Now That Classes Are Finished

Don't forget to rate your professors! This is a great way to help future students decide either which professor to take or avoid, or at least give them some idea of what to expect. It's also kind of fun to see what other students think and if you agree with their opinions. Also, if you had a professor that isn't listed (perhaps one that taught an elective), you can add them as well.

Good luck with your studying this weekend!

When You Least Expect It

As you probably recall, I interviewed for 3 different internships: with the District Attorney, Attorney General, and the US Attorney. I was offered interships with both the AG and DA, and accepted the one with the DA. The internship at the US Attorney's office required a certified law student (someone that has either taken, or is currently enrolled in Evidence). Since I won't be taking Evidence until the fall, I expressed my interest in doing that at that time, but also in any other opportunities that didn't require certification now.

I figured I would evaluate things at the end of the summer and possibly call the AG and USA back and see if I could talk to them again about doing an internship during the school year. I knew I could also stay on at the DA if I wanted.

So, I'm just sitting here studying for Property when the phone rings. It was the guy I interviewed with at the US Attorney's office. I assumed he was just going to tell me if there were any uncertified positions for the summer (which wouldn't even have mattered, since I already accepted the one with the DA). But no- HE OFFERED ME THE INTERNSHIP FOR THE FALL! Maybe that doesn't seem like such a big deal, but it is. This is in the misdemeanor unit of the federal courthouse here, and it is handling my own caseload, from start to finish. I do everything! That even includes court appearances if necessary! I am SOOOO excited!

This internship will be 20 hours a week once school starts in August, and revolve around my schedule. I can't even tell you how thrilled I am! Mostly to have this incredible opportunity, but also a little because now when it comes to interviews and offers, I'm 3 for 3! : )

Only 40 Pages

I finished work on my Property outline this morning. It is a bear- at 40 pages! I seem to remember Contract's outline last year being around 20, so it is quite intimidating that I need to know/have memorized about double that amount for this class. I'm sure I could have cut it down some, but I like to leave in a lot of extra explanations for things so I'm more likely to get the real meaning of things.

The final is one week from today. Since Criminal Procedure's final is a week from Thursday, I anticipate just concentrating on these 2 for the next week. Con Law isn't until the following Wednesday, so I probably won't start really studying for that until Crim Pro is over. Since the Con Law is open book and open note, I have begun getting my materials together, including briefs for all the cases that are on the professor's outline for this section of the course. I just need to index those, along with my class notes, and review them. Since memorizing isn't an issue in there, I don't think it will be too bad. It's more of a matter of being organized and having an understanding of things and then knowing where to find them.

The only thing to break up this week of studying will be the rodeo on Friday night. Hubby and I went last year and enjoyed it, so we're going again this year. I can't say I ever really spend Friday nights studying, so it won't really hurt me any. Plus, I have the house to myself on Saturday which should help me have a productive study day then.

It's weird looking back to a year ago. It seemed like the first year was filled with so much uncertainty- how was I doing? Would I make it? What did I want to do after graduation (if I made it that far)? It made the year seem so long. But this year has flown by. I know how I'm going, that I'm going to make it and what I want to do after graduation. Maybe all the certainty, and of course, the heavier load, made it fly by so quickly.

Guess I should get back to the outlines. Crim Pro is bloated at 33 pages and is about to go on a crash diet....

One Week of Classes Left

I'm sitting here in Con. Law class on a Saturday. Now that just isn't right! I think I had mentioned that the professor had made a mistake in his schedule for this semester, so in order to get all the material in, we needed to meet on a Saturday. I'm assuming he will also probably have us meet next Saturday for a review session. Ugh. I just have a hard time sitting in class and paying any attention on a Saturday.

This next week is my last week of classes for my second year of law school. I only have classes on Monday and Tuesday, which then gives me a full week to prepare for my first final on the following Tuesday (Property). My second final is later that week, with my last final the 9th of May. I'll then have 2.5 weeks to get some stuff done before I start my internship. I'm hoping to squeeze a weekend trip in somewhere there.

