Phew!
I passed the PLTC... must say I gained a few gray hairs in the past few weeks stressing about my interview and other ridiculous parts, but I passed! Seems like the best way to celebrate is just to sleep.
Law School
August 15, 2007
July 23, 2007 (One Year Ago Today)
Still Alive In Here!
The last four weeks have been tough, and very busy, but I am now in the home stretch. My first bar exam is tomorrow (ach!) and there's another one on Friday. I am definitely freaking out a little bit, but very much looking forward to being done. I have to say, doing the bar course in the summer kind of bites. I've never had to study on a summer weekend before, and it's not very fun. I have not been outside in direct sunlight in several days - only an evening walk. Then again, part of that may be due to uncharacteristically gloomy summer weather we are having. But it was very nice last weekend, and I spent the whole day reading about Personal Property Registries. Boo.
April 30, 2007
Wandering Mind
It's amazing the thoughts that plague you at 1 in the morning when you are desperately trying to finish your very last law school paper. I find myself totally unable to concentrate because of this burning question: whatever happened to DJ Jazzy Jeff?
April 19, 2007
Words
I was just going through my corporations notes for an exam tomorrow and realising that I may never type the word "tortfeasor" again on this laptop, and I may never again have to stop the autocorrect of tortious to tortuous. It kind of makes me sad.
April 18, 2007
Irritating
Okay it's bad enough that our graduation ceremony is at the ungodly hour of 8:30 in the morning in the middle of the week. That's real convenient for my friends and family who might want to come in and see me graduate. Besides 8:30 am is just an extremely strange time to have a ceremony of any kind. Is anyone really feeling celebratory at 8:30 a.m.? I don't remember what time my undergrad convocation was, but I do remember that I had time to get my hair done beforehand.
But to make matters worse, I had to pay $50 to rent my graduation gown! Isn't the $30,000 I gave them over the past three years enough that they could spring to have a few gowns on hand?
And then - this is the coup de grace - after submitting my credit card payment, I get the notice that we have to pick up our gowns an hour and a half before the ceremony! Even law firms don't require people to get anywhere that early!
Add all this to the fact that suddenly nothing I own fits anymore since I suddenly have a belly, and you can bet that I am seriously considering just wearing pajamas under the gown. I don't think that will look strange at the Dean's Reception, do you?
March 26, 2007
Almost Done
I just realised today that in less than a month, I will have written my last law school exam. I will still have a few papers left, but I will never attend another class.
That's very exhilarating on the one hand, especially as the next few years promise to be pretty exciting. I do feel ready to get back into the working world - to have an office, and a real job, and an income (and then of course, there's that whole having a baby thing that should be pretty exciting.)
But at the same time, I really have enjoyed a lot of time in school - the chance to be constantly learning and challenging myself... and yes, the flexibility to sleep until 11 on a week day. I don't take that option very often, but every now and then it comes in handy. And I have made some great friends in law school, and there's something really lovely about all sitting around in the "interaction area" of the school gossiping about classes, classmates, occasionally even professors.
I have to remind myself to make the most of the next few weeks - maybe even attend a Bzzr-Up or two - not that I'll be partaking.
July 04, 2006
Class Picks
In the tradition of my friend Lawyerlike, I thought I'd do a brief rundown of the courses that I will be taking this fall. Now I made a resolution awhile ago that I would not take any course with the word 'transaction' in it. It's not that transactions aren't perfectly worthwhile things, it's just that I get wary when I'm tell me that something is a really USEFUL course. Useful generally = boring. (Although I will say Tax with Brooks was reasonably entertaining).
Here at UBC, the way it works is that you get to register for a certain amount of credits at 9:01 today (really 9:00 but the server invariably freezes for a minute leaving you stressed and anxious as you watch Conflicts fill up.) So here's my list of first round picks:
Advanced Legal Research - I came late to this game, and only decided a couple of days ago that I needed to take this course. I signed up for both sections, planning to drop the one I didn't need - a little insurance because this course is very competitive. Three sections and 45 spots all full as of 9:05, but I managed to get into my section of choice (Term 1). Hmm, I only just now read that there is a difference between the two sections and that in the fall you are supervised by lawyers in private practice, and in the spring by public interest lawyers. I must admit, I chose based on timetable - I was planning to register for another seminar in the spring and thought two heavy duty research classes might be too much.
