The Panic, It Has Begun

We're at T minus 5 days till exam mayhem starts. I wouldn't be so panicky, but

• I haven't read a single page in a single class all semester long.
  
• I have two really hard exams and one that shouldn't be too bad.
  
• I also have to rewrite a 30 page paper in the midst of exam mayhem.
  
• AND I'm turning 30 on Wednesday! (Maybe that should be my paper day- 30 pages for 30 years?)
  
• The Green Gables is so close to done I can taste it.... yet I will feel guilty for every stitch I knit during the next two weeks....
  

5th time's a charm...?

Well, I'm two days in to my fifth semester of law school and am once again completely and totally overwhelmed by how quickly things get out of control. I was so far behind at 11:00 on Monday morning- three hours into the new school year- that I have already slipped into slackerhood (if I'm this far behind now, why bother with school work tonight? Pshaw!)

Anyway, I made a good dent in stuff today, and am hopefully going to be back in school mode by the end of the week. It is a pretty dramatic change in velocity though- a week of vacation/nothing to do followed by an immediate need to sprint before you've even had a chance to tie your shoes... Ah well.

Looking to be a good but really busy semester. I'll do my best to get back in regular blog mode- it's good for me to think about non-school stuff, and now I can add non-wedding stuff to that list, too.

I'm ALMOST done with my koigu sock- about half an inch away plus the picot bind off. Then I need to redo the toe on sock #1- it's about an inch too long- and then I'll have my very own pair of koigu socks! YAY! Other knitting projects have screeched to a halt, but the cooler weather is making my fingers itchy... This bodes well for ye olde knit blog....

This Legal Writing Stuff

This legal writing stuff is hard. Good, but hard.

The thing I'm struggling with right now are the three types of legal writing I am engaged in on a daily basis right now. In the mornings, I have to think like a conservative federal judge, in the afternoon I have to think like a liberal plaintiff's attorney, and in the evenings I have to think like a legal scholar.

My externship for the federal judge involves very formal writing, from the perspective of the court. I'm working on research memos supporting an opinion or decision that the judge will publish an opinion about. This writing is very much about "the law" and "precedent." It's important to include some background material and to do a thorough analysis, almost handholding the reader through the logic. The writing is very judgmental: this is THE WAY it is done. It has to be precise, concise, formal, and correct.

My job at a state-level plaintiff's firm is hugely different. This is advocacy and persuasive writing, pure and simple. It's about selecting the best, most emotionally appealing arguments and using them to my advantage. This kind of writing is more about "the right thing to do" than it is about "the law." It's very impassioned, but it has to be simple, understandable, and emotional.

My law review note (which I'm knee deep in now and will be through the end of February) is a whole different ball of wax. This is scholarly writing, which feels like it has to be dry, boring, and scholarly. It feels right now like a "kitchen sink" approach- if it might be useful, throw it in, and we'll figure out what really matters over the course of our year and a half long editing cycle. Oy. This writing is more about "look how smart and impressive I am as I ramble on for 150 pages about the obscure depths of my oh-so-fascinating note on class action lawsuits." It feels pretentious and overbearing, especially given that I'm a law student who knew NOTHING about class actions 6 months ago.

All three types of writing are fun, but I'm feeling very intimidated by all three right now. I have just kinda figured out my one writing style- dense, with lots of quotes- and now I have to morph into three very different voices/thinking styles every day. Fortunately, everyone (except, ironically, the law review editors) seems to understand that I am a student and that I don't know fully what I'm doing in each voice. They seem to get that their job is to teach me how to be that voice in an effective way. That's reassuring, at least.

Don't get me wrong- I love all of it, and I love learning all of it. I just didn't realize how HARD it would be to change gears from one mode to another every 4 hours, as I'm doing right now. It's like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, with a good dash of Johnnie Cochran thrown in for good measure. Did I mention that I'm feeling a bit schizophrenic?

This is going to be a GREAT semester....

I am super psyched about this semester. Here's what's on my plate:

Classes- only 3- YAY! And all are on Tuesday and Friday.

Water Law: The initial class reading was phenomenal- this class will probably be as much about Northern New Mexico's quirks and history as it is about water law. Water law is fascinating- the law itself is complicated, it's a VERY emotional subject in the desert southwest, water is intertwined with history, religion, sociology, it's totally policy-based, and it is a finite resource. The professor is supposed to be phenomenal, and I am really looking forward to this class.

Health Law: I had this professor for about half of my torts class, and he taught a few of my bioethics classes, and he is WONDERFUL. This class should be fascinating- mostly legal issues in health care (the class alternates between focusing on law one year and on policy in the other year).

