OneL LB and a JD

A Tale of Two Large Law Firms: Which Model Will Survive?

2009-12-01T22:53:00.002-05:00

TechnoLawyer Blog: BigLaw: A Tale of Two Large Law Firms: Which Model Will Emerge From the Recession?

Here's hoping we all end up at firms like "Law Firm B."

RW

All You Ever Wanted To Know About Law School Exams

2009-11-30T23:42:00.001-05:00

In recognition of the month of December and the upcoming exam period, here is a gift:

All You Ever Wanted To Know About Law School Exams

This comes from everyone's favourite legal tabloid, Above The Law.

If you click on the link you will see an "Anonymous Law Professor's" musings on that rite of passage for law students everywhere... the final exam.

I thought this was one of the best pieces of advice he/she gave:

What are the biggest mistakes students make?

Other than not knowing the rules, or ignoring obviously stand-out items in fact-patterns? Wasting time. Time is the exam-taker’s most valuable commodity. If a student doesn’t know the answer to a certain question, or doesn’t know what to make of a fact, that student should move on to the next question. Making up a story or new rules, or tortuously applying a rule, gets a student nowhere. The time could have been used to fully flesh out a correct answer on the next question. Cracking jokes may amuse me (not usually for content, but for attempt), but it never gets points.

Another fatal and common error involves not reading and answering the question asked. If the exam asks what are the defendant’s strongest defenses to negligence, the exam is trying to help you. With that narrower prompt, I am asking you to narrow your response to only concern the defendant. Don’t tell me about the plaintiff! You are wasting time and I won’t give you points.

I can speak from experience that it is extremely important to take a moment to read the entire exam to know exactly what is expected. This lesson was embedded in my mind late one December afternoon when, with 5 minutes remaining in my Torts exam, I realized there was a 4th negligence essay question for which I hadn't budgeted any time. That was not fun.

So, best of luck in your upcoming exams. Study hard, outline specifically for the exam and subject itself (don't just outline the same way for each exam/subject), read the questions carefully and always, ALWAYS know exactly how many questions you have to answer.

RW

Bar Exam Preparation Programs

2009-10-21T23:25:00.002-04:00

So, a question I was asked recently: "Is it worthwhile to take a bar prep course?"

ANSWER: It depends on the jurisdiction.

You see, so far I have taken one US Bar exam and I took Kaplan's complete NY Bar Exam prep course. I believe it was worth every penny I paid for it. As for whether it worked, well I will have to wait a few more weeks to see if it truly was worth it. That said, I believe that the preparation I received was top rate and helped me understand, digest and synthesize an extreme amount of information in a short period of time.

The other wrinkle about the US Bar Prep landscape is that by and large most state bar associations do not provide applicants with the study material and as such applicants are left to fend for themselves. This is where the Bar Prep courses come in with a nicely organized set of materials, practice questions and lectures to teach the material. I don't know the exact stats, but I am willing to bet that an overwhelming majority of test-takers enroll in some form of Bar Prep.

When it comes to the Ontario Bar Exams (which I will take in November) the Law Society of Upper Canada sends you two large books of material. This material is everything one is expected to understand/know for the Bar Exam. The exam is open-book and you can bring those books, along with any of your own notes, textbooks or other materials into the exam with you. Of course whatever you take in will not come back out (strict policy), so be prepared to part with your beautifully highlighted and tabbed Barrister book!

When it comes to Bar Prep courses for the Ontario Bar Exam, I don't know if the prep course is much of an advantage at all. There is one company that has put up ads around Ontario Law Schools: "CanBarPrep" offering a 7 day intensive program preparing students to take the ON Bar Exams.

I don't know if this is worth the money ($1500). Perhaps it will provide some people some extra confidence, maybe it will provide the undisciplined with a proper schedule and perhaps it will allow some of the more mundane subjects to come alive? I just don't think it is necessary in order to pass. Plenty of my colleagues studied on their own and passed without any issues. Even some of my less than academic friends passed first time with little extra effort.

Maybe it's just a money-grab? Maybe it's just a way for some Profs to help out students? I hope it is the latter.

RW

P.S. Feel free to tell me I am wrong in the comments.

Should there be fewer seats in Law School? Fewer Law Schools?

