Extraterritorial Jurisdiction

Lawyer

2007-10-08T19:21:00.000-07:00

In about a month, I can officially use that title. I'm having my new "esquire" admitted to the bar business cards being made up.

When I saw my number on the list, I think I was more excited that I wouldn't have a winter from hell following the summer from hell than anything else. Maybe it's because I got my scores a month before the majority of my classmates, I feel a bit of a surreal disconnect from what it all means.

Perhaps it will happen at the ceremony or when I have my first job as a practicing attorney, but for now, I still don't feel like I'm about to be a lawyer.

The countdown has nearly concluded

2007-07-23T14:26:00.000-07:00

I thought the LSAT was hard.

Then I went to law school.

I thought 1L fall semester finals were hard.

However, spring semester, 2L, and 3L just kept getting harder.

But now those seem such simple tasks with the weight and magnitude of the Bar exam on my shoulders (and boy, they have twisted my shoulder muscles into some deformed state).

I expect the next two days to be two of the most painful in my life - both in a figurative and literal sense. I don't know if I'm ready, but I don't know if anyone ever is.

I just look forward to breathing when it's over.

Weblogger's Day

2007-06-14T15:32:00.000-07:00

According to blogsphere, it's the 4th Annual International Weblogger's Day! This year, the theme is "solidarity." Questions asked are:

How can bloggers get together to overcome some of the problems we face in the real world? Can we police acts of hate, intimidation, and sexual violence with what we write? Or do bloggers only inflame what otherwise would be unknown?

It's very easy to write words to inflame anger in others. Yet, seeing words that bring forth realizations of a collective humanity gives me hope that we will be able to put the smack down on the inflammatory words and lead to more encouraging ones instead.

I'm attempting to save time to actually read the international law blogs to which I subscribe along with those of my friends while balancing studying for the bar, but I still haven't quite found the extra push to really start making strides as an international blogger.

Even if my participation may be more passive reader (especially in the next six weeks of personal hell), with what I see in the blogs of others, I believe that some of the questions and goals can be answered and positively accomplished.

At a crossroads

2007-04-21T14:26:00.000-07:00

I guess because a *few* months have passed since I last updated, that means it's time for an update.

I've been back Home for more than four months now, and I sit and wonder where I will be in another four.

I don't think I had the same return culture shock as I did the last time I was abroad. There are several reasons this could be: 1) I didn't return to "classroom" instruction - I had an externship this time; 2) I wasn't returning to where I had been immediately prior to being abroad - so the return culture shock being two-fold may have cancelled itself out; or 3) I was not returning to a plate that was quite as full this time.

At times, it still feels a little strange to be home, but that's not always a bad thing. It doesn't feel as hard to reconnect with people; in fact, I think I've seen a greater variety of old friends in the past four months than I have in years. I've gotten back into the theatre scene. Although I'm sad to say I'll have to put that on hiatus again with my attention needed elswhere in the coming months.

I have a few weeks of balancing fun with getting my life in order - with a trip to D.C. and graduation in Malibu thrown in for good measure - before I hit the review books (quite possibly literally) and classes for the Bar. If I thought I had no life during law school, I'm really not going to have one until that nasty test is out of the way. Thankfully, I have the ethics test passed and no longer have to worry about that one.

But the road doesn't end with passing the Bar - I still have to find a job. Scratch that - a career. Knowing how much the Bar alone will be stressing me, I'm really not looking forward to the joblessness that awaits once that it over. The past ~~three~~ four years have, for the most part, been an uphill battle, but the end of the battle still looks very uncertain. :/

16 November

2006-11-19T16:19:00.000-08:00

Next year, someone remind me not to get out of bed on 16 November.

It is gaining a reputation as a REALLY bad day for me.

If nobody is opposed, we can just start skipping it.

Europe v. EU

2006-09-17T15:20:00.000-07:00

I loved the bumper sticker - or rather back window sticker - I saw today while I was out on my walk. I forgot the exact wording because my brain is too overloaded right now, but the drift of it was Loving Europe, Hating the EU.

