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April 29, 2009
I was selected to be next year's Managing Editor of the Northeastern University Law Journal.
This is a great opportunity, a tremendous amount of work, and a great honor. I'm stoked, and honored.
Next year will be the Journal's third operating year, but I will be a part of the second Editorial Board.
Okay, back to studying for finals!
April 27, 2009
I must say that while I have only had one full quarter outside of being a 1L, this quarter is the busiest I have felt since my first year. It could be Federal Courts, which many, including the professor, consider to be the hardest class in law school. Or it could be the mixture of that and the Criminal Advocacy Clinic (plus one more class) on my weekly schedule.
Right now I am also working with a group to pitch ideas to the Journal staff for next year's topic. We have to research a topic that our large committee approved, write a memo and give a brief presentation on why that topic is important enough to focus a whole journal and a symposium around it. So as not to divulge any information early, I'll let you know how it goes.
Also, in the Criminal Advocacy Clinic, we go back to trial this Thursday. One of our witnesses could not be present two weeks ago and we asked for a continuance. Interesting game of chess trial is, and, once it's over, I'll go more into why. Right now, I could potentially (however unlikely) affect future moves if I discuss in detail now. Just know that trial is a crazy, crazy time. And worth it. I recommend the clinic if you're interested.
Yesterday was perhaps the warmest day of the year so far in Boston. I believe the temps got into the mid-80s if not higher. My fiancee and I had lunch by the harbor, walked near the water, then spent the rest of our evening at the library doing work. C'est la vie when you're a grad student.
Of note, tomorrow evening I should be going to a training seminar on sentencing advocacy for lawyers representing criminal defendants in federal court. The seminar is hosted by District Court Judge Nancy Gertner, and, while I am not yet a lawyer representing federal defendants, clinic students were invited. I look forward to it!
April 13, 2009
First, congrats to Carolina for winning the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship! Their fifth title. I lived in Chapel Hill for about eight years, during undergrad and afterwards, and can say that I witnessed this (or a slightly lesser version) on several occasions. We Chapel Hillians know how to celebrate. And riot.
Second, I've been ill and under the weather for the past several days. For at least a day and half I was incapacitated. Unfortunate, truly, because law school doesn't really afford time off. I'm feeling a little better today, so will spend a great deal of time catching up; especially with trial at the end of this week.
I just started outlining for federal courts, which is my one in-class exam this quarter. Fun times. Outlining is a reminder of the dwindling down of the term--my Fed Cts exam is May 12 at 9am. Four hours long--and causes a tightening panic in the chest of many. But soon it will be over and we'll all either be back to co-op or graduating.
April 5, 2009
Most likely going to trial in less than two weeks. As I wrote in an earlier blog, my group's case in the Criminal Advocacy Clinic was scheduled for Pretrial Conference in the District Court this past Friday. At court, our client adamantly told us that s/he wants to plead not guilty and would take no deal offered by the District Attorney. So, we scheduled our trial date.
Two weeks is a ridiculously short time to prepare for trial, especially for hiring an investigator (for which we successfully moved the court for funds) to gather evidence and start interviewing, preparing witnesses, interviewing other witnesses, writing openings and closings, rewriting, rehearsing, etc, etc, etc.
It will be a busy two weeks, but I look forward to it. Such is the life of living on your feet.
Otherwise, I've been closely following the NCAA Basketball Playoffs. Interesting, really, is my keen attention because I'm not a huge fan of basketball. But I do like competition (which would explain why I didn't really care until March Madness descended upon us). And I did go to Carolina, whose highly talented team will be playing tomorrow for yet another Championship title!
You know who won't be playing? Who lost early on? Well...lots of teams...but specifically Duke. And Coach K.