Getting into the swing of things

So far so good. It's been almost two full weeks now since the substantive classes started, and I still am managing to keep up with the reading and the assignments for the most part. I've managed to over-schedule myself just a little bit by getting elected as Blue Pod Representative for the Student Bar association, and joining the official blogging crew for the school, but I feel like this is all part of enriching the law school experience, which means I can rationalize the extra time spent at school on non-class activities.

The key now is finding a balance that allows me to keep up with the reading on an ongoing basis, and also allows for some social outlets, too. WalkFast has lost a member, so there is also some extra stress related to finding a drummer for the band, but that's a relatively minor concern at this point. The bigger struggle will be finding a balance between my personal need for some time alone and the need to engage fully in all the various commitments I've made.

Still, we are in the exciting part of law school, the discovery and exploration phase. I expect a lot of folks will start to get burned out and demotivated as the term goes on, but I hope to counteract this tendency by keeping myself busy and providing myself with alternative outlets. This is a very stimulating environment, intellectually and socially, so for me the key is to get engaged without getting overwhelmed. I feel like being a representative on SBA will be a good outlet, but I am even more certain that my outside interests in music and sports will be the key to maintaining my sanity.

This past weekend provided a few solid hours of homework to complete, as well as an awesome rafting trip on the lower McKenzie. I feel like I'm already working hard to maintain the balance between school and the rest of my life. Clearly law school is a time sink that can take whatever you give it. The key is to give it enough time without letting yourself be consumed. Outside interests are key, but I feel like engaging in school beyond the classroom is also a partial antidote to the problem of being overly immersed in class.

Damp Ankles

That's exactly what the first week of law school feels like. You're about to swim across a river you've never crossed before, with unknown and unpredictable currents and obstacles. Up to your ankles is about as far as you get after the first week - after all, you're just getting into the water. But the anticipation is palpable all around. Because you don't swim this one alone - a few hundred others are jumping in at the same time (along with tens of thousands across the country) and just as in any group swim, this can multiply the dangers.

Damp ankles just about sums it up.

Feeling out the first final

Today I'm taking my first "real" final exam at law school. It's really more like a practice exam than a true final, since we have less than two weeks of material under our belts, but it should be a good ice breaker for getting into the law school mindset. We're being graded on a Pass/No Pass basis, so there is basically no anxiety connected to this test other than getting the procedure down. Anonymous finals require a certain degree of processing and handling, which must be done according to strict rules and regulations to ensure no breach of confidentiality.

Unlike most final exams in law school, this one is completely closed notes and closed book, except that we have been given a list of three problems to study, one of which will be the exam question. Rather than cramming a bunch of black letter law into an outline, prep for this test will be focused on analysis and issue spotting which can be done in advance. I think it will be fun.

AEP week 2

The first week of the Summer Institute at L&C was mostly fun, with lots of introductions, networking, and just a little bit of reading and writing. The second week has started out a little more serious, with a visit from Prof. Steverson, who brought her Socratic skills from Harvard to our AEP classroom. I can tell that this is going to be a challenging academic experience, but it also seems like there is a great deal of potential for fun at the same time.

Last Friday Walkfast had a show at the Rock Bottom, and this was well attended by other 1L students looking to relax and build their networks. We brought together some students from the AEP with others from the 1L class, and everybody had a great time. It's been a good opportunity to practice my own networking skills, and I expect that will be true of my entire career in law school and beyond.

I didn't really appreciate or understand the value of networking very well until I came to Portland. I tended to be a loner and not very social, and only found limited opportunities to expand my circle of friends and acquaintances. Since my first fateful visit to the NWSCC, I have slowly come to realize not only the awesome power of building a social and professional network, but the great fun that comes with meeting new people.

I doubt that anyone is really "ready" for all the challenges of law school, but I do feel that the past five years have been a period of self reflection, personal growth and consciousness expanding that will provide a better foundation for success in law school, and in life. Thanks for being part of it.

AEP

Today is the second day of the Academic Enhancement Program at Lewis and Clark. This is a program designed to provide extra guidance, support and direction for incoming students as they transition into the study of law. Our first day consisted of introductions among ourselves, followed by an informal lunch with local alums, and our first homework from the law school.

This morning, we backtracked to address the issue of diversity and the nature of the challenges that we will be facing as 1L students. Have to admit, changing to part time is tempting, but I know myself too well - if I give myself too much slack, I'll be sure to find a way to hang myself.

Still, it's worthy of some thought. I'll also be pondering the possibility of overseas exchange as well, possibly to China. Anything that is interesting and differentiates me from the herd, right?