I'm going to try and rip off a quick post here before I have to leave for class.
The Green Bay Packers are 3-0, the Ohio State Buckeyes are 4-0, and Tenacious D Softball is 1-1. The win came by default, though... we were playing the Law Republicans and there were no girls on their team, so they had to forfeit. But we decided to just give them a few of our players so we could play anyway. They ended up beating us 18-9, I think. Good thing they had to forfeit. I got on base twice... both times by being walked. I think I only scored one run, though, because the other time I got on with two outs and then someone hit a pop fly. Our next game is tomorrow, but I don't think I'll be able to play because it's from 4:30-5:30 and I have CASA training at 6. I don't think I should be going to CASA all dusty and smelling like B.O.
Speaking of CASA, it's going really well. We have 5 training sessions left, and then we get sworn in by the judge! I think he's supposed to be coming to our training tomorrow night to talk to us. That should be really interesting. I'm excited about getting started on a case, but I'm nervous, too. It's such a big and important responsibility! I know we have supervisors to give us advice, but I just can't believe that just normal people off the street could so quickly become court advocates. That seems crazy to me. Ooh and I met a new Puerto Rican friend at CASA. He is from San Juan and grew up there. He came to the states for college (Harvard), then worked for a few years, and then now is here at law school.
That reminds me... it surprises me how old some of my peers are! They look like people who would have come straight from college, but I look at their Facebook profiles, and they're 2004 graduates! THEY WERE BORN IN THE '70s! It just completely surprises me everytime I see someone who I think is maybe 24 or 25 and they're 28, 29, or 30! I guess it's so weird for me because I'm at the opposite end of the age spectrum, so even though 28 is not old AT ALL, it's just so surprising that they're 7 years older than me when I thought they were the same age.
Yesterday, a small group from our section went out to King Family Vineyards in Crozet for a wine-tasting and polo match. It was really neat. I'd never seen polo before and I'd never been wine-tasting before. I now know why people say things like, "This wine has a woody flavor," because one of the wines DID TASTE LIKE WOOD. I seriously thought I was drinking liquified tree bark. I didn't like that one very much. I thought the chardonnay was pretty good, but the other people there, who are the wine connoseuirs (sp?) of Section D said it was a bit too oaky. I really liked the dessert wine. It tasted like sugary apricots.
I think I'm going to be cold-called in Criminal Law today. I saw Harmon's seating chart in class last week and she uses Post-it flags to mark the people who are next in line. I think one of the flags was on my seat. Tomorrow, I'm heading up a group with five other people to go out to lunch with Professor Harmon. She is just so awesome. Five-foot-nothing, but if you get on her bad side, she is the most intimidating person you could ever meet. The more we learn in Criminal Law, the more I think that might be the direction I'm headed, so tomorrow will be a great opportunity to sit down with her and learn more about her experiences. She worked for a while as a federal prosecutor in New York, I believe, and she dealt a lot with sex crimes, apparently.
Human Rights Project is offering foreign language classes in the evenings in October and November. I'm interested, but do I really want to take on something else? I'd like to learn either Portuguese or Arabic. I'm also signing up to tryout for the Extramural Moot Court Team, but the tryout isn't for a few more weeks. (Moot Court = Mock Trial) They were asking for someone to tryout also for a competition that they're going to in March... IN VIENNA. Austria is at the top of places I want to visit, but it was a week long competition that came the week after spring break. So basically, go on spring break, come back on Monday, and then leave Friday for Austria. I wanted to sign up to try out for that so badly, but I don't think that missing a week's worth of classes is a good idea for a 1L. Maybe if they continue to go to that competition, I could do it next year.
Saturday is Foxfield... It's a big event at UVA (undergrad, too) and this weekend is the law school's weekend. Foxfield is a horse race... and apparently the goal of UVA Law students is to go to Foxfield all three years and to never see a horse. You are supposed to show up around 10:30 AM and start drinking. You're also supposed to wear ridiculous outfits (sundresses, seersucker, etc.). Knowing me, I'd probably be one of the few people to go to UVA Law and see a horse every year.
