I'm in a kind of weird situation. I'm studying for the bar exam at home while all my friends are taking a class to study for it. I can't take the class because I'm taking a different state's bar exam. Why not go back to my state to take the bar exam you ask? Good question. You see I couldn't find a job in my preferred state and managed to find a job in the state of my law school. By that point though it was far too late to change bar exams and I still don't want to practice in this state for long. Fortunately this state has a special rule allowing me to practice for a short period of time as long as I've passed any bar exam. So I'm studying for Awesome State's bar exam so I can practice in Sucky State for a little while.
Because of this I'm by myself most of the time. As a result my sleep schedule is a nightmare. It is currently 6 in the morning and I have not yet gone to bed. At this point I will probably stay awake as long as possible and then take a short nap and try and get back on a more normal schedule. It isn't like it matters though I don't need to leave the house. On Wednesday and Thursday I went 36 hours without even going outside. Today I will leave the house because I need groceries.
I haven't noticed any advantage to my studies on subjects I took in law school (except evidence, but I learned that from mock trial and practicing). I'm happy about this since I chose my law school classes based on professors first and subject matter second. I took every single criminal law class offered at my school (not that big of an accomplishment sadly) and nearly a full semester of practical classes (15 credits a semester, total I did 7 credits of trial ad, and 7 credits of clinic).
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Evidence is my bitch
Seriously I sent an email to the guy who does my lectures correcting a mistake in his evidence outline. His sample answer had a mistake as well. Admission by party opponent and prior witness statements are not exceptions to the hearsay rule. They are NOT hearsay. There is a difference between saying the Prior Witness Statement is admissible as an exception to the hearsay rule and the Prior Witness Statement is admissible because it is not hearsay. The difference? The first one is wrong.
If the bar exam was Civil Procedure, Criminal Procedure, Con Law Trial Ad and Evidence I would pass with flying colors. Through in Torts and Family Law and I'd do pretty well. It's when you get to Contracts, Property, Admin Law, Agency/Partnerships, Sales, etc that I run into trouble.
If the bar exam was Civil Procedure, Criminal Procedure, Con Law Trial Ad and Evidence I would pass with flying colors. Through in Torts and Family Law and I'd do pretty well. It's when you get to Contracts, Property, Admin Law, Agency/Partnerships, Sales, etc that I run into trouble.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Studying for the bar
I can see how 1L year taught me how to think differently to prepare me for the practice of law. 2L and 3L years seem to have been a detriment to my studying for the bar.
I also don't understand why Torts had to be a semester long class. I learned nothing in that class. The three hour lecture on Torts from my bar review taught me more than 90 hours of class. Wow law school is a giant scam.
I looked at the new income based repayment programs. I'm not going to have to pay shit. My income is that small. Just have to stick with it for 10 years, which shouldn't be a problem, assuming the job market sucks slightly less next year.
I also don't understand why Torts had to be a semester long class. I learned nothing in that class. The three hour lecture on Torts from my bar review taught me more than 90 hours of class. Wow law school is a giant scam.
I looked at the new income based repayment programs. I'm not going to have to pay shit. My income is that small. Just have to stick with it for 10 years, which shouldn't be a problem, assuming the job market sucks slightly less next year.
Friday, May 22, 2009
I guess I have to leave the PD blogroll now
I have to leave the PD blogroll because no PDs would have me. Instead I am employed doing civil work. I'm like a civil public defender so we can all still be friends right? It's not you, it's me. We'll still talk. When it comes down to it, we are going to have very similar clients.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
I'm done (positive edition)
The graduation ceremony was good. Speakers were boring as hell but short. Got hooded by one of my favorite professors which was nice.
In the last semester I did a jury trial in federal court, won a very prestigious award from the school for all my work in advocacy, got to fly to a very nice vacation city to compete in a moot court competition, visited two different clients in two different prisons, appeared in the news paper, saw my mock trial team do very well in their competition, was honored at our class dinner and managed to keep my GPA up high enough to graduate with honors.
Even though I complained about law school constantly I actually enjoyed my last year. I haven't had to make too many difficult good byes yet since people are sticking around to study for the bar, but their are people I am actually going to miss.
In the last semester I did a jury trial in federal court, won a very prestigious award from the school for all my work in advocacy, got to fly to a very nice vacation city to compete in a moot court competition, visited two different clients in two different prisons, appeared in the news paper, saw my mock trial team do very well in their competition, was honored at our class dinner and managed to keep my GPA up high enough to graduate with honors.
Even though I complained about law school constantly I actually enjoyed my last year. I haven't had to make too many difficult good byes yet since people are sticking around to study for the bar, but their are people I am actually going to miss.
Friday, May 15, 2009
I'm done
Can't find a job to save my life. I even sold out and applied to firms. I was excited when I finally got a rejection letter, at least the firm took the time to read my name and address. Some of the best employment news I've had. PD office I worked at last summer laid off six people already this year. County below that just laid off 25% of their office. County below that is laying people off. My dream of being a PD straight out of law school is dead. Even if there were any openings anywhere, which there are not, I don't stand a chance against these lawyers who just got laid off and have years of experience over me.
Interviewed for a position with the law school for a year. A, we need to pad our employment statistics because the economy sucks so much, type of position. I was actually really excited about it. Found out the day before graduation that I didn't get that. Who does that? In what world is it a good idea to tell someone bad news the day before they graduate? In what possible universe is that a good idea? My level of anger over this is probably far beyond what it should be, but I needed this. And even if I didn't need it you don't ruin someones graduation.
Our graduation regalia which cost a ridiculous amount of money to rent is ugly as hell. The colors just don't look good on anyone. It was nice going to the table labeled "Doctor" to pick up my cap, gown and hood though. Please address me as Dr. Petition F. Review from now on thank you very much. Yeah I'm that pretentious.
