August 31, 2004
I'm a Bad Blogger
My sincere apologies for the utter void of recent updates. Life is full. Really full. Too full.
JOBS
Last week was GULC's awe-inspiring and remarkably efficient On-Campus Interviewing event. 500+ students, 400+ firms, 5 days, 1 hotel, one raucous good time. I received 15 interviews via the lottery and another 5 or so by dropping resumes. All in all, I think it well. The call-backs have started to come in (though I'm still awaiting word from many of most desired firms) and I'm confident I'll find acceptable employment. My biggest concern is with scheduling call-backs and the amount of class I am likely to miss to accomodate my cross-country trips...
SCHOOL
The Semester is off and running. I'm less than enthused thus far with my classes, but such is life. Evidence should be interesting, and the professor is rumored to be fantastic. Corporations will be corporations. Admin Law will be like Con Law I from hell. But, the Prof is a Circuit Judge so I can't complain that I'm not getting my money's worth.
I teach my first LRW workshop tomorrow. I'll report back with the results.
JOURNAL
Work. Lots of work. Although next week we have an orientation and convocation to welcome us to the journal. Rumor has it that the 3Ls dress in druid robes and the 2Ls are placed in coffins, only to be "reborn" as members of the journal. Or something like that.
More to come soon, I promise. But, for now, I need to finalize my lesson plan...
JOBS
Last week was GULC's awe-inspiring and remarkably efficient On-Campus Interviewing event. 500+ students, 400+ firms, 5 days, 1 hotel, one raucous good time. I received 15 interviews via the lottery and another 5 or so by dropping resumes. All in all, I think it well. The call-backs have started to come in (though I'm still awaiting word from many of most desired firms) and I'm confident I'll find acceptable employment. My biggest concern is with scheduling call-backs and the amount of class I am likely to miss to accomodate my cross-country trips...
SCHOOL
The Semester is off and running. I'm less than enthused thus far with my classes, but such is life. Evidence should be interesting, and the professor is rumored to be fantastic. Corporations will be corporations. Admin Law will be like Con Law I from hell. But, the Prof is a Circuit Judge so I can't complain that I'm not getting my money's worth.
I teach my first LRW workshop tomorrow. I'll report back with the results.
JOURNAL
Work. Lots of work. Although next week we have an orientation and convocation to welcome us to the journal. Rumor has it that the 3Ls dress in druid robes and the 2Ls are placed in coffins, only to be "reborn" as members of the journal. Or something like that.
More to come soon, I promise. But, for now, I need to finalize my lesson plan...
August 26, 2004
Sin
You are Wrath/Anger! Wow... who got you so mad huh ?? You have serious
anger issues!! with a rage that seems somewhat
deadly, and a temper that is easily raised, you
are by far the scariest sin. You tend to let
the little things get to you, and are stressed
fairly easily - and woe be it to any of your
enemies. On the positive side, you're
independent, powerful and a definite leader, if
you could just control your moods!Congratulations on being the toughest!! ...and the
most independent of all the 7 deadly sins!
?? Which Of The Seven Deadly Sins Are You ??
brought to you by Quizilla
Link from Sua Sponte.
In sharp contrast, my fiancee was rated an "Angel," completely without sin.
August 19, 2004
Busy Times
My final interview in Portland went well (in my opinion, anyway) and after spending a few hours crafting thank you letters for the attorneys I met with, I was able to actually relax and enjoy a few days of vacation. I'm glad I did.
On Monday, I began training for Law Fellow (legal writing fellow, whatever you call it, I teach weekly LRW workshop to 1Ls). Eight to nine hours a day of "training," followed by 2-4 hours of "homework." The week has been full of grand concepts and optimism. The cynic in me is stewing. I like thinking everything will be great (and our students will love us and really care about the class, etc.) as much as the next guy, but it's simply not the case. Not at Georgetown anyway. There will inevitably be some pompous idiot who thinks his Yale communications degree or failed internet start-up or "excellent" writing skills mean he doesn't have to try. There will inevitably be the person who thinks the assignments suck. Or the professor sucks. Or law school sucks. Or everything sucks. There will inevitably be the student who just doesn't get it and is questioning his/her very presence in law school. There will be the insecure, former straight-A student who is afraid to do or say anything that he/she didn't hear directly from the professor.
