restatements until you check if they are on Westlaw/Lexis first.</li></ul><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29533771-4079076094421970787?l=wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Butterflyfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10107438909973957940noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29533771.post-30005553379551901492009-06-29T15:00:00.000-07:002009-06-29T15:01:06.031-07:00Questions and requests for posts? Post them here.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29533771-3000555337955190149?l=wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Butterflyfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10107438909973957940noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29533771.post-13217367529264195172009-05-19T16:22:00.000-07:002009-05-19T16:35:02.929-07:00First up: at the end of first year Constitutional Law, you will find this video to be hilarious. Really. The Con Luv students from the UVA Libel show knocked this out of the park.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/VESzLBqx7KY&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/VESzLBqx7KY&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />Second: my favorite song about law school. I played this at least once per exam period. Yes, of course the song is an exaggeration, but it has enough truth to make it very funny to me.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/N8ABhatAfsA&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/N8ABhatAfsA&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29533771-1321736752926419517?l=wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Butterflyfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10107438909973957940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29533771.post-48246296565205208612009-05-12T17:36:00.000-07:002009-05-19T16:42:04.034-07:00Ok, Pre-Ls: you're getting ready to get started. You might be moving, buying books, looking at that tuition statement, second guessing your decision and freaking out. You're not alone. So to give you something to do this week before orientation, I thought I'd round up what others have said about law school.<br /><br />Some of these are older posts by those who have since left law school and the world of blogging, but are no less relevant. I've tried to select advice posts that don't directly contradict each other, as well as posts that are funny or painfully true or both.<br /><br /><strong>Advice from this site: </strong><br /><ul><li><a href="http://wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com/2006/08/commercial-study-aids.html">Commercial Study Aids</a>. </li><li><a href="http://wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com/2006/07/casebriefs-outlines-old-exams.html">Casebriefs and Outlines</a>. </li><li><a href="http://wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com/2007/11/dont-jump-gunor-beginning-of-1l-job.html">1L job search</a>. </li></ul><p><strong>Ubiquitous Top Tens: </strong></p><ul><li><a href="http://wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com/2006/07/10-tips-for-first-year.html">10 Tips from Namby</a> </li><li><a href="http://wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com/2007/09/useless-things-i-wish-i-would-have.html">10 Tips from Useless Dicta</a> </li><li><a href="http://ramblingwithoutcause.blogspot.com/2006/08/to-those-about-to-1l-i-salute-you.html">10 Tips from Rambling Without Cause</a></li><li><a href="http://resipsablog.com/2008/08/04/ten-tips-for-future-law-students-how-to-succeed-in-law-school/">10 Tips from Res Ipsa Blog</a></li><br /></ul><p><strong>Other Advice:</strong></p><p><span style="font-style: italic;">Five tips for your summer before law school</span>. <a href="http://www.no634.org/?p=3682">Jansen, No.634</a>.<br /></p><p>Advice if you want to start a law school blog. He's absolutely right about the anonymity. You don't have to be eponymous, and googlenonymousness is good in general, but write as if you fully expect your classmates to read it. Because they will. <a href="http://www.threeyearsofhell.com/archive/005536.php">Three Years of Hell</a>.<br /><br />Some advice from a guy who turned a law blog into a book. <a href="http://jeremyblachman.blogspot.com/2005/08/big-law-school-advice-post-i-still.html">Jeremy Blachman</a> </p><p>Landing a 747. <a href="http://allagainstall.blogspot.com/2008/06/advice-is-same-no-matter-who-you-ask.html">All Against All</a> </p><p>Advice for your first summer job. <a href="http://absentelements.blogspot.com/2007/07/this-is-story-i-heard-while-ago-but.html">Nicolle</a>. </p><p>Laugh. <a href="http://wingsandvodka.blogs.com/blog/best_of/index.html">The Best of Wings and Vodka</a>. </p><p>Re: <strong>Gunners</strong>. <a href="http://lawschooltransplant.com/2007/02/12/shoot-to-kill/">This</a> <a href="http://wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com/2008/02/dont-let-this-happen-to-you.html">is</a> <a href="http://oldcowhand.blogspot.com/2005/10/law-school-gunner-bingo.html">Gunning</a>. Don't be that guy. Being prepared for class, answering questions correctly when called on, working hard and trying to do your best on exams is NOT Gunning.<br /><br /><strong>Humor...</strong></p><p>Ten bad reasons to attend law school. <a href="http://barelylegalblog.blogspot.com/search?q=bad+reasons+for+attending+law+school">Barely Legal</a> (Actually, just read that whole blog.)<br /></p><p>Death of law school naivety. <a href="http://lawbitches.blogspot.com/2006/05/diary-of-1l.html">Law Bitches</a>.</p><p>What it takes to get hired in BigLaw. <a href="http://uclaw.blogspot.com/2007/07/what-it-takes.html">Who Owns the Fox.<br /></a></p><p><span style="font-weight: bold;">LSAT:<br /></span></p><p><a href="http://lsatblog.blogspot.com/">LSAT blog</a>. Wish this guy was around when I was prepping.</p><p><br /></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29533771-4824629656520520861?l=wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Butterflyfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10107438909973957940noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29533771.post-69222920399649020462009-05-04T12:30:00.001-07:002009-05-04T12:34:03.267-07:00Every year around this time, my blog gets inundated with variations on searches for "law review write on". I wrote on to law review, made E-board, and got published (which is a bigger deal at some schools than at others--our law review only publishes three student Notes a year).<br /><br />My Advice:<br /><br />Buy Volokh's book or click this link for tips from <a href="http://volokh.com/posts/1146077225.shtml">Academic Legal Writing</a>.<br /><br />Read it.<br /><br />Done.<br /><br />You're welcome.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29533771-6922292039964902046?l=wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Butterflyfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10107438909973957940noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29533771.post-61853394677204063252009-02-10T10:14:00.000-08:002009-02-10T10:22:14.332-08:00I wrote this to a friend of mine who was about to start her first lawyer job. Looking back, I think that this is the advice I would give anyone about to begin life as a newbie attorney. Or, if nothing else, I wish someone had told me this before I started my first job.<br /><blockquote>Today’s your first day.<br /><br />I am venturing a guess that you may be suffering from a touch of anxiety. If you say no, I’m just going to think that you are lying…I’ve been where you are standing.<br /><br />Knowing the process you’ve gone through to get to where you are about to go, anxiety in any form is totally understandable. You can’t always play it safe, in other words, you have to take a leap without knowing what may be beneath you. Now it’s time to take that first step into this, the unknown fray.<br /><br />You are walking into a situation where you have an excellent pedigree. Every journey you’ve taken in the past has led to this first foray into the professional world. Put it another way: you’ve been educated, you’ve trained and now, you are ready.<br /><br />Here is my advice to you, the new attorney, on your first day: Take risks. Ask questions. Do not fear being wrong. Let the fear of failure motivate you to greatness. Be headstrong but do not be stupid. Don’t judge your position with any of your friends or colleagues, only you can determine whether or not you are in the right situation.<br /><br />As you look at the list of suggestions I have made above, you will likely see what you’ve heard from the countless number of voices that you have sought counsel from. Now, I hope to impart on you something unique.<br /><br />You are about to be on the bottom of the professional food chain. It’s likely that in this illustrious position, when you make a mistake, you hear about it as if you have just committed a mortal sin. Finding positives in a career choice can be daunting when this is what you are faced with day in and day out. This advice is simple: find something that you do in your job that sets you apart from everyone else and treasure it. Live in this moment when you know you are on the absolute top of your form. Finally, do everything you can to get back to this place as often as possible.<br /><br />This is what keeps me coming back day in and day out. This is what makes me know I want to be a lawyer.<br /><br />There are going to be long stressful days ahead. As the new attorney, the one who doesn’t know the ins and outs, you will likely face mountains of adversity. I have complete faith that you will successfully confront whatever comes your way.<br /><br />You are going to be great.</blockquote><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29533771-6185339467720406325?l=wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>The Namby Pambyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04131063162941076828noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29533771.post-71764852165500631002008-07-01T15:42:00.001-07:002008-07-01T16:02:19.318-07:00<em><strong>MN asks</strong>: So what do you do if you can't find anything? If everything has been filled or you can't afford to go 1000 away from where you are now and it's too late for summer school?</em><br /><br />For the sake of having a gender for pronoun purposes, I'm making MN a guy. I am guessing he is taking about summer jobs, though he doesn't indicate if its 1L or 2L summer. He posted the question July 1, which is really late. I would respectfully suggest that not everything has been filled. Just everything that might pay him a salary.<br /><br />If its 1L summer and you don't have anything legal, it is not the worst thing ever. I know many people who didn't do legal work last summer. It made interviews more difficult in the fall, but you know, if you have to wait tables to pay the bills, then that's what you have to do. I still think there is a way to work some legal work if you don't have other demands on your time (like a kid.)<br /><br />Have you contacted solo or small practitioners and volunteer to do 10 hours of legal research and writing a week in exchange for a reference and the chance to sit in on hearings etc.? Even if its a plaintiff's lawyer and you want to do defense work, you will learn something and have the chance to network. Have you contacted local non-profits to see if they or their counsel need a student volunteer? Similar reason.<br /><br />Does it suck to work for free? You bet.<br /><br />But it pays off in experience and something to talk about that will hopefully lead to the job you want.<br /><br />Any others have advice?<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29533771-7176485216550063100?l=wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Butterflyfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10107438909973957940noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29533771.post-81118241732504514642008-05-19T11:57:00.000-07:002008-05-19T11:58:46.638-07:00... is one of the worst things about law school. <br /><br />Open thread -- feel free to vent about waiting for grades, rankings, etc.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29533771-8111824173250451464?l=wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Butterflyfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10107438909973957940noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29533771.post-25074928947959271052008-04-20T12:37:00.001-07:002008-04-20T12:38:17.157-07:00Professor Transparent: <br /><br />"We’re going to read this case even though its mostly no longer good law, because its great. It would be like if the Supreme Court overruled Macbeth. It would still be worth reading."<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29533771-2507492894795927105?l=wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Butterflyfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10107438909973957940noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29533771.post-14341262174761904442008-04-14T04:06:00.000-07:002008-04-14T04:10:33.469-07:00I don't like that "negative" material is the top post of this blog right now. <br /><br />Because I enjoy law school. <br /><br />I love how it has changed the way I approach problem solving. <br /><br />I love that it is been as intellectually stimulating as I had hoped. <br /><br />I love writing exams. I do. When I am well prepared, exams are fun.<br /><br />(Its the being well prepared part that's getting to me now.)<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29533771-1434126217476190444?l=wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Butterflyfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10107438909973957940noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29533771.post-82377093933698887392008-04-07T18:18:00.001-07:002008-04-07T18:39:51.453-07:00I was working an admitted students event this weekend.<br /><br />Preface: I made the choices I made for law school for my reasons. I don't care (much) about prestige or rankings and it won't matter (much) in the work I want. But let us be blunt. Forgetting the US News and the Rankings debate, we can all agree there are the top schools, the also rans, and the rest. We can quibble over the details on the edges of those categories, but the school I chose is squarely among "the rest."<br /><br />There were two people there that had such a skewed view of reality that I wanted to smack them upside the head.<br /><br />One was a man who was about to uproot his family and school-aged children and move halfway across the country to come to my school. He was changing careers because, and I quote, he wanted one of those BigLaw jobs in Not-Very-Nearby Market with the $160k starting salaries.<br /><br />Another wanted to go into legal academia, but admitted he didn't do well enough on the LSATs to get into the schools that would more likely get him into those doors. Still, he said, he really thinks he can do it because his mind totally works on that theoretical level and he's not interested at all in the practical aspects of practicing law.<br /><br />To the first I wanted to say this:<br /><br />What the hell kind of mid-life crisis is this? And if you're seriously going through with this, why would you put your family through this on the 1 in 10,000 chance you will actually land one of those BigLaw jobs coming from a non-prestigious school? I mean, if your scores put you in this tier and you really have no other options, at least go to the similarly ranked school IN YOUR TARGET MARKET. In short, sir, it would be cheaper for your family if you just went ahead and bought the convertible.<br /><br />To the second I wanted to say this:<br /><br />Dooode! You're like 19 years old. You don't want to graduate college and go into the work force. Law school seems like a good plan. You really think you'll be #1 in the class and still do keg stands on the weekend. (Note: I am serious. He talked about keg stands.) I get it. If you're sincere about this being your life's ambition though, Dooode, take a year off, study your ass off for the LSATs, and try again. Cuz if you're not willing to do that, Dooode, the legal academics and you won't ever get along.<br /><br />Instead, I bit my tongue and remembered that these people are grown-ups and free to make whatever decision they think will make them happiest. If you recognize yourself, its not too late.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29533771-8237709393369888739?l=wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Butterflyfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10107438909973957940noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29533771.post-12183358337495497142008-03-27T17:15:00.000-07:002008-03-27T17:32:58.821-07:00<strong>Life the Universe and Everything</strong> asks: <em>Appropriate question??What percentage of your applicants receive scholarship offers. I'm curious here because at the school I'll be visiting, you have to be in the top 25% to retain your scholarship. Top 26% gets you bupkiss. So if say 50% of applicants walk in with $$$, that tells me they're trying to attract students with higher numbers, and plan on screwing them once they're in the door. Obviously in that scenario, half the folks would lose their scholarships. Is this an appropriate/hot button question to ask? I would also want to know how the sections are allocated. I've heard of school stacking a particular section with scholarship students to make it next to impossible to be in the top percent of the class.</em><br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#000099;">This started as a comment in the last post, but got long. See the comments of that post for Useless Dicta's take.</span><br /><br />The first question is absolutely a question you should be asking. You may not get the whole truth on the answer but how they handle it might tell you a lot. My school screwed so many people that was it wasn't even funny. I emerged unscathed with my scholarship in tact, but I was one of the few.<br /><br />Also, if your numbers are *much* better than the school average and you have other reasons for choosing the school besides scholarship money, I would absolutely negotiate, though not at admitted students weekend of course. Applications are down across the board this year. Leverage that knowledge if you can.<br /><br />Example, you're offerred full tuition if you maintain top 25%. Ask for that if you maintain top 50% instead, or 3/4 tuition for top 50%. A friend of mine really did that -- she said "thanks, but I can do better at the the cheaper higher ranked state school" and talked her way to a better deal. Took balls and a good back up plan -- she had a good BATNA (best alternative to negotiated agreement), acceptance at a higher ranked cheaper school that she would be happy enough going to. It was worth it for her. Might work for you if you've got the #'s, a good back up plan, and good reasons why the lower ranked school is otherwise attractive.<br /><br />I would NOT ask about the section stacking -- they won't own up to that and anything you get from the students will be based on hearsay and conjecture.<br /><br />I would ask about the curve. Is it a B- median? Or a B- mean? The latter could mean wider distribution and greater chance that if you do land below the curve in one class, it will kill your chance at keeping a scholarship. <br /><br />Also at my school, 26%-50% still get money, but much much less. Make sure you really get "bupkiss."<br /><br />But I *would* ask how many people receive scholarships in relation to the rank they have to achieve. And what is the NUMBER of people that you're ranked typically against . . . if there are only 75 full time students, #19 in the class is out of luck.<br /><br />Good luck.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29533771-1218335833749549714?l=wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Butterflyfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10107438909973957940noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29533771.post-28627554774001416842008-03-18T17:44:00.000-07:002008-03-18T18:18:38.297-07:00<strong>Life, the universe, and everything</strong> asks: <em>I just received my class assignment for my admitted students weekend. I am scheduled to sit in on a constitutional law class. Can anyone enlighten me about this sort of law? The only thing I know of it is Susan Estrich's opinion that it spoils every law student because everyone wants to practice it, but almost no one gets to. What should I expect?</em><br /><br />Just so you know, I am only answering this question because the asker quoted Douglas Adams and I look for <a href="http://butterflyfish1.blogspot.com/2008/03/notice-and-comment.html">any excuse</a> to quote Douglas Adams. Even Administrative Law.