Fall break is coming up in a few weeks and I really want to go out to Columbus. Nathan is going to be there because he'll be on fall break, too. I don't know if I can afford the gas, though. And, I'd have to ask Carolyn if I could stay at her house, but I don't think that's a good idea, because if I wanted to go out with people at night (since they'll all be in class during the day) then I'd be coming in late. I just don't want to pay for a hotel. Ugh. I don't know.
Anyway, time to leave for class.
Monday, September 24, 2007
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Oops... I've been slacking!
I didn't mean to wait so long to post, but it's amazing how quickly time goes by. Let's see... where did I leave off?
Well, it ended up turning out that I got selected for BOTH the PCASA program AND the Hunton Williams Pro Bono Partnership. I hardly expected to get picked for either one, let alone both! I asked Dean Emery what I should do, and she said that as a 1L, I probably wouldn't want to do both. So I decided to go with the PCASA program. Tuesday night was the first night of training, and we learned a bit more about what sorts of things we would have to do. I'm excited because apparently there are a few families who speak Spanish who have been on a waiting list to get served because no one in the PCASA office can speak Spanish and as a non-profit, they can't afford to hire interpreters. Generally, training is supposed to be Tuesday and Thursday evenings, but because of Rosh Hashanah, there was no training tonight. Instead, we're pulling a double training shift on Saturday morning/afternoon. I'm really excited about the program.
Oh, and my memo... Well, we got them back on Wednesday. I did pretty well, but definitely not as well as I thought after I finished it. It turned out that my biggest problem was in the logical organization of the memo. When doing your analysis, you're supposed to use the IRAC formula: Issue, Rule, Analysis, Conclusion. According to the comments on my memo, I was tending to mix-up the R and the A. We have to write another memo this week. It's actually going to be TWICE as long, so I need to really focus on making sure I have the correct organization this time.
My section had softball practice tonight. I got up to bat 4 times, and each time I hit the ball on the first pitch. That's pretty amazing, considering that at the last practice, they probably had to throw me 15 pitches before I actually hit the ball. Anyway, the first time I went up to bat, I was thrown out at first. The other three times, I got on base! It was pretty exciting. Knowing me, though, that will be the end of my lucky streak and I'll strike out during every game we play. Tomorrow morning is our first game.
I'm reading Catch-22 in my spare time. It's hilarious. I was worried that I wouldn't like it, but I really do. It's so funny. I'm super tired, so I think I'm going to shower and crawl into bed.
Well, it ended up turning out that I got selected for BOTH the PCASA program AND the Hunton Williams Pro Bono Partnership. I hardly expected to get picked for either one, let alone both! I asked Dean Emery what I should do, and she said that as a 1L, I probably wouldn't want to do both. So I decided to go with the PCASA program. Tuesday night was the first night of training, and we learned a bit more about what sorts of things we would have to do. I'm excited because apparently there are a few families who speak Spanish who have been on a waiting list to get served because no one in the PCASA office can speak Spanish and as a non-profit, they can't afford to hire interpreters. Generally, training is supposed to be Tuesday and Thursday evenings, but because of Rosh Hashanah, there was no training tonight. Instead, we're pulling a double training shift on Saturday morning/afternoon. I'm really excited about the program.
Oh, and my memo... Well, we got them back on Wednesday. I did pretty well, but definitely not as well as I thought after I finished it. It turned out that my biggest problem was in the logical organization of the memo. When doing your analysis, you're supposed to use the IRAC formula: Issue, Rule, Analysis, Conclusion. According to the comments on my memo, I was tending to mix-up the R and the A. We have to write another memo this week. It's actually going to be TWICE as long, so I need to really focus on making sure I have the correct organization this time.
My section had softball practice tonight. I got up to bat 4 times, and each time I hit the ball on the first pitch. That's pretty amazing, considering that at the last practice, they probably had to throw me 15 pitches before I actually hit the ball. Anyway, the first time I went up to bat, I was thrown out at first. The other three times, I got on base! It was pretty exciting. Knowing me, though, that will be the end of my lucky streak and I'll strike out during every game we play. Tomorrow morning is our first game.
