Barrister by day, Bacardi by night

A message from Holly

Greetings Future Lawyers! My name is Holly White, and I am a 1L in section 1. To cut to the chase, this email is a school wide broadcast about something I know is on all of our minds, and something that is especially close to my heart. Any guesses? Thats right, its the Barrister's Ball. I apologize up front for my candor, and I know the ball is not coming up immediately, but I am never one to leave anything to chance, and the bottom line is, I need a date.

What exactly is a Barrister? (see generally www.dictionary.com where it says a barrister is counsel admitted to plead at the bar and undertake the public trial of causes in an English superior court; compare to a solicitor). That is exactly what I am doing, I am soliciting. Symbolic? Perhaps.

Poignant? Definitely. I know that traditionally men invite women to dances, but in our everly progressive, post-modern society, I think that if a woman wants something, she should go get it.

I am including a picture of myself, and I am sure alot of you will recognize me from school. I tend to hang around the faculty offices, but I am up and down the halls alot.

http://www.geocities.com/holly_white1l/

After looking at my picture I am sure I have some takers immediately, and while my looks are sufficient to base a decision on, I would prefer to have a guy ask me because of who I am. I have a big heart, and an open mind. I love poetry, sappy movies, theater, 4 leaf clovers, massages, and romantic dinners. I also have my wild side though. My parents have a new dodge caravan that they let me take out on the weekends, and me and my crew really dominate the downtown area with it. I like hitting the ball too hard at the miniature golf course, I don't wait 30 minutes after eating to swim, and I am not scared of a little unplanned hand holding. I am looking for a guy who is not scared of a woman like me, but who looks forward to a spring evening of spontaneity. I am going to wear a strapless(calm down guys, I will either wear band-aids or pasties underneath) dress to the dance that will be short, but long enough to cover my slip. Closed toed shoes? You betcha...I didnt watch Mtv's Wade Robson Project for nothing! I mentioned the minivan earlier, and my dad already said I could have it for the dance.

It is an '05 model and it has the leather package, and the dvd player in it, so if the dance is lame we can watch the english patient or something.

I know I sent this email to the entire school, and I have 2 points I would like to make about that.

1. I would be lying if I did not already have a short list of people I would like to go with, and I would feel ashamed if I did not give them all shout outs in this email.

a) to the man that used to write the diary of a first you student who was de-throned in an administrative coupe' d'tat: I like your style, and I like your moves. We need to meet.

b) to the 2L who is drives the maroon durango with the texas a&m sticker on it: Your skater style is appreciated by the ladies

c) to the recently clean shaven 1L who knows how to have fun at sba socials, and really doesnt mind a night in the pokey: you had me at "mortar forker"

d) to the supreme court bound 1L texas longhorn, who is not afraid to put half a can of copenhagen is his mouth during class, and sure is not afraid of some obnoxious eagles fan: keep ME on your short list

e) to the man that drives the hummer, and the man that rides the grey motorcycle with the flame paint job: can we talk about the possibility of you both going with me at once?

2. I know alot of girls got this email, so if you all know anyone that might like to go with me, feel free to pass the word along. I gone to alot of dances alone, and I am not going to let that happen this time. Carpe Diem!

Guys, we are all in this togethers, so feel free to email me back with questions, comments, suggestions or viruses. - Holly

GAME ON - Tex. Wesleyan v. TCU

Tex. Wesleyan Univ. School of Law v. Tex. Christian Univ.

Thursday, March 3, 2005 starting at 8:00 PM

Our very first game of the season.

Top 5 Law Movies for Pre-1Ls

After spending a significant portion of my life in front of the tube, I now present the top 5 movies that inspired me to enter law school.

1.  The Paper Chase (1973) - Alright, I never actually saw this movie but I did see the trailer -- and it blew me away.  In fact, I don't even recommend prospective students to see this movie until after your first semester at law school.  I'll concede that the storyline is cheesy and the plot is obscure.  However, the movie's portrayal of every 1L's nightmare, on a pure intimidation factor, is brilliant.  All this from just watching the trailer.

2.  A Few Good Men (1992) - Call me a military buff.  I remember seeing A Few Good Men when I was in middle school and the idea of being a JAG officer was forever ingrained in my dreams.  The combination of two great professions, law and military service, just pulls together the best of both worlds.  What more can you say about the law than the scene where Lt. Kaffee (Tom Cruise) slams his hand on the table and shouts, "I WANT THE TRUTH!"  To which Col. Jessep (Jack Nicholson) responds, "YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH!"  Plus, chicks dig uniforms.*

*However the T.V. show JAG is just blasphemous.

