You Know You Are a 3L When...

You know you are a 3L in finals when...

1. You had no idea where to sit during the review session because you only went to the first day of class.

2. You guilt a 2L into giving you all of their in-class notes for the class you never attended because you helped them during finals last year. (Thank God 2Ls at Boalt are still worried about their grades.)

3. You haven't done a single outline and spent all day trying to find a good one on the Internet instead of actually trying to make an outline. (Try Boalt.org)

4. You realize (30 minutes before your first in-class final) that you still haven't picked up your exam number.

5. You still make time for important TV shows even though you are technically in the middle of a take-home final.

Feel free to add your own!! Good luck everyone.

I Have How Many Days to Learn What?

Maybe it's just me but it seems like our reading period shrunk considerably since last year. I guess I should be grateful for the extra week of vacay we get for Christmas break, but I think a couple extra days to learn entire subjects would be nice. I always end up kicking myself right before finals start because I am never as prepared as I would like. I admit I have not used my time wisely at all. Even today, the day before finals week starts, I was cooking up a storm and cleaning my house instead of reading. What is wrong with me?

Has It Been 5 Weeks Yet?

As a 1L during finals I had a little countdown and rationed all the days I had left carefully to make sure I studied enough for each topic. As a 3L I admit that I don't pay attention to dates like that anymore. This time around I'm not worried about finals and couldn't tell you how many days I have left until my first final. Still, I am curious about my MPRE results. Although I am pretty sure I failed I need the official confirmation. If we really do get the results within 5 weeks after taking the test, those results should be arrive by the end of this coming week. Bummer.

Obsessed

I can't explain it but I am starting to get obsessed with the bar. Maybe I feel like I will be in greater control of my destiny if I know all the deadlines and important information. In any event I have come across some great resources. Below is some very helpful information for 3Ls to keep in mind. Don't be scared. Knowledge is power. (At least that is what I am going to tell myself)

GUIDANCE ON DATES, APPLICATIONS & FEES REQUIRED FOR ADMISSION TO THE CALIFORNIA BAR°

Registration with the Committee of Bar Examiners: Students must register with the California Committee of Bar Examiners as a law student. You likely did this during the first 90 days of our first year of law school. If you did not, you can still register, but you will be charged a late registration fee. Students can register on-line through the California Bar web site, www.calbar.ca.gov.

When: First year/NOW
Cost: $92 + late registration fee

Website: http://calbar.xap.com/Applications/CalBar/California_Bar_Registration/default.asp
Application for the Determination of Moral Character: A positive moral character determination is a prerequisite to being admitted to the bar and practicing law in California. The filing of the moral character application begins the process of character investigation which generally takes four to six months to complete, but could possibly take longer.

When: Now (at least 8 months prior to date you expect to be admitted to practice law in CA)
Cost: $431
Website: http://www.calbar.ca.gov/state/calbar/calbar_generic.jsp?cid=10115&id=3084

The California Bar also requires that all applicants to the practice of law be fingerprinted. Applicants are required to submit fingerprints through the Live Scan system with the application for Moral Character Determination. A list of agencies providing the Live Scan fingerprinting service can be found at the California Attorney General - Department of Justice website: http://ag.ca.gov/fingerprints/publications/contact.htm.

Multi-state Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE): This examination is administered by the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) and is one of the requirements for admission to practice law in California (and in all but 3 of the other U.S. jurisdictions). The next test date is March 8, 2008. The regular registration deadline for the March MPRE will probably be in January. Note: It is necessary that you request that NCBE report your score to the California Committee of Bar Examiners.

When: Register in January; take exam in March (if not already completed and passed)
Cost: $55 ($110 for late applications)
Website: http://www.ncbex.org/multistate-tests/mpre/guidelines/dates/ and https://secureweb01.act.org/mpre/goFaq.do

Bar Examination Application: Students graduating from law school must file an application to sit for the bar examination in California.
When: Application available March 3, 2008; timely filing April 1, 2008
Cost: $529
Website: http://calbar.xap.com/Applications/CalBar/California_Bar_Exam/default.asp (this website is for the February Exam, but should be updated after the new year for the July Exam)

Laptop Certification: If you plan to use a computer for the essay portion of the exam you must apply for laptop certification. There are a number of steps that you’ll have to follow in order to register with the exam software. The link below is to the Feb. 2008 bulletin. There will be an updated bulletin for laptop users that will post for the July 2008 exam. Keep your eyes out when you complete your bar examination application in the spring.

