You may follow me under Kel Law or username: Kelsmishaps. I'm new to twitter so any recommendations as to who to follow? Any other bloggers out there that tweet?
Fellow blogger Gudnuff asked some good questions about the Client Counseling Competition so I thought I would address them in another post.
Client counseling is a skill some lawyers regularly do. I first learned about it in our legal research and writing class because we had to practice interviewing each other and suggest avenues of potential action. It makes complete sense that a lawyer would interview a client, however I never really thought of it as a learned skill before law school. Lawyers are always meeting with clients so it makes sense to think about and practice how you would organize an initial interview.
The competition had no affect on our grades. If you won or advanced to the next level I suppose it gave you bragging rights. My partner and I didn't spend too much time preparing for it and overall it was a good experience. The judges gave us good feedback on how well we questioned, listened and put our client at ease. I know that I don't take criticism well so it was an opportunity to receive some good constructive criticism and continue to learn how to accept it gracefully.
I'm all about putting myself in uncomfortable positions. I'm not the best at networking so the more I put myself into awkward shoes, the more I learn how to relax and network in a non-cheesy fashion. One of the judges was an attorney that talked to us earlier in the semester about an externship I was interested in. Because he was there and I recognized him I was able to ask him more questions about the externship and continue to get face time with him. So I suppose the competition was worth it just for that.
Again, I would recommend it to all law students if you have the opportunity. It was fun to talk with local attorneys and get to know my partner better. If anything it's an excuse to wear a suit!
Sometimes I wonder if I'm wrongly going about this whole law school thing. I am beginning to lose my focus in the reading. I am beginning to not review concepts after class. I often feel like my classmates have a better handle on the subject matter than I do. I no longer type out my briefs but instead do some very thorough book briefing. I try to read supplements for each of my classes, but I can't help but think I'm not doing enough. And I don't even have the time to add anything in because it has been taking me longer to get through the reading when I have such crappy focus skills.
I want to escape. I want a huge pile of leaves to jump into. I want an armchair, a pot of tea, a good book and a scenic view to look up at in between well-written sentences. I want a break.
But I cannot have one. I have a full plate and then some.
Did I mention that another memo in the making only makes things worse? Did I mention I have company coming this weekend? Did I mention that I didn't invite them? Did I mention I have a networking event with the judicial community that I also have to put my game face on for and go to?
Buckling down is not fun. Tell me it gets better...
I read an article awhile ago about where all the female law bloggers are and I had to laugh to myself. Of the bloggers I personally know the majority are women. Most of the law student blogs I link to are also women, so we are out there. While a law student blog is not the same as a law blog I like to think that it still counts as a law blog. I try to use blogging to record my adventures, frustrations, questions and concerns as a female learning law. While my substance may not be legally inclined I do feel like it counts for something. I know that one of my personal goals is to blawg more as it helps me define my thoughts in various areas. Now if I only had more time to devote to this goal!
Professor Mary Dudziak over at Legal History Blog also wrote on the subject. She lists some great tips for bloggers in general and encourages us all to use linking in a networking like fashion. It helps us support each other as bloggers and hopefully brings us new blogs to read. I know my taste in blog reading is always changing and I know that I've been appreciative of blogs linking to me.
And of course Feminist Law Professors also addressed the piece with a list of Female Voices in the Legal Blogosphere.
I'm slowly realizing, as I thought I would, that it does mean something to be a woman in law school and eventually in law. After learning from the ABA that in 2007 female lawyers made up only 30.1% of total lawyers I feel compelled to take some baby steps and really start trying to assert myself and report more on women and legal issues on this blog. After all, it is called a WOMAN in law school.
Just do me a favor and let me know when I need to lighten up a bit!
While keeping up on blawgs I was happy to see that I'm not the only one cleaning out my social networking sites. Yesterday I chose to delete people I haven't talked to or who I was just lingering in their general "collection" of friends. I have been thinking a lot about social networking sites in general. I came to the conclusion that I want to use them as they're meant to be used--for keeping in touch and networking. Not networking as in, "Hey we met last night, we had some laughs so I thought I would add you." No, that just doesn't cut it anymore. Especially with the internet's ability to quickly turn the private into the public.
I've learned that I want to network the old fashioned way. You know, where you actually stay in touch and up-to-date with the people you know because you 1) want to, and 2) never know when that relationship can come in handy (need a good plumber? need a reference?). So I took a look at my friends and for the most part deleted anyone that I wouldn't or couldn't pick the phone up and call. I edited my schools to list only those I've graduated from and so that current students can't search other current students for my law school. This way they will basically have to type in my name to find my private page.