Conflicts of Law: This will be my third class with this professor, who I adore. At first glance, the subject looks kind of straightforward- like stuff we've covered already in Civ Pro I and Civ Pro II. But, it is a major area of law, so I'm sure I'm missing something. I do wish this professor would teach a class that started at a time OTHER than 8:15 am- I am not exactly a morning person. Ah well.

Other: On Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, I'll split my time between an externship and my job.

I've got an externship with a federal judge. This should rock. The law clerks are great, and my first assignment looks really interesting. I expect to learn a LOT- this judge has a reputation as one of the hardest working/most efficient/super intelligent judges in the state.

I'm also working for the same law firm I was with in the fall- love it. Love the work, love the people, love the environment, love that I know what to expect. There should be at least one trial this semester, which will be super fun to watch...

The only thing I'm not excited about is Law Review. It's a giant pile of baloney. Law Review looks great on my resume, but that is, in my ever so humble opinion, the end of its merits.

Things I Have Learned This Semester

In no particular order:

• Finals still suck.
  
• I need to brief each and every case as I read it. Create a separate file and brief the dang case. Makes studying for finals go waaaay faster.
  
• There is no such thing as a good multiple choice exam in law school. Virtually everything we learn is: Rule, exception, exception to the exception and so on and so forth. There's just no way to write a decent multiple choice exam.
  
• Having good professors makes SUCH A HUGE DIFFERENCE. I'm as stressed as I was last spring, yet I'm not on the verge of taking out any of my professors. This is progress, people.
  
• It will all get done. It doesn't ever seem like it will, but it does.
  
• I know more than I think I do. It's usually just a matter of going over the informaton again at the end of the semester. That and getting totally stressed out and cranky with everyone I love. Ya'll know how it is!
  
• Knitting is a good non-verbal activity to help switch gears before I go to sleep. Helps prevent psycho "I can't figure out how to footnote what I'm wearing tomorrow because there isn't any state action in my Mom's car" type dreams. Which, incidentally, should be avoided at all costs.
  
• I should take handwritten notes during class. It helps me focus on what's really important instead of transcribing the class. Also means lower quantity of higher quality prep for finals. AND, means I won't be surfing the web during class. Which, um, was a problem this semester.
  

Butter Fingers

I've been doing a *wee* bit of typing recently.

I am terrified that I am going to type "pubic use" over and over agian on my Con Law exam instead of using the much more politically (and technically) correct "public use."

Back when I was a technical writer, I'd had a really long couple days at work trying to get a product out. I knew it was time to quit for the day when I misspelled "technology" in such a way that spellechecker suggested "gynecologist" as the correct spelling....

Thoughts On the Law

Since I should be studying, I am spending lots of time thinking about things that DEFINITELY won't be on any of my exams. Natch.

Doing my mock trial this fall, I was really struck by the complete and total disconnect between what we do in law school and what happens in a courtroom. I have spent the last 18 months reading appellate case after appellate case, trying to discern the abstract legal rule and how it works when applied to various sets of facts. At trial, you just tell a good story about your client and... get this... you never even mention the law. There is no talk of rules, no talk of what the Supreme Court has held in the past, no discussion of what elements I have to prove in order to win... It's all just a story.

It's WEIRD.

Also. Law Review.

Really? Not so bad. I will know the Blue Book inside and out, which is a handy skill for lawyers to have. I'm learning a TON about class action law, which is moderately interesting. It's kind of nice to be able to dive so deep into a single topic. By the time my case note is finished, I will have written a 100+ page survey of class action law and and how the New Mexico Court of Appeals was correct in this one certain case. I might have come to a different conclusion, but that doesn't mean it was an abuse of discretion...

And legal writing?

I'm a very detailed writer. I tend to gather all the quotes I want to use, put them in an order that makes sense, and write text around the quotes. Not the most efficient way to do things, but it helps me get an argument out with plenty of support for each point. Just saying.

It's Official!!!

I've accepted a summer job. WOOOHOOOOOOO! It feels really good to have that handled. I'm going to be working for THESE people (the law firm with the sense of humor) and I am THRILLED.


I start May 30, which gives me quite a while between my last final and starting work. A great friend is getting married in Austin on May 20 and I'm in the wedding, so I think I'll have a lovely Texas break!

I am SO relieved that this is done.

OH YEAH- I also spent this morning writing some posts, so I'll be around more than expected over the next week. Blogging is WAY MORE FUN than law review. Just sayin.

