Learn What It’s Like to be a Lawyer ASAP, and Get in the Loop!

Law school is a scary time for even the bravest and most outgoing first-year law students. You don’t understand the weird legal stuff that people talk about at social events. Lawyers and other law students make law-jokes you don’t think are funny. And, for the most part, you feel as though you are out of the loop. As a law student, I highly recommend students to diligently work to get some exposure to the world of a lawyer as soon as possible—the first semester of law school is a great, if not crucial, time to start.

I had a hard time getting in the loop at first. I tried to mingle with attorneys when I could, but it was hard for me to jump in a conversation with them. Many people approached my concern with good advice such as “just be yourself, people have to like you for who you are.” However, this advice did not get me too far because I was already being myself. My problem was that I did not know what it was like to be a lawyer, so I could not relate to them. I took the wrong approach to this issue at first by ignoring it and avoiding embarrassment. I decided to focus only on the academic side of law school and took solace in the belief that I would somehow figure it out later. However, this hurt my ability to get a job later when I could not relate to the lawyers who were interviewing me.

That is when I started searching for the missing link—the link to the information that would get me in this exclusive club for lawyers only. I observed other students who I felt were in the loop. How did they figure it out? A quick survey revealed that these students had been more proactive than I had been and were working or had worked at a law firm, had convinced an attorney to mentor them, or had taken the plunge at networking events and learned by trial and error. I had focused just on studying.

I was lucky enough to finally figure it out while working at a law firm in the summer after my first year. There I explained my concerns to a St. Thomas alumnus who mentored me and got me in the loop. Just in time for my last on-campus interview; however, this was almost too late for me. Plus, there were a couple of awkward moments during my first year of law school that I would have been happier without.

Now, what do I recommend to you: the prospective law student or the law student who is not in the loop yet? I have identified many opportunities I took advantage of that made a huge impact in my law school career and showed me what it’s like to be a lawyer: (1) get a mentor ASAP; (2) search for and go to every networking event possible; (3) join organizations on campus; and (4) get an externship placement.

First, mentors will be the key to understanding what it takes to be a lawyer because you can share your concerns with them and they can back you up at networking events. A mentor should be a lawyer or faculty member, or other second-year and third-year law students who you feel are in the loop already. Asking someone to be your mentor is not an intrusive request, so do not be afraid to ask. From my experience, people in this profession are happy to mentor students who ask.

Second, networking events are a great place to make friends in the legal world, and while you may not understand what they are talking about all the time, with enough exposure, you will start to pick things up. Remember that the point of a networking event is to meet people. No one will take offense to you inviting yourself to listen to a group discussion. Pay careful attention to people’s comments and others’ reactions. After enough times, you will hear groups of people talking about something you have heard discussed before. Now, you will have something safe to say because you heard someone say it before and saw the reaction of the group. This will enhance your confidence with group conversations at networking events. And before you know it, you will be in the loop, talking and laughing about weird legal stuff just like everyone else.

Third, joining organizations on campus will open up many more opportunities for networking. Student organizations are geared toward helping students establish relationships with lawyers and other law students. Some students may even be willing to share their mentor with you.

Finally, working as an intern for a law firm, judge, or government agency will put you in the loop for at least 20 hours a week. St. Thomas has one of the best clinical placement services I have heard of. Almost everyone that applies gets placed somewhere. This is extremely helpful in many ways. You learn what it’s like to be a lawyer by watching and practicing, and it will look great on your résumé. This program has allowed me to work for a federal judge, the US Attorney’s Office, and I am now applying for a placement at the State Attorney’s Office. It is imperative for you to take advantage of this clinical placement program while at St. Thomas.

I hope my thoughts have helped you in some way. I welcome questions and relevant examples of social situations you have been in and how you reacted to them. Good luck!

Musings From a Third Year Law Student

Hi All -

So things here in law school land are crazy, as usual. Aside from the usual course load, I am busy with Law Review, interning, and, of course, my beloved Mock Trial. On November 14, two teams of 5 St. Thomas students will be competing in the FJA Mock Trial Competition in West Palm Beach. As one of those students, my life has been consumed by practicing and strategy sessions. This, however, will be my last Mock Trial competition and I want to go out with a bang... which means I want to win so bad that I dream about cross examination at night. It makes for a rather interesting night's sleep.... This semester has flown by and it is beginning to hit me that after this, there is only one more semester and then I'm done; that's all folks... no more law school.

It is a frightening and exciting and overwhelming and crazy feeling....

