The Know It All January 21, 2008

I know that students are excited by the first week of classes, but really, what’s up with people who think they’re star lawyers already?

There is an older gentlemen who sits up front and center in my Torts class. So far, he’s managed to raise his hand, stand up, and try to argue like he’s been doing it for years, complete with legal jargon and vocabulary. No kidding.

On Friday, my professor obviously had enough. He proceeded to stop him in mid sentence, and called him out on his “knowledge”.

“Let me tell you something”, my professor said. “You have no idea what you’re talking about right now, so relax. Maybe in three years when all is said and done, you can tackle such statements, but until then, save yourself the embarrassment. Now sit down.”

YES!

A Snowy Orientation January 16, 2008

I have to wonder if my life is full of “movie like” coincidences, or is it just that, coincidence. I began orientation week packing up on Sunday, driving out to Boston, only to be greeted with one of the biggest “Nor Easter” snow storms Boston has seen in years. Great. With that said, the first day of orientation was scrapped, and I was stuck in my new living quarters for a couple of days. I felt like I was in a lost episode of Northern Exposure. 

Now that it’s Wednesday, are first official day of Law School orientation begins today, and I’m so anxious to get started, I could literally jog to the place,  given the opportunity. Weather issues aside, I am feeling a little homesick. I miss my partner, I miss my family, I miss my mother’s nagging phone calls, I miss my friends, but most of all, I miss the comfort of all of these things put together.

Everyday gets a Little better, and I get more and more used to the idea of being away and settling in. I am going home every weekend, so that definitely helps.

A Case a Day December 23, 2007

I’ve received a stack of cases to read, comprehend and brief before orientation. So far I’m having trouble understanding just exactly what’s happening in them. Anyhow, If I read and brief a case a day while I’m still on break, that should give me enough time to understand what’s going on.

I’m not exactly sure how orientation is going to work. It might be one of those situations where they call on us individually to describe what we think the case means, and maybe read our briefs. Since I’ve never written a brief, I hope I don’t make a fool of myself. That’s why we’re there though. To learn.

Registration.. December 16, 2007

I know, the title is very Kanye West. So Wednesday was Registration, where I got my first dose of other law students. I must say, I was not prepared for the attitudes I would encounter. Some were nice, others thought they were Tom Cruise from “The Firm”. I met a couple of interesting people though, so that’s encouraging. We also got hit with a giant “memorandum” of cases we need to know and discuss by orientation. Here we go.

I’m also noticing the way people are starting to treat me when they find out I’m a law student. I’m not one for attention, nor do I particularly like glorious job titles, so this sort of thing feels phony to me. I’m already starting to realize telling people “I’m a law student” or “lawyer” when the time comes, is not something I’m looking forward too. People treat you as if you’re some sort of untouchable royal figure. I almost want to say, “listen, I’m just a person like everyone else. No big deal, really.” Sigh.