Diana, 2L

Hello everyone,

Thank you for taking the time from your busy schedule to read my blog. The goal of this blog is to inform you, the lovely audience, about the Northeastern University School of Law (NUSL) experience from the perspective of a current law school student. Let me start by briefly introducing myself. I'm from the Garden State, also known as New Jersey, and graduated from college five years ago. The first three years out of college I worked as a financial analyst for an insurance company. For the last two years, I worked as a legal advocate assisting victims of domestic violence. My experience as a legal advocate is what motivated me to attend law school.

I cannot believe I actually started law school. Sometimes I have to pinch myself just to make sure I am not dreaming. As I walk down the halls of Dockser and Cargill, I remember the feeling I got when I first stepped foot inside the law school; it just felt right being at this school. After studying for the LSAT, completing law school applications, and finally having to make a decision on what law school to attend, it's almost surreal that I have actually began this journey called law school.

I chose to attend Northeastern for two main reasons: for their commitment in promoting public interest law and for their famous Co-op program. I am amazed by the diverse student body and by the faculty's enthusiasm and energy in teaching the courses. As a 1L, I have no control in choosing my first year courses. I am taking the following courses this Fall Semester: Torts, Property, Civil Procedure and Legal Skills in Social Context, also known as Legal Research & Writing.

With only a couple weeks of experience as a 1L, I am learning day by day the unique qualities of Northeastern. The Legal Skills in Social Context course is very unique to Northeastern. The 1L class is broken into groups known as law offices, which consist of approximately 12 students in each office. The course is comprised of two parts: one is the Legal Writing and Research component and the other is a Social Justice Component. In the Social Justice Component, each law office will work together as a group on a research project for either a community-based or public-service organization. The opportunity to work with a client in a group setting as a first-year law student is unheard of in any other law school legal writing curriculum. For more information on this course, please click on the link: http://www.slaw.neu.edu/course/lssc.html.

Mid-Point Mark

So far, I am half way through my first semester of law school and I made it this far without running to the hills! What have I accomplished thus far? I submitted my first legal memo a couple of weeks ago and am currently working on my second memo. I learned how to use Westlaw and Lexis Nexis to conduct legal research. I learned how to effectively read cases and note take. I attended a training session to learn how to educate the youth on their Fourth Amendment Rights and I volunteer for the Domestic Violence Institute. As time passes by the inevitable is unavoidable– final exams!

The majority of our grades are based on the final exam and a small percentage is based on class participation. A lot of pressure is placed on the final exams, but of course, Northeastern will not leave us out to dry. Next week the law school will be administrating a Practice Civil Procedure Exam to assist us in getting a little taste of what a final exam will be like. Thus, as a good law student should, I will spend most of this weekend studying for the practice exam and working on my second legal memo.

One of the benefits of attending Northeastern University School of Law is their grading system where there is no GPA and no class rank. Rather than alphabetic or numeric grades, the law school uses narrative evaluations from professors and co-op employers. This grading system cultivates an atmosphere of cooperation and mutual respect which helps me hone my skills through constructive feedback. The law school's grading policy was one of factors that attracted me to attend Northeastern University School of Law. Based on my nine week experience, the no GPA and no class rank policy definitely minimizes the competitive, cutthroat experience that is seen in most law schools. This grading policy makes preparing for the final exam a less stressful experience because the class is not competing with each other for ranking purposes. As a prospective law school student one should take into consideration what kind of school environment would be most conducive to your learning style. If anyone has any questions about the no grading and no ranking policy feel free to conduct me, the admissions office or check out the law school's website at http://www.slaw.neu.edu/affairs/requiredeg.html.

It is Co-Op time. What is a Co-Op you may ask? A Co-Op refers to a work period under the Cooperative Legal Education Program. Under this program, law students complete a traditional first year of academic study and then, for the remaining two years, law students alternate every three-months between working full time as a legal intern and attending classes on a full-time basis. As a graduation requirement, law students need to complete four cooperative work quarters, which means upon graduation a Northeastern law student will have close to one year of legal work experience.