Well, I must return to the land of trying to keep up with my reading while simultaneously learning my closing argument. I hope everyone out there is living their lives to the fullest. Feel free to ask me any questions you have about St. Thomas or law school life in general.

Oh yeah, one more thing before I go... VOTE. I'm not telling you who to vote for because that is none of my business, but nothing makes me angrier than a group of young people who want to change the world, who complain about the world they currently inhabit, and then sit on the sidelines and watch helplessly as the states turn colors. If you want your voice to be heard, start now, with this election.

I will get off my soap box now :)

Cheers,
Dara

ARGHHHH! Summer Exams!

Hi Everyone!

Congrats to Dara on her awesome Summer experience.  (I'm psyched you're loving it, Dara!)  I'd like to share a different perspective, on a different kind of law school Summer.  I'm taking three classes this Summer, 9 credits.  Evidence, Wills and Trusts, Agency and Partnership.  I also have two active research positions, a life, a husband, a bird, a wooden boat (lots of work to keep her afloat), and a need to sleep sometimes.  It's been...busy.  I like Summer classes because I'm sort of an "all-or-nothing" person, and I love the intensity of the abbreviated semester.  I just emerged (somewhat unscathed, I think...I hope) from my Evidence exam.  It was challenging, but fair.  As usual, I wish I'd had more time to fully MEMORIZE EVERYTHING (before the exam, that is).  But that's always the case with me.  If I see something I don't automatically know, but I know right where it is in the book, in my outline, or in my notes, it drives me coconutty!  My Summer semester has been spent reading and digesting new material, and getting ready for the exams, with an eye toward getting ready for the BIG KAHUNA of exams:  the Bar.  Since I'm graduating early, it's time to start thinking about it.  I just keep telling myself that I love being a student:  my job is to read.  In the meantime, if you're headed to law school this Fall, make sure you take the time to enjoy yourself!  Get a flip flop tan, and read something fun (I'm an enthusiastic proponent of the pre-law-school Harry Potter survey).  Have a great day!  And enjoy your Summer!

-Covi

Greetings From Summer Associate Land

Hello Out There -

This blog will be short, as I am exhausted from my twelve hour day at work. I now wake up at five in the morning every day to drive downtown. That is the bad news. The good news? I love my job!

I cannot begin to explain how it feels to be getting the type of training I am getting at my firm. So far I have attended two hearings, sat in on a deposition, taken two (mock) depositions, drafted motions for federal court... I even get to participate in a mock trial against the other summer associates from our other offices at the end of the summer... I am learning so much... and to top it all off... I have my own office. With my name on it. Overlooking downtown Miami. My own stapler. My own desk. Crazy.

Saturday night I will be attending a cocktail party at a partner's home. The party is in honor of me and the other summer associate in my office. Yep, they're throwing me a party. And a picnic next weekend. They're paying me, too.

Life is good.

And I owe this experience to St. Thomas University. I got this job through the on campus interview program, and I am so grateful for this opportunity. If anyone has any questions about the program or about life as a summer associate, let me know :)

Cheers,
Dara

One Single Shot At Success

So, I made it through the first week of my finals.  I keep trying to tell myself that this is FUN. This is the time to showcase all the hard work and brilliant, refreshing, innovative interpretations of law and application I put into each area of scholarly endeavor.  Right.  This is freak-out time.  Time to wish I could channel Hermione in the Harry Potter when Professor McGonegal gave her the time-turner, so she could take 2 classes simultaneously (yes, I know I'm a huge dork).  Time to wish I had the 113 minutes it took to watch that Harry Potter favorite BACK to prepare more fully.  I only sit for two "normal" written exams this semester,then I have one take home (Admiralty), and three papers.  The worst is over: my Con Law II and Crim Pro written exams are OVER.  My Con Law II exam was sort of fun, though.  The thing about law school is that in most classes you have ONE CHANCE, ONE GRADE: your final exam.  I alternatively love and hate this.  I have found that the best way for me to learn is to contribute in class, and be a part if the discussion.  This helps me to internalize and reinforce the key aspects of the assigned material.  I just hate exams.  An entire grade rests not just on your knowledge, but on your ability to organize and convey it effectively.  I understand how this commutes to success as an attorney, and being able to communicate and problem solve efficiently.  I just don't care for the stress of the time period surrounding exams, especially the few minutes before the exam is distributed.  I hate that feeling of, "I'm not sure where to begin, or how to begin."  I love that feeling of, "awesome!  I know this!"  It all comes down to what the exam in front of you is asking, what the issue is.  When you're on, you know it.  When you're not, you definitely know it.  I am not an exam adrenalin junkie, that's for sure.  Well, it's almost over, and then Summer classes, and preparing for another set of exams.  I actually have 4 whole days off!  I'm looking forward to reading nothing but Harry Potter.

