My life is over (if I had one)

[purpzeyFCLI]

Although I had a very small semblance of one to begin with. Orientation for law school started officially on Sunday. Today was the second day and we had an assignment.

Read and brief a case which was distributed. Now, understand, I have no idea how to brief a case. However, we were given two different papers on how to do it so, I guess we were supposed to figure it out. The process of figuring this out took about an hour.

Then I had to brief the case. Briefing the case requires not just reading it like a novel, but first, perusing it for the holding (the decision), the rule (the law or rule that decided the case), the issue (self-explanatory), the plantiff, the defendant and also any precedent (old cases used to apply the rule).

Then, you have to read and understand the holding and the rule.

Then you write the brief describing all of this. This process takes about an hour and change depending on the length of the case and it seems they can only get more complicated from here.

For Wednesday, I must read and brief 3 cases. This is orientation. Things can only get heavier. I am very much scared. But I am sure, my life is over.

I was told today "Tell everyone you know you'll be gone for a year."

My life (as poor as it is) is now over.

[JackOfHearts]

Erm.... Congratulations?


I'm sure you'll do fine. Good luck.

[mrbiggs]

That sucks.

[RITFencing]

Serves you right. Law School, Purp. LAW SCHOOL. You should be ashamed.

[Purple Fencer]

Stay away from family law when you decide your speciality....TRUST me!!

[secretly]

don't worry, it's just part of the "weeding out" process. If you're really into it, you'll get through. If not - stop wasting your time and everybody else's.

So...

*chuckle*

...good luck!

[Five Rings]

Remember that L1 is all about endurance, and that all schools grade to the curve, generally, for L1 courses, and while there is the occassional legacy lawyer ("my great-grandfather to my father were lawyers and so I became one, and I have been reading law reports since age 3") and brilliant jurist-geek ("I wrote my first essay in third grade on the judicial holdings of Learned Hand"), remember that most (99%) of your classmates are EQUALLY CLUELESS - therefore, other than those aberrations, hard work pays off.

Also, depending on your goals, remember that you are working towards that precious summer associateship or internship - so start and keep networking and be involved in activities that will enhance your chances of getting those jobs.

At some point, someone is going to start telling you to read Emmanuel's or some other crib sheet and stop reading cases, and will tell you about someone they knew who got "As" by doing that. Don't do that if you can help it. Those guides are good for getting B grades, but in order to get the As, you really need to understand the material. Those kids that get As from reading Emmanuel's probably did that AND read the materials, which, IMHO, is a complete and utter waste of time.

Make it a point to take time off and schedule non-law activities to clear your brain and to give you a chance to step back. Sometimes, you will get all messed up inside after reading 20 or 30 cases in 2 hours (yes, you will reach that stage), and you need to go fencing or to the gym to clear your brain. That's important too.

Lastly, don't let other people around you freak you out - law students as a bunch are fairly competitive and will do anything to freak out other kids (and derive schnenfraude (sp?) from your reactions). Since you are already fencing, you should be able to deal with this. Classic case would be the law student who, over a beer or lunch, casually drops that he/she read the latest Supreme Court decision on takings (or something equally esoteric) and could really see how this related to the Con Law assignment you got yesterday. HE/SHE IS FULL OF ****. At that point, you should adopt an attitude of insouciance and say - "Gee, I went to see Snakes on a Plane last night and had a good time. I am sorry to hear that you wasted your time at home."

Long Island? Hofstra perhaps?

[Mauler]

Keep it up.

Next time I get sued over a card I gave, you can be my lawyer.

[Zasha]

chin up- they're trying to freak you out. sneer at them 'you think you can freak me out? i am purpzeyFCLI, i have people charging at me with ametal stick and trying to do me harm on a regular basis.'
hang in there.

[NoFleche]

Originally Posted by Five Rings

...remember that most (99%) of your classmates are EQUALLY CLUELESS - therefore, other than those aberrations, hard work pays off. . . .
At some point, someone is going to start telling you to read Emmanuel's or some other crib sheet and stop reading cases, and will tell you about someone they knew who got "As" by doing that. Don't do that if you can help it. . . .
Make it a point to take time off and schedule non-law activities to clear your brain and to give you a chance to step back. Sometimes, you will get all messed up inside after reading 20 or 30 cases in 2 hours (yes, you will reach that stage), and you need to go fencing or to the gym to clear your brain. That's important too.
Lastly, don't let other people around you freak you out - law students as a bunch are fairly competitive and will do anything to freak out other kids (and derive schnenfraude (sp?) from your reactions). Since you are already fencing, you should be able to deal with this. Classic case would be the law student who, over a beer or lunch, casually drops that he/she read the latest Supreme Court decision on takings (or something equally esoteric) and could really see how this related to the Con Law assignment you got yesterday. HE/SHE IS FULL OF ****. At that point, you should adopt an attitude of insouciance and say - "Gee, I went to see Snakes on a Plane last night and had a good time. I am sorry to hear that you wasted your time at home."

Five Rings had a lot of good advice -- though I'd respectfully disagree that 99% of the rest of your L1 classmates are clueless. Depending on the caliber of law school you're at, you're going to have a percentage of "gunners" (at least that what we called them) -- maybe 10 to 15% -- that really are going to "get it" from day one and will be the prof's favorites to call on when you screw up the answer to a question in class. (Yes, you are permitted to despise them if you wish . However, better advice would be to join their study group. Telling them you saw a movie instead of studying will make you look like an idiot though - IMO.)

