Truth or Consequences

Consequences.  

The world is full of them.  And usually they're a hell of a lot more immediate than "if a butterfly flaps his wings in Tokyo..." (Which, let me say, is not really a theory that I buy.)  The consequences I'm currently dealing with?  I have PLENTY of time to study!  Instead I'll spend time with the Boy one weekend and then go take a four day weekend at home with my family the next weekend!

Consequences?

Didn't do that great on my final trial for trial ad and just started studying for finals TODAY.  (And I mean JUST STARTED.  Like, at noon today.)  So I'm both disappointed and feeling a little sick at the prospect of finishing everything on time.

But there are such things as POSITIVE consequences too!  Like the fact that I feel incredibly relaxed and my brain is full of oxytocin from the amount of chocolate I ate this weekend.  And I'm not that worried about my trial ad grade.  Why?  Because I worked my butt off for that class during the semester and rocked it weekly.  So, you know, I didn't put in the work at the end.  No big deal.

The trick is to think about the consequences ahead of time.

1.  KNOW THYSELF.  I don't accomplish things if I leave Chicago.  And I don't really accomplish anything other than reading in my apartment.  So I know that if I want to accomplish something, I have to go to the library.  If I don't go because I don't want to put pants on,* I know that I'm not going to get the work done.  Because I know how I operate.

2.  DON'T LIE.  Yeah, just because you know yourself doesn't mean you're getting anywhere.  This is where I usually get tripped up.  Sure, I know that if I stay in my apartment I won't get anything done, but I usually end up telling myself "You can totally work from home today!  You feel super motivated!"  My other favorite self-delusion is "Five more minutes of wasting time and I'll get back to work."  If you know the facts, go with them.

3.  FIND YOUR MOTIVATION.  I know I've talked about proper motivation before, but really, you can't be too motivated.  Sometimes that motivation is positive, like a margarita at the end of the day, or some tv watching before bed, but I like to think in terms of negative reinforcement when it comes to consequences.  That's why whenever I'm making a decision, big or small, I like to pretend all the consequences are in the voice of my mother.  That way I get that feeling of guilt-ridden guidance!

4.  THINK POSITIVE!  I know I just said to be negative, but make sure you consider the positive consequences that will flow from a decision as well as the negative ones.  Sure, sleeping in is a waste of time, but you know what's great about it?  That feeling of sneaky well-being.  Maybe you shouldn't go out on Friday night.  After all, you're broke and too busy studying.  But hey!  Life needs balance and you need to stop sitting and staring at a computer screen!  Just remember:  When considering your pros/cons list, really consider the pros of the situation.

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*Which is what happened yesterday.

It's A Beautiful Day

I learned my caffeine routine in a
foreign country.  

Oh, springtime.  The days are getting longer, the population is becoming twitterpated, and every group in law school is having a very special networking event.  I'm getting tired of having to dress at 9 am for an evening event that doesn't start until 6 pm.  My feet are longing to be in sneakers and I don't feel like constantly checking my hair to make sure it hasn't turned into a frizzy mess.

Especially since the frizzy mess is an inevitability.

On days like these, I need a little something to ground me in the whirlwind.  Maybe you do too.  And may I suggest routine?

Sure, everybody says a routine is boring, but I don't necessarily mean you should do the same exact thing every day.  Rather, pick something that makes you feel normal and sane and make it into a ritual of sorts.  For instance, the first thing I do in the morning after my 7:15 wake up is make coffee while I eat breakfast.  After I finish my breakfast, my coffee accompanies me throughout my morning until I brush my teeth at 8:35 am, right before I leave for class.  That full hour of caffeinating myself while I get ready for class keeps me from jumping out of bed and flying off the handle.

After my classes and other meetings are done for the day, I come home and do my reading for the following day, hopefully finishing before 7 pm, when all my favorite sitcoms come on.  At that point, I either go to the gym for a long run/workout while watching tv, or I decide that I'm too tired for exercise and just watch television from the comfort of my bed.  Regardless, I spend the rest of the night taking care of myself, dealing with personal matters, and playing catch up from the day.  The last thing I do is take a long, hot shower to get rid of the last 16 hours and start the new day fresh and clean.  Depending on what the next day looks like, I make a to-do list for the following day just before bed.  

Routine isn't necessarily about doing the same thing over and over, but rather about doing familiar sorts of things daily.  Even my daily coffee doesn't need to be coffee, sometimes it's orange juice if I feel scurvacious.*  It's like the way I always keep my keys on the hook by the door:  It's not because I want to know exactly where my keys are,**  it's because looking for my keys causes me to panic and feel insecure.  

So find your own routine.  Listen to your favorite song every night before bed, or do your multiplication tables in the shower.  Call your mom at lunch, or check your favorite website first thing in the morning when you know it updates.***  Do something that makes you feel in control of your own life, and prevents that feeling of being too exhausted to live.  

Now if you'll excuse me, I've got a cup of coffee to drink before I have to brush my teeth at 8:35.