Also looming in the future are my law review comment, which I will need to find time to write this summer, and my brief that I will be writing for moot court. I'm hoping they post the case information as soon as finals are done so I can get a head start on that one.

Promises to be a busy summer!

I got a second offer!

The 3 places I applied to and interviewed at for an summer internship were the US Attorney's office, the District Attorney's office, and the Attorney General's office. The DA originally told me their background check would take 2-3 weeks after I turned my packet in on Monday, so I was very surprised to get a call from them yesterday after only 3 days, offering me an internship.

I just spoke with the Attorney General's office and they offered me that internship as well. They said they were very impressed with me and would like to have me work there. I told them that unfortunately I had already accepted another offer, but I hoped they would keep my information in case it worked out for me to work there sometime in the future.

Feels good to have gotten a second offer, even though I couldn't accept it. It was a harder interview (4 on 1), and I wasn't sure if they liked me, so I'm glad I did better than I thought on it. And whether this is true or not, it makes me feel like I'm not going to have a hard time finding a job in the kind of place I want to be after graduation.

Anyway, so I will be working for the DA's office, though for discretion sake, I'd rather not specify exactly which department. Can't wait though!

Accepted Internship Offer

I got an offer for an internship yesterday which I promptly accepted. Then later on in the day, I got a message from the place I interviewed at yesterday morning. I haven't been able to reach them yet today, but I suppose it is possible that they also want to offer me an internship as well. We'll see once I talk with them.

I have no regrets about accepting the position I did. I really look forward to working there! It is nice to have this all set up and ready to go. I'm going to work full time the week of May 29, part time during summer school, and then full time for the month after summer school. If I think it has been a good fit, it appears that I will have the option to continue on during the school year.

I don't want to say who I have interviewed with and who I have accepted the internship with until I speak with this other party. I also realize I will probably not be able to say much, if anything, about the work I do at my internship. But that is just the way it goes.

Deepest Sympathy

I just found out that a classmate's father passed away. Please join me in keeping her and her family in your prayers!

Another Interview

I had another interview this morning. I had applied for summer internships at three different places and I am very pleased that all 3 contacted me for interviews. Because one of the places is currently doing a background check on me, I am fairly certain that I will be offered a position at least with one of them.

I'm glad I went through the on campus interviews last fall because even though I don't want to practice the type of law that those firms practice, it gave me the chance to get my resume and interviewing skills updated. Had I not done that, I would most likely not had my resume pulled together to send off for these positions.

All 3 of these positions would be such wonderful experience and great additions to my resume. It is hard for me to say which one I would want the most. Having to choose would be very difficult, because they each offer different benefits and advantages. I'm almost hoping I only get an offer from one so that can be one less thing to stress about.

I'm now down to one remaining week of classes in my second year of law school. I can't believe it! It has gone by SO fast! I spent yesterday getting study binders for my 3 last classes together- notes, old exams, outlines. I still have work to do so guess I should get to it!

NAMI Walks

I wanted to tell you about an upcoming event that I am participating in that is both very important and very exciting to me. It is NAMIWalks for the Mind of America, NAMI’s signature walkathon event that is being held in Fresno, CA at Woodward Park on May 12, 2007. This will be the 3rd annual event here and the 3rd time I have participated!

I have a brother who is bipolar (manic-depressive). His mental illness has affected all of my family. It is hard to describe the pain mental illness causes, both to the person who has it and to all who love them, unless you have lived through it yourself. What makes it so hard is that since it affects BEHAVIOR, people don't think about it the same way they do other medical conditions that require medication, such as diabetes and heart conditions. I love my brother dearly, and am participating for my third year as a symbol of how much I love and support him.

I would like to ask you to donate to support my participation in this great event. Any amount is greatly appreciated! Visit my personal walker page to sign up:

Sponsor me!

It features a link to my team's page where you can see who else is walking with me. There is also a link so you can donate directly to me online. Donating online is fast and secure, and I'll get immediate notification via e-mail of your donation. I would appreciate even the smallest donations, as they all add up and can make a difference!

