Starting To Get It

So I’ve been MIA for a bit. There have been posts that I started but died before they got off the ground and for the most part I’ve just been reading my collection of law blogs and working my way through One L, How To Succeed in Law School and now Getting To Maybe. I’m about halfway through GTM and I feel that I’m definitely starting to get some of the concepts I’ve been reading about.

The law is not unlike an onion with increasingly complex layers. Also like an onion as you progress deeper there are likely to be tears. Between the forks in the facts, forks in the law and twin forks you’ll be searching for an etiquette handbook to see which fork is which.

While all of this felt intimidating it was also comforting. I can see the basic outline of how we’ll be approaching cases and exams. There’s no magic formula. You memorize as much as possible and then you try to see both sides of the argument. There will be snags and ambiguities put in place by the professors to trip you up. I was expecting that much. 

The key to me seems to be seeing the world in the most nuanced way possible. I actually find this sort of comforting. It’s a world of possibilities. If you can see the pattern then you’ve got a shot. I’m not saying it will be easy but I think it can be done. Check back with me once I start to see if I retain my optimism.

Tech, Law School and a 0L In Love with Gadgets

I’ve been trying to cobble together posts here for the last few weeks. Part of the problem is that I’m a lowly 0L with very little to offer. One thing I thought might be interesting would be to share some of my plans to incorporate technology into my law school experience at UNC.

1. Video– I’ve been toying with the idea of live streaming particularly entertaining moments from my classes via a service like Ustream.TV or recording them for later consumption at Seesmic.com or YouTube.com. I plan on accomplishing this by using my laptop and webcam. Shouldn’t be too tricky but there are numerous interesting legal issues associated with the process. Does it violate intellectual property or privacy laws to capture and share content from my professors/classmates?

2. Audio– I’ve got a handy little digital audio recorder I will be using. This will allow me to reference parts of the lecture that were particularly confusing and/or share it with friends/classmates. I’d like to create an online file sharing area where people could grab the MP3 from whichever day they’d like.  

3. Kindle 2– Now I haven’t scored one yet and I don’t think most textbook publishers have content available for them yet but wouldn’t it be great just to carry THIS instead of a huge bag of books. You could even use the text to speech speech feature if you commuted to school in the morning. That would be great! Maybe this will all come together by the time I’m a 3L.

4. Social Media– I plan to network extensively prior to graduating. My primary vehicles for accomplishing this will be this blog, my Twitter profile and my LinkedIn. Each will serve a slightly different purpose. The blog is a place for me to share ideas and highlight projects I’m engrossed in. Twitter is my favorite place to “listen” to communities and provides the chance for quick one on one interaction. LinkedIn is best used to create meaningful connections and ask for recommendations. I also like that they offer you the opportunity to ask questions of the members and even answer some yourself as well.

Does all of that sound plausible? Feel free to chime in with your thoughts, objections or questions.

Admitted Student Day at UNC 3/27/09

I was definitely excited to attach some faces to names, chat with other admitted students and hear what our future deans and professors had to say when I jumped in my car to head over to Van Hecke-Wettach Hall on 3/27/09. 

There was a certain flutter that went through my stomach as I passed through the doors and headed over to the registration table. I chatted up a few nice folks after I walked in. One gent who was attending with his mother, another was a current UNC Law student and also a nice young lady named Kim. We all talked about our backgrounds and future plans. It was refreshing that everyone was a little nerdy and came from a multitude of backgrounds.

They ushered us into a classroom around 9:00 am to get the day rolling. Dean States was looking dapper in a nice suit. (Note: Students in the crowd need to take a page from his book because there were plenty of bad sport coats in the audience.) Dean Boger received a nice intro by Dean States and then gave a very enthusiastic endorsement of the school. He touched upon a theme that repeated throughout the day: UNC is a great public university. The law school found many ways to reiterate this idea and they built a compelling message around it.

After the Deans exited the room came the most interesting part of the day. We got to hear from a nice potpourri of current UNC Law students. Each had a unique point of view and different advice. One unifying element was their message regarding the high quality of life and collegial atmosphere the university offers. All for one and one for all. (This was refreshing after having just finished reading One L!) They attempted to quiet the rumor that UNC grads will only have opportunities in the North Carolina area and talked about the credibility and durability of the UNC Law brand outside the state. I got a great reading recommendation out of this portion of the day. It turns out a professor at UNC, Ruth Ann McKinney, wrote a quality book titled Reading Like a Lawyer. I’ll definitely pick that up soon. Apparently everyone at UNC hates the snack bar too. A lot. Oh and the UNC marching band practices right outside the UNC Law Library. Ha!