All the optimism in the world doesn't help when we're dealing with the realities of what we're likely to face. I think part of the problem is many of my colleagues came straight from undergrad and haven't yet faced some of the harsh realities of the world. Or maybe they didn't have the same experience as I did during the first-year. I was pragamatic. I wanted to learn how to do it so I could get good grades. Period. Save the optimism and waxing poetic about the intrinsic value of writing for somebody else. But, I will teach the curriculum I am given and I will do my best to teach it well. And it matters not because my class will love me. After all, my fiancee offered to make them cookies.
Last night I went to my first journal event. It was held at the offices of Firm X and it was quickly apparent that the event had less to do with welcoming us to the journal than it did recruiting us to the firm. I did meet some of my journal colleagues and there seems to be some folks I could get along with. All in all, I think the journal experience will be doable and, at times, even enjoyable. I just need to brush up on my schmoozing.
I've got an interview tomorrown and 15 scheduled for next week. Not to mention the half dozen firms I'm not scheduled with that I plan to harass. I hope I have the stamina.
On Monday, I began training for Law Fellow (legal writing fellow, whatever you call it, I teach weekly LRW workshop to 1Ls). Eight to nine hours a day of "training," followed by 2-4 hours of "homework." The week has been full of grand concepts and optimism. The cynic in me is stewing. I like thinking everything will be great (and our students will love us and really care about the class, etc.) as much as the next guy, but it's simply not the case. Not at Georgetown anyway. There will inevitably be some pompous idiot who thinks his Yale communications degree or failed internet start-up or "excellent" writing skills mean he doesn't have to try. There will inevitably be the person who thinks the assignments suck. Or the professor sucks. Or law school sucks. Or everything sucks. There will inevitably be the student who just doesn't get it and is questioning his/her very presence in law school. There will be the insecure, former straight-A student who is afraid to do or say anything that he/she didn't hear directly from the professor.
All the optimism in the world doesn't help when we're dealing with the realities of what we're likely to face. I think part of the problem is many of my colleagues came straight from undergrad and haven't yet faced some of the harsh realities of the world. Or maybe they didn't have the same experience as I did during the first-year. I was pragamatic. I wanted to learn how to do it so I could get good grades. Period. Save the optimism and waxing poetic about the intrinsic value of writing for somebody else. But, I will teach the curriculum I am given and I will do my best to teach it well. And it matters not because my class will love me. After all, my fiancee offered to make them cookies.
Last night I went to my first journal event. It was held at the offices of Firm X and it was quickly apparent that the event had less to do with welcoming us to the journal than it did recruiting us to the firm. I did meet some of my journal colleagues and there seems to be some folks I could get along with. All in all, I think the journal experience will be doable and, at times, even enjoyable. I just need to brush up on my schmoozing.
I've got an interview tomorrown and 15 scheduled for next week. Not to mention the half dozen firms I'm not scheduled with that I plan to harass. I hope I have the stamina.
August 10, 2004
Interviewing (and vacation) Bliss
I just wrapped up five hours worth of interviews (two firms) that I was able to schedule during my trip out west. It went fairly well I think, although it's always tough to tell. But there were no awkward silences, no fumbled questions, a good amount of laughs, and a generally pleasant conversation with the 7 attorneys I met. My advice for those interviewing: come up with lots of questions ahead of time. I had several prepared, but ran in to one attorney who had nothing to say, and quickly exhausted by question bank. It was no big deal, you can always BS a quick question or ask something you already know, but it's always nice to be overprepared!
I was skeptical about the first firm and after spending a few hours there much of my skepticism remains. The atmosphere was more relaxed than I expected, the offices plush, and the attorneys were friendly. The second firm, on the other hand, far exceeded my expectations and I left with a good feeling that it could be a "right" fit for me. It was very relaxed, collegial (the attorneys had nicknames for each other), and comfortable. Associates seems to have quite a bit a freedom and the work appears to be interesting. It looks pretty good.
