In Which I Go to Jail.

Tomorrow, I go diving into the real world* head first. I'm externing at the county jail.

Yeah. Me. The jail.

NoSchool has a really cool program where our desperately overworked public defenders take on third year interns for 8 weeks. The benefit for the public defenders: free labor, an ease on the caseload, someone to get coffee. The benefit for us: units, experience, awesome stories about jail. The terrifying hitch: our state has very loose practice rules, so in 2 weeks, I'll be in court defending my own clients.

To say that I am horrified at this prospect would be an understatement. It seemed like a good idea at the time. Public service! Practical experience! Cocaine addictions! That was when I thought I had several more weeks before hitting the ground running. But no: work starts tomorrow, which means that I have to iron a suit, put on my most reassuring face, and ohGodno learn something about criminal defense before Monday afternoon. People will look at me and think I am a lawyer. And Internet: I am not ready for the responsibility of another human being's freedom. I am barely ready for the responsibility of ironing my own suits.

Unfortunately, it is too late to drop out and get a phD. Believe me, I checked. On the upside: it will give me something to blog about.

Stay out of trouble, kids. Believe me, you do not want to see this face on the other side of the table.

*OK, the practice real world.

Law School Roundup #187

Welcome to Law School Roundup #187. Without further ado*:

Law Review: It ought to come with a warning label (A Woman in Law School)

Staying out of trouble: Solid advice for blawggers, from the ever-relevant Dennis Jansen (No. 634)

That Girl: Gossip's not an Honor Code violation, it's a way of life. (Awkward Turtle)

On What it Means to Practice: A thought provoking post for the new school year (The Cross Examiner)

Get Used to It: Weekend plans, or lack thereof (Laughing: With or at You)

It Explains So Much: 80's plot summaries (The Rising Jurist)

Law School is White Castle: Except the food costs $54k a year (My Legal Fiction)

Using Class Time Wisely: A compelling reason to take election law (Thank You Ma'am)

Twinkle Toes: What's not to love? (J.D.? Maybe)

How Did We End Up Here?: Reflections on the fall. (Virgin in the Volcano)

1L Playbook: Advice on when to outline, and when to sit down and take a chill pill (The Shark)

Advice for 1Ls: A good summary of the key points (Blogging Matilda)

The Unabridged Version: The mother of all advice posts, for those with a little more time on their hands. Links! 100 Blog Posts You Should Read Before Law School

Look for next week's roundup at the Legal Underground, and then back here again in 2 weeks. If you want to be added to the blog roll, but don't see yourself up there (1Ls: This means you), shoot me an email and we'll get you on the wall of dis-honor.

In the meantime, try to stay out of trouble, kids.


Kisses!


*Shut up, Internet. I know it is Tuesday. But a $400 valve replacement on the Little Honda That Could and significant angst later, I am back. Thank you, AAA!

Law School Roundup #186

This week's Law School Roundup is up over at Legal Underground. Check back here next week, same great place and time, for roundup #187.

Welcome to hell, here's your mood crystal.

Living at home is nice, in the "I don't have to pay rent" sort of way. Less nice in the "horrifying flashback to high school way."

Some things have changed in the last 7 years. Dad's taken up gardening. The Nobody Family menagerie has shrunk a little, and the population has changed significantly (more dog, less goat). New furniture. New paint. You know, the usual stuff.

Oh, and my Irish Catholic Raving Republican Mother's turned into an aspiring hippy.

I'm not totally certain what brought this one on, though I suspect it is the onset of senility. Even four years ago, she was scoffing at the idea of buying organic goat cheese. Normally, free-wheeling daisy frolicking is more my dad's speed. He's the family recycler/former surfer/hitchhiking aficionado. Mom's job is to be the uptight, studious, party-pooper. This is my mother who, upon walking the dogs through a rather "open minded" neighborhood in our hometown commented that the bleary-eyed Rastafarian on the porch had a "very nice vase."

Mom's birthday was last week, and Dad got her a Joni Mitchell CD. My normally staid mother has been wandering around the house tuneless belting out snatches of "Ladies of the Canyon" and spinning around in the kitchen reflecting on the sheer musical genius of Ms. Mitchell.

In retrospect, I almost wish I hadn't brought her over to the goat cheese side. I hate Joni Mitchell.

Then, last night, there was a concert on our college town campus. We grabbed Indian food for take out, and headed over. Showing that she's not totally "hip" yet, she referred to the gathering of college students and free-spirited middle-aged Lexus drivers members as a "rock concert." I breathed a silent prayer of thanks that I still sort of recognized this person.

That's when she picked up the hula hoop.

Two hours later, my mother was swaying in the crowd. The crowd had evolved into a weird aging yuppy mosh-pit (imagine if Styx fans were forced to dance at a Peter Paul and Mary concert and you'll have a rough approximation of the effect). The crowd of undulating hippies cheered on the band, lead by "Mary, known as Starchild! Love for my people!" I was experiencing the symptoms of late-stage patchouli poisoning, and a nice girl in mukluks and a fake fur skirt was teaching Mom how to spin a hula hoop on her neck.

Watching your parents grow up is weird, and kind of hilarious. And I still don't like Joni Mitchell.

Law School Roundup #185

Welcome, ladies and gents, to Law School Roundup #185. Without further ado, here's this week's selection of good posts from law students current, aspiring, and recovering:

Says who? Fine tuning your office skillz (Legally Questionably Content)

Says Mom, that's who. Also, the MILP Roundup is here. (PT Law Mom)

Victory! Every little bit counts (That's Relevant)

Post Bar Reflections: Thoughts from a recent test-taker (Attorney Work Product)

Onward and Upward: The bests and worsts of 1L year (New Kid on the Hallway)

The best advice you'll get all year: Advice for incoming 1Ls (Lawful Living)

It wasn't like this on Law & Order: A day in the life of an ADA (Mommy on the Floor)

New Beginnings: Everything is exciting in the fall (Lipgloss & Lawschool)

Wheeling and Dealing: Thoughts on salary negotiation (Starting to Melt)

1L FAQ: Jansen rounds up some commonly asking incoming 1L questions (No. 634)

Hot Mess: Another OCI debacle (Paragon 2 Pieces)

That's all folks! Check back at Legal Underground in a week for Law School Roundup #184.

Kisses!

Nobody.

Law School Roundup #184

This week's Law School Roundup is up over at Legal Underground. Check back here next week, same great place and time, for roundup #185.