tag:blogs.targetx.com,2009:/neuslaw/Amy//419 2009-10-29T13:44:29Z Movable Type 3.34 tag:blogs.targetx.com,2009:/neuslaw/Amy//419.11193 2009-10-29T04:49:15Z 2009-10-29T13:44:29Z

We're registering for winter classes already? Not cool. I wanted to pretend like I'll never have to go back to class again for another week or two. Oh, well. The good news is that unlike the problems I mentioned in...

Amy targetx We're registering for winter classes already? Not cool. I wanted to pretend like I'll never have to go back to class again for another week or two. Oh, well. The good news is that unlike the problems I mentioned in my previous entry, registering for classes is actually really smooth with the new online registration system. I registered for Federal Courts and a trial practice course, among others. It'll be nice to just go to law school again; no MPH classes, no thesis, just straight up law school. I've spent all evening baking pumpkin chocolate chip cookies for a potluck lunch at co-op tomorrow. Should be a good time, provided I can get these bits of pumpkin I just discovered out of my hair by then. tag:blogs.targetx.com,2009:/neuslaw/Amy//419.11142 2009-10-23T01:49:14Z 2009-10-23T05:49:47Z

Anyone who has read any of my blog postings knows that I'm a big fan of the JD/MPH program in many respects, but there is one thing about it that I really dislike. While it's one program, it's administratively two...

Amy targetx Anyone who has read any of my blog postings knows that I'm a big fan of the JD/MPH program in many respects, but there is one thing about it that I really dislike. While it's one program, it's administratively two separate schools. Getting a law school and a medical school to work as one has been, well, a challenge. (Insert your own "doctors and lawyers not getting along" joke here.) Getting the different departments within NUSL to recognize the unique aspects of the JD/MPH program has been nearly impossible. I've had to clarify which co-op rotation I'm on three times now with the Co-op Office and Career Services is sending me frightening emails about not having a job yet because they still think I'm graduating in May. Don't worry, Career Services. When the time comes, I'm sure I'll be freaking out enough for the both of us. I'm still a fan of the program, but I'm saying that you have to be proactive about making sure all of your paperwork and dates are correct between the two schools. Oh, and the federal government. Nothing worse than them trying to collect from you when you still have a year of grad school left. Ugh. A year of grad school left? Really? tag:blogs.targetx.com,2009:/neuslaw/Amy//419.11065 2009-10-16T01:44:35Z 2009-10-16T04:40:44Z

If you buy yourself a new ipod touch to celebrate finishing your Master's thesis, do not become so absorbed with it that you miss your train stop. Just a thought. I'm still enjoying co-op. I feel human for the first...

Amy targetx If you buy yourself a new ipod touch to celebrate finishing your Master's thesis, do not become so absorbed with it that you miss your train stop. Just a thought. I'm still enjoying co-op. I feel human for the first time in a long time. Co-op gives you perspective that you can't get anywhere else. Just the other day, I was thinking, "I could actually see myself doing this type of work long-term." Now I just hope that someone could see themselves paying me to do this type of work long-term. On a totally unrelated note, it's colder in Boston tonight than at home in Minneapolis. There's something a little wrong with that. No, actually, there's something a lot wrong with that. tag:blogs.targetx.com,2009:/neuslaw/Amy//419.11005 2009-10-08T04:37:30Z 2009-10-08T13:16:06Z

I turned in my thesis paper! For the first time in 13 months, I have no homework, no reading, nothing when I get home!!! (Except for the MPRE. grrr.) It's amazing to go to work, make a little progress on...

Amy targetx I turned in my thesis paper! For the first time in 13 months, I have no homework, no reading, nothing when I get home!!! (Except for the MPRE. grrr.) It's amazing to go to work, make a little progress on my interesting projects, then leave it all there and not have to think about it until I go back the next day. I'm rediscovering these things called "friends" that I haven't seen in a while and becoming one with my maxed-out DVR. Co-op is going well. I'm the only full-time intern, so I'm really treated as a regular employee. I have my own assignments, and work on some projects with attorneys or other interns. My main project is getting ready to leave the research and planning stage and enter the "so what are we going to about it?" phase. I'm actually enjoying health policy work than I thought I would. Not to say that there aren't days where I miss working in a courtroom and seeing actual clients and cases every day as in my last co-op, but this is a great experience thus far. I am getting to help with a little fact investigation on the litigation side of the office, which is a nice change of pace every once in a while. Tomorrow we're attending a legislative hearing, which should be interesting. Field trips are always fun, except for the "wearing a suit" part. But it's a sacrifice I'm willing to make. tag:blogs.targetx.com,2009:/neuslaw/Amy//419.10864 2009-09-23T23:17:07Z 2009-09-24T15:42:36Z

Maybe this is the result of twelve consecutive months of full-time classes, but I feel generally unmotivated right now. Even sitting down to write a blog entry is like pulling teeth. I think this happens to everyone now and then,...

