So over at Feministe Jill asked what would you do if your law firm paid you $80,000 to not work for a year. The question's background can be found over at Law Ingenue for those of you who haven't heard of Skadden's offer to its associates.
So what would I do...
Well, several ideas come quickly to mind like:
- getting and being pregnant in a low stress fashion,
- traveling the world with only a backpack,
- live in the country with a house full of dogs,
- gather all my friends in far away places for one hell of a party,
- MUSEUM HOP!
- live in Tokyo in spring,
- find the best coffee shops and read good books in them,
- take cooking lessons in Thailand and India,
- have one hell of a spa day,
- do all of the above with J.
You?
I found a post over at Jezebel interesting. I immediately thought of law school and all the trash talking my classmates and I involve ourselves in. The study states that men and women trash talk equally, which I found odd.
This semester I've actually sought out more male friendships because they don't trash talk. They may trash politics or sports but I've rarely heard them gossip the ways women do.
While it's difficult to remain nonjudgemental when it comes to work, (and let's face it, law school is a workplace) I still believe women are far worse than men when it comes to trash talking and gossip. Whether it's discussing outfit choices, snide comments, or personal preferences women judge all the time.
All I know is please keep me out of it! I'd seriously rather not know. And its no fun trash talking, so I'd rather not participate as well. So if you see me skipping a conversation and walking away or changing the subject it's because I really don't care to participate in trash talking. I'm here for professional skills, not to re-live the 7th grade.
Well, it has been a year since I started this little blog. I think it has been a good year, a good long year. For all you future 1Ls out there time really does fly when you're in law school. You also realize how essential time is. For example, when before I never cared much about how productive my day was, now I look at ways I can be slightly more productive. I even have friends who plan their days out 30mins at a time. It's a strange world, one that takes some adjusting.
I still recognize that as a woman I have to work slightly harder to be taken more seriously. Maybe it's just the city I live in. The other day I was told that I should pull my hair back when in front of a judge because somehow women who have short hair or hair pulled up come across as more professional. I was also informed that there are still judges out there who won't address a woman unless she is wearing a dress suit. No shit?!
The next two weeks will be hell. I'm trying a new study approach for these finals, with a new focused study partner. For those loyal readers out there you'll know her as "Nosy Nancy". While we'll drive each other nuts until finals are over, we each know the kind of work we want to put in. And we're at the same level in terms of how well we understand things.
I'm in for a ride. Let's just hope it's a good one!
Thanks to all of you who've commented over the past year! Here is to another fine year!
Sometimes I enjoy reading Above the Law, like today. So Happy Easter!
There are three weeks left until finals. OMG!
Its time to bring out the hour by hour study schedule to keep me on task. Its time to pull together a study group that actually works. Its business time.
A week from now my brief and oral argument will be turned in and over. I can't wait for that moment. I am so sick of this issue, the practicing, the cases, the editing. Even though I've put more effort into legal writing this semester I can definitely say that I've slacked on the stupid busy work she gives us. Last week we had to practice our oral arguments in front of class. Instead of doing it, I half-assed it and probably looked stupid to my classmates, but I don't care.
You've got to pick your battles in law school. I've learned that no matter how much time I spend trying to stay caught up I'm always slightly behind. So this semester I picked legal writing to be behind in because in the end you learn how to write for your employer. Writing is subjective and I have faith in my writing skills. I don't need to stupid busy work to help me improve. Yes, it probably would have been great to have my oral argument prepared but I have a whole week to do that. I have 13 other credits to worry about lady! A third of which is contracts. So bite me.
Very soon my life will consist of practice questions, outlining, flashcards and audio supplements. Oh how I wish the Easter bunny would bring me more time.
The Easter Bunny did bring me tickets to see Flight of the Conchords though. So perhaps my life isn't all that bad. Or maybe I just need more Business Time?
The oral argument is next week. Any tips? I'm having difficulty finding a theme...
And as usual, the entire experience is making me question what the hell I'm doing here.
Ahh...the stress of the final four weeks!
I'm in the middle of brief/oral argument mode. It sucks. I'm also in the beginning stages of finals mode, and am slowly starting to pull a study group together to go over endless contracts questions. Again, this sucks.
The good news is J is finally! FINALLY HERE with me. So I have added support to get me through these long nights. The work is endless but the light is near!
