Going Up Against Your Peers

Last year, as a 1L, it didn’t bother me to think I was “competing” for things against my peers.  This year it does.  To clarify, I’m not talking about the majority of my class.  I’m talking about my friends and classmates that I truly respect as human beings.  Yes, I consider most law students to be far from human sometimes.

For example, I have an interview next week and I know that three close friends also have the same interview.  While I want them to do well I can’t help but want to do better than them.  I didn’t even tell one friend that I too have an interview because I didn’t want her to know—and I have no good reason for not telling her.  In fact I think I’ll tell her.  It’s just an odd experience all around.

In other news, I made another Mock Trial team which means after my 2L year I will have done three mock trial competitions and one moot court competition.  My resume doesn’t need any more competitions!  Wish me luck this weekend!  We’re traveling to our second mock trial competition  and we’re nervous.  Also, my cross examination will need all the luck it can get!

 

This brief is driving me crazy

I have a brief due in a week.  I still have no clue what I’m going to write.  The good news is that I have my headings!  I literally have put my classes on the back burner this week.  I hate this because in many ways it goes against what I was ranting about last semester.  I realize that I have way too much on my plate, but I can’t let my team or partner down now-just too late.

In addition to writing my portion of the brief I have to consolidate my partner’s portion so that the entire thing reads well.  Now, I’m not a top writer but I can tell I’m a stronger writer than my partner–at least organizationally.  I think this brief will be the death of me.  The bad news is that I can’t ignore it after I’m done because we have oral arguments to prepare for–ALL CHRISTMAS BREAK!  Yes, you read that correctly. My winter break is &^(#)$@!  Welcome to life, Kel, welcome.

You’re hot, then you’re cold…

Last week I was at an attorney event  where the coordinator asked if I new a 1L who was her cousin.  (Oddly enough it was the same 1L that I ranted about not too long ago.)  I said no and she proceeded to tell me that this 1L has wanted to quit law school more than once already.  This got me thinking.  I also wanted to quit law school several times last year.  I just didn’t get it.  I didn’t feel like I was doing anything lawyerly.  I hated the classes.  I hated how much work I had on my plate.  I hated the lack of conversation.  I hated that everyone seemed to know what they wanted to do. I actually re-wrote the Katy Perry song “Hot and Cold” to fit law school!  But this year I can honestly say that I haven’t felt that way.  Even though I’m bogged down with work I’m beginning to see myself as a lawyer and it’s a good feeling.

Attack of the Crazies

Yes, I am now a caffeinated zombie.  I have no fun, no sleep, and am very forgetful these days.  In two weeks enough crap will be done that I can finally get back to focusing on my coursework.  YES COURSEWORK!

Yes, I’m aware that I took on too much this semester, BUT! BUT! I know that I won’t be able to compete for jobs with the top of my class unless I have activities like mock trial and moot court on my resume.  And because law school is only three years I’ve only got so much time to find resume builders.

How about you?  What are you filling your resume with?  Or do you just not care?

Women in Law Wednesday

• Who is Lady Hale?:  Because I find memoirs and biographies fascinating!
• Webinar on Teaching Reproductive Rights:  Because I met Martha Davis in an elevator and her daughters are extra cute.  Ms. Davis is also an excellent speaker.  I wish I could attend but I’ll be Mock Trialing it up!
• Judge Judy won’t tolerate your face:  Because we’ve all made bitch faces and we all secretly wish we could tell people off as easily as Judge Judy does it.

That is it for this Wednesday.  Sorry so short, I’ve got a moot court brief and a mock trial competition that I’m working on, as well as class, as well as outlining, and the work never ends, EVER!

 

 

Happy Halloween!

I’m at home, working on my journal note, when everyone I know is out club hopping.  Blah…

But Happy Halloween everyone!

For those of you interested I was weired out by these vintage Halloween photos over at BuzzFeed.  Weird…

Rudeness

Please, allow me to rant.

Dear 1ls,

You do not have the right to be rude to other students you may not know.  When someone asks an open question and you choose to respond with an incomplete answer–DO NOT COME BACK AND TELL ME THAT I WAS THE RUDE ONE.  You should have known that your answer was incomplete in the first place and thus should have expected that I may point that out to you in response.

Further, you got into law school–big freaking deal.  Now you have to start acting professional which includes DEALING WITH CONFLICT.  FOR THE LOVE OF BABY JESUS! YOU ARE ENTERING A FIELD WHERE YOU DEAL WITH OTHER PEOPLE’S CONFLICT.  And dealing with conflict does not mean just passing off someone’s comments as being rude.

Also, you should be aware that people have different types of communication styles–so don’t take it so personally.

Thanks

Women in Law Wednesday

• Female Partners are not Making it rain: According to a recent survey by the National Association of Women Lawyers 46% of big firms have no women at all among their top 10 rainmakers.  (FYI-A rainmaker is someone able to attract clients and profits.) Unfortunate indeed!
• Polygamy and the Law: A trial I wish I had the time to follow as it fascinates me.  And yes, I watch Big Love and no, I am not Mormon.
• Court finds e-mails admissible in a sexual harassment suit despite Rape Shield Rule:  A review of a recent Pennsylvania case where e-mails are admitted to show the sexual harassment victim also engaged in sexual innuendos.  The author of the post makes a great argument, which I agree with, on why the e-mails shouldn’t have been admitted.
• Halloween Costume comes back to haunt a woman in a sexual harrassment suit:  Yes, take note ladies!   We all know that Halloween brings out the risque dressing in us–apparently.

Wow, two sexual harrassment suits cited for a Wednesday!

How much do law students really study?

TaxProf Blog has a post up on the number of hours law students study at various law schools. As both a skeptic and one trained in statistics I wouldn’t rely on the data, but it is interesting none the less.

I think I study about four hours a day and write about two-three hours a day.  You?

Women in Law Wednesday

• Telling Stories Out of Court ed. by Ruth O’Brien: explores women and workplace discrimination and sounds worth the read.  I somewhat fear the day I’ll be a full-time employee again due to subtle sexual harrassment and discrimination.  I also have an appreciation for drawing up women’s experiences outside the court to reflect what may not make it INTO or TO court.
• Miss California’s Breast Offered Into Evidence:  Seriously?  While her breasts cannot be literally admitted into evidence it does present an interesting thought as her breasts are up for scrutiny.  I’m not necessarily surprised as women have been treated as commodities longer than I have been alive.
• An IRAC for Sex?:  Again, not surprising however it seems the attention this craigslist ad has been receiving is mainly because it was written by a woman and reminds me of conversations I’ve had regarding the notion that women go to law school because they failed to obtain their “Mrs.” degree as an undergraduate.
• Gender, Pregnancy, Prison: Is this an example of gender discrimination? This fascinated me and I wish I had time to read the ACLU’s amicus brief.  Thoughts?

Thoughts on any of these?