A few months back, I met Briony. She’s a fellow law student from the UK. I love that she enjoys my recipes and advice, but – even more – she shares the same law school struggle and writes about it, too! I find it increasingly harder to come across female law bloggers, and am thrilled to have met Briony. We opted to collaborate on this blog post and decided to share our perspectives on law school preparation. You can check out her posts HERE.
Do you type or write your Law School Notes?
I prefer to use the dual method. I write my notes down and then later type them into a full outline for the course. After taking notes in class, I (try) to type them up later in the day. But I regularly fail at that, so I end up typing them up by the end of the week. I blast instrumental pop music and review my notes after typing them.
What kind of Law do you intend on practicing?
After working two Federal clerkships this summer, I honestly think Criminal Law is a great option. However, I still hope to use my Biology major in some way. That said, I haven’t completely ruled out Patent Law and Intellectual Property Law. It’s safe to say I am split between these two career paths. Let me just say, I don’t know many students who have a clear idea of what they plan to practice and it’s completely alright if you’re still deciding. You may not figure out what you want to do until you’re practicing! Don’t freak out – you’ll find your niche.
How do you study for a subject that you hate?
This one’s easy. I talk about it! I thought I was going to love the structured order of Federal Civil Procedure, but I did not! So, early on in my 1L year, my fiance figured out that (since I couldn’t sit and read about it for too long) he could get me to learn the law by teaching it to him. The guy was stealthy about it too. He started with “so, what’s the deal with subject matter jurisdiction, does it affect your outcome of a judge or something? Why does it matter?” From then on, he asked tons of questions and helped me build flow charts on massive flip chart notepaper. Freaking incredible!
Will you be practicing Law in the same city as your Law School?
I’d like to say, YES! However, making plans (in my experience) tends to have hilarious outcomes. For practical reasons, I will say that I’d love to practice in Dallas. We’ll see what the fates decide.
Is your favorite subject to study, the subject you intend on practicing?
My favorite classes so far are Criminal Law and First Amendment, with Constitutional Law coming in for a close third. So I guess it’s very possible I will practice in the subject areas I find most fascinating. I’ve enjoyed criminal work (both defense and prosecution) and think that appellate work is chock full of challenging opportunities.
What’s the favorite class tool or online learning study aid/guide etc.?
I really love note cards. It’s old-school, and they work for me. One of my law school besties and I created a bit of a tradition where we start an outline together and then break the info down into notecards to study/review before our exam.
[If you’re the type that loves pre-canned study aids, I recommend Short & Happy Guides. They’re concise and really helpful!]
What’s a difficult law school experience that you wish other students knew to prepare for? Law school is full of pitfalls and awkward situations. Study groups fail to meet on time, there’s too much free food and so many extra pounds to gain, and then you forget to read for class…so many things I wish I could prepare you for. I think the best thing to prepare you for is the diverse group of people you will meet. Prepare yourself to view the world through an open mind. Prepare yourself to try new foods at networking events, learn new facts to stay current and enable yourself to discuss a wide range of topics, and practice a firm handshake.
How do you deal with stress in law school? This is a question I get often. There are so many ways to deal with stress, but I do two things: read for fun and exercise. I love rock climbing and running; I’ve been climbing for a few years now and do my best to go twice a week. This summer, I also took up 5×5’s (weightlifting). Everything is about balance. Dealing with stress is all about managing tasks and making time for yourself.
Or, if all else fails – play with puppies.
What’s the best advice you’ve been given so far? Be kind. It’s simple, but so many people forget it. The Founding Dean of our law school recounted a story about one of his previous law clerks. This guy was hired because he interviewed well, was at the top of his class, from a great law school, and then put his fat foot in his mouth while working as a clerk for the Dean who was a Federal Judge. This guy was asked by the Judge’s court coordinator to move some boxes, and this dunce replied, “I didn’t go to law school to do clerical work.”
The coordinator told the Judge and, well, he never forgot how crappy this guy treated his staff. He obviously didn’t get a recommendation letter. What’s worse? Any firm calling the Judge was going to hear the truth, and no one wants to work with someone who is not a team player.
All he had to do was be kind, agree to move the boxes, and then ask if there was anything else he could help with. Clearly, he wasn’t raised in the South. ::major eye roll::
So, remember to be kind. Use those manners, say please and thank you, and never (seriously, NEVER) say that office work is beneath you. No one cares that you went to school for 7 years to become an attorney. They do care about what kind of person you became within those seven years. It’s these men and women that will remind the attorneys of your work once you leave, they’re the reason you will likely get a glowing recommendation letter – so don’t be a jerk.