_____________________

*Adjectival form of having scurvy

**Okay, it's a little bit that.

***I know it's this one.

So....it's Spring Break now, right?

I am quite literally counting down the hours to Spring Break.  For me at least, Spring Break starts in 76 hours.  SEVENTY-SIX HOURS.  My impatience knows no bounds.  My body is buzzing with the knowledge that I will soon be free at last, free at last, thank God almighty, etc. etc.

Of course, this means it's that much harder to accomplish anything.  And daylight's savings time has me all kinds of confused.  It's my bedtime right now.*  I think I'll probably be up for at least another hour.**  This is the hardest time of year for me.

I know that I have so much to do, but it's hard to make myself do any of it.  For instance, in order to avoid doing nine pages of reading for Secured Transactions, I spent two hours cleaning my room and bathroom, watched Sister Wives, and listened to Bruce Springsteen's "If I Should Fall Behind" six times.***

I am NOT coming out.  You can't make me.

Lucky for me, I'm well aware that I'm not alone in my oxymoronically antsy ennui.  This is the hardest time of spring semester for any student.  In fall, you get all sorts of little breaks, whereas in spring it's school for weeks and weeks until FINALLY eleven days of glorious nothing stretches before you.  Of course, this is where spring semester burnout comes into play.  At this point, you're so sure you deserve a break that you stop working.  Guess what?

You don't deserve it.  Just get your work done.  And then enjoy your Spring Break.  Because we're getting back to that part of the semester where you can't remember the last time you showered.

Oh yay!

_____________________________________
*Yes, I have a bedtime.  Don't judge.
**Unless I abuse OTC medication for its sleepy time powers.  Which I refuse to do.
***Guys, this is a really good song, and yes I am listening to it again right now.

Pretend Lawyering 101

I spent all yesterday feeling guilty that it was Wednesday and I hadn't written a post.  But then I realized it was Tuesday, and I felt bad because I didn't have anything prepared.  So instead I thought I'd pepper you with some quotes from last night's trial ad class.

But first, some background for you non-lawyer types.

I've explained the legal writing program as pretend lawyering before.  You write memos and briefs, interview "clients," and argue motions.  Trial Ad is what would happen if none of those things solved your problem, ie, a trial.  The class starts out with everyone doing exercises and being critiqued by a real judge on everything from your diction to the form of your questions to the way/where you stand.  Mid-semester, you move into mini-trials, where you run a whole trial a little bit at a time for four weeks.  (We have closing arguments for that next week.)  After mini-trials is the final exam.  A three-hour trial.

The class is down at the courthouse for three hours once a week.  I recommend everyone take it, even if (like me) you're not planning to litigate.  It's not only good to see how a trial works, it's good to see how evidentiary objections work, it's fun to MAKE objections, and I feel like it's done wonders for my public speaking and improvisation skills.  But enough with the lecture.

So without further ado, quotes from last night's trial ad class to prove how much fun it is!

S1:  “I’m going to cross-examine myself.  

       ‘What did you do on February 7th?’ 

       ‘I was at home that day.’    

       ‘That’s not what you said in your deposition! Are you lying now or were you lying then?’”

S2:  “Objection.  Badgering the witness.”

S1:  “I can’t be badgering myself!”

S3:  “Sometimes when I’m at home alone, I badger myself.”

Prof:  “So you’re Amanda.”

S1:  “No, I’m Amanda, that’s Tina.”

Prof:  “Okay, so Tina and Brandon.” 

S2:  “No.  That’s Paul, I’m Brandon.”

Prof:  “Then if you’re Paul, who’s in the witness box!”

S1:  (Muttered)  “Who’s on first?”

S1:  “Objection.  Hearsay.”

S2:  “Dying declaration.”

Prof:  “Hold on…”

S1:  “The dying declaration exception is only valid when the declaration relates to the circumstances—“

Prof:  “Wait—“

S2:  “Supreme Court just handed down Michigan v. Baker, which states—“

Prof:  “WILL YOU TWO JUST STOP FOR A MINUTE?”

S1:  “I’m beginning to think we’re the remedial Trial Ad class for idiots.

S2:  “Now that's not fair!  Clearly we all know our own names!

High School Never Ends

This is my awesome high school English teacher.

It never fails to fascinate me how much law school has in common with high school.  For instance, I know I was at my first trial ad class last Tuesday, but it felt like I was back at a seventh-grade pep rally.

The cool kids sat off to the right, in a jury box, higher up than the rest of us.  Of course, they walked in as a group, slowly unsmilingly, while the girls off to my left talked about everyone that walked in the door.  “Oh my God, she’s such a slut.”  The king and queen bees in their J. Crew cool sweaters and knee high boots took a seat and immediately their hangers-on rushed over to them, begging for attention, talking furiously, trying to interest their heroes in their winter vacations. 

