Today I got my timetable for law school. Well, I didn't get it per se, but I found it on the website of the school. I haven't actually received anything from them since they confirmed receiving my deposit cheque. I guess they wait until later in the summer before sending out their packages because they are still admitting people on waitlists etc. Still, with only a month to go I'd bet that most people are decided (and most of us are quite starved for information!)

I only figured out how to log onto the UBC system because someone in a message board explained that you could set up an account with your student number.

The timetable on the student services website showed course codes and what sections I was in, but didn't give course titles. So I cross-referenced it with the table on the orientation website to get my prof's names. I then looked up my profs both on the faculty website and on RateMyProfessors.com. Now, you have to take these rate my profs sites with a grain of salt since (in my experience) people who have something against profs are more inclined to rate them. But there was nothing overwhelmingly negative for any of the profs I checked out. That's a good sign. Of the five profs confirmed so far, three are women, which will be good. Most (women and men) have impressive and diverse credentials.

I also learned that I will be taking seven courses next year. That seems like a lot to me, but I guess it's pretty standard since a woman at work told me her daughter had seven courses in first year law at U of O. I think there are only five final exams and others are marked on coursework. One course is no credit, which makes me wonder if it's pass/fail. The courses are (drumroll!) Contracts! Real Property! Torts! Criminal Law! Legal Institutions! Perspectives on Law! (which is divided into three sections that deal with different things, e.g. Women and the Law etc.) and (last but not least ladies and germs) Legal Writing!

Seven still seems like a lot. I don't think I ever had more than four exams in university, mostly because I planned it that way. I also never had classes on Tuesdays, Thursdays or Fridays, but I have a feeling that will be hard to replicate in law school.

The other interesting thing (well interesting to me, and I suppose if you haven't surfed away yet you might find it interesting too) is that the courses are all weighted differently. For example, Real Property appears to be worth seven credits and Criminal Law only worth five. Which is kind of funny because I think when most people think of law they think of Law and Order criminal stuff. But it kind of makes sense that Property would be worth more, because to some degree the only reason we need laws is because we own things, the most tangible things being stuff: land, animals, food, consumer goods; law protects the things that belong to us. And then more intangible things, like we own our lives, and as such have a right to live it to the best quality that we can. But maybe there's really no reason behind the credit system since it looks like they shift in Spring Term and Real Property is only worth 6. I might be overthinking this one.

Anyway, the one thing I will say is that there is a tonne of info on UBC's website, pictures of the building where the classroom is, bios of profs, an explanation of all the orientation activities (lots of BBQs and one "business-casual" reception) and even a rundown of the social events (apparently there's a boat cruise in September!) You just have to be lucky enough to find it all.

Well, I hope you enjoyed this extremely stimulating post... gee, and you thought Friday nights would only get this dull after I'd started school.