Trusts - This is one that I registered for because I said I would in my interview for a clerkship. Frankly, I have not much of a clue what trusts are all about (trust funds??), but I assume it will be USEFUL.
Advanced Criminal Procedure - Once again, another clerkship-related course.
Conflicts - This is a surprisingly popular course about interjurisdictional issues; given my interest in international law, I thought it would be ... um, fun?
Topics in Corporate Law - How could I pass up a chance to take a course on corporations from the guy who conceived the movie, 'The Corporation'? I just watched it, and seeing Professor Bakan be interviewed by Janeane Garofalo cinched it. Discussion could be challenging - I once answered a question in Federalism and he said my answer had a "grain" of logic to it.
Other courses I'm interested in:
Corporations I - Figure I might need the background, and I really like the Prof teaching it in second term; only reason I didn't register in it now is that it's a larger class and I think it will take a while to fill up.
Aboriginal Right and Treaty Rights - Sadly, it conflicts with the Corporations seminar, which is a bummer because you get to make something as your final project, and I had some great ideas re iMovie
Something about land use - there's supposedly a great seminar, but I haven't checked how it fits in with my schedule; anything except "Real Estate Transactions" (see first paragraph above.)
International Environmental Law - I'm considering it, but must be careful not to overburden myself with seminars.
Professional Responsibility - I was determined to take this but sadly it is offered only once a year, and conflicts with the Corps and Aboriginal seminars.
Any other suggestions?
June 08, 2006
It really is a small world after all...
This morning on the bus I overheard two law students talking very loudly about school, life and working for a firm... It struck me that you can never be too discrete in this town. I never took statistics, but anecdotally speaking, I see law students or lawyers on the bus several times a week - makes sense, especially if you're headed downtown, or out to campus, since that where lots of them are going too.
Later today, I got another reminder of how small the community can be. I was at my in-laws's house for BBQ (not even with law school folks) and people were buzzing about a recent e-mail sent by an associate at a large downtown firm, in which he sends an "open letter" and alleges harassment. There's even a blog.
Many people would be wary of sending such a missive, if only because notoriety isn't the best quality to have when you're suddenly back on the job market. But the blog says that he has received job offers since going public (and of course, the ubiquitous marriage proposal!)
Whether or not you agree with it or believe it, it's certainly an interesting insight into firm life. The fact that this message is the talk of the (legal) town is also a reminder of fast news travels. And if nothing else, it provides a good reason for why you should think twice before crossing anyone in the high-tech group! They are probably best-positioned to get their message out fast and first...
April 24, 2006
The Race Is Over
Five exams... two papers, all completed. Not perfectly perhaps, but done. Also, I ran in the annual Sun Run this year - 1 hour and 2 minutes! It might have only been 10K, but the last few weeks I've felt like I was prepping for a marathon.
March 23, 2006
SNAILs on Cell Phones
Our school has quite an awful library. It's large and cement, and often cold. We got new chairs, but the tables are too high, and the only windows are way above eye-level, making it feel like you are working in a bunker. Everyone complains about the library. But strangely, we are fiercely protective about it too. Many students from other faculties like to come here and study, yet we have a sort of hate-on for anyone outside of law using it. We can recognise them, flipping through their flimsy coursepacks and writing in notebooks instead of looking at bright red leatherbound texts and fat casebooks. We call them SNAILS. I can't remember what it stands for, but might be something about student not ... in law school? I don't recall the A. Anyway, I get into it too. Just told a young undergrad to stop whispering on her cell phone. "You're not allowed to use them in here..." I said. The moment it vibrated, all heads turned to stare at her, glaring and huffing. But I wonder why... after all, we break the rules too, sipping tea out of non-regulation cups and congregating too loudly. What are we so territorial about? I guess misery only loves company when it thinks they are going through the same degree of misery.
