So yesterday officially marked the second half of my law school career here at CWSL. I honestly cannot believe it. It feels like only yesterday that I was attending orientation, having my photo taken for my new school ID card, meeting other brand new students, and migrating with my designated section all day, every day, from class to class.

Second year is completely different from the first. You get to pick your own classes and make your own schedule, and everything you do is your decision. You are no longer stuck with the same 80 or so people every day, which means you unfortunately don’t get the luxury of sitting by all your same friends in every class, but you fortunately don’t have to put up with all the same incessant question-askers asking, “Well, what if …..” (this is because they’re different now in each class – haha, just kidding… everyone is actually pretty quiet second year… it’s interesting). While it is a very different experience from 1L, it’s nice and I cannot express how great it feels to be a 2L rather than a 1L. It is great to finally be able to pick electives you are actually interested in, to decide to take a required course one semester over another based on how it fits in with your schedule or who is teaching it, and to truly no longer feel like you are always on the chopping block.

Last semester, I took some required courses like Constitutional Law I and Criminal Procedure, but I also got to take some unique courses like Secured Transactions and Mediation, where we got to role-play for entire class periods in mock mediations with one another. I was also able to be an Honors Instructor for my former Legal Skills professor and help out the new 1Ls with their legal research and writing. My schedule was jam packed, but I got through it. This semester I am again taking a combination of required courses like Evidence, but I’m also taking other interesting electives like Copyright Law and Labor Law. Additionally, I also got an internship for this semester, which I’m really excited about because it will be the first time I am able to gain some real world legal experience. YAY!

Although nothing can quite compare to the thrilling experience of 1L, I definitely like 2L better and I’m excited to see what’s ahead. The constant pressure and fear of being kicked out is suddenly lifted and law school no longer looks like this big, huge intimidating bully following you around night and day. By 2L, you’ve pretty much mastered the basics. You’ve figured out what works for you and what doesn’t and although some topics and concepts are still new and complex, nothing is quite as foreign as it was when you were a 1L.

It is also an exciting time because the friends you made that were here before you start to graduate and get real jobs and the classmates you had during 1L that sat frightened beside you in Contracts I are now interning with the D.A., Public Defender, and other cool places. This is a great time because it is when we slowly transform from merely being law students to being legal professionals and I’m excited to see what’s next. Stay tuned and hopefully, I’ll have some excited news to share throughout the next year and a half!

Well, Happy New Year! I wish everyone a health, successful, and absolutely fabulous year!

Okay, I realize summer was a looong time ago now and it is now November, but I just cannot post a blog about 2L without first mentioning my summer abroad in Barcelona, Spain. (I promise I’ll get back into normal law school and 2L after this post- Sorry, I know I’m behind on the posting). BUT, I truly cannot even express in enough words just how unbelievably amazing this trip and entire experience was for me. As much as I’m sure many would say I should have stayed in town for summer school to knock out some required courses or gotten an invaluable resume-building/legal-experience-gaining internship, I do not regret my decision to study abroad for one second and can honestly say I would highly recommend it to anyone who gets the opportunity. I mean, let’s be honest – SURE, I’m missing that Summer 2012 work experience under the “Professional Experience” portion of my resume, but seriously, we are going to be lawyers, we can work the rest of our lives, get internships in other semesters, and maybe take more time to complete our courses, but when else will you be able to live in another country to study and travel without having an actual job? But, as a side note – I do have to say, because it was a short program, I was able to travel around Greece and island hop for a week after the program ended and still make it back in time to take Torts II at CWSL with Prof. Lynch.  Any way, back to my experience abroad, it really was something of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I just had to take a step back from all the career building and stress of law school to really give something to myself and really do more “Michaela building”. Because of this experience, I can honestly say I feel more worldly and just generally all-around happy.

So, needless to say, hands down, this summer was the most amazing summer of my entire life! Rather than taking classes or getting my first legal internship, I decided to study abroad in Barcelona through the USD summer program with two of my really good friends in law school, Zac and Alessandra. Through the program I learned about international corporations and contracts, met some pretty wonderful people, and had a priceless experience I will never forget and will carry with me the rest of my life. Spain was really wonderful and I have to say again that I simply cannot express how happy I am to have done it. Although I may be behind my peers in terms of legal experience, I definitely gained some real life experience that cannot be measured or described in a resume.  Without going through every experience and too much into detail because it would take way too long and be entire too long of an entry, I will simply talk about my experience through a series of “Top 10” lists. Hopefully, through these lists you can somewhat understand my enthusiasm and love for this very unique and vibrant city, culture, and experience.