Five Rings is absolutely right re: "canned" case briefs. Don't use them. Your first year of law school is acually supposed to be a living hell. You'll make it through, along with about 2/3s of your classmates, if you really have the dedication.

[Philistine]

Here are a bunch of links to various people giving advice on the first year of law school.

My $.02. Take a deep breath and relax. Read the cases and brief them as you're being told. It gets much easier and quicker. Pretty soon you'll be doing it in your head as you're reading a case.

Treat it like a job. You've probably got an average of 3 hours of class-time a day. Five-six more hours of readings for class gives you a work-day. Sometimes you'll need to do more, sometimes less. Everybody loves to scare the 1L's. All-in-all, it's really not that bad.

--Philistine

[Five Rings]

Originally Posted by NoFleche

though I'd respectfully disagree that 99% of the rest of your L1 classmates are clueless.

OK, 99% may be cutting it too high. Still, a large proportion of those in law school are still clueless. Stay calm, take deep breaths and try to have some fun on the side.

On the movie front, I actually made it a point to see one movie a week and read at least one novel, plus engage in fencing, some quality beer time, and other stuff during the school year (museums, etc.). Enough time spent near the exams to get frazzled without having to stress out over the year.

Usually, I found that many of those who read stuff outside of the assigned stuff completely missed the point.

[Five Rings]

Originally Posted by NoFleche

Five Rings had a lot of good advice

BTW, I could tell from the way NF edited my quotes that NF (a) had been to law school, and (b) probably served time on a journal of some kind.

[NoFleche]

Five Rings,

Yes, I was an editor for my school's law review. Major geek squad assignment, but it did help get some interviews after graduation. (Though in retrospect, I would advise purpzeyFCLI to do moot court instead of law review after he finishes the L1 grind -- oral advocacy skills are much more practical than knowing obscure footnote rules . . . )

[seven6ty]

I know how you feel, I started teaching a class this past weekend, and it's a 9AM SATURDAY CLASS! Ugh, in addition to working 40 hours a week, and training about 8 hours a week as well at least. Throw in the odd tournament I can make it to on Sundays and no more free time, boo hoo.

[scrapinpeg]

Originally Posted by purpzeyFCLI

I was told today "Tell everyone you know you'll be gone for a year."

Nah, it's more like two years. You'll spend your first year learning how to be a law student. (Don't worry, it really isn't that hard. Just think of all the moronic lawyers out there, and remember that they did it too. The trick is simply to put in the time -- repeat after me: "It's not hard, it's just time-consuming.") Then you'll spend your second year busting your hump. On top of classes, you'll either be on law review (cite-checking academic papers to see if the sources really say what the prof says they said), in moot court (making appellate arguments about areas of law you'll never practice), or clerking at a law firm.

The third year you'll have classes, and will either be an editor on the law review (keeping those second-years and academics all on schedule), a moot court supervisor, a professor's research assistant, or clerking at a law firm. If you have half a brain, you'll be taking advantage of any clinics your school offers, because that's where you start learning how to practice law (and people who hire lawyers know this). But, amazingly enough, you'll have a lot more free time, and will start getting to know your friends and family again.

The more you can master your time, the better you'll do. The stuff you're actually going to learn isn't all that difficult to master. Just think of it as Advanced Civics. Put in the time, and you'll do just fine.

[purpzeyFCLI]

In response to a lot of comments, I have a few.

1) Thank you all for the support and advice.

2) FiveRings -- Touro, not Hofstra. Now, there are two comments I'd like to make about that.

1. I am a double legacy at Hofstra, but I applied so late in the summer they didn't even review my application
2. Seeing as how I am a double legacy...That is, my dad and my sister (and my brother in law for what it's worth) are all lawyers.
3. if ANYONE is a "gunner" at Touro (and I doubt there are frankly), it'd be someone like me. From what I can gather not too many lawyers children @ Touro

3) I have no plans to use emmanuel's or anything of that nature.

4) I do know that it's not necessarily hard, just daunting. . .That's just a scary thought. It's like this, I know a sh** storm is coming, but the only way to protect myself is by working hard and if I don't -- I fail. That is scary.

I know I am competent, I know I am willing. Frankly, I am EXCITED to get to it. But the anticipation is killing me. It's orientation and everything is really slow and somethings are totally unnecessary. . .And, I know soon it's going to be coming fast, but, in some sense I'm ready.

I feel like I'm at a red-light with my engine reved...Maybe I'll change my tune in a month and say "WTF was I thinking?" But right now, I say, "Bring it on." I seriously aim to be 1st in my class. And I don't believe that is an impossible goal.

SIDE NOTE: Mauler, I'd say if you're getting sued over cards. . .You need more than legal help.

[NoFleche]

Originally Posted by purpzeyFCLI

But right now, I say, "Bring it on." I seriously aim to be 1st in my class. And I don't believe that is an impossible goal.

It's not when you have that kind of positive mindset

Remember: One touch -- er, case brief -- at a time!

Good luck to you.

[Mauler]

Originally Posted by purpzeyFCLI

SIDE NOTE: Mauler, I'd say if you're getting sued over cards. . .You need more than legal help.

True story. I was, in fact, threatened with a lawsuit regarding a penalty I applied. Accordingly, Referee Disciplinary Committee has been made aware of the facts.

[RITFencing]

Originally Posted by Mauler

True story. I was, in fact, threatened with a lawsuit regarding a penalty I applied. Accordingly, Referee Disciplinary Committee has been made aware of the facts.

Was it in my home state?