Staying flexible

Staying flexible Final exams for the fall start tomorrow – what better time to reflect on the term that was? With the freedom to select a schedule from a very broad array of class offerings, how does one decide how to proceed? If you have a specific focus area, or are seeking a certificate, decisions about what class to take might mostly be made for you by the schedule itself. In my case, my intent was to explore a few different areas of the law while accommodating my extracurricular interests. Thanks to the evening program at Lewis and Clark, there are a wide variety of classes and class times available for crafting a schedule, which made it possible for me to fit my schedule around work and volunteering, while still carrying a full load of interesting classes in a number of subject areas. Animal Law, Administrative Law, Bankruptcy, Business Associations, Capital Punishment and Constitutional Law II were my choices for the term – a mix that allowed me to touch on a few different areas of the law while preserving two days a week class-free for other purposes. What other purposes? For one, the chance to volunteer my time with the Oregon Justice Resource Center (OJRC), an opportunity that grew directly from Lewis and Clark itself. In the current climate of reduced hiring, even volunteer positions are very competitive for law students, so it was a great pleasure to join the first class of students at this brand new non-profit, founded by three 2011 graduates of the law school. The OJRC assists local non-profit legal organizations with trial and appellate litigation on behalf of indigent, prisoner, and low-income clients in federal and state courts on a range of civil liberties and civil rights matters, including but not limited to the death penalty, immigrant rights, and unfair procedural barriers to the courts. My role with OJRC has been as a volunteer supporting the Oregon Capital Resource Center with appellate advocacy as part of the Death Penalty Project. Working on real cases, with experts in the field, has been made possible by the dedication and hard work of the founding directors of OJRC, the open and collegial relations between attorneys in the Oregon Bar, and the flexible scheduling options that Lewis and Clark provides for students. On top of my classes and my work with the OJRC, a flexible schedule also provided the opportunity to hold on to my part time job as a snow reporter for a local ski resort, Mt. Hood Meadows. Most students at Lewis and Clark seem to indulge some kind of athletic interests, including runners who ply the trails of Tryon Creek State Park adjacent to the school, bicycle riders who take advantage of the CATS towel program for commuting to school, and the crew of dedicated gym rats that work out daily at the student athletic center. Students here understand how to maintain a balanced life. In the interest of keeping my own life in balance, this was my last term as a full time student at Lewis and Clark. No, I’m not dropping out, transferring, deferring or taking a sabbatical – I’m just switching to the ‘evening division’, which means 12 credits, instead of the 17 on my schedule this term (what was I thinking?). This kind of flexibility in scheduling sets Lewis and Clark apart from other schools, and allows students to make connections in the community that will serve us well as we transition from living as students to working as lawyers.

Capitolizing

Capitolizing Summer. Many took positions as interns, externs and summer associates, but I decided to start my first summer in law school by taking advantage of other opportunities. Study abroad programs caught my attention during the year, and I decided to join a well established trip organized by the University of Missouri at Kansas City, a program that has been popular with Lewis & Clark students for some time. So, a day after completing my first year in law school, I packed my bags for Beijing, China, where I had the chance to learn the basics of the reconstituted legal system of the People’s Republic of China while making connections with students from the US and abroad, and still found some time for sight-seeing fun. I never made time for study abroad as an undergraduate student, and I’m very glad I decided to add this trip to my summer schedule. The program did not require any Chinese language skills, and Beijing in the post-Olympics era is more accessible than ever. We had a chance to visit the Great Wall, Forbidden City, Summer Palace and many other historic sites in the Beijing area. Class time was concentrated in the mornings, leaving plenty of time for afternoon sightseeing excursions by bus and weekend adventures, made easy and quick by the subway system that covers much of the city. The cohort of Lewis and Clark students, along with Professor Kanter, had the chance to share an elegant dinner with alumni from Lewis and Clark, who have made the most of their legal training in a range of fields in China. The three week course was a great introduction to many areas of Chinese law, and a great way to cap a first year in law school. Just a week after getting back from Beijing, I made a visit to Washington D.C., where I attended the 10th annual American Constitution Society convention (hence the title of the post). This was a great chance to expand my networking reach, see the sights of D.C., and connect with like minded individuals, while providing a presence for Lewis and Clark at a high profile event. I met law students and lawyers, writers and editors, professors and judges. I even ran into a distinguished guest that remembered me from a trip to Lewis & Clark earlier in the year. A little trip to D.C. helped to put the temperate summers of Oregon in good perspective. Halfway through the summer, I still had time to take Evidence and Natural Resources back at Lewis and Clark, where I enjoyed the excellent weather in Portland. I spent a lot of time floating whitewater, biking, attending beer festivals, and picking up some credits along the way with some intensive courses. The split summer schedule was especially helpful in making it possible to combine intensive study abroad with a dose back home. Whew! I’ll fill you in on what I’ve been up to this fall in my next post…