<br /><br />More generally, admitted students weekends are like a big happy open house. They trot out all the law students who actually like it there and have them gush about why they chose this law school over all others, why law school is not <em>really</em> as bad as you've heard, and why its <em>exactly</em> as bad as you've heard, but just not so bad at <u>their</u> school. I should know: I am one of the students my law school trots out, because I am generally very positive about it. Though I am honest with the prospectives. Feel free to ask the "hard questions." You might even get some straight answers, but remember the overall purpose of admitted students weekend is to get you to choose that law school over the others at which you were accepted. Sit back and enjoy the sales presentation, and look for indicators that the place <em>really is</em> the right fit for you.<br /><br />In your case, you know for sure you'll be sitting on a mock class. (I assume that its not an <em>actual</em> Con Law class occurring on a weekend.) You may even get a case or two to read in advance of the class to get a "feel" for the Socratic method. Don't be fooled: the real deal will be a lot more intimidating, for the first few weeks of law school at least. The prof at your admitted students weekend will probably take volunteers, not cold-call on people, and eager almost-1Ls will probably actually volunteer. Again, I don't discourage this as it can be fun. Just don't expect it to reflect the real thing.<br /><br />As to what the prof will actually cover, I have no idea. At my school during our admitted student weekend, we read a famous English criminal law case that involved men lost at sea in a life boat and cannibalism. (Click <a href="http://wings.buffalo.edu/law/bclc/web/dudley.htm">here</a> to read it if you like.) So based on my experience, expect something fun and somewhat controversial in order to generate a lively discussion, but not like "hot button" controversial.<br /><br />As to the Susan Estrich comment: "Con Law" touches nearly everything in the law . . . I'd say everything without the 'nearly,' but law school has made me wary of such definitive statements. What she probably means is people want to practice the <em>sexy</em> areas like free speech, and its true; most people will not get to argue a free speech case before a Circuit court, let alone before the Supremes. That doesn't mean you don't get to do due process, equal protection, and commerce clause arguments. My Family Law and Labor Law classes, for example, have just been Con Law with a focus. <br /><br />(All right, enough. I have to go read for Admin class, otherwise known as "What Would Scalia Do.")<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29533771-2862755477400141684?l=wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Butterflyfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10107438909973957940noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29533771.post-37992133589984487582008-03-10T11:47:00.000-07:002008-03-10T12:35:49.939-07:00alright, i see a bunch of different topics in the questions thread, so i'm going to address what i can.<br /><br /><b>the summer before law school</b><br /><br />as far as the summer before law school, Butterflyfish is correct--you don't need a law job the summer before law school. in fact, it's probably better not to have a law job that summer, because all you'll be doing in law school is law. take a break from it, since you'll be doing law all year from there on out, between law school and summer jobs in legal workplaces. the summer before law school i worked the same two jobs i'd been doing through my year off after undergrad. i was working part-time barcoding books in a library, and i was working full-time waitressing. the barcoding job was mind-numbing, and i hated it, but i needed the money and it was an easy job at a library i had been working in since my second year of undergrad. the waitressing was much better...it was something i knew i'd never be able to try again, and something i had always wanted to try once. that's my suggestion...if there's some kind of summer job you can do for a short period of time before you start law school, something you've never done and always wanted to try, do it. it doesn't have to be anything taxing or academic...specifically, it's probably better for it not to be, so you can come to law school as relaxed and clear-headed as possible.<br /><br /><b>on coming back to school, after working</b><br /><br />to the person who was wondering what it would be like to be working and then coming back to law school--don't worry about the college kids being ahead of you. i wasn't out of school quite as long as you were [one year, not four], but coming straight from undergrad isn't much of an advantage. in fact, it could be an advantage. some people come straight from undergrad to law school when they're really burnt out on school. if you've worked for a couple years and now feel ready to come back, you'll be in a good, fresh mindset--which is <b>everything</b> when starting your 1L year.<br /><br />don't worry about being rusty with studying. law school is completely different from undergrad. it's a different kind of class, a different kind of reading, and a different kind of school experience. you will have a massive amount of adjusting to do to figure out how you best internalize law school information--but so will everyone else, whether they're three months out of undergrad or thirty years out of undergrad. i'm glad i took that time off after undergrad to work...i got some interesting experience, and i came to law school with a fresher, happier mindset than i would have had i gone on straight from undergrad.<br /><br /><b>choosing a law school</b><br /><br />my personal experience in choosing a law school was atypical. at the time i was choosing a school, i was in a serious relationship with a person in St. Louis. i wanted to be near him, but i wanted to go to a law school where i'd have a good time [even if the relationship went south], i'd get a good education, and be able to easily move somewhere else in the midwest if i wanted to. so, Wash U was the only school i applied to, and that's where i went. it turned out to be a great decision...i love the school, i'm still glad i went there even though the relationship ended fall semester of my 2L year, and i got a great job in Chicago for after graduation. that's my background on this issue.<br /><br />what's my suggestion? figure out what's most important to you. if you really want to work public interest, go somewhere where you'll take out the least loans, or even no loans at all. if you have a specific geographic area in mind, look for schools there. if you don't yet have a specific city in mind, then pick a school where you'd enjoy living for three years, but be mindful that the school is well enough regarded in places that you're interested in that you can get your foot in the door. if you plan on working a high-paying job at a large firm, especially if you're not wedded to any specific geographic area, it is probably best to go to a top-tier school if you can get into it, and pay the loans down.<br /><br />whether you're planning on public interest or private sector, geography is a key consideration. unless you're planning on working in one of those really huge markets that are so popular that you don't need geographic connections to work there [New York, DC...], consider seriously going to law school in your chosen market if you're intent on working there. in small to medium markets, employers are extremely concerned about your local connections, and about whether you're actually going to stay in the market for the long haul. so, if you're dead set on a small to medium market, prove your dedication now, and pick a law school there.<br /><br />[<b>ineedhelp</b>, or anyone else...i'm currently a 3L at Wash U, so if you have specific questions about it feel free to email me at <a href="mailto:superherogirl@gmail.com">superherogirl@gmail.com</a>, and i'll be glad to respond!]<br /><br /><b>books</b><br /><br />it's a tradeoff between laziness and penny-pinching. the old editions are mostly like the new ones, but not exactly. if you get the old edition, you'll have to compare it with someone who has the new one, get the different page numbers, and search for the new cases that were put in the book. some books there's very little difference; some books, especially in fields where the law changes a lot, there's a ton. 1L books are probably less likely than most to have major differences, but there are no guarantees.<br /><br />what i usually do for books is order them online. you can get them significantly cheaper from places like amazon and half.com than you can from the bookstore, even if your bookstore sells used books. i never get anything but the most recent edition, because i'm not willing to take the time to compare them to the old editions to see what's different. but, i can usually get a good deal on the newest one if i shop online. it's still pricey, but i feel it's justifiable.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29533771-3799213358998448758?l=wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>nicollehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06716670894851820337noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29533771.post-12096769747020238172008-03-08T07:50:00.000-08:002008-03-08T08:17:15.937-08:00<strong>From Prue</strong>: <em>what should i be doing the the summer between undergrad graduation and starting law school? i am finishing an engineering degree, and to be honest i'm a little burnt out. what i really want to do is be lazy and work in a mindless job, like starbucks. how important is it to get a summer job (or nonpaying one) the summer before law school?</em><br /><em></em><br />You absolutely do <u>not</u> need a legal job the summer before law school. Where do these ideas come from anyway? I saw another comment about getting a legal summer job prior to law school. No one expects that of you and I doubt it provides that much of an edge in the end.<br /><br /><a href="http://wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com/2008/02/1l-summer-do-anything-as-long-as-its.html">1L summer is an entirely different story</a>.<br /><br />But for the summer <em>before </em>law school, take a pottery class or travel someplace awesome or read some great non-fiction. It'll give you at least as much to talk about in an interview than working as a glorified file clerk somewhere. No one ever asks about that summer. In fact, I was a teacher and no one ever asks about the <em><u>six</u></em> summers I had off during that career, though I occasionally work in some interesting stories.<br /><br />Anyway, in my humble opinion, nothing wrong with working at Starbucks for the summer. Just don't put it on the resume unless you have no other work experience . . . ever. Funny thing about legal resumes: my ten working years prior to law school is about three lines, and will eventually be one. As you go through school and do internships and summer jobs, those experiences become what matters. Until you've worked a few years, then those experiences are what matters... etc., etc., etc.<br /><br />What I did: I worked less than part-time teaching LSAT classes, I played with my son, and I <a href="http://wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com/2008/01/go-ahead-call-me-tool-gunner-d-bag.html">prepped.</a><br /><br />Other WIWHK folks? What did you do?<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29533771-1209676974702023817?l=wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Butterflyfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10107438909973957940noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29533771.post-23946734966838521672008-02-23T12:11:00.001-08:002008-02-23T12:14:40.962-08:00Hey 1Ls!<br /><br />You've gotten one semester under your belt. You're either happy with your grades or looking to improve. You've sort of got the hang of things but still find yourself spending too much time on legal skills. <br /><br />We get it. We've been there.<br /><br />Any burning questions?<br /><br />Hey Pre-Ls!<br /><br />Acceptances are rolling in. Or not. Or you're thinking of applying this year.<br /><br />Any requests for posts?<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29533771-2394673496683852167?l=wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Butterflyfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10107438909973957940noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29533771.post-11710005083734899432008-02-17T20:45:00.000-08:002008-02-17T21:44:07.289-08:00grades are back, resumes are in shiny, working order, and it's time to hunt for that 1L summer position. the central idea of the 1L summer position hunt is as follows--<b>it doesn't matter what you do, as long as it's something legal</b>. this includes firm jobs, public interest jobs, summer school, and study abroad. take your pick, as long as it has something to do with the law.<br /><br />if you know what field you want to be in and can't seem to find a job in that field yet, don't despair. it won't hinder your ability to get a job in your chosen field next summer. the only real constraint i suggest is that if you're planning on going anywhere but an enormous market like New York or Washington, DC...do whatever you can to be in that market of your choice over the summer. if you want to go to a huge city, it's not such a big deal, because they assume everyone wants to move to the big city whether you have local ties or not. <br /><br />but, if you know you want to make your career in a specific medium- to small-size city, local ties are key. if you have family there, if you grew up there, that's good. but, whether you do or not, you need to start making ties to the legal community and showing your desire to work in that market. get a summer position there if at all possible. if you don't get a position, you're not definitely out of luck if you want to work there your 2L summer...but you may be behind if you're vying for a position against someone who did work in that town the previous summer. so, it's better to lay your foundation now if you can.<br /><br />if you have had a law-related job before law school, that's no substitute for having a law-related job your 1L summer. law-related jobs before law school are valuable because they put you in the position to see what happens in legal workplaces and make a far more educated decision about whether you want to be in law school in the first place. however, you are not a lawyer, or even a law student, in these pre-law school jobs. you do not get substantive legal work of the type that a law student or lawyer would get--or, at least, you should not, because that would be malpractice.<br /><br />you also don't get substantive legal work during your first year of law school...you read cases, get grilled by your professors, and write papers for legal writing. you don't have real clients. you don't have the context of a real case. you learn crucial case analysis skills your first year of law school, but that's only a small slice of legal work. you need to actually work for a lawyer, interact with clients, and work in a legal environment as a legal professional. the only law school experience that gives you this is clinical work--something that first years just don't get.<br /><br />if you want to travel during the summer, try finding some kind of international internship. often law schools or public interest organizations will provide opportunities to do public interest legal work abroad. these programs are generally available to first-year law students, and first-years have a great chance of getting to do them because so many second years plan to stay in the states and do jobs that will hopefully lead to a permanent position after third year. that way, you'll be able to spend a lot of time out of the country...but still experience having clients, and be able to show a commitment to doing legal work come next fall, when interviewers will be asking about your legal experience.<br /><br />if you can't find any legal job that you are interested in, your other option is to do summer school, either at your institution or through a study abroad program. i don't recommend this if there's any way you can work in a legal office, because [as i've already mentioned] law school and law practice are so different. but, you'll still be further ahead if you take summer legal classes than you will be if you don't do anything legal at all over the summer. you need to make it clear that you want to devote your life to legal work, and taking law classes over the summer still shows that you're interested in learning as much as you can about the field. it's not the same as having clients, but it's still pertinent to the field and you can make convincing arguments about how your summer study will make you a better legal intern at your 2L summer job.<br /><br />in short...make sure you're doing something this summer that pertains to the law. it shows dedication to the field, and you'll gain valuable experience. it doesn't have to be in the legal subfield in which you want to practice forever; as long as what you're thinking of doing interests you, go for it. don't worry about getting pigeonholed into the field where your 1L job is; my 1L summer job was nothing like my 2L job, and most people i know can say the same.<br /><br />almost every 1L does something legal their first summer, either a legal job or summer school--the opportunities are out there, and you will be at a distinct disadvantage if you don't seize one of them and are up for a 2L summer job against someone who did gain legal experience that summer.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29533771-1171000508373489943?l=wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>nicollehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06716670894851820337noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29533771.post-69421618329174022332008-02-09T07:00:00.000-08:002008-02-09T07:11:00.698-08:00I was reading a post on a law student blog and the author, in her second semester of law school, was wondering why several of her otherwise perfectly normal classmates have suddenly become asshats. <br /><br />Little did she know its a common disorder seen among the law student population.<br /><br /><u>Sudden Asshat Syndrome</u>: afflicts otherwise ok but insecure law students who keep their heads down and work hard first semester and don't draw attention to themselves. Until... they get a couple of good grades and decide what they have to say is more important than what other people have to say.<br /><br />Symptoms: <br />1) Interrupting professor to correct a misstatement about the facts. Because its mission critical to recall exactly how many feet Mrs. Palzgraff was from the explosion.<br />2) Raising hand to tell rambling personal stories only tangentially related to anything. Unless it begins, "This one time, at band camp" AND ends with the blue-haired professor passing out from shock, skip it.<br />3) Spinnging irrelevant hypotheticals: Ok, so I get why he gets the <em>fox</em>, but what if it was a <em>beaver</em>? And instead of shooting it, he clubbed it to death? Would that make a difference?<br /><br />Cure: none. Because even future bad grades tend not to make them shut up. Once the beast is loosed, its never going back in the cage.<br /><br />Remedial measures: ear plugs.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29533771-6942161832917402233?l=wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Butterflyfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10107438909973957940noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29533771.post-75555784229889582582008-02-04T06:27:00.000-08:002008-02-04T17:21:30.500-08:00A reader asks: <em>I have heard from several sources, none of which actually have been to law school, that once a student has passed the bar exam, the caliber of school he/she attended doesn't really matter. What are your ideas on this (and I'm not referring to Harvard or Yale as options)? </em><br /><br />From what I understand, the bar exam thing you heard is crap. C-r-a-p crap, and this is coming from someone who would desparately wish that were true because I go to a low tier school. (I got into a Tier 1 school... deep into the list, but Tier 1 all the same and didn't go <em>because</em> of, well... read the blog... ugh I hate the need to justify my choices but law school can make you a prestige whore).