Freakthinker » law school

Random assorted thoughts about law school

Freak1 — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 07:53:57 +0000

I am sitting here at 2:45 in the morning, just mere days prior to my first final in my first semester of law school, and I’m strung out on caffeine and pretty exhausted. I find that this was a choice though, to be up this late and coffee-happy, because I definitely don’t think this late night studying was required in order for me to be successful on my exams.

I just completed my flash cards (this is my preferred method of studying) for my Torts exam, which happens on Thursday. My Torts outline is 21 pages, which I feel like is ridiculous and ample, but which is nearly 20 pages shorter than my professor suggested the outline SHOULD be. I’m trying not to let this stress me out.

My first exam is Contracts, and I think I’m going to be prepared. I worked with a study group today, and felt pleased with how much more of the info I knew than I thought I did.

An interesting thing about studying for law finals is the fact that I actually want to LEARN it and retain the information. Every single thing I learn will benefit me when I have clients. This isn’t like studying German in undergrad- I knew I wouldn’t use that ever again. So my studying was very basic, and included a lot of memorization, rather than learning. This is different, and I find myself *wanting* to stay up late and learn as much as I possibly can. And not so much because of the exam (although obviously that’s a motivating factor), but more because I *want* the knowledge, and I can see a purpose for having it.

I do find that I’m planning a lot of things during my 4 or so weeks between classes. I may sleep for a whole day, too. And read a fiction book. Or not ever read a single word, given how many words I’ve read this semester.

Things I’ve learned in law school thus far:

Freak1 — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:04:09 +0000

-Having alcohol for breakfast after turning in a major assignment is perfectly acceptable.
-“I don’t know about it. And if I do, I didn’t do it. And if I did it, I was drunk.”
-Having a child, moving, taking on new and exciting projects: all good things. When all done in combination with law school: all bad things.
-The library has a comfy couch by a window, with an outlet for my laptop. This is a goodness.
-Conclusion, reason, examination, analysis, conclusion.
-Did I say I liked contract law? Ha! Just kidding.
-Only people in law school understand people in law school.

1L

Freak1 — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 16:23:04 +0000

Yesterday marked the beginning of the two week countdown for my first day of law school. I am sure this blog will shift slightly (or entirely) in the direction of my musings as a law student, as my time at school progresses. Right now, I’m scared and excited. The reading for the orientation was 200 + pages alone, and we already have our first week assignments. I don’t even have my books yet.

I’ve already found some interesting topics to consider, including ethics and professionalism in law, morality and what determines a person’s moral fitness, and the presence of the word “God” in the oaths taken for law schools and for bar admittance.

The good news is that I haven’t been bored by a single thing I’ve read thus far. I am quite eager to receive my books, and to begin my actual study of the law.