I've always been a fan of Europe, and I've had slightly negative feelings about the EU...not that my view on it is as relevant as people actually living in the middle of it. But now that I'm studying EU law & institutions, it is beginning to remind me of the ICC - all bark, no bite.

I just wonder how far this growing dissatisfaction will grow - enough to create big waves? What will happen if someone wants to pull out? It is set forth in a treaty, and signatories are supposed to be able to withdraw from a treaty, right? If one country pulls out, will others follow suit? And what happens if some country is in such a huge violation of EU law and doesn't pay the penalties against them *cough*Greece*cough* - if it gets really, really, really bad, can they kick someone out? That would be scandalous!

Growing Up & Getting Older

2006-08-29T14:10:00.000-07:00

Age can certainly catch up with you in a split second. While I don't really feel that old nor look that old - as the poor check-out woman at Somerfields can attest to her complete embarrassment that I was much older than 18 - age is something I now need to take into consideration for many things in life.

I'm too old to go backpacking through Europe. Okay - so I wasn't exactly *backpacking* as the guy at the hostel in Prague indicated I had far too much luggage, but moving from city to city and country to country covering 5 countries & 9 cities in 20-some days was close enough. I was tired before I even left the UK. And by the time I did get to Prague, everything was looking and feeling the same; it really wasn't fun any more. I'm at the age where vacationing in nice hotels in one or two cities over a week or two sounds much more appealling.

I'm also too old not to have certain niceties. Living in a dorm-like environment in London at 20 is one thing; living in a dorm-like environment in London at 27 is quite another. Among other things, I need a real kitchen where I can actually cook meals & store food - not just microwave a frozen dinner or boil some pasta.

At one time, I could do many things while doing without many things as a poor student. I still may be a poor student, but now I'm less able to live as I once did. These thoughts may not inspire much in the immediate future as I'm stuck in this condition until mid-December, but it does open my eyes to what I want to look forward to once I'm back in the real world.

Coriolanus

2006-06-29T15:52:00.000-07:00

Why did we not read this Shakespearean play in school? How was it that I showed up at the Globe knowing nothing but that it took place in Rome and stood around about 30 minutes waiting for some character named Coriolanus to appear?

This is a really good play. This should be a must read play.

Maybe it's not as exciting read, but what an amazing production the Globe has put on. And what a dynamic and lovable tragic hero "Coriolanus" is. Jonathan Cake breathed such a soulful life into this vehicle role. But the entire ensemble was a true ensemble - it was no stronger than its weakest link, and its weakest link was pretty damn strong.

If I had more money & time, I could easily see this one over and over again and not get tired of it.

It makes me wish I had my Shakespeare collection with me, because I'd start reading it right now.

Revenge and Relaxation

2006-06-03T07:08:00.000-07:00

Nothing quite as peaceful as following a day trekking by foot to the Globe, standing on foot during the blood and gore of a beautifully powerful production of Titus Andronicus, and trekking back by foot by sitting in your flat just enjoying some quiet time while the flatmates are away. Sipping tea and eating porridge oats with sugar & raisins. Reading homework. Watching some X-Files. Doing one load of laundry that is seriously taking the entire day to do.

I guess when you're "visiting" for the 5th time and have many months to do it, there is more quiet time to be had. It's quite nice.

Home Again

2006-05-14T18:32:00.000-07:00

It's still fairly surreal being Home. I think that because it's for only a short amount of time, it's almost harder to be here. Plus being filled with a lot of cleaning, unpacking, repacking, running out of room in my room, doctor's appointments, and crazy other errands, it's not quite the enjoyable time Home I'd really like. It would be nice if I could have one week of peaceful hometime, so I hope that most of the to-do list is achieved by Friday.

19 more days...

2006-04-20T23:35:00.000-07:00

In a week, Mom will be landing to help me get packed away while I'm studying for my last final.

