Ayesha made me do it.

so here goes: Book Meme:

1. Pick up the nearest book (of at least 123 pages).
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the 5th Sentence.
4. Post the next 3 sentences.
5. Tag 5 people.

I’m nerdy. This is from my Criminal Law Casebook. I was in the library when I started this meme.

Pg. 123 is from Chapter 3: Modern Role of Criminal Statutes from the U.S. v. Foster [133 F.3d 704] dissenting opinion by Circuit Judge Trott. Here goes:

“Is he no longer carrying it if he then moves to the front of the truck or returns to the passenger compartment? All of this makes for fun in the Socratic classroom, but it does not work on the streets of America, which is what Congress had in mind when it drafted this legislation. While we have been debating this case en banc, the Supreme Court has granted certiorari in [United States] v. Muscarello[, 106 F.3d 636 (5th Cir. 1997)].”

Law student. Can’t help it.

Tagging: (I was tagged by Ayesha)

Danielle
Yasmin
Samra
Salma M.
Sophia

I have a friend, a lovely fairy-like girl who is always a good source for inspiration and philosophy. She told me that when she was younger, she always used to write in pencil so she could erase if she made mistakes. But now, she always wrote in pen because she thought about her words before she wrote them down. Where was the meaning and beauty in words, she said, if you wrote them down without realizing their weight and importance?

Lawyers spend a lot of time with words. Reading them, writing them, speaking them, arguing about their meanings depending on historical use or placement relative to the nearest comma, streaming them into a logic syllogism to win an argument. I’ve never spent so much time debating about what one word means than during law school, especially through statutory interpretation in Criminal Law and Constitutional Law. Words become our life from the first day we step into the study of law. Everything becomes about how we read a statute, how we interpret each word. We must master the art of rhetoric, but also know when one concise statement will win the case. We must learn to be careful with words when speaking with clients, because legal jargon can add pain upon pain to the hardest problems of their lives.

I think lawyers could benefit from my friend’s thoughts. As we become masters of language, we must learn to channel this thunderous power into a controllable thing, something digestable - but always something that carries all of the power and emotion of the entire storm.

I found a poem scribbled on the corner of some notes from a lecture long forgotten. I don’t remember when I wrote it, but the meaning is stronger for me now than ever before.

I think I’m tiring of the words
They all resonate and repeat
And the best ones are now sounding hallow
Bringing back memories of the
Same ineffectual things
But isn’t this ironic?
Am I just mimicking sounds?
I want something powerful and heart wrenching, soul-stirring
Images and feelings that leave no room for words

Law professors don’t only teach you the law. They’re also incredibly amusing. Here are some of my favorite class memories from the semester.

Property

On how important consulting your lawyer is - “You don’t want people getting out of bed without checking with us first.”

(talking about a red herring fact on the practice exam) So that fact was just to trick you into talking about a possible negative easement…..wait, not “trick.” I meant “entice.”

Student: “Could you give us that extra half-hour [on the exam]. We’re supposed to have four hours but you’re only giving us three and a half. How can you do that as an honest Christian woman?”)
Professor:“Yes, but even the Lord has righteous indignation!”

Civil Procedure

When the Court says “we must” – that means “we flipped a coin.” Of course, when a court says “it seems axiomatic” it means “this is really controversial and we are shoving it down your throat”

The best kinds of cases for a lawyer are those between two rich guys who hate each other. Money is no object and there’s no moral component whatsoever.

(more…)

So i was packing my book, notes, flashcards, etc. today to take to school for my 9 am Torts exam. I didn’t want to bring too much weight, so I left my computer on my desk so I wouldn’t have to lug it around. “I won’t need this today,” I thought.

I got to school and was sitting there, looking at my notes. I thought “wow, this is a lot of info. I’m glad I can take this exam typing on my computer instead of writing it out by hand.”

wait for it…
wait for it…

10 seconds later….

“Holy. crap. I. left. my. computer. at. home.”

I love UNC ITS. They give me loaner computers. Because I’ve lost. my. mind.

Sleeping it off.

Law school is the most mentally, emotionally, and physically draining academic activity I have ever attempted.

Right now, I’m at about “pit of despair” level. I’m thinking “How did I ever get to law school? They must have made a mistake. I’m not smart enough to do this.” I’ve started planning in advance for what to do when I learn that I’ve gotten all D’s on my exams and that I won’t be getting a job this summer…or ever again…for the rest of my life. I mean, I’ve certainly enjoyed learning “THE LAW” all semester, but seriously, one final exam as 100% of my grade? That’s it? Just one chance to show you what I think I know? And I have to try to get a summer job on *this* semester’s grades? Seriously? I quit.

Okay, okay, so maybe I’m exaggerating. All I can say is, some of these alternate options have occurred to me recently.
– Drop out and open a restaurant
– Buy a ship and become a pirate
– Curl up into a ball in front of the TV and consume multiple bags of Cheetos
– Throw my Torts casebook through the window and go to sleep

Okay, okay. I’ll stop complaining. Grades aren’t *that* important…..though they may be what does or does not get me legal employment….I have many other things in my life to keep me happy, Alhamdulillah. Life is about more than what grades I get on my exams during law school, right?

For all my friends who are looking towards law as a future career, call me when you get to “pit of despair” level. I’ll try to help you through it. Believe me, I’ve been there. I think this is where I’ll live until 5:30 pm on December 14. [P.S. - anyone who has been here already, words of advice are very welcome. let me know that there is light at the end of the legal tunnel].

Ugh…..back to studying. and counting the days.