March 08, 2006
Shampoo is Better!
My brother tipped me off to the Smoking Gun entry highlighting a Texas court judgment where the judge, while discussing the defendant in a bankruptcy motion, footnotes the Adam Sandler movie Billy Madison. Specifically, he quotes the part where the judge lambastes Billy for his "rambling incoherent response" and says that "everyone in the room is now dumber" for having listened to him. Needless to say, the defendant's motion was denied.
Long-time Hilary watchers will know that I heart Sandler so much that I once spent valuable hours photoshopping myself into pictures with him. This judge is my new hero.
February 23, 2006
"It's not a Tumah"
Apparently Lakehead University has banned wifi on campus because of the risk of cancer and tumours. If there's any truth to this little rumour, I may be seriously screwed. My school and home are wireless, and let's face it, surfing down any street in Vancouver, (not that I've really surfed on the street, but I've tried to log on in cafes and at other people's apartments!) you can find four or five wireless networks. What really grates me is that they're usually locked; at least if you're going to give me cancer, make it an open port! Via Slashdot.
December 07, 2005 (One Year Ago Today)
Vacation Starts
In four hours and three two minutes... don't hate me because I'm beautiful.
P.S. I do have a paper due, but it's mostly written, so it doesn't count.
November 23, 2005 (One Year Ago Today)
It's Useful!
I was so excited to actually be able to put some of my law knowledge to work. Julian was musing about a small business he's started and make the big decision to buy a new computer as I fell asleep. "I'll be able to write it off!" he said.
"Oh no," I murmured. "That's a capital cost, baby." (Okay, maybe I didn't say baby.) "You've got to subtract the proceeds of disposition, the prior recapture and any prior capital cost allowance and then multiply all that by the rate of depreciation." With that, I fell asleep, visions of CRA bulletins dancing in my head.
Today he called me, having looked up the rate of depreciation on a new computer. "45%" he told me. "So can I take the whole 45%?"
"Nope," I said. "Apply the half year rule."
Yay! The $10,000 I spend a year will actually help my family save a few pennies. Or I could have not told him, he'd have written off the whole thing, and ... we might not have gotten audited. Oh well.
P.S. Don't worry, I made him sign a waiver of liability before I told him any of that stuff.
November 08, 2005
Looking for a Job?
Summer job search got you down? I hear there's just been an opening in Saddam's defence team.
October 25, 2005
The End of An Era
It was a sad day yesterday for UBC Law, as news quickly spread that the founder of the law school had died. What most people outside the law school probably won't realise is that Dean Curtis remained at the heart of the school, even more than thirty years after he retired, and sixty years after he started the law school in a grouping of army tents. When we arrived as green 1Ls he was celebrating his 98th birthday, and the school held an event in his honour. He was often seen in his ground-floor office, in the library, or chatting with students in the halls. He was even teased in skits performed in last years Law Revue. Goodbye Dean Curtis.
October 24, 2005
Library Blues
In my first year, I never studied in the library. I went home. But this year, the library and I have become one. The fluorescent lights, the plasticated wood tables - it's kind of cosy. Working in a library has always kind of appealed to me - especially an old one with stained-glass windows. I think I might have been a librarian in a prior life because there is only one thing that bothers me about this place. That is the ssssshhhhh sound of highlighters vandalising textbooks. I never highlight books, not since I found out they sell for almost twice as much when clean. But there's a principle to it as well - books are meant to last, are meant to be for future use. They're sort of timeless, and marking them up seems a dreadful shame - especially a new crisp book with lots of good years ahead of it. Now it's gotten to a point where I can't even bring myself to highlight coursepacks - all that wasted ink. That and the library cell-phone talkers...
September 14, 2005
Did You?
Did you ever have the realization that your brain just might not be made for certain things? I'm having that realisation with tax right now. How did I get myself into this? I was actually looking forward to this course... but now I'm not so sure.
