Dear god this stuff has become so sophisticated. What ever happened to bluebooks? The Exam software we individually upload on our laptops ends up taking 90% of the "fun" part out of the exam. I mean, how stressed can you really get when you're sitting there clicking away on your own laptop? And there's a countdown timer, it auto-saves, it will give you reminders when time is running out... Pretty much it's dummy proof. I am somewhat sad, because where am I going to find my humor now?? I can't laugh at everyone! Nor will my hand be cramping every 5 min during finals. And it auto-formats your font. Pretty much, all you gotta do now is type the stuff in and spell it right. They even have accounted for issues on exam day--they sit outside the classroom if you have tech issues and you can hand your laptop over and they'll fix it + give you extra time at the end that you lost while your laptop did it's malfunctioning.
Ahhhhh technological bliss...
Monday, November 5, 2007
Saturday, November 3, 2007
Contracts
Someday we're going to talk about Offer/Acceptance and Formation of Contracts. Someday. But until then, I'll be content knowing how to calculate just how much money someone gets if the other party breaches the contract. Ironic if you think about it--we don't know how to make a contract, but we can figure out how to get money out of it when it breaks. Reminds me a lot of the centrifuge (think big machine that spins things really fast) in the lab--never knew how it worked, but boy I knew what to do when it broke. I called the repair guy.
1-800-cnt-brch, anyone?
Maybe next semester we'll actually learn how to make a contract. Or, if we all believe our cynical professor, maybe we'll just make $300k/year and make some lowly paralegal write it for us.
Cynicism is a great thing, isn't it?
1-800-cnt-brch, anyone?
Maybe next semester we'll actually learn how to make a contract. Or, if we all believe our cynical professor, maybe we'll just make $300k/year and make some lowly paralegal write it for us.
Cynicism is a great thing, isn't it?
Civil Procedure
Let's discuss Civil Procedure (we call it "CivPro"). It's 1/3 of the 1L class in size (about 80-100). My professor has clearly taught the class for a few too many years. He stands up at the alter (ok, it's really an elevated platform with a podium, but it feels like an alter) and gives 150min of oratory over the course of the week. I originally chose a seat about halfway back--just where I like it. I can keep a cautious eye out for what's happening both with the subject matter and with the rest of the students, but I am not in the prof's line of fire or eye contact. Anyway, so he has a seating chart with our names and pictures on it. For the first 2.5 months, the girls were all safe--he ONLY called on males. Imagine the groaning and gasping shock of all the females in the room the first day he said "Doe, Jane." We were no longer safe from the firing squad. Not that it matters really. He randomly calls on students and then whether or not they get the correct answer, spends 10 min in oratory about the topic which is in some way suppose to relate to the question he asked. I'd say that I could follow him, but I am lucky to follow about 25% of what he says. And I have discovered that it is quite common for everyone else to have the same percentage. He constantly circles back around on his point over and over again.
And that brings me to my problem in that class. I just can't pay attention. First of all, the school installed wireless internet. Brilliant. So the temptation to talk on IM or email during class is high. Second of all, I can't pay attention because the more I listen, the more confused it becomes. He discusses a case, then goes off on hypothetical questions for days on end. Commercial outlines don't help the situation at all-- they just reiterate the fact that he's blithering on and on and on. My notes have progressively gotten shorter, my briefs down to about a paragraph, if that. It's the one class that I dread going to-- I never know how bad it will be any given day. And I have tried to participate, but he just twists whatever you say around and around until everyone is left confused.
And let's be honest: the topics we cover are classic and not all that hard to understand...in personam/subject matter/in rem/federal/diversity/removal jurisdiction...It's November and I am seriously starting to wonder if he won't dream up some other jurisdiction just so we never move onto another topic. Apparently next we're going to be talking about "Venue". That's if we ever stop talking about jurisdiction. It isn't a hard concept, really. You have jurisdiction if a-b-c-d apply, if e-f-or g apply, you don't. Look at the statutes. Look at the rules. Look at the cases. Evaluate and conquer. Not a lot of brain power required. But the way he presents the material drives everyone up the wall and I think some of my classmates might be nearing insanity.
I look around the room during class, and I'd say maybe 10% are paying attention. Some are just relying on self-teaching, commercial outlines, old student outlines, etc. to get them through the class. I have a ethical issue doing that--first off, I am paying $35k/year, so I am going to get my money's worth. Second of all, you never know when he's going to say something that is actually valuable/relevant. What other people (commercial or former students) think is valuable or helpful might not be at all for you. So isn't it worth it to pay attention in the class? At least as much as your sanity will allow?
But the class is definitely draining. I need caffeine or sugar to get through it, and at the end my head hurts and I just want a nap. 13 left to go. Then the dreaded final.