Amy targetx Maybe this is the result of twelve consecutive months of full-time classes, but I feel generally unmotivated right now. Even sitting down to write a blog entry is like pulling teeth. I think this happens to everyone now and then, but it's annoying. I think of things that need to be done, add them to my to-do list, then find something really interesting on the Food Network, and the night is gone. (Provided I'm not running to my part-time job.) I wish I could just accept this and revel in my (hopefully brief) slacker status because I'm not in classes, but I can't. An unfortunate side effect of law school, I guess. That and feeling naked if you're not carrying around a casebook that weighs more than a small child. In other news, football season has arrived! And I might get to see more than two Vikings games on TV here this year! Now all I need to do is find my Adrian Petersen jersey and some potato lefse, and it'll be almost like watching it at home. I wonder how many people reading this will actually be curious enough to Google "lefse"? tag:blogs.targetx.com,2009:/neuslaw/Amy//419.10813 2009-09-17T02:16:18Z 2009-09-17T13:39:08Z

I went to a couple of beginning-of-the-year events with law school friends this week, and I noticed that some people looked at me strangely when I introduced myself. You know, that "don't I know you from somewhere?" look. Turns out...

Amy targetx I went to a couple of beginning-of-the-year events with law school friends this week, and I noticed that some people looked at me strangely when I introduced myself. You know, that "don't I know you from somewhere?" look. Turns out lots of people have been reading the blogs! I wasn't on NUSL's campus last year, so this is the first time I'm running into people who are reading my entries. It's a little scary, to be honest. Glad to know people are enjoying our random ramblings. Walking into my co-op the day after the Obama health care speech made me realize that I'm not the only health care geek out there. My co-workers talked about cheering at the TV too! Some of them had people over and served food and drinks. It's comforting to know that eventually I could earn a paycheck doing what I'm doing now (for free). tag:blogs.targetx.com,2009:/neuslaw/Amy//419.10759 2009-09-10T01:15:19Z 2009-09-10T05:00:18Z

I'll admit that there are days when I wonder if I made the right decision, if this is really the path for me. Today is not one of those days. After a day working on a health care policy initiative...

Amy targetx I'll admit that there are days when I wonder if I made the right decision, if this is really the path for me. Today is not one of those days. After a day working on a health care policy initiative at the Attorney General's Office, I'm sitting on my couch watching the President give a speech on health care reform and working on finishing my Master's thesis in public health. It's exciting to have found a niche that I'm passionate about. Granted, I came to NUSL knowing what I wanted that niche to be, but I'm realizing that I'm getting an educational experience tailored not only to my interests, but to the current state of the country. This is in large part due to simply being in Massachusetts, where health care policy tends to be a little more progressive. On another note, it's been great to be on a co-op in a working environment that values the MPH classes I've taken. I'm being asked to develop opinions and suggestions, which is scary, but it's really helping me make connections between the two degrees. Not all days leave me feeling this optimistic, but you've got to savor them when they do. So that's what I'm doing (with the help of some frozen yogurt and a joint session of Congress). tag:blogs.targetx.com,2009:/neuslaw/Amy//419.10714 2009-09-03T01:37:09Z 2009-09-03T02:15:11Z

What a difference a vacation makes! I'm feeling much more human now. Co-op has started and I'm having a great time going to work every day and not having to come home to a bunch of reading and research. I'm...

Amy targetx What a difference a vacation makes! I'm feeling much more human now. Co-op has started and I'm having a great time going to work every day and not having to come home to a bunch of reading and research. I'm loving my co-op at the Attorney General's Office, especially because I'm using some of my MPH knowledge (finally!). It's nice to be out in the "real world" working on things that have an effect on more than just my evals. I've also rediscovered this thing called "reading for fun." I vaguely remember it, and it's quite enjoyable. Not that law school ever really stops. I'm going to take the MPRE (one of the numerous standardized test hurdles) in November and get that out of the way while I'm not in classes. We'll see how that works out... tag:blogs.targetx.com,2009:/neuslaw/Amy//419.10664 2009-08-26T03:47:46Z 2009-08-26T12:33:14Z

Just finished thesis presentation, then consumed mass amounts of curried tofu. Leaving for a much-needed vacation tomorrow. Leaving computer/books/stress at home. Brain too fried to form actual sentences. Good luck to incoming 1Ls....

Amy targetx Just finished thesis presentation, then consumed mass amounts of curried tofu. Leaving for a much-needed vacation tomorrow. Leaving computer/books/stress at home. Brain too fried to form actual sentences. Good luck to incoming 1Ls. tag:blogs.targetx.com,2009:/neuslaw/Amy//419.10616 2009-08-11T20:00:00Z 2009-08-11T20:37:43Z

Yes, it's only been three months since my last set of finals. I just took my first law school exam in over a year. Luckily, I was pretty prepared and it really wasn't that bad. My brain is now mush,...