This month all 1L's had to select a Co-Op rotation preference, which means I could work during the summer and winter quarter, which is what I selected, or work during the fall and spring quarter. Personally, I picked the summer and winter rotation because I am eager to return to the work force to start acquiring some relevant legal work experience. The Co-Op program is one of the main reasons why I chose to attend Northeastern because I learn best through hands-on experience.

Last week the Co-Op department gave all the 1L's who selected the summer/winter rotation a four-page list of participating Co-Op employers from across the country who are hiring summer interns. The list is so overwhelming! So many choices in various practice areas and location. The Co-Op department also maintains separate lists for International Co-Op opportunities, summer fellowships, and opportunities to work with non-participating employers. On November 12th, I am required to submit applications to no more than twelve employers. I have narrowed down my selection to either interning for a judge or working in legal services doing immigration law or domestic violence work. Since I've been busy studying for the practice exam and working on my second legal memo, I haven't had enough time to research prospective employers. But I assure you that once I submit my second legal memo on Tuesday, I will head to the Co-Op office and start conducting my research on prospective employers. The options are limitless and I could intern anywhere around the world. Where do I start? I will keep you posted on the process.

What a week! It is finally confirmed Barack Obama is the 44th President of the United States of America. I am more than elated about the outcome of the election. Throughout the semester the law school did a great job in organizing law students for volunteer opportunities with the Obama-Biden Campaign. A group of NUSL students known as Swingers for Obama headed to New Hampshire the last weekend before election day and devoted their time in providing critical campaign work for the Obama-Biden team. You can check out their blog that documents their experience at: http://swingersforobama.wordpress.com/

I finished my second legal memo, which I finally submitted on Tuesday. Now I have to make the decision of which legal memo to use as my writing sample. On another note, I only have four weeks left of classes before the start of final exams. Honestly, I am a little nervous but the law school offers a great academic support system. The Academic Success Program (ASP) works with the law students through one-to-one work, academic counseling, skills workshops, time management assistance, and with exam preparation materials. I will work with ASP these up coming weeks to prepare for the final exams. ASP is such a valuable resource and its primary goal is to prepare law students to perform to the best of their abilities. For more information check out the following link: http://www.slaw.neu.edu/asp/

I felt so inspired after watching the Emmy Award Winner documentary named "Made in L.A./Hecho en L.A." The documentary follows three Latina immigrants working in Los Angeles' garment sweatshops who sue retailer Forever 21 for labor rights violations. The documentary was shown at the law school by the Northeastern National Lawyers Guild Student Chapter. The documentary personally resonated with me because my mother worked in garment sweatshops for over 18 years. Seeing how hard my parents worked to support my sister and I is what motivates me to work hard. One of the main reasons why I chose to become an attorney was to work with individuals on immigration-related issues. Watching this documentary reminded me what a privilege it will be to work as an attorney and to have the capacity to impact an individual's life through my work. To learn more about the documentary check out the website at: http://www.madeinla.com/

Northeastern University School of Law (NUSL) is trying to expand their immigration law curriculum. Currently, the law school is in the process of interviewing candidates to fill a faculty position for immigration law. NUSL offers a couple of immigration courses like Immigration Law and Refugee and Asylum Law. In addition, NUSL students can also learn about immigration law by working with various Co-Op employers who focus in immigration law. The law students are also very active and have started a group that meets on a weekly basis to discuss various immigration law issues. Personally, I am all for creating an Immigration Law Clinic. Nonetheless, the law school does offer an array of law clinics in other legal areas like: Criminal Law, Domestic Violence, Poverty Law, Public Health and Prisoner's Rights. Check out the link for more information on NUSL's clinics: http://www.slaw.neu.edu/clinics/clinics.html