In 18 days, I will be done with this semester. And in 19, I'll be on the road.

It's an absolutely incredulous concept that I have to wrap up life in California in such a short amount of time - especially with so much is left to be done. I still have 4 days of classroom instruction of some sort or another. Two of my profs will be done with the substantive material tomorrow morning with review sessions on Monday, but I will still have one class hanging on for dear life to introduce a new lesson next Wednesday.

Then to be worrying about applications and meetings for things which won't - at earliest - even occur until next January on top of the 4 more immediate finals that need some decent grades. So far, my body's generally playing nice. The Cali-allergies and occasional asthma are acting up, but *knocks on wood* the pain hasn't been too terrible.

And with all of the running around to do during the two weeks I'm Home...I'm really not going to have much of a breather until I set up shop in London. I think I'm already appreciating my decision to only take one 2-credit class this summer. 4-day weekends to play in Europe could not be more deserved right now.

Confidence Builders

2006-04-10T01:12:00.000-07:00

Having been recently plauged with concerns about my future, I had a very productive week in NYC. While there is still so much uncertainty in what lies ahead, it was very reassuring to feel the confidence others have in me. Because if people with more knowledge & experience than me are believing in me, I probably should be, too.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I will have some incredible educational opportunities coming up after finals. I'm finally beginning to feel that I have been learning things to the point where I can intelligently understand them. I may not be to the point of intelligently speaking about them, but I can feel that horizon is nearing.

One of these days, I'm actually going to be an expert in ETJ.

Learning to crawl

2006-03-25T13:23:00.000-08:00

It's a shame that we really don't learn from the mistakes of others but instead have to make the mistakes ourselves before we learn. And all the others can do is sit back and watch as we do.

Animal Instincts

2006-03-07T15:16:00.000-08:00

I thought pets were supposed to sense people fairly well.

If that is so, why don't pets (other than devil dog at the neighbor's house) sense I'm really not a pet person. The dog here sleeps in whichever room I'm in at night over the people who actually live here. The cat is constantly trying to cuddle with me to the point of me getting clawed in my leg because I jumped up when it tried to jump in my lap.

I'm not saying I don't like animals - I like them for short intervals or watching them outside from the confines of my house - but I don't understand why I seem to be a pet magnet wherever I go.

Dang, maybe I really am Snow White.

Furry Woodland Creatures

2006-02-22T00:12:00.000-08:00

It's one thing to have deer that won't move out of the way. It's another thing to see big rats scurrying around the complex or have a racoon enter your apartment. It's still another to find a coyote in the parking lot when you come back from a late night walk at the track.

The mountain lion in the courtyard is still the most disturbing, but I didn't actually witness that, so it doesn't count.

Working in a forest preserve is one thing - living in one is a whole different story.

You'll shoot your eye out...or someone else's

2006-02-14T01:35:00.000-08:00

Looks like the DNR shouldn't have a cut-off date for hunter's safety courses. Either that, or someone should have been paying more attention to my Grand Champion Conservation 4-H project on hunter's safety....they might have learned a thing or two on how to properly hunt and handle a gun.

Brain Mush

2006-02-07T15:34:00.000-08:00

I keep spelling Taiwan like Hawaii, so I get Tawaii.

I think there's too much going on in my brain (I can't imagine why). Thank goodness I'm on a plane out of here tomorrow afternoon...

Kindred Spirit

2006-01-25T23:57:00.000-08:00

I have befriended a new person who shares the same love and affection for California that I do. Well, she's not exactly new, but our friendship and commonalities are becoming more apparent. Plus, I've made her my minion.

It's very easy to get swept up in the non-reality of it all, so having the grounding of a kindred spirit is the best way to survive the remaining weeks and months.

I do still always think back upon Anne of Green Gables when I think of kindred spirits. I hope all of mine remain as strong as Anne & Diana.