Amy targetx Yes, it's only been three months since my last set of finals. I just took my first law school exam in over a year. Luckily, I was pretty prepared and it really wasn't that bad. My brain is now mush, however, and I'm having a little trouble putting together coherent thoughts. Or incoherent thoughts. Or any thoughts whatsoever, actually. OK, only two papers and a Master's thesis to go. No big deal, right? (By the way, I highly recommend adopting an "eat whatever you feel like eating whenever you feel like eating it" policy during exam periods. It really does make you feel a little bit better. And on this note, I'm going to meet classmates for mass amounts of pad thai...) tag:blogs.targetx.com,2009:/neuslaw/Amy//419.10595 2009-08-05T23:30:05Z 2009-08-06T04:02:53Z

Today I had my last class of the summer. I've now been in school for a year straight and I cannot wait for co-op! Finals are upon us, so life as I know it will cease to exist for a...

Amy targetx Today I had my last class of the summer. I've now been in school for a year straight and I cannot wait for co-op! Finals are upon us, so life as I know it will cease to exist for a couple of weeks. One exam, two final papers, and one Master's thesis from now, I will be free for a few months. I look forward to re-establishing contact with the outside world. It still exists, right? tag:blogs.targetx.com,2009:/neuslaw/Amy//419.10531 2009-07-16T01:43:06Z 2009-07-16T13:03:26Z

I've met a couple incoming 1Ls who've come to visit and one of you even contacted me with a question, which completely made my day! It's really nice to know people find this blogging thing useful. Keep those questions coming...

Amy targetx I've met a couple incoming 1Ls who've come to visit and one of you even contacted me with a question, which completely made my day! It's really nice to know people find this blogging thing useful. Keep those questions coming and we'll do our best to answer them. In the meantime, I'm trying to decide whether to continue plowing through my Evidence reading on hearsay rules or find some trashy summer reality television to kill some brain cells.... hmm... tough choice... tag:blogs.targetx.com,2009:/neuslaw/Amy//419.10504 2009-07-08T17:14:08Z 2009-07-08T17:32:49Z

I think that kind of says it all. We're about halfway through this quarter, and I'm exhausted. This is my first time being on the quarter system, and they really fly by. I'd rather fly away at this point, to...

Amy targetx I think that kind of says it all. We're about halfway through this quarter, and I'm exhausted. This is my first time being on the quarter system, and they really fly by. I'd rather fly away at this point, to be honest. I really need a vacation; this is 12 straight months of grad school! UGH. Co-op is going to be such a relief. I really can't wait. The job market is really on my mind lately. Or should I say, the lack thereof. There are all these posters around campus about forums and info sessions with slogans like "Are there really going to be no jobs when we graduate?!?!" In reality, I'm not that worried, but this is starting to freak me out a little. I have enough to worry about in the here and now, like where the heck I put my Admin Law notes. tag:blogs.targetx.com,2009:/neuslaw/Amy//419.10494 2009-07-02T00:08:42Z 2009-07-02T16:14:20Z

After a crazy week of constantly checking the NUSL electronic bulletin board, going on interviews, and practically camping out in my co-op advisor's office, I've finally made a decision. I'll be working in the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office, Health Care...

Amy targetx After a crazy week of constantly checking the NUSL electronic bulletin board, going on interviews, and practically camping out in my co-op advisor's office, I've finally made a decision. I'll be working in the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office, Health Care Division. MA is a unique and interesting place to be working in health policy, given our universal health insurance coverage mandate. I'm excited! Now I just have to get to September... tag:blogs.targetx.com,2009:/neuslaw/Amy//419.10466 2009-06-23T23:50:32Z 2009-06-24T14:20:27Z

Just when things were starting to settle into a routine again, they get shaken up! Not that I'm complaining, it's just the way things go at Northeastern. A full course load, the Master's project, and a 20-hour per week job...

Amy targetx Just when things were starting to settle into a routine again, they get shaken up! Not that I'm complaining, it's just the way things go at Northeastern. A full course load, the Master's project, and a 20-hour per week job don't leave a lot of extra time, but it's doable. I even managed to spend time with friends this weekend. In all that free time, now I have to find time to go through the co-op interview process. (I got three so far!) It's a very fast process. When you get an interview request, you only get 24 hours to call and schedule the interview. If you get a co-op offer, then you have 3 days to accept or decline the job. Yes, there's a time crunch, but I'm all for making this anxious "will I, won't I get the call" period as short as possible. I'm presented with a choice between a paid co-op with mildly interesting work and unpaid ones that sound amazing. Some people find those two things together, it is possible. I'll let you know if I get any offers from these interviews (three of them in three days). I've also begun spending working at my ALE placement. It's great to be in an office where people passionately love and believe in what they do! (It's also great to get some perspective and real world experience in the middle of an academic quarter!) Time to go iron my suits and brush up on my interview skills....