2009-09-15T12:14:00.000-04:00

The New York Times "Dealbook" blog suggests students entering law school in the next few years should think hard about their employment prospects afterward.

Another View: Lock the Law School Doors - DealBook Blog - NYTimes.com

What do you think?

RW

Florida Bar, even more restrictive....

2009-09-04T09:15:00.000-04:00

The ABA Journal is reporting that the Florida Board of Bar Examiners will now search Facebook or MySpace for any adverse information when assessing the character & fitness of applicants to the Florida Bar. Story found here.

RW

Riparian, Catchment and Other Water Rights.

2009-06-29T09:48:00.000-04:00

It’s Now Legal to Catch a Raindrop in Colorado

Interesting concept. Previously in Colorado it was illegal to catch and collect rainwater for your own use.

This is a fascinating Property Law issue. A topic that was covered in the most recent volume of the Windsor Review of Legal & Social Issues - which I am proud to say has been staffed 2 years running now by 3 JD/LLB students (out of 4 Sr. Editors).

Enjoy the article... for me today is day 2 of 3 days devoted to Property law Bar Review. Riparian rights here I come!

RW

Helpful Job search Links

2009-06-26T11:20:00.000-04:00

Before you know it, recruiting/OCI season will be upon us. And so, I thought it would be helpful to post a few helpful links dealing with employment topics.

NALP - Directory of Legal Employers: The National Association for Legal Career Professionals: A good website to get general information regarding a particular employer.

NALP also has launched a Canadian Directory.

Another site for information regarding firms in the US is www.vault.com.

Another place for job postings and salary charts for US and Canadian cities is FindLaw.

A site catering to the quest for that legal career holy grail... aka "work-life balance" is JDBliss.

The Wall Street Journal has been publishing a report on the Managing Partner Confidence Index (created by Citigroup) and it has some insights into the business side of law. Maybe things are headed upwards?

Hopefully those sites help.

Best of luck job searching.

RW

I'm Billing Time

2009-06-13T11:20:00.002-04:00

Funny song...

It's what we all have to look forward to I suppose!

Enjoy the humour.

RW

Helpful Bar Review Websites (even for rising 1Ls)

2009-06-10T13:22:00.003-04:00

Why yes, I am in the thick of NY Bar Prep, and let me tell you it sucks.

But, alas, it is a necessary evil if one wants to put these two degrees to work. So I thought it would be helpful to post some links to helpful Bar Prep websites/companies.

Kaplan/PMBR: The Kaplan you know and love from LSAT prep days. (Now offering FL, NY, NJ state prep as well).

Bar/Bri: The state-specific Bar Prep course for more than (40?) years.

National Conference of Bar Examiners The information page to find answers about the Bar admission requirements for each and every state.

You might be thinking, why do I as a 1L/2L or even an entering 1L have to begin thinking about Bar Prep now?

Well, for two reasons:

The MPRE. If you are currently a rising 1L, you are taking Professional Responsibility and as a result you may be considering the option of taking the MPRE (Multi-state Professional Responsibility Exam) this August. If you do I suggest going to the Kaplan/PMBR website to take advantage of their free online MPRE course. It says it costs $199 on the website, buy it, and there is an automatic $199 credit when you checkout. (at least that's how it worked for me, and they are still advertising it). You get online lectures, a study guide and a bunch of real MPRE questions to practice with. Well worth it. With this course and about 15-30 hours of studying (course included) I think its highly probable that you will pass. I did. *NOTE* check with the state in which you plan to practice to see if they require this exam and how long scores are valid.
DISCOUNTS & FREEBIES. If you sign up now (or in 2nd year) you generally get a locked in price and a bunch of additional study aids to prepare for the exams you are writing now.

CAVEATS/ADDENDA:

This site and the authors do not receive anything for referring you to any of these services.
As a 1L in the JD/LLB program the study guides you would get in 1st year from these companies will only be mildly helpful since the bulk of your 1L courses deal with Canadian law. So, the "freebies" portion above really is not as applicable until 2nd year.
You may not know the state in which you are planning to work. That's OK, I waited until 2nd year to sign up for a course once i found out that I would be headed to NY post-grad.
There are discounts on top of any early-bird sign ups for ABA Student Members, so get that membership.