The class clowns in front of me told jokes about the “one who got away.”  “Man, did you see the rock on her hand?  Her husband’s a doctor.”  The people around them watched and laughed.  Off to my right were the normals, the ones who would love to be special and are completely uncomfortable with their averageness.  Slouching slightly, not quite making eye contact with anyone.  Just normal faces in the crowd. 

This is my other awesome English teacher.
He is playing a banjo.

At the front of the room was student government, smiling with pride, confident, open, and friendly.  The athletes, ready to be recognized for their greatness, stood nearby.  I sat at the back of the room, seemingly the only person comfortable with being alone and watching everyone else.  The only one who wasn’t part of a tightly contained clique. 

Law school is full of the small-town mentality I left behind.  It’s probably part of why I feel so self-conscious in front of my peers.  Instead of seeing future colleagues and people who are like me, I see people who want to beat me up in gym class under the teacher’s nose and people who very carefully crowd their table at lunch so that no one can join them.

What I’m saying is:  I have so many issues. 

Hitting the Books

It's the end of the semester!  Time to start really hitting the books.  Here are my top 7 BEST study tips.  I'm sharing only because I like you.  (Yes, just you.  There.  Reading this.)

  5.   Location, Location, Location:  Think about where you want to study.  By the time finals came around, I was sick of the library.  So then I had to think about where else I could study.  I wanted people around, but I wanted to be able to plug my computer in so that I could listen to music without draining my battery.  My favorites?  Panera and Einstein’s Bagels.  Free coffee refills, bagels, soup, and they won’t kick you out.  I also studied in other parts of school (that nice little alcove on the second floor or the big heavy wooden tables of the seventh floor), and in my own room.*  By the time the end of the semester came around, I avoided the library like the plague.


4.  Use other people’s outlines:  Many have come before you, many will come after you.  Use other people’s outlines to explain what you didn’t understand, or show you a point of law you’ve missed entirely.
  

     3.  Make your own outlines!  (Or heavily edit someone else’s):  You don’t understand anyone’s language quite like your own, and the whole point of the outline is to put the law in your own words.  But don’t ask me HOW to make an outline.  I did it differently than everybody else.  Which is to say, wrong.**
    

           2.  Study in Frequent Short Bursts:  You can’t study non-stop, you’ll go crazy.  Study often, but not for very long.  Revise and memorize that outline for 45 minutes, take a ten minute break.  Every 3 cycles make a half hour phone call, go get food, watch TV.  Something to take you away from the work.  Don’t take too long to relax, though, or you’ll find it really hard to get back to work.
    

           1.  Don’t go overboard.  Figure out the major themes, and what cases define those major themes.  You studied the cases you studied FOR A REASON.  And that reason was to illustrate an important rule in the law, NOT to know an obscure fact or detail.

What are your well-guarded study secrets that you’re willing to share for the good of all?  Help a friend in the comments!

______________________________

*Not very often though.  Studying in my room is far too distracting.

**Not that doing it wrong didn’t work out.

Gather Around and You Shall Hear...

Of the cite-checking journey of Amanda the Law Student!

Wait, that doesn't work.

Typing this real fast while I scarf down some mac and cheese before class.  (My dietary habits have really gone straight to hell.)

"What is that?" I hear you saying.  THAT is a cite-checking binder and it is 2 inches thick of paper, and 10 hours of work SO FAR.  Some advice for all you 1Ls planning your future:  When thinking of taking on journal responsibilities, think of all the work you'll have to do, then multiply it by two.  Because "Staff Member of ________" really means "Journal Bitch Who Does the Scut Work."

Cite-checking:
1.  Find all of the sources mentioned in the citations you're checking.  They must be PRINT versions or the scanned PDFs of print versions.  Even in the age of the internet, there can be NO internet sources.
2.  Make copies of all of those sources.  However many copies you will need.
3.  Separate those sources by citation.  Put them in a handy tabbed binder.
4.  Get out your handy dandy highlighter because now you get to find what all of the information in the article you're cite-checking refers to in the sources!  Highlight all of that source material so that your editors know exactly where it came from.  Also don't forget the publication/decision date, author's name, page number, and name of journal/reporter.  Or you will have to go back to step 2 and make more copies.
5.  Editing below and above the line.  Remember my "Journal Bitch" comment above?  Yep!  Now you get to go through and make sure EACH of the author's citation formats are correct.  For over 100 sources!  Because the author is a 60 year old man who can't be BOTHERED to format his own citations.  That's why we have staff members!  Then you edit the actual text, to make sure there are no grammar or plagiarism style mistakes.
6.  Turn in your binder to editorial board members who will inevitably tell you that you didn't do it right.
7.  Wait for next hellish assignment.

It's due tomorrow and I haven't started step 5 yet.

Yep.  Worst.  Decision.  Ever.

Anybody out there have a different/similar journal experience they'd like to share?

Everybody Limbo!

Had a quick conversation with a friend today about how hard it is sometimes to be one of the young folks in law school.  When it comes to legal education, you can go one of two routes:  (1) You can take some time off and make sure this is really what you want, or (2) you can go straight to law school from college so that you don't have time to talk yourself out of it.  Like the majority of law students, I came to the legal world straight out of undergrad, with nary a year to spare, and I'm starting to feel like I'm living in limbo.