Here is my list of “Top 10 Favorite Places or Things to Do in Spain”, all of which I did this summer (they literally are in no particular order because they are all equally amazing/wonderful/fantastic/unbelievable):

10.  Wine tasting in wine region just outside of Barcelona – Google it. There are so many different options. We went to one that was just a tour bus ride away and was really great. Spain has some great wine and wineries that are worth visiting. My only advice: Try to avoid picking one that requires you to meet at 8:30am for obvious reasons.

9. Barcelonetta Beach and Boardwalk – this is where the beach is in Barcelona. The boardwalk is lined with fabulous restaurants and bars that turn into night clubs in the evening and it is just spectacular.

8. La Sagrada Familia  – This is the beautiful and enormous unfinished church by Gaudi. There are scaffolds around it still and you can pretty much see it from anywhere in the city because it is just THAT big. It also has such incredible detailing, both inside and out, and it is massive. I recommend paying a little extra and taking the elevator all the way to the top to see the view of the city and all the different sides of this remarkable church.

7.  Font Mágica de Montjuïc or as some may call it, “The Magic Fountain”. This is something like the water show in front of Bellagio hotel in Las Vegas, but a million times more extravagant and astounding! I recommend taking the gondola up from Barcelonetta and seeing the view of the entire city on your way up, then maybe stopping by the Futbol stadium and Olympic center as well during the day time if you have time. Otherwise, bring a blanket and maybe some snacks and beverages and just enjoy the evening show. It is only shown Thursday-Sunday so plan accordingly. They also play music with the water show and sometimes the music is classical, but sometimes it is pop music like Rihanna. Haha. It is kind of funny when it is pop or some other kind of random music, but it is still really awesome and something to see.

6. Barrio Gotico – This is one neighborhood with beautiful narrow streets, great small shops, and fabulous restaurants and bars. It is fun both in the day and in the evening and should definitely be toured!

5. Park Guell by Gaudi – This park is just breathtaking. The architecture and fine details of this park are incomparable to any other park in the world. There are so many different things to see and there are cute houses that look like the gingerbread houses you read about in that children’s story, Hansel and Gretel.

4. La Champagneria – the best bar in town. In my opinion, this is Barcelona’s hidden gem. It is hiding within the streets of the Gotico Quarter and it is just a small bar where you can get cheap champagne (red or white) and delicious tapas. It is incredibly loud in there and everyone is standing shoulder-to-shoulder, and while it may not sounds too exciting or fun, it really is! The only thing is, despite how loud and crowded it was in there, we always got “shushed”. Haha. This might be my only complaint. I hate to be shushed!

3. Going away for the weekend to Ibiza and Formentera. One of the best things about Barcelona is its very close proximity to the infamous island of Ibiza. It is just a small island with gorgeous beaches, beautiful people, and the most outrageous night clubs you will ever go to. Formentera is another island just off off Ibiza, more mellow, less party/nightlife, but really one of my favorite places with some of the absolute most beautiful people I have ever seen in my entire life. My friend and I actually got the local tour, went to private beaches, cliff dived into the Mediterranean, road on Vespas, and had a great day trip. It is just a short boat ride away (roughly an hour for the less expensive boat ride) and so worth it! Looking back, I actually wish I spent more time in Formentera.

2. La Boquieria – This is one of the largest markets I have ever been to with many things from local butchers, fishermen, produce sellers, and just about everything you can think of. It’s pretty intense and some people get grossed out by things like pigs heads, chicken feet, and the like, but they really have the freshest food and a great variety for good prices.

1. Las Ramblas – Kind of like 3^rd street promenade in Santa Monica or the Boardwalk in Venice Beach. This famous walking street is full of vendors, street acts (both fascinating and weird), souvenir shops, and restaurants and bars that line the streets. It is always busy, no matter what time of day you walk through it, and there is always something that will surprise you. You have not visited Barcelona if you have not walked through Las Ramblas.

Other honorable mentions: Elephant Bar, Sotavento and Opium Restaurants/nightclubs in Barcelonetta, Shopping in Garcia, Parliament, watching a live Spanish guitar performance at Palau de la Música Catalana, Christopher Columbus statute at the end of La Rambla, Mac Arena Beach Club, Picasso Museum and so much more!

Here is a list of 10 things I learned about Spain and Spaniards (again, in no particular order):

10. Three things about ordering beverages at restaurants, bars, and clubs: (1) Water is not free at restaurants like it is in the states; (2) When they bring you your large bottle of water that you ordered at the restaurant, you are supposed to pour it into a glass and drink from that (Not drink it directly out of the bottle); and (3) When you order an alcoholic mixed drink, they give you the alcohol in one glass and your mixer comes separate and it is up to you to pour it in yourself.

