Memory Lane

tomorrow is officially the last day of school for all first year law students at the university of minnesota (i'm pretty sure it's also the last day for second and third also, but it's not like they come to school anymore, so i'm not sure it counts). of course, there are stil finall exams left, but i feel like this year has gone by real fast. from the very first day that we entered mondale high for orientation where every seat was filled to our very last day of class tomorrow which i'm guessing is going to have about a 60% turnout rate, to everything in between.

some highlights

i. orientation, where all we really cared about was getting our laptops. those 3 days proved to be a test of how long we could pay attention without having access to wireless internet. and i still can't believe they had they brought in the reps from lexisnexis and westlaw like anyone really knew what they were talking about or even cared, but i did learn i can get 25 points for answering some trivia questions.

ii. my very first 'brief' was actually longer in page length than the case in the book. i basically highlighted every line in the case except the date, then copied the text straight into my document, and appropriately named it brief. in retrospect, that really wasn't a brief. and i'm still confused how we could write a 15 page paper for legal writing and call it a brief. 15 pages? that's a "long". i wouldn't write a 500 page novel then call it a short story. it just doesn't add up.

iii. the first day of con law with professor charles. no introduction, no let's use this class to discuss what we will cover during the year. it was more like...chucky opening the casebook, "okay...mr so and so...what was the holding of marbury vs. madison???" (me thinking to myself, wtf is a holding?? marbury who? stephen marbury?? please don't call on me, oh man i'm going to fail this class). then when someone could not answer his question, having the class wait 5 minutes so someone could read the case. welcome to law school ladies and gentlemen.

iv. but things weren't so bad, the first time i found out they give you free lunch to going to lunch meetings, good times. i don't even have to care about what they talk about or if i really support the organization (not that i don't). if you're really smooth you don't even have to go to the meetings, you just kind of walk in take a few slices or pizza, and kind of walk out the door. on the other hand, i never thought i would ever get sick of quizno's or pizza. i now hate both.

v. the first time being called on. after the fourth question (none of which answers came from the reading), my only thought was..."why you stressing me? you ain't my mom" . next

vi. the first of many section b parties. by far the best section. good times.

vii. legal writing at 8 am in the morning. so you're telling me it's pass/fail and no one fails? awesome, it can't be that bad...no it is that bad. oh wait, then they hit you with the bluebooking. which goes something like this "my comma was italicized?" how could you even tell (and why does it matter?)...oh it matters.

viii. outlining. it goes something like this.
me: so what you're telling me, is that i have to take all my notes, and then make notes of them?
2L: well only the important stuff.
me: you mean that everything that i took notes on is not important
2L: haha, you have so much to learn

ix. study guides. wtf? they go something like this.
me: so you mean we have to pay for books, we pay for tuition and then we have to buy supplements to help us learn the material?
2L: well the study guides will help you learn the law
me: the law? isn't that what i'm here to learn in the first place
2L: haha, you have so much to learn

x. all the other great/painful experiences such as the malpractice ball (aka law school prom), T.O.R.T musical, bar review, the 24 hour library, 100% finals, minnesota winter...i'm sure i'm missing some things. i know i am, but i have to get back to outlining my outline.

law school is alright, it's too bad class gets in the way.