Friday, May 29, 2009

Best Law School Advice Ever!

So I have had a lot of time on my hands lately. I am done with school for the summer and I have no job so I have to find a lot of things to keep myself occupied. One of the things that I have began doing is looking for all things law school related. I have been finding law blogs, reading books, watching movies; anything that I can find to give me some sort of insight into how my first year will go.

I have read plenty of books and (I know it's a little late) I just borrowed The Paper Chase from the public library. But today after I finished watching The Paper Chase I turned my television back to the t.v. mode and did something out of the ordinary for me. I began to watch a movie that was already in progress. (I hate getting that feeling that I have missed something so I usually don't watch a movie unless I catch it from the beginning.)

The movie that I dropped into was Penelope. This is a movie starring Christina Ricci and she has been "cursed" with the nose of a pig. As a result of this "curse" Penelope's mother and father make the decision to keep her locked up on the family's estate to "protect" her from the harsh reality and criticisms of others. Now I know at this point you're probably saying, "And what does this have to do with law school?" Well this story was written as a fable and every fable has to have a moral and I believe that this one is applicable to everyone, but it really hit home. "It's not the power of the curse, it's the power that you give the curse."

I think that quote just satisfied what I have been blindly searching for these past weeks. I wanted something to quell my fears of everything that I have heard about the first year. It's amazing that what I needed was to not do what I had been doing. By looking for any and all information that I could find I was simply feeding into the idea that law school will be hard. I mean I know it will be hard, but as long as I try my best and make sure that I keep a balance it will be bearable. I will be able to do my best (my personal best, not my best compared to 299 others). I will get through this with what little sanity that I have left intact (I did go to an all girls Catholic high school so the mere fact that I have any sanity left is a miracle).

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

At the Red House...

So I try and stay up on a good majority of the stupid things that happen in today's world because you never know when you're going to have the ability to bond with someone over your hate for Dealin' Doug commercials (which are HORRIBLE by the way). But I have found one that just causes me to be tickled pink. At the Red House they have furniture for Black people and White people (and "Hispanick" people too). I know I should probably be offended and it is probably not the most politically correct way to get their point across, but they honestly don't seem to have any ill intentions.

Best Line: I like pumping iron and pumping furniture...into people's homes.

Saturday, May 23, 2009

GRADUATION!

So I graduate today. I am nervous and I don't even know why.I did my speaking piece yesterday and all I have to do today is walk across a stage (in 3 1/2 inch heels, but I spent all day including running around DIA in four inch heels and trust me when I say that that floor is not the best for stilettos) and not trip. I don't get my diploma today which sucks, but I guess they have to tabulate grades and make sure I've actually graduated and am not missing a class or something, but whatever. After today I WILL BE A COLLEGE GRADUATE!

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Book Post

So being the crazy, neurotic type of person that I am I have been doing some researching and have come up with some books and stuff that I want to read or have read. So if anyone is reading this blog feel free to chime in about the usefuleness or effectiveness of the books or any suggestions for future reading (I do have an entire summer).

Books I've Read*
  • One L by Scott Turow
  • Law School Confidential by Robert Miller
  • The Insider's Guide to your First Year at Law School by Justin Spizman
  • Planet Law School by Atticus Falcon
  • Planet Law School II by Atticus Falcon
  • Bridging the Gap Between College and Law School by Ruta Stropus
  • Staring Off Right in Law School by Carolyn Nygren

Books I Want To Read

  • Getting to Maybe by Richard Fischl
  • The Legal Experience: Law, Legal Reasoning, and Lawyering by Lissa Griffin
  • May It Please the Court! by Leonard Rivkin
  • A Woman's Guide to Law School by Linda Hirshman
  • The African American Law School Survival Guide: Information, Advice and Strategies to Prepare You for the Challenges of the Law School Experience by Evangeline Mitchell
  • Acing Your First Year of Law School: The Ten Steps to Success You Won't Learn in Class by Shana Noyes
  • Broken Contract: A Memoir of Harvard Law School by Richard Kalenberg
  • Black's Law: A Criminal Lawyer Reveals His Defense Strategies in Four Cliffhanger Cases by Roy Black
  • Brush with the Law: The True Story of Law School at Harvard and Princeton by Jaime Marquart
  • Ivy Briefs: True Tales of a Neurotic Law Student by Martha Kimes

*Okay so there were some that I got, thumbed through, and decided not to waste my time (Planet Law School I and II I am talking about you!)