Justices Tell Elected Judges Not to Rule on Major Backers - NYTimes.com

2009-06-08T12:37:00.000-04:00

Justices Tell Elected Judges Not to Rule on Major Backers - NYTimes.com

This article discusses the case of Caperton v. A.T. Massey Coal Co. which centers on a major difference between the American and Canadian justice systems, namely the presence of elected judges.

I have to say I welcome this ruling by the U.S. Supremes.

RW

Changes to the Program - Response to student feedback

2009-06-04T21:52:00.002-04:00

One of the constant pieces of feedback given to the JD/LLB program staff from students in the program is that the course schedule is so packed, to the point the students wish they could take more elective courses but cannot.

I am happy to report that these comments have not fallen on deaf ears. Beginning in the 2009-10 academic year, Torts (taught in 2nd year) will now only be a 4 credit single semester course rather than an 8 credit year-long class.

This frees up 4 credits in the JD/LLB 2nd year schedule and allows students greater flexibility in choosing electives.

As much fun as negligence really is, it doesn't require 3 months of solid study, despite the great teaching of Prof. Moore.

RW

Gone fishing!

2009-05-27T09:22:00.003-04:00

Well, not exactly.

Due to a few events in the past month, this blog has suffered from inattention. The 3L class had its first of two graduations (UDM) in early May and yours truly had a baby. So needless to say, things have been a little hectic and the blog was the last item on the to-do list.

Now I am beginning the 2-month plus study period in preparation for the NY bar exam.

I will still be writing the ON bar, but not until November.

Congratulations go out to the class of 2011 who finished their 1L year and are now well into their summer classes at UDM.

R.W.

Be sure to pay those student loans!

2009-04-14T09:44:00.000-04:00

Especially in Texas. It seems that in Texas you can get dis-barred for failing to pay your student loans.

In this attorney's case it was $67,000 worth of debt he was trying to walk away from.

Two things come to mind:

Well, in Tax class we learned that loan forgiveness is actually income so he would have to pay taxes on the $67,000 if he was able to get rid of the debt successfully.

Second, its a pretty bold move to try to grab a little piece of his own "bailout". But it speaks more to his character to follow through on a promise to carry out a contract (his student loan).

Interesting.

RW

Sabbaticals in BigLaw?

2009-04-13T11:12:00.000-04:00

Big City - Skadden, Arps Offers Lawyer $80,000 to Take a Year Off - NYTimes.com

You may have heard that US firms are having a bit of a tough year.... As a result, many of them are asking their incoming 1st year associates to arrive a little later in 2009, in some cases in 2010 and in others not at all.

One firm, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom is giving every one of their associates the chance to take the year off and pocket $80,000 for the privilege of not showing up to work.

Sounds like a pretty good deal. Perhaps they should offer this at all firms to stem the layoffs?

On a related note, layoffs are happening in Canada too but not at quite the same pace as below the 49th parallel.

RW

2009-04-03T12:14:00.002-04:00

Here's another great Law Revue video, this time from our colleagues at the University of Virginia.

Enjoy.

RW

JD/LLB Students to take on the WORLD

2009-03-18T00:28:00.000-04:00

University of Windsor - Law - Breaking News - JD/LLB Students Lead UD Mercy to International Round of the 2009 Jessup

This isn't exactly fresh news... but it is at least worth an entry in the JD/LLB Blog.

4 of 5 members of the UDM Jessup International Moot Court team are JD/LLB students. The team placed 2nd in the Midwest Super-Regional Jessup Tournament held in Chicago, IL on the weekend of February 12-15. By virtue of that finish, they have earned UDM a spot in the Shearman & Sterling, WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP Rounds which are held every year in Washington, D.C.. This is the furthest UDM has advanced in the competition in all the years the school has fielded a Jessup team. Many years (last year was one) the team has been only one win away from advancing to the World Rounds only to come up short.

The Jessup Competition is the largest Moot Court competition in the world, and is focused on issues of International Law. Given that JD/LLB students are training in two different legal systems, competing in the Jessup is a natural fit.

Senioritis 3L-style!

2009-03-11T21:08:00.000-04:00

The folks at NYU have created a trailer for their annual talent show/comedy revue.

Very funny.

Please Repeat the Question from Amanda Bakale on Vimeo.

