Thoughts Of A Non Traditional Law Student
I will soon be entering the last term of my second year of law school. Time really does fly. I am heading on the downward slope to graduation. But what awaits in the lull of the valley is another crest at the top of an even larger mountain. The State Bar Exam.
We are all anxious [...]
The life of a law student is a busy life indeed, especially a non-traditional law student. Unlike undergraduate school you have fifteen weeks of class time (with little or no constructive feedback) followed by one exam which will determine you entire grade for the term. This can seem very daunting, and the question often arises: [...]
I am currently studying the development of 14th Amendment “privacy” and individual autonomy in my Constitutional law class. This inevitably led to the abortion debate and its foundations in Constitutional theory and interpretation. Not surprisingly, everyone in the class has an opinion, and most have a very strong opinion.
Someday we will be lawyers and may [...]
Do you ever get the feeling that law school defines you? I sometimes become so absorbed in my studies and classes that it seems I am a law student 24/7. This is not healthy. When I find myself falling into that trap I get very stressed out and must take time for [...]
A couple of days ago I arrived home from work and was entering my house. I went through the door as I have a thousand times, but this time when I went to shut it something was wrong. The bottom hinge had come undone. I have an old house and the door [...]
Well, the Christmas break is almost over, and it is time to hit the books again. I have enjoyed the break, but now is the time to really begin to focus on my studies again. Sometimes this is not as easy as it sounds. I have had more time with the family, [...]
Every successful law student must learn the fine art of briefing legal cases. I call this an art because there is no set method of case briefing that works for everyone. You must choose the method that works best for you. A legal case brief is not a legal brief in the [...]
Sometimes the decisions of higher courts seem just as rational as the title of this post. Many times I have been frustrated reading the opinions of the courts when I feel that they are completely wrong. The reasoning is flawed, relevant facts are excluded, and important policies are overlooked. Of course this [...]
Exam time presents some unique challenges for the non-traditional law student. Here are some tips to help you cope and prepare.
Fine-tune your class outlines. Generally, your professors will key you in to the really important exam areas. Prepare an attack outline and concentrate on these areas.
Tell family and friends you are [...]
It is that time of year again when the rubber meets the road. It has been 14 weeks of lectures, outlining, note taking, and studying, and it all comes down to one 3-hour exam.
After 14 weeks though I feel that I am ready. Besides, if I am not ready by now it is [...]