Oral Advocacy

Oral Advocacy Thursday evening was the grand finale for our Legal Analysis and Writing classes this year. The last round of appellate brief arguments was held at the Multnomah County Courthouse in downtown Portland. Many weeks of hard work went into preparation of appellate briefs, and even more weeks of practicing oral arguments followed. There is nothing quite like putting on your best suit and standing at the podium in a courthouse, with a panel of judges hanging on every word. Nervousness is normal in such a situation, and I think everyone had some anxiety going in. I found mine mostly alleviated by observing my classmates’ arguments. As each of them argued, it helped to build my confidence that I, too, would be able to make a compelling presentation of my case. Although the arguments were truly brief, with only ten minutes allotted to each student, the opportunity to engage in such practice was a highlight of my first year in law school. Feeling prepared and confident, and delivering a solid performance, puts a big smile on one’s face. After the arguments were done, we stepped into the hall for a moment while the judges conferred; the relief and excitement were palpable. Each of us felt the sudden joy of accomplishment and the well-earned urge to relax. Following a quick de-brief on our performances, we all made our way to the after-party. This is where law students show their true colors, drinking, laughing, and making fun of themselves and one another. I arrived at the party with one more topic for the conversation than I expected – a parking ticket, left on my car while we were in the courtroom making our arguments. Somehow the parking enforcement folks completely missed the valid parking sticker on my vehicle. No problem. I’m actually looking forward to the opportunity to make my case.

People, Place and Passion

People, Place and Passion The “joy of being a law student” may seem to be a contradiction in terms, but the combination of people, place, and passion can actually make pursuing legal education fun. As my schedule started to fill in with job fairs, interviews, speakers, mock trials, receptions and student group meetings, it became obvious that the community that makes a law school great consists of a lot more than just the student body and the faculty. The larger legal community of Portland is probably the greatest resource that Lewis and Clark students could ask for as developing legal practitioners and scholars.More than that, Portland also provides recreational, cultural and culinary opportunities to keep one engaged, informed and happily engorged. It’s easy to escape to the coast or the mountains for a day, or stay in town to enjoy the great variety of food, drink and entertainment that Portland offers. Probably the best reason to be having fun in Portland is really the passion that Portland engenders and delivers. Lawyers here, like Portlanders in general, are truly passionate about making the world a better place, and this comes through in their commitment to the profession, and also in their passion for other pursuits. All this effort is for a purpose, and with classes only four days a week, there is still enough time left to have some fun outside school as well.

Don’t worry, be happy.

Don’t worry, be happy. After reading the advice of my fellow law students below, I have to admit I am pretty happy with my current state of mind regarding finals. Yes, there is certainly some stress involved – but for the most part exams are already in the bag. It almost seems like a formality to show up for the tests themselves. The key to finals is being prepared. My perspective is that we have been preparing for finals since the first day of class. Going through the term with this is in mind helps to keep the fear at bay. Perhaps I will change my tune after seeing the resulting grades, but for now I am happy and satisfied with my relaxed approach to the process. My approach can be demonstrated by a quick look at my outlines. Many students seem to work hard on building extensive outlines, often stretching to 40 or more pages. While serving as the web editor for the SBA I had the pleasure of uploading dozens of these comprehensive outlines, and began to question the wisdom of using such encyclopedic references. The result is that my own outlines are simple and utilitarian. Generally 3-4 pages for each class, corresponding to the 3-4 hours that the tests will last. Is this a good strategy? I can’t actually say at this point, other than to note that it hasn’t impacted my comfort in approaching the exams, and has saved me a week of intense pain and suffering in the library. I feel rested and excited to be facing my finals, rather than tired and overwhelmed, which is a victory in and of itself. Today I take my second of four finals, and plan to spend the next two days on my snowboard before returning to the books on Sunday. It might not be the best way to tackle exam week, but it feels right to me. Stressing out has never been my style.