9. They still siesta! This means cannot eat at a sit-down restaurant or go to certain businesses during particular hours of the day (I want to say 3-5pm?) because businesses close for “siesta”. Can you believe it? This is just a dead period where everyone can go home to take a nap! It’s amazing.

8. Spaniards love their jamon (ham)! I’m a vegetarian so I could not appreciate it that much, but it is in just about everything. You probably could find it in sushi if you wanted to! They even have Lays potato chips in Jamon favor. Haha.

7. They have the most amazing croissants, coffee, gelato, crepes, and wine/sangria I have EVER had.

6. They speak both Spanish and Catalan, but will go out of their way to try to speak their best English to you if they know you do not speak Spanish or Catalan.

5. It is very difficult to find a variety (and in some restaurants – even one kind) of salad. I don’t know why, but I don’t think they are huge salad eaters in Spain. This also meant it was virtually impossible to find Ranch dressing – a staple for many Americans/Californians.

4. You can sun bathe in the nude, though most of the people who do so are not the ones you’d prefer to see in that fashion. A lot of people don’t do this and just wear small swim suits (even the men), but hey, at least you have the option.

3. They love their city and their soccer team. Some people in Barcelona would even prefer not to be considered part of Spain in general, but would rather be considered Catalonians. And, who wouldn’t love their soccer/futbol team, FC Barcelona? They are the current Spanish and European Champions! They actually won against Manchester United just days after Alessandra and I arrived, and on the day our third roommate/friend, Zac, got to town, they came down in a city parade on a double decker bus and sprayed everyone with champagne! Another unforgettable moment!

2. You can buy virtually ANYTHING from the many street vendors around town– earrings and all kinds of other jewelry, fake designer sunglasses, fake designer bags, hand fans, small Gaudi inspired souvenirs, other general souvenirs (shot glasses, pot holders, key chains, etc), clothes, art work, and really just about anything.

1. They truly enjoy a different way of life. They work to live, not live to work. They enjoy their lives and their time spent with one another. In my experience, I actually almost always had to ask for my check from the waiter at restaurants because unlike in certain places, they don’t want to rush you out or make you feel like you can’t sit around and enjoy your time at their business even though you may be completely done with your meal and have sat there for hours already. I love this!

Top 10 final words:

10. Be careful of the pickpockets. They are notorious in Barcelona and they can strike when you least expect it! Some tricks we heard were people pushing you around in the subway to cause commotion to distract you while they rob you, throwing a fake baby doll to get you to catch what you think is a real baby so when you throw your hands up, they pick you pocket, and giving you a high-five while robbing you at the same time. But, don’t forget that they can also just run into you or be really sneaky and simply pick your pocket when you’re not looking so keep your things close and just be cautious!

9. Remember that Spain is NOT America. Don’t expect people to “act American” or treat you a certain way just because you are American. Also, don’t expect things to be as they are in America. I didn’t have a dryer in my apartment and had to dry my clothes on clothing racks and it was not my favorite thing, but it was a unique experience. I also could not find peanut butter anywhere and when I purchased milk, it was not refrigerated, but hey I survived! You can, too! Remember, you are in their country and quite frankly, I don’t think they really care if you are “American”. This being said, appreciate Spain, the culture and the people for everything they are. Things may be different, but it does not mean it is bad.

8. Learn the public transit system. I didn’t and could not go anywhere by myself or without taking a cab. It can be somewhat confusing if you are like me, but my roommates got the hang of it and it is very convenient and fast! Just remember, they stop operating at midnight except maybe Saturday (or Friday, I can’t remember).

7. Night life in Barcelona starts very late! People usually go to dinner at 8 or 9, maybe even 10, and go out after, which means things do not usually get exciting until about 1am. But, unlike in San Diego and other parts of America, places stay open until 5am.

6. Barcelona is very different from other parts of Spain. It is somewhat more modern and there is not a lot of countryside, but they still have great architecture, history, and art.

5. Don’t tell the workers at the store you will “be right back”. They know you are lying, ha ha. I hate to say “no”, especially when shopping so I usually say “I’ll be back”, but they know I won’t and I can imagine they hate this line. ha ha.

4. Wear/bring comfortable shoes. You will do a lot of walking and your feet will thank you for it.

3. Prepare for ANY kind of weather. It was great most of the time, but we did have a week or so when it was raining cats and dogs so prepare for sun, rain, cold, and hot.

2. Take it all in and enjoy every moment of it. It might be different and there might be things/aspects you like more than others about the city and/or the culture, but it makes the entire experience that much more memorable and enjoyable if you accept it all and take it all for what it’s worth.

