almost halfway done with law school!

I'm glad to have just finished my first final of this semester, and am only one week away (i.e., one 15-page paper and a 4-hour final) from being halfway through law school.  It's been a crazy (and sometimes fun) experience.  I think I've learned a lot in the past year and a half, but I still don't feel anywhere close to ready to take the bar exam or become a lawyer.  Maybe this will change in the next year or so?

Thus far, I've studied the following subjects and taken the following classes in law school:

1. Administrative Law & Regulatory Policy
2. Advanced Legal Research
3. Civil Procedure
4. Clinical Evidence
5. Constitutional Law
6. Contracts
7. Corporations
8. Criminal Law
9. Federal Income Taxation
10. Legal Research & Writing
11. Nonprofit/Transactional Clinic
12. Property Law
13. Torts

Vote NO on Proposition 8

If you're registered to vote in California, please make sure to get out there (or send in your absentee ballot) and vote NO on Proposition 8!  Prop. 8 is an intolerant and narrow-minded measure that will curtail our fundamental rights as equal citizens of California.

Prop. 8 supporters need to remember that, not too long ago, many of their parents and ancestors were also the victims of hate crimes and discrimination.  They too were called names, denied jobs, thrown into internment camps, segregated, or denied opportunities because of their skin, their culture, their language, or their religion. 

As a society, we have come very far in the fight for equality: expanding civil rights, embracing diversity, shattering glass ceilings, and now, having an African American poised to become the next President of the U.S.  But a measure like Prop. 8 threatens to set us back immeasurably--to take us back to a period of "separate but equal" discrimination, cultural paranoia, and xenophobia. 

Gay marriage doesn't harm anyone. It doesn't take anything away from the institution of marriage; it won't adulterate education in schools; it won't take away funding from churches.  Rather, it's about allowing all people, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender, to express their love and commitment for each other in a way that is fully recognized by law, with the same rights, the same benefits, and the same label of "marriage."

There is no legitimate or rational reason why anyone would support a ban on gay marriage.  Join me in voting against it on November 4th!

Currently Listening Turbulent Indigo By Joni Mitchell see related

summer is coming to an end

I've had a busy and fun-filled summer, but it's finally coming to an end.  Part of me is glad to be returning to the comfortable schedule and intellectual challenge of classes, but the other part of me is less excited about giving up my free time and trading in the lazy weekends of summer for cold-calling, case briefing, and outlining.  Law school has been very intense and interesting; I've really enjoyed the intellectual rigor, the analytical issue-spotting, and the Socratic dialogue.  However, it's also been a lot of work.  I'm not looking forward to 12-hour study sessions in the library, hundreds of pages of class and book notes, or getting called on in class on the rare occasion when I'm too tired to prep cases.  In any cases, I'm glad that we're moving to a non-numerical grading system!  No more grades means more time to explore classes that interest me without worrying about a teacher's grading methods.

One of the nice things about my school is that we have a super-long summer (17 weeks).  After exams ended in early May, EY and I took a 10-day food vacation to Hong Kong, then I spent 11 weeks at one of Silicon Valley's top technology law firms, which was a tremendous learning experience (and lots of fun as well).  Afterwards, I went with my law school on a two-week trip to China, visiting government agencies, non-profit organizations, and local law firms in order to learn more about business, economic growth, and development of rule of law in China.  One of the highlights of the two-week trip, however, was the opportunity to be in Beijing during the Olympics.  I managed to see the women's all-around gymnastics final (with the unprecedented US 1-2 finish!) and two track & field events inside the Bird's Nest--all breathtaking and unforgettable experiences.

Now, it's two weeks of on-campus interviewing before classes start up next week.  I've only got a few more interviews lined up this week, so I'm taking it easy and settling into my studio before heading home to So Cal for the weekend.

Currently Reading The Street Lawyer By John Grisham see related

dreaming about the law

Until this past week, I didn't expect that I'd ever be so consumed with law school that I'd be eating, breathing, and dreaming about the law.  But after several 12 hour+ days of studying for my admin. final--outlining during rushed meals and whiffing too many markers while group studying--I found myself having bad dreams about the Chevron doctrine, prudential standing, and arbitrary and capricious review.  I think school is finally cracking me. 

It is nice, however, to be on spring break and have a few days where I'm not thinking about all that stuff.  I also, for the first time since August, finished a non-law school related book!

life is sweet right now

I'm done with first semester of law school, I have a job offer for the summer, and I'm heading on a fun road trip to SoCal.  

I'm happy.