What drives you to keep grinding on down this law school path? The best motivation is a HUGE family. These amazing people push me forward on days where I feel lazy or scattered or just, not plain good enough. My family acts as my true North, and my life is all the better because of them. Law school difficulties are nothing compared to the stare down from my grandmother. I can’t disappoint her, or any of my other family members, which means I keep grinding down this path.
Pieces of my Familia
I hope this year is a wonderful one for you. Find your balance, your motivation, and all the reasons why you’re putting yourself through law school. Keep those close at hand for the nights when your eyelids feel too heavy to study, on days when the sun’s out, and the pool looks terribly inviting, or when you want to slack off on those notes and go to the movies instead.
Do amazing things with this law school life so you can be a phenomenal attorney!
This semester was a beast. I don’t think I’ve worked harder than in this second semester of my 2L year. Does everyone else feel this way?
This semester consisted of more coffee runs, more reading, and lots of mini panic attacks. So much effort went into this semester and, quite frankly, it terrifies me that a final can derail all that hard work. We have no clue what the essay questions are going to look like and I could’ve spent tons of time working on something I deemed important, but the professor didn’t.
It’s a gamble, so you basically need to study everything and hope that you get asked questions you are confident answering.
I have a final exam today worth 60% of my grade. Damn.
When our class grumbled about it, our professor’s reaction was totally nonplussed.
I get it, we’re big kids now and we need to know all the things. But, still…damn.
This course helped me finish reading Chemerinsky’s 5th edition. The entire book, y’all. I’ve read the whole flipping thing.
Don’t let anyone tell you 2L is easy. I read an average of 300 pages a week.
Brutal…that’s a better descriptor. Your 2L year will likely be brutal.
I’ve read the cases, taken quizzes, prepped and reviewed my outline but – when it comes to first amendment rights – I get lost in the scrutiny types and the time crunch and then a deep sense of dread sets in during exams. Taking that deep breath before starting the exam is key for me but sometimes I forget.
Highly recommend the deep breath and a power pose.
For those of you working on these finals, I hope you do amazing things; may the knowledge stay with you and the curve be ever in your favor.
The extra-good vibes can’t hurt, right?
This past week has been stressful for everyone. I particularly love the hilarious questions I’ve had to answer because of the brain-lapses students (including myself) experience during finals mode and studying like fiends.
My favorite so far is “what food is allowed in the library?”
LOL. True story.
Just keep your study areas clean – there are no house elves here!
I hope your studying pays off and that you end this year on a phenomenal note.
Happy Book Surfing!
The Texas Bar exam is three days’ worth of terror. Pure, unadulterated, law knowledge. It’s an amalgam of everything you learned in law school and (it seems like) a lot of what you didn’t. Let’s be honest, our law profs do a damn good job of trying to shove every course topic into our ever-growing brains, but they just can’t get it all in.
There’s only so much a girl can know, Y’all.
For those of us with a science or engineering background – and some masochistic tendencies – we can opt to sit for an extra Bar exam. That’s right…a SECOND Bar examination. To practice before the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, or work with patents, trademarks and such, you should be Patent Bar Certified.
What’s neat is that this Bar exam does not require you to earn your Juris Doctorate at all. You could just take the exam and work as a patent agent for the U.S.P.T.O., inspecting and approving (or denying) patent applications and the like. [They make about $110,000 in Dallas – FYI.]
I have an intense love of all things science: engineering, biology, medicine, electronics…
These are a few of my favorite things so, naturally, I did not plan on giving them up after entering the world of law. Instead, I searched for a way to marry my love of science with my passion for the law, and I decided that sitting for the Patent Bar would be a great use of my time.
As a 2L, active in various student groups and on Law Review…I have almost no time left in my day. This means I have to prioritize my limited time and resources to study for yet another exam. Fun, right?
YES! It is. Passing the Patent Bar means I can work as a generalist and take on Patent cases. The goal is to be both marketable and functional. I enjoy the law so much and want to learn as much as I can. Although I’m not sure that I will ultimately practice patent law, I plan to set myself up in a position to have the opportunity to do so.
I signed up to take the exam on June 25th, which gives me about seven weeks to study. Like the Bar exam, you need to apply to sit for the Patent Bar exam. Thankfully the vetting process doesn’t require nearly as many hoops to jump through. You need to provide (1) your official transcripts proving you have a degree that qualifies you to sit for the exam, (2) the registration fee, and (3) the examination fee. Also, you need to pay Prometric the exam fee to take the computer-based test. In total, this cost me a whopping $505 (almost $600 if you include the prep book).
If you’re thinking of taking the exam, just know there’s a process. Once you apply for approval, your response will be returned in 2-8 weeks. Once approved, you can sign up online for a testing timeframe. The sign up is the easiest bit.
Next comes the studying.