And that brings me to my problem in that class. I just can't pay attention. First of all, the school installed wireless internet. Brilliant. So the temptation to talk on IM or email during class is high. Second of all, I can't pay attention because the more I listen, the more confused it becomes. He discusses a case, then goes off on hypothetical questions for days on end. Commercial outlines don't help the situation at all-- they just reiterate the fact that he's blithering on and on and on. My notes have progressively gotten shorter, my briefs down to about a paragraph, if that. It's the one class that I dread going to-- I never know how bad it will be any given day. And I have tried to participate, but he just twists whatever you say around and around until everyone is left confused.
And let's be honest: the topics we cover are classic and not all that hard to understand...in personam/subject matter/in rem/federal/diversity/removal jurisdiction...It's November and I am seriously starting to wonder if he won't dream up some other jurisdiction just so we never move onto another topic. Apparently next we're going to be talking about "Venue". That's if we ever stop talking about jurisdiction. It isn't a hard concept, really. You have jurisdiction if a-b-c-d apply, if e-f-or g apply, you don't. Look at the statutes. Look at the rules. Look at the cases. Evaluate and conquer. Not a lot of brain power required. But the way he presents the material drives everyone up the wall and I think some of my classmates might be nearing insanity.
I look around the room during class, and I'd say maybe 10% are paying attention. Some are just relying on self-teaching, commercial outlines, old student outlines, etc. to get them through the class. I have a ethical issue doing that--first off, I am paying $35k/year, so I am going to get my money's worth. Second of all, you never know when he's going to say something that is actually valuable/relevant. What other people (commercial or former students) think is valuable or helpful might not be at all for you. So isn't it worth it to pay attention in the class? At least as much as your sanity will allow?
But the class is definitely draining. I need caffeine or sugar to get through it, and at the end my head hurts and I just want a nap. 13 left to go. Then the dreaded final.
5 weeks and counting...
We're more than halfway. Good and bad depending on how you look at it. 5 weeks of classes, then 2 weeks of finals, then this first semester is over. In my view it's a good thing-- only 13 more classes of CivPro torture, only 7 more weeks until I get a weekend off without feeling guilty about it. Of course, the other side is only 5 more weeks to catch up on outlines and to really figure out if I understand what we've been talking about for 4 months, or whether it's all just a great illusion.
Everyone warns you before you start law school about the immense reading load and briefing you have to do, and the Socratic Method style of teaching that leaves some 1Ls wishing they could curl up and die. Everyone has seen "Paper Chase" and "Legally Blonde", read "1L", read blogs, talked to friends/family/pets/4th cousins removed. I just haven't really found much of that to be true. Perhaps it's because I am 4 years out of college, perhaps it's because of my anal retentive organization and planning skills. Perhaps it's simply that I never give in to hype. Whatever the reason, I just haven't ever felt that "1L pressure" that's so blogged and written about. Sometimes I'll sit and wonder if maybe I am not doing enough, if perhaps I am not working hard enough. But then I look at my planner, look at my outlines and realize that I am just fine. It's a strange feeling to have when so many of my fellow classmates are struggling to keep their heads above water.
I look back at college and realize that my time management skills kept me afloat back then-- between activities and classes, there's no way I would have been able to keep up with everything unless I pro-actively finished assignments early and kept up. It also was always making the decisions between reading for Class A or Class B, studying more for a test or going to class... Luckily, I seemed to have a knack for making the right decisions back then... So maybe that still holds true now... I guess in 7 weeks we'll know. At that point I will either have sank or swam and this first semester of the journey will be behind me.
Everyone warns you before you start law school about the immense reading load and briefing you have to do, and the Socratic Method style of teaching that leaves some 1Ls wishing they could curl up and die. Everyone has seen "Paper Chase" and "Legally Blonde", read "1L", read blogs, talked to friends/family/pets/4th cousins removed. I just haven't really found much of that to be true. Perhaps it's because I am 4 years out of college, perhaps it's because of my anal retentive organization and planning skills. Perhaps it's simply that I never give in to hype. Whatever the reason, I just haven't ever felt that "1L pressure" that's so blogged and written about. Sometimes I'll sit and wonder if maybe I am not doing enough, if perhaps I am not working hard enough. But then I look at my planner, look at my outlines and realize that I am just fine. It's a strange feeling to have when so many of my fellow classmates are struggling to keep their heads above water.
I look back at college and realize that my time management skills kept me afloat back then-- between activities and classes, there's no way I would have been able to keep up with everything unless I pro-actively finished assignments early and kept up. It also was always making the decisions between reading for Class A or Class B, studying more for a test or going to class... Luckily, I seemed to have a knack for making the right decisions back then... So maybe that still holds true now... I guess in 7 weeks we'll know. At that point I will either have sank or swam and this first semester of the journey will be behind me.
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