Law Students
Shelley’s Case 
Purely personal blog written by a certain rambunctious law student attending an unnamed law school at an undisclosed location.
Post Frequency: 0.7/day Last Entry: November 20, 2009 at 14:42:33 Recent Entries: 215
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Protected: Miracles Do Happen TWICE
Posted on November 20, 2009There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
Undergrad Education is a Waste of Time?
Posted on November 17, 2009Hey law students! Bored? Here is a funny article explaining why undergrad education is a waste of time. Courtesy post by Curmudgeon of Second Effort.
Alternative Careers for Law Graduates
Posted on November 16, 2009Most law graduates expect to practice law upon admission to the bar. Some graduates, however, take on non-attorney jobs that utilize skills they had developed as law students. Below is a non-exhaustive list of online articles that discuss options for law graduates interested in learning more about alternative careers...
Lawyerly Attire
Posted on November 05, 2009Congratulations to law grads who have recently passed the bar exam and those who have recently been admitted to their respective state bar! The next question is: what do lawyers wear? To be honest, I have no sense of fashion. Therefore, I am going to defer to Amie’s post and the Findlaw article...
Courage of a Law Student
Posted on November 04, 2009I took the time today to talk with the legal extern. S/he is extremely intelligent and very passionate about public interest law, particularly in the area of disability rights. Though s/he had begun the externship for two months, I am very impressed with his/her research and reasoning skills...
The Voice of Politics
Posted on November 03, 2009Since I began working as an advocate, it has become painfully obvious that politics matter. Allocation of funding is often decided on the cohesiveness of the constituency. The more active an interest group, the more political power that group exercises...
Federalized
Posted on November 02, 2009I am officially admitted to the federal bar. Though it is not as exciting as the day when I was sworn in as an attorney to the state bar, I am pretty excited. Federal courts generally requires an applicant to be admitted in at least one jurisdiction and provide proof that s/he is in good standing...
Federal Court Admissions
Posted on November 02, 2009I am officially admitted to the federal bar. Though it is not as exciting as the day when I was sworn in as an attorney to the state bar, I am pretty excited. Federal courts generally requires an applicant to be admitted in at least one jurisdiction and provide proof that s/he is in good standing...
Housekeeping Items (October 2009)
Posted on October 29, 2009I have moved the retired blawgs to the Reference & Directory category. As for blawgs that are not updated regularly, I will keep monitoring them. While I am well aware that these days, my posts are more practice-based than law school-based, I am still interested in providing useful advice to law students and law school applicants...
Health Insurance Coverage for Young Law Graduates
Posted on October 26, 2009Are you a young law graduate without health insurance coverage? You are not alone. Many young and/or unmarried law graduates are forced between paying for health insurance or paying the bills. The good news is that some states provide health insurance subsidies and/or discounted health insurance if you meet the income eligibility...
A Taste of the Real Deal (LS Tidbits #16)
Posted on October 25, 2009The actual practice is much more complex than what you learn in regular law school classes. It is a good idea to supplement what you have learned in law school courses with other activities that will expose you to the real practice (or at least some aspects of the real practice)...
What is in a Title, But a Title? (LS Tidbits #15)
Posted on October 19, 2009Aimee expressed reservation when her boss referred to her as an Associate. Although flattered by the title, she worries about professional and legal repercussions of playing along. She raises an important point. Legal professionals often taken the title Associate for granted...
Musical Chair
Posted on October 14, 2009How long does the honeymoon period last in the legal profession? In the past two months, quite a few of my former classmates have switched law firms. A few even contemplated switching out of the profession altogether. Even in this precarious period where job opportunities are hard to come by, the stress level of those who [...
One Step Forward, Pause
Posted on October 07, 2009To some extent we have been successful with the advocacy efforts. Having worked many long hours, the stress is beginning to take its toll both physically and mentally. Note to self: take some time off to regain a fresh perspective.
Lessons on Advocacy
Posted on October 05, 2009I am beginning to understand what it takes to advocate – a lot of patience and research. One of the things I need to learn to balance is refraining from being over-dramatic while consistently delivering a strong message. While I refine my advocacy skills, I have taken up the task of creating visual aids for the [...
Nowhere and Everywhere
Posted on October 04, 2009The past week is a strange blur between learning and teaching. Just days after attending my second training seminar, I now must prepare to advocate before a special council. Somewhere in the office is a case that needs to be followed -up and another project waiting to be revised...
A Shout Out to Aime
Posted on October 03, 2009Congratulations to Aime, author of Third Tier from the Top, for passing the July 2009 Illinois bar examination. Not meaning to single out Aime, but I really enjoyed following her posts about bar preparation this summer. After all, misery loves company! I find her posts refreshingly punky, if there is such a word...
Model Client
Posted on September 30, 2009A model client is out there somewhere. S/he makes a rare appearance here and there. Usually, the client that walks through that door is a human client with faults and baggages. A model client is someone who: returns your calls promptly. does not call you every other hour to find out if there has been changes...
Flying Solo
Posted on September 29, 2009One of my law school classmate became a solo practitioner after graduating from law school. Rumor has it that s/he received no satisfactory job offer, therefore, the alternative was to open up his/her own practice. I much admire his/her courage because it seems like hard work...
Drafting a Retainer Agreement
Posted on September 28, 2009In the legal profession, a retainer agreement is a work-for-hire contract between the attorney and the client. It specifies the type of services an attorney will provide for a client and specifies fee schedule, if applicable. A retainer agreement is important because of its evidentiary value (to prove that the client agreed to pay) and [...
Re-Learning
Posted on September 25, 2009I attended my first Continued Legal Education (CLE) course today. It felt like I was back in law school again, except for the fact that attorneys are more disruptive inquisitive than law students. In law school, the professor is presumed to be much more knowledgeable than the audience...
Playing Hardball
Posted on September 23, 2009I thought all it takes to advocate a specific policy is sales skills. As it turns out, selling a seemingly sound policy is not as easy as it looks. Convincing legislators to pass certain bills are tough because they worry about offending certain factions of their constituents, and persuading bureaucrats is even more challenging, mostly [...
Law Office Work Schedule (Part 1)
Posted on September 21, 2009I thought it may be interesting to do a series of post on what it is like to work in a law office. Caveat: the information on BigLaw associates are based on information related to me by friends who work in BigLaw, and not based on my experience. The legal profession follows not one single type [...
Beneath the Surface
Posted on September 15, 2009I have been advised to update my bio. The reason given is that there is more to me than what it appears. The compliment certainly pleases me, but I am not sure what I could possibly add to the existing descriptions. Most of my colleagues have decades of experience in law or other [...
Working After Hours
Posted on September 09, 2009It is ironic that a simple three page memo took up seven hours of research and drafting, time which I do not have. Instead of trying to cram the research during the day, I would print out the research and read the materials at home. The reality is that I ams still better off than friends [...
Elusions
Posted on September 08, 2009When I was a law student, I naively believed that I would know most of the answers once I become a licensed attorney. The reality is that I feel like I know much less than what I ought to know. In fact, the practice of law seems rested on uncertainties rather than blackletter law...
The Key to Success is Ask for More Work
Posted on September 02, 2009Work has kept me quite busy. To help expedite my learning process, the supervising attorney has assigned me to work on a research memo. The deadline: 24 hours. In law school, it would have been more than enough time. I would have worked on it after class and work on it throughout the night...