Defining Relevance

2006-01-10T22:45:00.000-08:00

Federal Rule of Evidence 401

The Evidence book this semester is going to keep me hopping...and thinking (who goes to law school to do that? *g*). I think there are more pages of problems than actually explanatory text. I know in the long run it will be better for me - much like vegetables & exercise - but right now, it reminds me of the Spanish workbooks in high school and undergrad. And it tries to be all cute using character names from movies and television. It doesn't make thinking about the problems any more enjoyable.

Thank goodness I admire the professor so.

Mediocrity

2005-12-07T01:20:00.000-08:00

I actually used the phrase "swimming in the sea of mediocrity" on the international trade final today.

Jp would be so proud! hee.

If there was a little trademark button I could have accessed during the final, I would have. I hope this postscriptive retribution will be satisfactory enough.

Finals Time

2005-12-05T19:43:00.000-08:00

It never ceases my wonderment how much easier school was once upon a time. I always thought I had been a hard worker before, but then I take these finals and realize what a piece of cake undergrad really was.

When on your first final, a third of your final grade in that class is about the ONE thing the entire semester you truly didn't understand how to apply, you know it's going to be a long 2-week examination period.

I'd love 3-day testing periods to return and would cherish the literature "what is this sentence/stanza/paragraph from?" tests any day.

Useless observation of the day

2005-11-22T00:39:00.000-08:00

When I write the word subpoena, I write the "o" clockwise. But I think I make my "o" an "0" counter-clockwise in almost all other occasions.

I wonder why I do that.

Footnotes can be very disturbing

2005-11-18T01:15:00.000-08:00

One of the "imaginary beings" in the Wills & Trusts casebook is the "precocious toddler." In the footnote to this text note, it reveals that the youngest girl on record for giving birth was 5 years old. Apparently, she had some fast developing reproductive organs setting off menses at 1 month old. So after being raped by her mentally-retarded teenage stepbrother, she now has a son that is 5 years younger than her.

I know that I wanted to get married in Kindergarten, but I really don't think I would have been ready for children at that age. *g*

And here I thought I had "female problems."

November Hurdles

2005-11-13T23:00:00.000-08:00

I've made it over the first of my November hurdle days without even noticing it was a November hurdle day. This week is going to be the challenge....especially now that I'm aware what this week is. I'm hoping to be busy enough this week to avoid thinking about it as much as possible.

I've met 1/3 of my practice test goals for the week. I have a couple more hours of chapter work to put in before my Ides of November deadline so I can dedicate the rest of the semester to studying. I want to be done with this semester's reading assignments by Thursday night. And tomorrow night is the Human Rights Watch Annual Dinner. I'm glad I thought of getting out the business cards now - otherwise I'd get there and realize I forgot them.

I can't believe there is only one more full week of school. And after studying hard this weekend, I hope I can keep up the energy throughout the rest of the week.

Lawless World

2005-11-05T11:26:00.000-08:00

Author/lawyer/professor Philippe Sands visited our school during his new book promotion. He also stopped by to lead our trade class last week. I never bring money with me to class, so I added the book to my Amazon wishlist. The panel discussion was very interesting - it's nice to see people rationally disagreeing about things rather than everyone kowtowing to the same prescribed thoughts and feelings.

Hearing him speak made me think that not only was I born during the wrong era but I was born in the wrong country. But then I realize no matter how fucked up this country can be, I still don't think I could permanently move somewhere else. I'm not sure there is a problem-free country out there.

Call to action

2005-11-03T11:57:00.000-08:00

Today was my wake up call that I can't be screwing around with this semester any more. I wish I could just snap my fingers and work more efficiently and smartly from now through finals, but I know that's not the case. I hate having to impose self-discipline to the extreme.

Starting Fresh with November

2005-11-01T22:54:00.000-08:00

The past few Novembers have been ones I'd rather forget. This year, I am going to be hopeful that it will be new and improved. So in honor of this new hopefulness, I erased the old blog like as a symbolic erasing of the old Novembers.

There's nothing quite like a tabula rasa.