Swamped

Hey gang! Sorry to be so MIA. Posting will be intermittent at best until after Thanksgiving. I'll try to pop in with something if anything comes up.

EDITED 11/12: Instead of starting my law review article, I wrote up several posts, so I'll be here more often than anticipated! YAY!

Evidence and Trial Practice

I'm taking a REALLY FANTASTIC class called evidence and trial practice- the class is designed to teach us how to run a trial from start to finish without embarrassing ourselves or experimenting on real clients in the real world.

Part of the course is a mock trial, which we're doing on November 19. I know which witnesses I need to direct and cross, how my story fits together, all that jazz. It should be a lot of fun.

Our opposing counsel is driving us nuts. They're trying to exclude some evidence that is key to BOTH sides. So that's adding a lot of extra work- they're drafting a motion to exclude the evidence, so we'll need to write a response, along with a brief in support of our response complete with case law and stuff. As if I have a ton of free time to do this in...

Part of what's intimidating about the trial is real judges will be participating. Our judge is one of the Justices on the New Mexico Supreme Court. Uh, YIKES! This will be fascinating, but intimidating. I don't care about winning, I just don't want to look like an IDIOT.

Anyway, I'm consumed with trial prep right now. And with my law review note, 25 pages of which are due 3 days before the trial. Happy happy joy joy! AND an application for a spring semester internship with one of our federal judges due three days before the law review note. Yeah, no time pressure here!

It's That Time Of Year....

There's no escaping now, it's CRUNCH TIME. The time of year when stress gets the best of me and I grind my teeth in my sleep. Also clenching my jaws during the day. There's just a LOT to do, and not a lot of time to do it in! Deadlines are looming!

In the next 3 weeks, I have the following to do:
School

• A complete mock trial, representing an insurance company defending against a claim... The guy making the insurance claim torched his company so he could collect the insurance money.
  
• Find jurors and witnesses for the trial.
  
• Put together my arguments, prepare for examination of witnesses, develope visual aids and exhibits.
  
• Pretrial conference where we decide how easy or how hard getting evidence admitted will be.
  
• Law review stuff. There's a lot.
  
• Checking 2 or 3 articles' worth of citations. BORING and work-intensive, but necessary nonetheless.
  
• Research and write 25 pages of background on Rule 23, relating to class actions, complete with footnotes.
  
• Find and read a ton of cases on Rule 23, synthesize what they say, and incorporate in to my background.
  
• Revise my existing 25 pages of the Court's rationale- requires a lot more research, major revamping of what I've written.
  
• Research and start 25 pages of analysis. This one is a bear. Fortunately, not due till December 2.
  

And that doesn't include normal school work, stuff for work, or sleep. Oy.

At least I've gotten down the main chunks of stuff to do. That makes it a little less scary.

Knit Knit Knit Con law Knit

Saturday was absolutely gorgeous. Meg and Rebecca and I met up at the Zoo for a little al fresco knitting. It was perfect! We'll have to do it again with more notice so more people can join us. It was cool.

I started another scarf- have I told you this already? I'm using the Textiles A Manos painted Xian I got over the summer to make the Misty Garden scarf from Scarf Style. I like this pattern- basic feather and fan- because every 4th row is knitted instead of purled- just enough garter to make the scarf lie flat, unlike the chevron scarf in Last Minute Knitted Gifts. And the yarn is gorgeous. Yeah, yeah, pictures. If I ever get home before dark, I'll take some.

There are some nifty new knitalongs.... I'm thinking of joining Stashbusters, since I am drowning in yarn. And there's an International Scarf Exchange that looks kinda cool. I've realized that my knitting time is too unpredictable for me to really commit to making something for someone else on a deadline, so I will probably pass. But it looks cool!

Did I mention that my SockaPalTwoZa pal, Danielle, owns Knitique, a yarn boutique in Sacramento? HOW COOL IS THAT?!?!? If anyone is in the area, stop by, spend some money, and tell her I said hello!!! I should get my hiney to CA to visit my brother in Pasadena, a college girlfriend in LA, and Danielle in Sacramento!

It must be time for bed because I'm using so many freaking exclamation points!!!!! Goodnight!

I LOVE my JOB!

I LOVE working at this firm. I'm doing really cool, challenging, somewhat important work. I'm getting good feedback from the people I work for, and it's just fantastic. YEAH!

Which begs the question, why I am going through On Campus Interviews with big boring firms that I don't really want to work for?