There are only 581 days left of this harrowing experience known as law school, but it stretches out before me like an Indiana highway:  Flat, long, and with corn blocking my vision on both sides.  My current goal for coping is to wear blinders like a spooked horse and concentrate on the short term goals immediately before me and try not to notice neither the life that is (hopefully) waiting for me nor the present fun that other people are having.  I'm living in the in-between, where all that matters is this moment, and the short-sightedness is starting to make me antsy.

"In the Divine Comedy, Dante depicts Limbo as the first circle of Hell, located beyond the river Acheron but before the judgment seat of Minos. The virtuous pagans of classical history and mythology inhabit a brightly lit and beautiful—but somber—castle which is seemingly a medieval version of Elysium. They include Hector, Julius Caesar, and Virgil."*

In order for Dante to travel deeper into Hell, he has to wait in Limbo for Virgil to come along and show him around.

If I'm in limbo now, I don't know what that means for the future.

Or if I want my own personal Virgil to show up.

I'm fine without traveling to the ninth circle, but thanks so much!


__________
*Thanks Wikipedia! 

 

I Can Go The Distance. (And So Can You!)

Oh man.  This has been one of those weeks.  On Monday, my body was sure it was Thursday, and it's been confused about why the weekend hasn't started ever since.  Today my goal was just to stay awake and I nearly failed.  Twice.  And since I'm not really in the mood to wax poetic, I gift you with a List.

How To Keep Going Even Though You Want Desperately to Say "Screw It"

1.  Just do it.  Sorry for the Nike endorsement, but seriously quit whining about your sad life and just get it done.  If you're reading and falling asleep (like yours truly) start taking notes in the margins.  If you're trying to write and it's like pulling teeth because you can't figure out what to say (also like yours truly) just start throwing words on a page and make it pretty later.  Seriously.  Don't stop what you're doing just because you're tired or frustrated.  If you stop now, you'll just have to do it later.  Not.  Worth.  It.

2.  Posture.  Have you REALLY thought about your posture?  Slumping in your chair is going to make you sleepier.  If you find your lids closing against  your will, readjust yourself.  Pick your butt slightly out of your chair, stretch your arms way over your head, and take a deep breath while sitting back down.  Make sure that as you make contact with the chair, your shoulders are set back and not rounded.  Open your eyes as wide as you can, just briefly, and breathe deeply into your diaphragm.  Let the oxygen get to your brain, and have your body send your mind a message that denotes your alertness.

3.  Bribery.  Look, I'm not proud of it, but we all get to the point where we've already had a really long day and there's a lot left.  On those days, I bribe myself.  I tell myself, "Two more hours and you can stop on the way home for a library book."  Or, "if you just finish this, you can get Thai takeout on the way home."  There's nothing better for making me get things done than telling myself I can have something I really want.  And it works every time.*

4.  Take a Break.  You can only look at words on a page or a screen for so long before they start to blur together.  Arrange short breaks for yourself on intervals of an hour or so.  My favorites?  If I'm in the library or the student lounge, I like to give myself ten minutes on gchat with a friend every hour.  It gives me something to look forward to when I'm working in solitude, plus it's pretty easy to get back to work.  If I'm at home, I like to pick a favorite song on Itunes and dance in my room.  It gets the blood pumping again, and I get to be goofy for just a few minutes.  Having that extra energy from shaking my sillies out works wonders.

5.  Disney Music.  Yes, I know it's cheesy, but when half the songs are about doing the best you can and being awesome, how can it NOT be great inspiration for when you're feeling a little low?  Sometimes I feel like law school is just one big production of Mulan.**

That's about it.  What do you do when you have to keep going, no matter how much your brain/body is begging you to stop?

_______________________
*I have to admit, sometimes my bribe is as simple as "If you get this done, you can go home.  That's usually enough to get me to do my work.

**Not really.  But it probably is trying to make a man out of me and allow me to bring honor to my family.  Or something.

I Want to Live a Simple Life

Well, it's been a Week, with a Capital W. And it's only Wednesday, which also starts with a W, oddly enough. Things that have happened this week:

1.) I lost my ID

2.) I had to wait in multiple lines, deal with downed servers and waste an extra 20 minutes of my life getting a new ID.

3.) Fifteen minutes after I got my ID, I got an e-mail saying my lost one was found.

4.) I used my new ID to rush around and get stuff ready to turn in for my law review memo which was due at five. I managed to get it done.

5.) It didn't matter because today my SECOND topic was rejected.

I won't lie, after the ID issues and the stress that called, and my night classes this week, and not being able to focus, having my topic rejected for a second time was psychologically damaging.