Juggling in a Mad Circus
Posted on August 31, 2009Things started kind of slow and suddenly picked up. Like I said before, I am new in this area of law and have been trying to educate myself in this area of law and immersing myself in local policymaking/political process. It is a mad circus. Things I have to do this week: court observations, peer networking, [...
Hello Again, Blogging World
Posted on August 24, 2009I am relieved to report that internet connection has been resolved and I am now connected to uninterrupted service. This means I can post an entry without worrying that the connection could suddenly halt. Review of the past three weeks: resigned from old job, moved to new city (Norsica), and started new job...
Second Week of Work
Posted on August 17, 2009Today is the second week of work. I am still learning the ropes. Co-counsel has assigned more reading, which I plan to read in segments since I am not very good at absorbing a large quantity of information in one sitting. I have also laid out plans to promote the program and presentations in the [...
An Office With a View
Posted on August 14, 2009I am still having some internet issues, so I will keep this brief. Work is going very well. My colleagues are amazing and I have had several opportunities to engage in problem-solving meetings in which I was able to provide meaningful input. My first week at work coincided with the end of the clerkship program...
In Transition
Posted on August 08, 2009I will be packing and moving to new place. There will be no internet until late next week. Will resume writing then.
Adopt This Motto
Posted on August 05, 2009I heard this wonderful motto at my graduation. Choose a career doing something that you would have done for free. For those of you who aspire to become a lawyer, consider what is it that motivates you and for how long. Be honest with yourself and do some soul searching before you begin law school or before [...
Prelude to a New Chapter
Posted on August 03, 2009I am sure by now all of you are sick and tired of hearing about the bar exam after reading all 66 entries devoted to the subject. Hence, I will make this short: I had nightmares about writing the wrong answers for two nights in a row after taking the bar...
Bar Exam II ? Day 3
Posted on July 30, 2009It is over! REALLY REALLY OVER! Now that the exam is over with, I can resume life as usual. My assessment of how I performed on the exam – uncertain. Day 1 – Ok on first two essays, did not finish the last essay. Ok on the performance test...
Bar Exam II ? Day 2
Posted on July 29, 2009MBE today. Felt very nervous this morning. By the time I sat down, I felt a bit better. Most of the questions are ok, though there were some that seemed a bit sadistic. Seems like there are more red herrings than last year. Some of the questions were half a page long...
Bar Exam II ? Day 1
Posted on July 28, 2009Where do I begin….? Day 1, Morning Session: Cannot find my seat. WTH? Found my seat, but got kicked out because I brought white-out, which is not allowed in the exam. Came back in after discarding white-out. Essay 1 – ok, can handle this...
Bar Prep II ? Day 63
Posted on July 27, 2009This is it. I both look forward and dread this moment. I AM DONE WITH STUDYING FOR THE FREAKING BAR EXAM. After hogging the books, practicing outlines, I am losing my eyesight. I see stars where there should not be. For the past 7 hours I have been timing my ability to outline faster than 20 minutes...
Bar Prep II ? Day 62
Posted on July 26, 2009Despite a calm mind, my body refused to cooperate. For a good half hour I paced back and forth while reciting whatever rule that comes in mind. I did not work on any MBE’s today, nor did I use the flash cards. Rather, I spent the day reading the outlines I have made...
Bar Prep II ? Day 61
Posted on July 25, 2009I appreciate the encouraging comments. Thank you very much for your well wishes. I spent most of today reviewing rules. The process involves using a flash card as a prompter, and me free-styling whatever rules, exceptions, defenses, and associated topics I could think of that would associate with the topic...
Bar Prep II ? Day 60
Posted on July 24, 2009I will be the first admit it: I have been losing it. Earlier in the summer, I was pretty confident that this time around, it will be an easier experience. Having worked in a law office for a year, I figured I am in good shape. The entire summer seemed predictable: work hard, have a plan, [...
Bar Prep II ? Day 59
Posted on July 23, 2009I took more breaks tonight. It has been an exhausting mental marathon. Morning: simulated 3 exams (Property, Torts, Will/Trust) Afternoon: simulated 1 MPT Evening: 50 MBE questions, 39/50 (78% raw), at 1.5 minutes per question. There were some really good questions today, involving subtle distinctions...
Bar Prep II ? Day 58
Posted on July 22, 2009I wonder how is it possible to feel less and less prepared everyday with the clock ticking away. Again, I simulated a 3 hour MPT (finished in time). However, the result was less than satisfactory. I had no time to discuss a very important procedural issue which I had spotted and postponed for later discussion...
Bar Prep II ? Day 57
Posted on July 21, 2009“Doomed doomed doomed…” Morning: My mind is racing. I cannot think of an answer. I made something up. The handwriting is getting sloppier and sloppier. There were six different rules I could think of, though the concrete details seem to escape my mind...
Bar Prep II ? Day 56
Posted on July 20, 2009Began my day reading notes, which did not work out too well because I nearly fell back asleep. Switched task and worked on 50 mixed MBE questions, scored 41/50 (raw 82%), averaging 1.4 minutes per question. Timing and speed seem good so far. In the afternoon worked on MPT...
Bar Prep II ? Day 55
Posted on July 19, 2009I studies a few of the state topics today: Professional Responsibilities; Corporations, Agency/Partnership. I also worked a bit on other MBE topics. Essays: Cross-over (Crim Law/Constitutional Law; Torts/Remedies, Professional Responsibilities). I think I am ok with the concepts and timing execution for these topics...
Bar Prep II ? Day 54
Posted on July 18, 2009Feeling rather anxious today. The MBE topics (2 per day) are finished and I did my reviews. I also worked on one MPT (at least I have some idea how to put it together, but it is still taking me too long to outline). The Evidence outlining definitely took too much time...
Bar Prep II ? Day 53
Posted on July 17, 2009Is it possible to scare yourself to death? I am beginning to think it is. This morning I whipped myself into doing the MBE review for Criminal Law and Con Law. The latter lecture was exceptionally boring. By contrast, the Crim Law lecturer spoke quicker than I could type...
Bar Prep II ? Day 52
Posted on July 16, 2009I began my study session on schedule, with a few modifications. Instead of just reading my outline on a MBE subject, I decided to listen to the MBE explanations on the topic, followed by more MBE questions on the area, reenforced with my own outline. In the afternoon I spent almost 90 minutes planning out a [...
Bar Prep II ? Day 51
Posted on July 15, 2009The process of studying for the bar can make even a sensible adult cry. Well, I did. Yes, again. This time it was triggered by a series of mishaps (dropped keys, forgot my backpack, copy machine did not work properly, hunger, etc.). By 8 p.m., I was hungry, tired, frustrated, sleepy, and completely pissed off...
Bar Prep II ? Day 50
Posted on July 14, 2009Today marks the beginning of an end. From now on, it is a two-week sprint to the bar exam. The good news is that there will be no more bar prep courses after today. The bad news is that the bar exam is looming right around the corner. In this critical time period, it is [...
Bar Prep II ? Day 49
Posted on July 13, 2009As of today, 49 miserable days have passed since I began bar prep. Unfortunately, the trials and tribulations is just getting started. Based on my personal experience, the last week is by far the most challenging week when I have to make the final push to make it or break it...
Bar Prep II ? Day 48
Posted on July 12, 2009Relaxed over the weekend and worked mostly on the MBE’ I must have done over 2,500 questions by now, including online and book (though there were some repeat questions). Raw scores in the 70’s, except for K which is less than 1% away from 70%...
