While speaking with another Gill competitor tonight, I was reminded of something that rings true now more than ever. That “something” is a comment made by an upperclassmen during last year’s Preview Day. Each year at Preview Day there is a panel of current students there to share their experiences and to answer questions of newly admitted students.

Well last year there was one panel, forgive me for forgetting which one, said in response to the question, “Which song best describes your first year in law school”, they said, “Jamiroqui’s Virtual Insanity”.

At the time, I thought this kid must be crazy, there is no way its that bad. Well now having made it through a semester and a half I completely agree with that panelist.

There is a reason why fewer people go to law school than other graduate programs….take a moment and embrace the insanity Virtual insanity

This trimester, the Legal skills 2 project is the issue of a student’s First Amendment right to speech in school. In the past few weeks the San Diego community has given us a real life example. Last month a group of undergrads at UCSD hosted a party that encouraged attendees to embrace racial stereotypes of African-Americans in order to “celebrate” Black History Month. Their offensive invitation was distributed online via Facebook. The responsible parties are now hiding behind the shield of the First Amendment right to free speech. Even though this incident has caused a substantial disruption to the School’s educational mission, and is offensive there is no legal recourse. I am frustrated because had this occurred in a high school the outcome would have been drastically different. For those taking legal skills 2 you will understand my frustration.

As a person of color I can understand the emotional response to this immature behavior. But as a law student I have to rise beyond emotion and look at from the view point of Lady Justice. Lady justice is blind for a reason. The legal profession is tasked everyday to I understand and respect every citizen’s individual right to free speech. I may not have to agree with everything expressed by others but it is a fundamental right.

As some of you may know, CWSL is in talks with UCSD to one day merge the law school with UCSD. Before this incident I thought nothing of it, the proposal seems like a solid plan that is mutually beneficial. Since this incident, I still do believe that the merger could be mutually beneficial, but I do have one worry. I hope that if we do in fact merge with UCSD we do not lose the very essence of CWSL, the spirit of tolerance and acceptance of peoples cultures and lifestyles.

“The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the thing we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 100% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you. We are in charge of our attitudes.” – Unknown

This Saturday was the annual “Race Judicata” 5k run/walk fundraiser to benefit the Community Law Project. I, along with several other CWSL student’s, alums, and staff braved the crazy winter weather. (Heavy rain, cold temperatures and tsunami warnings). It may not have been ideal conditions for a race, but it was for a good cause. To be surrounded by friends and colleagues all there to support a good cause, made being drenched to the bone all worth while. Even Dean Smith came out to cheer on the runners.

Saturday goes to again reiterate the sense of community here at Cal West. Come rain or shine we race, we support each other and our community. For those not in attendance, come out to the next community event; the CIP dodgeball tournament.

This weekend was a much needed break. For whatever reason CWSL does not celebrate the time honored tradition of “Spring Break”, but we did get to enjoy an extended weekend for President’s day. I think I can speak for most 1Ls and say “hey we will take whatever we can get”. For some this was the weekend to leave town, maybe go home and see loved ones, or just to get away from the everyday life of a law student.

As this week ends, I am reminded how soon I will be looking at the four week countdown to the first big horse race of 2010… Spring final exams ! ; ) Not to worry there are a few more weekends left before the outside world as i know it goes away and all that is left are my outlines and my favorite study spot.

The wait to find out my fate is over. I am happy to say that the privilege to spend hours upon end in the library has yet again been bestowed upon me. The process of waiting for first semester grades is not a pleasant experience. The shear anxiety of it all can drive a person mad. Not knowing if your grades are high enough to allow you to still call yourself a “law student” is rough. After grades came out and the text messages and phone calls started, the reality of the curve set in. It’s only Sunday and there has been a few tearful goodbyes already.

To my friends and former classmates, law school may not have been your calling but you are some of the bravest people I know. You took on a challenge most people in the world would not dare. I wish you all the best of luck in whatever you do, and hope nothing but the best for you.

For all of use that will continue on, today is a new day, a new beginning. If you did well continue doing what you were doing, if you did not do as well as you had hoped work harder.

It’s Tuesday night and grades are still a few more days away. At this point I along with I think the entire 1L population of Cal West is on emotional edge right now. Anyone of us that has a friend at another law school has already heard their friend’s fate. And now we must wait to hear ours. Every day the professors make some reference to it, whether it be “ you all did well, but unfortunately there is a curve”, or  something else just as nerve racking.

I’ll be honest it is a little hard to focus on anything this week, knowing that after Friday at 4 my world could change. At first thought you might think that is a bit dramatic but when you are in a class filled with people equally as smart as you, if not more so, you begin to worry where the fat will be trimmed. If you were to walk the halls of the 350 building you would be able to tell who the 2^nd semester 1L’s are in the crowd. We would be the ones with the blank stare in their eyes, the stare that says, “ if I don’t make grades I can see my life flashing before my eyes”

For all you 2Ls and 3Ls, if you have a 2^nd semester 1L buddy I think you should take them aside and remind them that its not that bad, and remind them that you made it and we will too.

There are always three speeches, for every one you actually gave. The one you practiced, the one you gave, and the one you wish you gave. ~Dale Carnegie

I just finished day two of the 1L moot court competition prelims. What an experience the whole thing has been. No matter what happens, if I make it to the finals or not, I am happy with my work. I gave it my best and that is enough for me. It would be nice to make it to the finals though ; ).

But now that it is over I feel like I can get my life back. Now I can work on all the other things I need to get done. But all in all I would recommend this competition to everyone. It does take up a bit of your time but well worth the experience.

I said it before and I will say it again. Joining clubs at school can make your time here great. This is a picture of fellow blogger Desiree and myself at a PAD social night. PAD is the law fraternity on campus.

With all of the crazy stress of school it is nice to take some time out and get to know other people on campus.

Its’s only the second week and I can already tell it’s going to be a busy trimester. Career fairs and job application deadlines, legal skills oral advocacy, 1L moot court competition. I am going to be one busy little “otter bee”

“Waiting is painful. Forgetting is painful. But not knowing which to do is the worst kind of suffering.” – Paulo Coelho

January for most students is a month to renew, start fresh. Well for me and others like me it is the longest month on record. Grades for last term won’t be released until the end of the month. So instead of starting the semester with a renewed sense of self, we start the semester not knowing how well we did last trimester and whether we need to change our habits this semester.

All of my professors have given their variations of the same speech, “it is better that they come out later, you don’t want to rush the professor grading your exam, and they have 80+ exams to read. You don’t want yours to be the 37th that day.” Which I admit is fair and I know I don’t want my exam to be the 37th that was read in one day. The stress of waiting is definitely affecting some more than others. For some, the idea that they could have failed their first semester in Law school is scarier than bungee jumping from a short bridge.

“Pitiful is the person who is afraid of taking risks. Perhaps this person will never be disappointed or disillusioned; perhaps she won’t suffer the way people do when they have a dream to follow. But when the person looks back-she will hear her heart”

So to all those out there that are worried about their grades, no matter what the outcome always remember you tried it (law school) when so many others did not. So no matter the grade find comfort in the fact that you braved a semester in Law school.

For all the prospective out there, if you recently applied and are patiently awaiting word about your acceptance I have one word for you “Breathe”. Worrying everyday about whether you got into to law school or not is not going to change the outcome. So find comfort in the fact that you did your best and what will be will be.

“But there is suffering in life, and there are defeats. No one can avoid them. But it’s better to lose some of the battles in the struggles for your dreams than to be defeated without ever knowing what you’re fighting for.”