I've got to be honest: I didn't know what the Law Review was until about October of my first year, when I had to cite a law review for something else. (For anyone who doesn't know, Law Review is a student-run journal. You can grade on if you make the top 10%, or you can write on if you have kickass writing skills.) Meanwhile, other people made Law Review their ultimate first year goal. They had topics in mind and interests ready to go. I graded on accidentally, and am totally lost as to how this whole thing works. I'm not even entirely sure that this is what I want to do, except that I'm told it's this huge honor and you just have to do it.

So I did it. And there I was, at a loss again. I feel like every time I fail at this journal thing, it's supposed to be some sort of sign that I'm not right for this, that I'm not the sort of person who is supposed to do this. Except that I WANT to do something like this for once. Keep a commitment for once in my life and not quit. However, since the universe is busily telling me to give up now, I'm just about ready to give into psychic pressure and throw things out the window.

And this afternoon I just about did. I don't have the personality type the rest of these people have, and maybe I'm just taking a spot from someone who really deserves/wanted it. And maybe I'm not meant to write in a peer-reviewed journal. Sometimes law school just sucks and makes you want to (as I told LSBFF tonight) "Eat Pauly's Pizza, and hopefully choke on it and die." But, fortunately, I didn't eat Pauly's tonight.

LSBFF invited me to join her and two of her best friends tonight for dinner. After a dipped Italian beef sandwich with hot peppers, a short ramble around downtown, and Ghirardelli's ice cream, I feel a lot better. Regardless of what happens, at the end of this, no matter what decision I make about Law Review, I'll still be standing. And if all else fails, there's always Portillo's for some healthy emotional eating.

So much stress, and I have to be up early tomorrow, because they're shutting off the hot water in the building at 8 am. At least that we'll give me plenty of time to do some serious thinking

Hail the Conquering 2L

Well, we've returned after an all-too-short summer break. It's been a week of classes now, and let me tell you what makes me happy:

My morning run.

And that's about it. I'm taking Evidence, Wills & Trusts, Business Organizations, Collective Bargaining, and LARC III. I also really need to get cracking on this law review stuff. But things being what they are (overwhelming and boring all at the same time) I'll probably just do LARC research today and go back to bed.

After all, I still don't have curtains, which means I don't get to sleep past 6 am. Which happens to be why I fall asleep at 10 pm. (That is said for the courtesy of my roomie, who happens to be LSBFF, who must be wondering why I'm going to bed so godawful early.) Things I plan to talk about over the next week or two:

1. The silly 1L's

2. The place I'm living (with LSBFF, which just makes the whole thing more kickass)

3. How to keep a cool head in tough situations (2 excedrin and a nap)

4. Why I hate Business Organizations

5. My current television obsessions and why every law student should have Netflix

Not necessarily in that order though, because I REALLY hate BizOrgs and will need to vent very, very soon.

This was one of the more random posts. Happy New School Year!!

Please don't make me go to school!!! I'll just hide under the bed awhile.

She Works Hard For (No) Money

Oh, redesign. You look so modern. Or overly busy. I can't decide.

I like trains.

And with that having been said, I drafted my very first guardianship petition completely on my own. I've been doing them for a couple weeks now, but I've always had a model to work off of so that I just had to tailor to specific facts. But this week, I went to client meetings, took notes, did research, and drafted a completely new petition to file in court sometime next week after the client signs it.

And when I got it back from the attorney, it was all marked up in a good way. I didn't make "You forgot to say this" mistakes. The editing marks scoring the paper were all about making my language sound better. I forgot to cite to one statute, that I didn't even know to cite to. And one of the sections was in the wrong place. (Remember, Amanda, PUT THE BOTTOM LINE UP FRONT. Has LARC taught me nothing??) It was such a great feeling.

Beyond that, I've done all the documents for three of the hearings for grandparent guardianship day, helped write and edit a grant proposal, and gotten the paperwork and accounting ready for a fee request from a client trust. And the best part is? I know my work is GOING somewhere. I don't do busy work. There aren't enough hands to do the necessary work, so there isn't any time to LEARN what I'm supposed to be doing. There's just "Do the work and we'll deal with the mistakes when you're done."

The efficient, list-making, enjoy-being-busy side of me loves it. I can already see the result of the work I'm doing. Things is good. And my boss just decided last week that since I get things done so quickly, they're going to try to do ANOTHER day-long guardianship proceeding in a different county. Who gets to do all the work?

ME.

So. Excited.

It's A Quarter after [3], I'm All Alone (and I'm Thirsty and Can't Sleep)

It's getting harder and harder to make the song titles relevant.

So it's over. Sweet Jesus, so awesome, it's over. I was listening to the 1L song, though, and the lyrics that stuck in my head were, "They say it gets better, but the damage is done. I bleed reasonableness and jurisdiction." I think I make some sort of legal joke EVERY DAY. The only difference is that no one is going to get my (admittedly bad) jokes all summer long. I'm going home.