Bar Prep II ? Day 47
Posted on July 11, 2009Practiced a lot of MBE questions today, mostly in the area of Real Property. I am particularly challenged by the recording statutes. Looks like I will need to review more on this subject next week. More essays to write tonight before heading off to bed...
Bar Prep II ? Day 46
Posted on July 10, 2009Simulated exam today took up my energy. Taking the night off. Finally able to do nothing but hanging out.
Bar Prep II ? Day 45
Posted on July 09, 2009I spent more than eight hours today typing up some notes. Unfortunately, I was typing at a snails pace, and only managed to finish two subjects. Tonight I finished two essays, neither of them were close to the caliber of the model answer. Tomorrow will be a very long day...
Bar Prep II ? Day 44
Posted on July 08, 2009I took several nice long breaks today. It really helped to break the vicious cycle of panic attacks I have been experiencing for the past two weeks. After a restful afternoon and evening, I jumped back onto the saddle and finished two essays within the time frame allotted...
Bar Prep II ? Day 43
Posted on July 07, 2009Online MBE score: Con Law went up, K went down. Overall score more or less the same. Outlines essays today instead of full simulation. Too tired.
Bar Prep II ? Day 42
Posted on July 06, 2009Suffering from a mild case of panic attack today. Instead of taking a nap, which I had hoped to do by coming home early, I pushed myself to finish the MPT assignment. It was a very bad idea indeed. After four grueling hours (more than one hour behind the assigned time), I finally finished...
Bar Prep II ? Day 41
Posted on July 05, 2009I am literally running out of ink and paper. A quick stop to the local office supply store turned out to be a disappointment, because the store closed early for the 4th of July weekend. As I drove past the iron gates, I felt shunned by the real world...
Bar Prep II ? Day 40
Posted on July 04, 2009Scored above the targeted percentage on the MBE’s, which is about more or less what I had expected. It is approximately the same score as last year. Essays are not going well. Community property essays #2-3 have put me to sleep, literally. I am trying to stay awake and get this done...
Bar Prep II ? Day 39
Posted on July 03, 2009Meh. MBE’s: 3 subjects doing well, 2 ok, and 1 needs improvement. Still tired, still cranky. Going to write one essay, and then condense notes.
Bar Prep II ? Day 38
Posted on July 02, 2009Tired. Have three condensed outlines I need to type up. Not sure how I got so behind, since I have been diligently summarizing class notes by hand. The best way to do this is probably do one subject per day for the next three days, work on some more essays, and do some more MBE’s...
Bar Prep II ? Day 37
Posted on July 01, 2009Today is significant because it is the first day of the month of bar exam. I feel literally sick in the stomach. We had somewhat of a pep talk this morning about how it is almost over. There are two ways to take this, and my brain and body is leaning toward the negative road...
Bar Prep II ? Day 36
Posted on June 30, 2009Today is not a good day in a physical sense. I dragged myself through the course, though admittedly Corporations was not that bad, since this lecturer focused more on the big picture rather than the nitpicking mathematical details. To better prepare myself for the intensity of the three-day exam, I simulated four essays today (not all [...
Bar Prep II ? Day 35
Posted on June 29, 2009Not having much rest during the weekend, I took a really nap to make up for the hours missed in the past week. I finished outlining today’s lecture and simulated the two essays on today’s lecture topic. Ironically, some of the hardest things I did not understand have now become one of the easier concepts, whereas [...
Bar Prep II ? Day 34
Posted on June 28, 2009All study and no play makes Shell go ka-BOOM! All study and no play makes Shell go ka-BOOM! All study and no play makes Shell go ka-BOOM! In a day that begins invariably as dry as any other weekend and ends habitually as dull as any other weekend night (for the past four weeks), I have come to [...
Bar Prep II ? Day 33
Posted on June 27, 2009Forced myself to sit down and outline the notes. It took the entire day and in between I took lots of breaks. Lots. Need to finish up the state section tomorrow. Gritting my teeth while doing this.
Bar Prep II ? Day 32
Posted on June 26, 2009Today’s civil practice lecture is so intense it is practically criminal. I finished doing some MBE’s but could not even bring myself to review the topic. Wish they had finished this topic early on.
Bar Prep II ? Day 31
Posted on June 25, 2009Result for Evidence is back. Definitely, DEFINITELY need to work on this paper, since I am clueless about how to set it up correctly. The good thing is that I have received a lot of good feedback. Pushing my limits to finish the MPT, I stayed behind to work on the homework assignment until I finished [...
Bar Prep II ? Day 30
Posted on June 24, 2009Another miserable day has passed. I cooped up for several hours (more than the alloted time allowed for the MPT) trying to feel my way around the maze of facts and fictional law. Somewhere between reading the UCC and fictional case law, my mind dozed off and I wasted a good hour writing down nonsense...
Bar Prep II ? Day 29
Posted on June 23, 2009Today I feel exhausted. I am not sure why I tire so easily, given that is not even close to my usual bedtime. Maybe today’s topic was too intense for me. Remedies seem more formidable than I remembered last year. Today’s Topics by Percentile Rank (best to worst): Evidence (84...
Bar Prep II ? Day 28
Posted on June 22, 2009Below is the highlight of today’s commute. It goes to illustrate how my perception of reality has been altered by bar prep. To establish a prima facie case of negligence, the plaintiff must show the following elements: 1) the defendant owed a duty to exercise the applicable standard of care; 2) the defendant breached such duty; [...
Bar Prep II ? Day 27
Posted on June 21, 2009Things could be better or worse, I suppose. Today I duly condensed the week’s lecture into concise format and worked on the essays for K and Crimes. I am still not done simulating the second essay, but I have been working on five essays since this afternoon and it feels like an actual simulation of [...
Bar Prep II ? Day 26
Posted on June 20, 2009Not feeling too good today. Slept for most of the afternoon. Tried to continue working on MBE’s but was not able to concentrate until late afternoon. Need to continue working on condensed outlines tomorrow and finishing up the essay outlines which I have been putting off...
Bar Prep II ? Day 25
Posted on June 19, 2009Too tied to work on essay outlines tonight. Instead focused on the MBE’s, which range from low to high, etc. Sick of studying for more than 7.5 hours. Need sleep.
Bar Prep II ? Day 24
Posted on June 18, 2009Feeling slightly sluggish today. My mind is not as alert after an intense outlining/reading session and 40 MBE questions. I am supposed to outline a few essays but I am not sure my brain can handle it tonight after studying for 7.5 hours today. I think I will call it a night and go to bed [...
Bar Prep II ? Day 23
Posted on June 17, 2009I sat down and began working on the multiple choice questions. The scores were all over the map because I worked on topic-specific areas as well as mixed questions. The only thing I could see is that Torts seem to be consistently high and I am doing better in Evidence...
Bar Prep II ? Day 22
Posted on June 16, 2009Today I worked mostly on the MBE questions. I score much better when I do the questions on paper than online, probably because on paper I could circle the words that jump out at me and I could draw little diagrams to remind me of the relationship between the parties...
Bar Prep II ? Day 21
Posted on June 15, 2009Today I left the classroom earlier than usual because I wanted to go home and rest. By time I arrived at home, I was took on the task of completing and grading the multiple choice questions. Then I tried to write the essay assignment. The stuff that came out made no sense...
Bar Prep II ? Day 20
Posted on June 14, 2009My arm is exhausted after working on two outlines and two simulated essays. Well, I did do one full simulation and the second one was more shorthand version than complete sentences because I just could not write anymore given today’s long typing session, coupled with frantic highlighting of multiple choice answers...