1. Barcelona is AMAZING!!! You should go and check it out J If you need anymore insight or advice/recommendations, feel free to email me. I loved everything about this city and this experience and would be more than happy to share more with anyone interested!

**thanks for reading this incredibly long post. Since it is so long, I will post just photos on the next one and after that I’ll get back to my usual, normal law school stuff.

Hola from Barcelona! I can’t believe the year is already over and we are already into the summer before my 2L year. Currently, I am in Barcelona, Spain for a study abroad program through USD. It just started so I thought now would be a great time to write before I get too caught up with things here.

I know it’s been awhile since I last put up a posting, but the last month of school was definitely an intense roller coaster ride! Not only did I have to commit myself to studying for finals, but I also had to deal with a very serious personal issue. My grandfather, who had been very ill for several months, passed away and a week and a half before the start of finals I was busy with the two viewings and his funeral. It was a very difficult situation for me and mixed in with the natural stress of finals made it even more of a challenging and emotionally draining experience.  Fortunately, I had been studying since the beginning of the semester so I was not in too much of a bind when it came down to balancing my personal and academic life.  What can I say? Whether you like it or not, and as much as you may think your entire life consists of just law school, real life actually happens while you’re in law school. But, thank goodness I was as prepared as I could be! However, two things that really helped me get through such a draining position were my wonderful family and friends. I have to say, I was glad to be in my hometown for this experience. Being with my family in San Diego made things much more bearable because I could rely on their love and support. Additionally, I was fortunate in that I did not have to go though the experience alone in a city far away. I also was incredibly thankful my local friends and my new friends from law school provided me with the most amazing support system.  My friends were unbelievably comforting and supportive, always there for me, and willing to lend a shoulder to cry on.

Some things I value most from this entire first year of law school are the friendships I’ve made. Surely, law school breeds a very competitive environment and no one expects to make any new lifelong friends, but at Cal Western, I feel like I’ve really made some great friends that I hope will be around for a very long time. I’m not sure what it is like at other law schools, but I am glad I was able to meet people I not only get along with, but can establish such strong relationships with and I think a lot of people at CWSL can say the same. My friends at CWSL have not only been there for me when I faced academic issues, but they really showed they are there for me during even more serious and personal times as well. I truly could not have gotten through this crazy year without them, mentally, physically or emotionally, and to them, I am forever grateful.

Since the school year has been over, I have had the most amazing summer. For about a month, I was able to live a wonderful, carefree life in San Diego, enjoying the weather, catching up with those I had not seen all year, and spending quality time with all my family and friends. Rather than getting an internship or taking summer classes at CWSL, I decided to study abroad as I have always wanted to do so and never had the opportunity in undergrad and now I am here. There are many great summer abroad programs offered through CWSL as well, but none in Barcelona and that is why I am going through USD. I am thrilled to be in Barcelona with one of my good friends from CWSL, Alessandra, and am having the most amazing time! I plan on doing a lot while I am here and look forward to sharing my adventures in Barcelona on this blog!

Stay tuned for more to come. Ciao!

***I love pictures so here are just a few pictures of only some of the amazing friends I’ve made here at CWSL this year Here’s to them!

Wow, I cannot believe it is already mid-March and I let the entire month of February go by without one posting. In my defense, school has definitely been increasingly demanding and February was in fact a shorter month. Ha ha.

While school has certainly required more of me this semester in terms of keeping up with school work, having to deal with more complex material, and figuring out plans for summer (whether to try to get an internship, study abroad, or take summer classes), I have still been able to fit in some fun every now and then before the real pressure of finals hits. One of those fun things was surely the Annual California Innocence Project Charity Dodge Ball Tournament that took place last week! I can honestly say (and I’m sure many would agree), it is one of the most fun events at CWSL and fortunately, I was not only able to attend, but also actively participate.

It was held in the evening in Mission Valley at a bar called In Cahoots. Different teams that signed up weeks before came in team outfits to duke it out and many students, professors, staff, alumni, and other locals came out to watch. There was a silent auction, drink specials, funny moments, good competition, and lots of good times all around.

Each team that played went with a different theme like “Felonious Nuns” (literally in Nun outfits), Vampires & Werewolves (taken by the two CIP teams in honor of Twilight), Sailors, and The Misfits/Punk Rockers. My team went with the very current “Charlie Sheen” theme and we actually won for “Best Costume”.

I have to say, I had an amazing time at this event and I am so glad I was able to put my books down for one night to contribute to a great cause and have fun with my friends and classmates. I highly recommend going to this dodge ball tournament whether just to watch or play, but I definitely encourage getting on a team and playing!

Here are some pictures of our team, “Tiger Blood”. We were amazing, had the best time, and made it to the finals. Even though we did not take the gold, second place is still pretty amazing considering it was the first time we ever played together. But, watch out because next year we are surely looking to take the trophy home!