<br /><br />Nearly everyone does a commercial bar prep course (read: BarBri) beause law school does <em>nothing</em> to prepare you for the bar. My school has like a 92% pass rate -- that's not gonna help me get a damn job. Most schools are between 79-95% for first time takers. So if that theory were true, than once you passed the bar, 79-95% of law school graduates would have no trouble finding work in their field. And that just ain't true!!!!<br /><br />Maybe the "advice" you heard could be better phrased "Fewer people care what law school you went to after you've worked your first job for a few years."<br /><br />There is a HUGE difference. Because the law school often opens the door to that first job. Many on my blogroll passed the bar but are doing jobs as contract attorneys reviewing documents in a law firm basement with no benefits and half the starting salary of their "peers" who went to better schools and/or had better connections and/or had better grades. This does not "count" as a job to BigLaw firms, or indeed many jobs where people eventually want to work.<br /><br />So if what you want is the law firm job, starting salary 145k, expecting to work 80 hours a week in a big city market ... go to the highest ranked school you get into and get the best grades you can. <strong><em>EDITED TO ADD</em></strong>: <em>assuming the "highest ranked" school is pretty highly ranked. Beyond the scope of this post to discuss ranking and job prospects in more detail. see comments and future posts.</em><br /><br />If that's NOT what you want -- and realistically, its something only available to a small fraction of law grads -- go where you will be happy. Go to the school with the market in which you want to work, do lots of internships and network your ass off to get the legal job of your dreams.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29533771-7555578422988958258?l=wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Butterflyfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10107438909973957940noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29533771.post-32356984402375957162008-01-27T22:28:00.000-08:002008-01-27T07:30:16.247-08:00Law school groupie asks: <em>How difficult is the reading at first? One persons advice was to start reading Hemingway to prepare your brain. I also kind of wonder how much the stress can get to a person. Basically, I'm afraid of crying myself to sleep a lot of nights. </em><br /><br /><em></em><br />I don't know about Hemingway -- I didn't much care for <em>Old Man and the Sea</em>.<br /><br />But the summer before law school, I was one of those people who did some "prep."<br /><br />(Let the name-calling begin).<br /><br />Ok, if you're all done, hear me out.<br /><br />I had no idea as to what to expect from law school. I had no friends who had been to law school. I knew no lawyers. I knew no paralegals. I had never been involved in a lawsuit in any way. I was older. I had a child and my husband was overseas and I was terrified.<br /><br />So I took control in the only way I knew how -- I started reading. I read law student blogs, I read <em>Law School Confidential</em> (mostly useless -- I still don't highlight for book briefing and color coding makes me nauseous) and <em>Planet Law School</em> (negative but pointed me to other books) and <em>Getting to Maybe </em>(very useless).<br /><br />I didn't do the whole prep regimen recommended by <em>Planet Law School</em>, but I did like the premise -- read up on some substantive law before school starts so it doesn't sound totally new and alien; get a head start on learning the black letter law so when you're given a quagmire of a reading assignment, you sort of have an idea how you'll come out.<br /><br />Also, he recommended that once school starts, do practice exams early and often, which is great advice.<br /><br />So the summer before law school, I read most of Aspen's <em>Examples&amp; Explanations on Torts </em>by Glannon. I read some of the <em>Contracts</em> and <em>Civ Pro</em> E&amp;E. I am glad I didn't read the <em>Crim </em>E&amp;E because my prof kind of had his own black letter law, so I cannot attest to its usefulness.<br /><br />Did it help? I honestly don't know. I had less time than my classmates to puzzle it all out, I had less time to devote to the study of law and to briefing cases (which I more or less abandoned early) and to spinning my wheels. I needed what I was doing to never be a waste of my precious time.<br /><br />This blog is about <em>what I wish I would have known. </em>Having it to do over, I would have done the same thing regarding the prep. To this day I don't know how truly "helpful" it was to my grades or to my understanding, but I think it helped me manage the stress to feel I was somewhat in control.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29533771-3235698440237595716?l=wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Butterflyfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10107438909973957940noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29533771.post-37106999570967140642008-01-12T11:52:00.001-08:002008-01-12T11:59:40.082-08:00Excerpts from recent reader email thinking about going to law school:<br /><br />Female reader asks: <em>I am newly married, and I am concerned about what kind of stress being a student again would put on my marriage . . . I guess what I am asking is, how do you juggle it all? What should a 1L expect as far as work load? Is it the equivalent of an 8hr day? 10hr day? or longer? </em><br /><br />Yes, its stressful on a marriage. I did the first half of 1L with a kid here and a husband overseas. Things didn't get truly hard until he came back! Its an adjustment. The thing about law school, especially first year, is that its kind of all-consuming -- in both a good and bad way. Its all you want to do, think about, talk about. And you'll want him to understand it too, and he'll think its like any other grad program. And its not. I've got a Masters. Law school is different.<br /><br />At no law school I know do you have control over your first year schedule. Expect it to be 5 days a week and run from 8 til 4 or 9-5. You'll get crazy little breaks in between. Like college, Torts three days a week, 90 minutes a class, followed by an hour break, followed by Crim twice a week, etc. If you maximize those breaks -- like you disappear into the law library and work, you can avoid bringing a lot home. Most people don't maximize those breaks; they socialize over a long lunch, etc.<br /><br />Then have to go home and read 60 pages by the next day. And 60 pages of law reading is just NOT the same as 60 pages of Harry Potter, or even a college text. At least at first. (Well, it'll never be Harry Potter, but it gets easier).<br /><br />Short answer, expect 8-10 hour day plus a full weekend day (or two half days), more at exam time. Some would say I am underplaying it -- I know some who did 12 hour weekdays plus a weekend day. I know others who do it in a lot less.<br /><br />And grades don't necessarily correlate directly to the hours spent.<br /><br />I try to be home in time to spend a few hours with my son and husband. I either go to bed early and wake up early to read, or I read after the "boys" are in bed.<br /><br />With a long commute, there are study aids on CD you can listen to in your car. I don't know how good they are, but read other posts in this blog, other law student blogs and ask around online. Law students are very helpful ... when they're not in your class at a competitive school.<br /><br /><em>Any others from the wishiwouldhaveknown crew care to chime in? edit the post and add to it, or do so in the comments.</em><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29533771-3710699957096714064?l=wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Butterflyfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10107438909973957940noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29533771.post-72528118995791229352008-01-03T18:56:00.000-08:002008-01-03T19:06:43.105-08:00If you haven't already figured out that most university bookstores charge outrageous prices for law books then hopefully this blog post will save you a few bucks in the future. <br /><br />The internet is your best friend when it comes to buying books for law school. I have found Barnes and Noble to be the best deal, invest in a $25.00 yearly membership and you will save hundreds over the course of the year just buying your law books alone (plus you also get discounts on fun books for reading on that well deserved summer vacation). Example: 2 casebooks for the upcoming Spring semester were going to cost me $260.00 at the university bookstore, the same 2 casebooks (brand new) cost me $175 on Barnes and Noble (after my membership discount). That left me with enough cash to buy commerical outlines to go with those 2 classes and still come out at only $211 total. Pretty good deal in my opinion!<br /><br />Amazon and Half.com are other good places to check for law school books. Sometimes you do get unlucky and end up having to go to the bookstore, but for the most part I have been pretty lucky in ordering all of mine online and saving about $80-100 each semester. <br /><br />Good luck to everyone starting their 2nd semesters and enjoy what's left of the WAY too short break!!!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29533771-7252811899579122935?l=wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Useless Dictahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11024022003063070493noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29533771.post-19394080686450817532008-01-02T06:30:00.000-08:002008-01-02T06:35:48.858-08:00Hey 1Ls,<br /><br />Hope you had a great break and New Year. Some of you may be back to class this week. More will be back to class next week.<br /><br />But who gives a sh*t, right? You don't yet have the one thing you want more than anything else right now: your damn grades. <br /><br />Sure, maybe your professor actually graded everything already (hahahhahahha *wipes tear*), but the administration has been snowboarding since three days before Christmas, so nothing has been posted. Today, they might be back at work. Maybe.<br /><br />But you probably haven't gotten any grades yet... and that won't change soon, no matter how many times you hit refresh on the browser.<br /><br />Its ok to be a little anxious about these grades.<br /><br />But try not to freak out too much.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29533771-1939408068645081753?l=wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Butterflyfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10107438909973957940noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29533771.post-89563686949246870132007-12-23T20:24:00.000-08:002007-12-23T20:34:48.816-08:00congratulations.<br /><br />by now, you all should be done with your finals. to all you 1Ls...congratulations on making it through one of the most foreign, stressful, and unsettling experiences of your life.<br /><br />finals weeks get easier after this. they never get objectively easy...finals are hard, and will require late nights of studying even as an upperclassman. but, the more law school finals you take, the better idea you'll have on how to take them in the future. as much advice as we can try to give here, it's no substitute for experience. it's no substitute for familiarity with the stressful testing environment. it's no substitute for wading through those fact patterns, shoving the stress to the back of your mind, flipping through that immaculately-tabbed outline [if you're fortunate enough to have a open-book final], and spotting as many issues as you can in the three hours you have.<br /><br />and now, here's my advice for what to do over the next couple weeks:<br /><br />relax. have fun. spend time with your friends. party. stay out all night. stay in bed all day. watch football, or watch some bad reality television. read books that have nothing to do with the law.<br /><br />overdose on all the things you had to eschew during finals and in the weeks leading up to it. you've earned it. ♥<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29533771-8956368694924687013?l=wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>nicollehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06716670894851820337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29533771.post-38000343222779970622007-12-03T16:55:00.000-08:002007-12-03T17:02:04.102-08:00If you are a 1L (or a law student for that matter) and you are sitting inside your law library or law school reading this post while you procrastinate on studying for your exams GET OUT OF THE LAW SCHOOL NOW!<br /><br />I posted my musings on coffee shop studying over at <a href="http://uselessdicta.blogspot.com/2007/12/coffee-shops.html"> Useless Dicta</a> earlier today. I am now back from said coffee shop and am happy to report that I managed to knock out 1/2 of my evidence outline in 4.5 hours of coffee shop studying today. (and I'm the biggest procrastinator in the world so it's kind of a huge deal that I sat down for 4.5 hours straight and got some serious work done). <br /><br />I don't know why it took me so long to figure out that studying in the law school actually impedes my progress due to all of the stress in the air, but it does. Actually, I kind of figured out that the stress inside the law building was not conducive to my studying during the first week of first semester exams last year, but instead of finding a good study spot off campus to study I made the bigger mistake of trying to study at home. There are WAY too many distractions at home to try and get any kind of substantial work done during exam periods. <br /><br />Anyways, the point of this rambling is that if you are finding yourself unable to get anything done or even convience yourself to get started on studying for exams then a change of scenery just might do the trick. <br /><br />I wish I would have known just how crazy law students can be when exam season comes a knocking.........and I wish I would have known about the cheap refill policy on coffee at the coffee house up the street..........<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29533771-3800034322277997062?l=wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Useless Dictahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11024022003063070493noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29533771.post-91229124765678508172007-11-18T15:57:00.000-08:002007-11-18T17:16:11.843-08:00i'm sure all you 1Ls have been inundated with material from career services lately: flyers, seminars, and mandatory meetings. they weren't allowed to talk to you before november 1st, and now they are acting as if they need to make up for the last few months that they lost with you, thanks to NALP regulations.<br /><br />i wish i had known to tell them to stuff it, at least until after finals.<br /><br />they were convinced that the first month they could talk to you, 1L november, was the crucial be-all and end-all of 1L job-hunting time. they were so intent on telling 1Ls everything they ever needed to know about career services during that month.<br /><br />i shouldn't have put up with it. you shouldn't put up with it.<br /><br />think about job hunting after finals. get your finals done, and then talk to career services about how to fix your resume, how to interview, and how to target your job search. the job hunting process is long, involved, and stressful--and is nothing you have to worry about until after your finals are done. good grades on your finals will get you further in any legal field than a couple of extra weeks of visits to the career services office ever will.<br /><br />have that "mandatory" meeting with the career services office...eventually. it <i>may</i> be helpful.¹ but, if at all possible, do it after finals. you have enough to worry about before then.<br /><br />that leads to another thing: <b>do not</b> send the december 1st Santa-Sack of resumes out to law firms. yes, december 1 is the first day you can send applications to law firms. but, the time you spend preparing the mass mailing is time that you can spend either studying for finals, or at least getting some much-needed relaxation in--which will allow you to face finals with a calmer and fresher attitude.<br /><br />the resume mass-mail on december 1 almost never works. i know a lot of people who did it--and only one ended up with a job. the vast majority of firms either ignore the mad december 1 resume drop, or they send you back letters telling you to apply again after you actually have some grades to show them.<br /><br />if you have a firm or two that you're truly interested in, it may not hurt to send the resume out on december 1 and see what happens if you have your resume ready. but, don't fret about it too much. don't worry if you don't have your resumes ready on december 1. concentrate on finals--if you want a firm job, you're going to be far less likely to get one if your grades on your finals aren't good. there is no use sacrificing a great resume for a minuscule chance at a summer position. it's better to apply after finals, when your grades are out or just about to come out. then, they'll finally have the information they want for evaluation--and your grades will be better because you spent your time in the finals mindset and not the job hunting mindset.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">***<br />¹ i'm trying not to rule out the idea of some career counselors at some schools being helpful. but, from most of what i've heard, they're not all that helpful. mine never were. they seem very focused on getting students into big-firm jobs, and even then they don't provide any creative tips. it's all along the lines of "have high grades and send out your resume a lot." yes, those are all good things to do, but it's not the be-all and end-all of the job searching process. if there is anyone who contributes here, or reads this blog, who did have a good and helpful experience with the career services office, i'd love to hear it. me? i got my job searching advice from the excellent book, <u>guerrilla tactics for getting the legal job of your dreams</u> by kimm alayne walton. that book is more helpful than any ten career counselors i've ever met. it's clear, it's interesting to read, and it provides more diverse advice than the career services office ever will.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29533771-9122912476567850817?l=wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>nicollehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06716670894851820337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29533771.post-65109652008173247322007-11-07T06:42:00.000-08:002007-11-07T06:56:55.924-08:00One thing I Wish I Would Have Known before starting law school: <b> Finding a Job After Law School is Harder Than You Think</b>.<br /><br />I am finishing up my first semester of my second year, so while I have had to do a summer job search and I am now starting to try to figure out if I can get an internship and job for next semester and the upcoming summer, I have not yet had to go through the nightmare of finding employment after graduation. Before I came to law school I had this naive impression that you go to law school for 3 years, you pass the bar, and then *Poof* you become an attorney with a $90,000+ paycheck. <br /><br />Oh how wrong I was. It's great if you are in the top 10% and can get an OCI job that turns into a job offer for after graduation before you even start your last year of law school (not to mention the paycheck that goes with these jobs is pretty hefty). But what if you aren't in the top 10%? I know I have said it before and I will say it again: <b>90% of your class will NOT be in the top 10%</b>. It seems simple enough, but it is oh so easy to forget. <br /><br />So if you are going to law school thinking that you will put in your 3 years and come out with a fantastic job, think again. It is totally possible to find a great job, but the jobs are not just going to land in your lap. In addition to surviving 3 years of law school you will also have to be ready to embark upon some serious networking and job hunting while you are in school. Trying to balance everything can be a challenge. Those who work hard tend to find jobs either before or right after graduating and passing the bar, but those who think that because they have a law degree they should be able to just have a job handed to them are usually in for a rude awakening, and it really sucks if your first student loan bill comes while you are still unemployed. <br /><br />So how do I know all of this if I'm just a 2L? Well, I have friends who are 3Ls and I have never seen them so stressed out before. November 1 really seemed to be the signal to all of the 3Ls without job offers to kick the stress into high gear. I hope that I won't be in their position next year, but I likely will be. I really don't think anyone can emphasize enough the importance of making connections with practicing attorneys and getting <i>practical</i> experience while you are in law school (internships, clinics, law clerking, etc). It is a lot easier to find a job if you know people in the field and you have some legal experience on your resume. Career services tells students this kind of stuff all of the time and yet a lot of people don't seem to listen. There is always a handful of people who make it to their 3rd year having never really worked in a law related job and who know nobody in the profession.