RW

Things Are a Little More Stable in Canada.

2009-03-06T10:15:00.000-05:00

O Canada! North of the Border, Firms Avoid Layoffs

Due to the lower leverage ratio of Associates to Partners in Canadian firms, firms north of the 49th Parallel seem to be more financially stable. Amlawdaily.com has the story above.

Of course, when the economy is good the money is better south of the border, but in times like these, stability is very attractive.

RW

Poll on US-Canadian Cooperation.

2009-03-05T21:14:00.000-05:00

Nanos - UB Poll: Majorities in Canada and the US support greater co-operation

Click the link above for a Nanos Inc. - University of Buffalo poll indicating that majorities in both countries want closer business and political cooperation between the two neighbours.

This is good news for our program... increase the cooperation and connection and it's bound to produce more cross-border legal work.

RW

What is a J.D.?

2009-03-03T16:02:00.001-05:00

globeandmail.com: Why change to a JD degree?

Above is a link to an interesting article from the Globe & Mail detailing the debate surrounding the choice of letters designating a Canadian law degree.

I am personally very happy that I will have both a traditional Canadian LL.B. and a U.S. J.D. but I can understand some of the concerns of my LL.B. colleagues.

One suggestion I would add is that all Canadian schools should treat law school as a full professional, post-graduate degree program. This would also mean students entering law school must have a full 4 year undergraduate degree. There really is no reason law students should be considered undergraduates while our M.B.A. counterparts are full graduate students.

Anyhow, that's my 2 cents.

Within the article, there is a short 2 grafs on the program:

A twist in the tale, however, is that not all JD degrees granted by Canadian law schools are the same. Some schools, such as the University of Windsor Law School and that of the University of Calgary, also grant U.S. JD degrees in conjunction with universities south of the border. That degree is recognized by the American Bar Association, while purely Canadian JDs are not.

"Because of our proximity to the United States, we have a combined LLB and U.S. JD degree," says U of Windsor Law School dean Bruce Elman. "Our JD is recognized by the ABA and lets graduates practise in the U.S., while the LLB lets them practice in Canada."

Positive Press for JD/LLB Program in American Bar Association's Business Law Journal

2009-02-26T12:40:00.000-05:00

Train for the future: Canadian, Eh? The Value of a Joint U.S.-Canadian Law Degree

While I am a little late in the game posting this, I believe it is important to spread the word about the positive press our program has received south of the border.

Why is this important? For the obvious reason that good publicity is well... GOOD. But for the not so obvious (double) reason that this not only helps US employers (firms) understand the unique skill-set that a JD/LLB grad obtains in 3 years of comparative study - it also lets US firms know that a select few attorneys in Canada's leading law firms can fluently translate US legalese to and from Canadian legalese.

Take heart... the right people are taking notice.

RW

Reply: Class sizes

2009-02-14T00:06:00.002-05:00

The JD/LLB students at UW and UDM take the majority of their classes together.

In 1st year, the classes have been historically structured like this:

Property - JD/LLB students only
Contracts - JD/LLB students only
Criminal - JD/LLB students only
ALTA (legal writing and research) - JD/LLB only (group is split into 2 classes).
Canadian Constitutional - Mixed in with LLB students.

In 2nd year, it is more of a mix, most of the classes, with the exception of Torts and US Civ Pro are mixed classes with UW and UDM students.

In 3rd year, the classes are generally mixed.

I hope that helps.

RW

Managing the Crack-Berry

2009-01-27T13:57:00.001-05:00

The ABA's student division has a great article here about managing the use and abuse of the ubiquitous Crack-Berry.

Among the tips:

Determine a reasonable interval for checking messages.

Discuss expectations with colleagues and clients.

Unplug periodically—give it a rest.

Those are some good tips.

So why do we feel the need to respond 24/7?

RW

FREE Online Legal Research Tools (US)

2008-12-20T13:39:00.000-05:00

100 Free DIY Legal Resources on the Web by e-Justice Blog

The linked blog posting contains a great list of helpful legal search tools that can and will be helpful for legal research. Especially in that dreaded day fast approaching on the horizon when you will LOSE YOUR FREE UNLIMITED ACCESS to Westlaw and LexisNexis.

Enjoy.