When: March? (I think this application is available when you register to take the bar)
Cost: $119 ($15 late fee)
Website: http://calbar.ca.gov/calbar/pdfs/admissions/GBX_laptopbull.pdf

Testing Accommodations for the Bar Examination: Students who have received examination accommodations while attending law school must petition the Committee of Bar Examiners to receive accommodations for the Bar Examination. Students may petition the Bar any time after having registered with the Bar, and the Committee of Bar Examiners strongly encourages students to file their petitions no later than the beginning of the last year of study.

When: NOW, if applicable.
Website: http://calbar.ca.gov/state/calbar/calbar_generic.jsp?cid=10115&id=1015

Comply with California court-ordered child or family support obligations (if applicable): Applicants who have met all other requirements but who have been certified by the State Department of Social Services as being in non-compliance with court ordered child or family support will not be certified to the Supreme Court as qualified to practice law in California unless the appropriate release has been obtained.

When: NOW, if applicable.
Website: www.calbar.ca.gov

VERY HELPFUL WEBSITES:
State Bar Admissions General Information: http://calbar.ca.gov/state/calbar/calbar_generic.jsp?cid=10115
Summary of Requirements for Admission to Practice Law in California: http://calbar.ca.gov/state/calbar/calbar_generic.jsp?cid=10115&id=3922
Applications/Forms:
http://calbar.ca.gov/state/calbar/calbar_generic.jsp?cid=10115&id=1006
Bar Examination Information (for Feb. 2008 bar – to be updated):
http://calbar.ca.gov/calbar/pdfs/admissions/GBX/CBX_INFO.pdf
Additional information and the application form can be found under Bar Exam Admissions at www.calbar.ca.gov.
Scholarship from ABA: http://www.abanet.org/lsd/bar-bri.pdf

° THIS IS SEPARATE FROM ANY REGISTRATION DATES FOR EXAM PREP COURSES AND IS NOT INTENDED TO SUBSTITUTE FOR YOUR OWN RESEARCH. GUIDELINES ARE BASED ON INFORMATION PROVIDED AS OF OCT. 29, 2008 AND MAY NOT BE COMPLETE.

Tamales!

With the holidays arriving it is time to start making tamales.



First you start with a good salsa...


And then the meat...




Delicious!

At Least You Don't Have to Ask "You Want Fries With That?" For a Living

The California Bar Results went public on Sunday and I was stunned by how many of my friends did not pass. Even more confusing was the fact that there seemed to be no rhyme or reason to what happened. People who are double H magnets failed while people that didn't even show up to class their entire 3L year passed. It makes me more than a little nervous about my future.

So far I have avoided calling any of my friends that failed because I am at a loss for words. Theoretically I feel like even if you fail the bar, all is not lost. Given the hellish things I have lived through, I think there are worse things in life than failing a test which can be taken again. I still think my friends who have gone to Boalt are blessed and have a bright future ahead. Nonetheless, I know that I have not experienced the hell that is bar preparation yet and my own words probably wouldn't bring me any comfort if I failed too.

19 Hours Away

In a mere 19 hours a bunch of my friends will find out if they passed the bar. I truly hope they all passed and that Friday night will be a time of celebration for most if not all. I can't even imagine what it must be like to wait for the bar results. It seems particularly crappy for the California State Bar to make them wait until 6pm when the scores are obviously available earlier in the day. I seriously doubt that anyone waiting for their results is going to be productive at work anyway.

It is actually a little scary to watch all my friends worry and stress about getting their results. Unfortunately, I'll be in the same place this time next year.