<br /><br />If you are really sure that you want to go to law school don't let the horror stories of unemployed recent graduates scare you away, just be prepared going in to work hard in school and to be diligent about taking the necessary steps to get a job well before graduation day finally arrives.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29533771-6510965200817324732?l=wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Useless Dictahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11024022003063070493noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29533771.post-13058474534209419712007-11-02T08:54:00.000-07:002007-11-02T09:23:01.358-07:00It's the most horrible time of the year. <br /><br />The ghosts and goblins have gone away for another year, the stores around town are kicking themselves into Christmas Cheer overdrive, and panic is beginning to descend upon law students across the nation. <br /><br />In case you haven't been paying attention or counting down FINALS are now right around the corner, some maybe even less than a month away. If any of you were like me last year, it is likely that this has caught you off guard and that you too are now starting to panic. Despite the dread you are now feeling, you just have to know that you need to keep going and that eventually all bad things really do come to an end. It may not seem possible right now, but I really can promise that there is a light at the end of the first semester law school tunnel. <br /><br />I think one of the reasons I panicked the most was because everyone was talking about this mysterious thing called "Outlining" but I had no idea what the heck an "Outline" for a first year law course was supposed to look like by the time I was finished. This paralyzed me somewhat and I ended up with <a href="http://uselessdicta.blogspot.com/2006/11/its-most-horrible-time-of-year.html">10 Days</a> until my first exam and I still had NOTHING done, not even 1 outline was started!<br /><br />While I certainly don't recommend this approach to anyone, I can say that I survived my first semester and I came out ready to face second semester with a different approach to studying that ended up resulting in higher grades in my second semester. <br /><br />What you should be doing at this point of the semester is either continue staying on top of your studying/outlining/flash cards/ or you should spend this weekend drafting a "study plan" that you are comfortable with so that you can get started on preparing and still leave yourself some free relaxation time to recover a bit over Thanksgiving weekend. I have been procrastinating as usual, but I do have my "study plan" for this semester ready to go, I'm posting my schedule for my Evidence material since that is my first exam of the exam period:<br /><br />Nov 5- Nov 7: Outline Relevance (Rules 401-404)<br />Nov 8 and 9: Outline Character Evidence (Rules 406-412)<br />Nov 12-15: Outline Hearsay and Exceptions (Rules in the 600's)<br />Nov 19 and 20: Outline Expert Witnesses and Testimony (Rules 701-704)<br />Nov 27-19: Review outline, make changes, and add material from class lectures on Nov 20 and Nov 27.<br /><br />You'll notice that I have scheduled nothing on the weekends (this is to preserve my sanity) and that I have taken a break for the entire thanksgiving period.<br /><br />Good luck to everyone as you start getting ready for finals!!!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29533771-1305847453420941971?l=wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Useless Dictahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11024022003063070493noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29533771.post-18980589905304568522007-11-01T07:35:00.001-07:002007-11-01T08:27:22.578-07:00november has rolled around. that means it's almost time to pick classes for next semester.<br /><br />these musings pertain a little less to the 1Ls now than it does to the 2Ls and 3Ls, but it's good for you 1Ls to have this in your mind when spring comes and you get to sign up for your 2L classes. my advice boils down to one simple principle:<br /><br /><b>don't take bar classes for the sake of taking bar classes.</b><br /><br />there's a reason that almost everyone takes a bar prep course: specifically, to become familiar with the topics and questions on the bar in a way that will prepare you to pass the bar. even if a law school class covers a topic that is on your state bar, the professor probably does not teach it in a way that is useful for the test, and the class is not going to focus on the specific law in your jurisdiction, the law that you're going to have to know for your state bar. in fact, <a href="http://law.bepress.com/expresso/eps/1889/">a recent study has shown</a> that there's no statistically significant correlation for most students between how many "bar classes" they take and if they pass.¹ leave your bar exam worries until after graduation, while you are actually taking your bar course--the only thing you'll ever take that's targeted at passing that test.<br /><br />there's an even more important reason not to take bar classes for the sake of bar classes--your sanity. remember: if you sign up for a class, you are stuck with it for an entire semester. do you want to be stuck taking corporations for an entire semester if you don't plan on taking corporate law, just for the sake of a test a year and a half in the future, for which you're going to have to learn the topic all over again right before the test? probably not. you'll be much happier taking classes because the subject matter looks interesting, or because they are being taught by professors you enjoy working with.<br /><br />law school is frustrating enough sometimes, whether you are taking classes you like or classes you don't like. any class you take will demand a significant amount of your time. make all that time you spend doing schoolwork as pleasant as possible: let your interests and passions guide your course selection instead of letting a cut-and-dried list of bar topics guide it.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">***<br />¹ according to the study, there was a weak but statistically significant correlation between taking bar classes and passing the bar for students in the third quartile of their classes. there was not a statistically significant correlation for students in the first, second, or fourth quartiles of their classes.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29533771-1898058990530456852?l=wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>nicollehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06716670894851820337noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29533771.post-77708282709160963812007-10-18T19:17:00.000-07:002007-10-18T19:24:59.209-07:00What you should be good at by now:<br /><br />Getting through your reading through book-briefing or mini-briefing (two-three sentence briefs) and/or some combination of supplementary aids.<br />Beerpong (so I've been told having never played it myself)<br />Getting over yourself.<br /><br />What you should be doing right now:<br /><br />Getting hold of practice exams and working on them -- find the questions you know stuff about. Bounce possible answers off a trusted friend/study partner/or better still, your prof. Yes, right now.<br />Outlining. Yes, right now.<br /><br />Get on it now before you have some ridiculousness due for legal skills at the end of the semester.<br /><br />Now, scoot.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29533771-7770828270916096381?l=wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Butterflyfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10107438909973957940noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29533771.post-63733661506442447572007-09-18T06:49:00.001-07:002007-09-18T07:18:10.668-07:00amen, amen, a million times amen to #1.<br /><br />(this started as a comment to Useless Dicta's last post, but it started to get so long that i decided to make it a new entry to the blog.)<br /><br />i didn't quite realise what a drama factory law school was until i was a 2L. i was a little dense. to be fair, i came to law school as part of a couple, a pretty long-term one...and the drama is always a lot less when you're paired up than when you're single. i was just oblivious. it really didn't matter a whole lot what was going on. i wasn't really a part of the drama. i had my friends that i met through activities or through class, but there was always the whole significant other thing. i didn't do anything scandalous with my classmates, and i didn't care what kinds of scandalous things my classmates were doing with each other.<br /><br />(although, i'm not quite sure how much of the second one was the fact that i was taken, and how much of it was the fact that people in college were so nice about staying out of everyone else's business--and the naivete that bred.)<br /><br />then, pretty early in my 2L year...i was a single gal again. i had a new, clearer eye through which to see all of the drama going on around the law school, and it is like high school. the law school world became a little more interesting to me, since it had inadvertently become my entire universe...i'm not from st. louis, and so all the people i saw on a regular basis were truly tied to the law school. that was fine, i had close friends, and as supportive of a law school world as a girl could hope for.<br /><br />but...i can't believe i had been so oblivious for so long. everyone knew everyone else's business. 1L, 2L, 3L...it really doesn't matter. be prepared for everyone to know a little more about you than you want to. i don't even know if high school is the right comparison...law school is more like the size of a middle school. (to be fair, i went to a fairly large high school.) law school is small. it's insular. people can be really, really catty under the stress of law school, and it's only exacerbated by the fact that most people spend almost all of their time around law students.<br /><br />the best advice i have? what i wish i knew coming in? just...brace yourself for the most vicious rumour mill you've seen since you were thirteen. don't take it too personally when rumours start to fly about you or your friends. if anyone asks about them, feel free to clarify, but don't be surprised when your attempts to clarify what [salacious circumstances/rivalries/insert subject of rumour here] actually went on fall on deaf ears. keep living your life, and stay close to your friends because they can keep you sane as well as be a valuable aegis against your cattier classmates.<br /><br />and, if you want to go to that house party and make out with that cutie in your torts class, don't be surprised if people ask you about it the next week.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29533771-6373366150644244757?l=wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>nicollehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06716670894851820337noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29533771.post-89654653559484608542007-09-17T14:55:00.000-07:002007-09-17T15:45:25.697-07:00Like Butterflyfish and others I have apparently "passed the write on" and now I get to contribute all kinds of Useless things to the Wish I Would Have Known blog, so here it goes :) I'm usually blogging about useless things relating to law school and life in general over at <a href= "http://www.uselessdicta.blogspot.com"> Useless Dicta </a>. <br /><br />Ten Useless Things I Wish I Would Have Known before starting law school:<br /><br /> 1. Law school can be a lot like high school, you should try your best not to get caught up in useless drama.<br /><br /> 2. Non-Law school friends are the best lifesavers in the world, it's nice to be able to get away from the law school crowd even if it is only for an hour a week.<br /><br /> 3. Going to some classes can be seriously overrated. If you always leave class having not learned anything new or having not taken any notes it's probably a sign that it's okay to skip once in a while to help lighten the load.<br /><br /> 4. You will not learn anything from your legal writing professor or the legal writing class, what you will learn to do is going to happen on your own time outside of class on your own time.<br /><br /> 5. 90% of the people in your class will not be in the top 10%, this may seem like simple stupid elementary school math, but the sooner you realize the reality of these odds the sooner you will learn to chill out and just do your best and not obsess over not being "good enough."<br /><br /> 6. Law school is not as glamorous as Elle Woods made it seem in <i> Legally Blonde </i>.<br /><br /> 7. Law school (and in particular Contracts) is not as bad as the movie <i> The Paper Chase </i> would have you believe.<br /><br /> 8. Find a good place to study off campus, this could be at home or it could be somewhere else, but being in the law building when exams approach is the fastest way to stress yourself out. Law students, and 1Ls in particular feed on each others stress, don't be a part of it if you don't have to be.<br /><br /> 9. Resist the urge to check your 1st semester grades until after Christmas and New Years. The holidays can be stressful enough, don't add first semester grades to that mix, it's a recipe for disaster.<br /><br /> 10. No matter what happens first semester try your best to put it behind you once grades come out and start the second semester with a fresh slate. If you do great first semester you don't want to put a ton of pressure on yourself to do the same second semester because all of that stress can and does lead some people to disaster. And if you did not so great your first semester you don't have to settle for mediocrity, people can and do turn around second semester but dwelling on bad grades is not going to help with any endeavor of trying to improve. <br /><br />Until next time, happy studying!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29533771-8965465355948460854?l=wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Useless Dictahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11024022003063070493noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29533771.post-64372274698352389462007-09-15T12:05:00.000-07:002007-09-15T08:41:43.739-07:00I think the biggest question I had as a Pre-L / One-L was about supplements. In fact, the Lawbitches did a nice post about it on this site -- check the archives.<br /><br />You're a month into law school and maybe just starting to get the hang of it. So of course, the prof's are ratcheting up the reading assignments and you may start to feel a little overwhelmed. You're looking for an out. You think, f--k it, I'll buy a bunch of supplements.<br /><br />My thoughts, in no particular order:<br /><br />"Supplemental material" like commercial outlines and case briefs, aren't as useful toward the end of the semester as you would think. Get what you're going to use early, refer to it often during the semester... even when it feels like you don't have time. Its worth losing an hour of sleep now to know what's going on at finals time. Ideally, you should only have to review at finals... not learn it.<br /><br />Casebooks can leave you feeling bogged down in minutiae. Supplements are great for big picture before you do your casebook reading... if you do casebook reading. (See discussion of Con Law in prior post).<br /><br />Don't be the girl who brings commercial case briefs to class, and reads from it aloud in front of the professor when called on. Unless you're in a REALLY big class and can get away with it. There are no true short cuts, but there are ways to be more efficient.<br /><br />There is no "right" supplemental material -- and what you need varies by class. There is no secret -- Emanuels versus Gilberts? High Court versus Legalines? Doesn't matter, really. I only used case briefs in two classes, for example, and a commercial outline in one.<br /><br />However, the Examples and Explanations series is terrific in Torts and Contracts, and to a lesser extent effective for Property and Civ Pro. Get these.<br /><br />Buy supplements used on Amazon if possible.<br /><br />You don't have to buy the hornbook if its recommended but not required. Its in the lawbrary. You can read it there, when need be.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29533771-6437227469835238946?l=wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Butterflyfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10107438909973957940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29533771.post-88910574651109851322007-09-12T11:22:00.000-07:002007-09-12T11:36:13.431-07:00i saw michelle's comment asking how we study, so i thought i'd chime in.<br /><br />as far as con law goes, i have one word: chemerinsky. it bears repeating...chemerinsky. he has a soft-cover treatise on constitutional law, and it's the con law bible. i read that treatise in lieu of the casebook, at the end of the semester, and con law was my highest grade that semester. i didn't outline, or even look very much at my (almost nonexistent) notes...i just depended on old erwin to pull me through, and that he did.<br /><br />i'm usually not so cavalier about not doing the reading. my con law class was just plain weird...i had a professor who talked to us as if we were philosophy grad students instead of law students. (he was a philosophy professor by trade, who taught law on the side.) his lectures were...opaque to put it nicely, or unintelligible to put it bluntly. he called on people in seating chart order, so you knew exactly what day you were going to be called on.<br /><br />for any of my other classes, my regimen goes a little like this:<br /><ul><li>stay on top of the reading for class. take notes in the book on things that jump out to help with class participation, and take good notes in class about what was discussed.</li><li>at the end of the semester, right before the final, condense the material from the notes into an outline. outlining is a forced comprehensive review of the class, and involves running through the material from beginning to end, to refresh my memory.</li><li>some classes are harder to outline or condense than others. that is where study aids come in. i don't buy study aids for every class, or even the majority of them, but i find myself quite partial to the "CaseNote" canned briefs, if i'm using a book that has a CaseNote volume keyed to it. CrunchTime is also a good series, because it is very clear, and has good practice problems to run through and discuss.</li></ul>that's it. i did a lot of playing around my first semester, figuring out what would help me studywise, but that is what i have settled on now that i'm two years into this law school thing. that's the best thing to do...talk to people, figure out what study regimens work for them, and then try the ones that sound like they may be helpful to you. you'll settle on something that fits how your brain works, and then just keep doing that.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29533771-8891057465110985132?l=wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>nicollehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06716670894851820337noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29533771.post-38295872667951900792007-09-09T21:18:00.001-07:002007-09-09T21:36:29.641-07:00So I am another new member of the blog .... I apparently passed the "write-on." And Calculating said the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">waterboarding</span> er... initiation is scheduled for next week. So there is that.<br /><br />Normally, I blog at <a href="http://www.blogger.com/">A little fish in law school.</a><br /><br />Over the summer, I posted some commentary on the end of 1L and the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">ambivalence</span> I felt over it and exams.<br /><br />Thought I'd share. Maybe you can learn from this.