Friday, March 20, 2009

Should I go with bi-monthly updates?

Ok, so I haven't been updating regularly. My third year in law school has been uneventful. I spent the first half of my third year engaged in an externship. There I learned a lot about how the law is applied in a real world setting, how to more efficiently do legal research, and how to write a legal memo that is useful to both judges and lawyers. I also learned that being the youngest person in an office full of people who are either married or in long term relationships is not the kind of office you should aspire to work in. Inevitably, your interests will be different than everyone else in the office. Having said that, I thought that overall, my externship experience was well worth it in terms of professional development. 


And on a professional development theme, I enrolled in a trial advocacy course for my second semester in the hopes that it would give me some of the tools necessary to convince a factfinder. I am glad to say that this is one of the most engaging courses I have taken at law school. Everything that is taught in that class is useful and there is really no down time. As an added benefit, all the students are allowed multiple chances to conduct direct and cross-examination techniques to hone our newfound skills. I don't think that as a junior associate, I would get as much structured focus on any trial advocacy skills - its either sink or swim for junior associates.

I also found a job. It's like Biglaw but with Mediumlaw (or maybe Smalllaw) compensation. I am glad beyond relief that I do not have to worry about finding a job now. I am grateful that I have an offer, especially in a time when so many attorneys are already laid off, so many more will be laid off, and so many law students are struggling to find jobs. I wish you all godspeed.