Team Tiger Blood!!

A shot from the second story. It was a really cool venue! Winner for "Best Costume"

Grades were released this past Friday at 4pm and while some people let out sighs of relief, excitement, and/or delight, I’m sure many more exuded disappointment, disdain, and discontent. Yes, most of us passed and were fortunate to return on Monday, but as many professors and students alike have warned, you may have done worse than you would have liked or expected. Don’t get me wrong, people amjur’d (received the highest grade in the class) and made deans list. Many are even happy to have just passed through to the next semester, but I’m sure some are disheartened to have gotten less than the straight A’s they are used to or were hoping for. What is important to remember is with the curve, finals, and law school material the way they are, not everyone can get straight A’s no matter how well we each performed individually. You win some, you lose some.

Law school is a different kind of beast. It fosters a much more competitive playing field because we are all overachieving, zealous, double type-A personalities. We all work hard, try hard, and want to do well. Unfortunately, we are also competing with one another and in the end, only do as well as we do over each other.

At first, I wanted to write a blog describing the unique and excruciatingly painful experience Friday was for me, waiting for 4pm and having to sit with the sheer anxiety, worry, and fear of getting my first semester grades, but I decided to write about something else that I hope will reach out to a broader audience. Getting your first semester law school grades is definitely a humbling and sometimes discouraging experience so I want to focus on the positive.

I think one of the first things to remember now that we’ve received our grades is that the grades are in and there is really nothing much you can do about them. CWSL has a policy in place in which professors cannot re-grade so there truly is not much left to do. You have to take the grades as they are, be proud of your work, find out what you did wrong, figure out how to get better, and move on. If it is any consolation, last semester is over and we are now in a new semester where everyone is starting all over at zero and anything is possible.

At this point, I believe it is so important to take pride in your accomplishments and congratulate yourself on how far you have come, even if you did not do as well as you would have liked. Law school isn’t easy. Honestly, not everyone can even get into law school or survive the first week of classes so if you’ve made it this far, you’ve already accomplished something extraordinary and gained a valuable, learning experience in the process. If you passed and are eligible to continue, that is truly another huge achievement. I know it is easy to be disappointed and initially beat yourself up if you did not do as well as you would have liked, but you have to take at least a minute to acknowledge that first semester of law school was new for everyone and it was hard, but you made it.

After you come to terms with grades, you then have to figure out what your next step is. Many will advise students that did not do very well, in which grades are irreparable, to really reconsider their options. I know many will think they just weren’t smart enough to make it through. This is clearly incorrect. If you made it to law school, you are very intelligent. In fact, you’re probably brilliant, but maybe law school just wasn’t the right choice and there is another more suitable path for you. No harm or shame in that.

Now for those that will continue, whether you did well or terrible or somewhere in between, you have been humbled by grades and now have to know we’re all working for the top. Those at the bottom are going to be pining for safety, those in the middle will be clawing for the top, and those at the top are going to give it their all to stay there so, even if you have pretty much been on a mental vacation this past month, you better get that fire burning again because the race is back on.

For now, congratulations to everyone who received their first semester grades. We all have accomplished some pretty amazing things and should be really proud of ourselves no matter the outcome.

Right now, the way I feel and think about grades is a little like a sickness and a little like a new bad word. In either sense, it’s horrible. Why, you ask? Well, considering we took our finals in mid-December and do not get our grades back until next Friday, January 28^th, it is kind of sickening to think about. The anticipation is killing most of us and while we all are very anxious to get these grades, some of us are trying to play naïve and stay away from it as much as possible.

If you think of grades like a sickness, grades are like the cold and flu viruses going around school right now. They are gross, you do not want anything to do with them, and you avoid them at all cost. Like a sickness, it makes you feel bad and hinders you from accomplishing what really needs to be done. When you are sick, you usually cannot work or think clearly. When I think of grades and the grades I am anticipating, I get this really sick feeling at the pit of my stomach and get so consumed with the thought of grades that it becomes hard for me to take my mind off them and focus on what I really need to do. For some people, like a sickness, if you cannot stay away from it, you would rather get it, get over it, and move on. For me, I know grades are coming out so yes, in that sense, I want to just accept the outcome, deal with it, and move on. Unfortunately, it’s still a few days away so right now I feel like I’m just walking around with one of those silly facemasks, knowing it is lingering out there and that ultimately, it will get me.

If you think of grades like a new bad word, again, it makes you a little sick inside when you hear it. Like a bad word, it gets your attention, makes you uncomfortable, and riles you up. For some people, like bad words, the sound of the word “grades” makes them feel passionate and excited, empowered and thrilled.  For others, we are nervous, worried, and uneasy. Unfortunately, I fall within the latter.

