LawSclBarbie

Assorted Randomness

2006-09-26T23:44:00.000-02:00

I have lots of little thoughts rolling around in my head today, so here's a sampling:

First, go out and buy/rent The Lake House. It came out on DVD today and it's phenomenal. I saw it in the theater and again on pay-per-view in my hotel room a few weeks ago...love it! It has officially replaced The Notebook as my favorite love story and I can't wait to watch it again.

I can kind of segway from that into my next topic: old loves. I came across some emails buried in the 3-year-old depths of my inbox from my last serious boyfriend. I just saw his parents during a trip I made to California to visit my friends from 1L a few weeks ago. (Fabulous trip by the way, I miss the heck out of those friends!) So, I've been thinking about him the past few weeks. Not still pining for him or anything, just thinking. Then I saw these old emails from when we first started dating. They made me realize just how much I've changed in 3 years. Back then, I had already tried to get into law school once and failed and was working as a legal secretary in a small firm in South Carolina. Not only have I come a long way from that (getting into law school and then transferring from a T4 in California to a T1 in Florida), but I'm a very different person. Obviously, I've grown up and become more mature as a product of age, but it seems like more than that. My life has completely changed and I've grown and changed as a product of that. The things I said to this boyfriend back then are things I wouldn't say now, ways I wouldn't react to things now. A little fun to see how I've changed and realize that if he and I had stayed together it probably wouldn't have worked - he's a very different person now too. I emailed him today, as I do once every few months, but I did it out of friendship, not out of a longing to be with him. I'm feeling good about it and actually enjoyed looking back on our relationship without longing for what might have been.

So, next...my ode to to-do lists. Nothing feels better to me than putting a little checkmark next to something on my to-do list (even if only mentally). I never realize how much little things weigh me down until they're out of the way. I took care of a few of these little things today and it really felt great. Add to that the dance and kickboxing classes I've started taking and I feel like my mind and body are cleanly running on all cylinders. I have tons to do (as usual), including a seminar paper due in less than two weeks, but I'm feeling pretty stress free about it. Ask me about it again in another week though as that paper deadline looms closer!

I guess that's about it for now. Hope everyone else is doing well!

Myths and Tips about Summer Jobs

2006-09-15T12:08:00.000-02:00

For the past couple of weeks, my 1L and Spring Admit friends have been asking for interview and summer job advice. After talking to several of them and answering questions, I decided there are a lot of myths out there, both about interviews and summer jobs. So, here is my list of myths I'd like to debunk:

Myths

1. You can only wear a black or navy suit to an interview. Wrong! My aunt, who is a recruiter at a big firm (a very conservative one at that) said other dark colors and even pinstripes are fine. Try a dark brown or grey suit to be a little different. Occasionally, I came across a firm that was ultra-conservative and was afraid to vary from the black or navy suit with a white button-down, but for the most part I tried to mix it up a little bit. See #2 for more.

2. You can only wear a white button-up shirt under your suit for an interview. Wrong! I think other pastel colors are fine for most interviews: light pink, light blue, light yellow, etc. My aunt said other dark colors like brown and grey are also perfectly acceptable. I wore a chocolate colored suit with a light pink button-up to several interviews last year and got tons of compliments. My aunt said the most important thing is to wear something that you look good in - the brown and pink were great colors on me. Plus, it makes you easier to remember when they can talk about you later say "You know that girl with the brown suit..." And yes, they will talk about you like that because they met so many people that day they aren't going to bother with names.

3. Interviews are serious and you should never kid around or tell a joke. Wrong! They've already seen all of your academic credentials and work experience on your resume. The interview is more about seeing whether or not you fit in with the firm. Good research (especially with those who have summered there before or know someone who has) on the firm will give you an idea of how stuffy the firm might be, which can help you gauge what you can get away with in the interview. If they joke around with you though, don't just sit there stiff or smile and say nothing. Some easy banter back and forth can break the ice and can make you someone they would love to have working next to them. This is easier when it's a younger associate interviewing you, but most of my interviews both on campus and during call-backs was with young associates. These people have to work next to you if you get hired, remember that. One associate told me last year that he does the "pizza on the floor" test. If he wouldn't want to be stuck at the office at midnight, sitting in the floor of the office eating pizza with you while working on a big case, then he passes on you. Be appropriate, it's a fine line, but don't be so stiff and/or nervous that you don't let your personality come out a little.

4. Once you get a summer associate position, you're in! Wrong!! The summer is just one extended interview. Your work product has to be good, you have to act appropriately in social situations, mesh well with the attorneys and find a team who needs you. While the ratio of summers up for a permanent offer to those who actually get a permanent offer is usually pretty high, you're never guaranteed a permanent offer.

5. The summer retreat is just for fun - when the attorneys go out drinking with us at night it's not about the job or the interview, it's just about having some fun. Wrong!! A young associate came up to us just before we boarded the bus for our retreat and told us that no summer ever gained a permanent offer on the retreat but that plenty had lost one because of the retreat. Rumors circle every summer about the catastrophes that have happened in the past at other firms. The ones I've heard (that I actually know are true) involve drinking games, sleeping with other summers or even attorneys, passing out in bars, etc. This is still an interview!! You get to let loose a little on the retreat, but many a summer has lost their permanent offer because of their horrible behavior. Remember that while alcohol will flow at every event over the summer (really, there was always an open bar), they're looking at how you handle yourself. One day you might be having drinks with a client and they want to know that you can handle yourself, limit your drinks, still carry on intelligent conversation and not get loud and obnoxious. Everything you do over the summer, fun or not, is part of the interview.

Most of my tips I've given above, but here's an important one that didn't fit into the discussion above. I think it's important to hitch your wagon to the team you want to be on. The key to insuring you get an offer (at least in my experience and that of a few of my friends) is to make a team feel like they can't live without you. Those of us who got an offer from my firm this year each had a team we kinda attached ourselves to. The people who didn't get offers just did their work on each team they rotated on and then moved on to the next one. I made sure that even after I rotated off my team, I went back and got projects for them when I had some downtime. I made it very clear that theirs was the team I wanted to be on. When I left, they told me there would be a definite void without me because I had been like having another attorney on the team to bear the load. In the end, I got an offer for that team. The theory worked for two of my other friends at the firm, each of whom ended up with the team they "attached" themselves to all summer. Perhaps it was just a fluke thing at my firm, but the theory in general can't hurt. Make a team, or some other portion of the firm, feel like they can't live without you, or make it so they miss you when you're gone, and you stand a really good shot at getting asked back. Other things come into play and their space may be limited, but in general I think it's a good theory.

I'm happy to answer any questions or have any of you leave comments about how your summer might have been different.

Of Jobs and Classes and Other Things

2006-09-01T20:25:00.000-02:00

Since my last post much has happened. Number one on that list is the phone call I received about a week ago offering me a permanent position with the firm I summered with. As if any kind of offer isn't great, this one was terrific because it was an offer to join my favorite team at the firm. I couldn't be happier! It's certainly a relief to start my last year of school knowing that I have a job (and one that I think I'll enjoy) after graduation. While I feel like I've worked hard over the years to make this happen, I also recognize that I'm incredibly lucky and blessed to receive an offer before I even got started back to school for my third year.

So, after celebrating non-stop all weekend, I started classes on Monday. I have four classes (one of which doesn't meet most of the semester), one independent study and an externship, which translates to three papers and two finals. I much prefer papers to finals, so I'm fairly happy. I've already picked my three paper topics and am pretty excited about some of the things I'm going to get to research and write about. I've managed to tie sports into all three papers, so at least I'll perhaps enjoy the research. I don't want to reveal my topics though because I'm hoping to get one published. So far the only law school goals I've set and not accomplished yet are getting published and graduating with honors...I'll work on those this year!

Hope everyone else is getting off to a good start!

Summer, Second Half

2006-08-16T13:01:00.000-02:00

I spent the second half of my summer working in sports law with one of the professional leagues. I've always wanted to eventually be a lawyer somewhere in Major League Baseball, so being offered this experience in sports law was incredibly exciting.

I have to say that it's not exactly what I expected. An attorney I met at The Firm told me that there are two types of people: those who want to be a jack of all trades and those who would rather master just one. Accordingly, there are practice groups for both these types of people. There are some where you get to do lots of different types of cases, or where you get to do a little transactional and a little litigation. Then there are some where you master one small niche of the law. Well, after this summer, I think I'm the latter. I'd rather be the best at one area of the law than know just a little about lots of different areas. Luckily, there are people who feel the other way around, so we all balance each other out, and together we can all work in one law firm and be spectacular.

Well, being in-house counsel requires you to be a jack of all trades. I've spanned many areas of the law this summer as an intern in the General Counsel's office: intellectual property law, contract law, property law, business law, liability issues, etc. I found that switching gears every day is frustrating for me. I'm sure some people love this atmosphere and thrive in it - these are people who would get bored doing the same thing everyday and would love this environment. However, I am a creature of routine. And like I said, I'd like to master one area. So, this hasn't exactly fit my personality. (This is also the reason that one of the three practice areas I was in at The Firm didn't fit my personality. Luckily, the other two were perfect for this!)

At The Firm most people had a niche area of practice once they got in their later associate and into their partner years. This fits my preference for being a master in my area.

However, being in-house counsel is completely different. You have to span nearly every area of the law and also have to be quite the business person. Answering to the Board is not always a fun task. And I've always heard that in-house counsel have it easy, that they work far less hours than their law firm counterparts. Not true! At least not at this office. They work long hours, travel quite a bit and are constantly dealing with the Board.

I've had a great time at this job for the summer, I've had terrific sports law exposure, and I've learned quite a bit. However, I don't think it's somewhere I would want to work permanently.

It's caused me to rethink my goals and I'm not sure I want to work in baseball anymore...but that's a post for another day.

Summer, First Half

2006-08-11T16:37:00.000-02:00

So, I spent the first half of my summer in my hometown working a firm I've wanted to work for since before I even started law school. Some say that when you build something up so much, there's no way the real thing can ever live up to it. Well, tell this omnipotent "some" that they're wrong!

I had a absolutely fabulous summer at "The Firm," as I'll call it. Really, the only way it could have been better is if they'd let me stay the whole summer instead of just half. I truly liked every attorney I met there. Some I liked better on a professional level, and some I liked better on a personal level, but everyone was terrific.

I rotated through several practice groups at The Firm, mostly transactional, which is what I wanted. I went into the summer positive that I wanted to do Corporate work, specifically Securities. I tried to pretend I was going to be open-minded, but I really wasn't planning on it. Then a funny thing happened. Another team changed my mind. In the end I put the Real Estate team as my first choice, Corporate as my second. I liked the work on both teams, and I liked the people on both teams, but I felt like I had found my place on the Real Estate team.

I know I've posted this analogy once before (in the context of OCI), but I can't resist drawing it again. The rotations at the firm reminded me a lot of sorority rush. Each team thinks they're the best. You rotate around the teams, shaking hands, chit-chatting about what they do on their team, what you're looking for in a team, etc. When I went through sorority rush 7 years ago (wow, I can't believe it's been that long), everyone told me that when you got the right house, you'd just know it. You'd feel like you were home. Sounds cheesy, but it was mostly true. Just like with the law firm, I went into sorority rush sure I knew which house I wanted. Again, I wasn't planning on being open-minded, my mind was made up. Then in the end, one house felt more like home and I chose it. I got the same feeling at the firm. While each team had it's strengths and it's appeal, one just felt like home.

All that being said, I no longer have any control over which team I land on. At this point, I just want to get an offer from them and land on any team. I can't imagine being with another firm, this one has set the bar too high for anyone else to match. (Perhaps I'll blog later about the specific things I liked about this firm, but this post is already too long.) I think I have a few more weeks until I find out if I received a permanent offer and, if so, which team it's for. Luckily, I've been busy with my job second half and have done lots of traveling on the weekends, so I haven't had much time to think about it. However, as OCI is gearing up, I'm thinking about it more and more. I can't imagine how I'll feel or what I'll do if I don't get an offer from this firm. So, let's just hope it doesn't come to that.

Oh, and for those who haven't had a shot at summering with a big firm yet...boy, do you have something to look forward to! You get taken to lunch everyday, go to concerts, wine tastings, sporting events, the beach, the mountains, you name it. It's the ultimate wining and dining experience! You feel special, you feel important, you feel wanted. Must be what it feels like to be in a relationship, but I don't remember! :) Anyhow, it's fantastic. I highly recommend trying out the big firm lifestyle for at least part of a summer, just so you don't wonder what you're missing out on. True, there are big firms that do the dog and pony show to cover up the fact that they're a soul-stealing sweatshop, but there are those who mean well and are only trying to compete to reel in the big talent. Just gotta go with your gut on that one.

In my next post, for a little compare and contrast, I'll share what it was like to intern with the General Counsel of a sports entity (ie, what I did the second half of my summer).

One Last Shot at a Comeback

2006-08-11T16:26:00.000-02:00

I've decided to break the silence and try once again for a comeback...

I can't really explain why I haven't posted, or why I hid (but not deleted) my archives. Something about this summer just made me rethink bearing my life on the internet, especially the parts that inspire all sorts of outrageous comments. However, I love to write, and I've really loved keep this up, so I'm going to give it one last shot.

My fear is that one day I'll be a newstory...one of those bloggers who upset their employer and subsequently ended up fired. I would never want to jeopardize my career, whether by getting fired, scaring off potential clients, etc. I can just imagine a whole array of things that could happen (and have happened to others).

So, I'm going to return and try and say all the things I want to say without jeopardizing the legal career that I've worked so hard to build. Sounds like a tall order!

I'm planning a series of posts over the next 24 hours (before I lose my nerve or my urge to write). The first will be a look back on the first half of my summer. Next, I'll tackle the second half of my summer. Then I'll work on a post about how I feel about transferring schools now that it's been a year. I'm also going to throw in a post somewhere about baseball, as that passion has seen new life this summer.

Not sure if anyone is out there reading this anymore since I've been gone so long, but here goes...

The New LawSclBarbie

2006-06-29T09:20:00.000-02:00

I know it's been awhile, but I am back. I have lots to share about the first half of my summer, but I'll split it into several different posts over the next week or so. As for now, you may have noticed that all my archives are gone. I've discontinued archiving and deleted the links to my old posts. The past is the past and I'm ready to move on. Hopefully things will be a little less heated around here. After working in a big firm this summer I finally feel like an adult and like a lawyer (or at least a lawyer-to-be). I'm going to try to keep that in mind as I post from here on out.

I hope everyone has had a lovely summer so far. I'll be back soon with more about what I've been doing the past 8 weeks!

2/3rds Down!

2006-05-06T00:19:00.000-02:00

As of today, I am 2/3rds of the way through law school. I can hardly believe it. The whole thing has flown by, especially this past year. Sometime soon I'll do a post on how I feel about transferring a year later, and also the one I promised the past about getting a job, but for now I need to recover from finals. Moving back home this weekend, next time I post I'll be in the ATL!

Reliving the Good Ole Days

2006-05-04T12:05:00.000-02:00

I have to admit that some of the best times I've had in my life thus far were in college. My college friends are incredible and I light up every time we all get back together. Earlier this week, my best guy friend from college called to tell me he got engaged, and that he was in my town for two nights. In addition, two of our other college friends were in town with him. I resisted the urge to hurry over there the second he called, and instead I stayed in and studied for my Con Law exam I had the next morning. However, since I didn't have another exam until Friday, I did join my college pals for a little partying like the good ole days after my Con Law exam.

