Monday, December 17, 2007

To Exiled from the Book of Bootstraps Verses 1-12

Im going to write this post to AggieInExile (Exiled) in a style like Paul wrote to the Corinthians...(Im not an apostle, but I dig the beards..ANYWAY)

To Exiled:Having talked to you reminded me, well perhaps articulated many of the feelings that one goes through when progressing through law school.Most notably is the feeling that your life is on hold while your friends lives are not. This feeling sadly to say only intensifies as the years in law school continue. Friends and family have received jobs, make money, have girlfriends fiances or wives, take trips, drink with other friends who are doing the same thing, have hobbies, are involved in the community. Though it makes you smile when you hear the stories there is a part of you that is a little jealous as your torts book jumps into your arms like an attention starved kitten.

What is even worse is when you get to taste some of this life when you go home just to have it ripped back when you check your bags at the airport or turn the key on in your car.But Exiled, as I tell myself everyday, this is all a means to an end. This alternate reality, this limbo of not a college kid but not quite an adult, this hell is to become one thing......To be an Attorney.

A great Torts professor once asked us if anybody new what Attorney actually meant. None of us knew, or were brave enough to say anything. It is from the French word At-or-ney, which means "Someone to Turn To". Take a second to think about what that actually means. Counselor.

Not to say the life in law school cannot be entertaining, as our blogs have shown it most definitely is. But law schools are still crammed with people just like us in the same limbo.

Friday, December 14, 2007

I Could Take 29...How many Can you take

How many 5 year olds can you beat the shit out of?
http://www.howmanyfiveyearoldscouldyoutakeinafight.com/

Thursday, December 13, 2007

Take Heart 1Ls

This is the week that you have been dreading since you first sent in your acceptance letter to attend law school. You have seen the paper chase and have read 1L (scott turrow). You have read Law School Confidential and have talked to many older law students. This as you now know...doesn't help.

Law school exams are like the matrix....You can't be told what it is like, but you must see it for yourself. This is a moment that you will be able to say...."Before that, and after that" in terms of your law school career and maybe farther.

In the words of the 3L RA in the Paper Chase, "everything they tell you about grades is true".

Well, sadly it is...but you know what? Its ok.

Some people were meant to work for BigLaw. Some were meant to blindley follow the man. Some were meant to become great plaintiffs lawyers some were meant to work solo practioners. Some were meant to work insurance defense.

It is difficult to grasp this right now 1L's, and honestly I still wrestle with it.

But know that the top 10% is precisely that. The top 10%. Not everybody can be in the top 10 % or it would be the top 100%.

So if you don't do as well as you had hoped this first round...keep your chin up. Though you may not be the managing partner at Cravath, Swaine and Moore, you can still be a damn fine attorney. You just wont feel that way till after your top 10 counter parts are passively rubbing it in your face that they summer with 3 different firms.

Realize how far up the academic mountain you have come. Though most law students only look up where they want to go, I encourage you to look down and see how far you have come. You may feel a little better. You may actually feel a little smart once again. (which of course you are)

So basically what I am saying is. Fuck It. Get the tests done, go get drunk, let the cards fall where they may and see where you come out.

Somebody pass me a Martini

Because damn, Finals as a 3L are the only way to go. I have 3 finals. 2 of which are substantive law the other is Trail Advocacy, all evenly spaced a week apart...Glorious!

I have not had a legit freak out yet, and I've already taken 2 of the finals!

To all the 1L's, I highly recommend this approach to law school.

So when you have accepted a job, only taking 2 substantive law courses, and basically all you care about is keeping your same GPA, then law school becomes moderately enjoyable.

Something to look forward to.

Wednesday, December 05, 2007

A little humor for finals time