The reason grades are so nerve wrecking is because no matter how great you think you did, you really have no idea how well you really did. In law school, grades are given based on a forced curve. Only a certain amount of people can get A’s (5-10%), B’s (10-15%), D’s(10-15%),  and F’s (5-10%), and about 50-60% get C’s. You are graded based on how you did relative to everyone else in your class and if you are a 1L, you really have no idea how much better or worse and how many did better or worse than you. You may think someone is smarter than you, but you have no clue if they really did kick your butt when it came down to taking the test. At the same time, there are those dark horses you did not even know to look out for. They come out of the woodwork and suddenly surprise everyone with their intelligence and abilities.

One of the worst parts about grades is that many people, 2 and 3Ls and professors, tell you kind of the same depressing story.  Some say no matter how well you think you did, you probably did worse.  Or, how about, “Don’t worry if you fall in the middle of the curve. You should pat yourself on the back for that!” Or, my favorite, “Yes, the top grades will have many more opportunities available to them, but everyone else who passes will still make great lawyers and will make more money in the long run because they work harder.” Ha ha.

Any way, grades come out next Friday and while I’m so nervous about it, I have to get it out of sight and out of mind and try to just focus on what’s in front of me (right now: property reading). It’s scary, but it is supposed to be. It makes you work harder and honestly, if it doesn’t work out, then you have to think (or at least convince yourself) that it might be a blessing in disguise because then you do not end up wasting your time with law school and a profession you may not be made for. If it does work out, then all your hard work pays off and it’s very rewarding.

Either way, taken like a sickness or a bad word, I don’t like it and will try to refrain from thinking about it until it comes up. Good luck to everyone waiting for grades and here’s hoping we all beat the virus and only hear good words next week.

It’s the night before finals and I personally am getting a little nervous about what is in store for me this week. Shockingly, it’s only 8:40pm and I’ve pretty much shut down for the night. I’ve studied as much as I could without burning myself out and I must say, despite the nerves, I feel pretty good about tomorrow’s exam (with regards to all the others following that, I really have no idea – but for tomorrow’s final, I do feel good). This morning I sat in the room I will be taking my test in tomorrow and did a full multiple choice and essay question in an effort to mirror what tomorrow will be like. A lot of other students  had the same idea and I am really glad I did it because now I know a little of what to expect. I have a good feeling about the strategy I will take and am hoping, by doing a mock test today, I will feel more at ease than if I hadn’t done it. After doing my mock exam, I gave myself some “me” time and got a pedicure (obviously while reviewing flash cards in the chair) and went to a nice, sit down lunch with a friend. I feel really good and hope I do well. Here’s hoping and praying and wishing.

I’m going to end this post with a cute poem I’ve held on to since college. Obviously, I’ve changed some things to apply it to law school finals, but definitely gave credit to the author at the end (don’t want charged with any copyright infringement claims, ha ha). Good night and good luck to everyone who has finals this week!!!

“T’was the night before finals, and all through the college,

The students were praying for last minute knowledge.

Most were quite sleepy, but none touched their beds,

While visions of essays danced in their heads.

Out in the taverns, a few were still drinking,

And hoping that liquor would loosen their thinking.

In my own apartment, I had been pacing,

And dreaded exams I soon would be facing.

My roommate was speechless, his nose in his books,

And my comments to him drew unfriendly looks.

I drained all the coffee, and brewed a new pot,

No longer caring that my nerves were shot.

I stared at my notes, but my thoughts were muddy,

My eyes went a blur, I just couldn’t study.

“Some pizza might help,” I said with a shiver,

But each place I called refused to deliver.

I’d nearly concluded that life was too cruel,

With futures depending on grades had in school.

When all of a sudden, our door opened wide,

And Patron Saint [Law School] ambled inside.

Her spirit was careless, her manner was mellow,

She wore a white toga, she started to bellow:

“What kind of student would make such a fuss,

To toss back at teachers what they tossed at us?”

“On [Glannons]! On [Emanuels]! On last year’s exams!

On [outlines] and [casebriefs], and last minute crams!”

Her message delivered, she vanished from sight,

But we heard her laughing outside in the night.

“Your teachers have pegged you, so just do your best.

Happy finals to all, and to all, a good test!”