First of all, because there's a puppy there, and I hear puppies and kittens are good for relaxing. Actually, it's a 3 month-old 40 pound yellow lab puppy. So it's a big puppy. But since I discovered today that I have no idea how to relax, I think a big puppy is just what I need. I really don't know how to not do anything anymore. After the criminal law final on Friday, I immediately picked up my contracts final. I worked on it for nine hours straight for three days in a row, and after a final edit Tuesday morning, I turned it in. I came home, sat down and watched one episode of Full House and immediately started packing. I wasn't supposed to leave Chicago until Thursday, but by 5 pm, I had packed everything I own, and decided to just go home Wednesday. And then, because I STILL had time to kill I started cleaning the apartment. So you see I'm not kidding. I do not know how to relax anymore. I'm working on it.

The second reason I'm going home is that after much (okay, not really) searching*, that's where I found my job for the summer. I use the term "job" loosely, since it's actually an unpaid internship. I contacted the Volunteer Lawyers' Program of Northeast Indiana over Spring Break back in March. I finally heard back from them at the beginning of May, had a phone interview Wednesday morning at the crack of dawn, and had a job with them by noon. What will I be doing you ask? I have no idea. I think I'm supposed to spend half my time at the VLPNEI office doing things like intake interviews and whatnot, and then I spend the other half my time with two of their attorneys helping them with whatever they're doing. It's all very vague, but I have an orientation on the 21st.

I'm pretty excited. VLPNEI works with lower-income people who otherwise wouldn't have access to the judicial system. It mostly deals with things like family law and landlord/tenant law issues from what I understand, so I'm going to be doing good, down-to-earth work that has a real day-to-day effect. I'm sure it's going to be a challenge at times, and I'm going to make mistakes (hopefully just little ones), but it should be eye-opening at the very least. I'm happy that I get to put all these legal skills to use so they won't just collect dust this summer.

The best part, of course, is that for the first time in my whole life, my job is Monday-Friday, so I get weekends off. I will be spending my weekends at the lake, perpetratin' a tan.**

Anyway, goodbye ChiTown. I'll miss you, but I'll make sure to visit lots so you don't feel sad that I left you.

________________________

*Cut me some slack. By the time I realized I should be applying for things, a lot of application dates had passed.

**Yes, that was a "Gold digger" reference. Bonus points if you got it.

Danger Zone!

1 Exam down, 2 to go. Property was today. It feels good to have that out of the way, considering how much I hated it. The way I feel stress is funny. I woke up half an hour before my alarm this morning and was completely unable to go back to sleep. My mind wasn't racing or anything, I just was wide awake and ready for the day.

I got ready, packed my bag, and walked out the door. THEN the nerves started. Butterflies in my stomach, and being terrified of not making it to school, even though school is two blocks away. So when I saw a crazy guy walking down the street threatening to beat people up, all I could think was, "This guy is going to take me hostage, and then I won't get to my exam, and the Dean won't let me retake the exam, and I'm so screwed." Luckily, I didn't get taken hostage and I made it to school in plenty of time to eat breakfast.

During the final, everything was remarkably clear. I wasn't shaking or nervous. In the moment, I can completely keep my cool, as long as I don't think about what's happening. I even brought my bookstand so that flipping through my outline would be easier. Yes, I got made fun of, but it helped me stay completely calm, which is more important.

But it was after I left the room that I actually got nervous. The rush of adrenaline hit me post-challenge as it always does and I had to sit down. I was shaking so hard that the coffee I was drinking sloshed out of its cup and all over me.

It's weird that I can't feel the fear until after the big moment has passed. I think I would fail evolutionarily. Flight-or-Fight syndrome kicks in after I've decided to fight, and in the prehistoric days, something really big would have eaten me long before the fear hit me.

Good thing I'm a law student and not a cavewoman.

Begin the Beguine

I still haven't figured out what a beguine is. I guess I should just google it, but I like a little mystery in my old jazz standards, don't you?

15 days until it's over. A whole year of law school behind me. I can't wait. However, I could probably do without the 2 weeks leading up to that amazing moment.

Last semester, our reading period was about 3 days, and each of our professors was trying to hold last minute review sessions. It made finals time feel even more stressful than it was. This semester we have a whole week to study. I'm finding that this is both good and bad. All this extra time means that I can schedule my studying better for optimal learning ability. However, all this extra time leads to a strong desire to slack off and take a couple hours away from work. That is not acceptable.

Studying for finals is a lesson in marathons. By the end of it, you're bleary-eyed and can't think straight anymore. Your head is filled with law, and your brain is just dying for a break. You can't sleep, however, because all of a sudden in your dreams you've forgotten what "cover" means in a contract for goods and you have to check it on your outline right that second. Nothing else will do. It is one of the most exhausting things I've ever had to do, and I've never done anything like it before.

In undergrad, even my hardest finals were only given 3 hours of study time. And that time was spent on the couch, relaxing with roommates while we watched tv. Not exactly the worst time of my life. Studying for finals in law school involves blocking yourself away from the rest of the world, headphones in to block noise, staring at notes and your computer screen for hours at a time. Sometimes you get company in the form of a study group. Today's involved absolutely ridiculous hypotheticals for criminal law.*

The point is, this is the worst part of the semester. I did a full twelve hours today, and I felt LAZY.