We all talk about how we can't relive the past, and how when we all get back together things just aren't the same. We've all (well mostly) matured and moved on to other things. Some of us have moved out of state, some of us are in grad school, some of us have begun our careers...but the important part is that we all still get together several times a year. And for the few hours that we spend together, we do get back a little bit of the past, even if only in memory. The other night, as I played beer pong (something I didn't even do in college with them) and talked about all the crazy things we all did in college, I realized that as long as we all still come back together every now and then, we'll never really lose what we all had.

I think the important thing in these situations is not to try and actually relive the past. These days we start drinking earlier, it takes less to get drunk, we can afford nicer alcohol, and we pass out sooner. We shouldn't try to recreate nights we had in college, we should just get together and enjoy each other's company. We should tell stories about the crazy nights we had in college, not try and reenact them. Things aren't the same anymore...some are married, some have careers, some are still in school...really, we're not even the same people. I'm always amazed when I haven't seen one of these friends in a year or so and then we get together and they're all grown up. We do all have a common bond though, and we all share the same stories and memories, which is what brings us back together. So I'm grateful for nights like the one earlier this week where we make new memories and share what we remember about the past.

And most of all, I'm grateful to share a bond with these people...a bond that really doesn't ever change. When my friend announced he'd gotten engaged, I immediately thought about how things would change. He's probably the best guy friend I have and I go to him for all kinds of advice and support. After seeing him the other night though, I'm reassured that things won't change so much. He made me realize that I'm not losing him...I'm just gaining a new friend in his fiance (who I've met and love). By the time I stumbled home the other night and fell into bed, all was right with the world.

So, while I probably shouldn't have taken a night off from studying in the middle of finals, I know I wouldn't have missed a night with those guys for the world! Hopefully I feel the same way after taking my last exam tomorrow...

Pepper Dennis

2006-05-01T14:04:00.000-02:00

I've watched the first few episodes of this new show Pepper Dennis. We're not talking best comedy series or anything, but it's completely mindless, which is something I need during finals. Anyhow, the main character, Pepper Dennis, is a news broadcaster who's always made her career first and has been totally unlucky in love. In the last episode, a friend is getting married and her mother is on her back about not having a date to the wedding, not having a boyfriend, not being married yet, etc. This led to two quotes I just loved:

"The institution of marriage turns independent, interesting women into Wedgewood-owning Stepford wives."

"Some of us don’t have time to pump out babies and do yoga, some of us have a career."

Of course I want to get married one day (although whether or not I want kids is still a big question), but right now my career is more important to me...which is easy since I don't have a boyfriend. Getting married and having children are both wonderful events in a woman's life, I'm just not there yet. For now I enjoy being single, and I enjoy comments like the ones above (come on now, we ALL know at least one of THOSE women).

Back to studying...

From the Braves to the Red Sox: Thank You!

2006-04-30T15:28:00.000-02:00

The Red Sox have always been my favorite American League team, mostly because they're my dad's favorite and we've been to Fenway twice (which is like the holy temple of baseball). I have a new found love for them though, thanks to one Edgar Renteria. Not only did they give up on him too soon and send him our way, but they're paying about half his salary while he's here! Today his hitting streak extended to 16 games...I love this guy! He has yet to play in a single game as a Brave without a hit. Every time he gets up to bat I relax, slide off the edge of my seat and wait for the hit I know is coming. He was definitely the biggest off-season gift we received. Although the Red Sox are my favorite American League team, the Braves are where my true loyalty lies. So, thank you Red Sox Nation...and welcome to Atlanta Edgar!

Almost 2/3rds of the Way Through Law School!

2006-04-28T00:44:00.000-02:00

I'm 2/5ths of the way through finals...after which I'll be 2/3rds of the way through law school. Wow! It really has flown by, especially this year.

So far I've downed one paper and one in-class final. That leaves me three take-home finals, one that is multiple days and two that are 8-hour take-homes. Generally, I feel less stressed about take-home exams, but that may not last for long. I'm definitely happy to have my one in-class over though, as I think it was the toughest class. I definitely feel relieved to have that behind me.

I don't have much else to blog about right now, just wanted to wish everyone good luck on their finals!

Over Thirty

2006-04-20T13:43:00.000-02:00

I was listening to ESPN radio on my way to school this morning and they were giving a list of things that men shouldn't do after age 30. Most of it was right on, but I had to disagree with one. They said that men over 30 should never propose marriage on a jumbotron at a stadium.

I have ALWAYS wanted to be proposed to at a Braves game, since I was just a little girl. I actually haven't seen anyone do it since they got over to Turner Field, but when I was little people did it all the time at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium.

The guy and girl on ESPN said that only meatheads propose on jumbotrons. I strongly disagree. I love baseball more than anything, and hopefully I'll meet someone who loves it as much as me. It's not the most romantic way to be proposed to I guess, but I would love it. So, sorry ESPN radio, but I disagree.

Decisions

2006-04-11T09:02:00.000-02:00

Today I have to make a decision about where I'll spend the second half of my summer after I'm done at "the firm." For some time now, I've been holding on to an offer to work for a large sports management agency. This would entail basically shadowing sports agents around and working on contracts.

Yesterday I was offered a position I interviewed for awhile back with a professional sports league. At first I wasn't sure I wanted to take the position because the sports agent sounded like so much fun and was located in a city I'd rather be in. However, upon further reflection I've decided I'd be crazy to give this up. In sports there are two routes: team management and athlete representation. Once you're on one side of the table, it's very hard to switch. My dream job has always been to work in the legal department for the Braves, so I've decided to take the professional sports league position in order to be exposed to league and team management. I'll also get to see some dealings with agents as well as players. While it's in a city I wasn't so sure I wanted to be in, it's only for eight weeks, so who cares. Besides, the idea of living there for awhile is growing on me.

So, technically I have until tomorrow to accept with the sports league. But, after sleeping on it last night, I think I'll be calling the league this morning.

Good luck to everyone else out there still making summer decisions!

Competitive Streak

2006-04-05T18:25:00.000-02:00

I'm look for some serious answers here...

Am I the only person who gets competitive around finals and doesn't want to share outlines (my own or those passed down to me)? If there were no curve, I'd be all about sharing with anyone who asked. However, knowing that I could be imparting knowledge on someone who could then do better than me on the exam haunts me. For example, last semester I shared an outline with a classmate who ended up a getting a grade higher than mine. Upon getting the score breakdowns, I found out that I was the highest B+. If this person whom I shared with hadn't done well enough to get an A, perhaps I could have gotten an A, but because of the curve the prof had to give me a B+ because he could only give a certain number of As in order to conform to the curve. Now that's a little frustrating.

So, now I sit at the crossroads of a dilemma I've had throughout law school. I'm a very competitive person, and I know the real world can be competitive and cutthroat. Do I watch out for myself and refuse to share, or do I be a good friend and share? Part of me is screaming that this isn't about making friends, it's about doing what I can to help myself. The other part of me is screaming that bad karma will follow this decision and that I'm not acting like a good friend.

I'm not really asking for anyone give me the "right" answer, I'd just like to hear why the rest of you choose to, or not to, share your outlines with classmates.

The Steroid Sluggers

2006-04-05T09:14:00.000-02:00

I read something in a book yesterday that struck me as intriguing. Tons of articles and books have been written accusing numerous players of steroid use (Bonds, McGuire, Palmeiro, etc.) and not one of them has sued for libel. Bonds just sued over this latest book, but not for libel, only for publishing information illegally obtained from grand jury testimony. Most of these guys admit that they may have unknowingly used steroids, but they're not suing for libel when books and articles are written offering proof that they knowingly used them. I find that interesting.

GO GATORS!

2006-04-04T08:50:00.000-02:00

Congratulations to the Gator men's basketball team...the new National Champions!!

I'm usually not much of a basketball fan, but I watched the last four games of the championship so I could cheer on my Gators. I'm a little distracted because it's run into the beginning of baseball season, but I'm thrilled that the Gators have gone all the way! This has been a great year to be a Florida Gator...the football team had a great year, the best of which was their win over the Dawgs, the basketball team is now the national champion, and the baseball team started the seasons ranked #2 I believe (although they've unfortunately not had so great a season so far). Gotta love it!

GO GATORS!

Opening Day

2006-04-03T09:24:00.000-02:00

Cue the song "Centerfield" in the background. Mondays rarely elicit early morning posts from me, but today I'm awake early and feeling alive. Today baseball begins. I live for the sounds of Skip Carey, Don Sutton, Pete Van Wieren and Joe Simpson on a spring or summer afternoon calling the game. The crack of a bat, the sound of a fastball smacking the catcher's glove, the roar of the crowd...it's baseball season!

I thought I'd start the day off with my favorite baseball quotes:

"Baseball is what gets inside you. It's what lights you up, you can't deny that." and "It's supposed to be hard. If it wasn't hard, everyone would do it. The hard... is what makes it great." Jimmy Dugan in "A League of Their Own"

“You spend a good piece of your life gripping a baseball and in the end it turns out that it was the other way around all the time.” - Jim Bouton

"People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring." Rogers Hornsby

"There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit." Al Gallagher

"Baseball players are smarter than football players. How often do you see a baseball team penalized for too many men on the field?" Jim Bouton

"It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone." A. Bartlett Giamatti

"Baseball is the only place in life where a sacrifice is really appreciated." Author Unknown

Feel free to add any good ones I missed in the comments.

Play ball!

Practice Areas

2006-04-02T22:42:00.000-02:00

Last week I had to make some decisions about which practice areas I'd like to be exposed to this summer at my firm. Because I'm only a half summer, I'll only rotate through three groups. We were asked to rank our top five choices, but I'm hoping I get my top three. My choices are mostly corporate law areas, but I've mixed in a few different choices.

I knew before law school that I wanted to practice corporate law. However, last year I developed a brief love of land use law. After taking several land use classes this year, I discovered that while I find portions of it interesting, I'm not at all interested in practicing in that area. Hence, I've returned to my fascination with corporate law. I'm taking Corporations and Business Organizations this semeseter, and I've got Securities Regulation and International Securities Regulation on tap for next semester.

I also received an externship with the General Counsel for the big hospital here in town for the fall, so I've added health care to the mix. I'm most interested in the corporate and compliance side of health care though.

I feel like I'm making some major life choices here. I know it's difficult, if not impossible, to change practice areas once you're practicing, so I feel like I'm making some major decisions now.

On tap for this week are two interviews for the second half of my summer, both dealing with sports law. I've always been interested in sports law, but because it is a very difficult field to break into, I had all but given up. Now I'm interviewing with a large sports management firm and a professional sports league. The interview with the sports management firm seems to be a mere formality, but the other interview is for one spot for which they're interviewing several candidates. I expect that by this time next weekend I'll know which I'll be spending the second half of my summer interning with. We'll all just have to wait to find out...

Insight into Me

2006-04-01T12:55:00.000-02:00

I sat around with some friends at dinner last night and we all just talked about what makes us tick: our favorite movies, our favorite tv shows, our daily routine, etc. So, I thought I'd share a little so you all have some insight into the real me:

Favorite Movie: I refuse to choose one

Favorite Baseball Movie: Field of Dreams with For Love of the Game in a close second

Favorite Football Movie: Any Given Sunday

Favorite Silly Movie: Legally Blonde

Favorite Movie Sequel: Before Sunrise and Before Sunset

Favorite Gadget: very hard to choose between my IPOD and my DVR - and after I get my new Treo this week that'll be in the mix too

Guilty Pleasure: I tape As the World Turns on my DVR and watch it every day after school

Makeup Must Have: eyeliner (just a little goes a long way)

Workout Routine: at least one mile on the treadmill, crunches on the workout ball, leg lifts, squats, push ups

Favorite Singer: Billy Joel

Longest Friendship: 19 years in August with my best friend - we met the first day of kindergarten

Shopping Weakness: I'll buy anything with a bow on it (shoes, purses, shirts) - a small well-placed bow makes most anything look cuter

Favorite Fast Food: Chick-Fil-A

Favorite Period of my Life: college

Favorite Sport to Watch: baseball, hands down

Favorite Sport to Play: softball (fastpitch if I have my choice)

Biggest Addiction: Coke - I must have one as soon as I get up and then several more during the day

Secret Goofiness: I sing in the car at the top of my lungs and I dance around my house while I'm getting ready to go out

That's about all I can think of right now. Hope you've all learned a little something new about me!

Its Raining Jobs

2006-03-30T12:05:00.000-02:00

Time and again I tell people that it's not that hard to get a summer job if you just put in some effort. By that I don't mean visiting Career Services and turning in your resume for OCI and resume drops. I mean network at every available opportunity - even with people you don't think you'll need in the future because you never know. My strategy has always been to just contact people whose job I'm interested in. For example, over spring break I emailed dozens of minor league baseball general managers and sports agents because I thought working for one of them would be a fun and interesting way to spend the second half of my summer after I'm done with firm life. My friends who were on spring break with me thought I was crazy because I was just grabbing email addresses off websites and sending my resume with a little cover letter. I told them the worst the people could do was either never answer me or say no. You can't ever win if you don't play the game.

As a result of all the emails I've sent out over the past few months, I now have multiple job offers for the second half of my summer. The top prospects are a couple of minor league baseball teams, a sports management firm or the general counsel's office for one of the pro sports leagues. I was always told that it was hard to get into sports law...even harder if you're a girl. Turns out it's not so hard if you make the contacts and show some initiative.

So, I think it's time to let go of the small firm offer I've had on the table for months. I worked at this firm during college, and I know it's not the kind of law I want to practice, so there is really no point in me working for them this summer. Instead, I'm going to speak with the sports management firm and the general counsel for the pro sports league this coming week and try and make a decision. I'm sure I'd love either job and I'm just excited to have the choice.

In other news, I also found out last week that I got an externship next fall. That'll get me even more work experience, and it'll get me out of a few classes next fall. Hopefully I'll get a permanent offer from my firm early on in the fall and that work experience will just be gravy, but it never hurts to bulk up your resume some.

So, for those of you out there who still don't have jobs yet, you can do it! Email contacts at the places you'd like to work and just start networking. Good things come to those with patience, I promise! And while it may have been easier for me because I wasn't contacting firms (who all have their summer programs set by now), I have faith that anyone willing to put in the time and effort I have will be sure to get a phenomenal summer job.

I was thinking about making my next post a networking/job-getting guide. I'll detail all the things I did pre-law school and during law school to assure myself contacts and jobs. Anyone interested?

Spring Training

2006-03-06T23:20:00.000-02:00

I've added yet another incredible baseball experience to my repertoire...spring training. It's really more like college baseball than major league baseball, and it's a blast. I wouldn't say I like it better than a regular season game, it's just different - in a good way.

A friend of mine lives here in Florida nearby, and between the two of us, we went to high school with 3 of the current Braves, so he and I took in spring training together. Watching guys you know play major league ball is incredible. I couldn't be happier for them, they truly are living the dream as they play for their hometown team. I'm just happy to be a spectator to the whole thing. Especially when they get me great seats to games!

I'm Back!

2006-03-02T22:39:00.000-02:00

Ok, so I'm back. Glad to see I was missed! I've just been a little swamped lately and gotten a little lazy on the blogging. While I'm not on Law Review (as one of my insightful readers commented), I am on two other journals, which keeps me pretty busy. I also went to NC for a weekend to ski with family, and then to NY for a long weekend for a conference. All of that, on top of trying to stay afloat with my reading and outlining, has left little time for blogging. However, I am beginning to see a light at the end of the tunnel. That may only be a mirage though, as I'm far from being done with my demanding schedule. I have the cite-checking assignment from you-know-where due tomorrow, I need to do some research for an attorney I'm assisting in rewriting a piece of legislation, I'm headed to Spring Training this weekend, and I leave for Spring Break in California next week. Somewhere in all that I need to find time to stay caught up in classes and, of course, time to blog about all the fun I'm having.