I'm reading Catch-22 in my spare time. It's hilarious. I was worried that I wouldn't like it, but I really do. It's so funny. I'm super tired, so I think I'm going to shower and crawl into bed.
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
My first memo
I just finished my first legal memo (well, practice memo, really) for my Legal Research & Writing class. For some reason, I am very proud of it. And when I say proud, I mean like EXCESSIVELY proud. I don't know why. I feel like it's the best thing I've ever written, and it's obviously NOT. It wasn't even HARD, but for some reason there is pride oozing out of my pores at the completion of this memo.
Inexplicable hubris aside, I talked to Brandon online for a bit tonight. It was nice to catch up with him. I hope to see him when I go to Columbus next month. I can't wait!
Inexplicable hubris aside, I talked to Brandon online for a bit tonight. It was nice to catch up with him. I hope to see him when I go to Columbus next month. I can't wait!
Sunday, September 2, 2007
A Whirlwind of a Week
So needless to say, I didn't get the pictures of the apartment up during the week like I intended to. It seems that I'm busy all the time, BUT I haven't felt overwhelmed or stressed out yet, so it's a good busy. There's a lot to talk about.
Lots of law schools (and UVA especially) really stress the importance of pro bono, which is providing free legal services to those who need it but can't afford it. A lot of law firms do pro bono activities, too. UVA has a Pro Bono Challenge. The challenge is to earn 25 pro bono hours each year for a total of 75 once you graduate. Anyone who meets the challenge gets to attend a special ceremony and receives special recognition at graduation. I want to be one of those people.
Right now, I've found two pro bono activities that I'm really interested in. One is to serve as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for a child who has been or is in danger of being taken away from their home by the State due to abuse or neglect. Basically, you interview the child, the parents, the child's teachers, inspect the home, and go to the child's court hearings, where you make recommendations to the court as to whether the child should be returned to the home or not. You have to attend 30 hours of training, and then you go to a special induction at the courthouse where the judge swears you in (you have to take an oath!) as an officer of the Court.
The other one I'm currently applying for is a pro bono partnership with Hunton & Williams, a law firm out of Richmond. They have one program that is similar to the CASA program, and another one that is an Immigration Law Partnership. Basically, you help immigrants file for asylum or amnesty or whatever other things they need. Not only is this one great because of how it helps people, but for me personally, it would allow me to keep up with my Spanish and it would allow me to network with a law firm (which could always come in handy during the summer).
Neither program takes very many law students, and the Hunton & Williams one may want 2 or 3L's who have actual legal experience. Either way, I'm applying for both of them. I think I really want to do the immigration one more, but either one would be a fantastic opportunity. Keep your fingers crossed for me!
Friday was the Annual UVA Law Dandelion Parade. Essentially it's the law school's sanctioned 1L and LLM (foreign students who have law degrees in their country but want some American legal education, too) hazing event. Each section has to come up with a theme that starts with their section letter. Originally we wanted to do Dogfighting! and I was supposed to be Michael Vick. But we heard rumors that it might be offensive to some people due to apparent racial implications in the case. So at the last minute, we changed our theme to Dancing through the Decades. We had 50's swing, 60's randomness, 70's YMCA, 80's "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go", 90's NSYNC, and 2010 which was supposed to represent when we graduate. It was pretty hilarious. I was in the 90's group, so we did "Bye, Bye, Bye." Unfortunately, we didn't even come in third place, but it was fun. Some of the other sections had pretty bad themes and it was impossible to figure out what was going on in their skits. The LLM's won with their theme of "Look Like Migrants." They all dressed in their traditional native costumes and did a traditional dance. It was really good.
Yesterday, mom, dad, and Steffen came down for the day. We went to lunch at Wild Wing Cafe so that we could watch the Ohio State game. Not only did Ohio State win (and Boeckmann looked rather decent) but M*CH!G@N LOST TO DIVISION 1-AA APPALACHIAN STATE. That made my day. It might even have made my life. Best opening day of college football EVER. It was weird watching an Ohio State game and not being in Ohio Stadium, though... At least I get to go back in six weeks for the game against Kent State.