Keeping busy

Keeping busy It’s a little bit shocking how fast the time has flown by. Between classes, student government, networking, parties, conferences, volunteering and keeping up with friendships, there has been precious little time to stop and take stock. Now that finals are just a few short weeks away, I want to take a few moments to remember some of the details. …On the top of my list is the first annual ACLU NW Civil Liberties Conference. This event was hosted by the Lewis & Clark ACLU on the last weekend in October, and provided a great forum for visitors from Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington to meet and address some of the most pressing issues in civil liberties today. Speakers looked at the progress that has been made, and at the challenges still to be faced in Native American law, immigration law, freedom of speech and more. The conference has laid the groundwork for what should become a staple of the law school calendar at Lewis & Clark and a great example of what motivated students can accomplish in the limited free time law students enjoy.…As much fun as the conference was, there was also plenty of time for recreation. I made my first visit to Autzen stadium in Eugene and enjoyed an impressive football performance by the Ducks, found time to attend the HUMP! film festival in Portland, performed at local music venues, and resumed my favorite seasonal job at Mt. Hood. …Even with plenty of reading and studying to be done, it’s never too early to start networking. Lewis & Clark makes it pretty painless, hosting events like “Breakfast with the Judges” to help students with networking, and matching students with mentors in the school and in the legal community for support and camaraderie. The Portland legal community is uncommonly friendly and collaborative in approach; it seems like everyone in the professional community is willing and able to meet for a chat over coffee or lunch, and happy to take the time to share their experience and insight. …Beyond the school there are also ample networking opportunities, with stand-out groups like the Oregon Women Lawyers hosting speakers and events regularly, and bringing a real sense of community to the practice of law in Oregon.…Of course, one must also take some time to relax and unwind. The Student Bar Association at Lewis & Clark has been a big help for students seeking to maintain some balance in life, hosting regular social events including Bar Reviews at local establishments, an excellent Halloween party, and regular BBQ events on campus. There is nothing more relaxing than a free pint of beer before Con Law.

The Tao of “do”

The Tao of “do” As a student of philosophy, I have been exposed to an endless number of theories and systems for understanding the universe; most end up swimming in circles. However, there is a certain small green animated character whose philosophical utterances have gained increasing notice for their brevity and pithiness. Nope, not Kermit – Yoda. The simple power of a statement like “do, or do not, there is no try” can stay with you for a long time, and find endless applications. Law school seems to be a great place to put this thought into action. Trying is simply not enough here. On the other hand, there is also a certain inevitability encapsulated in this idea as well – one can only do so much, and to try to exceed the inherent limits of the human condition can lead only to frustration.This is not an idea that can be limited to the classroom. Although, like any good student, I put my classes toward the top of my priority list, there are a lot of other activities that make up the life of a law student. In my case, I have musical projects, athletic pursuits, volunteering, student government and personal relationships that all demand time and effort that must be carefully apportioned. Finding the correct balance of all these activities is likely to involve some trial and error, but the bottom line comes back to what Yoda says so succinctly. Or, in the even more concise words of a local athletics company – “just do it”. So on top of a full schedule of classes, which are mostly interesting and enjoyable, I’ve been taking time in the evenings for playing music and exercising, and have dedicated my weekends to more than simply getting ahead on the reading.The past few weekends, this has meant getting up early on Saturday to pack the car with a three person raft and associated gear, and heading for the nearby scenic rivers of Oregon with some close friends.We’ve rafted on the Willamette, the Clackamas and now have expanded our travels to include the McKenzie River as well. Spending some time in nature, absorbed in floating and paddling, has been a great escape from the otherwise never-ending reading opportunities that law school provides. Shooting down a class III rapid and flying out of the boat is thrilling and engaging in a way that more sedentary pursuits simply can’t match. It’s also one more example of how Yoda’s wisdom has practical application. When you decide to raft down a stretch of river, you can’t merely try to do it – you either do it or you don’t.This little bit of time away has left me feeling truly refreshed and ready to charge back into class materials on Sundays; I highly recommend that law students set aside one day each week for non-law pursuits when possible. This is one piece of advice I heard from many more experienced students, and so far I feel it is serving me well.