A recap of my recent trips...Skiing in NC was less than fun over President's Day Weekend. I've never seen that many people at that slope, and everyone was a beginner. This equated to masses of bodies lying all over the slopes. My trip to NY was far more fun though. My mother's best friend works for Hilton and got me a room at the Hilton Times Square. I highly recommend the hotel if anyone is going to NY in the near future. I had a terrific view out my 32nd story window, and the hotel was fantastic. My best guy friend from college lives in NY now, so I got to spend time with him, and another friend from college flew in and hung out with us as well. I got some sightseeing done, but didn't see much I hadn't already seen on my previous trip. That's partly my fault though - I spent 6 hours one day online trying to get Cubs tickets when they went on sale. (For those who haven't read long enough to know, my dad and I visit a different ballpark every summer. This year is Wrigley.) Time well spent though, I finally got tickets!

As for my next two trips...Braves spring training is on tap for this weekend. I know a few of the players from high school, so I'm excited about seeing them in action. Besides that, anyone who's read for long knows I'm a diehard baseball fanatic. I've never been to spring training though, so 'm very excited about that. Then next Thursday I fly out to California to catch up with some of my 1L crowd. First, I'm visiting a friend in San Diego who transferred to USD, then I'm heading to meet a friend in Orange County to ride up to Tahoe to ski for 5 days. Should be a terrific spring break! I can't believe it's been almost a year since I saw my CA friends. I'm sad that I can't see them all (especially my old roomie - miss you!), but I plan to head back out this summer to see the ones I miss this time around. And while it means I won't get any work done over spring break, I'm looking forward to my trip!

Sorry to have kept you all waiting for so long. Thanks for waiting for me though!

Lawyer for Sale

2006-02-07T09:58:00.000-02:00

Ever wondered how you could get out of practicing law and still pay off those student loans? Well, this guy is giving it a try. I heard about this on the radio this morning and had to see it for myself. This attorney is offering to rid the world of one of its excess attorneys (himself) with the bids starting at $100,000 on eBay. He'll give you his law degree, proof of cancellation of his NY and DC licenses, and sign a contract promising never to practice law again. He says if you think the world has too many lawyers, this is your chance to get rid of one. Apparently he wants to change careers, but needs money to pay off his student loans and to keep him afloat as he makes the change.

I really don't even have anything to say about this, I'm just amused.

Message to Little One

2006-02-04T01:34:00.000-02:00

This is really a message only meant for one person, because I know they read this and right now I don't know how else to get in touch with them. Sorry to the rest of you for this interruption in our regularly scheduled programming.

Little One: I know you must think what you're doing is the right thing, but it's not. Please contact me soon. LAF!

Lists

2006-01-31T10:15:00.000-02:00

Lately, I've been making lists in my head...things I like, things I don't like, things a guy should know about me by the time he's dated me for a few months, etc. I've decided to post these lists, one by one, to let you all get to know me a little bit better. This will be the real me, unadulterated. Ok, so this whole blog is the real me unadulterated, but I'm still going to post the lists. If nothing else, it should be something amusing for me to look back on years down the road. My mom is convinced that your personality changes once in your early twenties and again in your mid-to-late twenties. We shall see. I'm going to memorialize my personality in lists here on my blog (at 24), then check back around 29 or 30 and see what I think.

Anyone have a preference for which lists goes first? The current plans are for three: things I like, things I don't like, and things a guy should know about me by the time he's dated me for a few months.

Ranking

2006-01-30T22:07:00.000-02:00

Rank came out today...and I'm officially unranked. Apparently the transfers won't be ranked until we've completed a year here. Guess that means I have another semester to bring up my GPA enough to make top third. Definitely possible, but it'll require me to step it up a notch. Last semester was spent trying to get settled in here, traveling for OCI, making new friends, etc. I'm not making excuses for my grades - I really think I mostly got what I deserved. However, I am identifying the circumstances which led to my studying being much less productive than last year. So far my work habit this semester has been quite a bit better, so I just have to keep that up. Kind of nice to have some motivation and a solid goal ahead again.

So far I'm enjoying this semster far more than last. I've made some new friends here (who aren't transfers) and gotten more involved. I also have a regular tennis game on Monday nights and softball on Wednesday nights. Exercising definitely puts me in a better mood and makes me more productive, and I always regretted not making time for it last semester. I also have the advantage of taking classes I actually want to take this semester, as opposed to taking the classes that had openings like last semester. I'm taking Business Organizations and Corporations, both of which I'm very excited about. I think I'll be doing mostly corporate work this summer, so I thought it would be nice to have some background knowledge going into the firm. I'm really trying to go the extra mile by reading some outside material, so hopefully it'll pay off.

And my short term motivation for the next six weeks: Tahoe! I knew going to school in California for a year would pay off. Turns out one of my 1L friends has a father who owns a place at Tahoe, so we're headed there to ski for spring break. Can't wait! Definitely something nice to daydream about for the next six weeks.

Hope everyone else has gotten off to a good start this semester!

P.S. If you emailed me last week, I promise I'll get back this week!

Queston for UF Law Students

2006-01-16T21:02:00.000-02:00

This question is for the few UF students I know who read this:

Since the school only lists GPAs for ranks to 33%, I did a little research today trying to figure out about where top 40% and top 50% fall. I read in the 2005-2005 NALP National Directory of Law Schools that Dean's List is a 3.1. Is this true? The only listing of academic honors I found in the student handbook were for graduation honors (cum laude, summa cum laude, magna cum laude).

Anyone know about where top 40% and top 50% fall? It's so hard to gauge one's grades if you haven't gone to school here before - especially if your old school had a drastically different grading scale!

Perspective

2006-01-15T03:55:00.000-02:00

On Thursday when I learned my grades I was excited at first. No truly ugly grades to be seen. Then I realized there were no spectacular grades either. Then I realized my GPA probably placed me right at the 50% mark, perhaps top 45% if I'm lucky. Kind of a let down after being top 15% at my previous school. Little did I know Thursday afternoon that I was in for a big lesson in life. Let me give you the moral of the story first: average (or even less than average) grades are not the end of the world...they're not even the worst thing that could happen.

When we received our grades, I shared only with my study partner. Turns out she blew me away in every class but one (I still managed to smoke her in my favorite class). I moaned and groaned to my mom on the phone about how jealous I was. Less than twelve hours later something happened that would change everything. My study partner's dad slipped into a coma after having a brain aneurysm. I have since spent the better part of the past 40 hours in the surgical ICU at the local hospital, sitting with my friend. Yesterday afternoon she found out he was braindead, and in a few hours, his organs will be harvested and he'll be removed from life support. I'm quite sure that right now she'd gladly trade places with me and be the one with average grades who still has her father. It really just put things in perspective for me and made me realize that average grades at a first tier law school is far from the worst thing that could happen to me. In fact, it makes me glad I blew off two days of class last semester to go to Boston with my dad to see the Red Sox clinch the wildcard. I'm sure I'll remember that experience far longer than I will my mediocre grades.

So, as the grades roll in, let's all keep things in perspective. Here's to hoping everyone is happy and healthy!

Grade Anxiety

2006-01-12T01:23:00.000-02:00

Tomorrow is G-Day...grades come out. The closer the day has gotten, the more anxiety I've had about these grades. I think this is even worse than first year. First year it was more just curiosity. This year it's anxiety. Now I already know what it feels like to get good grades and be top of the class. This time I have something to lose. This time my parents will be disappointed if the good grades are gone. This time I have a law firm that wants to see my grades and partners that went out on a limb for me that will be disappointed. And the closer tomorrow gets, the worse I imagine I've done. Very much not my personality, but this is a stressful situation.

Hopefully I'll have good news to report tomorrow. We shall see.

My First Cite Checking Assignment

2006-01-10T01:53:00.000-02:00

Tonight marked my first cite checking assignment for one of the two journals of which I am a member. I'm amazed at how someone who graduated within the past few years can make at least one citation error in every single footnote. I can cut some slack for the folks who have been out practicing for awhile and have missed the newer editions of the Bluebook. I can even forgive those who haven't made the move from the 17th to 18th edition. However, I cannot fathom how someone who graduated fairly recently could consistently cite in a manner that is unrecognized by either version!

Really, I have it figured out. As a practicing attorney, this person either is, or thinks they are, more important than me...that their time is more valuable...that this is how I pay my dues as a law student. They don't have time to busy themselves with proper citation. No, let the law student grunt and groan over it instead. That's fine. I see how it is.

No animosity here whatsoever though, despite how it may sound. If everyone cited perfectly, I'd be out of a job (or journal membership at least).

Back to School

2006-01-06T12:47:00.000-02:00

I had a nice break from school, wherein I also took a break from posting on here. Classes started back yesterday though, so here I am.

Yesterday was probably the first time I felt like a real student here. Coming back after break and running into people I haven't seen, giving hugs, catching up...now I feel like this is my home. I had three of my five classes yesterday and so far I'm pleased with my selections. This semester consists of Con Law, Corporations, Business Organizations, Legal Drafting and Land Use Law. Con Law and Business Organizations both moved a little slow for my taste, but it was only the first day, so I'll give them a chance. I'm not sure what is worse: slow and boring or fast and incomprehensible.

Yesterday I discovered that this school hands out grades all at once, after they're all in. That means waiting until late next week, or at least that's the rumor I hear. I guess it's good getting them all at once though, then you don't get a bad one first and then panic until the rest come in. Hopefully there won't be any bad ones though!

In other news, law firms in Atlanta are all raising their first year pay. The firm that really jump started the whole thing increased salaries across the board for associates. Some firms have matched only the first year pay, while others have matched across the board. My firm either has or will (I'm not telling which, it might give it away) match in some form, so I'm happy. I'll have so much debt when I get out of law school any extra money will be appreciated.

Well, I hope everyone has a safe and happy return to school. Best of luck this semester!

Happy Birthday to Me!

2005-12-20T12:49:00.000-02:00

I'm so thankful today that I was born late (and not on the 4th when I was due), because it means I get to celebrate my birthday sans finals. I'm back home in Atlanta, surrounded by most of my family and friends, and so excited for the holiday season.

I had a terrific weekend in Savannah celebrating my birthday a little early. I've never not had a good time in Savannah though, so no big shock there. Planning on going skiing later on this week and hopefully again next week. Trying to get prepared for my big spring break trip to Tahoe with some of my CA friends. Just happy to have a break from school to regroup and recharge.

Hope everyone else is having a terrific break. Happy holidays!!

The Halfway Mark!

2005-12-15T15:42:00.000-02:00

I am officially halfway through law school! Yay!!

The last three days have been the marathon from you know where! Three exams in three days = burnt out! I can't wait to escape this weekend to some partying with my friends in Savannah. I desperately need the break!

Leaving to head home to Atlanta now. More later when I've recovered from this three-day marathon!

Marathon

2005-12-12T23:56:00.000-02:00

Tomorrow begins my marathon of exams. Three exams in three days...shoot me now! I'm definitely ready for the second, mostly ready for the first, and not ready at all for the third. Just kind of how it has worked out thus far.

As impediments to the upcoming marathon, both my laptop and my desktop hard drives decided to fry within a couple of days of each other. Luckily I had an idea it was coming, so all my files were saved on discs. Doesn't change the fact that it meant some serious frustration and stress. The hard drive for my laptop is on it's way free of charge from Dell. However, the fried desktop required the purchase of a brand new computer. Got one of the new slimline HPs...love it so far.

In 3 short days (or long ones, depending on how you look at it), I'll be halfway through with law school. I'd have to say this semester was the most difficult. First semester was perhaps scarier because the whole experience was new, but this one was difficult because it involved write-ons, getting situated at a new school, traveling for OCI for months, a hard drive crash a couple of weeks ago that ate two of my outlines, and the pressure of having to do well to please my summer employer. The stress of the past three weeks with all my computer problems was enough to send me over the edge.

I just keep reminding myself that in 4 days I'll be in one of my favorite vacation destinations, drinking like a fish! I'm going to get toasted with two of my best friends, the perfect end to this maddening semester. Just three exams between me and paradise...

One Down

2005-12-08T21:18:00.000-02:00

The first (and the worst) of my exams is over. It was yesterday, but I haven't regained the strength to converse until today. My first exam was Evidence, which I was dreading because it was my least favorite class. Alas, it is now over!

First, let me just say that it was no different from the exams I saw at my last school. I suppose I was nervous that it might be different, or more difficult, but it wasn't. In fact, I really didn't think this exam was hard. This professor keeps his old exams on file, with answers, so I knew what to expect. Unfortunately, after days of dozens of evidences rules, we really only covered a handful on the exam. Everyone I talked to after the exam seemed to think it was pretty straightforward and not that bad. Only bad thing about that is that the prof has to make a curve. Might be hard to do if everyone did as well as they think.

I don't have any other exams this week, but I have three in a row next week. I drive home after my last one, only to get up the next morning and head with two of my best friends to Savannah to celebrate my birthday a few days early. Two words: can't wait!

In other news, I was pleased to find an email in my inbox today letting me know to expect a holiday gift basket from my summer firm sometime next week. Getting showered with gifts already...love it! Just takes me back to my sorority analogy. Not only is the whole process (at least somewhat) like sorority rush, but then you get in and they shower you with presents, take you to bars and sporting events, and take on a a retreat. Once we joined the sorority we got presents from various sisters...we've accepted our offer from the firm and now we're getting things like holiday gift baskets. In the sorority, during the first few weeks, they took us out to bars, clubs, football games...this summer when we get to the firm they'll take us to happy hours at bars and to baseball games and such. At the end of our pledge period we had a pledge retreat...at the end of the summer we'll have a firm retreat. Yes, summering with a firm is more important, will shape my future, and is really my big shot...but it certainly bears some striking similarities!

Good luck to those of you in finals the next couple of weeks! On to Estates & Trusts studying for me...

First Year All Over Again

2005-12-03T23:45:00.000-02:00

I had a friend call last night who said, "At least it isn't your first year anymore. Isn't that supposed to be the hardest year?" I told her yes, it is supposed to be the hardest...unless of course you transfer. Then it's like you get to do first year all over again! I feel just as much pressure, if not more, than I did last year. This year I know what it's like to be top of the class, to make Dean's List, and to have my parents proud of my top grades. Now I have to start from scratch and try to do it all over again. This time against a couple of hundred students who got into a T1 the first time around, with top UGPAs and LSATs.

I feel very much like I did this time last year. Actually, I think I was more confident last year because I was ignorant. This year I know how hard it is to get good grades, how arbitrary it can seem, how much one little mistake can affect your whole grade. This year I'm starting from square one while all my peers already have GPAs from last year to fall back on. This year I'm at a T1 surrounded by people who got in here the first time around, unlike me. This year I have a law firm telling me that I need to be top third in order to please them. This year I have my parents expecting the same high grades I received last year. And this year I have myself...desperately wanting the high grades and the honors I became fond of last year.