Bar Prep II ? Day 19
Posted on June 13, 2009Attending class six days a week is something that I was not expecting. I cannot remember if this was something I had to do last year or not, though it would be a moot point anyways. Sometimes I read what I did last year to help me pull through this. This might be a new [...
Bar Prep II ? Day 18
Posted on June 12, 2009Today’s lecture was dense. The lecturer was rushing a little bit and left little time for reflection. I finished condensing the notes and rushed straight to the multiple choice questions. The first set went alright, though the second set was not as good as the first set, even though I am still scoring within the [...
Bar Prep II ? Day 17
Posted on June 11, 2009We are heading knee deep into Evidence now. The waters of character evidence is treacherous with terms such as specific conduct and reputation witness. There are themes looming ever so ominously in the background: Hearsay Rule, direct/cross/redirect, and all kinds of terms I have sort of forgotten until today’s lecture rekindled my fond memories of [...
Bar Prep II ? Day 16
Posted on June 10, 2009MBE scores on the three subjects we have covered so far: Torts – 81.7% percentile Real Property – 51.3% percentile Con Law – 92.5% percentile Huh? I thought my scores for Real Property is pretty good given that the raw score is over 65%, which is supposedly above the passing score, unless other people bumped up the scale...
Bar Prep II ? Day 15
Posted on June 09, 2009Con Law lecture rocked, complete with geeky puns here and there. I would not have expected any less from E.C. anyhow. After the completion of the multiple choice practice problems, my confidence reached an all time high, and then swiftly plummeted after I got creamed by the essay questions on the same subject...
Bar Prep II ? Day 14
Posted on June 08, 2009Today the bar prep people reminded me that I need to look beyond practical matters and discuss every potential issue, even if it is unlikely that the plaintiff will ultimately prevail. In actual practice, expediency would call for preliminary assessment of non-issues, but for the purpose of the bar exam, even if half of the [...
Bar Prep II ? Day 13
Posted on June 07, 2009I feel rejuvenated and motivated! After a restful Saturday, I have condensed the notes for Property and Torts, reviewed them, and took several mini-quizzes. The rest of the afternoon and evening will be dedicated to finishing simulated essay and outline...
Bar Prep II ? Day 12
Posted on June 06, 2009I remember now. Last year, we had daily pep talk by bar prep, whereas here, we have no daily pep talk, which is kind of strange. There are a lot more state-specific materials for Vikingland Bar, including pre-formated outline (to make condensed notes easier)...
Bar Prep II ? Day 11
Posted on June 05, 2009I finished my homework and went ahead with the next problem set. Because the weekend is right around the corner, I find it easier to mix the workload so I can do whatever my mind is ready to do rather than going exactly by the assigned format. By the end of the weekend, the assignments [...
Bar Prep II ? Day 10
Posted on June 04, 2009The questions sets for Real Property is increasing in difficulty. I am still on track in comparison to the average, although I should have known that Restrain Against Alienation and Rules Against Perpetuities will apply whether the hypothetical stated it or not...
Bar Prep II ? Day 9
Posted on June 03, 2009I am satisfied with my Real Property multiple choice set today. Taking the time to dissect the questions and reading through the wrong answers really help me visualize the finer points of property law. The essay outline took some time to figure out. One of the things I need to work on is setting up [...
Bar Prep II ? Day 8
Posted on June 02, 2009I did not realize how tired I was until I count the hours I have (not) been sleeping. It is not that I have been studying non-stop, but rather I spend more time on commuting and even more time trying to fall asleep. Though I am somewhat anxious about going through the whole procedure again, [...
Bar Prep II ? Day 7
Posted on June 01, 2009Today we had property. I very much appreciate the mnemonic device provided by this particular lecturer, who laugh is highly contagious. Honestly, her positive energy is a major factor why none of us fell asleep studying for this topic. Of course, the fact I was chugging three quarts of tea may have contributed to the [...
Bar Prep II ? Day 6
Posted on May 31, 2009Reading the long outline for community property took up pretty much the whole day. It was tedious going through the fine points of law. I find it odd that there is very little discussion regarding the personal jurisdiction in disposition of community property...
Bart Prep II ? Day 5
Posted on May 30, 2009After correcting the long practice exam, I feel frustrated by the result. Ranking the better to worst subjects: Crim Law (> 65%) Con Law, Torts (> 65%) Evidence (<65%) Contracts, Property (<65%) Okay. If one thing is clear, it seems that Criminal Law and Torts are my two strongest subjects, whereas Evidence, Contract, Con Law are the two that has potential [...
Bar Prep II ? Day 4
Posted on May 29, 2009Yep, I still suck in Torts…and Property too. In the Hall of Shame (better to worst) for the mini-sets: Contracts, Evidence, Crim Law (three-way tie; > 65%) Con Law, Torts (64.7%) Real Property (58.8%) Now I am going to take the long test and figure out if this still holds true...
Bar Prep II ? Day 2
Posted on May 28, 2009Clearly experience does not repeat itself. Real property is by far the worst performance of the four out of subjects we have been tested so far, double the mistake of what I had made in Torts. The irony is that Torts was my worst subject last time around, and Real Property was one of my [...
Bar Prep II ? Day 3
Posted on May 28, 2009Today I am in intellectual hell. I thought the Con Law and Evidence were my strong suits until the results proved otherwise. Ouch! There is much to do in order to boost the scores. As I had suspected, I cannot return information from reading just the texts but need to actively learn from doing questions...
Bar Prep II ? Day 1
Posted on May 26, 2009Bar prep has decided to take up a five day preview, partly in competition with PMBR. I am all for it, even if I did waste $850 on PMBR materials and courses I will not attend due to schedule conflict. The preview involves rigorous five day cramming sessions for bar prep to demonstrate just how inadequately [...
No Man?s Island
Posted on May 25, 2009I have began unpacking some items and setting up a little place for summer bar review. The bar prep place was closed on the weekend, so I was not able to get a closer look inside. However, it looked just small enough to be a quaint little place. Today I had my last free day and [...
Plan of Attack
Posted on May 18, 2009I finally got around to taking a sneak peak of Cali bar exam after deliberately avoiding the topic for several months. The MBE topics will remain the same: Evidence, Criminal Law/Procedure, Constitutional Law, Real Property, Torts, and Contracts. Despite my desperate attempts last summer to learn Torts, I actually did not really retain permanent knowledge on [...
The Graduate
Posted on May 11, 2009I am in shock. After four years of long nights and no weekends off, I am officially done. Cometh June, I will have two post-Bac degrees and two very expensive diplomas. I rather not think about the loans for now, or the upcoming bar for that matter.
Learning to Relax
Posted on May 04, 2009I had planned to work for at least 25-30 hours per week for the next two weeks before I leave town for the summer. After sleeping 12 hours per night for the past five days, I have decided that it was probably my body’s way of hinting that I need to rest...
3/4th Over
Posted on April 24, 2009I survived the week of hell. Next week, I have another exam and paper, but I am not as stressed out about it even though it will be worth 45% of my grade. Even though it is raining outside, I am beaming inside. This afternoon I turned in the mini-thesis...
The Fly that Tips the Scale
Posted on April 15, 2009I am in a precarious position. On one hand, if I try really, really hard, I could graduate with super grades this semester. If I slip a little, I might end up with above average but not superior grades. This is a delicate situation and an emotional burden...
Recommended Bar Courses (LS Tidbits #14)
Posted on April 04, 2009When selecting courses for the second and third year, you should have a balanced combination of bar courses, clinics, writing classes, specialization courses, and fun classes. Bar courses are generally more competitive than other courses due to its popularity among law students...
