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
1 comment:
I looked atcher pictures but totally forgot to comment! I love the apt. It's much cleaner than mine, but I have wood-paneled walls, which may make it look less clean than stark white walls (which I have in my bedroom). I like that you call your study area the den. Also, you are the neatest human being known to man. Seriously. Like, even your handwriting.
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