Today I'm just working on homework. I'm almost finished with what I need done for tomorrow, so I'm trying to get ahead on stuff for Tuesday and Wednesday. I love law school.
Oh, and here are the long-awaited pictures of my apartment. The walls are bare... at some point in the future I'll have some money to actually decorate...
The Den (my study area)
My Desk (yes, I know it needs to be organized.)
Bedroom
Dining Area
Living Room
Kitchen
Lots of law schools (and UVA especially) really stress the importance of pro bono, which is providing free legal services to those who need it but can't afford it. A lot of law firms do pro bono activities, too. UVA has a Pro Bono Challenge. The challenge is to earn 25 pro bono hours each year for a total of 75 once you graduate. Anyone who meets the challenge gets to attend a special ceremony and receives special recognition at graduation. I want to be one of those people.
Right now, I've found two pro bono activities that I'm really interested in. One is to serve as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for a child who has been or is in danger of being taken away from their home by the State due to abuse or neglect. Basically, you interview the child, the parents, the child's teachers, inspect the home, and go to the child's court hearings, where you make recommendations to the court as to whether the child should be returned to the home or not. You have to attend 30 hours of training, and then you go to a special induction at the courthouse where the judge swears you in (you have to take an oath!) as an officer of the Court.
The other one I'm currently applying for is a pro bono partnership with Hunton & Williams, a law firm out of Richmond. They have one program that is similar to the CASA program, and another one that is an Immigration Law Partnership. Basically, you help immigrants file for asylum or amnesty or whatever other things they need. Not only is this one great because of how it helps people, but for me personally, it would allow me to keep up with my Spanish and it would allow me to network with a law firm (which could always come in handy during the summer).
Neither program takes very many law students, and the Hunton & Williams one may want 2 or 3L's who have actual legal experience. Either way, I'm applying for both of them. I think I really want to do the immigration one more, but either one would be a fantastic opportunity. Keep your fingers crossed for me!
Friday was the Annual UVA Law Dandelion Parade. Essentially it's the law school's sanctioned 1L and LLM (foreign students who have law degrees in their country but want some American legal education, too) hazing event. Each section has to come up with a theme that starts with their section letter. Originally we wanted to do Dogfighting! and I was supposed to be Michael Vick. But we heard rumors that it might be offensive to some people due to apparent racial implications in the case. So at the last minute, we changed our theme to Dancing through the Decades. We had 50's swing, 60's randomness, 70's YMCA, 80's "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go", 90's NSYNC, and 2010 which was supposed to represent when we graduate. It was pretty hilarious. I was in the 90's group, so we did "Bye, Bye, Bye." Unfortunately, we didn't even come in third place, but it was fun. Some of the other sections had pretty bad themes and it was impossible to figure out what was going on in their skits. The LLM's won with their theme of "Look Like Migrants." They all dressed in their traditional native costumes and did a traditional dance. It was really good.
Yesterday, mom, dad, and Steffen came down for the day. We went to lunch at Wild Wing Cafe so that we could watch the Ohio State game. Not only did Ohio State win (and Boeckmann looked rather decent) but M*CH!G@N LOST TO DIVISION 1-AA APPALACHIAN STATE. That made my day. It might even have made my life. Best opening day of college football EVER. It was weird watching an Ohio State game and not being in Ohio Stadium, though... At least I get to go back in six weeks for the game against Kent State.
Today I'm just working on homework. I'm almost finished with what I need done for tomorrow, so I'm trying to get ahead on stuff for Tuesday and Wednesday. I love law school.
Oh, and here are the long-awaited pictures of my apartment. The walls are bare... at some point in the future I'll have some money to actually decorate...
The Den (my study area)
My Desk (yes, I know it needs to be organized.)
Bedroom
Dining Area
Living Room
Kitchen
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