If it's the worst, at least it's also the shortest. 15 days.

_______________________

*Today we killed Baby B in a variety of ways trying to figure out what the appropriate mens rea was for different degrees of murder. I don't think he appreciated the humor.

You're Never Fully Dressed.....

I can't help but find it funny that in law school "long weekend" doesn't mean 3 days to drink margaritas and lay in the sun. "Long weekend" means too much work and hours and hours of studying. And after I take this bluebook and grammar exam in an hour, my "long weekend" can begin. Actually, it kind of started last night at the 1L Meet the Employers Reception.

I'm not good at networking. No matter how many times the career services staff reminds me that networking is how one gets a job, I still can't do it. I never know what to ask, so 25 tables of legal professionals had me shaking in my boots. Or pointy toed black pumps. But I guess my footwear choice is irrelevant.*

I will admit, that I did meet some really nice people, including one attorney who was a paleontology major in college. That's a lot like anthropology. If he got a job, maybe I will too one day. He was pretty reassuring, and told me "Some people are going to have a legal career and stick with it until the end. The other 6 out of 7 of you are going to swerve all over the place. So don't start worrying yet." It was a good feeling, knowing that I wasn't the only person who was confused.

Some of the attorneys were scary. There were a couple who clearly didn't want to be there, and only showed because the partners made them. And there was one who gave me a lecture on ObamaCare that sounded like I had made some kind of grave healthcare mistake. I wanted to apologize to him. But really, I just wanted to leave and couldn't think of a way to make a graceful exit. He just kept talking. After that, I took a break and ate some food. (God bless law school. They provide alcohol and snacks at all of these events.)

LSBFF is a networking goddess. I wish I could be like her. However, I think I've learned that no matter how much I love her,** I need to not work next to her. She's so awesome she makes me nervous. I'm better off striking out on my own and doing things my own way. It all goes back to the "branding" thing. She has a different personality type than I do. She can schmooze with the best of them. I'm better of at telling a joke to break the ice. It's not like I'm fighting for attention. I'm six feet tall. Someone will notice me.

I would say the best parts of the night, though, were in being snarky. James asked me more than once if I had a job yet. I replied more than once that I had been offered like ten and couldn't choose. And a couple of girls that we knew were wearing skirts WELL above the knee. Not that there's nothing wrong with that usually. I own a couple short skirts that I love. But this was a professional event! Who buys a suit with a skirt that stops three inches above the knee? Of course, when I mentioned this to someone else, his response was, "I guess that's how you get a job."

Yeah, with the creepy solo practitioner at the end of the row who can't look at your face.

And the very, very best part of the night? When one of the career services staff members came up to LSBFF and I and said, "Ladies, I want to put you on a poster. I can see your pantyhose."

That's right. I'm now the Law School poster girl for the proper wearing of pantyhose.

I was totally waiting to be famous one day.

_____________

*Let's be honest. Footwear choices are NEVER irrelevant.

**More than the moon and stars.

A Love Letter

I was faithful. I was kind. I tried everything that you wanted me to. I was always honest with you. About my love, about my schedule, about everything you needed from me. We were together all the time. In school, in the park, on the street, even in the bath, I was holding on to you with all my strength.

But I guess if you really love something you have to let it go, and if it comes back to you it was meant to be. But I needed you, and I still need you! I can't get through this life without you! Why are you determined to hurt me so much? Why do you want to give me such stabbing pain that sends me to my bed alone for hours.

I'm spending time and tears on you and you give me nothing in return! And I need you more than ever at this point. You can't desert me now! I need you round the clock, like I need to breathe!

Oh, coffee, I have to give you up in order to avoid the migraines.

I'm with your half brother Decaf now. It's not as good as when I was with you.

Forever love,

Me

Fashion Forward Fridays

This is something I've been wanting to do for a while now. Law school has a specific dress code that you wouldn't even be able to guess at until your first day. The very first day of orientation, they tell you to dress professionally so that you make a good impression on your future gods...er, professors.

So every week I plan to pick one item of clothing and expound upon its virtues. This week, I pick the most fundamental of clothing options:

THE SUIT

Believe me, you're going to want a suit, or something to approximate it. Eventually, you're going to do an interview with SOMEONE (hopefully) and you'll need the suit to be appropriately dressed. Here are five reasons the suit is awesome:

#5: As I mentioned, that interview. If appropriately tailored and colored, you should look impressive.

#4: Versatility. I know. It's a SUIT. It's not THAT versatile. Au contraire. Personally, I own an all-black suit that without a splash of color makes me look like an undertaker. So I like matching it with grass green button downs and creamy silk shells. Also, for women there's the skirt/pants choice. Personally, I'm a fan of the skirt. My legs are too long to find suitpants that fit. But hey, there are other things to explore. Pinstripes, color, wide lapels. The suit IS versatile.