This is turning into a rant so I'm just going to go with it. My ex-girlfriend is being a bitch. She told my friends something I told her in confidence. She then got mad when I had the gall to be upset with the fact that she told them. She's going to be a crappy lawyer. Another one of my exes went out of her way to show me her engagement ring. She came over just to do that. What am I supposed to do? Congratulate you for marrying a total douche? You two deserve each other, he's a douche obsessed with controlling women, you are a gold digging whore, match made in heaven.
This is the first time I've not been in school of some sort. It hasn't really sunk in yet.
Repaying my loans is going to be a nightmare and I can't use the loan repayment program at my law school for at least a year since the applications were due in April. Not a lot of apps this year I'm guessing since no one is employed and those who are employed sure as shit aren't employed in public interest work. THERE IS NO PUBLIC INTEREST WORK.
Ok I'm going to calm down and then maybe later I'll do a happy post where I brag about everything that has gone well this semester.
Interviewed for a position with the law school for a year. A, we need to pad our employment statistics because the economy sucks so much, type of position. I was actually really excited about it. Found out the day before graduation that I didn't get that. Who does that? In what world is it a good idea to tell someone bad news the day before they graduate? In what possible universe is that a good idea? My level of anger over this is probably far beyond what it should be, but I needed this. And even if I didn't need it you don't ruin someones graduation.
Our graduation regalia which cost a ridiculous amount of money to rent is ugly as hell. The colors just don't look good on anyone. It was nice going to the table labeled "Doctor" to pick up my cap, gown and hood though. Please address me as Dr. Petition F. Review from now on thank you very much. Yeah I'm that pretentious.
This is turning into a rant so I'm just going to go with it. My ex-girlfriend is being a bitch. She told my friends something I told her in confidence. She then got mad when I had the gall to be upset with the fact that she told them. She's going to be a crappy lawyer. Another one of my exes went out of her way to show me her engagement ring. She came over just to do that. What am I supposed to do? Congratulate you for marrying a total douche? You two deserve each other, he's a douche obsessed with controlling women, you are a gold digging whore, match made in heaven.
This is the first time I've not been in school of some sort. It hasn't really sunk in yet.
Repaying my loans is going to be a nightmare and I can't use the loan repayment program at my law school for at least a year since the applications were due in April. Not a lot of apps this year I'm guessing since no one is employed and those who are employed sure as shit aren't employed in public interest work. THERE IS NO PUBLIC INTEREST WORK.
Ok I'm going to calm down and then maybe later I'll do a happy post where I brag about everything that has gone well this semester.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Wow that was an insane semester
Quick recap on what has happened in the last semester.
Coaching an Mock Trial team made up entirely of undergraduates has been the most rewarding experience in my 2.5 years of law school. I've learned a lot from teaching them and based on my teams performances they've learned a lot as well.
A close second for most rewarding law school experience is my clinic. So far I've done two depositions, have two more scheduled. I had 140 billed hours last semester working on clinic (only needed 90). Decided that wasn't enough and signed up for another client this semester. Only my original client will go to trial. This means I won't be able to intern at the local PD office, but I think this more than makes up for it since I would just be doing paperwork at the PD office.
Wrote an appellate brief for a case that was just garbage. In so doing I seem to have impressed the professor as he agreed to do an independent study class with me so I can get a good case next semester.
My flight home for the break got cancelled because of weather. Missed my own birthday party as a result. Spent Christmas on a plane. It wasn't my worst birthday ever (I was sick for my birthday once) but it wasn't awesome. It definitely was the worst Christmas ever. So many screaming children on the plane. Every person working on Christmas seems to be disgruntled (and I can't really blame them for that).
Grades haven't come out yet so I don't know how I did this semester. I think it will be a middle of the road semester, but I'm slightly worried it will be bad. My GPA is the last thing I'm worried about as far as the job hunt is concerned though. My biggest concern is finding somewhere that is actually hiring. So far my best news is: "PD office B might be hiring by the time you graduate and pass the bar."
Bought a new suit. It was the combination of my birthday and Christmas presents. I've driven in cars that cost less than this suit. It is currently being tailored, once that is done I will probably wear it daily for a week.
Coaching an Mock Trial team made up entirely of undergraduates has been the most rewarding experience in my 2.5 years of law school. I've learned a lot from teaching them and based on my teams performances they've learned a lot as well.
A close second for most rewarding law school experience is my clinic. So far I've done two depositions, have two more scheduled. I had 140 billed hours last semester working on clinic (only needed 90). Decided that wasn't enough and signed up for another client this semester. Only my original client will go to trial. This means I won't be able to intern at the local PD office, but I think this more than makes up for it since I would just be doing paperwork at the PD office.
Wrote an appellate brief for a case that was just garbage. In so doing I seem to have impressed the professor as he agreed to do an independent study class with me so I can get a good case next semester.
My flight home for the break got cancelled because of weather. Missed my own birthday party as a result. Spent Christmas on a plane. It wasn't my worst birthday ever (I was sick for my birthday once) but it wasn't awesome. It definitely was the worst Christmas ever. So many screaming children on the plane. Every person working on Christmas seems to be disgruntled (and I can't really blame them for that).
Grades haven't come out yet so I don't know how I did this semester. I think it will be a middle of the road semester, but I'm slightly worried it will be bad. My GPA is the last thing I'm worried about as far as the job hunt is concerned though. My biggest concern is finding somewhere that is actually hiring. So far my best news is: "PD office B might be hiring by the time you graduate and pass the bar."
Bought a new suit. It was the combination of my birthday and Christmas presents. I've driven in cars that cost less than this suit. It is currently being tailored, once that is done I will probably wear it daily for a week.
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