I guess the answer is, I feel like I'm supposed to do it, so I'm doing it. But the real reason is, the job I love doesn't pay all that well. It stinks. The big firm jobs do pay well. Very well. And over the course of a summer, it is a significant difference. As a student, that matters. Ah well. I can be bought, but I know what my price tag is. :-)


law, law school

Cue the Angels, and Thanks to the World!

First off, HALLELUJAH! I have a law review topic. Whew! What a releif!

Second, thank you world, for the outpouring of support in the wake of Hurricane Katrina! I know we're not very gracious aid recipients, so on behalf of the United States, THANK YOU.

I heard a wonderful story on NPR this evening about how aid is coming from everywhere. Canada is amazing. Thank you. So is everyone else. I know it doesn't matter that some chick in New Mexico (is that even in the states!?!?!) is offering her heartfelt thanks, but I am. So thanks. Again. No, really. Thank you.

Lexis and Westlaw- fabulous resources or miserable timewasters?

So, I'm a little busy this semester. Time is crunched. So I'm naturally cranky when, though no fault of my own, I have to waste 2 hours.

This week, I have to waste 2 hours. One hour in the form of Lexis Nexis training on how to select a law review topic (summary: this tab gets you to a database full of already published law review articles, and this other tab gets you to a database of all the news stories ever published.) SO NOT HELPFUL. And, I get to do it all over again with Westlaw on Thursday.

Really, not helpful. Total waste of time, since I (a) sat through 3 training sessions on each product 1L year in which we covered THE EXACT SAME TABS, and (2) have to leave work early to go these things which are scheduled over the lunch hour which means that, two days this week, I don't get to eat lunch. Did I mention cranky? Thought so.

Anyway, that's that. Maybe I can knit my way through Thursday's session.... Hmmmm....

IN OTHER NEWS....
The new job is fan-freaking-tastic. Love it. Want to marry it. It's gooooood. Lots and lots of work (do I see a theme emerging?) but challenging and fascinating work. YIPEEEEEEEEEEEE!

law

Lawyers Do Important Work!

I just came across this very important information today: Calling someone a "dumb ass" is not defamation.

Law is a very serious business indeed.

law

Amended note to self...

Hurrah! I made Dean's List, but only by a hair. I did REALLY WELL in the classes I cared about, which is GREAT.

No knitting. Moved out of the Corrales Casa today and am glad to be done with the crazy animals. Now I'm back with my Scootie Patootie.

Note to self.

Dear Self,

Remember all that complaining you've done for the last 6 months about two particular law school classes? You might not have shared it all with the blog, but it was bad. And now it is payback time. You will not make Dean's List this semester because you created so much bad karma by griping continually about these 2 classes. How's that for a serving of humble pie? It's obvious that you did well in the classes you liked, and it's equally obvious that you sucked in the classes you hated. Funny how that works.

I hope you have learned the following lesson: never, ever, under any circumstances, take another class from either one of these professors. You hated them and their karmic energy hates you back. So there.

Now get over it, you whiny cow.

Love,
Self.

Things I learned today at work....

1. The Code of Federal Regulations is a pain in the a$$ to search online unless you know EXACTLY what part you're looking for. I need to spend some time in the Law Library browsing the old fashioned paper version tomorrow....

2. I am never going to understand what this one particular attorney is looking for. I think I find exactly what he's looking for and then WHAM- not even close. It's very disorienting.

3. It takes a special kind of person to be a lobbyist, and an even more special kind to be a good one. You have to be part ADD, part insane, part charming, and just plain smart. And you have to like being around politicians all the time. I'm not cut out for the job..... :-)

I'm competent!

Yesterday was a great day at work- got some super positive feedback on a project I did for the managing partner- woot! It felt good to get that reinforcement. I also got my first 2 grades- A in writing (knew that was coming) and my first law school B from the professor who got confused on the rules for multiple choice exams. Ah well. At least it wasn't a class I felt like I understood!

I also did some surgery on Orangina Monday night. Last week I had accidentally yanked the needle out of 7 or 8 stitches in the middle of a row, and the stitches immediately unraveled 4 rows. Grrr. So, when I could finally face it again, I pulled the needle out, ripped back, and carefully got all the stitches back on. Because most of them were facing the wrong way and I had missed a couple yarn overs, I tinked back a row and voila! Repaired! I'm so proud!

Knit night was great last night, as usual. A friend from the law school came to learn how to knit- I think she liked it. We're going to get yarn for her first project this weekend. Mwa ha ha haaaaaa.

Oh yeah, love having the boy here. He's in new hire orientation this week, which stinks, but that's life. I hope he doesn't hate it here. I think it's too soon to tell...