So You Think You Can Dance, welcome back to my life.
4:05 is truly the beginning of something precious.
2L Summer Jobs - Yikes.
I decided to start my law firm spreadsheet today to keep track of my research for applying to jobs next summer. But I see now that I never should have started.
The list is endless between boutiques and large full service firms, but folks are still left unemployed and articles-less. There’s an interesting article here about students demanding a refund of their tuition and the problem of unemployment at a “brand name law school” (I didn’t know UVA was a “brand name” school - and to be clear, I just don’t know anything about any American law schools outside the Ivy League). I never considered how daunting this job hunt would be until i started looking.
Even with so many “options”, many of the smaller firms (<50 staff) do not hire summer students. Look at the even smaller firms (~20 staff), and your options for areas of practice is pretty much reduced to litigation, labour, family or tax.
My boss is right, it’s a hard world out there. I should just stay put where I am and wait until he retires.
Litigation Day 18: New Assignment
After a rather uneventful 2 days of fulfilling undertakings, I’ve been given a new assignment: producing a Mediation Summary for an Accident and Benefits claim.
Looking forward to this new project and reading through another few thousand pages of two mediation briefs. This should keep me busy.
1L vs. HBA1
I think I’ve made numerous comments about this - the comparison between law school and business school. The conclusion I’ve reached is pretty much the following:
1. 1L was less stressful than HBA1. It’s also the main reason why I think 2L and 3L can only get easier.
For all those HBA’s out there, especially 2011’s, be glad you’ve overcome the most stressful period of your life - unless you’re now an investment banker for Goldman Sachs (which several of you are). HBA1 was light years more stressful than 1L. Of course, this may just be change bias, where my recall of HBA1 was actually more difficult than it actually was. Who knows. But I remember way more all-nighters, much more studying and anxious sleepless nights.
(I truly believe anyone who has written an intelligible 20-page 48-hr report can do anything in life.)
2. 1L was a way better educational experience. Content is maybe 300% more valuable even though volume is maybe only 15% more.
Reading, open book exams, writing papers, etc. was not all so new to me in 1L. Riding the curve was also nothing new. Various skills I’ve already honed in on in HBA. However, for once in my life I felt like I was learning something. Something that affects not just one class of people (i.e. the rich, the men and “the legacy children”), but everyone. I had to break past ideas of what I thought was how things worked: I learned how to read cases, write in the legal language and accept that I will not get straight A’s.
No matter how much I complained about going to Crim or sitting through 4 hours of Constitution, at the end of the day, I came out of 1L feeling pretty good about myself for actually learning something new. Also, for once in my life, what I learned in class was actually applicable to what I did on my job.
(Legacy Children are those whose parents own the largest company in x industry in the country, various socialites living off a trust fund, and children who will inevitably inherit tremendous wealth. Also families who are the biggest donors to the school.)
3. HBA1 is the best student experience, hands down. HBA1 also taught me way more life skills.
My only complaint about 1L was the lack of relationships I developed with my peers. A definite game changer though was that I lived on campus for HBA (10 mins from downtown), and with my parents for 1L (1 hr from downtown). HUGE difference.
(Here, I plug again the IMPORTANCE of moving away at some point of your post-secondary school education - it forces you to learn basic life skills. Like for me, cooking.)
So HBA: the 30% participation marks really forced us all to speak up and learn who each other was (at least by name). There were people in my section this year who will not recognize my name nor be able to name my face. In-class contributions over a year really revealed a lot about different people. Various group assignments also helped developed working relationships where some turn into great friendships. Various conferences, class-wide competitions and social events also taught me that “legacy children” are actually some of the most down-to-earth people I know. I learned the importance of prioritizing, professionalism and patience.
In 1L, I could have gone through the entire year not saying a word and still end up with an A+ in xyz class. I basically didn’t attend many bar nights because I lived with my parents uptown and the bars were downtown. I can count all the “group work” we had to do with one hand. I still have a running list of people I would like to get to know, but never had the opportunity to. Even my participation in various clubs were unfruitful in my search for a non-academic purpose in 1L. Everything revolved around marks and OCI’s (future jobs).
But all these shortcomings were my fault really, because I always rushed home after class and preferred napping than taking the subway for an hour to meet up with my section.
Thanks, Friend
- Friend: I just realized
- Me: That I'm awesome?
- Friend: No.
- Me: Oh :(
- Friend: I always knew you were awesome :)
Litigation Day 16: 2 Week Summary
Falling behind on the blogging for sure. But not many interesting things have happened. I’ve fully transitioned into the “summer routine” - work, wine class, London on the weekends. Majority of my time is now occupied by work.
I work for a small firm in midtown and that’s why I have the luxury of social media during the day. I also don’t take a lunch, I come in early and leave late. (That’s why I try to justify it - I take breaks, but I get the work done.) So far so good.
The Real Estate clerk is on vacation this week, so I’ve been solely working on preparing briefs for upcoming Mediation, Arbitration and Discoveries. Might sound fun, but it’s just a whole lot of nagging various experts to provide us with their Medical Legal Reports or haggling insurance companies to provide us with pay out statements, policy documents or whomever else for certificate xyz.
Not what I love doing, but it’s pretty lax. Legal research remains pretty straight forward for compensation, liability, evidence, etc. for the cases I’m dealing with and my boss is pretty boss. So my tasks are rather well stream-lined to fit his system of processes for treating personal injury cases, CPP tribunal appeals and whatnot. It’s been fun.