RW

Congratulations Class of 2011

2008-12-12T13:50:00.002-05:00

Congratulations go out to the 1L class of the JD/LLB program. Today they wrote their last semester I exam. Most 1st years at Windsor Law still have Property next week, but the JD/LLBs are lucky enough to have no semester I exam in Property so they are home free as of about noon today.

Get some rest, enjoy the time off and say nice study-prayers for your 2L and 3L compatriots who are still toiling away. But take a moment to congratulate yourself for surviving 1/2 of your 1L year.

RW

3L... Bore you to death?

2008-12-11T16:11:00.004-05:00

I think the old maxim about law school goes something like this:

In first year they scare you to death...
In second year they work you to death, and
In third year they bore you to death.

Not sure where it came from, or who actually said it, but I have heard it many times. Funny thing is, it usually comes out of the mouths of practicing lawyers.

I am not completely bored, that's for sure. I have enjoyed our required courses this (all Uniform Commercial Code, ALL THE TIME!) semester, Secured Transaction (US/Canadian), Payment Systems (US/CDN) and Comparative International Sales (US/CDN/UNCISG). But yeah, compared to prior semesters of law school this one seems to be the snoozer.

I don't think this is due to the material, I think it has to do with just being tired of law school in general. Most of the 3L class worked this summer at firms of varying size, and we've been exposed to the day-to-day of the practice of law, which undoubtedly included hearing "you learn how to be a lawyer on the job," from many of our mentors and supervisors. So naturally, after hearing that along with having the experience of receiving an assignment on a Friday in a complex area of the law in which you did not take a single class and succeeding on Monday morning it's understandable to think these classes in 3L are fairly inconsequential to becoming a full-fledged lawyer.

Nobody is suggesting the classes are useless, far from it - they are very helpful to getting an overview of a particular area of the law. That said, a summer of work in the legal market sure puts it all into perspective, and somehow now, the shine is off the penny.

I still love being a law student, but it sure is hard to concentrate these days.

RW

First Year...Part 3.

2008-11-20T12:06:00.001-05:00

Lastly, like it or not, law school sets the tone for your future career, and arguably the rest of your life. What kind of life do you want? Do you want to argue in court, or work in a glass tower in New York? We will all work hard, play hard...come on, we wouldn’t be here if we weren’t smart enough to make it, but the law offers many different avenues. My advice: keep an open mind, talk to professors, professionals and other students, exposing yourself to more knowledge will actually make your choices easier in the long run.

There is no such thing as a good choice or a bad choice in law school. Some people can play video games all class and still get good grades, some people already know what kind of law they want to practice, some people already know more than the professors (you know who they are), and while school may make you feel like you’re still an undergrad, you’re not. You are an adult and when you pass the bar and swear your oath, you will be making choices that will affect the lives of other people to whom you have a responsibility steeped in hundreds of years of tradition. So when it’s February and you’re tired of the same Windsor bars, your moot partner, IRAC, the constitution, fee simple, having no money and the giant puddles around the law school...just remember, you chose to be here. Despite the difficulties, this is one choice I have never regretted...not even once.

Some Early Job Results for the Class of 2010

2008-11-12T21:35:00.004-05:00

I have heard of success from the JD/LLB Class of 2010.

Many had interviews in the US, including several trips to NYC, and of course a few jaunts over to Detroit for interviews.
One student will be summering in NYC at Shearman & Sterling.
Two students will be at Stikeman Elliott in Toronto.
One student will be at Goodmans Toronto.
Another student will be at BLG Toronto.

I believe there are more, but I haven't heard from everyone who had in-house interviews in Toronto.

RW

First Year...part 2.

2008-10-22T17:31:00.001-04:00

The second choice you have to make is how you are going to adapt to the work. How hard are you going to try? How many extracurricular activities can you handle? Are you prepared to be humble and learn a new way of thinking? Will you prostrate yourself on the altar of ALTA? Are you willing to play the grades game? Most of the answers to these questions will not be “yes” or”no” but a balancing act. The good news is you have two semesters and you’ll see if you are satisfied with the choices you made or if you need to readjust to meet your goals. My advice: make an educated choice, pick a way to study and run with it, you’ll see if it worked, don’t let other people make choices for you, everyone’s goals and aptitudes are different.

...to be continued.