<br /><br /><blockquote><p>I am trying to be "over it," you know? I can't do anymore than I did... I can't change what happened exam week... I can't change what happened this semester. I can't change that I didn't work as hard as maybe I could have. I know I didn't do what I know I am capable of, and it makes me angry at myself, and alternatively, at "the system."</p><p>A little piece of me is Hermione Granger, who got top marks in all but one subject, and was disappointed. She defined herself in part by her ability to succeed academically. I thought I had gotten all of that adolescent bullshit out of my system -- I'm over 30 years old. I've got a child who is thriving and a husband who loves me. I've survived more in the last ten years than the scared, geeky, desperate for approval adolescent I was could ever have contemplated. </p><p>And yet when I got my Property and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Civ</span> Pro grades, I felt a stab of disappointment, and my first thought, unbidden and shameful, was "my parents are not going to be proud of me." So, post-adolescent angst is part of the reason I am not quite over it. But only part.<br /></p></blockquote><p>So... to avoid post-exam angst:</p><p>1. Start writing practice exams sooner rather than later. </p><p>2. Use supplements sooner rather than later. The E&amp;Es in most subjects are good.</p><p>3. Understand that despite your best efforts, you may not get the grades you think you deserve. Or you may get <em>exactly</em> the grades you deserved, but you may be disappointed anyway.</p><p>Alright, 1Ls and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Pre</span>-Ls, I'll check in with you soon. Feel free to leave a comment about a burning question or desire and I or one of the blogging cohorts will do our level best to answer it. </p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29533771-3829587266795190079?l=wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Butterflyfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10107438909973957940noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29533771.post-57438733116854715732007-08-31T12:26:00.000-07:002007-12-24T00:25:39.210-08:00hello all.<br /><br />my name is nicolle...and i'm a new contributor here. (thank you, <a href="http://lawbitches.blogspot.com">Calculating</a>!) i've been blogging (a little) about law and (a lot) about random, non-legal things for a few years over at <a href="http://absentelements.blogspot.com">the last refuge of the persecuted crack smoker</a>, and i'm currently a 3L at Washington University in St. Louis.<br /><br />***<br /><br />there is a lot of advice on here for 1Ls, so i'm going to start with something that is probably near and dear to a lot of 2Ls and possibly 3Ls right now, and will become more and more present for 1Ls as the year wears by: <b>the job search</b>.<br /><br />but, i'm not going to talk about how to find a job, at least not yet. i'm going to talk about common courtesy during the job search.<br /><br />during OCI, people often gush about how great their interviews went, how many interviews they have, or how they have taken the offer of their dreams. be excited about it...but don't spend all your time squeaking and gushing and bragging about your interviews to your jobless friends. tell your friends what is going on if you're close to them, and if that is something that they talk about with you as well. it definitely helps to have people you can talk about the job process with respect <br /><br />but, know the boundaries. don't brag to people you know are jobless, or to people you know didn't get a ton of interviews through the application process. it's frustrating. they don't want to hear it.<br /><br />right now, it's still august. it's still early, so people aren't likely to be nearly as frustrated yet if they don't have a ton of interviews or a job offer than they will be in a few weeks. large rounds of OCI, large job fairs...they are still going on. still, it's starting, and hearing that Bob The Gunner has forty-five job interviews with big firms is not going to make the average person, someone who doesn't have forty-five interviews, feel very good about the perfectly respectable number they do have, or the fact that they are planning on doing government, public interest, or small-firm work--for which they will not have interviews or offers until winter or spring. most of them probably don't want to hear Bob The Gunner gush to anyone in a ten-foot radius about the fact that he is spending more time in airports than he is at home, or spending more time sipping expensive scotch with equity partners than he spends within the confines of the law school. <br /><br />by mid-september, or early october, tensions will run even higher among students who are trying for those biglaw jobs. some people will be trying to winnow down their offers to the five that they can keep considering under NALP regulations, while others are still interviewing, interviewing, interviewing...trying to get just one offer. last year, i was one of the lucky ones...i had the offer i really, really wanted very early in the process. i was excited about it...but i definitely talked a lot more about than i should. some of my friends were having easier times with it than others, and it took me way, way, way too long to get the hint that i needed to calm down about it. finally, when i did, relations with people i knew at school were a lot smoother. i wish i had just been a lot more toned-down about it from the start. now that i'm watching interviewing season with a detached eye, i can only imagine how much less stressed out everyone would be if people were a lot more tactful about the process, instead of doing even more to stress each other out.<br /><br />job hunting season is a stressful time--so if you're lucky enough to have interviews, to have any offers on the table, make sure to be nice about it. be excited, but don't expect everyone else to be as excited about your job offer as you are about your job offer.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29533771-5743873311685471573?l=wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>nicollehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06716670894851820337noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29533771.post-17042841460579487582007-08-23T07:00:00.000-07:002007-08-23T07:08:54.398-07:00I think, in theory, this blog was a good idea. <br /><br />We had a strong start. <br /><br />But now we are all at different points in our lives and busy with other things. <br /><br />And I know that we had a lot of additional posts planned last year that just never got written (more on relationships, the job search, the MPRE, etc.). I may try to post once or twice this year, but that's not going to sustain a blog that hasn't had a post for over seven months...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">So</span>, to those of you who survived your 1L year, or to those of you who have survived multiple years of law school, if you are interested in contributing with what <span style="font-style: italic;">you wish you would have known </span>drop me a <a href="mailto:wishiwouldhaveknown@gmail.com">line</a>. (There will be no "write-on," interview or resume submission. You don't have to worry about me judging you like law school does -- we are just looking for some good old fashioned advice.)<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29533771-1704284146057948758?l=wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Calculating Bitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04725875509364955198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29533771.post-65021782882991596302007-01-18T13:56:00.000-08:002007-01-18T14:12:41.976-08:00Hey look, you made it. You survived. It's all gravy now.<br /><br />You haven't gone postal, stigmata haven't appeared on your body, nor has John Roberts called to offer you a 10th spot on the Supreme Court. As you scan your classes now, you will see the opening of where someone sat before, new gunners have appeared, old gunners have gone quiet. Welcome to the second semester.<br /><br />If you did well your first semester, congratulations! You should be proud. Very proud. However, it doesn't mean much yet. You can't rest on your laurels during law school. You have to keep at it. At least not until third year.<br /><br />If you didn't do as well as you had hoped, fear not, this is not the end of the world. This is where I fell after my first semester. I looked at the grades I received and said that this is only a starting point. My goal was simple: improve after each semester. 4 semesters after setting this goal, I have completed it each and every time. As cliche as it sounds, you can't change everything in one semester. <br /><br />Regardless, I said at the beginning that it is all gravy, and I mean that. <br /><br />No matter what grades you received, you belong in law school and you've shown that. The first semester is the hardest and you've completed it. The rest of your education is no walk in the park, but you can do it.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29533771-6502178288299159630?l=wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>The Namby Pambyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04131063162941076828noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29533771.post-1165709954687831832006-12-09T16:18:00.000-08:002006-12-09T16:19:14.696-08:00Be calm. It's not the end of the world. Grades are curved. You didn't flunk out.<br /><br />You will be fine.<br /><br />Look at me, I've made it through, and I can barely use the English language.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29533771-116570995468783183?l=wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>The Namby Pambyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04131063162941076828noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29533771.post-1160966336585088332006-10-22T13:31:00.000-07:002006-10-22T13:32:51.906-07:00<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="">Grades Are Important<o:p></o:p></i><br />You have <a href="http://wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com/2006/07/10-tips-for-first-year.html">heard it from us</a>, and you may hear one variation or another from your classmates and faculty: “Grades are not everything,”<span style=""> </span>“Grades are not that important,” “You are not defined by your grades.”<span style=""> </span>Bullshit.<span style=""> </span>If you want to go work at a big firm and you want to do OCI, grades are everything.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">If you don’t go to a top tier school, and you want to work for a large law firm in town then you have to be in the top ten.<o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Seriously, I wish I would have known that it is not worth all of the mental and emotional effort if you are not in the top ten.<span style=""> </span>You are probably reading this and thinking: “Well maybe if she wasn’t in the bottom half of her class she wouldn’t be complaining.”<span style=""> </span>While this may compromise what anonymity I have left, I want you, as you are reading this, to understand where I am coming from: I am on Dean’s List, law review, student government, [insert 4 other school activities here ], highly active in community service and I have several <span style=""> </span>years of corporate business experience before coming to law school.<span style=""> </span>My resume is just as well rounded, if not more well rounded, then most.<span style=""> </span>Despite this, I’m not one of the top ten people in my class, and that is all that seems to matter.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="">How It Played Out<o:p></o:p></i><br />The breakdown of numbers: I applied with 14 of the big firms in our metropolis, I got interviews with 8, and a callback with only one.<span style=""> </span>Given those numbers, surely I screwed something up during the on-campus interviews.<span style=""> </span>That’s what I thought.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I went all out for my #1 firm.<span style=""> </span>I had lunch with a partner, did a mock interview with another, schmoozed with the interviewer during our OCI Reception for over 30 minutes, and even had one of the faculty members at school that used to work at that firm put a good word in for me.<span style=""> </span>I did everything to have the “in” short of having the last name that is on the letterhead.<span style=""> </span>In that manner I must have done something right because instead of simply getting a rejection letter, I was left a rejection voicemail by the interviewer.<span style=""> </span>After letting me down very politely, she said that if she could do anything to help me in my job search she would.<span style=""> </span>So I called her. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""></span></p><blockquote><p class="MsoNormal">I asked for constructive criticism, “Is there something that I said during my interview that I shouldn’t have?<span style=""> </span>What can I improve on?”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">She responded, “Nothing.<span style=""> </span>You didn’t do anything wrong.<span style=""> </span>I thought you were great.<span style=""> </span>[Partner #1] thought you were great, as did [Partner #2].”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Me (thinking), “Well something must be wrong then.<span style=""> </span>What the hell was it?”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">She continued, “It’s just that we have a quota system here.<span style=""> </span>For example, we call back 4 people from your school, and ten from [larger law school in town].<span style=""> </span>There were five law students from your school that we really liked; you were all equally qualified.<span style=""> </span>The hiring committee only had one thing to make their decision on.<span style=""> </span>They went by class rank, and yours was the lowest.<span style=""> </span>I hate saying that because your rank is not bad…”<span style=""> </span></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I tuned her out at that point, as reality began to sink in slowly.<span style=""> </span>No matter how much grades were downplayed, this proved a hypocrite of every professor that had told me: “you’re not defined by your grades.”<span style=""> </span>I was being defined by exactly that.<span style=""> </span>They had seen me on paper, met me in person, and it all came down to the low two-digit number on my resume.<span style=""> </span>Effing class rank.<o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Nothing is quite as demoralizing as OCI.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">However, that is not to say that if you are not top 10 you will not be able to find a job or that OCI is not for you.<span style=""> </span>Every school and every situation is slightly different. <span style=""> </span>If the DA’s office is coming on campus and that is where you want to work – interview!<span style=""> </span>If the PD’s office is coming on campus, and that is where you want to work – do it!<span style=""> </span>OCI will work out a little different for everyone, but just remember that for those big firms (i.e., the majority of employers coming on campus) you probably don’t stand a chance unless you are in the top ten, or highly-ranked in a top tier school.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="">Was It All Bad?</i><br />While it definitely was bruising to the ego, it did help me in several respects: (1) it forced me to prepare all of my job application materials – get together my writing sample, practice writing cover letters, etc; and (2) it provided great interviewing experience.<span style=""> </span>Did I get a job from it?<span style=""> </span>Well, the verdict is still out on that.<span style=""> </span>I only recently had my callback and have not heard back yet.<span style=""> </span>So maybe.<span style=""> </span>Am I still wishing that I had not put myself through this?<span style=""> </span>Yes.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">That’s my two cents.<span style=""> </span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29533771-116096633658508833?l=wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Calculating Bitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04725875509364955198noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29533771.post-1160587207021723822006-10-11T10:19:00.000-07:002006-10-11T10:20:07.036-07:00I figure we are about at the halfway point of the semester. Are there any questions, comments, rants, fears, etc? Let us know if we can help you out!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29533771-116058720702172382?l=wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>The Namby Pambyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04131063162941076828noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29533771.post-1158809276405900772006-09-20T19:57:00.000-07:002006-09-20T20:27:56.466-07:00Hat tip to <a href="http://www.tjsdoubleplay.com/">TJ </a>for alerting us to <a href="http://ww3.lawschool.cornell.edu/faculty-pages/wendel/Torts_files/gordonarticle.pdf">this article.</a><br /><br />In a classic "I Wish I Would Have Known Moment" I can only say that I wish I would have read this article before I went to law school. Wait, it probably wouldn't have stopped me, and I probably would have spent all of my first year trying to figure out which one of the three 1L groups I would fit in. <br /><br />Yeah, it is 28 pages. But what else do you have to do during Civil Procedure? <br /><br />Bonus points to anyone that can tell me how this actually got published in the Yale Law Review.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29533771-115880927640590077?l=wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Calculating Bitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04725875509364955198noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29533771.post-1157864219128614412006-09-09T21:26:00.000-07:002006-09-09T21:59:08.696-07:00On behalf of the contributors on this blog, I sincerely apologize for the lack of posting lately.<br /><br />Not sure what aLs and Namby are up to (well, Namby's <a href="http://thenambypamby.blogspot.com/2006/08/why-yes-law-school-has-started.html">a 3L who I'm sure is experiencing the senior slide</a> and aLs <a href="http://anonymouslawstudent.com/2006/08/how-i-be-seein-us.html">has obviously been busy mastering Microsoft Paint</a>), and I'll admit that I don't even have a terribly fantastic excuse. Instead of blogging I've been running around like a chicken with my head chopped off as I try to deal with OCI*, these terrible things called cite checks that apparently are the "prestigous" part of law review, student government stuff, working, and, oh yeah - thats right - those things called classes that apparently I'm supposed to be attending.<br /><br />Anyway, I'm not here to complain (because there is never any reason to bitch about law school - sigh) but rather to say "stay tuned." If I survive these next two weeks, then I promise I'll give the lowdown on the 1L Job Search, what to look forward to with OCI, and explain the so-called glamour of law review.<br /><br />In the meantime, it's time for WishIWouldHaveKnown (WIWHK) to attempt its first interactive post. I'm not the only one around here that should be complaining; now that you are all a few weeks into school what do you absolutely hate or are you absolutely fed up with? Come on, bitch away -- it is good therapy.<br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">*On campus interviewing for those of you who haven't asked why all of the 2Ls and 3Ls are running around in suits every day.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29533771-115786421912861441?l=wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Calculating Bitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04725875509364955198noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29533771.post-1156856097849681952006-08-29T05:50:00.000-07:002006-08-29T05:54:58.380-07:00In a moment of obvious weakness, John Roberts from <a href="http://lawbitches.blogspot.com">There's No Competition in Law School</a>, decided to provide this advice to his mentees. (Yes, why they allowed any of us LawBitches to be mentors, I'm not entirely sure.) I thought someone might possibly benefit from it, so with his permission I republish it here:<br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br />By now you might be reconsidering your choice to go to law school. </span><span style="font-size:85%;">Don't worry, this is normal; I was doing the same thing last year. </span><span style="font-size:85%;">Keep in mind you are learning how to read all over again.