I think I'm more scared this year than last as I go into finals. Maybe that's only because it's hard to remember what I felt like last year. This post is from the day of my first exam last year. Looking back, I think I sounded really confident. Will I feel like that on Wednesday before I enter my first exam at my new school? I'm not so sure that I will. This semester has been much more demanding, with lots of traveling for interviews and such, getting settled in a new school, etc. I've done my work, and I'm getting good studying done before exams start, but I'm still worried it won't go as well as last year. Every previous transfer here has told me that my grades here will never be as high as they were at my old school - that I'll never be ranked as high. One told me my goal of top third (imposed by my upcoming summer firm as a goal) was impossible as a transfer. This was after a dean told me that nearly all transfers ended up in the top quartile. Guess we'll have to wait and see who's right.

Until then, there's studying to be done...

Last Day of Classes

2005-12-01T00:32:00.000-02:00

Today was the last day of classes for me. In just two short weeks (or really long and painful - all depends on how finals go), I'll be halfway through my law school career. I still feel like I just started. I can't believe it's nearly half over! Some people are dying to get out of here, they can't wait for it all to be over. I don't feel that way at all. While I'm quite positive I'll be ready to get out of here in another year and a half, I'm not ready yet. I still haven't gotten to take any classes I really WANT to take. Hopefully that will come in the next three semesters, so I'm in no rush just yet.

I am, however, glad to be done with this semester. Transitioning to a new school and taking classes I didn't pick haven't made this the most fun semester. While I have no major complaints (I'm still darn glad to be here!), I'm happy to be moving on to the next semester.

All that stands between me and the second half of my law school career are 4 finals. One next week, three the next week. Then it's home, a birthday trip to Savannah, Christmas, New Years, and then back to school for round 4 (my fourth semester).

Now that classes are officially over, time to make the mad dash to finals. I'm recreating my outlines I lost last weekend, and dearly missing my study buddy from last year, my favorite roomie. Studying alone (and without Einstein Bagels) just isn't as much fun.

Fun or not (usually not), time to get back to it...

Minor Setback

2005-11-29T00:50:00.000-02:00

I've had a minor setback. Well, at first it seemed like a major setback, but I've downgraded its status to minor.

Let me set up a little background first...

I worked my butt off over Thanksgiving break on my outlines. My goal was to have them all done by the time the break was over. Then, about two hours before I was to depart my parents house, I encountered some computer issues. I've now spent hours on the phone with support departments and computer gurus, all of whom tell me my problem is a unique one with this computer program. To make a long story short, all my hard work is gone. Long gone.

Last year I backed up my documents on a flash drive religiously. This year I've managed to do it once every couple of weeks, but I didn't take my flash drive to my parents house with me. Hence, all the work I did while I was home (20-25 hours would be a conservative estimate) was for naught.

Now I'm back at square one. Last night I had decided to forget about the outlines and just study from commercial outlines. However, upon further reflection today, I've decided to redraft them, at least in part. Part of it's a confidence thing - I need my outlines to feel secure going into finals. Part of it's that I get to take outlines of my own making into several of my exams. I think I have the time to reconstruct them, at least in part. Plus, I figure it can't hurt. I've already outlined the stuff once, now I'll have another go at it. I learn well by organzing and typing it all out, so I can recreate the outlines and study at the same time. What can I say...I'm trying to make the best of an otherwise depressing situation!

So, my public service announcement for the evening: back-up your data, and back-up often!

No More PR

2005-11-14T21:08:00.000-02:00

No more PR...at least no more PR reading, yay!! I finished up the reading for the rest of the semester today, it feel so good. I'm also done reading for Evidence. Now on to Estates & Trusts and Administrative Law. Estates I can easily have done by the weekend at the lastest, but Admin is a different story, as we're several weeks behind!

The pressure of finals is starting to bear down on me. It's like 1L all over again...no grades and hoping to finish the first semester strong. May the law school gods be with us all!

Law Firm Rankings

2005-11-11T20:16:00.000-02:00

I've been pondering something since a comment was made to my last post regarding Vault rankings. What exactly is the advantage or appeal of being employed by a firm that made the Vault rankings?

For example, the comment said that only 3 Atlanta firms made the Vault rankings. Yet, I'm sure they pay the same thing as the top 20-30 firms in Atlanta (with the exception of a very few, two that I know of, all 20 or so of the largest firms in Atlanta pay the exact same thing, at least to incoming associates). They also all have virtually the same timeframe for making partner. So what exactly is the advantage?

Good News!!

2005-11-08T19:28:00.000-02:00

So a couple of hours ago my dreams came true...I was offered a summer position with the firm that was my top choice! I've wanted to work for this law firm for several years, since even before law school. When I had to attend a fourth tier last year I thought my dream would never come true. A year later and my dream is a reality!

The firm only offered me the first half of the summer, which is 7 weeks. They've never taken a transfer before and they're concerned that I might not get the grades it takes to get a permanent offer with their firm. I understand their concern and I'm so happy that they were impressed enough by me to give me 7 weeks to take my shot. I will so nail this!

I think my problem this year has been that I wasn't working towards something concrete. Last year I was focused on transferring and used that as my motivation. Now I'm motivated to achieve high grades once again in order to secure my spot in the firm of my dreams.

In the meantime, I'm trying to decide what to do with the remaining 5-6 weeks of my summer. I'm still waiting to hear from a few firms, so perhaps one of them will allow me to split with them. If not, there's a non-profit I'm really interested in working for, not long term, but just to see what it's like. I also need to study for the MPRE, which I plan to take in August. Somehow I think my summer will fill up quite quickly!

To the rest of you still waiting on offers, good luck!!

Welcome to the Gator Nation!

2005-11-06T23:32:00.000-02:00

After attending my first UF football game yesterday, I finally feel like an official part of the Gator nation! The past couple of weeks have been terrific as I've finally made an effort to get involved and be a real part of the student body here. The capstone of my efforts was attending my first Gator football game last night.

I must say that if I wasn't already in love with UF, I am now. I went to a small, private liberal arts college with no football team, so this was a first for me. I mean, I've been to other college football games, but never one where I really cared which team won. Last night I cared, and 4 quarters of football and 2 OTs later, the Gators won!

The whole day was incredible. We went to a pig roast, did some tailgating, hung out at a bar on University, got lots of free stuff from all kinds of people (hats, shirts, koozies, beads, etc.), and saw a winning football game in The Swamp from five rows back. I'm now totally addicted to UF football and will definitely be a season ticket holder next year.

So, in summation, life here as part of the Gator Nation is good...really good.

I'm Back!

2005-11-04T15:11:00.000-02:00

I am officially declaring myself over the little 2L slump I've been in lately. Suddenly, things are really looking up!

In the past week I've managed to become involved with two new journals on campus, one dealing with entertainment law and the other with environmental law. Both will be putting out their first issue this spring, and I am thrilled to be part of the team! I was a little bummed about not making Law Review or the other journal I tried to write onto earlier in the semester, but I'm totally over it now. I actually really enjoy researching and writing (it's sick, I know), so I'm just thrilled to be a part of a journal.

I think part of my frustration as of late has been my internal struggle over what area of the law I'd like to practice. For the very first time in my life, I don't know what I want to do. I've wanted to go to law school since I was old enough to talk, so my entire education up until this point was geared towards law school. Now that I'm here, I don't know what I want to do. Now there are some people here who don't know what they want to do because they're not sure they want to be lawyers. That's not me at all. I love law school and I absolutely want to be an attorney. However, I'm torn between several interests: corporate law, sports law, health care law and environmental/land use law. I just feel like whichever I chose is what I'll be stuck with for the rest of my career. It's just not that often you see someone switch from health care law to sports law. I just don't want to get pigeon-holed into something too early. Anyway, the point of this story is that I've decided not to stress about it. I'm going to pursue all the possibilities I have for next summer and see where it leads me. I think I'll end up where I'm meant to be. Until then I'm going to take a variety of classes and pursue all of these interests as much as I can until I have to make a choice.

On a related front, we registered for classes this past week. By the time my registration time rolled around there was nothing left, but I got most of what I wanted. Right now I'm registered for Corporations, Con Law, Legal Drafting, Land Use Planning and Trial Practice. The real surprise there is Trial Practice. I wasn't altogether sure I wanted to be a trial attorney, but I've begun to rethink that after interviewing at firms this fall. I decided that Trial Practice was an extremely valuable class, regardless of whether you ever set foot in a courtroom. At this point I'm not sure whether the road will lead me into a courtroom or not, but at the very least I'll understand what's going on when I watch Court TV, lol!

Girls Gone Wild

2005-11-03T16:52:00.000-02:00

So, I just saw an ad on tv announcing that Girls Gone Wild will be at a club here this weekend. They're going to be at a club, and the first two drinks for ladies are FREE! Gee, wonder why they're being so generous?

Steriod Bill

2005-11-02T10:05:00.000-02:00

Senator John McCain is co-sponsoring a bill that will set regulations for steroid use in professional sports. The first offense will carry a two-year suspension, while the second will result in a lifetime ban from the sport. All I can say is AMEN!

I find it totally unfair that players are currently only suspended for a few games when they test postive for steriods. What is that teaching the multitude of children sitting at home watching the game? Not to mention that it screws with statistics...are Barry Bonds homeruns all that impressive once you know you achieved a great many of them through steriod use? If he surpasses Hank Aaron in a few years for lifetime homeruns, will it be fair? Is it fair that someone like Shoeless Joe Jackson is banned from the sport for life and will never be in the Hall of Fame, while players who use steriods are only suspended for a few games? Shoeless Joe didn't even throw the series, he was found innocent by a court of law, and none of the statistics show that he threw the series. As a matter of fact, he did great stats, both batting and fielding.

I'll get down off my soap box now, but my point is that there should be stiffer penalties for steriod use. It's certainly not fair that those players get a slap on the wrist while Shoeless Joe is banned from baseball and the Hall of Fame forever.

Question for the Law Students Out There

2005-10-30T14:34:00.000-02:00

Question for all you law students out there...

Do your schools offer exam writing classes during 1L? I was informed be a 1L here the other day that no such thing is offered here. Then she went on to explain that they probably figure that by this age if you don't know how to write an exam, then you don't know how to write an exam. Umm...last time I checked you write a law exam very differently than anything you've written in the past. This isn't an extension of undergrad.

I'm just curious. My school last year had NUMEROUS exam writing workshops. I think you got the hang of it after a couple, but I went to all of them nonetheless. Most of my friends who failed out last year knew the material, but some of them simply never took the time to learn how to write a law school exam. Perhaps my school focused on exam writing because it was a fourth tier with poor bar passage rates, but I was under the impression that all law schools had an exam writing course or two at the beginning of 1L. Did you all have this opportunity at your school during 1L?

GO GATORS!!

2005-10-30T14:30:00.000-02:00

Congratulations to the Gators for their big win over the Dawgs at the Cocktail Bowl today! And I don't want to hear this crap about Georgia being crippled without their quarterback, one person is not an entire team. Besides, he graduates this year, what will you do next year? And we're here playing with a coach who's been in some no-name division and is now trying to run his plays in the SEC, we haven't exactly been on top of our game at all times this year. No excuses - we both battled on the field and the Gators were lucky enough to emerge victorious. GO GATORS!!

Getting Involved

2005-10-29T15:40:00.000-02:00

Last week I realized that I've failed to get involved at my new school. At my old school, I was involved in several campus organizations and extremely active in them. So, to remedy the problem, I made reservations for a trip to D.C. in two weeks to represent my school at an organization's national conference. I also went to my first meeting of my school's chapter of this organization. While I was extremely involved in this organization at my old school, I haven't made it to any of the meetings here yet because they've all fallen on days when I've been out of town for callbacks. I was a little nervous about getting involved with the chapter here. The chapter at my school was extremely small and the other members were all close friends of mine. Joining the chapter here meant venturing out of my tight circle of transfer friends and making friends with (gasp!) other students! While I consider myself outgoing, and am generally able to make friends anywhere, some of the situations at my new school have been intimidating and I've become content with my circle of transfer friends.

Well, attending the organization's meeting this week made me realize what I was missing out on. I adore my transfer friends here, and I think they'll always be my closest friends because we've all been through something similar, but this week I realized I was missing out on making other friends. I attended the meeting and I met some incredible people who I think will become good friends in the future. I'm so glad to have ventured out of my comfort zone and met some new people.

In the spirit of making new friends and getting involved here, I also introduced myself to someone who is an officer in another organization I'd like to join. He was extremely welcoming and was so excited that I wanted to get involved. I'm attending a meeting next week and I'm confident that the rest of the organization will be as equally welcoming and friendly.

Everyone here has been just that: welcoming and friendly. This school has an incredible atmosphere, one I know doesn't exist everywhere. Coming in as a transfer is difficult, and it can be hard to integrate, but everyone here has made it so easy. And I know now that I've made the decision to get more involved, I'll get even more out of my experience here. So, thank you UF - you Gators rock!

I'm Back!

2005-10-28T12:25:00.000-02:00

I apologize for the delay in posts. Things have just been a little crazy. These next two weekends will be the first consecutive weekends I've spent at home since I moved here. All the callbacks are finally through, I'm mostly caught up in classes, I finally have time to join some organizations here...I'm finally settling in. Let me backtrack for a minute and cover the finer points of the last few weeks...

First, I did not make Law Review or the journal I tried to write onto. Only 9 out of 51 entrants were selected through the Law Review's write-on, which I've tried to use as justification for not making it...well, that and having to learn Bluebook for the first time as I wrote my comment (my last school used ALWD). Then a few other transfers and I realized that no transfer made trial team, moot court, Law Review or the journal. For a few short moments (or perhaps that was hours or days) we all had a nervous breakdown over whether or not we were going to measure up here. If none of us can make any of the honor boards, why were we accepted? Are we destined to fill the bottom of the curve here?

Then came my last callback interview, which only served to fuel my fear. This was the firm that was my first choice going into OCI. I know several of the partners at this firm, and I've said since I started law school that this was the firm for me. However, I kept an open mind throughout OCI and I'm going to decline to say on here (in such a public forum) whether or not it's my first choice anymore. Anyhow, I knew a couple of the partners I was to interview with, so I was excited about my callback. Then one of these partners threw me off with a long question about me being a risk because I'm a transfer and don't have a proven record at my new school. I think I did a really nice job of responding at the time, but upon later reflection I had another brief scare concerning how I would do at my new school come grade time. Every transfer I've talked to here has done well, and I even heard that the transfers in the past have always finished in the top 25%, but it still worries me. For once, I don't want to start with a blank slate, I want my great grades from last year back!

Over the past week I've come to terms with the fact that I'm just going to have to work my butt off the next 6 weeks to be sure I make top of the class. Not that I haven't been working hard so far, but I'm kicking it into high gear now. Callbacks and out-of-town trips are over (except for a brief trip to D.C. for a conference in a couple of weeks), so now I have the time to dedicate myself to the rest of this semester.

A few of my fellow transfers have begun to wonder if transferring was the right decision. Not only did we give up law review and the like at our old school, but we're registering behind the current 2Ls, so we're afraid we won't get any of the classes we need or want. I, on the other hand, have never had one second thought about transferring. Sure, we've made some sacrifices, but we've had opportunities we never would have had at our old schools. Not only did I interview with some top firms here in the Southeast, but I know how proud I'll feel to walk across that stage in a year and a half and get a degree from a top law school. Sure, I gave up some of the perks I had at my old school, but it's all worth it. The only thing I really miss is my friends, and now that finals are coming around, I'll miss going to Einstein Bagel's with my roommate to pour over outlines. No, this time I'll be studying alone.

Speaking of studying, time to get back to it...