Winter weather has arrived and I couldn't be less prepared for it. This week has been hectic and I am glad it is over. My mother underwent an operation and luckily she recuperated without any complications. I had a fourteen page transition memo due this week that I worked on with a group. I was fortune to have a great group and we completed the memo without a problem. In addition, I received my first interview request with a Co-Op employer for a summer internship. The Co-Op employer is a New York not-for-profit law firm that handles appeals and post-conviction proceedings on behalf of criminal defendants. Wish me luck on the interview! Last but not least final exams are only three weeks away. Sorry I don't have much to say but I promise I will next week. Got to go to work on outlines.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I am currently writing to you from New Jersey where I am spending the Thanksgiving holiday with the family. But Thanksgiving is not the same when one is in law school. Gone are the days where I carelessly spent the Thanksgiving break doing nothing but eating, socializing and shopping. This Thanksgiving all I am thinking about is finishing up outlines for final exams. Why are outlines so important? The process of creating an outline prepares one for the final exams. The outline is also useful to have during exams to use as a reference.

As I reminisce about life before law school, I remember that this time last year I was working on my law school applications and visiting various law schools, which included Northeastern University School of Law (NUSL). Personally, visiting law schools really helped me hone in on the particular aspects that attracted me to certain law schools. This time last year after visiting NUSL's Open House, I knew what I liked best about this law school: the culture, faculty and the student body. This is the type of information you don't get from reading brochures or various law school guides. Attending the Open House affirmed my reasons for wanting to attend Northeastern University School of Law. For all prospective law school applicants interested in attending Northeastern, I highly recommend you attend NUSL's Open House scheduled for December 3, 2008. For more information here is the link:
http://www.northeastern.edu/law/admission/visit/info-sessions.html. Yours truly will be one of the panelists at the open house. So don't be shy to come up to me and introduce yourself and ask me any questions.

The weather is getting colder and it snowed for the first time on Sunday. Where was I when it was snowing, cooped up with my classmates studying for final exams.  I've been preparing outlines and working on practice exams.  Tomorrow I will take my first final exam and it will be on Property.  Wish me luck!  On Monday I have a Torts exam and on Wednesday a Civil Procedure exam.  I will be officially done on Wednesday.  I can't believe it!  

Two weeks ago, I spoke as a panelist at the NUSL's Open House and it felt awkward being on the other side of the table as a law school student.  I remember this time last year preparing my law school applications and now here I am preparing for final exams.  To all of my readers who are preparing law school applications good luck!  Northeastern is a great place so make sure to apply. 

Our class schedule for next year has been posted and I will be taking Criminal Law, Constitutional Law, Contracts, Legal Research and Writing and the Social Justice Program.  In the Social Justice Program, I, in a group of 12 students, will be doing a real-world legal research project on behalf of a  public service organization.  Specifically, our group project will be focused on how the City of Worcester can create legal incentives and programs or preferences for minority-owned businesses.  The project will entail research on the legal issues presented by municipal preferences for minority-owned businesses.  I am very excited about working on the project. 

I also have other good news. I accepted a Co-Op opportunity to work in El Paso, Texas. Two weeks ago I interviewed with a Co-Op employer named Paso del Norte, Civil Rights Project located in El Paso, TX.  They are a pro bono civil rights impact litigation organization that has a VAWA program which assists immigrant victims of domestic violence to obtain work permits.  They also work on law enforcement misconduct cases involving excessive force, illegal immigration enforcement activities by local law enforcement, and racial profiling.  I am very excited about the opportunity because one of my goals was to use one of my Co-Op's to work by the border on immigration legal issues.  Texas here I come!  

That is all for now.  Let me return to studying my outlines. Wish me luck!

I arrived to Boston on Sunday night and was welcomed with snow. Nothing beats the New England weather!

This blog will be dedicated to all of my readers who are prospective law school students. I have several pieces of advice about what to look for when choosing what law school to attend. Please ask the law school what kind of academic support is offered for final exam preparation. At the CLEO seminar that I attended last weekend, I met many law school students whose law school did not offer any academic support for final exam preparation. For example, I met a law student whose law school did not allow the 1L's to access old final exams. This law student had to ask her friends, who attended other law schools, to email her their old final exams. A vital study method that develops the skills necessary to enhance your learning and preparation for final exams is to review a professor's old final exams. Having accessibility to old final exams grants the law student an opportunity to answer the question under time conditions and have the professor review your answer for feedback. Not having accessibility to a professor's old final exam is like running a marathon without ever running a lap. So please, make sure that the law school you choose to attend provides accessibility to old final exams.