The Waterhole
Posted on April 01, 2009The kitchen is one place in the office where just about every other person drops his/her guard. I am not sure if it is the comfort of having food around, or people think they are not actually “at work”, but if you want to find out if someone is having a bad day, having issues [...
The First Wave
Posted on March 27, 2009When I was a young intern, another attorney told me that once I become admitted, people will flock to me for legal advice. I did not think that was going to happen so soon, especially since I am new at this and have zero litigation experience. Today I received a real challenge...
Follow the Herd?NOT
Posted on March 17, 2009I was thinking about the good old days when I was a peachy 1L. It was first semester of law school and we were getting ready to take our first law school exam. Other than Marino’s essay prep, I had no clue what to expect. I was incredibly stressed out about having one exam determine [...
No Time for Spring Fling
Posted on March 16, 2009As a newly admitted attorney, I have been trying stay on top of things. I signed up for pro bono, looked a few CLE courses to take, and tried to get involved in community legal news. But as a poor graduate student, I have no money to attend the CLE courses, no time to follow [...
Going Pro (Bono, that is)
Posted on February 20, 2009Call me a masochist because I clearly need help. After complaining day in and day out about how busy I am, I signed-up for pro bono work this week. Although I will not be sworn in for a few more days, I want everything in order. There are several reasons why I would want to sign-up [...
Recommendations and Networking (LS Tidbits #13)
Posted on February 17, 2009Law school is not just about grades; it is also about networking. Even though the grading system is anonymous, be sure to build rapport with professors. Let your professor know which area of law interests you and ask for his or her input about future careers in this area of law...
Rianna-State v. Kris Braun
Posted on February 09, 2009Character names have been changed to protect the innocent. Ah, bless TMZ for brightening my day with yet another superb example for a “what-if” legal exercise. Who says gossip does not pay? How did you think I survived the bar exam? Here is the challenge to you legal beagles out there...
Roundtable Session on Career Plan
Posted on February 06, 2009At the present, I am in a dilemma. I want to practice health law, however, I also want to wet my feet in the area of elder law (e.g., estate planning, Social Security), disability, bankruptcy (for obvious reasons with the economy down the drain), regulatory law, and consumer laws (I had previously been exposed to [...
The Turning Pike
Posted on February 03, 2009So what else is new in my life? I have a name plate on the door of my office. I feel special. In less than one month I will be admitted into the bar. I am looking forward to adding that little three letters after my name. California Bar Examiners have already contacted more than 60% of the [...
Catch Me If You Can
Posted on February 02, 2009Just last month, I finally decided to take the California bar examination this summer. Despite the fact that I had already passed the Vikingland bar examination, which was reputed to be one of the most difficult in the states, I feel very nervous and scared about this particular examination...
First Amendment Strikes Again
Posted on February 01, 2009The thrust of my mini-thesis is examining the Commercial Speech Doctrine and determining its applicability to advertisements of products detrimental to public health. When I first took the Constitutional Law course, I thought the professor was going to spend a lot of time discussing the Bill of Rights...
Shiver Me Timbers!
Posted on January 28, 2009I probably killed an entire forest today, given that I printed out nearly an entire issue of law review for my research. However I had no other choice because the law library has a policy that this particular issue can only be read in the library and I was not about to starve myself in [...
A Game of Strategy and Blind Luck
Posted on January 27, 2009I have asked many professionals how they ended up in the career path. Some of them said they had always wanted to be in that particular profession, but many more people told me that it was pure chance. It was not the answer I had hoped for. By nature I am a planner and I do [...
Listen to the Engineer, Please!
Posted on January 26, 2009People, people. Please do not call me an attorney just yet. Until the day I am sworn in, I am just a law clerk, nothing more. My advice has as much legal weight as that of a pre-schooler’s opinion. Well, that was what I was telling my group when they cheered when I readily responded to [...
Licensing Checklist
Posted on January 25, 2009Here in Vikingland, it takes a really, really, really long time to become licensed. Assuming that one does get accepted to an ABA-approved law school, there are still many hurdles to go through. Take the MPRE (pay $50-60) and exceed the minimum passing score (varies by state)...
Unraveling the String
Posted on January 22, 2009Fresh Prince of Bel Air, modified: Now, this is a story all about how My life got turned upside down And I liked to take a minute Just sit right there I’ll tell you how I became the idiot of a town called Bel Air In November, my confidence reached an all time high because I passed the most important written exam I have ever [...
?and the Crowd Went ?Ooohh? and ?Ahhh?
Posted on January 20, 2009Today is a big day, with the inauguration and parade, and on, and on. I missed the event entirely. In fact, if not for the rumbly tummy, I would not even eaten anything for lunch. I am currently picking my brains out on how to tackle a tricky case. Normally I work on Plaintiff’s cases, but [...
Soon-to-be-Panhandler
Posted on January 19, 2009I am trying to save up some money to take the California Bar Exam this summer. The current estimate of the amount of money I need to save up is stunning. Below is a list of fees I have paid (and will have to pay) to prepare for practice in California: Registration as Law Student: $92 [...
Silver Fox Down, Silver Fox Down
Posted on January 12, 2009I promised a lot of things before I went on vacation. Well, promises are about to be delayed for an indefinite amount of period. Sorry folks. I did not count on having my computer fall apart during winter break and enduring a week-long training as part of the fellowship...
Preface: Let?s Talk Budget
Posted on December 09, 2008I am currently working on a post that will list various costs associated with law school. However, this project is currently on hold while I prepare for the finals, so it will probably be posted later this month. Have a question related to this post? Feel free to leave a comment and I will [...
I Could Do Without the Talking
Posted on December 08, 2008I was ready to take the second examination of the day when a few of the classmates decided to “share” their answers from the earlier examination. My pet peeve: people declaring what they deem to be the “correct” answer right before another examination...
Hats Off for Legal Analysis (LS Tidbits #12)
Posted on December 02, 2008One of the most important skills to have as an attorney is applying legal analysis. Unfortunately, you will only catch a few glimpses in the appellate cases assigned in your casebooks. From time to time the judge may summarize the main arguments presented by each party, but this does not really provide the full picture [...
Juggling Plan
Posted on November 26, 2008Lessons from this semester: Overworking is bad for mental and physical health. Having extra pocket cash is good, but be careful about overspending. Having extra time between classes and work is good. Changes for next semester: Cook healthier meals...
Timid Jane
Posted on November 25, 2008Big Boss is hardly an austere person and I was not at least bit shy during our interview a few months ago. Then something strange happened between the month of August and October: I became rather shy in front of Big Boss. The ridiculousness of the situation has extended to the present, when everyone in the [...
Caution: Law Students & Exams (LS Tidbits #11)
Posted on November 24, 2008With the final exams fast approaching, I thought I might offer a few words of encouragement. Studying is a personal experience. Do what works for you. Avoid places where other law students gather. (e.g. law library and other popular hangouts). Walk away when other law students brag about their outlines and how hard they are studying...
Practical Approach to Studying (LS Tidbits #10)
Posted on November 20, 2008Before you rush into making a super outline, anticipate what the exam format. A closed-book exam requires a simple, blackletter law outline that you can readily memorize in your head. An open-book exam might require an more extensive outline with case holding keyed to a particular issue, and cross-referenced with a Table of Content organized [...
