Thursday, September 18, 2008
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Two Weeks Into Law School
It seems all I do is read, brief cases, study, go to class, drive to school, eat, shower and sleep. Welcome to my life.
It's entirely possible I could be spending way too much time studying, or probably more possible that I just haven't found the most efficient use of my time. I did finally break down and buy a few supplements to help put some topics in perspective, especially for Contracts.
Speaking of Contracts, I got called on the other day. I had briefed the case, but it was one that I wasn't as clear on as others I had done. I guess I gave the right information, though. It was the first time I had actually been called on. I have raised my hand to answer a question the professor has asked in class a few times. Usually I wait to see if someone else is going to answer before I volunteer, though. There are quite a few times I actually do know the answer to something, but I don't want to be one of those students who is constantly speaking up in class. I think it annoys people when the same people always talk in class and probably doesn't help with them learning the material.
We have one or two people in our section who have to talk in just about every class and it especially is annoying when they are asking a question that is unrelated to what is being covered in class, they sit in the back, and their last name is somewhat difficult to pronounce. I think one of my professors is already a bit annoyed with this particular student, even.
The whole Socratic method doesn't really bother me, but it seems to bother a few students I've talked to. I think they worry more about being asked an obscure question about a case that they wouldn't know the answer to. Of course, sometimes the whole point is for the professor to ask questions that don't necessarily have any clear answers. If you're looking for clear cut answers to everything, then Law isn't the subject where you will find them. It nearly always depends on something and each set of facts is a little different.
I personally am more concerned about the Florida Bar application than what's going on in class. I started the process already, but have tons of information I have to find out somewhere in order to complete the application. I have to find out all the places I have lived since I was 16. I'm 42 now. I've lived in 4 different states since I was 16. I have trouble remembering things at times. You get the picture? Then I have to find out all the places I've worked for the last 10 years. I've held many, many jobs and quite a few of them, I have no idea who my supervisor was or the address and phone number of the place. I can't even look them up because some are completely out of business.
And the doozy? I have to list all my financial obligations that I've incurred in the last 5 years, how much I've paid them, how much I owe, how delinquent it is, why it got delinquent, and why I haven't taken care of it. Plus I have to fill out another financial form where I list all my monthly household expenses, all my creditors, all my personal expenses, all my assets and income, and my net worth. Then there's any and all traffic violations (even those that were dismissed) in the last 3 years. If I miss anything or forget to list something and they find out, then it will appear to them that I'm trying to hide something, which is the worst thing you can do in the Florida Bar's eyes.
I think I'm going to pay to have a background investigation done on myself to help find out some of this stuff, along with the usual things of pulling all my credit reports, my Social Security earnings and motor vehicle reports. I'm just not sure where to go to get that done yet. I'd rather pay money and hopefully find out everything that's out there that can be found in hopes I don't miss anything.
Meanwhile, this weekend I want to read my assignments for the week and start outlining my classes. Guess this was probably a pretty boring post...
It's entirely possible I could be spending way too much time studying, or probably more possible that I just haven't found the most efficient use of my time. I did finally break down and buy a few supplements to help put some topics in perspective, especially for Contracts.
Speaking of Contracts, I got called on the other day. I had briefed the case, but it was one that I wasn't as clear on as others I had done. I guess I gave the right information, though. It was the first time I had actually been called on. I have raised my hand to answer a question the professor has asked in class a few times. Usually I wait to see if someone else is going to answer before I volunteer, though. There are quite a few times I actually do know the answer to something, but I don't want to be one of those students who is constantly speaking up in class. I think it annoys people when the same people always talk in class and probably doesn't help with them learning the material.
We have one or two people in our section who have to talk in just about every class and it especially is annoying when they are asking a question that is unrelated to what is being covered in class, they sit in the back, and their last name is somewhat difficult to pronounce. I think one of my professors is already a bit annoyed with this particular student, even.
The whole Socratic method doesn't really bother me, but it seems to bother a few students I've talked to. I think they worry more about being asked an obscure question about a case that they wouldn't know the answer to. Of course, sometimes the whole point is for the professor to ask questions that don't necessarily have any clear answers. If you're looking for clear cut answers to everything, then Law isn't the subject where you will find them. It nearly always depends on something and each set of facts is a little different.
I personally am more concerned about the Florida Bar application than what's going on in class. I started the process already, but have tons of information I have to find out somewhere in order to complete the application. I have to find out all the places I have lived since I was 16. I'm 42 now. I've lived in 4 different states since I was 16. I have trouble remembering things at times. You get the picture? Then I have to find out all the places I've worked for the last 10 years. I've held many, many jobs and quite a few of them, I have no idea who my supervisor was or the address and phone number of the place. I can't even look them up because some are completely out of business.
And the doozy? I have to list all my financial obligations that I've incurred in the last 5 years, how much I've paid them, how much I owe, how delinquent it is, why it got delinquent, and why I haven't taken care of it. Plus I have to fill out another financial form where I list all my monthly household expenses, all my creditors, all my personal expenses, all my assets and income, and my net worth. Then there's any and all traffic violations (even those that were dismissed) in the last 3 years. If I miss anything or forget to list something and they find out, then it will appear to them that I'm trying to hide something, which is the worst thing you can do in the Florida Bar's eyes.
I think I'm going to pay to have a background investigation done on myself to help find out some of this stuff, along with the usual things of pulling all my credit reports, my Social Security earnings and motor vehicle reports. I'm just not sure where to go to get that done yet. I'd rather pay money and hopefully find out everything that's out there that can be found in hopes I don't miss anything.
Meanwhile, this weekend I want to read my assignments for the week and start outlining my classes. Guess this was probably a pretty boring post...
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