September 09, 2005
Craziness
Moving and the ensuing lack of telephone/Internet (for a WEEK!) has put a serious crimp in my blogging. But a quick note to say, I really love second year so far. All the classes I've taken have been interesting... and there isn't that overwhelming feeling I had last year when everything was so new. I come across cases I've actually read before and know. All those base concepts are now fitting in with the more advanced stuff and that's fun to see. Also, I love the freedom of my schedule. Case in point - I am here blogging on at 11 on a weekday! At home. Not to say that all those free spaces aren't filling up fast - they are. Lots of activities and so on. But there's the flexibility, and I love that.
August 10, 2005
Third Year Debate
I've heard a number of people tell me that third year is a pretty useless year of school. I'm not sure I understand that yet - I still feel like I have a lot to pack in. But apparently there is some discussion in the U.S. about abolishing third year. It's probably pretty unlikely, since as the article points out - third year is a cash cow. (Did I just say "cash cow?" Yes I did. Wow - this must be my thirties sneaking up on me.)
I think the only way this would work would be to get rid of some of the many requirements of first year. Do we really need six full year mandatory courses, or could we get away with a little less of a "grounding" in some of these subjects? Particularly since few students will practice in more than one of these areas, and as the article points out, much is learned on the job.
July 12, 2005
Registration
Very exciting. Harrowing. I was prepared, ready, at 8:49. I had my courses selected. I was constantly refreshing my registration status. 9:00 on the dot, registration was freed. I hit the button! Nothing went ahead! Can't access database! Agh. Try again. Okay - three classes. Try again one more, one full! Already! It's not even 9:01. Okay, think fast, replacement courses, revert to other worklist. Okay, got it. Chosen. Registered. Done. Phew.
Can I just complain that UBC makes registering very hard? There are about five different documents you have to cross-reference - exam schedules, course descriptions, course schedules, annotated course schedules. It's totally stupid. And personally, I think it's ridiculous that they will not allow you to take two courses if the exams conflict. I mean couldn't they make arrangements to accommodate? I guess they're worried about cheating, but we're all supposed to be lawyers right? How are we supposed to learn professional responsibility if we're treated like children? Lots of schools have honour codes at exam time - surely UBC could do something similar. Besides, with the curve, even the most unethical person isn't going to find a lot of people willing to share - there's a certain degree of self-interest at play! Okay, end rant.
So here's the course list:
Tax I
Penal Policy
Advanced Crim Procedure
Evidence
Administrative Law!
Very excited about the seminar on penal policy. [Insert homonym joke here.] Corrections is a major area of interest for me and was a big reason I wanted to go to law school.
April 26, 2005
Web Surfing
I've long suspected that constantly checking and responding to e-mails wasn't good for you, but this British study finds that it also makes you lose IQ points! I wonder if web surfing in class falls under this category.
April 22, 2005
It's over!!!
I can't quite believe that it's over. All of the year... my endless studying, the hours of cases, all boiled down to five, two to three hour exams. It's a weird feeling. So much done... and yet over so fast. I'm still reeling. I'm still thinking about all the stupid mistakes I made... damn that future interests problem!
I haven't got my grades yet, so perhaps this is the best time to give me real opinions. First year law school is hard work. It's hard on the personal relationships in your life, it eats up every moment of your time, it's intensely challenging and yet oddly unstimulating in some ways. And by that I mean, sometimes there just isn't even time to THINK about everything that you're learning. It can be kind of ego-crushing too. I'll admit it, I'm used to doing okay in school even when I didn't work that hard. But this year I have worked as hard as I possibly could, and I haven't always done as well as I hoped.
But it's been a great year. A happy, challenging year. I've been elated and proud at times, and dismayed at times. But despite the roller coaster, this has been one of the greatest years of my life, in (VERY LARGE) part because of my wonderful boyfriend fiancé . He has put up with my hectic schedule, grinned through my terrible law jokes, and today when I came home, he had bleached the entire bathroom. He knows me well and he knows that truly made me happy (I swear... on the way home I was thinking how wonderful it would be if someone had just vacuumed...). I love cleanliness and the past two weeks of insanity have allows me to let this places fester into a cat-hair covered mess. It's all gone now thanks to you-know-who.