Act II: (Almost) Lawyer in Training
Posted on November 20, 2008Many thanks for those who sent their congratulations. I am super excited and cannot wait to be sworn in. Working at the law office has opened my eyes about what private practice is like. Plastered on my wall are cases with impending Statutes of Limitations...
The Sweetest Word
Posted on November 18, 2008“You Passed!” My boss squealed in delight. I was speechless. Absolutely stunned. Then, to my own amazement, I cried. Sure, there were many reasons for tearing up. For one, the tension was building up for the past three months and it felt great just getting the weight lifted off my shoulders...
Long Journey to the Bar Exam Result
Posted on November 16, 2008I bet you are curious about the bar exam result. The truth of the matter was I was not in the least bit inclined to find out about my result, in part because I somehow convinced myself that I had failed the bar exam. For the past few weeks I have kept myself deliberately ignorant [...
Please Leave a Message ? Beep!
Posted on November 03, 2008At first, I was busy with setting up my mini-Masters thesis. Then, I was working on federal job applications (long shot, but hey, why not try). After that, I was busy with work (Complaints to be filed before SOL run). Then, I was knocked out by a nasty combination of cold+allergy+exhaustion+midterms galore...
Advocating Between the Lines
Posted on October 20, 2008Some of the most important words are not necessarily written, but illustrated between the lines. The strongest advocates I have encountered are those who are able to paint a sympathetic picture of their client, and not necessarily those with best technical arguments Judges are humans after all...
Resource for Writing a Legal Memo (LS Tidbits #9)
Posted on October 06, 2008In Tidbit #7, I provided a few tips for organizing cases. However, a legal memo is very technical and requires a very logical structure. If you are having trouble conceptualizing how the final product ought to look like, I would suggest checking out a book titled Just Memos: (Legal Research and Writing), written by Laurel Oates and Anne Enquist...
Blawg Tag ? You?re It!
Posted on October 03, 2008I apologize for the lack of update. It has been a busy month filled with work, quizzes, and extracurricular activities. Who knew post-law school life could be this busy? Without boring you with details of what I have been doing, I will get straight to the point...
Debriefing on Briefing (LS Tidbits #8)
Posted on September 18, 2008Do not confuse briefing with a brief. The former is a study method used in law school and the latter is a legal document presented to a court of law. First year law students are encouraged to “brief” a case, that is, to identify the relevant facts, the legal issue, the rule of law (the holding), [...
Drafting a Legal Memo (LS Tidbits #7)
Posted on September 17, 2008First, a quick disclaimer: This is a suggested guide for a law school memo. In practice, legal memo format vary from firm to firm. Before drafting a memo, do a quick outline denoting key issue(s) and relevant cases (with cites) that support or weakens the case...
Law Class Outline (LS Tidbits #6)
Posted on September 08, 2008If you are a 1L, your professor probably expects you to write down the legally significant facts, issue, legal rules, and holding of each case. But in preparation for the final exam, which may either be open book or closed book, a detailed case brief will only slow you down...
The Numerical Carousel
Posted on September 07, 2008This semester is loaded with numbers. It is a dramatic transition from last semester’s courses (a mixture of legal and health administration courses). I am not much of a numbers fan. Therefore, I must say I am not enjoying the homework, class-exercises, quizzes, and projects involving applied statistics...
The Real Thing
Posted on September 02, 2008What a week it has been. I have survived my first week of school, accepted a fellowship, and accepted a law clerk position at a local law office. The first day of work went very well. Everyone greeted me with a smile, and I have a great vibe about the place...
Salary Negotiation
Posted on August 26, 2008Due to my unique status as a law graduate who is also a graduate student, I am unable to work full-time (plus the fact I am still waiting for the dreaded bar exam results). Up until today I have never given a thought as to what I am really worth, particularly because my previous summer [...
Back to School Blues
Posted on August 21, 2008There was a screaming child in every aisle. Suddenly I remembered why I only come to Wallmart twice a year. There were two options: I could grab the nearest Hannah Montana folder and get the hell out of there, or I could try to block out the noise and grab something more sensible...
Brain Juice
Posted on August 11, 2008I need to recharge my brain. It has been nearly two weeks since I took the-exam-that-shall-not-be-named yet I still cannot write a non-legal letter without feeling like a complete idiot. Sorry for the sparse posting.
LS Tidbits #5
Posted on August 08, 2008The First Impression First impression is especially important in law school. Your reputation begins to form on the first day of orientation. Once it sticks, most people will know you as “the kid who snorts when s/he laughs” or “the desperate girl” or “the guy who has a drinking problem...
Law School Tidbits #4
Posted on August 07, 2008The Art of Asking Questions The first month of law school is a precarious time. It is around this time that one’s reputation is formed. How do you ask genuine questions without being labeled as a “gunner”? In law school, a “gunner” is usually someone who asks a rhetorical question for the sake of showing off his/her [...
Bar Prep - Day 28
Posted on June 15, 2008It was a dark, stormy night. I wished that the terrible thunders would cease so my notes would not end in little squiggles every time my room shakes. They did not and continued noisily for several hours. With a sigh I gave up on writing by hand and typed instead...
Bar Prep - Day 27
Posted on June 14, 2008Finished the Friday assignment. Have not started the weekend assignment yet. Giving self a generous break today. Tomorrow, work will resume.
Bar Prep - Day 26
Posted on June 13, 2008Every day we get a little pep talk from bar prep. We are told that things will make sense and that we just follow the schedule and do what we can and eventually our brain will absorb the information. Bar prep representatives are awfully optimistic that we are right on track and it is still [...
Bar Prep - Day 25
Posted on June 12, 2008I am beat. Not the “up” kind, but more like the “down” kind. My energy level dropped down to zero this morning, when my head plummeted right into the books. Although the hand kept writing the stuff down, there was no thought process involved...
Bar Prep - Day 24
Posted on June 11, 2008Today things are chugging along as I finished outlining for different subjects when WHAM! In the middle of the second essay I ran out of steam. There were more reading and essays to go but I simply could not get around it. I took the rest of the night off...
Bar Prep - Day 23
Posted on June 11, 2008I read a bit faster now, and take breaks in between the tasks. Today I nearly fell asleep due to afternoon slump. With all the rain and thunderstorm, I should have been wide awake, but the body refused to cooperate without some type of treat. After ingesting tons and tons of sugar, my body picked [...
Bar Prep - Day 22
Posted on June 10, 2008When I was a 1L, I often wondered why the professor kept talking about “season” this and “season” that. Since the Property professor never wrote anything down on the board, it never occurred to me that “season” is in fact, “seisin”...
Bar Prep - Day 23
Posted on June 10, 2008I read a bit faster now, and take breaks in between the tasks. Today I nearly fell asleep due to afternoon slump. With all the rain and thunderstorm, I should have been wide awake, but the body refused to cooperate without some type of treat. After ingesting tons and tons of sugar, my body picked [...
Three-Week Reflection About Bar Prep
Posted on June 08, 2008Week 1: Overwhelmed by double-booked lectures. Did not realize there were homework assigned over the weekend. Did not appropriate the schedule well. Week 2: Major panic. Fell behind. Found out there were homework assigned over the weekend. MORE panic ensued...
Bar Prep - Day 21
Posted on June 08, 2008When I was a 2L, I have received conflicting advice from people about whether to take bar classes or not. Bar classes are subjects tested on the bar exam. Most people take their bar classes during the first year required curriculum: Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, Property, Torts, Civil Procedure, and Contracts...