Another question you should ask the law schools is if they provide teaching assistance(TA) to the 1L courses. TA's are a great source for help that is available throughout the semester to help you learn to read cases, take notes, outline courses and prepare for exams. I heavily relied on the Civil Procedure TA to assist me in clarifying certain legal concepts and in reviewing my answers from prior final exams. Finally, inquire if the law school provides any type of academic success program that offers academic counseling, skills workshops, and exam preparation materials. One of the reasons I choose Northeastern University School of Law was because it offered an academic success program(ASP). Personally, the assistance I received from ASP tremendously improved my test taking skills. So please, don't underestimate the importance of academic support services because it will improve your potential to acing your final exams.

Let me return to my readings. Till next time.

I received my evaluations (aka-grades) last week and I successfully passed all my courses and performed well overall. Trust me, for a minute, I was really worried about my performance on the Civil Procedure exam, but I made it through. Reading my evaluations was an interesting experience and I am still grappling with the idea if I like evaluations over letter grades. Let me explain the evaluation process from my personal experience. The evaluations do include key words in the beginning paragraph that indicate what kind of letter grade a student would have received. For example, if you receive the keyword “outstanding�, it could be interpreted as an A+ grade, while the keyword “very good� would be interpreted as a B+. Depending on your professor, the evaluations also include at least a paragraph on a student's strengths and some professors may include some of the student's weaknesses. This evaluation will be viewed by future employers when applying for internships, fellowships and post-graduate positions. There is also another evaluation which is only viewed by the student which provides more detailed comments on the student's strengths and weaknesses. Hopefully, as I become more seasoned with this law school experience, I can articulate a more personal opinion about the no letter-grade policy. Nonetheless, not knowing who in your class is ranked in the top or bottom of the class sure feels good.

To end, I will offer some words of reflections. The journey called law school is not easy but it does prepare a future a lawyer to the vigor of the profession. So far, law school final exams were the most challenging test taking experience I have encountered thus far in my academic journey. I am assuming no other experience is comparable to the bar exam, but these law schools exams do test your ability of performing well under time constraints. In essence, law school exams test a student's ability to successfully write a concise, succinct argument to different legal doctrines within time conditions. Doing well under time constraints is one of the key skills that most law school students have to master in order to perform successfully in law school exams and finally the bar exam. Till next time all!

While waiting in between sessions of the American Bar Association(ABA) Judicial Clerkship Conference today, I noticed the notes I had written in my padfolio. These notes included my first interview with the nonprofit legal services I worked with before coming to law school. I remember feeling so nervous about that interview because I really wanted to convince the attorneys that I wanted this position to see what lawyers did before I took the big step in applying to law school. Now, three years later, I am at this ABA Judicial Clerkship Conference, which encourages law school students to consider applying for Judicial Clerkship, and I can't believe how far I have come. Its amazing how far a dream can take you!

I'm at this conference thanks to CLEO who sponsored me to be here. The ABA Judicial Clerkship Program (JCP) encourages students to pursue clerkship opportunities while introducing judges to students whom they might not ordinarily consider as potential clerks. JCP is designed to bring judges and under represented law students together through structured networking activities. Approximately 50 judges from across the country are participating at this conference with the goal to motivate under represented law students to apply to judicial clerkships.

Honestly, I think it would a great opportunity to clerk for a judge after law school because the experience really hones research and legal writing skills. Unfortunately, I lack the confidence in my legal writing ability because I just started writing in that capacity. I just have to remember that with persistence and hard work my legal writing ability will improve.

On another note, I found a place to live in El Paso, TX for my summer Co-op. What a relief! Can you believe the rent is only $400 a month and it includes all utilities and furniture. All I need to bring with me is my luggage full of clothes. I will keep you posted on future updates about my first summer Co-op!