Without the funds to pay for an obscenely expensive patent bar prep course, I opted to take the advice of a professor and purchase this handy-dandy book:
It’s a compendium of questions and patent bar review aids that – in my opinion – are wonderfully condensed for a quick study. I plan to complete the entire book before sitting for the exam. If you’ve got big dreams of taking [and acing] the Patent Bar these practice questions (probably) can’t hurt.
The test itself is 6 hours long, 100 questions (of which 90 are scored).
There’s so much to do and so little time. PRACTICE! PRACTICE! PRACTICE!
Did I mention that I’ll be studying while also working 60+ hours per week this summer?
Yeah…I’m not thrilled about it either.
Let’s just hope all this effort pays off.
Attending law school as a former educator can sometimes be incredibly upsetting. For example – our professors recently started speaking about “unpacking concepts,” and I swear, I almost thought I was sitting in the back row of a professional development meeting about to die. I damn near fainted. How in the hell, did Texas TEKS end up gurgling into my law classes?
I thought pursuing law school might mean I would no longer teach.
But I was soooo very wrong. I think I spend more time teaching classmates [and re-teaching myself] concepts throughout the day – and it’s freaking exhausting. At least my high-schoolers took my word as gospel…law students, not so much. We question everything. It’s both beautiful and terrible. I kind of hate it, but usually only when I’m trying to explain it, and then having a friend question my process. I found myself thinking that – if it frustrates me…how much does it frustrate our professors?
Here we are, a bunch of grown-ass adults, complaining about how we interpreted the statute. It is honestly laughable to me that we (as a collective group of law students) seem to think that *we* know more than our professors [you know, the peeps at the front of the class that hold shiny bar cards and have years of practical experience on us].
Why is that a thing? Why do so many of us think it’s acceptable to argue/back-talk a professor over anything other than a substantial topic in class? [Let me clarify, debating a point in class may be useful, but arguing with a professor for the sake of trying to “one-up” them is just not classy. Neither is arguing over an exam in class]. Judges don’t like smart-asses. Why form a bad habit in law school?
Personally, I feel that any grade issues or concerns should be addressed during office hours. Any questions regarding content and confusion could be asked in class, especially if you know a few friends also struggled with that issue.
Now, I do understand that not everyone feels comfortable speaking to a professor one-on-one, but I can promise you they don’t bite. In fact, they’ll probably be happy to help you. I highly recommend you visit a professor if you’re grappling with a concept, or even having a difficult time with their teaching style. Whatever the issue – be kindand courteous when addressing it.
This post isn’t meant to stir anyone into a frenzy. I merely think we should (as students, and adults) be mindful of the questions we ask, as well as the tone in which we frame them. Professors are [usually] seasoned veterans of the legal profession. It makes no difference if you are 21 or 61 – if you’re in law school, then they have years of experience above you. Be respectful of their teaching and their time. Teaching is incredibly hard, and not every great attorney will be a great teacher. It’s a sad fact.
Don’t misunderstand me. I get that law school is upsetting, and sometimes you don’t make the exact grade you want. But here’s the deal – you are not your grades! The goal is to learn how to deal with the setbacks and keep chugging along.
What you, my dear law school friend, need to focus on boils down to this:
Learn from your mistakes
You don’t like your last quiz score, or the feedback you received sucked – then go talk to your professor and figure out how to fix it.
Study Like Your Livelihood Depends on It
Because it does. If you want to be an attorney – graduating is only HALF the battle. You still have to pass the bar, yo!
Don’t be an Ass-hat
Your professors will become your colleagues. One of my professors, Mike Maslanka, told our class one day, “Once you pass the bar. We are equals.” What he didn’t say is that we may be equals, but his network and connections far exceed the capabilities of my own. How do you think a professor you were rude to is going to react when you ask for help securing an associate position? #FatChance
This past week was a combination of brutal + exhilarating.
[The best times are a bit of both, wouldn’t you say?]
On top of classwork, extra-curricular activities, and working in the law library, I also drove to Austin to participate in the Public Interest Law Fair. The beau and I drove straight to Austin after a full day of classes. But you know what?
The Consortium of Texas Law Schools hosted a job fair at UT-Law, and it was a great experience; I wanted to share my perspective.
Here’s what you need to know:
When you apply to these job fairs, it kind of feels like a cattle call. There’s a long list of potential employers that set out their criteria for interviewing (GPA threshold, Moot Court requirement, Law review requirement, 1L/2L/3L, etc.) – then it’s up to you to sift through them all and figure out which possibilities would be best for you.
Once you read through the descriptions, you upload your documents and start applying.
Personally, I wanted a summer opportunity that would offer me the chance to be in court. Having only clerked in a Probate Court, and worked in the PD’s office (but never building an actual case), I felt those skills could be bolstered. This means I sifted through every opportunity and chose Law Clerk Summer positions that fit 1)courtroom experience, 2) writing and research tasks, and 3) challenge my current skillset.