Bar Prep - Day 20
Posted on June 07, 2008I can feel it. The stress level has kicked up a notch for people around me. For the past two weeks, I thought I was the only person going insane with studying. Now it seems like everyone I have talked to have fallen behind their work. Somehow I have been on top of the homework assignments, [...
Bar Prep - Day 19
Posted on June 06, 2008Law school taught me how to weave black letter laws into a supernova. By contrast, bar prep teaches me to condense a supernova into a dwarf star (Death Star). It takes time to adjust to the reverse. All the classes are still filled and people seem very motivated about staying on top of things and catching [...
Bar Prep - Day 18
Posted on June 05, 2008Today I picked up the phone and called Bar Prep. After whining for 15 minutes, I felt a little less stressed and even managed to condense my notes in half the time of which it usually takes me. Bar prep told me that I should give myself time to adjust to the workflow and take [...
Bar Prep - Day 17
Posted on June 04, 2008Today’s assigned reading is a classic case of legalese diarrhea. If I were a scholar in Old English, I would have been thrilled. I am not. Nor was I jumping up and down in joy while reading about recording statutes and mortgages. Thank goodness I have taken Secured Transactions before, else I would spend more [...
Bar Prep - Day 16
Posted on June 03, 2008This is one bitter 16th day that started out well and ended in defeat. I paced myself with the reading and reviewing lecture notes. And then I started faltering in the essays. Ouch. Since I have never taken a course in Corporations before, I failed to spot the issues because I could not spot the [...
Bar Prep - Day 15
Posted on June 02, 2008Sometimes I like to run with weights for the sake of toughing myself. The past weekend, however, represents an unintentional mental torture caused by my inability to comprehend directions. As it turns out, I was only supposed to outline all eight essays...
Bar Prep - Day 14
Posted on June 01, 2008Last night my muscle turned so stiff and achy I could not fall asleep until nearly 6 this morning. Around noon I groggily slithered out of the bed and fell onto the floor. Eventually I crawled into the shower and the warm water melted some stiffness somewhat...
Bar Prep - Day 13
Posted on May 31, 2008Last night I slept blissfully for nine hours. I felt like a million bucks when I woke up, refreshed and ready to tackle some problems, that is, after lunch that consisted of mint chocolate chip ice cream and diet tea, and an hour of work out. After lunch and work out, my energy level shot up [...
Bar Prep - Day 12
Posted on May 30, 2008Ever since bar review began, I have been steering clear of rumors and unsolicited advice from blawgs. Because I have gathered most of the bar exam information prior to May, looking at what other people are doing (or has said) will probably create more doubts about what I am currently doing...
Comparisons of LSAT, Law School Exams, and Bar Exam
Posted on May 30, 2008Finally, a non-bar prep post — well, at least the topic of bar prep is less significant. When I first took the LSAT, I did not really see how it was relevant to the practice of law. The LSAT did not test on the subject of law. In fact, the exam (pre-2007) did not even [...
Bar Prep - Day 11
Posted on May 29, 2008Today things took a turn for better. I am still tired, mentally and physically, but at least I am starting to see how the study load will be manageable. The purpose of the bar prep seem to be combination of memorizing the most frequently tested substantive law, and applying test strategies for formats such as [...
Bar Pre - Day 10
Posted on May 28, 2008On the way home from class, I bumped into a classmate. S/he seemed calm and awake. I asked him/her what is the secret for staying so serene. S/he replied that “don’t think about the big picture. Just take it one day at a time.” I know about this philosophy...
Bar Prep - Day 9
Posted on May 27, 2008Studying for the bar is 300x harder than studying for law school exams because there does to seem to be an end in sight. For law school exam period, you know it will be over within 2-3 weeks (and you can do a countdown of each exam you have taken). But with the bar prep, [...
Bar Prep - Day 8
Posted on May 26, 2008Spent Memorial Day doing questions and memorizing Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure.
Bar Prep - Day 6
Posted on May 24, 2008Study Strategy: 1. Memorize definitions for torts and crimes. 2. Study rules for property and contract and improve reading speed. 3. Memorize flow-charts for Evidence and Criminal Procedure. 4. Memorize the rules for Con Law. I am increasingly concerned about developing the essay for the MBE essay questions...
Bar Prep - Day 5
Posted on May 23, 2008Itai, itai. Prior to bar prep, one of my strongest MBE subjects was Crim Law/Crim Pro, or so I thought. Today I was utterly crushed by the result, which fell far below even the dreaded Property question set. If there is any relief to today’s utter failure, the lecturer assured us that the test subjects given [...
Bar Prep - Day 4
Posted on May 22, 2008It is only the 4th day but 2/3 of the people have bailed class. I have completed the assignments but have not even come close to condensing the lecture notes from the past few days. This weekend is make-up time.
Bar Prep - Day 3
Posted on May 21, 2008Today marks the 27 hours I have spent in bar prep courses for the past three days. I am tired physically, but my brain is doing okay. I have not had time to condense my notes yet since there is a very short break between classes. Hopefully over the weekend I will have a chance [...
Bar Prep - Day 2
Posted on May 20, 2008There are a lot of information to memorize. My priority right now is to organize and get used to the test-taking strategies.
Rapid Transition
Posted on May 19, 2008I had very little time to enjoy the afterglow of graduation before I was shoved into the PMBR program. Tonight I received the 10th book for bar review. If I stack up all of my bar review books, it will be about 1/3 of my height. Ouch. There is very little time to [...
The Last Law School Exam*
Posted on May 14, 2008*Lest one day I decide to go back for more (e.g., L.L.M., etc.) With great relief, I am pleased to announce that I am DONE with the LAST law school exam. It was hard waiting the day of the exam to arrive, but the exam itself was even harder than expected...
Strongman Maneuver
Posted on May 13, 2008Although it has only been days since the last update, it sure feels like years. I stayed up until wee hours of the morning working on part of the last final (take home portion). After careful editing, the six page paper ballooned into a twelve-page monster...
The Anti-Strategy
Posted on May 09, 2008To reduce the level of stress this year during the exam period, I have decided to continue with my daily activities: work, exercising, eating, sleeping. I have tried to cut down my study hours. Yes, you have read it correctly. I have been staying away from the books...
Just One More
Posted on May 07, 2008One more exam and it will be all over. For the past few days I have been studying and working. I find it difficult to study for the closed-book exams for health classes because there are over 500 pages of facts that could appear in the test, and over 30 chemical compounds I need [...
Closing the Loop
Posted on May 02, 2008Today is the last day of law school. As I wandered around the empty building, my back seemed to weigh more and more. It is not quite time to sell my law books yet, at least not after my last final exam is finished. I still have Westlaw print outs littering my [...
What Comes Around, Goes Around
Posted on May 01, 2008Law school is a miniature scale of the professional network. What you say or do will impress upon your peers and potential employers starting day one. This means that you should watch what you say and what you do to anyone at anytime, anywhere. You want to keep your reputation pristine and [...
Tick, Tock, Hiccup
Posted on May 01, 2008There were several classes that struck fear in my heart just by their title alone. Secured Transaction was one. Advanced Civil Procedure and Civil Practice were the other two. This semester, the winning course is Wills, Trusts, and Estates. As much as I enjoyed the Property class during my first year, there were [...
Preparing for the Exams
Posted on April 28, 2008Ding, dong, exam time is here. This is the sixth round of law school exams for me. I guess that would make me a law exam veteran, would it not? There are lots of ways you could study for exams. Some people prefer Crunch Time. Others prefer Law Summaries...