Finals Are Upon Us

So it is one week before my Con Law Final, I am getting a take home exam in Law and Literature today, I have my final trial in Trial Advocacy tonight, and I am feeling a wee bit numb. At any moment it is going to hit me that the semester is over and the fate of my grades rests solely on these final moments of studying, and I am going to freak out... but for now, I feel detached; calm even. Odd.

In other Dara news, Mock Trial held its end of the year banquet this past weekend, and it was amazing. I have been blessed with an incredible executive board and wonderful new members (including Jesmany who also blogs on here). If anyone out there in Blog World has any questions about Mock Trial here at St. Thomas, just let me know. I am so proud of the program and love to talk about it, so don't be shy lol.

I also start at my firm in less than a month which is a little overwhelming. I will do my very best to keep you updated on what life as a summer associate entails, but I have the feeling I will be working a million hours a week, so it might be difficult :)

Wish me luck. Cross your fingers for me. Send me positive vibes on my exams. All good wishes are appreciated as I head into the lion's den known as finals.

I hope everyone out there is getting closer to their dreams daily!

Cheers,
Dara

Pirate the Parrot: Symbol of Justice and Paragon of Legal Advocacy

I agree with the WebGenius that Pirate makes an excellent mascot for Lasik For Justice, and not because I am at all biased.   If I were, I would respectfully recuse myself from the proceedings, in accordance with the Model Rules of Professional Responsibility, and the Judicial Canon.  As it is, however, Pirate represents numerous relevant aspects of current law. On the substantive level, Pirate's case involves issues of  immigration, euthanasia and fundamental rights, animal abuse, environmental law, and constitutional rights.  On the procedural side, Pirate has just reached the age of majority, and well, he has a trust fund.

Let's look at Pirate's case from a legal perspective:

 

Pirate was illegally smuggled into this country as an egg, in 1990.  He wears a bracelet, basically a small, metal greencard, that indicates he is a legal permanent resident (LPR) of the United States.  Smuggled illegally, he could be eligible for some sort of Temporary Protected Status (TPS), a W-Visa, or Asylum (under the Violence Against Women Act, or VAWA, Pirate is a derivative victim of abuse, and he is legally entitled to certain benefits).  However, as Pirate's beloved parent and sponsor, I complied with all required US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) requirements:  among all other required forms, I submitted an I-864, Affidavit of Support for him, and promised to keep him off welfare and public assistance while he is present in the country.  Since Pirate has been an LPR since 1990, he is eligible for Naturalization.  We are currently working on his Natz filing.

He was born in a nest in Costa Rica, despite his paperwork indicating he was born in Belize. Both countries have worked to create a bustling eco-tourism industry, and do not feel the immediate threats of rapid deforestation as seriously as in other Central and South American countries. However, Pirate is an Amazon parrot, and the Amazon rainforest is the target of widespread deforestation, and its deterioration has a direct effect on global climate change.  Advocates of environmental law and Earth jurisprudence would do well to remember Pirate in their daily work, and remember that his family lives in the canopy of the rainforest.  

 

Pirate was so badly abused (he'd been thrown against a wall, and his collarbone, wings, and toes were broken), that he was scheduled to be euthanised.  He could not hold food or stand.  Until I found him.  We chose each other, and I became Pirate's voice and advocate.  He only speaks about 35 different words and phrases, so he needs my oral argument skills to have a full and fair opportunity to be heard.  I personally protected his fundamental constitutional right to life by intervening in the euthanasia proceedings.  In not keeping him in a cage at home (we object to using the word C-A-G-E in our home), I protect his right to liberty.  Pirate's rights under the 5th and 14th Amendments to the Constitution are duly protected.  I make sure of that.  

Pirate turned 18 on October 13th, 2007.  He has thus reached the age of majority.  He is legally able to contract.  He may vote, and serve in the military.  He has a trust fund (FL permits the establishment of legal, irrevocable trusts for pets), and health insurance.  Since Amazon parrots are capable of living almost 100 years, he is willed to a relative in the event of my death.  As for Pirate's will, I'm not scheduled to take Wills & Trusts until the Summer semester.  I'll let you know then.

 

See how law school changes your thinking?  Forever, and in every aspect of your life!  

(Nota Bene:  Unfortunately, Pirate is currently not LEGALLY entitled the same constitutional, immigration, contract, and environmental rights as human beings, but there's always hope! This was all in good fun, but enjoy!)