Finals Week

It's the most wonderful time....of the year! (NOT) I have my first final this Friday in Land Use Control, followed by an Administrative Law final on Monday and a Professional Responsibility on Tuesday. The past few days have consisted of the following: sleep (a little), wake up with questions about Land Use Control, Admin Law, and/or Professional Responsibility, eat breakfast/start outlining, outline, outline, outline outline, eat while outlining, outline. Then, in the afternoon I try to take Mosley for a jog or at least make it to the gym for a break and a change of scenery. Then I eat dinner with the girls and outline the night away until I can't stay awake anymore. As soon as I try to sleep, however, my mind starts racing with questions about the material I outlined and I start getting anxious about being behind, etc. These are the questions and feelings that I wake up with.

For each class I have taken roughly 60 pages of lecture notes throughout this semester. I condense these notes into an outline that is half the length. This takes forever -- probably 3 pages of notes per hour! But, in doing so, I essentially learn the material (and usually retain it). Once I complete the initial outline, I print it, get a legal pad, and rewrite it in shorthand. This repetition really drills the material home. If I have any questions, I e-mail my professors. Lastly, I try to take at least one full practice exam per class. It is amazing how helpful (and painful) this approach is, but it has always worked for me.

This is my the last semester ever of graded law school finals! The law school allows each student to declare one class pass/fail. I have saved mine for Trusts & Estates next semester. My other classes consist of final papers, which, while painful in their own right, are nowhere near as painful as outlining and preparing for a graded final. Hooray for no more graded exams!

The good news is I have a break from school from 12/15-1/11. Of course I will be working full-time to make some $$ and working on law journal issues, but it will be nice to be away from school. Then its my final semester and hopefully a job offer somewhere :)

A FATHER'S LOVE

I was searching for a good motivational workout video today when I came across these two videos and was absolutely blown away. If you have a few minutes you should check them both out. Watch them in order because the first one tells the story of Dick Hoyt and his son Rick. The second video is footage of them completing the ironman triathlon - yes, the 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, and 26.2 mile run. Incredible.

Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDnrLv6z-mM&feature=channel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRHxHapwirw&feature=channel

There is hope!

So I was contacted by Best Best & Krieger today....no offer for me. This really sucks because they normally hire 12-15 summer associates, but this year it was only 7, and I was next line in both the San Diego and Riverside offices. Oh well, I have a good plan "b" at the DA's office here - just wish they paid more.

The Utah legal market is tough. Even the 100+ lawyer firms here only hire 1-3 summer associates, whereas firms in other cities often hire over 15 per office. Also, many Mormon law students go back east to top schools and want to come back to SLC to "keep the faith", so we also have to compete with them, in addition to BYU students.

I just don't get it - I was top 3% of my class after my first year of law school, I made law journal and even got published, my interview feedback has been positive, and I have legal experience. It is quite frustrating that I didn't get any offers from law firms - Utah law firms I should point out. However, it really doesn't matter because Henry Kang and I are going to start our own law firm in a couple of years which will soon be a global super power!!

A random thought - how cool was election night?!?!? Regardless of your political preference, Obama's speech was absolutely electrifying as was the energy and enthusiasm surrounding his historical win. It is amazing to me how many people refuse to accept Obama (won't watch debates, listen to speeches, etc., but take every word spewed from Fox News as gospel) and wouldn't watch his victory speech.

Luckily the majority of us sent a loud, clear message - a new political form is needed in this country and Obama is the best candidate to achieve it! Obama's victory restored the global credibility and respect America has lost during the past 8 years. Also, this week he is appointing his staff and it is rumored that some republicans are high on his list. A bipartisan approach would be a great start in my opinion, it would end the political divide that plagues the system.

McCain (not Palin) and Obama are two of the best canidates in a while. I have heard so many people say the exact opposite - that both are bad candidates -and I have to disagree. In fact, I wouldn't even say I voted against McCain (I like him), but I voted for Obama (I agree with more of his policies and he is best for the US). Think back to Bush/Kerry, Bush/Gore, Clinton/Dole, Clinton/Bush Sr.....IMO McCain vs. Obama is a better matchup.

If anyone missed his speech, here is the link. Honestly, I get chills when I hear this - it gives me inspiration and hope! History in the making! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jll5baCAaQU

Settling in at the U

As expected, the experience of transferring to the U has been like starting all over again. Meeting new people, getting to know professors and faculty, and new surroundings have all made the past few months feel like my first year again. However, I am now feeling much more comfortable here. The U seems more laid back than Thomas Jefferson, although I am not sure if it's just being a 2L (first year is scary and intimidating!) or just the differences between schools. That being said I do have a test next Thursday that I need to cram for!

Much has happened since September: my note for the Journal of Law and Family Studies for publication (I will post a link to it for those who are super bored!), I started working for the DA's office (crim law rules), I am very close to getting an offer from Best Best & Krieger for this summer, and I am now president of the U's new Business Law Society (business law rules too). My Accounting for Lawyers professor just started here after teaching at Loyola Law School in Chicago for the last 13 years. He helped establish a Business Law Society there and asked me to help him do the same here. We have some really cool events forthcoming - Tara....you should join! We are going to tour the Zions Bank trading floor and Huntsman business headquarters, (and others...like Xango!), organize guest speakers and panels at the law school, and establish a mentoring program so students can see what the real business law world is like from practicing attorneys here in Salt Lake. Yay!