Saturday, May 9, 2009

Random Thoughts

Just registered for a summer preview week that will either semi-pseudo prepare me for what is about to come or send me screaming down Iliff. So for a nominal ($460) fee I am allowed to take this chance. Now mind you this means that I start the law school grind two weeks before my actual first day of class. Am I crazy*? By legal standards I think I am perfectly sane. (Plus sanity is relative.)

This is why I mute commercials: "Crazy ladies late night snacking. Let's go buy some eggs and...boil them." Really is this supposed to lure me to Sonic to buy something that is probably quadruple the daily recommended caloric intake. Although the ladies are better than those guys so I guess it's an improvement.

Oh and go Nuggets. 106-105. (I am not naive enough to believe that the Mavs will let them sweep them.)

*Feel free to chime in at any time with a "no you're not crazy. you just wanna be prepared."

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

A Whole New Set of Troubles

So when I got the email about the admitted students blog I thought what a great idea. I'll get to feel some people out and see if there is anyone who I might want to stay away from as I progress. (I mean I want some friends who are driven, but I don't want that 'let's go hide the book that 75% of the class needs' type) But now by participating in this thing a whole new set of troubles are beginning to crop up. I now find myself checking it incessantly to see what's going on. (Like missing out on the "let's share a U-Haul. you're from (insert your city here) let's hook up and be best friends" will really affect me during the school year)

Side Note: I don't particularly think that a message board, a flurry of emails, or even a quick meeting is enough to know if that person is compatible enough to be your roommate. Plus from what I have been reading (and a lot of this is coming from One L by Scott Turow (a must read for anyone))I think it would be best to live with a non student. Just think about it, if I am going to be turned into this neurotic, legal vocab spewing, live on energy drinks and fumes type of person why would I want to subject myself to living with someone equally or perhaps crazier than me? (Sorry gotta work on keeping the side notes short and sweet and not getting off on tangents)

But back to the message board (and the Facebook page), I constantly find myself wanting to participate and interact with the people that I will have to spend countless hours, days, weeks with in the near future but... I am consistently second guessing myself. What do I want to say? Is that the best way to say it? Will I sound like a pretentious know-it-all. I don't want to be 'that girl' in class, but I need to get over it.

On an unrelated note though, I want my damn schedule and book list so that I can get my stuff and at least have looked at it. Let's be honest I am scared sh**less. I am a complete dork and I found the master schedule on the school's website and I could have classes as early as 8:30 in the morning! And after four years of two hour classes and no classes on Friday I will have to get reacquainted with 75 minute classes and classes on Friday's. Now one of those things sounds better than the other. You guess which one. Arrugh! I have to get over this neurosis!

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

My First Blog

So after a long and arduous process I was able to apply to the law schools I wanted and agonized waiting for a decision. I learned I got into both (Now I know what you're saying here. She only applied to two schools! What the frak is wrong with her? But I knew where I wanted to be and there were only two schools.) I made my decision and put down my $600 to reserve my spot and now I am on my way. There is a message board that showed me that there are other neurotic people out there who start things waaaay to early just like me. It is so refreshing to know that I am not alone. But now what do I do. I am reaching out to lawyers I know for advice, but this is one of those "you don't know until you experience it" type of experiences. What if I can't hack it (TIP could he just needed some more ratchets (sorry inside joke)). But seriously, this will be a way for me to document my struggles and who knows, maybe I can help someone else in addition to helping myself. It's gonna be a crazy ride and I am gonna see it through 'til the end.
 
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