-Eva Kilamyan

While we are definitely in the heat of studying for finals, I definitely need a break and decided to blog since I am not tired and cannot imagine what else I could possibly do at 12:30am. I just got home from the library where I worked on present and future estate problems for property after a grueling two-hour final review session and practically worked until I could barely make out the words on the page. (PS. Property may seem like a nice walk in the park in the beginning, learning about finders, bona fide purchasers, and mistaken improvers, but once you get to the real nitty-gritty stuff -the present and future estates AND the dreaded rule against perpetuities – you realize is may be one of the most confusing and complicated classes you have.. be weary and buy supplements – TRUST ME! ha ha). To lighten the mood and write about something besides finals, I thought I’d share a really embarrassing experience I had today (C’mon, we all love to hear about other people’s embarrassing moments).

Today in civil procedure, we were going over the last few substantive topics before having our review sessions next week. All the students were quiet, except for the person discussing the case we read and the professor who was asking question after question. My civil procedure class is definitely one of my more serious and difficult classes. The professor is strict and tough, but great (teaches with some serious tough love and fear) and for the most part, we all work very hard in this course because of our sheer fear of being called on and not knowing the answered to the professor’s questions.

I had my mac out and was typing notes while reading over my case brief, when my headphones that were still connected to my computer started to get in my way. I muted my computer because I had a lot of programs up (I never close anything – such a bad habit), including the pandora site on Safari, and did not know if I had anything going that would make noise. As soon as I unplugged my headphones, some ridiculous hip-hop song started blaring from my speakers and I could tell everyone was shocked! I immediately reacted, pressed the mute button, and apologized in a small voice. I was MORTIFIED and so embarrassed. Fortunately, I acted fast and muted it in probably two seconds, but it felt like the song blared for over a minute and everyone quickly looked to see who the idiot in the class was playing music on their computer. Seriously, the feeling was horrible. My palms started to sweat and my heart was literally pumping right out of my skin! It was worse than the feeling I had when I was first called on in that class, which was also nerve-wrecking and scary! Now that I think about it, it is hilarious, but at that moment I was definitely filled with absolute fear! Ha ha. Luckily, my professor just brushed it off and did not take the time to single me out.

After the class I was still so embarrassed. I went up to some of my friends and told them how embarrassing that was, but made a joke about it. Fortunately, many people did not even realize it was me and luckily, another guy made a fool of himself by walking into our classroom when his class did not start in that room for another 10-15 minutes.

So lessons of the day: CLOSE YOUR PROGRAMS, especially ones like pandora that can continue to run even hours after you were actively using it and DO NOT unplug your headphones from your mac expecting silence if you do have a program running that is making noise!

It’s Saturday night and I’ve just returned from the 24-hour coffee shop I’ve been going to in Hillcrest. It’s called The Filter and usually it’s a great place to study after all the other places close; however, tonight, it was packed and not the most conducive place to get much work done. Unfortunately, there were so many people, I got stuck sitting at the bar listening to the coffee grinder and blender go off every couple minutes. When I finally could not take it any more, I decided to pack it up and head home.

Though I just put a blog up a few days ago, I decided to post a new one with just some of my tips for studying for finals. I am, of course, a 1L so do not take any of this as biblical because I am still figuring things out as I go.

Here are my top 10 tips for now:

Do NOT wait until the last minute to study! I’d say about a month and a half is good amount of time to really buckle down on studying for finals, at least starting your outlines. There truly is not enough time in a day and not enough days to read, re-read, organize, outline, review, and memorize before you have to take that first final. Like I said, law school is a marathon and not a sprint, and even when you think you’ve done everything, there is always something you can do to better prepare. And the more prepared you are, the better your chances are to do well.

Create a study schedule/calendar. Most, if not all, my tutors presented some type of study schedule. Some will suggest doing the same subject four days in a row, then two days, then one day before each final. Some will give you a schedule broken down in two-day blocks for each subject. Some will even suggest blocking out a whole week for each subject. Everyone is different so do what works for you. If you adopt one study schedule and decide it is not working, feel free to change it. However, I’d be cautious of changing it too much just because you want to dedicate a good amount of time on each subject and you do not want to change your schedule so much that you end up focusing all your attention on one or two classes and not the others. If you want to see my schedule, feel free to email me and I will forward it to you.

Take breaks! Do NOT overwork yourself and do not pull constant all-nighters! I did this in the beginning of November and it was a mistake because you will burn yourself out and it’s just not good for you!

Look at your professors’ past exams (along with their corresponding model answers, if available) and take a couple to see where you stand and where you could use more review.

See your professors during office hours! Ask them about the practice exams you did, what you did wrong, what you are confused about, and what you can expect for the final. They are administering your exam and they know what they are looking for! This is definitely something I plan on doing this week.

Study with your peers! Honestly, I know it’s competitive, but it is helpful to talk things over with your classmates. Talking over practice exams or cases is great because sometimes they find issues you did not in the fact patterns and visa-versa. They also might be able to better explain something you did not understand the first, or even third, time around. Also, if you can verbalize your thoughts, you definitely will have an easier time writing them out when it comes time to do so on the final.