Spring break has finally arrived and I couldn't be any happier. This semester is flying by so fast and I could sure use this week off to review all the materials that have been covered this semester. Spring break in law school is not truly a vacation but a work vacation (what an oxymoron). I will work on a summary judgment memo, review and organize my class notes, write essays for scholarships and finally work on the social justice project for LSSC. For a recap, LSSC (Legal Skills in the Social Context) is a unique course that operates in small "law offices" of approximately 14 students. In the spring semester, the law office works on a social justice project which entails an extensive real-world legal research project on behalf of a community-based or public service organization. The social justice project is a class in itself, so this semester I am enrolled in Contracts, Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, Legal Research and Writing and the Social Justice Project.

My law office is working on a social justice project focused on researching the various difficulties in beginning small businesses, specifically within the minority immigrant community of Worcester, MA. My law office is working on behalf of the Legal Assistance Corporation of Central Massachusetts ("LACCM") who has received various complaints from the Worcester minority immigrant community about the various difficulties of starting a small business. Our law office is split into smaller groups of 3 or 4 students working on a different aspect of the project. My group is responsible for conducting focus groups in Worcester, MA with minority immigrants who either started or attempted to open a small business. We have conducted two focus groups--one with African and African American entrepreneurs and the other with Hispanic entrepreneurs. In addition, we interviewed personnel from City Hall and various nonprofit organizations that assist entrepreneurs who want to open small businesses in Worcester, MA. At this point, I can't discuss our findings but the experience has made me appreciate the contributions small businesses really bring to a community.

So far, the experience of working in this project has taught me how to work in a group setting, how to interact with a client, and how to write and put together a publishable report detailing our findings using extensive legal and anecdotal field research. In April, our law office will hold an oral presentation to LACCM and to the entire law school about our report.

That is all for now … till next time!

I am so sad that spring break is over. Moreover, I am so disappointed at myself for not getting more school work done this week. What happened? As I look at my upcoming schedule, I can't help but feel a little tense about not meeting my deadlines. I have a summary judgment memo due next week, class readings for the week, and social justice project items to finish as well. I wish I used my time during spring break more efficiently. On the bright side, I did accomplish other tasks such as booking my airfare to El Paso, TX, filing my income taxes, and completing the FAFSA for the next upcoming year. Uncle Sam was very generous to me this year in granting me a hefty return but that money will go directly to fund my summer Co-Op at El Paso, TX.

Sorry for the rant but I am just blogging out my frustrations for this week.

Till next time all!

I met a murderer last week in my Criminal Law class. My Criminal Law professor, Dan Williams, brought in a speaker who was convicted of murder and was supposed to be sentenced to death in Georgia's electrical chair in 1974. He spent sixteen and half years on death-row and was spared seven hours prior to the execution. This was the first time I knowingly met someone who committed murder. I know that the topic of death penalty can be a highly contested issue but I strongly believe it's a practice that should be banned. It was interesting to get a prospective about the death penalty from someone who actually survived and lived to tell about it. I will not go into the details of this man's case but I really appreciated the experience of hearing his story. It brought another element to my understanding of the material that no book or movie could ever contribute.

This experience, in addition to the class readings and discussions, truly has me thinking about doing a Co-Op in death penalty work. I really enjoy my Criminal Law course, and Professor Williams has an impressive criminal law experience such as representing Mumia Abu Jamal, and winning the death penalty appeal in New York that resulted in the ending of capital punishment in that state. For more information on Professor Williams check out the following link:
http://www.northeastern.edu/law/academics/faculty/directory/williams-d.html

On another note, this week I finally finished my summary judgment memo and will focus on finalizing my social justice project. My law office is scheduled to present our research study to our client organization and to the Northeastern community on April 1, 2009.

Till next time.

This time last year I was busy attending Open House events for the various law schools I was considering attending.  I can't stress enough how important it is to visit a law school before deciding which school to attend.  Attending Open House events played an integral part in my decision-making process.  Attending Northeastern’s Open House event last year solidified my decision to attend this school.  Northeastern was my top choice but I was concerned about relocating to Boston from New York.  But when I attended the Open House, all those worries washed away and were replaced with an affirmation that I finally found a school that felt “just right."  Now I know this may sound like a cliche but I really felt comfortable at this school.  I saw myself thriving at this institution because of the similar values we both shared such as our commitment to public interest and our belief in practical, hands-on learning. The school also offered campus housing which really eased my anxiety of moving here and finding a place to live. 