NAMI, the Nation's Voice on Mental Illness, formerly the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, is the largest education, support and advocacy organization that serves the needs of all those who’s lives are touched by these illnesses. This includes persons with mental illness, their families, friends, employers, the law enforcement community and policy makers.. The NAMI organization is composed of approximately 1100 local affiliates, 50 state offices and a national office.

The goals of the NAMIWalks program are: to fight the stigma that surrounds mental illness, to build awareness of the fact that the mental health system in this country needs to be improved and to raise funds for NAMI so that they can continue their mission.

NAMI is a 501(c)3 charity and any donation you make to support my participation in this event is tax deductible. NAMI has been rated by Worth magazine as among the top 100 charities "most likely to save the world" and has been given an "A+" rating by The American Institute of Philanthropy for efficient and effective use of charitable dollars. NAMI has also been given 4 out of 4 stars by The Charity Navigator for short-term spending practices and long-term sustainability.

Thank you in advance for your support. :)

Background Check

I turned in my huge background packet this morning and assuming nothing with that is a problem, I will have an internship! The process takes about 3 weeks, so about the time finals are done, I should know. I will probably work 12-16 hours a week during summer school and full time for the month afterwards. By the time the fall semester starts, I would have all my clinical units finished. Of course, I will try to stay on part time once school starts too, for extra experience.

Two more weeks of class and then 3 finals and this year is done! Amazing- it has gone by so quickly!

Happy Birthday to Me....

It's nice to have a birthday on a weekend, and especially nice when your spouse treats the whole weekend like your birthday! Yesterday we went to the quilt auction out at Fresno Pacific University. I have wanted to go to that for years, but never actually made it. It was so much fun! I always love looking at the quilts at the fair every year, but this is even better, because you can buy them! I was too nervous to bid, but hubby got into it and bought a couple. You wouldn't believe how much some of them go for. We were there for most of the day and the highest price we saw one sell for was $5250! Amazing! It seems like the bigger the quilt, along with the more intricate the design and the better the colors, the higher it would sell for.

In addition to the quilts, you wouldn't believe how many different kinds of food they had there. And the stuff was good and homemade! Hubby enjoyed some of the fritters and pie, but I stuck with some tri-tip and soft tacos. Yum! I want to make going to this a yearly tradition. It's for a good cause and a lot of fun too.

After church today, hubby and I went out to lunch and he took me shopping and let me pick out my own present. Because I had no idea what I wanted, I had suggested this and I think it was a good idea. Hubby didn't have to stress and I got to pick out exactly what I wanted. Of course, he also had bought me a new spring Christian Dior purse. Not that I need another handbag, but it is an obsession of mine you know.

Later we went to dinner with family at Fahrenheit 5104, which is a new restaurant at Shaw and West. It's only been open a couple weeks and I do highly recommend it. We've been there twice so far and everything is very tasty and they did a nice remodel on the space that used to be a Chinese restaurant. They serve "Armenian, southern, Cajun and tapas" which struck us as quite an odd assortment. When we went the first time, it was just hubby and I, and we ordered 5 different tapas (Spanish appetizers) and all were excellent. Tonight we split a few tapas and then ordered entrees (which all come with both soup AND salad). The prices seem very reasonable and it is a nice atmosphere. We're happy to find someplace we like that actually has parking (ie., NOT RiverPark) and it good.

It's weird that for the next 2 weeks I only have Monday and Tuesday classes. That will be a big help as I get ready for finals. I have major work I need to do on my outlines, especially Con. Law. Speaking of Con. Law, because of a misunderstanding between the professor and the school, we have to go to a class next Saturday afternoon for 3 hours. UGH! He apparently didn't realize he didn't have class the first week of January because his class meets on Mondays, so he has to make that material up somehow. I don't think he can require us to be there, but what are you going to do? I don't like the class, but I don't want to miss anything.

BTW, Mr. Rausch is enjoying his freedom, but he's not drinking any screwdrivers! LOL!

Interviews

I had my 2 interviews and it appears likely that I will get one of the internships. Both went well and as I have said previously, I would be thrilled to work in either place. I need to fill out a huge packet of information for a background check with one of the places, so I'm going to work on that this weekend and get that turned in next week. It takes a few weeks to check that out, so I want to make sure I get it going as soon as possible so that I will be good to go once finals end in May.