#3: Exploiting jealousy. Give yourself a leg up on the competition. Seriously, when your classmates see you wearing a suit, they wonder what kind of awesome opportunity you've found that means you get to wear a suit. Take that aura of mystery and turn it into confidence.

#2: SHOES. I'm all about the chance to buy shoes. And before you roll your eyes and call this a girl thing, a guy I know is CONSTANTLY looking up Italian leather shoes to wear with his suits. A great suit just gives you a chance to wear great shoes. Who can pass that up?

#1: It just feels good! Is there anything better than walking through downtown feeling like you fit in? No. there is not. Don't lie to yourself. Confidence is something that isn't always readily available in the world of law school, so you've gotta take it wear you can find it.

So, in the words of my favorite sitcome character: SUIT UP!

It Depends How You Define Productivity...

I need to have Bravo taken off my cable network. It's like visual crack. I don't know how many hours I watched of Millionaire Matchmaker last night. (Okay, it was six hours. Yes, I'm ashamed of myself.) Bravo marathons are not good for me. I did, however, manage to get my taxes done, organize some insurance stuff, and make a to do list. It's like being productive. I had to do all those things.

At any rate, today is already looking like a bad day. It's rainy and gross outside. I'm using an umbrella. After a week of 70 and 80 degree weather, the high for the next few days is barely going to reach 50. And I forgot my coat today. Moreover, Dunkin' Donuts is having one of their off days where they try to train people during the 8:30 am rush. Not only did I have to explain my order 3 times, I still got the wrong cup of coffee. And it tastes burned. I still have to call the insurance company (which I hate doing) and I have to go to the post office which is always full of people.

On the other hand, Easter candy is half off. Yay.

But the thing that bugs me the most? People walking in late to class. Every day. Every once in a while is fine. But the same people walk in 5-20 minutes late EVERY DAY. When the professor looks around the room, sees it's only half full and asks someone "Is the clock in here wrong?" you should probably start coming to class on time.

I mean, stuff happens, it's a fact. You missed your train, you fell asleep in the shower, the undergrads were overfilling the elevators and you couldn't get up to the eighth floor, it all happens. But when it happens every day, it's rude and distracting.

Also, it makes my day even worse than it was before.

BREAKING NEWS!!

Well, not really. Rather, just news, classified in easy to understand categories.

THINGS I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN, THAT I APPARENTLY DIDN'T:

Don't attempt to run with pulled muscles. Look. I knew that aerobics wasn't what I was good at. But when I accidentally ended up going through an advanced body sculpting class, and couldn't walk for three days with muscles pulled from my knees to my neck, I decided that I could be in better shape. And today, a week after the most awful 60 minutes of my life, when I moved onto the next part of my training schedule my hamstrings protested. First with mild demands for attention, and after the third mile with screaming, crampy yells. Apparently I'm not healed yet. Must stop trying to be a hero. For....no one.*

THINGS I KNOW THAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE CONFUSED ABOUT:

Only jerks print PDF's on the library printers. Look, everyone loves the free** printing available in the Law Library. Especially right before the major legal writing assignments are due. However, when you try to print PDF's to those printers, they can only print ONE PAGE AT A TIME. And those pages are sent one at a time to the printers. So your 80 page document takes 4 hours to print. It's really kind of a jerk move to tie up a printer for four hours. If you find it absolutely necessary, please do it at 8 am when nobody needs the printers. Not at 2 in the afternoon. Because let me be honest here: I am that girl who will cancel your print job in order to get mine through. I have no scruples.

THINGS WE BOTH ALREADY KNEW:

Ricky Martin is gay? This is so shocking! Except not. Because I was alive in the 90s. Seriously, did anyone think the guy who sang "She Bangs" and "Shake your Bon-Bon" was straight? I'd love to give the human race more credit than that. Seriously, I don't think even Sue Sylvester would need him to Swish It Up. Seriously, the guy is the hispanic Clay Aiken/Ryan Seacrest hybrid.

Jesse James is a stupid man. Seriously, you would trade Sandra Bullock***, she of the Oscar, friendly smile, good comedic timing, and general awesomeness for THIS? A tattoo model and possible nazi? One's man trash is another man's treasure I guess, but who would trade in Sandra for a trashy tattoo model nazi??? Clearly, James was threatened by the extreme force of awesome that is his wife. Ick.

AND IN OTHER NEWS:

Happy Passover!**** Baby B is celebrating the heritage of his people this week and all I can tell is that it's ruining Law Free Lunch. He can't eat ANYWHERE because of the processed grains thing. Look, Baby B, you eat pork ALL THE TIME. You are already terrible at being Jewish.***** Stop ruining my week with your silly religious needs.

_______________________

*"I could be your hero baby!" Seriously, taking applications.

**With outrageous amounts of tuition, of course

***I realize she's not everyone's cup of tea, but objectively I feel she can be considered awesome.

****Do you wish people a happy passover? Not sure about Jewish etiquette.

*****Don't take this too hard. I haven't been to a confession in years.