3.  The Rainmaker (1997) - Ah, the story of an ambulance chaser who ascended to become the society's hero against the plights of corporate injustice.  John Edwards?  No, just Rudy Baylor (Matt Damon).  The movie reflects every law student's ambition to fight for the little people.  Sadly, $100,000 of student debt pushes most of us, including me, towards the dark side.  Somebody has got to be the villain.

4.  Jerry McGuire (1996) - "Show me the money!  Show me the money!"  At last, a movie that gets to the heart of the law.  It's all about the bling.  But the movie also has a more prominent underlying message about the client-attorney relationship.  When the client wins, the attorney wins -- and vice versa.  I've given some thought about becoming a sports agent or representing actors, but I've neither the charisma nor the enthusiasm for such a melodramatic field.

5.  My Cousin Vinny (1992) - For the most part, I could care less about the lawyer aspect of this movie, instead I recommend fast forwarding to the scenes with Judge Chamberlain Haller (Fred Gwynne, most notable for his characterization of Herman Munster).  Here we have a Yale Law School graduate serving as a county judge in Alabama.  He's not a very patient man but he is understanding.  His mere presence is a symbol of integrity, with a side of humor.  One memorable quote from Judge Haller, "It appears to me that you want to skip the arraignment process, go directly to trial, skip that, and get a dismissal. Well, I'm not about to revamp the entire judicial process just because you find yourself in the unique position of defending clients who say they didn't do it."

6.  Legally Blonde (2001) - I included this movie out of spite against the Elle Woodss (Reese Witherspoon) at law school.  I may be no better than the Warner Huntington IIIs (Matthew Davis) but I have yet to see a dolled-up sorority ditz stand-up and deliver in class.  Maybe they'll magically blossom into stellar attorneys, but until then, these are the girls that you tear up in court room.  At least they can still be transaction lawyers, paralegals, or receptionists.

For a listing of law-related movies, click here.

In case you're new

For those of you just toning in, I'm no longer writing for the Texas Wesleyan Law School "Diary of a First-Year Law Student".  Sometimes I get carried away and lose sight of what I'm supposed to do.  Maybe I try too hard to be the "Howard Stern" of the law student blogs.  Without a doubt, I've become the biggest ass at law school.  I stepped out of line and there are plenty of classmates and rugby teammates who will never let me forget those dreaded four words. 

Whoever got offended from my Feb. 11 posting, I hope you're satisfied. 

I know that Dean Martin's extremely ecstatic to see me gone.  I'm sure he relished in pulling down my column.  Shit, couldn't you at least leave my first few articles that were actually worthwhile to read?  Oops, I don't think I could print that.  Oh wait, I just did.  And now I'm rambling.

In any case, my new blog (blawg) will feature more articles about life as a law student, being involved with extracurricular activities, noteworthy legal affairs, and topic discussions about legal issues.

Open Season on Internships

The first offering of the season.

For most 1Ls, February marks the beginning of the summer internship search --  largely because deadlines start around this time.  1Ls receive whatever meager openings that remain after the 2Ls take their cut of the job market.  Sure, there's a few jobs with federal agencies, public interest groups, and smaller law firms leftover but few, if any, 1L internships are paid.  We practically volunteer our time for three months.  A few people are seeking local judicial clerkships.  I know three classmates who Professor George referred to a law firm in Irving.

I know many of my classmates intend to study overseas this summer.  After all, what's more exciting than learning about International Trade while living at The Hague, Netherlands.  If I was studying abroad, I'd attend 3 hours of class each day and then hit the coffee shops for the remaining 21 hours.  I doubt I'd ever come back from Europe.  Unfortunately, studying abroad adds very little to a legal resume.  Judge Vittone, Chief AJL judge for the Dept. of Labor, told me that he'd rather see a 1L gain legal experience during his first summer as opposed to goof around some foreign country.  Employers gave me mix opinions but the bottom line was that studying abroad didn't really matter.  "Might as well have fun your first year.  It may be your last chance," they said.

Then there's always the option of staying back in Fort Worth for summer school here.

As for me, I've sent my applications all over.  Now that the deadlines passed, I can freely share this information. 

• The Asian American Legal Defense & Education Fund offered an internship with Pfizer, Inc., at New York, specifically for 1Ls.  That internship paid $1500 a week, which is equal to many well-paying summer associate positions at law firms.
• The International Criminal Court at The Hague with its Office of the Prosecutor.  The ICC offers insight on the implementation of international criminal justice.  Still pending.
• US AID at Washington, D.C., with its Office of the General Counsel.  Since instituting the Marshall Plan, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has been the principal U.S. agency to extend assistance to countries recovering from disaster, trying to escape poverty, and engaging in democratic reforms.
• Suffolk University School of Law offers an international internship program in Europe, the Americas, and Asia through its cooperation with the Center for International Legal Education.  The internship is unpaid but students can receive up to 5 credit hours.
• The ABA Section of Dispute Resolution summer internship focuses on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) research.
• Then there's a few others that I no longer remember.