I uploaded 3 letters of recommendation, a blanket cover letter (written to apply to each and every position [why? because I personalized 37 cover letters for a previous job fair and only received 1 interview. I thought shaking things up a bit was warranted]), the most recent transcript, and my résumé.
Once you apply to the positions you are interested in…you wait.
And wait some more.
After a few weeks, the firms and/or government agencies post your worthiness.
I am happy to report that, of the eight positions I applied to, I received six interview invitations. ::woot::
Thankfully, I was able to cram all six interviews into a single day.
Friday morning started with a BANG! I hit the ground running, on pure adrenaline…because I tend to avoid eating before an interview. I made sure to print eight copies of my resume and writing sample, just in case an interviewer needed them.
Here are the most important interview tips I have for you:
1. Dress Professionally
For the love of legal briefs! Please do not show up to an interview looking like a cow chewed you up and spat you out. Wear some nice slacks and a button down, or a suit if you have one. I prefer to wear dresses to interviews, with a blazer. It’s comfortable, and usually means I don’t have to iron a crease into the pleats. Wearing a power suit is perfectly fine as well, but since we were traveling, I didn’t want to worry about packing an iron (in case the hotel didn’t have a working one, or whatever lack-of-iron-catastrophe would befall me). There are interesting takes on what attire is appropriate for interviews. I think the best thing to remember, especially for legal interns and young attorneys, is that we have not built our reputation just yet. Work on solidifying the foundation of your professionalism, and then [maybe…much later in your career] you can loosen up on the prim & proper points of your wardrobe. Maybe.
2. Have extra copies of (at minimum) your [proofed] resume in your padfolio.
Do yourself a favor, and make the extra effort to be extra prepared. Although I always take extra copies into an interview, it is rare that I am asked to proffer anything. I have however, impressed a few interviewers with my preparation. The added prep gives your interviewer the notion that you are a professionally polished person, ready for anything, and prepared for everything. That matters. People want to hire reliable associates, team members that can be counted on. This just adds an extra layer of greatness to what you’ve already put down on paper. Even better? It shows them you want the job, and you are willing to work hard. Our generation takes a bunch of crap for being “lazy” or “entitled.” That’s certainly not all of us, and it throws a pleasant curve ball to a veteran interviewer when you show up ready to for the game.
3. Rise to the challenge.
In this particular set of interviews, the attorneys interviewing me all exhibited different tactics. The most-challenging interview was conducted in a large jury room. The heating unit was rather loud, and the attorneys barely spoke above a whisper. It was infuriating. I couldn’t tell if it was on purpose, so I decided to just be myself. I leaned forward in my seat, paid attention to what they each had to say, and – when they asked me the first question – I raised my voice higher than theirs and spoke. I felt like I was screaming, but that wasn’t true. The lead interviewer smiled, and then leaned forward in his chair and continued the conversation with more questions.
::It was a trick afterall::
Sometimes, interviewers will do things to throw you off; it’s a tactic to enable them the opportunity to see how you will react. When in doubt – be yourself. And remember, all of the interviewers were in your shoes at one time. They know what it feels like, and they will likely not try to break you down. Part of their job is to make sure they like you, because they’ll have to work with you.
Be bold. Be confident. Hell, strike a power pose in bathroom stall before you walk into the interview. Give yourself a pep-talk. Show them just how your intellect, tenacity, and charm will add value to their incredible team.
4. Know Your Strengths & Weaknesses
In other words….practice for the damn thing! You know the interviewers are going to ask standard questions. So you need to PREPARE! Look up questions that interviewers tend to ask. There’s a whole slew of them available online. Do yourself a favor, and dive into them. The key is to prepare, without it appearing that you memorized each answer.
These interviews are a lot like speed-dating. You only get 20 minutes to impress these attorneys. It does not look great to have a ton of “umms,” “well, yeahs,” or “huh, hadn’t thought of that one before!” comments. You owe it to yourself to present the best candidate those interviewers are going to see, because you. are. fantastic!
5. Research the Position!
Ladies and Gents…this is imperative. Do not, I repeat, do not go into an interview without reading about the company/firm/government agency you are interviewing with. That is the fastest way to get yourself dropped! Know exactly what your duties entail and have a prepared answer for why you’d like to work in criminal/family violence/immigration/patent law. Just trust me on this. Knowing about the company’s mission, or agency’s perview is important. These interviewers need to know that you actually give a damn about the work they do. Don’t muck it up.
These tips are sure to get you in great shape for your interview.