Unfortunately, we will have to wait and see what happens before there's anything to get excited about. Since both firms are smallish large firms, they will only be hiring 4-5 summers associates. As such, neither firm makes their offers on a rolling basis. Instead, they hold off until they have completed their on-campus recruiting interviews. That means I won't hear much until September. In the meantime, no news will be considered good news, as both firms do "rolling rejections."
I'm spending the night in the city and have one more interview tomorrow morning. After that, I can return to the pleasant void of activity that is my vacation. I'm enjoying the rest while I can. On Monday, law fellow training begins. We've already been given our first journal assignment. And OCI is the following week...
I was skeptical about the first firm and after spending a few hours there much of my skepticism remains. The atmosphere was more relaxed than I expected, the offices plush, and the attorneys were friendly. The second firm, on the other hand, far exceeded my expectations and I left with a good feeling that it could be a "right" fit for me. It was very relaxed, collegial (the attorneys had nicknames for each other), and comfortable. Associates seems to have quite a bit a freedom and the work appears to be interesting. It looks pretty good.
Unfortunately, we will have to wait and see what happens before there's anything to get excited about. Since both firms are smallish large firms, they will only be hiring 4-5 summers associates. As such, neither firm makes their offers on a rolling basis. Instead, they hold off until they have completed their on-campus recruiting interviews. That means I won't hear much until September. In the meantime, no news will be considered good news, as both firms do "rolling rejections."
I'm spending the night in the city and have one more interview tomorrow morning. After that, I can return to the pleasant void of activity that is my vacation. I'm enjoying the rest while I can. On Monday, law fellow training begins. We've already been given our first journal assignment. And OCI is the following week...
August 05, 2004
1L No More
It's finally, completely, and officially over. I am a 1L no more. I realize I've claimed this rite of passage before, but I have since decided that both my summer job and the write-on competition are technically 1L events. Both are now complete and my 2L year begins with a few interviews next week at Portland firms (along with a much needed vacation to visit family and friends on the North Coast of Oregon). The week after that is Law Fellow training. The week after that is OCI. And the week after that, classes start. No rest for the weary.
My last day in chambers was good. The Judge and clerks surprised me with a very nice card and some gigantic (and quite tasty) cookies. The Judge said some nice things, admonished me to drop his name loudly and frequently, and said I had a standing invitation to return any time. I will likely come back in September to observe some hearings for the cases I've been working on. The clerks also said nice things and offered to help me out in my firm search and to get me interviews at their future firms (which I will likely take them up on if the OCI lottery fails me). I finished my last assignment about 7pm, placed my key to chambers on the desk, and left.
I could not have asked for a better summer job. While it required a lot of work, it was also an invaluable experience. The time I spent in court, reviewing motions, and talking with the judge taught me more about this little system we call justice than my entire first year. My assignments were interesting, challenging, and substantive. They didn't waste my time, and I didn't waste theirs. I leave with an incredible reference (the Judge) and contacts with several attorneys in the area (both clerks and some other attorneys who appeared before the Court), in addition to an increased confidence in my own ability (although my fiancee would probably tell you that increased confidence is the last thing I need) and a much better understanding of the law and the legal system.
To all Pre-Ls out there: go for a judicial internship during your 1L summer. It may not pay, but it offers an unparalleled experience and opportunity (and from what I can tell so far, future employers dig the sight of it).
In other "official end-of-1L" news, the Write-On results are in. I was invited to join the Georgetown Law Journal (aka main journal, law review, whatever). I think I'll accept.
Off to Oregon tomorrow. Hooray!
My last day in chambers was good. The Judge and clerks surprised me with a very nice card and some gigantic (and quite tasty) cookies. The Judge said some nice things, admonished me to drop his name loudly and frequently, and said I had a standing invitation to return any time. I will likely come back in September to observe some hearings for the cases I've been working on. The clerks also said nice things and offered to help me out in my firm search and to get me interviews at their future firms (which I will likely take them up on if the OCI lottery fails me). I finished my last assignment about 7pm, placed my key to chambers on the desk, and left.
