What have I gotten myself into?

[ToriAllen]

After seven days of law school I, along with the majority of my classmates, are asking ourselves this question. We have already covered, in depth, 36 cases. For each of these we have to read, analyze, and brief each one before class. There is no slacking or 'I had a bad night', because the teachers call on random individuals in the class to give in depth analysis of the case. This is fine, except for the fact that we are all holding our breath until the teacher has called on someone. I swear you can literally hear the room exhale once a name has been called. Then, after the person gives the facts and analysis, the teacher starts throwing in 'what ifs' or questions that have no answer. It is nerve racking. The worst and best class is contracts. You know ahead of time that you will be called on, but the teacher is really abrasive. What ever you do, do NOT use pronouns like 'he', 'she', 'his', 'hers', and especially 'it'. Never say "I guess". Never begin a sentence with 'that'. These rules seem simple, but once you are put on the spot, they go out the window. When you are on the spot, you want to choke him, but when someone else is one the spot, he is hilarious. I just about busted a gut in class today after he made two men come to the front of the class that made the mistake of saying they were having a hard time hearing and making the man that was 'on the spot' move to the back because he was talking to quietly. On average there is about six hours of out of class work per day. I try to fit it into the time I have between classes, but that doesn't always work, so I end up trying to study while kids are running around, chasing each other and yelling at the top of their lungs (something they only do if they think I'm distracted). Then there is the fact that there are no quizzes or mid-terms or other tests to gauge your understanding and progress in the class. Just one huge four hour test at the end of the semester. There are no outlines or study materials to help you in knowing what to study. You just have to try to pull out the min concepts and ideas from the cases and hope you can apply them to hypotheticals, and hope you don't miss any important issues in the hypothetical that might need to be addressed. It is all a bit stressful.

[timesjoke]

I guess that explaines the large paycheck, lol.

[ToriAllen]

I guess that explaines the large paycheck, lol.

 

Unless, you're pro bono or public service...

Maybe they are just masochists.

[timesjoke]

Well, I have several friends who are good lawyers (is that a contradiction, good, lawyer????) and I figure it is better to earn enough money to afford a lawyer instead of working that damn hard to become one.

[ToriAllen]

(is that a contradiction, good, lawyer????)

 

Bad, bad!

 

Any good paying job worth having takes hard work, some just get to avoid the baptism by fire approach of law school. Hazing through humiliation passed off as character and confidence building.

I guess it is one way of making sure you are there for the right reasons.

[DaMan]

The rewards far outweigh the anxiety you're going through now.

[Guest skategreen]

Well, I have several friends who are good lawyers (is that a contradiction, good, lawyer????) and I figure it is better to earn enough money to afford a lawyer instead of working that damn hard to become one.

 

 

A good lawyer is the one you call from the police station or the one who wins your bodily injury claim. The bad lawyers are all the rest.

 

Kinda like the good police are the ones who show up to save your ass.

[timesjoke]

Is it just me or does the legal arena look more like a broadway show these days?

 

 

From what I see these days, it is not so much what is truth, but what you can make to "look" like truth, or the reverse, how well you can make truth "look" like it is lie.

[ToriAllen]

Is it just me or does the legal arena look more like a broadway show these days?

 

 

From what I see these days, it is not so much what is truth, but what you can make to "look" like truth, or the reverse, how well you can make truth "look" like it is lie.

 

That's why I'm not going into criminal law...

[RegisteredAndEducated]

"Jackson Massey got my momma paid..." I hate that commercial.

 

Shakespeare said "kill all the lawyers." Maybe he was onto something. I'm sorta kidding TA. I don't want you (or Bob's wife) dead. Lawyers are a great help and a great pain, all at the same time.

 

Lawyers are half the reason that doctor bills are so high, and insurance. But That's also a good excuse for doctors and insurance companies to charge more...

[wez]

Good luck! I was in pre law in the early ninties but dropped out after rupturing a disc in my back.. Now, I'm working my way into nursing school. Getting close.. So damn competitive to get into the major. Only 40 spots for 160+ applicants. I would still love to go to law school too.. but not earn a living at it. I had a little problem with the truth twisting too..

 

 

Sounds brutal.. but I imagine the way the professor does that is intended to teach you that as a lawyer, always expect the unexpected..know both sides and all angles.. Be prepared to answer any question at any time... I hope you have a lot of time to study. Just remember, you're competing with every other student in there... know the shit better than them, you're golden.

[RoyalOrleans]

The rewards far outweigh the anxiety you're going through now.

 

Did you just eat Chinese take-out? Sounds like a fortune cookie.

[wez]

Hey Tori.. How's Law school going?

[ToriAllen]

It's hell. Not much time for anything else. There are some really interesting cases though, and some really sarcastic judges, so every once in a while, it is just really fun. There is a case about a haunted house where the judge really had fun with his wording. I might post the opinion later.