Regardless of the occasion, interview as often as you can. The more practice you have, the better the conversation flows at the table. I share the above advice, as it was shared with me. For the sake of full disclosure, I [so far] received three offers from the six interviews. My summer is set and, quite frankly, I am thrilled to have the jobs lined up. I am truly looking forward to gaining a better insight to the federal court system, and the unique challenges those cases will encompass.
Now all I have to do is focus on my coursework and clinic cases this semester.
[More on the clinic later]
It’s really odd to think about being half-way done with law school. Time flies when you’re drowning in enjoying case law, I guess.
Despite the law school struggles, I am incredibly thankful for making it thus far. There’s a helluvalot of work that goes into prepping for class, attending networking events, and maintaining up-to-date writing samples plus a resume. Seriously though – the effort is worth every ounce of energy you expel.
I went into fall 2017 finals feeling a bit deflated. I’d worked incredibly hard to prepare for all my exams, and just felt like I was coming up short. Dean’s List seemed like over-reaching. The fall semester was, for some unknown reason, just not as focused as I wanted it to be. [To be clear, I was unfocused.] I think I may have gotten dangerously close to burn-out.
I figure this semester deserves a fiercer beginning. I made sure to get off on the right foot, made it to class early to get a seat (although, I kind of cheated and had a friend save my favorite seat because I knew she was in the same classroom just before my earliest class), meal-prepped for the week, and updated my calendar for both class and study purposes. What brought this on? I was super inspired by this quote:
Be addicted to the feeling of having your life together.
How awesome is that? I kind of assume everyone has goals in life, so this quote makes complete sense to me. I think I’d go even further than wanting the feeling, and actually shooting to make your goals a reality.
What does it mean to you to have your life “together?”
My mom always reminds my brothers and I about “getting our PIG,” which stands for “Poop in a Group.” It’s a polite, southern momma’s way of saying “Get your Shit Together.”
Right now, together [for me] revolves around these goals:
Read everything for class. If not for my own self-improvement, then at least to avoid feeling like an idiot in class. [hey, who said I’m not up front?]
Run three times a week. I love running. I love it almost more than reading [which is saying a whole lot], but since I hurt my back several weeks ago, I haven’t been able to run at all. Visiting my chiropractor has improved my mobility a whole heap!
Spend Less. Law school is expensive enough without adding in lunch runs, coffee networking sessions, and purchasing extra supplements to help you through a class. My biggest expenditure is coffee. I’ve started setting my coffee maker the night before and waking up to that enticing aroma makes it sooo much easier to get out of bed. Since we are also planning for our wedding later this year, keeping that $200 a month in our bank account, instead of spending it out of sheer laziness, makes a huge difference in a short amount of time.
Participate more. I sometimes feel that being part of so many law school organizations and law review means I’m active enough. This is only true, outside of class. I need to participate more in class; speak up and volunteer when a professor questions the ether. It forces me to not just prepare for class, but to really think about how the law applies to various situations. After all, the end goal is to become a practicing attorney!
This semester, I plan to dedicate more time to everything I need to do, and spend waaay less time on distractors. I highly recommend you evaluate your own performance, as well as the goals you set for yourself.
Today kind of sucked. Mostly because the textbook market failed me. Supply/Demand curves, yo.
I needed a ConLaw book for a class, specifically – the 5th edition.
Since I don’t have a million dollars, I pay for my schooling (including books) with loans, and can’t purchase my texts with blood or tissue samples [my undergrad was secured by promising my first-born to the Baylor Line] – I am careful with my funds and purchasing.
Imagine my surprise when I paid for 3 versions of the same freaking textbook, because ALL THREE orders were cancelled.
Thanks for nothing, Chegg.
Instead of getting my book 8 days before class, I am still waiting for it.
Class #1 was today. I was supposed to have prepped almost 60 pages of reading, and I wasn’t anywhere near my level of preparedness. Ain’t that a kick in the teeth?
Sure, I went to the library…but it just wasn’t enough.
I am terrible about taking notes outside of my textbook. I prefer to book-brief, because I can write the notes directly in the text, and will never be caught off guard by obscure (“where are you reading that?”) professor questions.
Want to know what’s worse than not having a textbook for a law class, and not having your amazing notes to rely on?
Getting pegged right out of the damn gates.
Welcome to First Amendment.
Miss Dill, tell us what’s going on in Reed v. Town of Gilbert?
Well damn. I can’t say ‘I’m unprepared.’ So I recited the facts. – Cool. I stated the issue, not anywhere near eloquent.
Then, I stammered and failed to answer a question (which I highlighted!) ugh.
A classmate jumped in to save me…and pointed out the page she’s reading from, plus the exact paragraph. I know she probably meant to be helpful, but it didn’t feel too great.
I loathe being unprepared. This situation, and others like it, are made significantly worse when you can’t B.S. your way through it.
And you know what? It’s pretty damn hard to B.S. a law professor.