</span><p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:85%;">Below are some tips on how to brief cases:</span><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </p> <p><span style="font-size:85%;">1) Start with the Issue. This is the purpose of the case. Look for </span><span style="font-size:85%;">the magic word "whether." If the opinion doesn't include it, look for </span><span style="font-size:85%;">clues in the case book such as section or chapter headings that can </span><span style="font-size:85%;">help you figure out what the case is about and why you are reading it </span><span style="font-size:85%;">[besides that it was assigned :-)]. This is the most important thing </span><span style="font-size:85%;">to get right, because you will use it as the lens that you examine </span><span style="font-size:85%;">the rest of the opinion through because all the important bits of the </span><span style="font-size:85%;">opinion serve to answer this question.</span> </p> <p><span style="font-size:85%;">2) Next find the holding. This is going to be the answer to the </span><span style="font-size:85%;">"whether" question, and will be a sentence or two about what the </span><span style="font-size:85%;">Court held. Go beyond just saying "affirmed" or "reversed." You want </span><span style="font-size:85%;">the actual rule they came up with.</span> </p> <p><span style="font-size:85%;">3) After you get the holding find the reasoning. This is the why of </span><span style="font-size:85%;">the opinion. If you can, try to figure out what the losing side's </span><span style="font-size:85%;">reasons were as you will get a better understanding of why the Court </span><span style="font-size:85%;">sided the way it did. This will probably be a combination of </span><span style="font-size:85%;">synthesis of existing rules and application of the facts.</span> </p> <p><span style="font-size:85%;">4) Now start recording the facts. You only really need to pay </span><span style="font-size:85%;">attention to the facts that were used in the reasoning, and in some </span><span style="font-size:85%;">cases, none of the facts may have been used because the Court was </span><span style="font-size:85%;">examining a wider issue of law.</span> </p> <p><span style="font-size:85%;">5) Finally find the procedural history, basically how did this case </span><span style="font-size:85%;">get to the Court which wrote the opinion. In a pinch, it's enough to </span><span style="font-size:85%;">know what Court wrote the opinion (i.e. Court of Appeals, Supreme </span><span style="font-size:85%;">Court), and the jurisdiction (i.e. is this a state or federal </span><span style="font-size:85%;">opinion, does it deal with state or federal law).</span> </p> <p><span style="font-size:85%;">Finally, I would say its worth writing your case briefs out until </span><span style="font-size:85%;">they become easy to do because once they become easy, you probably </span><span style="font-size:85%;">are comfortable navigating an opinion. Then its fine to switch to </span><span style="font-size:85%;">book briefing.</span> </p> <p><span style="font-size:85%;">Be well folks.</span> </p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29533771-115685609784968195?l=wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Calculating Bitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04725875509364955198noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29533771.post-1156644822745166102006-08-26T18:31:00.000-07:002006-08-27T11:52:49.863-07:00Well, 1Ls. How are you all doing out there? I think most of you have probably just survived your first week. Think you'll be able handle a whole semester of this?<br /><br />It can be frustrating. It can be overwhelming. It can be discouraging. Nothing like spending 10 hours a day studying and still not understanding what is going on in class.<br /><br />Well, I'm here to tell you that it will get better. Not necessarily immensely, or in a life-shattering way, but several things will happen to you over the course of the next few weeks:<br /><br />1) You will begin to get used to the workload. (Not entirely a good thing, but it does make it easier once you just surrender that last little thought of maintaining your previous social life.)<br /><br />2) You will begin to understand what each particular professor is looking for and then less stuff will be going over your head. You'll get a better idea of how to take notes in class and maybe even begin to focus on what will actually be relevant for the exam. You'll also learn that you don't have to prepare as much for some classes, because you may never get called on.<br /><br />3) You will find the learning curve. Some find it earlier than others, but everyone finds it at some point. What takes you 10 hours to do now will only take you 3 hours to do in the future. Really. I promise. However, usually once the learning curve kicks in the professors somehow seem to pile on even more reading, so it's not like you'll be having 7 hours a day to spare.<br /><br />4) You will make a complete and utter idiot of yourself. No matter how carefully you guard yourself, you will say something entirely stupid. But you know what? Take comfort in the fact that EVERYONE will make a complete ass of themselves over the course of the semester.<br /><br />I know that me saying is not just going to make it better. But just think about how many people ahead of you have made it through 1L year without dying. See, isn't that encouraging? It may not seem like it now, but you will survive.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29533771-115664482274516610?l=wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Calculating Bitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04725875509364955198noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29533771.post-1155573054807867822006-08-14T09:18:00.000-07:002006-08-14T09:30:54.893-07:00One of my bosses told me to read this book. So I did.<br /><br />I sat down yesterday morning with <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1580631789/sr=8-1/qid=1155572007/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-2736617-1290364?ie=UTF8">Brush with the Law</a> and promptly spent five hours on my porch reading it from cover to cover. All I have to say is that I wish I had read this book before starting 1L. My advice to you soon to be 1L's is to find this book, buy it, burn Turow's 1L, and speed read this as soon as humanly possible.<br /><br />I'm going into my last year of law school and the only regret that I have is not reading this book sooner. You will laugh and then you will realize that if these two authors can make it through the most prestigious law schools in the nation in the manner that they did, that you can survive the rigors of the first year at University of Phoenix Online's College of Law.<br /><br />I think I would have had a lot more fun first year had I been given this advice.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29533771-115557305480786782?l=wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>The Namby Pambyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04131063162941076828noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29533771.post-1155267618772020582006-08-10T20:37:00.000-07:002006-08-10T20:40:18.866-07:00<p style="font-family: times new roman;font-family:times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">We’ve had requests for a break down of commercial study aids.<span style=""> </span>We each use them to varying degrees, so I asked someone else I knew who has used them in almost every shape and form to put together a summary.<span style=""> </span>Much thanks to Scalito from <a href="http://lawbitches.blogspot.com">There’s No Competition in <st1:place><st1:placename>Law</st1:placename> <st1:placetype>School</st1:placetype></st1:place></a> for the bulk of this information! (Just remember when taking our advice how much you paid for it...)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman;font-family:times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=br_ss_hs/103-5971625-0335001?platform=gurupa&url=index%3Dblended&amp;keywords=gilbert+commercial+outlines&Go.x=0&amp;Go.y=0&Go=Go"><b style=""><u>Gilbert</u></b></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"> Scalito:</span> I purchased Gilbert for his first semester Torts class. The substance of the Gilbert outline was lacking when compared to Emanuel's so for that reason alone I wouldn't recommend them. In the test prep department I thought that the hypotheticals were too easy and the True/False/Multiple Choice were sub-par as well. That being said, if you already have a Gilbert Outline - there are a few good things. The charts are excellent for learning the materials and the indexing system using the section symbol gives the newby 1L practice with finding substance via § § 's instead of page numbers. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman;font-family:times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><o:p></o:p><span style="font-style: italic;">Namby:</span> I would echo Scalito’s sentiments about Gilberts. I made the mistake of buying them early in the semester and finding out at the end that they were subpar at best. I wholeheartedly recommend the Emmanuels.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman;font-family:times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><o:p></o:p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_b/103-5971625-0335001?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=emanuel+law+outlines&amp;Go.x=0&Go.y=0&amp;Go=Go"><b style=""><u>Emanuels</u></b></a><o:p></o:p><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Scalito</span>: I purchased Emaunel's for Contracts, CivPro, Property, ConLaw, Crim and CrimPro. I found these outlines more well suited for reviewing daily reading and putting each concept in the context of the class. The review problems at the end of each chapter are worth doing but there were many times where the review problems covered issues that we skipped in class. For review problems, I would suggest using Chemerinsky for the ConLaw and Examples and Explanations for Property. Perhaps pick one up and review with it in the first semester before committing both time and money to long-term use.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman;font-family:times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman;font-family:times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Calculating:</span> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0735524289/sr=1-1/qid=1155266083/ref=pd_bbs_1/103-5971625-0335001?ie=UTF8&s=books">Chemerinsky</a> is expensive, but it was the best $50 that I spent all semester!<span style=""> </span>For me at least, Con Law cases were long, boring and full of dicta.<span style=""> </span>Our class also had a lot of emphasis on how each justice would vote, and Chem helps to summarize this as well as to get to the root of each case.<span style=""> </span>It doesn’t have sample problems, but it synthesized the information so well that I stopped reading my casebook altogether.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman;font-family:times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman;font-family:times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Namby:</span> I corrected my 1L mistake in the Second year by only buying Emmanuels, they were great because of the substance of the actual outline (I don’t need nice pretty arrows, I need substance!). They are worth every penny especially down to the wire. This outline saved my butt for CrimPro<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman;font-family:times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_b/103-5971625-0335001?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=crunchtime+series&amp;Go.x=0&Go.y=0&amp;Go=Go"><b style=""><u>Emanuels CrunchTime</u></b></a><o:p></o:p><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Scalito:</span> I purchased the CrunchTime's for ConLaw, Contracts and CrimPro. The CrunchTime is really a consolidation of the full Emanuel Outline of the same subject minus detailed substance discussion. It is full of exam tips, sample problems and answers and great flowcharts for analysis of issues in each class. I can recommend the CrunchTime if you have a visual learning style as I do. When used in combination with Examples & Explanations, a winning combination emerges.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman;font-family:times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman;font-family:times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Calculating:</span> I only purchases CrunchTime for Contracts.<span style=""> </span>Everything I know about Contracts I learned from CrunchTime.<span style=""> </span>It was a life saver!<span style=""> </span>I highly recommend buying CrunchTime in any situation where you stopped reading about six weeks before the final and you didn’t take any notes in class because none of what the professor said made any sense.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman;font-family:times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman;font-family:times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Namby:</span> Used in concert with your own work or the material of full outlines, these things are genius<br /><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_b/103-5971625-0335001?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=examples+and+explanations&amp;Go.x=0&Go.y=0&amp;Go=Go"><b style=""><u>Examples & Explanations</u></b></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Scalito</span>: My favorite of the bunch. Not a true outline but Examples & Explanations offers real world problems after each a great (and usually simple) explanation of each topic and an easy to understand explanation of the law behind the answer. I purchased E&amp;E for CivPro, Property, Torts and Crim/CrimPro. If you use CrunchTime for outlining purposes and E&E to supplement your understanding of the topics, professor comments and your notes - you should do fine. <o:p></o:p></span> </p> <p style="font-family: times new roman;font-family:times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman;font-family:times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Namby:</span> Great for the first year classes to read along with the actual caseload. I used these predominatly for CrimLaw, CivPro, Torts, and I think one or 2 other classes. Buy this early and use often<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman;font-family:times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman;font-family:times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">aLs: </span>The E&E for contracts was incredibly useful. The text followed our class almost perfectly and it did a very good job defining and explaining everything. The examples at the end of the sections were very useful. The primer was good at pointing out all the differences between the UCC and the common law. I should also say that for Contracts I used a primer that was written by one our casebook authors. If you want hardcore, thoroughly explained law, this is a good way to go. Check online to see if your textbook has a primer out there made to go with it.<br /><br />The E&amp;E for torts was somewhat useful. The examples and explanations aspect were the most useful. The actual text seemed kind of watery and often left me scratching my head. I still think that all things considered, it's not a bad buy, but if someone tells you that they had a good experience with another book, I would go for that one instead.<br /><br />The E&E for civil procedure was a mixed bag indeed. During the first semester it often provided helpful insight into the law. The hypothetical problems were useful for applying all the difficult questions that revolve around jurisdiction. During the second semester, the book was completely useless. It has nothing or next to nothing about class action lawsuits, joinder, and various other important topics. I think this book will help you, but be prepared to find a new supplement when Spring hits.<br /><br />The E&amp;E for property was excellent. Just like the contracts primer, it was very well done and covered everything in plenty of detail. The sample problems were useful and well done. I think that this E&E is a very good deal.<br /><span style=""> </span><br />I did not use an E&amp;E primer for con law. I used a primer that was written by one of our casebook authors to explain everything in the casebook. It eventually got to the point where I would read a canned brief for the assigned case, then skip to the primer to really understand what was being said. I think that for con law, primers and canned briefs can be a major help. At the very least, they can save you many hours of reading, and rereading, Supreme Court cases.</span> </p> <p style="font-family: times new roman;font-family:times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman;font-family:times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.ecasebriefs.com/main.php?session=29d09a9f441f27c4fa9a4a6153185748"><b style=""><u>Commercial Briefs</u></b></a><o:p></o:p><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Scalito:</span> I have mixed feelings on the topic of commercial briefs. I used an electronic version in the first semester (ecasebriefs) and a paper version second semester (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_b/103-5971625-0335001?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=Casenotes+Legal+Briefs&amp;Go.x=0&Go.y=0&amp;Go=Go">Casenotes Legal Briefs</a>). These can be useful early on while you are learning how to brief your cases in your own way but you may start to rely on them and sometimes even skip the reading in favor of a commercial brief. While this is tempting, the professors often asks questions which are not covered by the commercial briefs which may leave you high and dry in a Socratic stare-down with your prof. If you use them only to review and to double check your briefs against them, they can be a good tool.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman;font-family:times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman;font-family:times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Calculating</span>: I got eCasebriefs for all of my classes second semester.<span style=""> </span>Six of us put in money for them, and I’d email the briefs out on a weekly basis.<span style=""> </span>We found that for some of our classes, they weren’t even beneficial at all (due largely to the prof having her own briefing template that she required us to follow and she said that she’d basically crucify anyone that she found using canned briefs).<span style=""> </span>So my advice: only use others briefs after you are comfortable with briefing on your own.<span style=""> </span>I’m not a big fan of paying for things I can get for free, so first try to find them online <span style=""> </span>(such as <a href="http://www.4lawschool.com/casebrief.htm">4LawSchool</a> – but those are student briefs, so make sure they are accurate before you start quoting from them in class) or use your Lexis/Westlaw access to use their Brief It functions (in my personal opinion, Lexis has a clearer briefing tool).<span style=""> </span>One last word of advice, if you do decide to buy a canned brief do it <b style="">after</b> the first day of class.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman;font-family:times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Namby</span>: I’m against briefing in any form. Briefing is a canned way to learn what you are studying, find what you are looking to do and go with it. Don’t spend money on something like this.<span style=""> </span></span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman;font-family:times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><b style="">Final Closing Thoughts:</b><br />All of these primers can be purchased on Amazon. Don't waste your money buying them in your school bookstore. You can usually get these used for 20 bucks. If you buy an older version, beware, the law may have changed a bit....but as long as you pay attention in class, I'm sure you'll catch any changes. Also, another reason to buy the new ones is that they usually cover more material and have been improved.</span></p><p style="font-family: times new roman;font-family:times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">Some other sites you can buy books:</span></p><ul><li><a href="http://www.lawbooksforless.com/law2/front/index.php"><span style="font-size:85%;">LawBooksForLess</span></a></li><li><a href="http://www.bookfinder.com/"><span style="font-size:85%;">BookFinder.com</span></a></li><li><a href="http://www.half.ebay.com/"><span style="font-size:85%;">Half.Com</span></a></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;">Also checkout your local Craigslist or make friends with a 2L/3L who's been there, used that.