Next Year

Ok, I know it is super late for a Halloween post, but I totally found what I am going to be next year. A chola! Bet my law firm will love me showing up looking like this...(hat tip:http://loteriachicana.net/)

Grateful

A friend of mine at Hastings told me that there was a suicide attempt there this past week. When I heard the story it made me wonder what could possibly push someone literally to the edge? It seems like sometimes the atmosphere of law school obscures what is really valuable and important in life. Although Boalt is less competitive than other similarly ranked law schools it is still easy to lose perspective. It is easy to devalue yourself and all your previous accomplishments when you don't get the highest grade in the class for the first time in your life. In particular, I remember feeling very insecure last year during OCIP as the wave of rejection letters steadily poured in. One of the things that helped me most was remembering to be thankful for all the good things in my life. And while I don't think writing down a list of things you are grateful for is a suitable solution for someone troubled enough to consider taking their own life, it is probably something most of us can benefit from. There really are so many things to be grateful for. Here is a list of some of the things I am grateful for:

1. Have the love and adoration of a wonderful guy
2. Have a roof over my head (this is especially nice considering the rainy weather)
3. I get to graduate from Boalt before Dean Edley jacks up the price again! (Sorry 1Ls & 2Ls)
4. Have On-Demand cable which means I never have to stop watching TV
5. Have great friends who enjoy chocolate and gossip just like me
6. Already have a good job to go to after graduation
7. Don't have to study for the bar for another six months

Did I Just Get Punked?

I woke up early Saturday morning and made my way to the MPRE testing center. The place was crawling with 3Ls with Barbri books stuffed under their arms. As I sipped on my coffee I made small talk with some of my modmates who were also taking the dreaded test. None of us really studied because everyone says that the MPRE isn't that difficult. In fact, I have more than one friend who has bragged about how they studied for one day and drank the night before the test. So as I cracked jokes and tried to figure out what schools various people were from, I had no idea what I was in for.

In fact, once I found my seat after a long and disorganized process of checking in, I had the nerve to feel calm. I even ignored the crazy girl behind me who was heckling the proctor for taking forever to get started. Still, I was a little surprised that this girl yelled out for the proctor to shut up and get the test started. I was also surprised that some people actually clapped once we were about to get started. Talk about lame. I hope none of those people were Boalties.

As I broke the seal on my test I thought for sure my cursory Barbri class had prepared me enough to pass. I was so wrong. That test was so difficult. Under the best circumstances I could narrow down the choices to two answers. But mostly I just had to guess and hope that everyone else was struggling like me. I haven’t found anyone that said that test was easy. I think I might as well re-register for the March test now to get a good test center.

So Easy To Say Goodbye

As I get closer to graduation I am surprised at how little nostalgia I feel about my time in Berkeley. I can't wait to get out of here. From dirty hippies living in trees to the nazi parking death squads, I am so over Berkeley. While cities like Oakland and San Francisco still give me plenty to be happy about, I can't find much to like about Berkeley. I am really ready to move on.

The Scarlet NO

A good friend of mine was no offered at their firm and I have no idea what to say to them. Although I have been positive and encouraged them to stay optimistic I can't think of any good advice to give. I can only imagine how terrible it must be to have to do OCIP all over again in a market that is even more competitive than the one we faced as 2Ls. The first time was bad enough, but how does one successfully go into a new set of interviews with the scarlet “no” anchored around their neck?

I have heard elsewhere that it might make sense to either pursue a clerkship or try to argue that the no offer had more to do with geographic preference than work product. Still, these options don’t seem very promising. Any advice on what type of advice I can give? I guess at this point all I can do is be a good listener.

Don't Panic 2Ls

As an incoming 3L I am actually looking forward to the school year. Unlike 1L year I know exactly what to expect and how hard I need to work to do well. Also, unlike 2L year I am not going to be busting my ass to interview with every firm participating in OCIP. Although OCIP wasn't the worst thing in the world, it sure as hell wasn't fun either. I was completely unprepared for how demoralizing it can feel to be constantly judged.

Grades? CLR? Job experience? If you are lacking in all or one of these areas you may worry about whether you will measure up. Don't. You may worry about whether you have successfully distilled how wonderful you are into your one page resume and 20 minute audition. Don't.