At this point, I have 2 options:
1. Wallow
2. Put on my game face, get my book (yes, eCampus saved me) tomorrow, and prepare for my next class.
Learn from me, people!
If you’ve had a minor setback, or even a super embarrassing class fail, do your best to dust yourself (and your ego) off. Keep moving forward. One crummy afternoon will not define your legal career. Trust me.
Three semesters down, baby! It feels soooo good.
I know it sounds crazy, but I really look forward to coming back to class. Law school is one of my happiest places. I’ve spoken to you about how hard classes are, and explained that my social life is nil, and joke about staying under the warm covers, eating bon-bons, and reading novels over the break, but the truth is – I missed my friends, as well as the material. I plopped myself down next to Matt for our Business Associations class and we basically looked like this (while silently praying for Oprah to help us through Dean Valencia’s class) —
I love meeting back up over long breaks, catching up with my classmates, discussing new policy changes or proposed legislation, and generally geeking out about law-related things. In all honesty, no one but your classmates, or other attorneys, understand the intensity of law school. Sure, your family and friends (those who haven’t dropped you like the Hot Potato Doctrine – yes, I went there) witness your effort, but no onereallyknows what you’re going through like your law school peeps do. This adds to the further appreciation of enjoying their time, as well as the fact that they don’t think your love of criminal law or probate matters is weird.
I was extra-thrilled to see the 1Ls (that I had the absolute pleasure of being a TA for) return! I remember the attrition after our first semester, and the gaping void it created. Seeing them make it through finals, and return to classes with a reinvigorated spirit was a great additive to my already bouncy mood. My day got even better as it went on.
Today’s classes were fantastic! I laughed way more than I thought I could, and continue to find it funny that I compare what law school actually is like, to what I expected law school to be. It’s not as incredibly difficult as most say it will be, nor is it middle of the road easy. I think what helps me most is how comfortable I feel with our faculty and staff. They’re all approachable realists, with their own quirky tendencies and habits. Some professors get snarkier (in the best way possible) after they get to know students. Frankly, I love some good snark. Not everything is coming up roses, and the world is going to pot most days; snark helps fuel a balance, and keeps me on my toes. I try to think of our professors as partners in a law firm: don’t give them crap products, and they won’t treat you like an incompetent nincompoop. Simple as pie, right?
As a 2L, I can say I feel truly blessed to experience the law and this amazing school climate. Sure, we’re competitive, but everyone is also trying to motivate each other and grow our collective network. We’re all pretty damn great, and the best way to keep up that kick-ass feeling is to work hard each semester.
Get out there; be awesome.
Do the prep work, finish the reading, take amazing notes, and participate in class.
You’ve got this!
Here’s the post I wanted to publish, but couldn’t bring myself to do so because it was a wee bit snarky. After tonight’s panel – I felt it should see the light of day; this way, you know just what was running through my mind that Fall morning.
Enter: Torts Class 1.
Now after almost a week of orientation (“fundamentals”), and finding out that I don’t know a damn thing about briefing a case, I sat in on my first class. Guess who drew short straw?
That’s right – I did.
Dean Pryor said “alright, let’s get started. Miss Dill!”
::crickets::
Hand to the good sweet Lord, time passed soooooo slowly. I wanted to raise my hand, throw up, run…
Why for the love of all the green m&m’s did she have to call my name first? My own hand betrayed my emotions, shaking as I raised it.
“Ah. Good. Miss Dill, what is a tort?”
The seconds ticked by…I mean, what the hell is a tort?
I completed all of the reading for this class. I took notes for goodness sake. I knew damn well what the answer was, but my brain and lips failed to communicate.
Has this paralyzing fear ever happened to you?
Saying the right answer means I’m not a total idiot, and failing to speak makes people (and the Professor) think I didn’t complete the assigned reading. Crap.
Finally, my voice received the relay from the synapses, and I answered: “a tort is something…an act…that that causes someone else an injury.”
But, it wasn’t the answer she wanted. Ugh.
“True, Miss Dill,” she said, “…but – tell me more about this act.”
“Umm…the person has to act.” genius answer, right? double ick.
“The act has to be…on purpose? Ah. INTENTIONAL! It has to be volitional!”
“Yes, Miss Dill. That’s right!”
Ok, she didn’t clap. But she did have the super cute Professor McGonagall half-smile. She must have been thinking “ok, I can work with this sorry sack of potatoes after all.”
Well damn, it only took me a million tries.
But hey, I finally answered the damn question.
This Socratic Method business is much scarier to think about than it actually is.
All those pauses I felt? Only in my head, apparently.
The blonde sitting next to me said I did a good job, and assured me I didn’t take as long to answer as I thought I had. Bless her kindness.