My daughter's 19th birthday is today. It seems so sad not to be able to be with her to celebrate. I did send her a box of goodies, some flowers and balloons, and have already talked to her once. I know I'm missing her more than she is missing me, which I guess is how I would rather it be, but that doesn't make it any easier to not see her.

My birthday is Sunday (yes, I'm a tax baby), and again, I will miss seeing her then as well. At least I know I will see her next month, and there is so much going on between now and then that I know it will fly by.

Victory!

My trial is over! It went really well. The professor had some high school kids sit on as the jury, and even had them deliberate after the trial. They came back in with a verdict of not guilty on all counts, so we won! : )

The comments we received included that our side was more planned out, more organized, better visuals and related to the jury better. Both our opening statement (me) and our closing argument (my partner) went over very well.

Because I had to share the task with my partner, I didn't get to do everything I wished I could have, because we needed to split up the tasks evenly. I did the opening, direct exam on our defendant (and his redirect) and cross exam on 2 of the prosecution's witnesses. I think with our styles it worked out perfectly though because my partner is more dramatic and entertaining, which was perfect for closing.

I thought I may have to grill the police officer, a witness for the prosecution, on one particular point, but ended up doing so on a completely different point, but was able to still do effectively. It was satisfying to see him have to back down from a lie he told me originally.

I did ask my professor for written feedback, so I hope to get that in the next few days in email from him. I think probably the best thing I did was all of our exhibits. The opposing side only photocopied the pages from the book in 8.5 x 11 size. I had blown up one of the book exhibits to 16 x 20, and then also created several more on my own in a large poster size. We got numerous comments that the visuals made the case for us, so I'm glad that I put the effort into doing them. I had been feeling bad because I had wanted to use a visual with each witness, but because of the limited information we received about the case, there just wasn't that much to be able to use. But I still had a photo from inside the bar (which I used during my opening), a diagram of the street where the incident took place, an outline of a body on which the medical examiner marked the wounds (front and back), another for him to mark on a side view, also showing the path of the bullet, and finally I had another side profile that we used to represent the defendant and showing that the path the bullet took could not have happened if the victim was in an upright position, but only if either the defendant was in a higher position (which we had already established he was not) or if the victim was leaning forward, possibly lunging at the defendant, which our defendant testified was the case. Anyway, I think they all made the case easier to understand and helped us tremendously.

It was fun, though very tiring. Next Wednesday I get to sit on the jury for another trial of fellow classmates, so it will be nice to just sit and observe. But, I will definitely miss this class!

3 Cool Things

The next three days are going to be exciting- first I have my trial tomorrow night, which I am so ready and excited for. On Thursday I have one interview, and on Friday I have my other. I can't wait for all of them! The trial is going to be good. My partner and I are prepared, and I like doing that stuff so much that I'm really looking forward to putting all the pieces we've learned together and doing the whole trial at once. Should be a lot of fun!

And I'm thrilled to be interviewing at the places that I am. I did have a couple of interviews last fall, but they honestly weren't the kind of law I want to practice, and I'm not good at faking it, so I'm sure I didn't come across as really wanting their jobs when I interviewed. But these jobs, I WANT! So I know I will come across that way, just have to be careful not to look or sound too desperate.

Of course, adding to my pleasure is that I no longer have to attend Business Organizations on Thursdays, since that class is finished. THANK GOODNESS! After my trial, Criminal Trial Practice will also be done. But that class, as you all know, I will miss dearly. It will, however, leave me with a schedule of only having classes on Mondays and Tuesdays, which is nice.

My partner and I got notice that we need to orally argue pretrial motions before trial starts tomorrow night. We each are going to cover one of the two issues, so I need to get to work and finish writing out things I want to cover.