I talked to many current students and probed them on why they chose to attend Northeastern.  The faculty and staff were easy to talk to and I really appreciated how they were more than willing to answer my many questions about Northeastern or even about other law schools that I was considering to attend.  

Attending the Open House also allowed me to meet many of my potential classmates.  I was impressed on how many of the prospective students I met also shared a passion for public interest.  That was a stark contrast to the type of students I met in other law schools where I was a small minority who was interested in public interest law.  After attending the Open House, I felt more equipped in making a rational decision about what law school to attend. 

Again, I can't stress how important it is to attend Open House events.  Northeastern will be holding their Open House Event on April 4, 2009.  Here is the link to register for the event: http://www.northeastern.edu/law/admission/visit/info-sessions.html I also suggest that students attend the Diversity Reception, scheduled on April 3, 2009.  It is a great opportunity to mingle in an intimate setting with Northeastern's diverse student body.  Registration for this event is also found at the link above.  

I will be attending both the Diversity Reception and the Open House.  So to all my blog readers who plan to attend either of the events don't be shy and introduce yourself to me. 

Best Wishes to all! 

What a week it has been! Three weeks ago my law office submitted our research project to our client organization Legal Assistance Corporation of Central Massachusetts (LACCM). We presented our project to LACCM and to the rest of student body the following week. Thankfully, the presentation was a success and our group went out for drinks to celebrate the completion of our report. LSSC is complete!

I also volunteered for the Admissions Office and attended two admitted student events: the Diversity Reception and the Open House. It was great meeting all the admitted students that will be my future classmates this fall. Believe it or not, attending the Open House event gave me some energy to jump right into writing my summary judgment memo. It was due last week and yesterday I did my first oral argument based on the memo I submitted. My opposing counsel was another student of my legal writing class and we both had ten minutes each to state our argument. Those were the fastest ten minutes of my life. But as of yesterday I am officially done with the legal writing course.

My experience as a 1L is really passing me by. In a couple of weeks, I will be taking final exams and heading out to my first Co-Op this summer. It’s a strange but exhilarating feeling to know how fast time flies!

Wow! Believe it or not, the end of my first year is creeping up. I don't know where the time went. Wait…I do! I spent it studying for hours without end. In a couple of weeks, I will have to pack, move my belongings to an apartment in Jamaica Plain, and fly out to El Paso, TX to start my Co-Op.

Speaking of Co-Op, today I submitted my Co-Op funding application. The law school offers free funding for students who do a public interest unpaid Co-Op. I also applied for other scholarships. Cross your fingers… hopefully I get some funding because I need to pay off some bills.

The law students at Northeastern are very active in organizing events to expose and educate students on different cultural issues. On Tuesday, I attended my first Passover Seder which was organized by Northeastern’s law student organization Jewish Law Student Association. I wish I took pictures so I can demonstrate how nicely organized this event was. In addition, the Latino Law Student Association (LALSA) in conjunction with many other student organizations is conducting a fundraiser to raise money to purchase undergarments for women in detention centers. Sadly, many of the women living in detention centers are only provided with one pair of underwear. For more information on this issue check out this link: http://www.amnestyusa.org/immigrant-detention/page.do?id=1641031

That is all for now till next time.

This weekend has been a mix of working on outlines and getting to know Boston a little bit more. On Monday, April 20th, I went to Brookline, MA to watch the Boston Marathon. A friend of mine organized a marathon party at her house and we stood by the curbside to watch the marathon runners run by the 23rd mile mark. Watching all these marathon runners accomplish their goal was so inspirational. Below is a picture from the marathon just to share the great experience. The Boston Marathon is the oldest marathon in the country and the whole city shuts down to support the marathon runners. After watching my first ever marathon, I was hooked! Running a marathon is on my to do list. Thanks Boston for the inspiration. Watching the marathon runners work so hard to accomplish their goal of reaching the finish line got me so pumped up for final exams. If these marathon runners could accomplish such a physical feat of running 26.2 miles, I truly could complete my feat of successfully completing my final exams.