One of the toughest parts about being a law student is choosing a particular area to focus on. This is probably obvious from the things I am doing: family law, criminal law, and business law. But hey, why not get to learn about multiple areas? Besides if I ever have a client who is arrested while simultaneously going through a divorce and starting a business, think of the cost effective service I could provide :) Or, I suppose white collar criminal law combines business law and criminal defense or prosecution. Who knows?

Do you all think I should where my judge outfit (including powdered wig) to the DA's office tomorrow? I can't wait for the party tomorrow night....jello shooters, here I come!!!!!!

My Favorite Girls!

So the other day I was feeling quite sorry for myself because I haven't yet landed the "high paying, big firm, sexy job" (however, the DA's office will be great & who knows Best Best Krieger could call any day). Anyhow, I was walking up to the house feeling a bit blue; then I walked in and was greeted by the cutest witch and pirate I have ever seen! The doom and gloom immediately vanished and I realized how lucky I am. We then headed off to my Law Journal's Halloween party (did you know I am on the "party planning committee") where we ate pizza and candy, and watched "Hocus Pocus." What was a "bad day" turned out to be a great night! Thanks Summer and Kaia!

Back from a lengthy Hiatus

I haven't posted for a really long time, but after reading the blogs of Summer, Andrew, and Shauna, I felt inspired to post. Tonight was a bit rough because Kaia had a nagging cough. I went in her room and was holding her and she said "I want to watch sleeping beauty." Being the sucker that I am I set up a bed on the couch and started the move because she always falls right back asleep. However, just as we were getting comfy she started coughing and threw up all over me. Those of you watching her this weekend need not worry - this wasn't a "flu-like" episode, simply a cough turned into a gag turned into..well you get the picture.

So, after a shower and getting Kaia back to bed (Sleeping Beauty is playing right now & Kaia is fast asleep on the couch), here I am. Whenever it is the eve of a trip I simply cannot sleep. I am so excited to get back to So Cal and see our friends. Plus I always wait until the morning of a trip to pack - not a good idea when your plane leaves in less than 8 hrs. Oh well, that's what coffee is for.

I have had a great Fall Break, although it has gone by much too fast and I haven't done near the amount of catching up I had hoped to. Oh well, what are breaks for? That's right....trips to San Diego! Lol I always bring my laptop and books with the grand idea that I will study while traveling....yeah right! Perhaps I can read a bit on the plane though.

Wow am I boring. Not sure how the rest of you all keep your blogs so entertaining. I need to have Summer show me how to post pics, etc. Hell, Andrew posts videos of his guitar solos - how am I supposed to match that? Maybe it's time to dust off the old alto sax.

Who is excited for our Halloween party? I can't wait!!!!

TIME TO PUT SOME FLOWERS IN OUR HAIR.....

Well, I got some great news yesterday - I was accepted to UC Hastings School of Law in San Francisco. This school is the oldest law school in the Western United States and has a very prestigious reputation, not only in California, but nationally as well. It is located in downtown San Francisco right next to the California Supreme Court and within walking distance from the financial district.

Transferring to Hastings is a no-brainer! University of San Diego was a tough call and I am not sure what I would have done had I not been accepted to Hastings. However, Hastings is an incredible, solid first tier law school and I am literally in awe that I was accepted and excited (and scared) as hell to start this fall. Several hundred law firms and organizations recruit at Hastings and the emloyment rate for graduates is roughly 95% with an average starting salary of just under $100k/year. These statistics, together with the curriculum and clinical offerings at Hastings offer to good of an opportunity to pass up. Hastings offers concentrations on family law, criminal law, and civil litigation, which are my three main legal interests and also offers more clinical programs than most schools.

Classes begin at the end of August so we have lots of work to do between now and then, e.g. find a nice place in the Bay Area, pack our belongings, and drive north 7 hours - I don't think it will be as taxing as the move from Salt Lake to San Diego was, however. The toughest part is up-rooting Summer and Kaia again as they have truly thrived in San Diego and have made a number of close friends. This is clearly difficult, but it is definitely worth it as I will be much more marketable as a lawyer with a degree from Hastings and we will all be better off in the long run.

There is an ever so slight chance I won't be going to Hastings if I get accepted to UC Berekely. However, it is also in the bay area so we would essentially move to the same place regardless of whether I attend Berkeley or Hastings. There is also a chance I may get into UCLA which would require some serious thought as it is perhaps the top school in Southern California. Also, the University of Utah is reviewing my transfer application and I competed in their law review write-on competition, so if I get accepted there and also make law review, that would be another potential option.

For all intents and purposes we are planning on moving to San Francicso where I will attend UC Hastings. Summer and kaia have been so great and I am forever grateful for the sacrifices they have made in order for me to realize my law school dream. I am sure they will again adapt well to a new city and you all will enjoy coming to visit as much or more as you have in San Diego.

After all, it is the city where Tony Benett claims to have left his heart...


P.S. Below are a couple of links that give some information about UC Hastings:

• http://www.top-law-schools.com/hastings-law-school.html
• http://www.uchastings.edu/