Tickle Me in the Right Places
Posted on April 21, 2008I went to Westlaw training. I was seduced. At the end of the training, not only did I receive 500 points, I also received a nice practice handbook. In addition to the lovely perks, I learned how to “save” money for a hypothetical firm. Did I ever mention how much I like to “save” money? [...
Mark of a Warrior
Posted on April 17, 2008I was registering for an event at the SBA office and was about to identify myself when the law student in charge of the event said, “You are a 3L, right?” The charge surprised me, especially since I do not know this particular law student, and I do not spend enough time around law school [...
Distinguishing Between Law and Policy
Posted on April 06, 2008As an 1L, there were several questions that puzzled me. One of them is the role of policy and why it is not effective legal reasoning. I did not understand why substantive law professors constantly asked about the underlying policy of a law, but research and writing professors constantly told us students not to use [...
The ABC?s of Law School
Posted on April 02, 2008When you are in law school, you will hear all kinds of acronyms. Here is a quick breakdown of what they stand for. ABA: The American Bar Association. BarBri: It is one of the major bar examination preparation course. Basic service includes preparing for the MBE (multiple choice questions), state specific questions (multiple choice questions), and essay [...
Demystifying the MPRE
Posted on April 01, 2008Some time this week, the result for the March 2008 Multi-state Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) will be released. You will hear sighs of relief and grumbling in law school. Most people not in the legal profession have the impression that the MPRE measures personal and professional ethics...
Bar Prep Supplies, Part I
Posted on March 18, 2008I am putting together a list of things I am going to buy for the Bar prep. I prefer to get them out of the way before finals hit. Here is what I have so far: Pens (black, blue, red, green) White-outs (lots and lots, probably a dozen or more) Wide-Rule Paper (probably 1,000 sheets or more) Highliters (will [...
Chapter 8: Le Divorce
Posted on March 14, 2008I am still me. Two eyes, two ears, one nose, one mouth. There are some changes, of course. My sleep pattern adjusts to the workload. Writing on demand is not an issue, although grumbling still is. How predictable. So then, what has changed? For one thing, my rationality is divorced from my gut feelings...
Law School Progress, In a Nutshell
Posted on March 05, 2008For 0L’s and 1L’s who are curious about life (or lack of) ahead, here is the general progression of law school.First Year DURING SCHOOL YEAR Take your basic law courses (Contracts, Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, Torts, Federal Civil Procedures, Research and Writing) If you are taking the California bar exam, be sure to register within 90 days (starting [...
It?s Simple, Really
Posted on March 05, 2008You want to know what we can do to reduce the escalating rate of health care expenditure? Yes, the $2.2 trillion constituting 16% of our GDP…Two Points- Preventive public health measures cost just a fraction of clinical medicine, yet the annual budget for public health prevention is less than 5%...
For 0L?s and 1L?s
Posted on March 05, 2008Just thought you might be interested — here is a quick and rough guide to law school.Disclaimer: One size does not fit all.
Marching?onward?
Posted on March 03, 2008It is time for spring vacation. I have worked hard last semester and the beginning of this semester. Even though I am aware that after I get a “real” job, I will not be able to take long stretches of breaks (in the form of spring break, winter break, summer vacation), I am looking forward [...
Passion! Not Poisson!
Posted on February 25, 2008It has been nearly 1-1/2 months since I began the externship. I have been humbled by the complexity of the health care organization and I certainly have learned a lot about decision-making process. On top of this newfound knowledge, I really enjoy working with the people there - cordial, dedicated, smart as whip...
Ready, Get Set?
Posted on February 24, 2008I am a slow learner. My brain requires repeated exposure to information until it clicks. Eventually. I hope. Thus, even though it is February, I am getting ready for the bar. This means spending the weekend doing the accelerated bar prep, and working on the MBE questions...
Dinner Notes
Posted on February 22, 2008Don’t read pesticide regulations when eating a big bowl of salad.
Say??Attorney?s FEE?
Posted on February 18, 2008I wiggled uncomfortably on the wooden stool. Did I have lipstick stuck on my teeth? Did my mascara smear? I had painted several layers of foundation on my face (enough to paint the Coliseum) and sprayed enough hair spray to wipe out an entire ant colony...
What I Learned (Could Have, Did Not) in Law School
Posted on February 14, 2008What I learned in law school Appellate brief, procedure, research Legal memorandum Blackletter law for Property, Constitutional Law, Contract, Torts, Criminal Law Statutory courses (health, employment) Common law and codes (criminal procedure, civil procedure, UCC/secured transactions) Ethics What I didn’t learn in law school (mostly practical skills) Interactive skills: client screening, interview Investigative skills Billing and fees Trial procedure & techniques, discovery process, filing procedure, deposition Writing [...
Risk Assessment in Law School
Posted on February 10, 2008It is tough making the call: what you can put off, and what you can’t; which points you can sacrifice, and which ones you can’t.Although you should always strive to do your best and manage your time wisely, there may come to be a point where you simply can’t...
Up the Ladder
Posted on February 05, 2008This is the beginning of the end of law school. First, there are things to pay. $56 rental fee for cap and gown. $2500 for Bar/Bri balance. $899 for the 6-day PMBR course + materials. $25* for senior portrait. …and an unknown amount to pay for bar registration...
The Importance of Conflict Resolution
Posted on January 29, 2008Having been deeply involved in thinking like a law student (and sometimes like a lawyer), I seemed to have lost touch in conflict resolution. Initially, I thought it was because I have been a law student too long, but as it turns out, this is not the case...
Student Organizations
Posted on January 26, 2008Should you run for a student organization board position? There are definite pros and cons. Look at who is running and how likely they are to succeed in winning the election. Do you think you would be able to work together? Do you share similar visions? Organizations face the risk of falling [...
Sneaky Jab
Posted on January 25, 2008LexisNexis Fact or Fiction: “Your client is a high profile defendant charged with armed robbery of a memorabilia dealer.” Somehow the alphabets “O” and “J” come to mind.
Agree to Disagree
Posted on January 21, 2008I met a health law attorney. Not surprisingly, we ended up talking about health care. We disagreed on every single point. After talking for forty minutes, it became painfully clear that we would never agree on any of the issues. I began to wonder if I knew too little to be arguing with an experienced [...
But Wait, There?s Still Hope!
Posted on January 16, 2008The American health care is broken. Utterly broken. It’s not much of a system, but bits and pieces taped together by piecemeal legislations. I came into the health care program feeling quite hopeful that I could help solve this problem. A few years down the line, I’m not feeling so optimistic...
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Can I return an entire lot of merchandise is some of the items were not as advertised?
Since they were specified as leather, you do have a case - however, your best fi...
I had an account with GEMB/Select Comfort to buy a new bed back in 2005. After paying it off (in 2006), I requested they close the account. In January of 2008, I declared bankruptcy (chapter 7). The creditor was NOT list
if you did pay it off before the bankruptcy and it wasn't listed as a accou...
What rights does a father have when a woman waits 13 years to tell a man he is a father & he missed out on the growing up of that child?
Actually, he has as much right as she to request a paternity test, plus he can f...
I work for a company that is owned and operated by Spanish people. There is only 3 people in the whole company including me who are Caucasian. The female who is supposed to be training me is "latino" and treats me very r
Is it an actual issue or are you making it an issue? It is understandable you fe...
How to get a used car dealer to honor warranty for repairs required two weeks after purchase?
What was the defect? Rust? A hole? Bad converter? Broken hangers? If it was rust...
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