Do NOT take anything any other 1L say as the absolute truth. If you are not sure about something another 1L says, get clarification from your tutor or your professor. Remember – all 1Ls are going through the same thing and even though someone might sound correct, just make sure.

Do NOT get caught up in what everyone else is doing. So what if one of your classmates was at the library studying from 7am to midnight without taking a single break! You have no idea if they spent 10 minutes or 10 hours surfing the web, checking their emails, or browsing facebook during that time! Do as much work as you can and do not worry about what everyone else is doing!

Talk to your 2L and 3L friends, particularly ones that had your professors in the past. Clearly they are 2Ls and 3Ls because they did something right. Even if they did not do particularly well in the class you had, they can tell you why or at least what to expect for your final. If you’re lucky, they might even share some helpful study tips or even throw you their past supplements and outlines to look over. If you go to a school like CWSL, you will notice most of the 2Ls and 3Ls are amazing and love to help 1Ls when they can, even if it is just to talk about their experiences. They have been where you are. Let them help you!

Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional. I know it sounds like a cheesy phrase that is probably printed on bumper stickers around the world in various languages, but it is the truth. Unfortunately, law school is not a walk in the park and studying for finals is hard/stressful/overwhelming (the list goes on), but everyone is going through it. Do not make it harder on yourself by freaking out or stressing about the curve or worrying because it just doesn’t help. Trust me, I have this battle with myself pretty frequently and I know sometimes it’s hard not to think about it, but just try to focus on your finals and take it day by day, one step at a time.

I hope this is helpful and hopefully these tips will work for me. I guess I will have to let you know in a month of so.

Best of luck to everyone studying for finals!!!

Happy Thanksgiving! For everyone except law students, this is the start of “the most wonderful time of the year.” Unfortunately, if you are a law school, this may seem like quite the opposite. Let me elaborate. Finals are seventeen (17) days away and everyone is studying like crazy. Stress is high and tensions are thick.

Preparing for your first set of law school finals is definitely an interesting undertaking. You study as much as you can and you review old exams (hopefully from professors you have), but for 1Ls, you really do not know what you’re in for. CalWestern has a very strict curve and while you can only do as best as you can personally perform, you are also graded based on how you do compared to your peers. If your grade is 90% based on your final, this can be scary. Unfortunately, the best and only thing I can say is since you cannot control how well your peers perform, study the best you can.

For most of us, we put the kibosh on everything but law school after Halloween. This means, for many of us, we’ve been studying for finals and trying to keep up with the current workload for 24 days now and will continue to do so until December 17. For myself, I definitely have focused most, if not all, my attention on finals with an occasional break here and there. I have not been going out in Pacific Beach or the Gaslamp in downtown (like I love to do), but I do take breaks to watch a limited amount of TV, go to the gym, grab a quick bite with friends, and just let my brain rest. I think breaks are the key to successful studying (though excessive breaks are dangerous so find a good balance).  If you get to a point where you are not absorbing the information any more, there is no point in keeping at it so you may as well take a break. My recommendation is take breaks, take them often (not TOO often), and even schedule some of your longer breaks in advance.

If you allow yourself to take breaks, you will avoid burning out and if you schedule some ahead of time, you will work hard until just about that time and use it as a reward. You MUST remember: law school is a marathon, NOT a sprint so pace yourself.

I’m going to close this out by talking about dinner with one of my best friends, Meagan, that I scheduled as a break for this past Tuesday. I knew I had to eat dinner and I knew I had not seen Meagan for weeks so I told myself, if I study all day Tuesday and get a lot of work done, I will take a few hours off to not think about law school and hang out with a good friend. I think it was a plus to go out with Meagan because she is removed from my law school life, so dinner was just about catching up, telling funny stories, and me using a few minutes to talk/vent/cry about law school. Even though people outside of law school probably do not know what you’re going through at this time, sometimes it’s nice to just let it all out to them. Meagan is a great friend because she understands I can’t hang out or chat all the time, but she’s always there for me and she just lets me cry and complain to her and afterwards, calms me down and tells me I’m going to do great. Every law student should have a “Meagan” in his/her life, especially at this time. Having dinner with Meagan was great, though the service and sushi were NOT (actually one of the WORST services I’ve had – definitely NOT going back to Bamboo Lounge in Hillcrest ever again), and after a few hours of taking my break I went to the Filter (a great 24-hour coffee shop in Hillcrest) and studied for a few hours until I could not work any more.

Well, I hope everyone has a happy holiday! And happy studying!!