Winter Break

So in New England (at least New Hampshire) there is this one week vacation called winter break. They take it in February and it would appear to be like spring break except its not spring yet. Apparently K-12 also gets an extended weekend for a spring break later on while law students are stuck with a second winter break. I didn't mind having it be last week because I needed the vacation but really I would have liked it to be when it was a little warmer either here or in WI...I suppose thats what the three months off in summer are for...

I went home for a 5 days and had a great time. It was nice to be in Wisconsin without too much to do and actually getting a break. I did almost everything that I wanted to which was good and I even got a chance to re-arrange the boyfriends room which I figured he wouldn't let me do...He lives alone in his mom's house but really only uses his room and so I decided that he should have more storage and pretty much made his room more usable. I am a dork I know but it was fun and plus I'm living there this summer so its already half way acceptable. The biggest perk of living with him will be that he has a 50" tv! Maybe thats the attraction I have to him...just kidding although I do miss the tv alot since I have a small 30 something inch one out here...

I had my first snow day on Monday. School was all the way canceled which probably wasn't super necessary but I didn't mind the extra day to stay at home. I just wish that I had known about it last week though so I could have stayed a little longer in WI...but I guess you can't call a snow day a week in advance.

So far this semester has been going well. There is a lot more expected of us which is hard but also good I suppose. I don't flinch at reading 100+ pages of judicial opinions every week like I would have in undergrad or even high school. I remember back when it was a pain to write a paper that was 5 pages and now its a pain to write only 5 pages. If I went back to undergrad I could probably graduate at the top of my class.

I am taking Constitutional Law, Property, Sales, Legal Skills II, and Fundamentals of Law Practice this semester. My favorite class is either fun law or con law depending on the day. Fun Law is an amazing class where we get small group experience doing cases. I have had to interview a victim, do a bail hearing in front of a judge, prepare a direct examination and a cross examination and on Friday we are doing closing arguments. It is really interesting to see how much work and preparation go into trials and I am really excited about doing clinicals in the next two years. I think that I do really well in small group skills based learning and I hope that I can continue on that path in Daniel Websters Scholars Program which is an extra 6 classes I take that are all hands on skills courses. I have to apply later this month and they only accept around 15 students. I just hope that I make the cut. If I get into the program and graduate from it I will be able to practice in New Hampshire right when I graduate. I don't really want to stay here but it would be a great resume item.

I am excited about coming home this summer but I don't have any job prospects lined up which is scary. I need to figure out what I want to do and try and get an in. My mom knows a local lawyer so maybe I can get in on his good graces and work there. If anyone knows a lawyer in Southern Wisconsin who needs/wants an intern give them my name!! I would like to have a paying job but I can always work as a cashier or something for extra money...

This week has been flying by which is what I am hoping for the next 8 weeks...


Additions to my list:

6. Study rooms should have blinds on the windows so people do not stare at you when you are studying. (or writing blogs hehe)
7. Students should use the Socratic method on professors instead of vice versa.