Religion

2005-10-14T17:28:00.000-02:00

I don't think I've ever really posted on here about religion before, and I'm sure it'll still be a rare occurence, but I've encountered something I just have to know more about. I could research it on the internet, and probably will later, but for right now I'll just throw it out to my small audience here...

I have a couple of friends who are part of a religion I would say is fairly rare. It's not one of your big ticket religions around here (Catholic, Jewish, Protestant, etc.), but it's big enough I know about it and have met several members. I'm refraining from naming it now, for unnamed reasons. Anyhow, I recently found out that this religion discourages its members from engaging in schooling past the high school level. I'm not even sure they care that much about their members making it through high school, but everyone I know who is a member has at least finished high school. As someone who has completed an undergraduate degree, and is now working on a graduate school degree, I wonder why an entire religion would discourage post-secondary education. My first thought (in a fit of outrage) was that it was to keep the members ignorant so they would remain a part of this faith that I see as more than a little strange. However, because I honestly don't like to pass judgment on other people's faith and beliefs, I've turned to curious now. What could you possibly have against higher education? And why would an entire religion take a stance on the matter?

If anyone has any insight or thoughts, I'd love to hear them.

Interesting

2005-10-12T23:14:00.000-02:00

Two interesting things of note...

Nearly a month after this post (which was mostly attacked I might add), there's an article in our school newspaper saying the exact same thing! A girl wrote an article strikingly similar in this week's paper - analogizing OCI to sorority rush. Either I wasn't crazy and they really are similar, or this girl ripped off my story!

Another interesting thing I've noticed this week is that our law school's bookstore sells condoms (in not one, but four varieties). Are law students getting it on so often that this is really necessary? Or is it that they want us to have more time to study, so to keep us from having to travel less than a mile down the road to CVS, we can just stroll by the bookstore on our way to wherever it is we're getting it on? Just seems like an odd item for them to keep on hand. Perhaps they'll come in handy one day though and I'll be thankful for the oddity. We'll see.

Who says life as a law student is dull?!

OCI Reflection

2005-10-07T01:18:00.000-02:00

Had another callback interview today. It was in a city where my cousin (who's like my big brother) lives, the firm was impressive, and I had a great day.

However, the main point of this post is a reflection I have on my OCI performance. I have found one common thread between the firms that I received a callback from. I received a callback interview from every single OCI interview where I was the first interview of the day. My strategy all along was to try and be the first interview of the day for each of my interviews, in the hopes of "setting the bar," so to speak. Well, it must have worked. I got a callback from every single firm where I was the first interview of the day. I got no callbacks from the firms where I went later in the day.

Moral of the story...timing is everything!

Braves Win!

2005-10-07T01:15:00.000-02:00

Congrats to the Braves on their 7-1 win tonight! I just wanted to acknowledge why Smoltz is one of the most fantastic men in baseball. Not only does he switch between being a starter and a closer over the years anytime the Braves ask him to...not only did he choose to earn less money in order to stay with the Braves...not only is he incredibly involved in the community...but when asked after the game about his performance making him "Player of the Game," he praises his catcher, rookie Brian McCann instead. Totally selfless and truly plays for love of the game. Gotta love him!

Now if only the Red Sox could pull out a win...

Go Sox!

2005-09-30T00:43:00.000-02:00

I'm a little bit of an impulsive person (that's probably the understatement of the year). Yesterday morning I realized that the Red Sox and Yankees were tied for the AL East, and that their series this weekend would decide the whole thing. While the Braves are my hometown team, the Red Sox have always been my favorite American League team (and my dad's). So, I called my dad, told him of my crazy plan to fly to Boston for the weekend to go to the game, and actually talked him into going. I then spent all day yesterday trying to get tickets to a game, trying to book airfare, and trying to find a hotel. All enormous feats when a series this big (between already heated rivals) is abreast.

Twenty four hours later the Red Sox are trailing by one game (almost two after the close call tonight), I have great tickets to Sunday's game, airfare booked, and a hotel room only a couple of miles from Fenway. I'm all set!

I couldn't be more excited about this trip. My dad and I visit a different baseball stadium every summer, and although we've already been to Fenway, I always look forward to our trips. Fenway is incredible...and seeing the Red Sox and Yankees duke it out for the division title at Fenway is a once-in-a-lifetime thing. Totally worth every penny!

Go Sox!

New v. Old

2005-09-26T17:22:00.000-02:00

I also promised to address how I like my new school, and how it’s different from my old school. I absolutely love my new school. I honestly couldn’t be happier. It saddens me to talk to my friends who are unhappy with their transfer (and there are plenty), but it reminds me how lucky I am to have found the right place for me. I hope that in time they are all able to find their niche at their new place, and I hope they are able to make the best of it. Each of them transferred to an incredible school, and I know it’ll all pay off in the end.

My new school is very different from my old school. Part of it is because it’s higher ranked, part of it is because it’s located in a different region of the country, part of it is the people, and part of it is me being happy to be closer to home. It’s hard to compare because I think second year is vastly different from first year, but my classes here are very different from classes at my old school. Most of my classes are a little larger, the Socratic method is used far less (if at all), technology is used a great deal more (my old school didn’t have wireless and none of my professors used any multimedia in their teaching – although I know other professors at my old school did to some extent), and students are far more serious. The first difference I noticed was in the conversations before and after class. At my old school it was common to hear people talking about where they were going drinking that night, or where they had been drinking the night before. However, at my new school the conversations are much more often about class topics, current events or organizational events on campus. Don’t get me wrong, people here still drink and party, it’s just that the majority seem to save it for the weekend, whereas students at my old school went out quite a bit during the week.

I don’t want anyone from my old school to read this and take it the wrong way. There were certainly some serious, and very intelligent, students at my old school. However, there were also lots of students who went to law school because they didn’t know what else they wanted to do, or because their parents pushed them in to it, or because they were killing time out of college. Here, I think a far greater percentage (although not all) are in law school because they have a genuine interest in practicing law, an interest many have had for years. It’s just a different atmosphere here – much more serious and much more competitive. I had prepared myself for the worst, that people would be horribly competitive and cutthroat, but that’s not the way it is at all. It’s more competitive than my first school, but people are actually very nice and always willing to help out with notes, outlines, whatever.

It’s hard to break down the differences one by one, I can just say it’s very different. They told us at Orientation that at our old school we were probably the big fish in a small sea, but that here we’d be a small fish in a big sea. I think that’s accurate. At my first school I felt intelligent (perhaps for the first time in awhile – I really didn’t focus on academics like I should have in college), I was extremely confident and I was extremely involved. Here, however, I only feel average in the intelligence department, as compared to my colleagues, and I’m not as involved. Although the curve is far higher here, I still worry about what my grades will look like. I wonder how I’ll stack up against a student body whose median LSAT and GPA numbers are far above mine.

Sometimes it’s scary, but I know that I did the right thing. I’m extremely happy here, and I’m getting opportunities (as far as jobs go) that I never would have had before. Ask me how I feel about it again though after grades come out in January!

I'm Back!

2005-09-26T17:19:00.000-02:00

So, this has probably been the longest break I’ve taken between posts. However, I had good reason. For the last three weeks I’ve been involved in the write-on competition for Law Review at my new school. The whole thing was overwhelming, and enormously time consuming. Now that it’s over though, I can say it was worth it...well, it’ll be worth it if I make it! The good thing is that I got to use the same case note for both Law Review and one of the journals, so I’ve got two shots to make it. Honestly, at this point I’d be happy to make either.

The bright spot in the past week (the most horrific week of my life as the deadline for Law Review loomed) was an email offering me a callback interview at the firm who was my top choice going in to OCI. They’re probably still my top choice, but I’m still keeping my options open. I still think it’ll be like sorority rush...I’ll know where I’m meant to be after I’ve walked through each front door. During sorority rush I knew which house felt right. Hopefully, during callbacks I’ll know which office feels right. I’m willing to keep an open mind going in, but I have to say that getting a callback from this firm made me absolutely ecstatic. My mentor is a partner there, so nothing would be more exciting for me than getting to work alongside him next summer. My callback isn’t for a few more weeks, so plenty of time to stress and worry about it now that the Law Review write-on is over!

Placeholder

2005-09-19T22:29:00.000-02:00

This is a placeholder. It's to hold my place until I have time to write a real post. I'm in the final week of the Law Review write-on competition, so this is as much of a post as I can muster. However, I promise to blog this weekend about my experiences here at my new school - as soon as I get back from my trip I'm taking to celebrate the write-on being over!

Analogizing OCI

2005-09-09T11:07:00.000-02:00

Some of my friends not participating in OCI have asked what it's like. I've decided the best thing I can analogize it to is sorority rush (excuse me, I think they have to call it "recruitment" now). During sorority rush you go around to all the different houses, get asked the same questions, hear the same story about all their philanthropy activities, how everyone in the chapter is such great friends, how they win all the competitions, etc. You fill out your bid cards, pick your favorites, then sit back and wait for them to meet in committee, talk about how you dressed, how you answered questions...and then you wait to see if they put you on their list.

During OCI you go through the on-campus interviews, get asked the same questions, hear the stories about all their pro bono work, how everyone in the firm is like family, how all the attorneys rank on all these "Super Lawyers" lists and such. You silently pick your favorites in your head, then sit back and wait for them to meet in their hiring commitees, talk about how you dressed, how you answered questions...then you wait to see if they call you back. The only difference with callback interviews is that it's more like the movie "Groundhog's Day"...you have the same interview, with the same questions, over and over all day. It's like reliving the same interview 5 times in one day, just with different attorneys each time.

That being said, I've done both (sorority rush and OCI) in my life and enjoyed them as much as anyone can. My callback interview this week went great, I loved the firm dynamic, I've written my thank you notes...and now I'm just waiting. Had my on-campus interview yesterday with the firm that was my number one choice going into OCI. Think it went well, but now the waiting begins...

I got what I wanted during sorority rush, so let's just hope OCI turns out the same!

Good luck to everyone else going through this right now!

OCI Update

2005-08-29T17:39:00.000-02:00

Today marked my third OCI interview. This was one with a BIGlaw firm in Atlanta - truly a dream for me. I think it went wonderfully and I'm excited to be considered for their firm.

The real news though is that I'm currently 2 for 2 with call-back interviews. Both of my first interviews resulted in an offer for a call-back interview, the first I received a couple of weeks ago (and am going on next week), and the other I was notified of today. Needless to say, I'm thrilled!

I can't even begin to express how fortunate I've been lately, but thank you to those who have given me encouragement and believed in me!

Hope everyone else is doing well with OCI! Good luck to those with interviews coming up!

Southern?

2005-08-25T12:52:00.000-02:00

I'm (slowly) unpacking my apartment, trying to free myself from the cardboard jungle. While I was unpacking my kitchen I came across my Christmas china and wondered, is this a Southern thing? Every adult female in my family has a set of Christmas china, which is probably silly because we have Christmas at the same aunt's house every year - which leads to the question, do my other aunts even ever get to use their Christmas china? I'm sure they throw dinner parties for friends and such around Christmas and use it, I don't really know. Anyhow, a few years ago my aunts decided that I needed to pick my Christmas china pattern so they could start giving me a few pieces each year. They explained how they didn't start collecting their Christmas china until after they were married, and thus they didn't have a full set until their 40s (it's really expensive for something you only use once a year, so you get it piece by piece). And since my aunts are not known for giving great gifts, I decided I would start my Christmas china, then at least I'd know what I was getting every year. I then went on to pick a different pattern than the one that every female in my family has, which started some major drama, but that's a story for another day.

So what I was wondering is whether having a set of Christmas china is a Southern thing, or if it's more universal than that. I can't really ask my friends in California because most of them are Jewish (one is even Pagan), so I'm throwing this out to my readership. I know they sell this stuff nationwide, but I wonder how much of a tradition it is outside of the South.

Now on to pondering something more important, like perhaps my Administrative Law reading...

**EDIT** For those who don't know what Christmas china is, here are links with pictures of the more popular patterns:

Lenox "Holiday"

Spode "Christmas Tree"

Christopher Radko "Tree"

First Day of School

2005-08-24T00:43:00.000-02:00

Today was my first day at my new school and I have to say I was pleased. I really think I made the right choice about which school to transfer to and I'm loving it so far. It was sad to walk through the halls and not see the faces of the friends I knew and loved during 1L, but I've been keeping in touch with my closest friends from 1L, which is almost as good as seeing them.

The only interesting news to report is that I have a star from a reality tv series in one of my classes. I won't disclose who it is (it's their business, not mine), but I have to say it was a strange experience. I saw this person several times today and knew they looked familiar, then spent quite a bit of time trying to figure out where I knew them from (high school, college, etc.)...then finally it hit me - I'd watched them on this show for months. Very strange indeed. You know they have normal lives and all, I just wasn't expecting to ever see any of them in their normal life. Anyhow, I'm going to refrain from making any comment to this person about their tv stint - I'm sure they're tired of people asking them if they're really that person from that show. I can't imagine how annoying that must get.

Another on-campus interview tomorrow - always exciting (I'm not being sarcastic either, I really do like interviewing). It's so weird to think that I might be deciding a huge part of my future right now, as it's very common to end up with the firm you clerk for 2L summer. I honestly think I'd be happy at any of the firms I've chosen to interview with - they're all in my target cities and all but one have my target practice area. I'd be extremely lucky to get an offer from any of them!

Hope everyone is enjoying their first week of school (if this is your first week of school)...and good luck with OCI for those participating!

The Yin and the Yang

2005-08-22T20:51:00.000-02:00

I'm sure I've said this before (I'm just too busy/lazy to link to the previous post), but my dad thinks things come in pairs. There's always a yin and a yang, the good and the bad.

My yin (the bad) came over the past several days as my movers fell further and further behind schedule and classes got closer and closer. They finally delivered today and I told my mother that I was due some yang (the good) to counter-balance my experiences the past few days. Well, I got my yang!

I just found out I got an OCI interview with one of the BIG Atlanta firms. I've gotten a few interviews with ones I consider big, but which aren't the everyday names you hear around the Atlanta legal community. But this one is BIG. I've actually been to the firm for a few events in the past (and I'm kind of wondering if my affiliation with a certain group influenced their decision to interview me), but I never even considered that I'd get an interview with them. Of course I hoped for it, but I had given up weeks ago when their time to schedule interviews had passed. Turns out they were just running behind and I got the good news today, just after the movers turned my apartment into a jungle made of cardboard boxes.

School starts tomorrow and I already love UF. I've gotten interviews I never would have gotten previously, I love all of the students, I love the campus, I love the city, I love my apartment (although I'll love it more sans cardboard boxes)...really, I just love everything about this experience so far. I hear I'll hate it once I have to get up at the crack of dawn to get parking in the morning for the first day of classes, but we'll see. My affection doesn't easily waiver! :)

OCI

2005-08-20T11:40:00.000-02:00

OCI officially kicked off this past week. So, in addition to waiting on my movers (who never came), I also had my first interview. It went far better than I had feared and I got a callback the very next morning. I'll be headed to Atlanta in a couple of weeks for my callback interview, with some more interviews here on-campus right before and after that. I also found out that I got an interview with the firm who was my top choice going in (although that could change once I'm exposed more to these other firms, it's just that I was well-connected to this firm before OCI started). I also have a few out-of-town interviews to go to for firms I applied directly to. It's going to be a busy, busy semester! Between classes, OCI, callbacks, out-of-town interviews and law review write-on, I may not have time to sleep this semester! It's all very exciting though, as I don't think my life would have been like this had I stayed at my first school.