I could not have asked for a better summer job. While it required a lot of work, it was also an invaluable experience. The time I spent in court, reviewing motions, and talking with the judge taught me more about this little system we call justice than my entire first year. My assignments were interesting, challenging, and substantive. They didn't waste my time, and I didn't waste theirs. I leave with an incredible reference (the Judge) and contacts with several attorneys in the area (both clerks and some other attorneys who appeared before the Court), in addition to an increased confidence in my own ability (although my fiancee would probably tell you that increased confidence is the last thing I need) and a much better understanding of the law and the legal system.
To all Pre-Ls out there: go for a judicial internship during your 1L summer. It may not pay, but it offers an unparalleled experience and opportunity (and from what I can tell so far, future employers dig the sight of it).
In other "official end-of-1L" news, the Write-On results are in. I was invited to join the Georgetown Law Journal (aka main journal, law review, whatever). I think I'll accept.
Off to Oregon tomorrow. Hooray!
August 03, 2004
We Don't Need No Water
Let' see . . . what's been going on? Oh yeah, the courthouse burned down.
Well . . . not exactly, but the chambers of Senior Judge Laurence Silberman of the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals (who also happens to be a Georgetown Professor) did. And the rest of the courthouse suffered smoke and water damage. Our chambers are directly below Judge Silberman's and got it pretty bad. Despite numerous cleanings, chambers remains covered in a fine layer of soot. The smell is like a wet ashtray and it burns the eyes and throat after awhile. Our courtroom also suffered fairly severe water, smoke, and soot damage and will be closed for awhile. At least, tomorrow is my last day; I only hope I don't leave my internship with a fresh case of lung cancer to go with my nice letter of recommendation.
My last day should be an interesting one. I have quite a bit more work to do on my final assignment, so it could be a late night. Yesterday, I finally finished a two-week, 33-page memorandum outlining why a Title VII plaintiff, despite nearly 2000 pages of "evidence," simply cannot survive summary judgment. Since then, I have made good progress on my last assignment, which is a fairly complex question of Article III standing, but much more remains to be done. We'll see what happens; either I'll get it done or I'll be a complete failure in the eyes of all I care about. Either way, I'm heading to the West Coast on Friday.
Write-on results are also supposed to be available tomorrow. While the pragmatic and ambitious law student in me hopes I make main journal (aka Law Review), my heart and desire to minimize the misery of the journal experience is pulling for my second choice. Either way, I'm heading to the West Coast on Friday.
Well . . . not exactly, but the chambers of Senior Judge Laurence Silberman of the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals (who also happens to be a Georgetown Professor) did. And the rest of the courthouse suffered smoke and water damage. Our chambers are directly below Judge Silberman's and got it pretty bad. Despite numerous cleanings, chambers remains covered in a fine layer of soot. The smell is like a wet ashtray and it burns the eyes and throat after awhile. Our courtroom also suffered fairly severe water, smoke, and soot damage and will be closed for awhile. At least, tomorrow is my last day; I only hope I don't leave my internship with a fresh case of lung cancer to go with my nice letter of recommendation.
My last day should be an interesting one. I have quite a bit more work to do on my final assignment, so it could be a late night. Yesterday, I finally finished a two-week, 33-page memorandum outlining why a Title VII plaintiff, despite nearly 2000 pages of "evidence," simply cannot survive summary judgment. Since then, I have made good progress on my last assignment, which is a fairly complex question of Article III standing, but much more remains to be done. We'll see what happens; either I'll get it done or I'll be a complete failure in the eyes of all I care about. Either way, I'm heading to the West Coast on Friday.
Write-on results are also supposed to be available tomorrow. While the pragmatic and ambitious law student in me hopes I make main journal (aka Law Review), my heart and desire to minimize the misery of the journal experience is pulling for my second choice. Either way, I'm heading to the West Coast on Friday.
