Classes end April 29. It's also my last day of work at the law firm in Peabody. This has been a really weird, disjointed year, and so this is going to be a weird, disjointed post.
I want to be at Ruggerfest right now, with my Beantown teammates and seeing all my amazing Furies friends. One of my favorite moments from the fall was coming to Sunday of the Beantown-hosted tourney in Amherst, nervous before my first Town game, and getting swarmed by the Furies up for their Premiere League match. This is the reverse weekend, in MD, and I want to be there. Ruggerfest is such an important time for the Furies, and even getting the absurd "stirring the pot" email makes me want to be there.
I'm not ready for exams. I've been studying carefully all spring - it's why I gave up rugby this spring - but I'm not ready for a test. Law school is one of those places where the more you learn, the more you are aware what you still don't know. I feel really good about what I have in front of me, but there's so much still out there.
I was hoping to schedule a few fun breaks during reading week like I did in December, but I don't have much besides study sessions scheduled :(
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Social Life ≥ Social Justice project
Yes, I still want to do public interest work. That's a huge part of why I came to Northeastern, and I generally love the atmosphere where everyone is passionate about a variety of causes and trying to make the world a better place.
But sometimes I just want to hang out with a friend and have a beer. Pretty normal, right?
We wrapped up our SJ project on Thursday afternoon with an hour long presentation to about thirty students, and then another hour of meeting with the client to discuss our findings in greater detail. For all the times when I wondered what this project was actually going to turn into (most of November-February), Law Office 1 did pull it all together and provide a thoroughly-researched and well-written policy brief for Public Education Network.
I am so glad it's over.
After a bit of reflection, I've come to the conclusion that this project did very little to advance my learning this year. I wish I could have taken 2 classes of Legal Writing each week, rather than one class each of LW and SJ. I understand in theory that doing pro bono work as a 1L is exciting - it's part of what drew me to NUSL. I just don't believe my project accomplished that goal. Most of the other SJ projects seemed to have gone slightly better, although I'd hesitate to describe the program as a success. It's pretty clear the administration will be keeping the SJ program around, even though a clear majority of 1Ls disagree with it. On a positive note, the administration appears to be open to feedback to improve the program for next year.
Here's hoping they listen, and it does improve :/
But sometimes I just want to hang out with a friend and have a beer. Pretty normal, right?
We wrapped up our SJ project on Thursday afternoon with an hour long presentation to about thirty students, and then another hour of meeting with the client to discuss our findings in greater detail. For all the times when I wondered what this project was actually going to turn into (most of November-February), Law Office 1 did pull it all together and provide a thoroughly-researched and well-written policy brief for Public Education Network.
I am so glad it's over.
After a bit of reflection, I've come to the conclusion that this project did very little to advance my learning this year. I wish I could have taken 2 classes of Legal Writing each week, rather than one class each of LW and SJ. I understand in theory that doing pro bono work as a 1L is exciting - it's part of what drew me to NUSL. I just don't believe my project accomplished that goal. Most of the other SJ projects seemed to have gone slightly better, although I'd hesitate to describe the program as a success. It's pretty clear the administration will be keeping the SJ program around, even though a clear majority of 1Ls disagree with it. On a positive note, the administration appears to be open to feedback to improve the program for next year.
Here's hoping they listen, and it does improve :/
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
A love triangle of the worst kind
I have a special love in my life. Let's refer to this love as RF. Generally, we spent two nights together every week, and usually at least one whole day on the weekend. Often, I brought Izzy along, too. RF has been a constant in my life ever since my first time on February 19, 2005....a day I'll never forget.
Recently, things have changed. I didn't want them to, but they did, and now I'm spending all my time with LL. I hated it at first - in the fall you wouldn't catch me within ten feet of LL, but now I find myself sinking into an easy pattern at lunch time, in the afternoon - sometimes even squeezing in extra sessions in the early morning or late at night.
I try to explain it away, saying LL is good for me right now. But who am I kidding? That's like saying having another slice of pizza and a Diet Cherry Coke is better than going for a run (which is what I've doing anyways).
I finally hit bottom when I emailed (yes, emailed) RF to say things are over. At least for now, until life settles down. The worst part is, I was with LL when I did it.
Thanks to Monica for being the third person, after my mom and boyfriend, who actually reads this blog :)
And if you haven't figured it out, RF = rugby football, and LL = Law Library.
Recently, things have changed. I didn't want them to, but they did, and now I'm spending all my time with LL. I hated it at first - in the fall you wouldn't catch me within ten feet of LL, but now I find myself sinking into an easy pattern at lunch time, in the afternoon - sometimes even squeezing in extra sessions in the early morning or late at night.
I try to explain it away, saying LL is good for me right now. But who am I kidding? That's like saying having another slice of pizza and a Diet Cherry Coke is better than going for a run (which is what I've doing anyways).
I finally hit bottom when I emailed (yes, emailed) RF to say things are over. At least for now, until life settles down. The worst part is, I was with LL when I did it.
Thanks to Monica for being the third person, after my mom and boyfriend, who actually reads this blog :)
And if you haven't figured it out, RF = rugby football, and LL = Law Library.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Happy Birthday to Me
Today, I turned 26.
There have been some great moments leading up to this:
Here's where I'll self-indulge and whine. I'm slammed this week: on top of regular reading for school, there's a small partner project in Contracts Wednesday, I'm giving a huge presentation for the end (finally!) of my SJ project Thursday, and the final draft of my memo is due Saturday. I drove Justin to the airport this morning and since then today has been pretty miserable.
There have been some great moments leading up to this:
- Justin visiting for 4.5 days
- celebrating my birthday at his parents' house on Saturday, complete with a very pretty bracelet and an ice cream cake with candles!
- going to my first Celtics game at the Garden, 101-90 win over the Pistons
- yummy dinner and more cake with Justin
- getting a box of cocoa rice krispie treats with german shepherd, dachshund, dog house, and bone shaped cookie cutters from my mom
Here's where I'll self-indulge and whine. I'm slammed this week: on top of regular reading for school, there's a small partner project in Contracts Wednesday, I'm giving a huge presentation for the end (finally!) of my SJ project Thursday, and the final draft of my memo is due Saturday. I drove Justin to the airport this morning and since then today has been pretty miserable.
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