In other news, I finally got my class schedule. For this semester I've got Evidence, Estates and Trusts, Administrative Law and Professional Responsibility. Nothing I'm all that excited about (I want to get into some land use classes next semester), but starting a new semester is always exciting. Also, I have Fridays off, and only one class on Thursdays, so I'm looking at some nice long weekends. Long weekends that will probably be spent going on out-of-town interviews! Oh well, no complaints from me. Life is good!

Word of the Day: Humidity

2005-08-16T00:13:00.000-02:00

Someone told me the other day that Gainesville, FL was #2 in the nation for humidity. I was sure they were exaggerating. I was also sure that New Orleans was #1. Wrong! Gainesville really is #2, right behind some city in Washington state.

Check it out: weather stats

Southeast vs. Southwest

2005-08-15T13:03:00.000-02:00

Since moving back to the Southeast, I've been thinking about the many differences between the two locales. Most of the things I pondered were superficial or fairly unimportant: in Georgia after a heavy rain there are earthworms on the sidewalk, in Florida it's bullfrogs, but in California it's snails; when I visit a friend's apartment in Florida I can park anywhere I want, but when I visit a friend's apartment in California I have to park 3 blocks away on the street and hike back; in the Southeast professional women always wear pantyhose, whereas some of my female friends in California have told me that they've never once worn pantyhose. The list goes on and on.

My newest discovery came when reading various Career Services sites for interviewing tips (my first OCI interview is this week). A Southeastern law school's site recommended hand-writing thank you notes after an interview and talked about how handwritten thank you notes are a lost art and would set you apart. However, a Southwestern law school's site said to never send handwritten notes, that they should always be typed. The cultural differences are so funny.

So, like a good southern girl I'll be wearing panty hose to my interviews and sending handwritten thank you notes!

Transfer Craziness

2005-08-10T01:57:00.000-02:00

I just found out that I was accepted to my dream school - Emory! I never in a million years would have guessed that I could go to Emory. I left my application in after I was accepted to UF because I knew I'd always wonder if I could have gotten in. Well, I did! For a few minutes I considered packing up my Florida apartment and moving back to Atlanta to go to Emory, but I've decided to stay here I think. The price tag here is much more affordable and it's only ranked a little lower. I think Emory would be better if I wanted to practice out of the Southeast, but I think a UF degree will do just fine in Atlanta. I also think I'll like the atmosphere better at UF, plus I'm already settled here and have OCI interviews scheduled and such. So, I never thought I'd be saying this, but I think I'll be turning down Emory. See, I can't even say it - I said I "think" I"ll be turning them down. ARGH! This is so hard!! I just feel blessed to have such wonderful transfer options. I hope that someone else gets this spot at Emory and has a great year there!

Interesting Reunion

2005-08-04T18:10:00.000-02:00

I don't blog about my love life on here often, mostly because I haven't had one since I started law school. However, since there's not much going on with school yet, there's time for a little blast from the past.

Before law school I was with a guy who, at one point, I thought was "the one." However, as law school approached he decided to start a new career, one that would take him to the other end of California from me. We started fizzling out once we'd made our decisions on our future (me in school, him and his new career), and last July when I went to California to meet my roommate, I saw him for the last time. Since then I've talked to him on the phone once, emailed back and forth 2-3 times (all in the past few weeks, prompted by his mother telling him I transferred), but haven't once seen him. I focused on school and tried to push him out of my mind. Two weeks ago when he emailed me to tell me congrats on transferring I didn't think much of it. We emailed a few times, just catching up. In my last email I joked and asked if his job ever brought him to my new city (he travels to hospitals all over the country as part of his job). Got an email back from him today - he'll be in my new city next week, right after I move in. We're now having dinner Thursday night, over a year since the last time I saw him and nearly a year since the last time I heard his voice.

I have various feelings on the whole issue. Part of me knows he wasn't the one and that I deserve better - part of me wishes things were like they used to be when we were together. It's much easier to forget that time in my life existed when I don't see or speak to him, but part of me really wants to see him again, even if it's just as friends (which it is).

Funny how far a year can take you. Two years ago I was waiting anxiously for him to return from Iraq. Last year I had just said goodbye to him at his parents house in Los Angeles and was preparing to start a new chapter in my life that didn't include him: law school. This year I'm at a much better law school, getting ready to start all over again, and having dinner with him in Florida. Funny to look back and see how people and priorities change.

Moving

2005-08-04T00:32:00.000-02:00

This time last year I was spending my first week in SoCal visiting the local sights. I took in a surfing competition, went to San Diego Zoo, Venice Beach, Santa Monica Pier...the whole shebang!

This week I spend packing to move to Florida. My how things have changed! I move into my beautiful one bedroom apartment on Saturday, at which time I'll purchase a brand new mattress to go with my new duvet cover, pillow shams and sheets I bought at Macys this weekend. I'll once again be living alone, something I'm both looking forward to and a little sad about. I was lucky enough to have an amazing roommate for my first year of law school. I can't imagine what it'll be like without her! She was in the same section as me and we often studied and/or bitched together. It was comforting. And while it's hard to explain, we both loved living together, but are both looking forward to living alone. I lived alone for several years before law school, so having a roommate was a scary prospect last year. But in the end, she turned out to be one of my best friends in law school. As a matter of fact, I've talked to her more this summer than any other law school friend. I'll miss her, but I definitely won't miss our over-priced apartment! My new apartment is only 100 square feet less and will cost me the same thing that I paid for my half of our rent last year. It's a great apartment - almost 1000 square feet! I study at home, so gotta have plenty of room to stretch out, lol.

I have some more reflections on my time spent in California, but I thought I'd save that for a later post. Until then, back to packing!

Interviews

2005-07-30T23:11:00.000-02:00

They finally posted a small portion of the Phase 1 interviews. So far I received an interview for one firm (a big feat considering I was told that only one transfer got any interviews last year) and was rejected by two others. I've decided to take the first slot of the morning on the day this firm comes on campus. I'd rather set the bar than go later in the day when they're tired.

The rest of the selections should be up Monday. I'm keeping my fingers crossed, as there are several firms in this first phase I'd like to interview with. I'm also waiting to set a time for my interview this week with the non-OCI BIGLAW firm I got connected to through a friend. They're one of the most selective firms around, so I doubt I'll make it past the first interview, but it'll be nice to have the experience and at least get a shot at them.

Hope everyone else is getting some good interviews!

Not Holding My Breath

2005-07-28T20:00:00.000-02:00

And the waiting continues...

Just received an email saying not all employers got their selections in on time. They're hoping to be done by the end of the day tomorrow. I'm not holding my breath...but I'm still keeping my fingers crossed!

Law School is One Big Waiting Game

2005-07-28T11:49:00.000-02:00

That's right, law school is just one big waiting game. First, you wait to get LSAT scores, then you wait to get into a school (sometimes you have to do this for more than one admissions cycle), then you wait for grades, then you wait for rank, then you wait to get into transfer schools, then you wait to find out who you got interviews with for OCI...it's really a test of your patience.

Right now I'm waiting to find out my OCI interviews for the first round. I talked to a transfer from last year and she said only one transfer got an interview last year, and he only got one. That definitely worries me. Especially since most of the big Atlanta firms are in the first round. I'm hoping all my work experience and connections in Atlanta help me pull out a few at least!

On a more positive note, I think one of my connections has managed to get me an interview with a BIGLAW firm that doesn't do OCI at my school. They're trying to set up the interview for next week (yes, next week! AHH!) before I move to my new locale. Sounds promising so far, but still keeping my fingers crossed!

Interview selections for the first round are supposed to be up sometime this afternoon. I'll report back then!

No Rhyme or Reason

2005-07-20T18:07:00.000-02:00

I've decided there is no true rhyme or reason to transferring. Although I sent letters withdrawing my applications from the schools I hadn't heard back from a few days ago, I'm still receiving decisions in the mail. Here's what it has looked like so far:

Accepted into T1
Rejected from T2
Rejected from T3
Accepted to T2
Accepted to T3

It's kind of all over the board. I know there are various things that come into play, such as the number of transfers a school takes, whether they look at your UGPA and LSAT, etc...but still, it seems totally random. I'm just glad that I got into my top choice first and didn't blow seat deposits on these other acceptances. I also think I've had better luck than some of my peers back at Whittier simply because I've been applying to schools in the Southeast that don't receive near the number of transfer apps that places like USC and UCLA do. I honestly would have been happy with any of the schools I applied to, but I feel awfully lucky to have gotten into the one I did. I promise to work hard and be a valuable part of the community at this school, as I'm so grateful for the chance to be a student there!

Good luck to the rest of you still waiting. Don't give up!

A Visit from the Tooth Fairy

2005-07-19T12:29:00.000-02:00

Ok, so it was more like a visit to the oral surgeon than a visit from the tooth fairy, but at this age, what's the difference? I got a molar and a wisdom tooth removed yesterday at 8 a.m. It actually wasn't even nearly as bad as I thought. I had IV sedation and one minute I was talking to the doctor and then the next I was in the recovery room. I've done nothing but sleep, eat jello and take hydrocodone for 24 hours now, which is finally starting to get boring.

Before my visit from the tooth fairy, I spent several days down in Gainesville checking out my new school and new town. I love it! I found an apartment, took a tour of the school, met with several deans over at the school and just got a feel for the town. I think I'm really going to enjoy it down there.

I'm too dizzy to write much more, but I'll be back soon!

The Yin and the Yang

2005-07-13T14:59:00.000-02:00

My dad has this theory about the yin and the yang of life. He thinks something bad always happens to balance out something good that has happened, and vice versa. Want proof? I got into a T1 school as a transfer...and now I have to have a molar and a wisdom tooth extracted. See how that works?

I'm headed to the oral surgeon in an hour to have a consult done before my surgery. I should have the surgery tomorrow, but I had already planned to leave for Gainesville tomorrow night with my mom to check out UF this weekend. I have meetings scheduled with several departments on campus on Friday and an apartment I want to look at before I sign the lease, so I've decided to hold off on the tooth extractions until Monday. Now I just have to pray for a pain-free weekend.

Got my rank yesterday...finally. Actually, they haven't sent it out to students yet, but they have sent it out to transfer schools. I managed to get one of those schools to tell me my rank, so no more waiting (not that it matters much anymore). I ended up at a respectable rank, although I wish it had been a little higher. It's good enough to qualify me for most of the employers coming on campus at UF though, so I'm happy. Now I just have to hope they look past the fact that I'm a transfer and give me an interview. Employers are visiting over 7 weeks and we go through 7 phases of bidding before they come on campus. I had to make my bids for Phase 1 this past weekend and it turns out that most of the big Atlanta firms come on campus the first week. I wish they came a little later in the interview season so I would be warmed up and ready, but I guess I get to give them my first shot. I just hope some of them accept my bids and actually interview me! One more thing to add to my list of prayers.

Last, but certainly not least, my prayers go out to the member of my first year class who passed away last weekend. I'm still in shock that a fellow 1L, one whom I liked and was friends with, has passed away. My heart goes out to his family. If anyone from my former school reads this and knows more about what happened, please let me know. Details seem to be sketchy.

I leave you with a quote, which I find eerily applicable here because this student died during (or on his way home from) study abroad...

"People do not die for us immediately, but remain bathed in a sort of aura of life which bears no relation to true immortality but through which they continue to occupy our thoughts in the same way as when they were alive. It is as though they were traveling abroad." ~Marcel Proust

Giant Leap!

2005-07-08T18:50:00.000-02:00

I found out a few hours ago that I will be attending a first tier law school this fall! I applied to a few as "reach" schools and was notified by my top choice today that I was admitted. I'm still in complete shock, but I'm thrilled. I was told that I only have 48 hours to make a decision, so I've decided to accept the offer at this school instead of waiting to hear back from the other schools. I'd rather not say what school it is, but it does put me back in the Southeast where I want to be.

Good luck to the rest of you waiting to hear back from schools. The waiting is by far the worst part! Good luck!

Hate Mail

2005-07-07T14:00:00.000-02:00

I've recently been the recipient of some hate mail. As you may have seen in some comments to a post below, it has apparently become my fault that a professor gave an inappropriate exam. In addition to that comment below I have received several emails over the past week or so basically saying the same thing. Who knew that getting what I wanted would come at such a high price.

I'm not sure how much it's appropriate to blog about, but here's the general story:

My school has year-long grades for all but one course during 1L. Professors have the freedom to make each semester worth what percentage they wish. Most choose to do 50/50, but some do 40/60 or something close. My Contracts professor chose to do 4/80 with the other 16% coming from daily quizzes.

Fall semester I had the second highest grade in the class with a 94. I think I was above the class average both semesters as far as the daily quizzes went (at least from what I know). Then I get my final grade and it's a 67. First I was shocked, then I was sure there was a mistake, then I was furious. There are various issues at stake here...Professor Contracts missed 30-something% of our classes this semester due to illness. We had a substitute teacher for some classes, and a few were made up, but it was still an issue. Then Professor Contracts gave an exam that was only 17 multiple-choice questions and one short essay. The essay could only be used to explain which question you thought you may have gotten wrong and why you thought your answer was superior to the "right" answer. If you convinced him that your answer was better, he'd change the answer before he graded everyone's multiple choice questions. So basically, when you were taking the MC portion there were technically no "right" answers, all were subject to change.

There were other things taken into consideration, but basically it boiled down to being inappropriate to have 17 MC questions represent 80% of our grade in a semester where our professor missed the first 4 weeks of class.

This exam has been petitioned in the past, but for some reason never overturned. The school didn't want to interfere with academic freedom, but someone finally took a stand this year. I think it's safe to say that this situation will never happen again with this professor now. I'm only sorry that students from past years weren't able to get results. But at least next year will be different.

So, in the end, the school decided to allow my section to elect to either keep their final grade (if they were happy with it) or accept a "Pass." I chose to take the "Pass" for obvious reasons. Now people in other sections are mad because they think it will negatively effect their ranking, and for some I'm sure it will. However, my section was at a disadvantage by having a course structured like this and an inappropriate exam. Now the school has done what they think is best to right the wrong. The whole situation is unfortunate.

If anyone has any questions or comments, feel free to leave them. However, I will not debate with anyone from my school on the merits of the decision made by the Academic Standards Committee. It wasn't my decision and the only role I played was as one of many students who petitioned to have the exam reviewed. If you have a problem with the way it was handled, talk to the school. I've debated this long enough with enough people and I'd just like to forget about it now.

For those sending hate mail, I'm sorry you feel the way you do. I really do understand your frustration. However, the people you need to talk to are the deans and faculty at school, not me.

The Time Has Come

2005-07-05T21:56:00.000-02:00

The time has come my friend...the time to find out if all the butt I busted during 1L was worthwhile, if it was enough to transfer, if I'll be returning to California...

But I digress. Grades are all in, including one I hated. Lucky for me, the grade I hated was in a class where the exam ended up getting thrown out, now I simply have a "Pass." I made Dean's List and Honor Roll, although I finished the year with a lower GPA than I had just a few short months ago after fall semester. Overall, I'm pretty happy. I had two grades I was a little disappointed in, but I think I did well enough to transfer.

I've applied to 10 schools to transfer, all in the Southeast. Some are first tier, some are second tier and a few are third tier. For me, it really isn't about prestige or rank, it's about getting back to the Southeast and putting myself in a position where I'm more likely to get a job after graduation in the Southeast. If I have to do that at a third tier, I will.