<br /></span></li></ul><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29533771-115526761877202058?l=wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Calculating Bitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04725875509364955198noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29533771.post-1155233233296107942006-08-10T11:06:00.000-07:002006-08-10T11:55:40.560-07:00Rumors of our demise is greatly exaggerated and new posts are on the way shortly.<br /><br />Check back over the next couple of days!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29533771-115523323329610794?l=wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>The Namby Pambyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04131063162941076828noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29533771.post-1153174469174147782006-07-18T18:01:00.000-07:002006-07-18T19:49:55.830-07:00<p class="MsoNormal">Lily over at <a href="http://www.lawschoolvirgin.blogspot.com">Law School Virgin</a> had some good questions regarding financial aid and a few other things, and given the anxiety that I recall feeling about this time last year, I figured it would be appropriate to address her concerns.<span style=""> </span>Please note, I’m no expert when it comes to financial aid, but here is what I know and how I understand it working…</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><i style="">Why haven’t I gotten my financial aid information yet?<o:p></o:p></i></b><br />If you haven’t received your financial aid information yet don’t panic.<span style=""> </span>If you haven’t filled out a <a href="http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/">FAFSA</a> yet, it's time to do so.<span style=""> </span>However, loan information is not even available until July 1, so most financial aid offices will send out information specific to their schools in late July.<span style=""> </span>If you’re really anxious you can call your financial aid office and they probably have information on their website that you can take a look at regarding lenders, etc.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Applying for loans is a fairly simple process – especially after you’ve applied for the first one.<span style=""> </span>It will only take a few minutes to complete the process, although usually the first time you apply with<span style=""> </span>a lender you have to go through an online loan counseling session.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Now that you are in graduate school, no matter what your FAFSA says your SAR is, lenders will pretty much loan you all of the money up to the "budget" that your school provides.<span style=""> (Financial aid offices come up with a "budget" number -- it's tuition for the average credit load plus rent, food, utlities, etc for 9 months. Budgets are the same for every student and are not adjusted to account for people with kids, mortgages or any other circumstances; which means that you really need to learn to budget if you're going to actually live off the budget.) </span>As long as you have not defaulted on any federal aid money in the past or have no major strikes on your credit report you will get approved for loans without need for a cosigner.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The way that most schools and financial aid work is that the money is all disbursed to the school, they take out what you owe them for tuition and then they send you the leftover.<span style=""> </span>At my school this doesn’t usually happen until the second or third week in September (despite starting classes in August), so make sure that you save some money or can borrow some from a parent to cover the rent and bills for that first month.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><i style="">Should I get a co-signer?<o:p></o:p></i></b><br />If you can get loans without a co-signer I would recommend doing so.<span style=""> </span>I believe (and someone correct me if I’m wrong) that if you die before your federal loans are paid off then the government cannot come after your estate or your family members for the remaining money.<span style=""> </span>If you have a co-signer, however, then your creditors will come after them.<span style=""> </span>The last thing I want to do is die and leave $120K in student loans for my husband to pay back, so I did not have him co-sign.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">There is a chance with a co-signer that you may get a lower interest rate, but personally I’m a fan of consolidating loans after I graduate so that way I will only have to pay back one or two loans, and given the right program I’ll lock in a fixed interest rate.<span style=""> </span>Some people like to consolidate their loans after each school year.<span style=""> </span>I see this as problematic because: 1) you can’t consolidate a consolidated loan, 2) you can’t consolidate federal with private, and 3) most consolidation programs make you start paying your loans back without a 6 to 12 month grace period.<span style=""> </span>Wait until you are done and consolidate all federal together and all private together.<span style=""> </span><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">One more note about consolidation: you can only consolidate all private loans that you have with one bank.<span style=""> </span>So if you take out your private loans with three different banks, you will not be able to consolidate those together.<span style=""> </span>Just something to think about.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><i style="">What about GraduatePLUS loans?</i></b><i style=""><o:p></o:p></i><br />GraduatePLUS loans are new this year.<span style=""> </span>Use them!<span style=""> It used to be that you could</span> take up to $18,500 in <st1:place>Stafford</st1:place> loans (that’s subsidized and unsubsidized combined) and then you’d have to take out private loans (read: higher interest rates) to cover the rest.<span style=""> </span>Not anymore. Now you can still take your $18,500 in <st1:place>Stafford</st1:place> and then GraduatePLUS to cover the rest. GraduatePLUS loans are basically the same loans that were offered to your parents (as ParentalPLUS loans) when you were in undergrad, but now that you are in graduate school you can take them out yourself.<span style=""> </span><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">As I see it, the advantages of GradPLUS compared to regular private loans: they are still federal loans so they can be consolidated with your Staffords and they lock in a lower interest rate then a lot of the private loans(I think like 8.5% this year).<span style=""> </span>Plus, I think that federal loans affect your credit differently then private loans and the type of debt you have outstanding will be taken into consideration after graduation when you decide to start living like a lawyer and buy a new car, a new house and a line of credit to furnish the house.<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Both Stafford Loans and GraduatePLUS loans have to be taken out through private lenders.<span style=""> </span>Check with your financial aid office for info regarding which lenders they work with and which ones they prefer.<span style=""> </span>Each lender usually has its own advantages.<span style=""> </span>For example, I chose Wells Fargo because I bank with them, and last year they had an incentive that after 36 months of on-time payments they’ll pay off 10% of my interest.<span style=""> </span>Find a private lender that works for you.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><i style="">Should I get insurance</i></b><i style="">?<o:p></o:p></i><br />If you can milk your parents’ health insurance for a little while more (although most companies will kick you off once you turn 25), then by all means, do so.<span style=""> </span>If you can’t stay on a parents’ health insurance, check out the options that your school offers.<span style=""> </span>Most of them have a student health services that you can drop into for the little things, and several schools will also offer a health insurance option that is usually pretty reasonable.<span style=""> </span>Just remember that your law school “budget” given to you by financial aid probably doesn’t cover health insurance.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">As far as getting supplemental insurance for a life insurance policy, I think as long as you don’t have the co-signer on the loans, then you probably don’t need one.<span style=""> </span>However, if you’ve got a co-signer and don’t want to leave them in a bad position, then it might be a good idea.<span style=""> </span>Honestly, I don’t know a lot about how insurance policies for repayments of loans work.<span style=""> </span>If someone else out there does, please chime in.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><i style="">Should I try to get residency where I’m going to be attending school</i></b><i style="">?<o:p></o:p></i><br />Yes. Unless there is some major advantage to staying a resident where you live now, then change your address with the school to where you’ll be living during the school year and change your driver’s license.<span style=""> </span>Even if you don’t stay in that apartment all three years, you’ll still be in the same vicinity.<span style=""> </span>Plus, if you have a chance of getting residency and thus cheaper tuition always go for it.<span style=""> </span><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Residency is usually pretty easy to establish, and actually, since there is no national DMV, you can have valid licenses in two states at the same time.<span style=""> </span>(Not saying you should here, just that it is possible.)<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">You can change your residency and still remain on your parent’s health insurance.<span style=""> </span>If you’ll be going to a doctor that is out-of-network, then it might be wise to sit down with your parents and see what options their health insurance has for PPOs.<span style=""> </span>(Co-pays and coverage rates can get a little sticky if you are not seeing a preferred provider.)<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p><br /><br />This really only begins to touch on the questions that LSV raised and is based solely on my own experience. Most schools are similar, but each one can have its quirks. Ultimately, call up and harass your financial aid office.<span style=""> </span>Don't feel guilty about it - just remember that your tuition is helping to pay their salaries.<span style=""> </span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29533771-115317446917414778?l=wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Calculating Bitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04725875509364955198noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29533771.post-1152979479373426832006-07-16T13:30:00.000-07:002006-07-16T13:46:06.910-07:00<span style="font-style: italic;">This will be the first, in what likely will be a series of posts, on the topic of relationships...</span><br /><br />The same 100 people five days a week. A lot of them are new to the city where the school is located. The same 100 people six days a week. Partying together. Commiserating together. Relieving stress together. The same 100 people seven days a week. And so it begins: the relationships form. There are the ones that fizzle. There are ones that become serious. And others are those 'arrangements' where the two meet, late at night, in the law school bathrooms, libraries, classrooms, or conference rooms for an intimate study session.<br /><br />This tidbit is more targeted to those that become serious. As was mentioned in an earlier piece, the first year law school section is a tight knit group and dating within the law school community is a great idea to find solace from the daily firestorm that is first year. Next to no one will be able to better understand what you are going through then a fellow classmate; this connection can serve as a solid foundation for a relationship.<br /><br />There were three types of couples that formed in my first year section: the short term (several months), the school year long (this is where my experience came from), and the real thing.<br /><br />So, here are the lessons that I learned from 1L intra-section dating:<br /><br />1. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Dating within your section can put your relationship into a Pressure Cooker</span>. Words really can't describe what dating is like. It might be that I am a little more outgoing then most, a little more boisterous then most, but wow is all I can really say. The pressure cooker phenomena is that the "normal" relationship occurrences (i.e. casual dating to boyfriend-girlfriend, to serious boyfriend-girlfriend) seemed to happen at warp speed. I think that this, at least in my case, was a result of near never-ending separation between the two of us. So, when most people are identifying themselves as boyfriend-girlfriend, my significant other had a key to my condo. Yeah...it was fast. But this is the pressure cooker syndrome that I am referring to, it goes quick.<br /><br />2. <span style="font-weight: bold;">When you are fighting and go to class, likely Con Law will not be on your mind</span>. My 1L girlfriend sat several rows behind me in each of our classes and like almost all law students, instead of paying attention to the prof, Instant Messaging was taking place. As I mentioned above, the two of us being in the hyper-relationship, had woken up that morning and for some reason started fighting. We went to school fighting and we were feuding right up until class started. Then it carried over to IM during class. [I can only imagine what the people behind me were thinking as I tried to surreptitiously glance over my shoulder at her to get some sort of feel for what she was communicating to me] When the person that you are dating is 20 feet from you, I could not resist the urge to finish what we had started. Class took second fiddle to trying mend the relationship and this can be a detrimental thing.<br /><br />3.<span style="font-weight: bold;"> Everyone will know about everything in your relationship (including things that you didn't know about the relationship)</span>. People talk. Rumors get started. Fights occur in the presence of others. Needless to say, people know things. This really is more of a matter of fact statement rather than something that you can work to control. You have to be willing to deal with this; to put it another way: you are the celebrity and your classmates are the paparazzi. One of things that I took issue with is my friends, who were friends with her friends, would catch wind of something and then run to me to find out the truth (sound like high school yet?) When your significant other has friends that do not like you, this rumor mill/gossip chain can be used to make people's life interesting.<br /><br />4. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Break Up can be a bitch</span>. Everyone knows everything, there are people that do not like you, and to make matters worse, the relationship is entering its death throes. There were three options that I felt that I had: break up the week before finals, break up during finals, break up after finals (in the summer after 1L). I just couldn't bring myself to do the deed before finals started. I figured that it would be the most detrimental to us both if we were dealing with the fallout from our relationship and finals at the same time. So I waited the extra month. I hoped that things would get better (they didn't). And after finals were over, things were ended. Whoa boy. Hell hath no fury. The friends took sides. Horrible things were said. Hands down, this was the worst breakup that I have ever been through.<br /><br />5. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Once you've peed in the pool, it's hard to get permission to dive back in</span>. I'm not going to say that you have only one shot at succeeding in your 1L section. However, if things do not work out, it is hard to overcome the perception that was formed about your dating abilities. Everybody has weighed in on you. They've seen you in action. And Lord knows what was said during the break-up. It's a steep hill to get over and it is possible, it just takes some work (and the desire to go through the same rigors that you faced in the last 1L relationship you were in).<br /><br />Go out, be fruitful, and pray that you don't multiply.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29533771-115297947937342683?l=wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>The Namby Pambyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04131063162941076828noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29533771.post-1152838422461428192006-07-13T17:52:00.000-07:002006-07-13T18:09:30.120-07:00I remember high school. I remember the cliques, the gossip, the parties, the teachers, and the mindless crap that we were forced to do just to get out the door with a piece of pretty paper. Law school is no different, except that we all have apartments and are of legal drinking age.<br /><br />It’s usually at the first year orientation that you are going to meet roughly the 100 people who you will all get to know very well over the next nine months. You will see these same people everyday, for an extended period of time, engaging in a <strike>stressfree</strike> challenging area of study. You will know them all either personally or by reputation very soon.<br /><br />The following are things that I heard first year in some form:<br /><blockquote>“Sheila slept with Peter in the bathroom and ended up going back to Greg’s place but didn’t tell her boyfriend Rich”</blockquote><blockquote>“Frank got bombed and made out with that one girl from Section C, but ended up going home with Eric”</blockquote><blockquote>“What year are you?”<br />“I’m a Freshman <span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >[in undergrad]</span>”<br />“Really? I’m a first year too!” </blockquote>You are going to know everyone’s business. Knowing shit on people can be very entertaining and Lord knows that I would not have as much blog material to post about if people (myself included) didn’t know what was happening. The advice here is that age old maxim: discretion is the better part of valor. Reputations tend to stick pretty solidly once they have been formed, so this piece is an attempt to let you know that your actions (and even your inactions) can follow you around for a while.<br /><br />Case in point: Me.<br /><br />I am a very competitive guy and I play a wide array of intramural sports at the University that I attend. I was on a dominant co-ed team (we went undefeated and won the final 72-0). Anyway, there are other law school teams in the league. On the field, I had one incident where (and I don’t remember this, but it has been relayed to me from several witnesses) taunted an opposing team’s player. I didn’t think anything of it, but, three days later this entire section (not mine) was aghast about the guy wearing the mouthguard and how he had the balls to taunt one of their fellow section members. I was forwarded several group IM chats that occurred shortly after this occurrence. Let’s just say that my name was dragged through the mud and I was treated like that white substance that forms at the corners of your mouth when you are thirsty.<br /><br />This entire section, not even my own, knew who I was, had an opinion formed about me, and frankly, most, did not want to give me the time of day.<br /><br />You will soon be seeing the same people everyday for extended periods of time. My advice is to do as I say, not as I did. Think before acting, be discreet, and don’t promulgate the gossip (too much).<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29533771-115283842246142819?l=wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>The Namby Pambyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04131063162941076828noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29533771.post-1152740116733025042006-07-12T20:23:00.000-07:002006-07-13T09:13:53.256-07:001. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Breathe in, Breathe Out, Repeat.</span> Sounds easy right? Yeah, not so much. 1L can be a little on the stressful side. If you are going straight from undergrad to the law school, it is highly likely that you have never experience a learning atmosphere like law school before. It'll be new, exciting, stressful...but nothing to go beserk about.