Don't get me wrong. I know exactly what its like to feel like the angel of death had come for a visit when I spied Amjur queen on my interviewing schedule. Likewise, it was no help that I had to languish outside in the hall while the person ahead of me was successful in coaxing fits of laughter out of the interviewer either. Still, I survived and so will you. Although rejection is an inevitable part of the process take heart 2Ls. You won't believe me right now, but you will see that *almost* all of you will get a job. Yes, even if you got all Ps and don't have much work experience, you will get a job. It might not be a job at your 1st choice, but you will get something. That said, if you have zero personality or give people the heebeegeebees all bets are off. Try to interview over the phone.

The Salt Mine

Although some people say that being a summer associate at a big law firm is the best job in America because you get paid to do nothing, I have actually been working. I have no idea if my experience is typical, but needless to say it was unexpected. It makes me curious. Did I just pick incorrectly, or are there other summer associates working long hours? In a strange way I am almost glad I have gotten a window into what my life will be like at a big firm. Let me just say, it isn't pretty. The worst is when you are stuck at your desk at some ungodly hour with the empty takeout box in the trash can and the computer screen staring back at you. You wish you were out with your friends for a drink or just at home relaxing. You wish you were anywhere but sitting in that chair mindlessly clicking through Westlaw, scouring the four corners of the universe for some random project that probably won't mean much in the scheme of things. I can definitely see why some lawyers hate their life.

Anybody Hungry?

I don't have any funny stories about my summer in biglaw so far unless you count the drunk associate who kept drinking at a firm event until he was sauced enough to berate a partner for his choice of tie in front of all the summer associates. Talk about awkward. Other than that I don't have much to report. I have eaten just about everywhere and am quickly turning into a roly poly. I am currently searching for the right fad diet to lose my extra summer pudge. Suggestions are welcome. I am currently eyeing the eat less move more strategy. Doesn't sound fun, does it?

I Already Miss You Crunchy

I just wanted to say a word of farewell to my fellow blogstress Alice. Like her, I have always been concerned about how anything on the "internets" is there forever and can have lasting implications on your legal career. That is actually the main reason I have chosen to be anonymous and why my posts try to remain fairly general lest I be outed. It is unfortunate that things take on a life of their own in this blog world. While I think the Boalt kid that posted that bit about shooting up Hastings is stupid, I don't think he deserves the witch hunt that is currently going on. I bet if this had happened a few weeks ago when we had nice weather and weren't searching for a reason to procrastinate it would have blown over faster. In any event I will miss you Miss Crunchy. I will now have to find a new blog to check during class.

How Many Subjects Can a Person Learn in Less Than Two Weeks?

Only 11 days until finals and I finally started to outline for my closed book final today. As usual I am way behind but I am totally looking forward to the summer and not even four finals can bring me down. I figure if I stay optimistic and get the red bull iv started now I might have a chance of learning enough not to embarrass myself.

Back and Ready to Procrastinate

Finals are coming and so I am back and ready to procrastinate. I am so behind and yet still find the time to do anything but school work. I wish I could at least make myself go to sleep because at least that would be somewhat productive. Instead, I am up at an ungodly hour watching old episodes of law and order. I love that show; too bad it can't guarantee a couple Hs.

Burn Out

1L year they scare you to death. 2L year they work you to death. 3L year they bore you to death.

True to the adage above, 2L year has been squeezing the life out of me. I have never felt more overwhelmed in my entire life. It is amazing how many demands all kinds of people put on your time when you are a 2L. I think the experience is particularly acute for students of color because we have so much pressure both to do well academically as well as give back to our respective communities. There is always this sense of guilt when there is an important event or issue that comes up, and there is just no room in my schedule to help out. Although Boalt does have a fair amount of students of color, unfortunately there just aren't enough of us to do everything that needs to be done. Sometimes I wish I could just be a student who only cares about doing well in my classes. While I obviously could make that choice, I know I would feel to guilty not to be as involved as I am. I just wish I could clone myself right now. At this point I think I would need to make at least three of me to get all of my work done.

Halfway Through

Last week the Boalt Alumni Association had a halfway through party for the 2Ls. I got to load up on really cheap wine and appetizers, and shoot the breeze with mod mates who I haven't seen at all this semester. I was surprised by how nostalgic I became while looking around at all the people who slugged through 1L year with me. I guess it only takes a year to forget how annoying the person who shared long personal stories in torts was. Then again, maybe not. I’ll miss a lot of the people who helped me survive my first year, but I won’t miss everyone. I really can’t believe I only have a year and a half left before I can take the bar and become a lawyer. I feel like I am running out of time to do all the cool things I wanted to do during my time at Boalt. I never got to participate in any of the clinics, and I would still love to do an externship somewhere cool. I hope I have enough time to squeeze everything in.