Tomorrow all 10 schools will find my transcript and letter of good standing on their fax machines when they arrive (unless they worked really late today and received it late this afternoon). Nearly all of the schools have agreed to review my application for admission sans class rank. I wanted this because I wanted to hurry and get some decisions before the transfer classes are all full, but I'm also worried it might disadvantage me. I've included an addendum for each school giving them some information about where I might be in the class based on Dean's List and cut-offs for graduation honors and such, so hopefully that'll be enough. Several schools make decisions within a couple of days, so I could know by the end of the week. The whole idea makes me sick at my stomach. I'm not sure I'm ready to find out how this will all end.

Good luck to everyone else currently going through this!

Back On Track

2005-06-26T23:41:00.000-02:00

Life is finally back on track. After several weeks of all sorts of bad luck, ranging from a bad grade to getting my car stolen, things are finally turning up. I got a new car (well, new to me), I resolved an issue I had with a grade, I love my job, I love my friends, I love Atlanta...things are good.

Unfortunately, I can't post much about most of these things. I'm trying to post as little about my job as possible because I respect the judge I work for and don't want to reveal anything I shouldn't. However, I will say that he just got an awesome promotion and both me and my resume are benefitting. The judge I work for is a great guy and we all enjoy working for him, so he definitely deserved this promotion. The biggest difference between this and our old position is that now we'll be doing mostly criminal matters, whereas before it was mostly civil. I've been writing orders for civil motions for weeks and now I get to try my hand at some criminal issues, so I'm excited for the change.

On top of all that, I love the other interns, as well as the rest of the staff. All of us interns went out this weekend, which was nice. We're each at different law schools and from different backgrounds, but we get along great. We also have one intern who is a senior in college, so we like to tell him all the war stories from our 1L year.

I also got some really exciting news Friday, but I can't share yet. Possibly later on this week though, check back with me.

Tomorrow I send off the last of my transfer applications. I ended up applying to 10 schools, so I'm praying for just 1 to let me in. And as I've stated before, this has nothing to do with my current school...as a matter of fact, I've grown to really love them these past few weeks. But, I miss the South and I'd like to be a little closer to all my connections here. So, now the waiting for decisions begins...

Grades Are Pouring In!

2005-06-20T16:56:00.000-02:00

Received two more grades today. I'm shocked because our school is known for not getting grades out on time...yet they're magically pouring in this semester. Three cheers for the Registrar's office for a job well done!

I'm happy with both the grades I received. One moved 1 point up from last semster, the other moved 4 points down, but I'm happy with both. They're both above the "magic number" I set in my head that I'd be happy with. So far that means that 4 of the 5 grades I've received have been above my "magic number," but the other was horribly low. Now I'm just waiting on one last one, and this one I'm kind of worried about because it was a one semester class, so no idea how I did. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Congrats to my other friends who have reported good grades!

Tides Are Changing

2005-06-18T10:24:00.000-02:00

My streak of bad luck seems to have come to an end finally. This week has seen many improvements in my situation...

Most importantly, I have wheels now! I got a 1999 Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer Edition. I've got leather interior and a sunroof, two things I always wished my old car had. It's supposed to have worse gas mileage than my last car (a Honda CRV, which acted more like a car than an SUV), but so far it's getting about the same. So far I absolutely love this car.

Almost as exciting is my Real Property II grade. Last semester this was my lowest grade by about 8 points. I was really upset because it was my favorite class. I grew to love property even more this semester and was determined to bring up that bad grade. Well, I managed to do 20 points better on this semester's exam and I brought up my final year-long grade 10 points. I'm ecstatic! Now let's just hope the other grades fall in the same range. (And for those of you who are going to bitch because, god forbid, I celebrated a grade on my own blog...if it makes you feel better my best grade from last semester, Contracts, plummeted into the cellar. But, I'm focusing on good things here, so let's move on...)

Last, but not least, the judge I work for is getting a tremendous promotion this week. Our case load will change from mostly civil to mostly criminal now, which should be interesting. I love my job so far and I feel like I'm really putting my 1L learning to work. So far I've used Civ Pro, Torts and Contracts, and it looks like next week I'll be starting some Crim Law. Right now I'm working on writing orders for Motions for Summary Judgment and Motions for Judgment on the Pleadings. Makes me wish they taught us how to write orders in Legal Skills, not memos and briefs. Also makes me wish my school used Bluebook instead of ALWD. Legal Skills has been a huge help overall though, as my writing is right on par with the other interns, who are both from T1 schools. I really enjoy my time with the other interns and the entire staff in our chambers is amazing, it's like one big family. I really couldn't have asked for a better summer job...except maybe I could ask that it paid more! :)

Lastly, I did get a paying job for the summer. I applied for a job doing land record research, which can all be done online. It works out great because I can make my own hours and it pays pretty good. Plus, I'm getting to explore more of my love for property law.

Today I'm sending out the last of my transfer applications...I think I've settled on 10 schools, although I keep adding to that number, so who knows. Keeping my fingers crossed for any of them, as I'd really like to stay in the Southeast. Good luck to all the rest of you trying to transfer, it's going to be a long summer waiting to hear back!

The Car Search Begins

2005-06-10T15:57:00.000-02:00

This morning I thought things were all shaping up. I went and looked at a 1997 Mitsubishi Montero SR last night and LOVED it! It's the top-of-the-line, was in great shape and I really liked driving it. My dad and I thought something must be up though because the paint was perfect. There were no dings or scratches or anything. Ran a Carfax report this morning and found out why...it overturned back in October in a wreck where the police report listed moderate damages such as frame damage. We were all set and ready to buy this car, but we've decided to pass on it now. The worst part about it is that the people selling it seemed like great people. Too bad they lied to us.

So, on to the next car. I'm looking at a 1996 Montero tomorrow. I'm also expanding my search now to Montero Sports, 4Runners and maybe Isuzu Troopers. Hopefully this Montero tomorrow will work out though because I really liked driving one.

Any advice, reviews or opinions from the masses on late 90s SUVs is greatly appreciated! :)

And the Work Begins

2005-06-08T01:56:00.000-02:00

I have now completed day 2 at my summer job. I'm interning for a Superior Court judge here in Atlanta, which so far seems like it will be a great experience. Somewhere near the end of my first hour (after getting my official ID and a key card for our electronic access to chambers) I was handed a file and told to read through it and make a decision on the defendants' Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings. We learned about these in law school, and I think I may have written one as a legal secretary one time, but it's still exciting to be working on actual cases that are before our court. We write a bench brief describing our decision on motions that come in and then an order and if the judge agrees with our analysis, he signs the order. I feel like I actually have some decision-making power here. It's kind of cool so far. Right now I'm working on a contract case (that's all I can say about it) and am amazed that I understand as much as I do, given we all felt like we learned nothing in Contracts this year. Nonetheless, the other interns have been here 2 weeks already and I feel like they have a leg up on me. I'm scurrying to catch up.

On a completely different note, for all those who hate me and are wishing for my demise...you got your wish. My car was stolen on Sunday. Apparently stolen cars aren't recovered around here very often, something about a spree of stolen cars being chopped for parts that are shipped overseas. The police didn't sound at all hopeful that I'd ever see my car again. It's a 1998 SUV with about 120,000 miles, but still, it's paid for and it's mine. I didn't even think I liked it much anymore, but now that it's gone I miss it. We're one car up at my house currently because my 15 year old brother has a car already and can't drive it yet, so I've got wheels for a little while. The insurance company will cut me a check for the value of my car in the next couple of weeks. Unfortunately, I doubt it'll be enough to buy anything worth having. Right now I have my eyes set on this SUV I found in the paper today. I'm taking a look at it Thursday, hoping to talk my dad into going ahead and buying it. I'll keep my fingers crossed that this situation somehow works out, cause right now it sucks.

Summer

2005-06-02T13:31:00.000-02:00

I'm nearing the end of my second week of summer. After the week is over, I'll work for 6 weeks and then go on vacation for a week, and then possibly work somewhere else for 3 weeks before school starts.

These two weeks of freedom have been terrific. I needed a break from law school and I'm so excited to be back in Atlanta. I've taken in two Braves games (one on a date and one with my dad where we were on tv most of the game), I've had two nights out with the girls, soon to be three after tomorrow night, I've gone to FL for the holiday weekend and spent time with my best friend and her husband, I've gotten tan lines, I've eaten at all my favorite resaurants (except one, but those plans fell through due to holiday traffic), and I've attended a huge networking event for women in law. Last night was the networking event for women in the law and it was fantastic. There had to have been over a hundred women in the room, both lawyers and law students. I was lucky to get invited, as only summer associates at the BIGLAW firms were invited. Luckily, my aunt is a recruiter at one of the big firms, so she sneaked me an invitation. I felt a little out of my element because everyone else in the room went to top tier law schools and they were all working in the BIGLAW firms for the summer, but I made some great new contacts. I also ran into a friend from college that I had lost touch with, which made it all worthwhile.

Most exciting about my week though was my visit to my target transfer school. I spent a day at the school touring, sitting in on a class, and meeting with a dean who happens to teach within the program I'd like to get into. The school is at least twice the size of mine, the library is about three times the size of mine, a large portion of the faculty is nationally known in their area of the law, the school offers a program in the area of law I'm most interested in, the students seemed friendly, the technology blows my school away, and it was close enough I could drive back to Atlanta at the end of the day. I loved it! The dean that met with me said something that makes me think he was going to go look up my admissions file, so hopefully he'll put something good in there about meeting with me. I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

Next week it's back to reality as I start my job. I'm interning with a judge, so I'm interested to see how it all works. I've worked in two law firms in the past, so it'll be a good experience to see how the law works on the other side of the bench. The other interns started 2 weeks ago, so I'm a little nervous that they have a leg up on me. I'm working full-time though, while they're all part-time (because it's unpaid and they have paying jobs on the side), so I've been told I'll get the best writing assignments because I'll be there everyday to follow through on them. We'll see how it goes.

Hope everyone else is having a fantastic summer so far!

Legal Skills Grade In

2005-05-26T01:04:00.000-02:00

This semester we're getting our grades by email, which beats waiting by the mailbox for the postcard to get here all the way from California. I received my Legal Skills grade today. I'm happy with it...my yearlong grade ended up being higher than my grade last semester, so I'm happy my grade went up. As long as my GPA doesn't go down after this semester I'll be happy, although it'd be nice if it went up some. I thought my Legal Skills grade might be higher than it ended up being, but I'm perfectly happy with this. Nice to have one grade in, only 5 more to go.

In other news, I had a fantastic night at the Braves game. It was my second game in three days, so that alone pleases me. My tickets tonight were even better than they were Monday night (which was hard to beat), I met Skip Caray and got his autograph (he's one of the voices of the Braves), I sat across the aisle from the Georgia Tech head football coach and met him and his wife, and I got a great new Braves hat. All in all, a great evening. To top it off, the Braves swept the Mets...Go Braves!

I'm Home!!

2005-05-25T11:55:00.000-02:00

Finally, I'm posting from my home in Atlanta and it feels great. I was so happy to be back. Unfortunately, the first thing that happened was that I lost a filling while eating dinner Sunday night and it exposed a nerve. I had an emergency root canal on Monday, which was absolutely horrific because they couldn't get the nerve numb. My jaw is still a little sore, but I'm recovering.

After my root canal, my day was brightened when my new male interest got great tickets to the Braves game and asked me to go. I got over my jaw and tooth pain fast and went to the game. The Braves won, I liked the guy...it was all great. Then yesterday I got to see one of my best friends from high school and one of my best friends from college. Tonight I get to go to another Braves game, this time with my dad, and Saturday I leave for FL to stay with my best friend and her husband for a few days. I haven't seen her since I left for law school last July, and it's the longest we've gone without seeing each other since we met when we were 5. I can't wait to see her!

I don't start work for a couple of weeks, so I'm enjoying relaxing and just visiting with my friends and family. I'll keep ya updated!

I'm Done!!

2005-05-20T20:52:00.000-02:00

Finished up my last exam today...my first year of law school is over!!

This is going to be a short post because I've gotta get to packing before the movers arrive at 8 a.m. tomorrow, but I just wanted to say I'M DONE!! :) I can't believe a whole school year has gone by, I feel like I just started this whole law school thing.

Civ Pro exam today was great. It's the best I felt about any of my exams. It's the only class where working in a law firm for 4 years finally paid off. Nice to have the last one go smoothly, especially since I felt like I had a rough start on my first couple of finals. But who cares anymore, they're over! :)

Congrats to everyone else who finished today!

Pre-Law School Notes to Self

2005-05-19T13:13:00.000-02:00

While packing a couple of days ago I came across a note I wrote myself about this time last year. I was all gungho and excited about starting law school and wanted to make sure I didn't lose that feeling over the course of the school year. At the end of the note I wrote a list of "vows" to myself. I had read about 10 pre-law school books (the best of which was "Law School Confidential" - if you're about to start law school, pick this up over the summer) and made a list of the things I thought I should do in order to succeed. I thought it would be fun to look back on my list and share my experience with all the pre-1Ls out there.

Vows

1. Don't miss class.
2. Do ALL the reading.
3. Visit all professors regularly.
4. Go to local bar meetings and network.
5. Go to local Republican meetings and network.
6. Brief every case all semester.
7. Outline throughout semester.
8. Attend Academic Success Program every week.
9. Review old exams early in the semester.

Pretty lofty goals now that I look back on them. So, for all you pre-1Ls, here's how it worked out for me...

I did miss classes. Not many though and always for a good reason. I missed a couple to go home for a long weekend when my grandmother was sick, another one when I went to Harvard for a symposium back in February, and a couple more when I went home for Easter and had some flight issues. First semester I never missed any class more than once. Second semester I missed every class once and a couple of them twice. Once you get the hang of things it's a little easier to miss...but I still don't recommend it. Also, make friends with someone who will share their class notes. My roommate was in my section, so it was easy for me. Just remember, someone else's notes are never as good as your own (not because they're not as smart or anything, it's just harder to learn from someone else's notes).

I did indeed do every single last page of every reading assignment all year. I can't imagine not doing that, although I hear people say they skipped assignments all the time. I overheard one girl say she hadn't read Civ Pro all of second semester. I can't imagine doing that, and I don't recommend it.

I visited some professors regularly. I learned early on that some professors are just never available. Who knows what they have going on, but they're just not available. I really only had one like this, but I did have another I just wasn't comfortable seeing in office hours. I did visit the others, although some more often than others (some you just click with). You don't have to go see them only when you need help, just drop by and say hi. We have anonymous grading, so it's not like it helps your grade, but you learn more about their personality, maybe what their test will be like, and they know you well enough to write recs for jobs or transferring.

As for attending local bar meetings and Republican meetings, that didn't happen. I went to one at the beginning of the year, but never went back again. There just isn't time.

I did not brief every case all year. I swore that I would, but it didn't happen. I changed my vow to at least doing it all of first semester, but I violated that too. I found that I could "book brief" (see Law School Confidential on this one) after awhile just as well as I could write out a brief. You use different color highlighters for the parts of the case and then I wrote lots of notes in the margins. Not briefing left me time to really read the cases closely and think about what they meant. I'd say I stopped writing out my briefs around early November.

I did outline all semester, both semesters. I can't imagine saving my outline for the end, it's a lot of work and time.

I did attend Academic Success classes every week first semester. However, when second semester rolled around I had gotten a little cocky because my grades were good and I decided I didn't have time for it anymore. I feel guilty and know I should have gone. As a matter of fact, I'll be a TA for the program next year if I return to my school.