<br /><br />2. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Laughter, in as many forms as possible, is key</span>. I have seen people freak out. I've seen people lose their minds. I've gotten A's, I've gotten C's. People forget to have fun and laugh and realize that law school really shouldn't be as serious as the Paper Chase makes it out to be.<br /><br />3. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Don't overemphasize the small things</span>. Seriously. A memo is a memo. It'll consume you for a little while. A grade is a grade. Law school is like a marathon, you don't finish it in the first 50 feet. Oh, and never judge your knowledge by the length of someone else's outline. Ever.<br /><br />4. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Grades are not everything, knowing the right people is everything</span>. I'm going into my third year and I am in the process of having doors opened to me by coworkers (I am not a big firm, just a place with quality people who want to help me out). When your boss tells you that he is going to bust his ass to get you a great job, you know that the people you are with are the ones who care about you. Branch out. Make friends. Form relationships. These will be the biggest asset for you when you want to be gainfully employed<br /><br />5. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Making Law Review Does Not Mean that You are a) smarter than anyone, b) entitled to anything, or c) destined to get a Summer Associateship</span>. Grading onto Law Review is something to be proud of, it shows that you are a great test taker (I am not one of these people) and you learned a lot along the way. But it doesn't mean that you are going to be God's gift to the legal profession. You have to retain your humility and appreciate all of your successes along the way.<br /><br />6. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Don't be a Gunner. Or a Douchebag</span>. If you always volunteer an answer on every single question, chances are you are the gunner. No one wants to be the gunner. No one likes the gunner. The gunner does not help the law school educational process. The gunner is there to bet on or play Gunner Bingo. If you know the answer and you always know the answer, good for you. It shows that you are learning something; but keep that to yourself and show everyone how much you know by acing the finals.<br /><br />7. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Do not force other peoples study habits onto yourself</span>. This is huge. When I was on the verge of starting 1L, a lot of people told me about finding a study group or engaging in other various study habits (briefing cases is totally overrated, I stopped after the first day). Don't rush into this. Joining a study group first semester 1L caused me to do worse on finals and start a <a href="http://thenambypamby.blogspot.com/">blog</a>, both constructive uses of my time. Take a few weeks to get used to the system and see what works best for YOU. I defined my study habits a year too late and my GPA suffered because of that. <span style="font-style: italic;">Now that I said don't follow anyone else's studying habits, let me suggest a study habit...</span><br /><br />8. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Study Throughout the Semester in a Way That Prepares You For Finals. </span> For me, this is the only study habit that I can suggest. As I alluded to above, people sweat the small shit and lose their minds. I found that my studying throughout the semester had me ready for finals and that I did not have to pull allnighters just to be competent in Torts or Contracts. I hope that this makes sense...<br /><br />9. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Stay close to your friends that are not in law school</span>. Your other friends will remind you that there is more to life then case briefing or legal writing or gunner bingo. They won't likely understand what you are going through, but they still can help you through it. A support system like this will ease your transition from normal human being to oppressed law student.<br /><br />10. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Enjoy yourself</span>. I have had more fun learning in law school then I had ever before in any educational setting that I have ever encountered. The law is a complex and intriguing field of study, but it is so important and vital to everyday life. I think that is cool, but, I am a big nerd. If nothing else, this is the last time you get to still be in school before real life hits. You don't have to think about 2000 billable hours or 7 day work weeks...yet. Enjoy it while you can!<put at="" bottom="" of="" the="" and="" make="" sure="" to="" include="" any="" category="" this="" post="" belongs="" in=""><br /></put><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29533771-115274011673302504?l=wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>The Namby Pambyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04131063162941076828noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29533771.post-1152668535851465892006-07-12T07:26:00.000-07:002006-07-15T18:15:03.706-07:00<put at="" bottom="" of="" the="" and="" make="" sure="" to="" include="" any="" category="" this="" post="" belongs="" in="">One way to make it through law school is by using all of the help you can get. I'm a fan of the best kind of help -- free online help, that is.<br /><br />If you haven't already discovered, the best place to start with is <a href="http://www.4lawschool.com">4LawSchool</a>. Complete with <a href="http://www.4lawschool.com/casebrief.htm">casebriefs</a>, <a href="http://www.4lawschool.com/outlines.htm">outlines</a>, and <a href="http://www.4lawschool.com/examdirectory.htm">old exams</a>. Another decent one-site stop for outlines, exams and other resources is <a href="http://www.hg.org/students.html#course">Hieros Gamos's Law Student Center</a>.<br /><br />Your school should have a subscription to <a href="http://www2.cali.org/">Cali.org</a>. When you get your password be sure to check the site out. Cali can be helpful if you're more of an interactive learner -- there are exercises, outlines, and podcasts available for most subjects.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Case Briefs/Class Notes</span></span><font><br />A lot of students who run sites will post their class notes. While these are specific to the professor, sometimes they can be helpful in explaining particular rules of law of cases or clarifying general concepts. Just remember that for these sites the find feature on your browser (recommend Mozilla's Firefox) is your best friend.<br /></span></put><ul><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><li><a href="http://home.pon.net/jmt/law/OneL/">1L Law Source</a></li></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><ul><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><li>Former student from U of MN shares a plethora of information including case briefs, outlines, checklists and stuff from Emanuel's. He also has information available for <a href="http://home.pon.net/jmt/law/index.htm">upperlevel courses</a>.<br /></li></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></ul><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><li><a href="http://lawschool.mikeshecket.com/">Mike Shecket's Extravaganza!</a></li></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><ul><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><li>Mike quit law school to become a teacher, but while he was in law school he did quite well and was more then willing to share notes, outlines and case summaries. He has not linked everything on the front page, so select the class name first and you can see what materials are available for each subject. His notes are easy to read and they came in handy for several subjects.</li></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></ul></ul><put at="" bottom="" of="" the="" and="" make="" sure="" to="" include="" any="" category="" this="" post="" belongs="" in=""><span style="font-weight: bold;"><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font>Outlines<br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font>A lot of these links are specific to certain schools, but keep in mind that the law from most of the 1L core classes doesn't change from school to school so a lot of general information can be gleamed from outlines. If you want just general tips on how to outline check out </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></put><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><a href="http://www.lawnerds.com/guide/outlining.html">LawNerd.com</a>. Just remember that outlining is really a personal style -- don't feel like you have to create an 80-page outline with 14 different sublevels and a table of contents.<br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><ul><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><li><a href="http://blsa.uchicago.edu/outlines.html">U of Chicago</a></li></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><ul><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><li>I find the case summaries and checklists particularly helpful. Also has links to someone's notes from Barbri prep course. One of the best outline banks on the net per <a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://thenambypamby.blogspot.com">Namby</a>.</li></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></ul><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><li><a href="http://wisconsinsba.org/outlines.html">UW - Madison</a></li></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><ul><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><li>Run by their SBA. The other best outline bank on the net per Namby.</li></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></ul><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><li><a href="http://adam.rosi-kessel.org/law/outlines/"><put at="" bottom="" of="" the="" and="" make="" sure="" to="" include="" any="" category="" this="" post="" belongs="" in="">Northeastern University<br /></put></a></li></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><ul><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><li>Most of the links at the top are dead, but the links to the actual outlines below are decent. Includes some general material<br /></li></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></ul><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><li><a href="http://currentstudents.law.miami.edu/outlines/">U of Miami<br /></a></li></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><ul><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><li>Limited list; primarily first year classes.<br /></li></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></ul><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><li><a href="http://ilrg.com/students/outlines/">Internet Legal Research Group</a></li></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><ul><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><li>By book author - if your book is there, these can be a goldmine. Site also has other legal links.</li></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></ul><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><li><a href="http://www.nvo.com/mikelaw/">Boalt (UC Berkeley)</a></li></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><ul><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><li>Site maintained by a student, so not a lot of variety, but he also has class notes.</li></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></ul><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><li><a href="http://www.boalt.org/outlines/">More Boalt</a></li></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><ul><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><li>Site run by student orgs at Boalt. Much more comprehensive list of outlines.</li></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></ul><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><li><a href="http://brianpedigo.com/law/">Brian Pedigo</a></li></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><ul><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><li>3L at Whittier Law. Check out the "cram plans" for summaries.</li></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></ul><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><li><a href="http://www.hlcentral.com/cgi-bin/outlines/db.pl?db=default&uid=default">HL Central</a></li></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><ul><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><li>Harvard keeps a collection of student submitted outlines. Best bet is to do a search by course name/topic.<br /></li></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></ul><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><li><a href="http://www.law.nyu.edu/studentorgs/sba/outlines/firstyear/index.html">NYU</a></li></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><ul><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><li>This link is specific to the first year outlines. For upperlevel courses go <a href="http://www.law.nyu.edu/studentorgs/sba/outlines/upperlevel/index.html">here</a>.</li></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></ul><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><li><a href="http://www.pennlawoutlines.com/">Penn Law</a><br /></li></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><ul><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><li>Their SBA runs a collection of student outlines. Again, unless you go to school there check out the outlines by course, not professor.</li></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></ul></ul><put at="" bottom="" of="" the="" and="" make="" sure="" to="" include="" any="" category="" this="" post="" belongs="" in=""><span style="font-weight: bold;"><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font>Exams<br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font>For general tips on exam taking, checkout <a href="http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/exams.htm">The Jurist's Tips</a><a href="http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/exams.htm"> </a>, <a href="http://www.lawnerds.com/guide/exam.html">LawNerd's Exam Taking</a> or <a href="http://www1.law.umkc.edu/Faculty/lasso/Lassoclass/process%20to%20law%20school%20success/WritingGoodEssayExam-Sept.%2703.htm">this article</a> which has a nice little sample outline exam answer. Also helpful is Charles Whitebread's <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0159003237/102-7639882-3377752?v=glance&n=283155">The Eight Secrets of Top Exam Performance in Law School</a>. He actually came to present at my school, and while he wasn't that interesting, we got a free copy of the book. It's not too thick so it is a quick read. Best piece of advice from the book: create checklists. (Happy I spent the time reading the book; I credit my checklists as a large part of my success in law school thus far.)<br /><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></put><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font>Your best bet when studying for exams is to try to get an old exam from your specific prof. Even though most subjects only have a limited combination/type of questions that can be asked, professors have their own special way of putting twists on things. Short of availability of specific professors' exams or if you just want to practice issue spotting, then other professors' old exams can be helpful. This listing of old exams are sites that have exams available for all subjects. I'll be posting specific links for each first-year class, and I'll include more specific exam links for those classes.<br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><ul><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><li><a href="http://www.law.harvard.edu/academics/registrar/exams/">Harvard's Exam Archives</a></li></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><ul><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><li>By year, and then by course. Some have answers.<br /></li></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></ul><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><li><a href="http://library.wcl.american.edu/exams/exam_by_course.php">American University</a></li></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><ul><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><li>By course.</li></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></ul><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><li><a href="http://www.law.capital.edu/library/courses.htm">Capital University</a></li></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><ul><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><li>By course; includes some midterms.</li></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></ul><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><li><a href="http://culaw2.creighton.edu/index.aspx?p=45">Creighton University</a></li></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><ul><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><li>Only have listing by professors, so a bit of a pain to find course you need. Also has some Iowa Bar questions.<br /></li></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></ul><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><li><a href="http://www.wmitchell.edu/library/exam-archive-by-course.asp">William Mitchell</a></li></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><ul><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><li>By course. Also has some Minnesota Bar questions. </li></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></ul><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><li><a href="http://www.law.onu.edu/exams/default.htm">Ohio Northern University</a></li></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><ul><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><li>By course.</li></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></ul><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><li><a href="http://www.umt.edu/lawinsider/library/exams/exams.htm">University of Montana</a></li></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><ul><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><li>By course. Not as extensive collection as others, but includes a few more obscure courses.</li></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></ul><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><li><a href="http://www.uky.edu/Law/exams/">University of Kentucky</a></li></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><ul><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><li>By course. A few are password protected, but most are not.</li></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></ul></ul><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">If anyone has more helpful links to online casebriefs, outlines or old exams please feel free to drop me a <a href="mailto:wishIwouldhaveknown@gmail.com">line</a> or a comment.</span></span><put at="" bottom="" of="" the="" and="" make="" sure="" to="" include="" any="" category="" this="" post="" belongs="" in=""><br /></put></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29533771-115266853585146589?l=wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Calculating Bitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04725875509364955198noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29533771.post-1152566687836673252006-07-10T14:05:00.000-07:002006-07-14T07:59:14.410-07:00<put at="" bottom="" of="" the="" and="" make="" sure="" to="" include="" any="" category="" this="" post="" belongs="" in=""><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" >This blog will be an ongoing project of compiling advice -- both serious and sarcastic -- regarding those "I-wish-I-would-have-known-then-what-I-know-now" moments that we all experience throughout our three years in the hallowed halls of law school.<br /><br />We will post a collection of helpful law school links, as well as attempt to maintain a list of incoming 1Ls that we hope will not only come here and solicit advice, but also contribute their "aha" or "I-can't-believe-I-did-that" epiphanies.<br /><br />So if you'd like to contribute, have a question or a link for us, please shoot us an email: <a href="mailto:wishIwouldhaveknown@gmail.com">wishIwouldhaveknown@gmail.com</a>.</span><br /></put><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29533771-115256668783667325?l=wishiwouldhaveknown.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Calculating Bitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04725875509364955198noreply@blogger.com2