Low Self-Esteem

I am just baffled at the sheer numbers of young girls and women walking the earth with low self-esteem. During conversations with friends I hear the endless stories of smart accomplished women put up with ridiculous amounts of crap, all in the name of not being alone. Why do so many people need to have outer validation to know that they are amazing? I am not saying that I have never hit rock bottom in the name of love, but there has got to be a limit.

I finally hit my limit of what I can understand, when I recently discovered a good friend of mine is anorexic. This person is super smart, cute, sweet, etc; yet where I see an attractive woman, she sees a fat, disgusting, hideous blob. She confessed to me that she has not eaten in 5 days and I am at a lost for words (which incidentally doesn't happen often). When I talked to her about the motivations behind her actions it became clear that she cares more about what a passing stranger thinks about her body than about her health. How could any guy love her if she is not a size 0 right? I just wish I could understand how someone gets there. How can you literally starve your self to death just because you are afraid that men won't find you attractive if you don't? I love men as much as the next straight woman, but hell would freeze over before I gave up eating for them. I don’t believe in living in hell before I die.

Misty Water Color Memories

I guess the beginning of a new year can breed nostalgia for some. How else can I explain why my old boyfriend from over four years ago decided to call out of the blue and see how I was doing? Mind you, this man is the same person who literally crushed my heart and brought me to my knees. I would have walked to the ends of the earth for this guy and almost gave up everything. He is the guy that taught me how foolish it is to travel half way around the world for a man and put all my career aspirations on hold. So I was shocked that he had the nerve to contact me after all this time. Part of me wishes I were married and living a life to be envious of. Granted being a law student at Boalt isn’t too shabby but I always fantasized that he would come back one day and I would be super thin, gorgeous, and married to a wildly successful husband. Even though I was tempted, I didn’t even respond. What could I really say?

Spare the Rod Spoil The Child?

CA State Assemblywoman Sally Lieber is trying to pass a law that would outlaw spanking a child under three years old. Now I'm all for protecting children, but I think this is going too far. Now I wasn’t a bad kid per se, but I had my share of spankings. While I obviously didn’t enjoy the sting of the chancla (sandal in English) across my butt at the time, I can see now how those spankings gave me boundaries and kept me in line. It amazes me how so many parents nowadays try to reason and rationalize with their children when they throw a nasty fit in public. I know if my mom were handling it, that tantrum would be over in seconds. Its not like I had to be spanked all the time. I think one or two good spankings usually do the trick. Call me a child abuser, but I am pretty sure when/if I have children I will spank them if they get out of line. Ms. Lieber better stay out of my way or she can take care of my bad ass kids.

Good To Be Back

Although I would like to post more, I spent the first week of school hunting for interesting classes that fit my desire to have a four-day weekend. I surfed so many classes and scrawled my name on so many wait lists I was beginning to wonder if I would ever get my schedule straight. I was sweating it out on the wait list for about 80% of all my classes, but I just checked my status today and it looks like I am officially in all the classes I wanted. Unfortunately, many of my fellow students were not as lucky. I don't know what happened this semester, but it seemed like almost everyone I knew was on the wait list for the classes they wanted. I know a few poor souls who got stuck taking really boring classes or trying to score an externship for credits at the last minute. Hopefully prospects will be better fall of next year. Then again, as a 3L I am not so sure I will be a good student and a good class might be wasted on me. In any event, it is good to be back.

Happy New Year

I love new years day because it feels like everything is possible and you get to begin the new year with a fresh start.

This year I will work out at the gym at least five times a week, only eat healthy food, read all the reading assigned for each class before every class, start outlining more than a week before finals, go to office hours and ask well thought out questions that demonstrate my sophisticated understanding of the material, balance extracurricular activities with school well, spend more time with my family, and last but not least—have some fun.

YEAH RIGHT. Happy New Year anyway! Hope springs eternal that 2007 will be much better than 06.