Next up we heard about the clinical opportunities, externship possibilities and all of the journals on campus. Deborah Weissman gave a great synopsis of the excellent work the clinics have done both in North Carolina and outside the state. Particularly interesting was the description of their work in New Orleans with Katrina victims and in eastern NC helping folks draft wills. Later on we found out Weissman will be addressing a congressional subcommittee on immigration soon! Gene Nichol was the most passionate presenter of the day. At times as he wiped his brow and addressed the crowd with a booming voice I was reminded of a pastor in church. He presented a litany of issues with the American justice system and challenged Carolina students to help change them. Nichol is the Director of the Center on Poverty, Work and Opportunity. The other presenters were solid but due to time shortages were a bit rushed.

For the parents in attendance the next segment was probably their most anticipated portion of the day. Financial concerns seemed to be on many people’s minds. Dean States participated in this part of the ASD. I really have to credit Lisa Inman and Aesha Greene for making a clear, concise and useful presentation. Dean States did a nice job explaining how instate residency is achieved and how they approach it.

At this point we broke for lunch and everyone was ready to stretch their legs. The food seemed to be a hit with the crowd and friendly conversations were plentiful. I decided to head upstairs to check out some of the student organizations that were in attendance. I made the mistake of heading towards the tables with the apartment complexes. After being ambushed for a while by promises of amenities and cheap rent I escaped and had a great talk with the members of CIPLA. I’m always happy to connect with people as nerdy as me. 🙂 I also squeezed in a fun bit of banter with one of the student panelists from earlier in the day before heading back to my seat.

The last portion of the day was devoted mostly to information regarding the chance to study overseas, opportunities for real world experience during our summers and career possibilities once we graduate. This part of the day dragged a bit for me and by the end of the session I was ready to roll. The optional law school tour I had was low key and I would suggest most folks skip it.

Overall a fun day that I found informative. I’ll definitely be heading to UNC Law in the fall but I knew that before I went. I’m excited by the school’s commitment to pro bono and community work, prestigious professors and the quality of life the students enjoy. The end of August can’t come quickly enough for me.

 

Dean and Wade Edwards Distinguished Professor of Law (Dean John Charles Boger)

Prepping For Law School

I was shocked when I heard what the forums of Top-Law-Schools.com had to say on the topic of prepping for law school once you had been accepted. These achievement addicted souls told me to take it easy and relax. Ha!

Weren’t these the same people who thought nothing of taking every LSAT from the past ten years, paying over $1,000 for prep courses and writing five different Personal Statement essays just to see which one had the best legs? I couldn’t help but think I was being thrown off the scent.

Reluctantly I decided on a compromise that involves not jumping off the deep end and committing all my free time to study just yet but still trying to be a little less green once I pass through those hallowed doors at Van Hecke-Wettach Hall. Here’s my list:

1. Currently reading One L. About 75% done with it and have learned a lot. A solid recommendation for anyone going into law school blind or considering it for the future.

2. Next purchase will be Getting To Maybe. This book seems useful and has lots of positive praise. I’m all about practicality.

3. Will glance through Landmark Supreme Court Cases. Since I’ve been out of school for about five years this will be beneficial to brush up on the basics.

4. I’m currently following about 250 law students and attorneys on Twitter. Having these folks to bounce ideas off of and seeing what they’re up to has already proved revealing and useful.

5. I’ve got approximately 35 blogs in my Google Reader account and the list is growing. I focused on law students’ blogs as well as legal topics I find interesting such as IP, e-discovery and new media law. Wading through some of the denser blogs will give exposure to a smidgen of what I’m up against and the law students provide levity and insight.

6. Tightening up my physical fitness regime. Stamina seems to be quite important to succeeding in law school. Keeping healthy would be advantageous. I’d like to resume practicing yoga, running every morning and perhaps read up a bit on meditation. Feeling fit and having a clear mind will certainly come in handy once the storm clouds start to gather overhead.

What do you think? Too much? Not enough? Hit up the comments section!