From now on I will try my best to only "friend" those that fall into the above description and remind myself that law school is not void of immaturity and competition.
I suppose this is just one of many small steps I'll be making toward becoming a more professional individual. Which kinda sucks because...
Several bloggers choose to remain anonymous and I don't blame them. I plan on remaining anonymous for as long as I can. My perception is that law students prefer anonymity more so than other bloggers. Why? Any thoughts out there? If I were to find and read med student blogs or grad student blogs would this be the case too? Why is it that in reality lawyers and law students are somewhat quick, and cheesy, to network yet in cyberspace we want our anonymity?
I once chose to delete a blog due to a family member taking offense to something I posted. Fact is, she took what I wrote out of context and thought it was about her. It has been a year and she still refuses to speak to me. I did what I could to resolve the issue however I refused to apologize for something she took out of context. In the end I chose to delete the blog so that she couldn't continue to read it anymore. I may not be able to control what she thinks but I am able to control what she reads and knows about me.
I also have a friend who deleted her law school blog due to pressure from law students at her school. Another blogger at her school wrote a post containing post-exam material. Law students became upset and pressured the school to make a statement about blogging. While I can see why the law students were upset I disagree with pressuring the blogger, and intimidating other bloggers, to quit. It's just a blog and the blogger learned from their mistake.
So why is it that we all can't get along over the net? Why can't we agree to disagree over a blog? Not everyone is going to agree with me, enjoy my sense of humor or care about my life, as well as vice versa. I find it interesting that I am protecting myself and this blog from local law school criticism by not disclosing my school. Also worth mentioning is how I don't mind strangers knowing certain things about my life, however when it comes to that first day I doubt I'll spill my beans to everyone in my "Hi, my name is Kel" schpeal. I find it interesting that while we may all bitch to each other, start cat fights, etc in person we choose to do so anonymously online. And I find it interesting how some law student blogs rip their fellow colleagues apart but I'll save that one for another day.
So here's the deal. Let's be professional. Let's be friends and colleagues. Let's work together. And when we need that extra push or shoulder let's be there for each other. (This is starting to sound too Oprahish.) Let's be real.
So I was reading about Law School Discussion over at Terra Nullius the other day and decided to make my way over there this evening. I have to admit that I feel silly. Well, I don't know if "silly" is the right word but it will do for the time being. I haven't spent a lot of time over at LSD mainly because I know that the threads will: 1) piss me off, 2) cause me to waste time and most importantly 3) lead me to believe I'm behind in the game I'm supposedly playing. Yes, I learned it was a game and so far I'm a bazillion points behind with no extra lives. I thought I was headed down a bread and butter career path, not into an all out hulk out roller derby competition.
What peeved me was the conversation on what I should be doing RIGHT NOW to ensure I have a top notch internship A YEAR FROM NOW! Maybe I don't get it or maybe my blond is showing but how am I supposed to be vying for internships when law school HASN'T EVEN STARTED? In my opinion there is a difference between networking and trying to arrange summer employment, with one of the differences alone being tact. I reserve the right to network, to politely and professionally put my presence out there, however I believe sending out "Hello, I'm the 1L you'll want come May" sends the wrong message. If I were a legal secretary I would laugh at these folks and most likely have a brown nosin' file if only to amuse myself. Where is the tact in that?
I think I'll follow other LSD advice and meticulously organize my hamster's sock drawer. That, and rick roll my closest friends of course.
I came across an interesting article on networking today. The Top Ten Myths about Networking made me feel better regarding my ability to network. I'm not the greatest and as I move closer to law school I know that networking is a skill I must strengthen. Yes, MUST! I already have plans to set up informal mentors prior to leaving for law school. As I am not from a family of lawyers, nor work in a legal area I feel that I should put myself out there, say hello, and firmly state that I am looking for mentorship and networking opportunities. You never know when networking may bring you rewards and it's never to early, (or late), to start meeting people in your field. My hope is that by networking early I may be able to create an interesting summer externship for myself more tuned to my needs. I also know how powerful networking can be when looking for work and applying for clerkships. Even though I have yet to start law school, time flies and I want to make sure that I'm taking steps to benefit myself after law school.
Also, let's face it, law school isn't going to teach you skills like networking. It's one of the many skills that I'll have to develop on my own.