Law school is hard on relationships - it takes up all your time and destroys your (normal) sense of humour replacing it with a series of bad puns about "invitations to treat." But I survived, and we survived, and we thrived despite it all!
For those of you who hadn't heard yet (forgive me, it's been an insane two weeks) PLEASE check out our site.
April 14, 2005
Just when you start to wonder about the human race
Check this out... the Intertron went and raised 10G for Rob and his family to buy his little girl Schuyler a portable speaking device she needs. Schuyler has a rare disorder that impacts her ability to speak. She's also very cute. For those following Rob's story, he and his family moved out to Austin for a new job. However, he was fired by a computer when he missed too many days off sick in his first week. Rob now works at a record store.
Nice to take a little reprieve from reading crim cases to hear a nice story like that. I like to be reminded that not everyone out there is stabbing their husband's mistress or trying to rob fried chicken joints.
April 08, 2005
Last Day of Classes: A Photo Essay
This are some little bushes I walk past on my way to class - there are all sorts of neat landscaping things around UBC.
More lovely landscaping.
Actually, I don't usually walk to school by this little path because I get cold and cut through the administration building. But I almost always leave by it. It's not quite as scenic as you might think, since a large multi-storey parking lot is on the right and some portables flank it on the left.
Ah, the Curtis building. Can't even make it look pretty in pictures... but to be fair I am coming from the back entrance through the lot on a rainy, Vancouver day. But let's not lie, even on a sunny day no one could call this architectural gem "pretty."
Yes, interestingly the gray bunker theme is continued on the inside. The grim walls won't dampen the spirits of these happy law students on their last day. Because I know these folks recently finished reading a chapter on the tort of "appropriation of personality," I have decided to protect their anonymity.
The interaction area - our social lounge. Pleather couches and foosball tables. What more can you ask for? (Yeah - these folks are in my torts class too.)
March 18, 2005
CSI Effect?
Some major recent acquittals: here in Canada, the Air India case. And in the U.S. the celebrity murder, the Robert Blake case.
One hypothesis is the CSI effect. Are juries across the country demanding the sort of high tech evidence we see on TV?
As someone who has had a couple of opportunities to report crimes to the police, I was always amazed at the low-techness of it all. CSI be damned, it's not even like Law & Order! On one occasion, I was told once by a telephone operator when I insisted that the the phone company must have a way to find out who had been crank-calling me "Don't believe everything you see on TV!"
I realise it seems kind of quaint that I kept a Q-tip with saliva of a man who spat on my car, but at the time I really believed they would want that sort of thing to prove who he was. The cop very kindly didn't laugh, but did tell me: "We don't even do that when they steal cars, let alone spit on them."
But the Air India case wasn't a jury trial, it was a judge trial. Could the same issues be at play there? Does the CSI effect affect judges? Or was it simply a matter of not enough evidence?
(N.B. I was surfing Althouse when I found this article.)
January 13, 2005
Googling
Red wine + open memo stress = bad idea.
Recent Google searches, all about 5 minutes apart, having forgotten the previous one.
"easement really a lease"
when is an easement really a lease?
when are easements leases?
Damn Safari for keeping track of them and reminding me of the above equation.
November 21, 2004
No Really?
Why am I redesigning the banner for this website when I really ought to be reading torts, and oh, I don't know, studying for the exams that are coming up in TWO weeks? Okay, torts, here I come. Well, first I better make myself some cocoa... can't study without cocoa, right?
October 20, 2004
The Next Time You Hang Out With Me, I Might Be Annoying
This weird thing happens when you enter law school - your brain gets saturated with new vocubulary and logic patterns; you're spending around 20 hours a week in class, and at least 10 hours a week studying (or if you're like me last weekend, around 20). Plus, if you're new in town most of your friends are all gaining the same knowledge and it's something you end up talking about all the time.
I find that I can't turn it off. When I see a cart rolling towards me, I can't help but wonder if the cart pusher is meeting the standard of care in the way he's pushing it. When I mail a letter, I think about the mailbox rule, which states that an acceptance is valid once it is mailed, whether it gets there or not. What's worse is that I can't seem to keep my mouth shut about it. Phrases like "usque ad coelum" have worked their way into my vocabulary. I make lame jokes about wilful blindness, and I can't seem to stop blurting out things like "an agreement to agree is not a contract." I don't know many lawyers, but I wish I had someone around to assure me that it stops eventually.