Two Interviews for Internships

I have an interview Friday morning for a summer internship position. I have applied at 3 different places so far, and when I checked my voicemail after class, I just got a call from a second place. I wasn't able to reach the person before they left for the day, but hopefully I will talk to them tomorrow and get that one scheduled too. Yeah! I'm sooooo excited. I would be beyond thrilled to work at either of these places. I don't want to say where until after the interviews. But believe me, both are very cool. I would love to work at either after graduation, so if there is any way I can continue to work part time during the next school year, I will try to do that too.

I was so tired in class this afternoon and didn't think I was going to make it without falling asleep (which is surely more of a result of being back in class after a week off than the class itself, because I do like Property), but this woke me up! Of course, I needed that or I would never make it through Con. Law tonight.

He Is Risen!

Happy Easter! Have a blessed day!

We're Ready!

For trial, that is! I met with my co-counsel this afternoon and we went through the whole trial. I think we have done a great job. We have broken it up over the last 6 weeks, so we have had plenty of time to think about it, talk about it, hash it over and decide on things. We are both prepared and ready to go. We're going to meet once more to go over our opening and closing again, but I don't really know what else we could do. I do have to submit our pretrial motions, jury instructions and verdict forms to opposing counsel and the judge (our professor) on Monday, and I have all of those items ready and waiting to be sent by email.

I'm really looking forward to it. It is going to be a lot of fun. My partner and I are a great match because we're opposites in a lot of ways, which is good because we complement each other well and cover more strengths that way.

I was talking to my daughter about the trial today and telling her that her uncle (my brother) might film it, so she may be able to watch it later if she wants. She said that was embarrassing, and when I asked why, she said because she didn't want to see her grandpa (my dad is playing the role of our client, the defendant) being tried for murder! I told her it was ok- I'm getting him off because it was self-defense! :)

Realization

I already knew I would miss my Criminal Trial Practice class after my trial is finished next week. But today as I was going over things with my defense co-counsel, I realized that I'm also going to miss working on trial stuff. Every week of the class we have had various things to prepare: direct exams, cross exams, opening statements, closing arguments, expert witness, getting things into evidence, etc. I always spent hours reading the assignments AND preparing fully for each item we were to present in class. I put in the time because I honestly enjoyed it AND because I wanted to get the most I possibly could out of this class.

In law school, I know some people enjoy writing, others enjoy reading, others talking in class. I can't say I enjoy any of those, but with this class I found something I really do enjoy and I will miss both the learning and the preparing I did for this class. I will miss not having a case to work on, think about, strategize over.

Back in Town

My son and I got back into town this afternoon after touring both SJ State and SF State. While I have been in both areas many times, I had never seen either campus before. Both were actually much nicer than I thought they would be. My son prefers SF. We'll see. He isn't sure what he wants to study yet.

Whenever I spend a few precious days without touching anything "law school", while I enjoy the time off, I end up returning feeling behind. Today was no exception. I'm not really, I guess, but it just feels that way. My trial partner and I are going to get together tomorrow to go over things, and then on Saturday to go through everything. So, on Friday I will do any last things that need doing for that. Tomorrow I'll do some reading I need to finish for next week's classes.

I just need to get a good night's sleep tonight so I can feel fresh and ready to get back to it. I'm tired and have a driving headache now....

The Cat's Out of the Bag

I was originally not supposed to say anything until next week, but we were able to talk to certain family members this weekend, so I can talk about it now.

If you pay attention to the details I post, or have talked to me in person, you will know that my plan has been to relocate to the SF bay area after graduation. Hubby works up there and the plan has always been for us to move up there once I graduate (which coincides with my son graduating from high school). For various reasons, we have come to the conclusion that it makes more sense for us to stay here!

That means I WILL be here after graduation and seeking employment HERE. I'm so relieved and happy. I look forward to being able to continue many of the relationships I have started in law school- with fellow students and professors- as I start in the legal profession here, where my law school is actually known and well thought of. (I had wondered how many times I was going to have explain where SJCL is to people in the bay area.) This also places a higher importance on whatever internship I end up at this summer because it just MAY be where I end up after graduation, if things go well.

Maybe no one else cares. Maybe some will hope I was going to move away. Oh well. I'm happy and I do look forward to being able to continue working with so many good people I've met here at school.