I didn’t have to answer any other questions for the rest of class, but I was on edge the entire time. I wanted another shot at answering more questions, faster…and with the perfectly right answer. Yeah, I’m a little type-A…
The rest of the class went pretty well, aside from the gunner in the front row. His hand shot up for everything, and I can’t tell you why – but it annoyed me. Then there was this other guy who just kept adding in a bunch of hoopla to his answers, fancying them up with all these huge words. I mean, we get it – you got into law school and can clearly read. So can the rest of us.
Aside from the ridiculous behavior of some of us trying to be the overachievers within a bunch of overachievers, the day turned out great.
One day down, 40 pages of reading to go.
Lessons I learned so far:
1. Do the reading. ALWAYS.
2. Don’t freak out…well, try not to freak out. 3. Be confident. That goes a long way when you have no clue what the answer is.
Best of luck this year!
I hope you’re ready for this next semester!
This past weekend, I took an opportunity to run far from my notes, quizzes, and exam prep materials – three days before finals were set to begin.
My best friend asked if I had a mental death wish.
Truthfully, I snagged a great deal on airline tickets, and managed to fly from Dallas > Boston roundtrip for $22. I used a few of my airline points from previous flights with Southwest, and made sure to price check many flights before settling on this trip. How could I have passed up this opportunity?!
Since my fiancée’s brother lives in Boston, we stayed with him for the weekend. Overall, this trip cost us less than $400 – we paid for drinks, food, and a few bits of Boston swag – and it was basically a wonderful wintry getaway.
After dropping off our bags, we took a short jaunt to Barcelona for brunch and their BYO Bloody Mary & Mimosa bar!
The BM mix was delicious, and the Beau indulged in two of these bad boys. I tried the Peach nectar mimosa, but found the champagne was a bit much for my palate. Instead, I set my sights on the tapas brunch options. Between the 4 of us, we ordered french toast, two breakfast sammies, and a charcuterie board. Having been up and about in Dallas (to make our flight) since 4am, we were thrilled to scarf all this deliciousness down. I highly recommend you try this place!
After brunch, we mosied on down to a quaint little coffee shop: Cafe Fixe. It was in the high 30’s and…well, I’m not going to justify coffee stops – because I’m kind of in love with trying all sorts of lattes. Let me live a little!
The warm cups and tasty coffee added a certain bounce to my step; so off we went to Public Garden via LYFT. Being from Dallas, where virtually everyone drives, taking cabs/Lyft/Uber rides was interesting. We discovered quickly though, with all the twists and turns in Boston roads, sometimes it is actually faster to take the train or just walk! In two days, we walked nearly 20 miles. It is safe to say we covered quite a bit of ground. I enjoyed every second of it.
There was just so much to see in this garden! Street performers, puppies playing, the winter photo sets, and even just the view of the city! Oh man, everything was amazing. Everyone was so friendly, and I was simply amazed with how pedestrian-friendly the city is; eateries, cafes, knick-knack shops, and pubs all interspersed. There was a surprise in every turn. While walking through the garden though, we took a few impromptu photos. We even saw a one man band! Mel said she’d only ever seen one in movies, so I took a short video to share. He was really nice, and his jams were great.
I did not realize how early the sun sets on the east coast, but it was only 3:15pm when the sky began to darken. With the trees lit and the skies frosty, Eddie walked us over toward Quincy Market, but we were sidetracked along the way! We found a winter village and had to hop inside. There were about fifty tiny stores, all with varying items and souvenirs. The Beau and I purchased a glass ornament for our Christmas tree, a tradition of sorts, and Melissa ended up with a few great gift options for family members. We all managed to find ourselves in a wine-tasting tent…let’s just say the Moscato was free-flowing, and the J. Lohr samples of Cabernet & Pinot Grigio were a great way to keep us toasty while we shopped. I even found a great pair of snowflake earrings to match my engagement ring [more on how he proposed! later].
All this walking, and the extra tastings of wine, made us (mostly me) hungry – which meant we trudged on to Quincy Market. I was practically vibrating with excitement from the day, and knew exactly what I wanted to eat. I specifically asked for a lobster roll, and boy did this little pop stand deliver!
The service here was fast, friendly, and quite tasty! This oyster bar offered the best deal on lobster rolls; 1 roll, chips, and a beverage for around $21. The Beau never tried one before, and I couldn’t pass up a chance to have one while visiting the East coast. The buttered, toasted bread slice (what appeared to be Texas toast) was stuffed with a lettuce leaf and a heaping serving of their lobster mixture: lobster, celery, mayo, and secret sauce. Aside from the rogue crab shell in my sandwich, I’d say these guys have a great recipe! Melissa ordered the lobster bisque and the clam chowder (because what kind of foodie doesn’t compare?!) – both options were delish, but I preferred the chowder. It was hearty, and carried just the right amount of flavor balance.
