Ira, 3L

First year seems like a lightyear away, sometimes. Last year, during Thanksgiving break, I was studying for my upcoming exams and attempting to slave over my outlines.

So much has happened since then.

Now, having just finished exams, I am attempting to enjoy my Thanksgiving break before I start my co-op at the Justice Department. I left Boston on Monday night, drove 12 hours down the East Coast to North Carolina, picked up my little sister from college, and then another 3 hours to my parents' places. I love driving, but, after doing that trip and being awake for 37 hours, I am happy to not be driving anymore.

The quick approaching start to my second co-op is exciting, and I look forward to it. I hope to do some great work and learn a good deal. Plus, I'll be in DC (which is a great city), and I'll be there during the inauguration and the transition. However, while many ring the bells of joy at being out of Boston for the winter, I'm going to miss it. A lot. For a lot of reasons.

One in particular.

Yet, I'll also miss Boston for a lot of the reasons that people are glad to leave. I like snow. I like winter weather. On the one hand, it's a fantastic reminder of why summer is so great. On the other, what greater impetus does one need to wrap up before a fireplace or in the warmth of your apartment with a cup of coffee or hot chocolate.

In other news, since I will now be on co-op and won't be reading for classes all the time, I brought a suitcase full of books. A reading list to catch up on. "Look Homeward Angel," "The Unbearable Lightness of Being, and the "Chomsky-Foucault Debate" start off the adventure.

However, I will still be doing law school stuff. I am participating in moot court with a 3L, and we have to write our appellate brief by January 16th. This year, the American Constitution Society's moot court questions revolve around the First Amendment AND issues of national security law. Both are classes I just finished taking, and two subjects near and dear to my heart.

Otherwise, I'll make sure to keep you filled in on the goings on at the DOJ and in living and playing in DC. I'm not sure how much playing I'll be doing, but adventures and side-quests always seem to make themselves known at the most opportune times.

Posted by Ira at 10:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I lied. But not intentionally. Despite my best efforts, I didn't blog last week and am a little late in the current one. I wish I could blame it all on exams, as an all-consuming time-paradox of a juggernaut--mowing over everything in its path--but, in all truth, I could have taken time aside and written a short blog. I've certainly done it in the past. However, I made choices and re-prioritized, and decided I could write a mea culpa blog today.

Here's how the exams went: classes ended last Friday, November 14th. On Wednesday the 12th, I had a mock trial in my Criminal Trial Practice class. It was a two hour, mostly full trial with opening arguments, direct examinations of witnesses, redirects after cross examinations, putting on other evidence, cross examinations after the other side's directs, and then closing arguments. I was part of a two-man prosecution team, representing the Commonwealth in a mock first-degree murder case. The two defendants were charged with shooting a police officer in the head, and the prosecution's star witness was a "career criminal" and co-conspirator. Tough case, especially given the time constraints. My counterparts, the defense, did a fantastic job. In the end, though, we had a hung jury.

On Thursday the 13th, I had to give an oral argument for Appellate Advocacy. We had to turn our appellate briefs in on Tuesday by 5pm, and then give an eight minute oral argument to a panel of three actual Massachusetts Appeals Court justices. I represented the appellee (that is, the side who wants things to stay the way they are) on a First Amendment free speech Constitutional issue. I thought it went fairly well, and the judges gave great feedback on my oral argument.

Those were both my finals for those classes. Then this past Monday, I had a three hour in-class exam for First Amendment, followed by a three and a half hour in-class exam in Evidence on Tuesday, and then an eight hour take home exam for National Security Law.

I am done, and a little exhausted. And, since I hand-wrote my two in-class exams (speedily writing like a fiend), my hand feels arthritic.

But I'm done! And the exams seemed to go well. I hope my grade reflects that feeling.

For now I'm going to get my life back together after having shut it out for a couple weeks, actually read through my mail, clean my apartment, spend time with my loved one, and then head home to North Carolina for Thanksgiving.

And then, on to Co-op at the Justice Department in DC!

More to come...

Posted by Ira at 10:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

What a busy, momentous week it has been.

This past Saturday I phonebanked for the Obama/Biden Campaign, calling Democratic and undecided voters in New Hampshire. My main goals, of course, were to get out the vote and arrange rides to the polls. Classmates of mine spent four days in New Hampshire, which has same-day registration, and helped register 1400 new voters.

I'm told Obama won that particular district in New Hampshire by 1500 votes.

So, if there was ever any doubt (and there has been plenty), EVERY vote counts.

Regarding President-elect Obama, I will be in DC during the inauguration. I have yet to line up housing. This process, as a law student living on loans (with a giant dog -- a 4 year old great dane) who is so far going on an internship away from Boston every three months, has been frustrating. It hasn't gotten any less worrisome as my mind is slowly turning towards other things--like exams.

I fear not, however. I'll find housing in DC. And, while I can be assured that it will not in any way be affordable, I am sure I will ultimately bring my dog, work for the Justice Department, and live in DC during the transition to the Obama presidency.

Despite the upcoming exams, I will be blogging next week. Forgive me if I am late by a day or two, loyal readers, as I have a mock trial and a mock oral argument in front of three actual Massachusetts Appeals Court judges in the middle of the week next week.

After that, only three more exams to go.

More to come...

Posted by Ira at 4:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)