Speaking of final exams, my first year in law school is almost over. I just finished my last classes as a first year law student. This following week is considered "reading week" and it's dedicated to working on outlines and taking practice exams. Final exams are scheduled to start on May 4th and will conclude on May 8th. Then before I know it, on May 16th, I fly out to El Paso, TX to start working at my first Co-Op.

Till next time..

I apologize for my MIA status but I spent the few weeks of my remaining summer relaxing and catching up with family and friends.  But now I am back!!

The summer has ended and it is official: I am a 2L (second year law student).  I started school last Tuesday and what a hectic week it was.  I moved in to Boston last weekend and I love my new place located in Jamaica Plain.  I am subletting a friend's room who is currently in Quito, Ecuador working on her first Co-Op. My commute to school is only 15 minutes max and I am guaranteed a seat on the train every morning because I get on the first stop of the train.  I can't ask for anything better than that!

Unlike the courses of my first year in law school, which were chosen for me by the school, this year I had the full liberty to decide which courses to enroll into.  On Tuesday, I finalized my schedule and enrolled into the Domestic Violence Clinic, Family Law, Immigration Law and §1983 Litigation (learning how to sue police officers).   In addition, I will also be a teaching assistant for Professor Hackney's Torts Section.  

All my courses seem to be very exciting and it is apparent from the first week of class that the required reading for 2L courses is much less demanding compared to the 1L courses.  In addition to preparing for school, all 2L's across the country including myself are preparing for interviews with law firms for summer associate positions for next summer.  

I am very excited about all my courses but I am especially excited about the Domestic Violence Clinic.   As part of the Clinic, I attend class once a week and work at the Dorchester Municipal Court twice a week.  While at court, I will work as an advocate to assist victims of domestic violence with the process of applying for a restraining order. One of my responsibilities is to stand alongside a client as she/he petitions for a restraining order in court. One of my main reasons for wanting to be an attorney was to work with victims of domestic violence and now thanks to the Domestic Violence Clinic I will get a little taste of that experience.
Till next time.

As my winter Co-Op, I was hoping to work for a judge to work on my research, writing skills and to get a perspective on what judges look for in the cases they rule on. I won't be hoping anymore because I will be heading to Philadelphia for my winter quarter co-op to work for the Judge Dolores Sloviter at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Judge Dolores Sloviter was appointed to the Third Circuit by President Carter and she was the first and only woman to serve as Chief Justice in the Third Circuit. Needless to say I am very excited about this opportunity.

This past weekend I secured a sublet in Philly so I am all set to go. I have less than one month until finals and will start my winter co-op the week of November 30th. I only have two final exams one on Immigration law and the other on Family law. Wish me luck!!

It is Friday, November 13, 2009 and this is my last week of school. Eleven weeks flew by and I am still in denial that final exams are next week. On Monday, I submitted my final assignment for my §1983 Litigation course which was to submit a complaint and a memo. The §1983 Litigation course taught me how to sue police officers for police misconduct. This week I also completed my time at the Domestic Violence Clinic. I really enjoyed my experience at the DV Clinic because it consisted of representing battered women and men in obtaining a restraining order at the Dorchester Municipal Court. I represented eleven clients in obtaining a restraining order and in assisting them with obtaining access to other social services. In addition, the DV Clinic also allowed me to feel more comfortable in a courtroom setting. I observed criminal and civil cases and also spoke to the judge when advocating for my clients. My experience from the DV Clinic taught me that I really enjoy being in the courtroom setting and working with clients on a daily basis.

Speaking of future plans, I decided to create my own Co-Op this summer to either work with victims of domestic violence with family law matters or to do immigration work with unaccompanied minors.

This is all for now, I am hitting to books to prepare for final exams. Till next time!