After dinner, we opted to head back to the casa for drinks and a movie. After some discussion, we prepared for day two of our Boston Adventure, and then I snuggled up with some Property Law review questions before bed (because with the advent of the internet, my notes go with me everywhere). Notice what I did there? Life is all about balance.
Our second day in Boston was quite the trek. We ended up taking a Lyft ride to Cambridge, where we devoured some tasty eats at The Sinclaire. The waffle flight was a great size! With 3 different waffles on the plate, everyone sampled sumptuous options. The waffle batter is crispy and light, which is just the way I like mine! In addition to the waffles, we ordered the Benedict, an omelette, and a breakfast plate. I honestly have no complaints or suggestions. The dishes were phenomenal. One critique regarding the drinks was the orange juice in my mimosa had absolutely no flavor. For a girl who needs a punch of sweet, and a skosh of fizz, these mimosas were quite dull.
We spilled over into Cambridge, on the hunt for some great coffee. Imagine my surprise when I stumbled across Crema. This quaint two-story shop makes their own peppermint marshmallows and makes a…wait for it…cocoa-mint-tea! ::GASP:: This drink haunts my foodie visions. I need to learn how to make it, because my tastebuds just did not know what to do with themselves. “Indulgence in a cup” is what Eddie said when he tasted it. I wholly agree with this description.
While in Cambridge, I decided to go in search of a funny shirt I wanted. After all, I am in law school. May as well buy a neon sign, right? Enter: the shirt.
After this purchase, we decided to walk around Harvard’s campus. It is huge. There were so many wonderful buildings and such rich history, but I can honestly say it is not as gorgeous as Baylor. My Alma Mater is better. Sorry, Harvard. We trekked quite a ways through campus, and enjoyed the winter foliage; we even visited the Co-op, because I manage to drift toward books. The day was beautiful, but still nippy outside. A scarf and coat suited me just fine.
Before heading back, we stopped in at Mike’s! It’s this little shop of pastries. Eddie did not have to tell me twice! He had me at cannoli. The Beau & I purchased an espresso cannoli, almond and chocolate-dipped biscotti, macarons, a Boston creme puff, and Italian wedding cookies. YUM! I have absolutely zero regrets with this decision. Haven’t you heard…calories don’t count during finals season!
From Cambridge, we took the train back toward the South Side. Due to track construction, we ended up hopping off just before getting to the Charles River. Getting to see the city from that vantage point was breathtaking. I wished I’d been able to see it covered in snow. <3
Eddie told us that just beyond the bridge was a great hidden bar, that would change our lives. “Don’t worry Sarah, it’s only a 12 minute walk.” thankfully for Eddie, there was so much to see and snap pictures of…you know, the whole touristy thing. I quickly fell in love with this city. I even found an iceberg!
Seriously though…we didn’t make it to the bar (called DRINK) for another hour. Longest walk of my life. Thankfully, Eddie was not kidding. The bartender was amazing! He asked what flavors I liked, and then made me a fantastic drink. I actually ordered two of the same thing! I figured it didn’t hurt to get a little relaxed.
In addition to the great beverages, this little place has some flavor-packed food. We tried their pork sliders and the fries with aioli. The bar atmosphere was dark, almost like being in a wine cellar; this makes sense, since it’s technically below street level. Our bartender lit several drinks on fire, and was daring enough to pour flames from one cup to another – I was fascinated.
The bartender suggested we head over to Gaslight for dinner. It was a great idea! Their charcuterie board held wondrous flavors! The duck confit and chicken pate surprised me, because I was pretty sure I couldn’t get past what it was to actually enjoy it. But hey, I figure you’ve got to taste the food to see how you feel about it, right? From start to finish, this meal was good, but certainly not the best of Boston; my steak frites left much to be desired; not even the bernaise sauce could save it. Melissa ordered the sweet potato ravioli, and basically felt like she was elevated to the highest of pasta tables. The boys tried the prix fixe menu, and really enjoyed it. Few words were spoken once the plates hit the table here, but the oddities caught our attention: tart oranges on the créme brulée, not fully-cooked pasta edges, overcooked steak. That said though, this board was enough reason to eat at Gaslight:
After Gaslight, we traipsed over to another bar for a nightcap with a friend. We laughed, I snorted really loudly and turned eight shades of red, and enjoyed each other’s company. [Being among lovely people is such a pleasure, especially when they’re smart, funny, and just the right amount of sassy.] This was the best way, by far, to end the night. Our trip was wonderful, and I plan on turning this “leaving before exams” idea into a bona fide tradition. (D.C. – we’re heading your way in March!)
Cheers to you friends! Good luck on your final exams. May the curve be ever in your favor.