Also, there were 3 spring on-campus interviews (OCI) with the U.S. Army JAG, U.S. Air Force JAG, and the Texas Dept. of Criminal Justice - State Counsel for Offenders.  I interviewed with all three agencies.  If anything, I'm most excited about the Army JAG because its a 6-week paid position and I gain a broad exposure in a variety of legal fields.  Plus ... maybe they'll station me in Germany.  And I'm not quite certain but I got the feeling that the State Counsel for Offenders just offered me a summer position.  Its the first interview I experienced where the recruiters really started "recruiting me."  They asked what it would take to bring me down to Huntsville, a.k.a. prison city of Texas, and attempted to persuade me to work with the State Counsel as opposed to other law firms.  In any case, I'm waiting to see what offers I receive before making a decision.

Great moments in punditry

• Professor Rainwater: So who can tell me about the Flemings case?
  Jack: Is that the food case?
  Professor Rainwater: Jack, there’s only so much smart assedness I will tolerate.
  
  
• [Regarding a lawsuit where a baseball flew outside a ballpark and hit the plaintiff]
  Some girl: I just don’t understand this case.  If I were [the plaintiff] I would just walk on the other side of the street.
  Professor Harrington: Yes, that’s what you might have done, but what would a reasonable person do?
  
  
• Professor Rainwater: Who call tell me the difference between a motivating argument and a justifying argument?
  Jack: A motivating argument is proactive, that is, the argument attempts to encourage or promote a belief or idea.  Whereas, a justifying argument is reactive, that is, the argument seeks to explain a position.
  Professor Rainwater: Uh … You’ve just muddled some vague words together.  Can anyone else give me an answer?

How to survive a Socratic Moment

It’s bound to happen and you can’t avoid it.  If you’re someone as lucky as David, you might as stand up at the start of class because Professor Snyder calls on you everyday.  But for those of us more fortunate, what happens when we are sporadically summoned before the Socratic Method, particularly when we forgot to read the night before?  Is there any wiggle room when we get stage fright?  Where can we run when we can’t articulate a single cohesive argument?  Don’t worry, I have a trick to avoid catastrophic consequences.  I call it the David Tidmarsh (tm) Solution, named after the famed 2004 national spelling bee champion.

First, ask the professor to repeat himself.  Stare at the professor like a deer in headlights before blinking a few times.  This way, you assure the professor that you are still alive but oblivious to the question presented.  The professor will assume that the jackhammers from the construction above somehow distorted the airwaves and muted the entire room.  The professor will repeat himself and you will gain an extra 10 seconds.

Second, ask the professor to rephrase his question in the form of a sentence.  Often, the professor will respond with a puzzled look and mutter something along the lines, “I don’t think I can.”  Fortunately, the professor will give you the benefit of the doubt and attempt to reword his inquiry.  This will gain you an extra 15 seconds.

Third, ask the professor for the etymology of the question.  Understanding the origin of the question is pivotal to determining which law to apply.  If the etymology is Latin or Greek, then you apply the civil code.  If the etymology is Anglo-Saxon, you apply the English common law.  If the etymology is Ebonics, then you consult the Bluebook.  This will gain you an extra 2 minutes.

In the worst-case scenario, Instant Message your friends the following message, “4np 1ns,” and someone will respond with the correct answer.

By following this comprehensive step-by-step guide, you can then sit down and enjoy the rest of the class.

Should you even be in law school?

Professor Snyder remarked at the beginning of our second semester that every law student should seriously consider whether she is truly compatible with the law.  In one story, Snyder told us the cautionary tale of a law school classmate who dreaded every day while attending Temple School of Law.  His frustration with the law persisted throughout the two months when he prepared for the bar exam.  Yet he went on to practice law for another 5 years before abandoning the profession all together.  That's 8 years of his life drained away by something he never really cared for. 

On an separate but equal note, every law student at some point or another begins to doubt her potential in practicing law.  Interestingly enough, I just happened to come across an article about reassessing yourself as a future lawyer.  Jonathan Greene, Coping, Student Lawyer, Feb. 2005, at 14.  In addressing this question, Greene recommends Should You Really Be A Lawyer? by Deborah Schneider & Gary Belsky (DecisionBooks, 2005).  You can find an excerpt of the book by visiting the Student Lawyer website.  I somehow lost the second portion of the article so I am unable to summarize its gist for you.