Boring at times when I’m waiting on having my work reviewed, or when I’m given real estate stuff to do, but for the most part, a pretty darn good summer job. Regular hours, and I can sometimes even leave early on Fridays. I don’t need to wear a suit or high heels. I think my boss is making a pretty good case about the “easier life” and better “work life balance” that comes with being away from the 7 Sister Firms.
this is what the first week of law school feels like.
forget what you think you already know.
(Source: factorisation)
Inspirational Motivational of the Day: Presenting the hemoncology floor of Seattle Children’s Hospital, performing Kelly Clarkson’s “Stronger.” Guaranteed to give you chills.
May - quickie catch up
Law.
DONE DONE DONE. Nothing feels better than finishing 1L. After an excruciating 8 months, it’s all over. “The worst year” in a law student’s life. In retrospect, it was not so bad - less stressful than Ivey (or maybe I’m still just lying to myself). Definitely hard work though. I couldn’t bs my way into not getting a C, I actually had to read stuff.
Some skills I’ve developed this year: speed reading (okay, more like speed skimming), citing legal stuff by memory (after losing the citations book), logging into the York U wifi, and understanding 100-page cases from 5-10 paragraphs or less. I think I’ve reached geeving level 10 and further refined my art of procrastination.
Life.
Even though I wished I had asked for a later start date at work, it was nice to be back. It gives me a greater purpose than catching up on T.V., cleaning my room and shopping and occupies my brain enough so I’m not smothering Andrew all the time. I also need to start earning the “future income” I have been spending after exams.
Produced my first Case Conference Brief this week (in 3 days) and pretty smug about finding perfect case law for supporting our client’s case. It was a hectic 5 hours today binding 3 copies of the brief while the courier sat in the waiting room. Unlike Suits, we have no back office for this stuff. It’s all me.
Embarking on training this month for my Run to End Poverty half marathon in October. I am extremely out of shape and recently discovered I have no triceps. Shall make a donations post soon. In the meantime check this out.
Love.
Recently, my cousin brought home a guy friend whom everyone told her to go for. She asked me why all he talks about are sexcapades - I considered telling her to look up Barney Stinson. But that’s a whole other post.
On my end, summertime means potential short distance excursions and more visits to London. Unfortunately, the boy does not get a summer this year so it isn’t much different from the school year. Long distance sucks, but it’s doable. One of the clerks will be off at the end of May, so it doesn’t look like our plans to go to Chicago will happen. Maybe next month. Sigh.
Turning 30: 30 Things That Women Should Have and Should Know
By 30, you should have …
1. One old boyfriend you can imagine going back to and one who reminds you of how far you’ve come.
2. A decent piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in your family.
3. Something perfect to wear if the employer or man of your dreams wants to see you in an hour.
4. A purse, a suitcase, and an umbrella you’re not ashamed to be seen carrying.
5. A youth you’re content to move beyond.
6. A past juicy enough that you’re looking forward to retelling it in your old age.
7. The realization that you are actually going to have an old age — and some money set aside to help fund it.
8. An email address, a voice mailbox, and a bank account — all of which nobody has access to but you.
9. A résumé that is not even the slightest bit padded.
10. One friend who always makes you laugh and one who lets you cry.
11. A set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black lace bra.
12. Something ridiculously expensive that you bought for yourself, just because you deserve it.
13. The belief that you deserve it.
14. A skin-care regimen, an exercise routine, and a plan for dealing with those few other facets of life that don’t get better after 30.
15. A solid start on a satisfying career, a satisfying relationship, and all those other facets of life that do get better.
By 30, you should know …
1. How to fall in love without losing yourself.
2. How you feel about having kids.
3. How to quit a job, break up with a man, and confront a friend without ruining the friendship.
4. When to try harder and when to walk away.
5. How to kiss in a way that communicates perfectly what you would and wouldn’t like to happen next.
6. The names of the secretary of state, your great-grandmothers, and the best tailor in town.
7. How to live alone, even if you don’t like to.
8. Where to go — be it your best friend’s kitchen table or a yoga mat — when your soul needs soothing.
9. That you can’t change the length of your legs, the width of your hips, or the nature of your parents.
10. That your childhood may not have been perfect, but it’s over.
11. What you would and wouldn’t do for money or love.
12. That nobody gets away with smoking, drinking, doing drugs, or not flossing for very long.
13. Who you can trust, who you can’t, and why you shouldn’t take it personally.
14. Not to apologize for something that isn’t your fault.
15. Why they say life begins at 30
Alternative Career
- Me: Sometimes I think if someone records the shit I say to Andrew (my boyfriend), I could make viral youtube videos instead of doing this stupid law shit.
- Friend: Yes, it's quite possible.
Missing Ivey Lots Tonight (erm…Morning)
(Yes, another nostalgic piece.)
It was the last day of class for HBA 2012s and seeing everyone’s status updates is making me sad. I miss those days of sticking around Ivey until the wee hours (like now) and taking up study rooms for 8 by yourself - the white boards, fast wifi, and the 2BXX rooms with the windows.
I miss $100 bottles at the Frog - no one can keep up with bottle service the same way in Toronto. I miss my room in my apartment. I miss my roommates. Gosh, I even miss those Saturdays we spend carrying out our cleaning duties. I miss having a dishwasher and late night guitar jams. I miss eating my apple sauce pasta and pears with chicken fried rice. I miss having a neighbor who would help us take out the trash.
But most of all…
I miss not having to study or do jack crap for exams because they’re all open book and easy as fuck. I miss breezing through school by writing nonsense on a page. I MISS DOING DCF’s (seriously). I miss being curved to an A.
WHY AM I STILL UP.
Oh right, my environmental torts essay is still unfinished and I still have 3 exams to study for.