Last, I did review exams early in the semester. If my professor had exams on file, I took a look to see what the format was. I made copies and stored it in a file until closer to finals when I could take old exams as practice exams. I HIGHLY recommend practice exams. I think this is the one thing I did in preparation for finals that I couldn't have done without.

So, there's a look back at my year and what did and didn't work out for me. My advice to the pre-1Ls, be ambitious, set goals...then work your butt off to achieve them! Good luck to all!

Shout Outs

2005-05-19T03:55:00.000-02:00

I'm in the process of curing my little anti-fan club problem. For those who actually enjoy reading my blog, thank you for sticking by while I dealt with the problem. For those who left comments, IMed or emailed me enouragement...it's very much appreciated. I'm amazed at the wonderful friends I have (both in real life and in the blogger world).

A big shout out to my friends in the evening class at Whittier. Congrats on being done with your first year!!

Another big shout out goes to my 3L friend Robyn who is graduating Sunday!! Thanks for being a great mentor and encouraging me all year. So many of us appreciated your guidance. You're going to be a great lawyer!!

Congrats to all the other 3Ls graduating...not just at my school, but everywhere!

And last but not least, thank you to all my friends back home who have been supportive all year. While there are times I wonder why I came to California, there are also times I'm grateful because of all I've learned about myself and those in my life. For those who stuck by and called, IMed or emailed with encouragement this year...I love you all. Great friends are the building blocks of a great life.

One more exam and 1L is over. It's been real! :)

News Flash: It's All About Me!

2005-05-19T01:46:00.000-02:00

I've realized that the most amusing thing about my little anti-fan club is that they seem to be so disgusted with my confidence/arrogance (whatever you want to call it). Newsflash people: this site is all about me! That's the whole point of having a blog. Blogs are one of the fastest growing types of websites. Why? Because people like to talk about themselves.

As I've stated a million times, I started this blog so I'd have something to look back on at the end of my three years of law school. I love to write, I like to share my experiences...I like blogging, and I won't be stopping.

I've thought about taking comments off my blog. This saddens me because I've made a connection with quite a few other bloggers through leaving comments on each other's sites. However, the current state of affairs with my comments is disturbing. Not because it bothers me, I actually find it amusing that anyone cares this much about what I do to log on day in and day out to leave comments (even if they are negative ones), but because it's become a poor reflection of my school. Despite my desire to transfer, I care a lot about my school and making it better. Having prospective students find my blog and email me to ask if everyone at school is as mean as my little commentators saddens me. I would never want someone to choose another school over Whittier because the comments on this site lead them to believe that we have a negative atmosphere. For that reason, I think it's disrespectful to my school for me to allow the comments to continue.

I'll be continuing to mull this over before doing anything rash, but just wanted to drop a little service announcement that this site is all about me, and will continue to be. If you don't like it, why are you still reading it?

4 Down, 1 to Go

2005-05-18T23:00:00.000-02:00

Just got home from my Torts II exam. Blew that one away! I can be a little cocky here because this is the only exam I've felt like I nailed. Everyone feels good about at least one exam...this was mine. Plus, I was already happy with my grade from last semester, so hopefully I'll finish strong in this class.

That being said, the exam was kind of poorly written. A lot of people were talking about this after the exam, so it wasn't just me. Despite that, I think I hit most of the big points.

Only one more exam left, and it's the one I was least worried about. It's a great feeling to be almost done! Now I've just got dozens of boxes to pack and a million errands to run before returning to Atlanta on Sunday. Can't wait to be done in a few days and back home!

3 Down, 2 to Go

2005-05-16T23:27:00.000-02:00

Knocked another one out today. My Contracts exam was everything I imagined it would be, with all the quirks we've all come to know and love. Apparently, per the honor code, we're not supposed to talk about the exam after it's over, so I'll leave it at that.

Most people had looks of horror and disgust on their faces after it was over. Conversations I overheard and took part in revealed the same. I figure since we all thought it was awful we're on an even playing field, so no reason to fret. As my grandmother would say, "Fret not my pet." Gotta love good ole Southern words of wisdom.

Less than a week, dozens of packed boxes and 2 exams from now I'll be done both with 1L and (hopefully) my time in California. My first week home includes margaritas with my college friends, a first date with a cute young lawyer I met, a trip to FL to see my best friend, visits to two law schools I've applied to, and lots of relaxation! Only Torts II and Civ Pro II stand in my way...

A Little Tip

2005-05-16T23:18:00.000-02:00

A little unsolicited advice to my loyal commentator who dislikes attending school with me so much that they must air their grievances here on my blog...

Not smart to leave comments on my site while you're at school. Believe it or not, I do have friends, and they do wander around and catch a glimpse of other people's computer screens. Seeing that I have more class than you, I won't publicly air your name (despite the fact you were determined to broadcast mine). Just thought perhaps you could save your comments for the privacy of your own home so other people don't know that you like to spend your free time being nasty to me.

That said, good luck on exams!

2 Down, 3 to Go

2005-05-13T15:26:00.000-02:00

Crim Law was yesterday, the exam I was dreading the most. Something about the way my professor didn't get across to me, but then, it seems not to have worked for a lot of people. I knew the material, but the exam was tough, at least the MC were. Plus, I hate MC. I don't think it'll be my highest grade or anything, but I'm sure it'll turn out fine (or at least I hope).

Next exam is Monday...happens to be the class I have my high grade in from last semester, but unfortunately, last semester's exam was only worth 4% of our final grade. Strange professor, don't ask. We've already been told this exam will be similar to his exam from last year, which included 17 MC with points OFF for wrong answers. You then got the chance to write a short essay on one of the questions and explain why you think your answer is different from his. That's it: 17 MC and one short essay. Short and sweet. Not your typical Contracts exam.

Torts is Wednesday and Civ Pro is Friday, then I'm done. For some reason I'm not even close to as worried on these last three as I was on the first two. Maybe I'm just tired and over it, but I'm just not as stressed. I am definitely ready for it to all be over.

Tonight I get a little taste of the ATL here in LA...some friends and I got tickets the Dodgers-Braves game tonight. I'm so excited!! GO BRAVES!

1 Down, 4 To Go

2005-05-11T15:08:00.000-02:00

Real Property II has come to an end. While I'm glad to be ending the school year, I'm also sad to be done with this class. It was my favorite class and I loved both of the professors I had for Real Property this year. Hopefully my grade will reflect my love for this class better than it did last semester!

I won't talk details about the exam since there are now people from my school who read this. My professor has 2 other sections and I'm not sure if they've had their exam yet, so I don't want to break the honor code or anything. I think it went pretty well though. I've already thought of something small I didn't quite get right, but other than that I feel pretty good about it. I don't think I got the high grade or anything, but I think I did well enough to pull up the yucky grade I got in there last semester. That's all I really wanted, so hopefully it'll work out.

On a side note...for those from Atlanta who read this, if you're a female and would like to play women's fastpitch softball this summer, email me. I was in a league a couple of years ago and it's forming again this summer. No matter how old I get, I find myself unable to let go of fastpitch softball. I tried to play slowpitch this spring in CA and was miserable. Can't wait to get out on the field this summer! Anyhow, email me if you're interested.

Crim Law is tomorrow...time to get to studying!

Ready, Set, Go!

2005-05-10T02:50:00.000-02:00

Tomorrow is my first exam. I made my outline, I did the practice exams, this is my favorite class...I'm ready to go!

I have an exam tomorrow, another Thursday, then again next Monday, Wednesday, Friday. I'm a little nervous because I feel like my transfer hopes ride on these 5 exams, but it's a good adrenaline rush. I've done the work, now I've just gotta focus and take those exams by storm.

I also have to pack up an entire apartment full of stuff and get ready to head back to the ATL after exams. I'm thrilled to be going home for the summer. I'm excited about my job, I can't wait to see all my friends, and I can't wait for a break from law school. But before I get too excited about what's to come, time to focus on the 5 exams standing in my way...

Good luck to everyone else taking exams this week (unless you're in my section of course, lol)!

In the News

2005-05-06T21:23:00.000-02:00

Not that much in the news catches my eye these days. I realize this will now be the second news story I've posted about this week...but still. This story upset me, but I'm wondering if it should.

The story is about a high school student (from Georgia no less) who was suspended for 10 days after refusing to get off of his cell phone during school. Now normally, I would have no problem. However, I changed my mind when I found out the reason the boy refused to get off the phone was because he had received a phone call from his mother, who is currently serving in Iraq.

Perhaps my views on this matter are skewed because my friends who were in Iraq were there during the heart of the invasion 2 years ago. Getting an email or phone call was rare for their friends and family and I know I would have dropped anything I was doing to talk to them. I only got emails from them, but that just reaffirms my belief that I would have moved mountains to get to talk to them on the phone. Perhaps things are different now. I know it's still not safe over there, but they do have better access to phones and email and it's not quite the same situation it was. However, it's still war (or the aftermath thereof) and any child would still be frightened to have his parent over there. I would have answered my phone in school if I had gotten a phone call from my mom in Iraq. Period.

Now the school is acting like they're doing this boy some favor because they suspended him for 10 days when they could have had him arrested instead. The story is short, so maybe there's more too it, maybe he was more rude and disruptive than I'm imagining. Still seems a little extreme and heartless to me though. Part of me says that if you make exceptions for one person you end up making them for everyone, so letting this boy be on his cell phone could have set a nasty precedent. But the rest of me is screaming "THIS BOY'S MOTHER IS IN IRAQ AND HE JUST WANTS TO TALK TO HIS MOM WHEN HE CAN!" So, I'm a little conflicted, but I'm definitely leaning towards thinking this is ridiculous.

God bless our troops!

One More Reason to Head Back East

2005-05-05T20:22:00.000-02:00

I made a mental list a few days ago of all the reasons I can't wait to get back to Atlanta. I'll spare you all the details (although perhaps if I want to procrastinate from studying more later I'll come back and post my list), but I just saw a news article that represents the number one reason I couldn't live in California after graduation: housing costs. According to this article, the majority of Californians make less than half the income needed to buy a house here. That strikes me as more than slightly strange. Atlanta has somehow managed to maintain fairly low housing prices - so low, in fact, that most of my friends bought houses right after college. My parents house payment on their 5 bedroom, 4 bathroom house with a full finished basement and a pool is nearly $200 less a month than the rent on my little 2 bedroom apartment here in Cali. It's depressing to say the least.

People I know who grew up in California couldn't imagine living anywhere else, and I get that. I can't imagine not living the rest of my life somewhere in the Southeast. I think people are definitely a product of the environment where they grow up. This whole housing thing is new to me because I've lived in Atlanta my whole life, so perhaps it's more shocking to me than those who have lived here their whole lives. Just seems sad that more than half the state can't afford to buy a house. But then, what do I know, maybe a house isn't that important to these people...but isn't it the American dream? Maybe that "American dream" was a product of a previous generation and no longer holds true. I have no answers, just pondering it all. That being said, I want a house as soon as humanly possible after law school...I see no point in paying rent towards something I'll never own when I could pay the same amount for a house payment (at least in Georgia) and be investing in something.

Anyhow, back to studying for exams, I've pondered enough for one break.

Done!

2005-05-03T01:45:00.000-02:00

Class are over, yay! Now all that lies between me and going home are a few exams...piece of cake, lol.

My first exam is a week from tomorrow. As it turns out, my first two exams are the two I need to do the best on, as one is my lowest grade from last semester and the other is our only one semester class. Should all be downhill from there, or at least as much as it can be when law school exams are involved. The next few weeks should be all-consuming though as I try to study and pack up my apartment all at the same time. We'll see how that goes!

I'd also like to expose a little sickness here...

I knew I loved my Real Property II class, but I think it's developed into an unhealthy disease now. Last week I received my write-on topic for a journal I'd like to write onto at a prospective transfer school. Turns out several schools make you attempt to write-on to law review before you're even accepted. Little extra work, but possible very worth it. Anyhow, I got my topic for one school and it's a land use topic. I broke out into a huge smile and practically jumped around my room...I know, sick. I really love the topic that much. A year ago if you'd told me I would fall in love with property law I would have laughed. Funny how things change.

Now I just found out that my buddy Alex gets to write a review for a land use digest as part of his summer job. I'm totally jealous and kicking myself for not finding a way to work for the historic foundation for more than a few weeks this summer. I'll still get in my few weeks, but I wish I could focus my summer on land use. Instead I get to work for a judge, which is great, but part of me wishes I could have found a way to do the historic foundation all summer. Oh well, hopefully I made the right decision. The judge will afford me lots of opportunities and open lots of doors, can't say no to that.

More on the case note once it's summer...for now it's back to the books!

Flashcard Machine

2005-04-30T15:32:00.000-02:00

I mentioned to a friend of mine that I was making flashcards for one of my classes last night. I don't make them for every course, or even for every topic within a course, only for things I'm having trouble remembering. For example, in Real Property II this semeter my professor has been big on giving a distinct list of elements for everything. Thus, I made flashcard just of the topics for which he gave us his own set of elements so I can make sure I use those elements in my exam answer. Last semester, I made flashcards for contracts for every major term we'd come across. When we had our very open-ended exam the first thing I did was write down every term I could think of from my flashcards on my scratch sheet and then tried to talk about as many of them as I could in my exam answer. It worked, I got a very good score, despite the fact that I did not fashion my answer the way he later told us we should have.

Anyhow, back to my main point...my friend pointed me to a flashcard maker online. Now, this doesn't work for me personally because the whole reason I learn well with flashcards is that I do them in different colors and I have a somewhat photographic memory that can remember definitions because of what color they were in. Hard to explain, but it works for me. Anyhow, this flashcard machine makes online flashcards you can use to prepare for exams. Just wanted to post the link in case it helps anyone: Flashcard Machine.

Good luck to everyone on exams!

LawSclBarbie

Assorted Randomness

Myths and Tips about Summer Jobs

Of Jobs and Classes and Other Things

Summer, Second Half

Summer, First Half

One Last Shot at a Comeback

The New LawSclBarbie

2/3rds Down!

Reliving the Good Ole Days

Pepper Dennis

From the Braves to the Red Sox: Thank You!

Almost 2/3rds of the Way Through Law School!

Over Thirty

Decisions

Competitive Streak

The Steroid Sluggers

GO GATORS!

Opening Day

Practice Areas

Insight into Me

Its Raining Jobs

Spring Training

I'm Back!

Lawyer for Sale

Message to Little One

Lists

Ranking

Queston for UF Law Students

Perspective

Grade Anxiety

My First Cite Checking Assignment

Back to School

Happy Birthday to Me!

The Halfway Mark!

Marathon

One Down

First Year All Over Again

Last Day of Classes

Minor Setback

No More PR

Law Firm Rankings

Good News!!

Welcome to the Gator Nation!

I'm Back!

Girls Gone Wild

Steriod Bill

Question for the Law Students Out There

GO GATORS!!

Getting Involved

I'm Back!

Religion

Interesting

OCI Reflection

Braves Win!

Go Sox!

New v. Old

I'm Back!

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Analogizing OCI

OCI Update

Southern?

First Day of School

The Yin and the Yang

OCI

Word of the Day: Humidity

Southeast vs. Southwest

Transfer Craziness

Interesting Reunion

Moving

Interviews

Not Holding My Breath

Law School is One Big Waiting Game

No Rhyme or Reason

A Visit from the Tooth Fairy

The Yin and the Yang

Giant Leap!

Hate Mail

The Time Has Come

Back On Track

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