October 08, 2004
We Are Aware of the Maggots
I had heard about some of the shortcomings of the George F. Curtis Law Building before I got to UBC. Mainly it seemed to me that the problem was just that it was a rather ugly building, built in the time when a bunker seemed like an appropriate model for a university campus building.
There were some plusses to the building - a few of the classrooms have nice panorama windows, it has a cute little courtyard and a rather large "interaction area" where students mingle. There are also some minusses, namely that there are no women's bathrooms on the main floor except in the library and that the vast majority of the classrooms aren't of the panorama-window variety, but are rather have an underground bomb shelter sort of feel.
And as the semester progresses even my positive thoughts about the building are starting to vanish. First there was the horrible stench in the basement. Then there was the sign warning us not to keep food in our lockers. "It is attracting rodents!" it warned. But none of that prepared me for today's helpful notice. "The Law Faculty wishes you to know that we are aware of the maggots. We have contacted plant operations and pest control but nothing will be done until after the long weekend." Sure enough, as I continued downstairs I saw hundreds of long, worm-like maggots lying on the floor outside our lockers.
I'm trying not to think about the fact that I pay $10,000 to go to school and they can't find someone with a goddamn broom to control the situation until Tuesday.
September 11, 2004
First Week Completed
Well, my first week of law school is over. I haven't calculated how much reading exactly I have been assigned so far, but I would say it's quite a bit, but not unmanageable. Then again, I haven't actually looked at much of it yet, so I may be pulling my hair out Sunday afternoon.
I have been pretty impressed so far with UBC. We are divided up into small groups of 25; my group seems to be a good mixture of people, some coming from undergrad, many who have worked for a while, some from BC, some who aren't. We are told repeatedly that these people will be our closest friends, and if the group was a bunch of duds, I might be kind of worried. But I've met most of them now, even if briefly, and they all seem pretty cool. The overall atmosphere at the law school seems pretty cooperative and friendly, so that's another positive.
I have also really liked the orientation program. It's been a fairly relaxed week, we've met all of our profs and our TAs, and gone to tonnes of different presentations on things like 'balancing life and law school.' We've also met a couple of practitioners - one who works for a corporate firm and one for a small non-profit. Also UBC has paraded out a number of VIPs, such as someone who I think was a justice at the Supreme Court of BC (didn't catch his name), to MP Stephen Owen.
Also we got a bunch of free stuff, some of which was quite weird: e.g. a screwdriver set and a lip balm with the name of a law firm on it. But apparently law firms give other stuff too; for example yesterday at a reception celebrating the 98th birthday of the founding dean of the law school, they announced that the faculty is trying to raise $250,000 for bursaries and student financial aid. McCarthy Tetrault has already given $30,000.
So anyway, I'm now keen to get started on actually learning law. The orientation week has been fun, but draining. There's a lot of information and a lot of mingling. I want to start sinking my teeth in now and start doing some of the stuff that I haven't had the chance to yet.
August 06, 2004
My Course Schedule
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.
Starting Law School
When you start something new, everyone wants to give you advice on it. And you also want to get their advice, since starting something new is scary and exciting and you want to be the best you can at it. So here are some of the words of advice people have given me on law school:
"Read everything you can and brief all your cases."
"In law school you can either read your cases or attend class."
"Third year is totally unnecessary."
"As someone who was worked before, you will find it a lot easier to adjust to law school."
"People who have been out of academia for too long find it harder to get back into the pace of law school."
"Don't rewrite your notes after class: this is just busy work."
"Law school isn't that much harder than undergraduate."
"Law school is a lot tougher than undergraduate."
And the one that comes up most often: "First and foremost, law school is about learning to think in a completely new way, learning to think like a lawyer."
So... I'm not sure what to do with all this advice but I thought I'd file it here in case I need it later.