Lawschool Journal
Week 8 11/17/02
I just realized today that I only have five weeks total and 3 weeks of classes left to this quarter. Good god, where did the last 7 weeks go! Needless to say things are going fast: “She’s gone plaid!”
In terms of my mental state, things are somewhat hectic. It has been difficult to do things like the laundry, clean my desk, vacuum. Sometimes I find that staring at the wall is very refreshing. That said, I’m still really enjoying learning and the whole process.
I went to a lecture given by the head of the technology division at the state Attorney General’s (AG) office. It was quite interesting, as she talked about how they have used the internet to help people who have had problems while using the internet. Some examples are: commercial fraud (you buy something from someone over the internet and they don’t deliver), Spam offers (someone in Nigeria wants you to send them $5,000 and in return they’ll send you $100,000, which, by the way, you should NEVER do!), online auction problems, etc. It turns out that 63% of all the problems the AG tech division deals with are related to online auctions. Anyway, I’m considering applying for an externship at that division this summer.
Speaking of this summer, we are supposed to start sending applications out in December (two weeks from now) for our job or externship next summer. INSANE. But not everyone does that (of the 2Ls I’ve talked to, at least half of them didn’t get summer opportunities ’til the spring). Still, I would like to get an externship with a judge, and that is one of the things you have to apply for early. So, I’ll be a busy little beaver! My hope is to get an externship with a judge this summer and be exposed to lots of kinds of law. Then I can see what kinds of law I like and focus my classes and my job for the summer after that. The kinds of law I’m interested in now are: Intellectual property and tech law, Environmental law, and Alternative Dispute Resolution (which covers all topics of law as well). I’ve been liking my Contracts class a lot too, but I think you can do contracts in a few different kinds of law. On top of the topic areas, there are then the different employers: Government, Firms (big, medium, small, ‘life-style”), non-profits and corporations. My problem is that I want to try all different kinds of things.
Last time I promised that I would talk about my outlines. Well there isn’t much to talk about. It takes a lot of time to do one, and I haven’t done much. I started my Contracts outline, and it has been pretty helpful, just time-consuming. I’m hoping I can get more done this week.
Way back when I also said I’d tell you about Condon Hall (the law school building). Some call it “The Penitentiary”, others call it “the big concrete block”. Both are apt. It was built in the late 70s I think. It is truly hideous. Seriously ugly. The worst thing is that it apparently won awards. The 70s were a gigantic architectural black hole, and Condon Hall is proof. Luckily they are building a new Law School. It will actually be on campus instead of a few blocks away as it is now. It is called the William H Gates Hall. People have been telling me that Bill Gates only gave 12 million of the 140 million or so total cost. Someone described it as a very cheap naming opportunity. At least it won’t be called “Safeco Building.” We move into that new building next fall.
I went last week to meet with Anita Ramasastry who is overseeing the Shidler Center’s project to build a website for online activists. I’m going to help a little bit on the list of legal things activists can do online. I think that will be interesting, and a good way to meet some other people who work on tech law stuff.
I’d say that is all the news from Lake Lawbegone. Next time I’ll post some funny things people have said in court.