First Year (part 1)

2008-10-01T23:53:00.000-04:00

Law school, like life is about the choices you make. You chose to be here, to persevere through all the hurdles society has placed before you, and to pursue a career in law. When I first got to law school, I thought most of my choices were over, (what school, what program, where to live...etc) finally I could just relax. I could not have been more wrong.

The first thing you have to choose in law school is how your peers will see you. The JD/LLB program is unique in that you will spend an inordinate amount of time with your classmates over the next three years. So you’re faced with the challenge of introducing yourself to a whole new group of people. It is a challenge, but I just tried to be myself and I made a point of trying to get to know most of the people in my class. I admit, I was judgemental at the start, whether or not those judgements were correct, it limited my ability to truly get to know the variety of people in my class. Balancing who you are with how you want to be seen by your classmates, professors and your friends, is not easy. Be yourself, but choose which parts of yourself to be in front of your peers. Remember that the people who are your classmates now, will be your partners and professional peers in the future. My advice: choose friends you can trust, but choose study groups that will help you succeed...unfortunately, they probably won’t be one in the same.

To be continued...

Summer splitting: Good or Bad?

2008-09-10T23:02:00.000-04:00

lawjobs.com Career Center - Commentary: Why Splitting a Summer Isn't a Good Idea

I have had a few people ask me whether splitting a summer between two firms is a good idea. In particular, whether splitting between a New York firm and a Toronto firm is a good idea.

This is a good article and I think it sums up the issues to think about.

RW

Advice from upper year students.

2008-08-20T21:36:00.002-04:00

Tomorrow there is a Q&A session planned where 1st years will get a chance to ask 2nd and 3rd year JD/LLB students about the program, jobs, law school in general, living in Windsor/Detroit, etc.

I will repeat my comments from last year. Take everything you hear from an upper year student (including any advice on this blog) with a grain of salt. And, remember to evaluate your own career and academic goals before you follow an upper year student's sage and wise advice.

The reason I suggest evaluating your own goals and plans before accepting someone else's advice is because you don't really know what kind of student any given upper year student is.

Not everyone enters law school wanting to do well and get good grades. Some people have a different definition of "doing well". Law school is a lot of work, there really are no short-cuts. So before you accept the "you don't have to read for Prof. X's class" advice or the "just get a bunch of upper year outlines, you'll be fine" advice, just think about your goals and whether they match up with the goals of your advice-giver.

Good luck!

RW

Suggestions for making the first year better....

2008-08-15T16:21:00.002-04:00

We did it last year with this blog, so why not again?

So after a 2 month hiatus, here are some suggestions/tips to make things a little easier heading back to school:

Get a parking pass from UW ASAP. You can purchase them on the second floor of the CAW center. The advantage of this pass is that if you are a gym-person you can park at the gym for free. I hear they are going very fast. When we arrived 2 years ago to start our first year they were already gone so act fast.
The other option is to purchase a parking pass at Canterbury College, an affiliated college of the University. It is directly across from the Law School. A little more expensive (at least it was in past years) than the UW pass, but the convenience factor is good. These seem to run out a little later than the UW passes.
UDM passes are available next week during orientation, very simple and easy to get. They just add the cost to your tuition bill.

We'll be back to the blogging full time now. As promised before - but yet to be delivered - we will have some posts from upper years who spent the summer in NYC, Toronto and current 2nd years about the marathon of 1L JD/LLB....

More great press for UDM Law.

2008-05-31T09:25:00.002-04:00

One of our law schools was featured on Good Morning America on Memorial Day (Monday). Project SALUTE, a national project to train lawyers and law students to help veterans get the benefits they deserve was covered in a video news segment.

Watch it here.

Makes me proud of what our school is doing.

One down Eleven to go!

2008-05-17T09:59:00.003-04:00

Wow. That pretty much sums it up in one word... wow. I have just finished my first week of my summer associate gig in NYC and it has been a great experience so far.

My week consisted mostly of computer training, office tours, meeting Associates, mentors, research training, blackberry training, and a few fantastic lunches. Each of the summer associates also received our first assignments which ranged from document review for litigation, assisting with 10-K filings (hello Biz-Org), researching for an article, writing memos, assisting with real estate deals, shadowing a partner for a half day, and much more.

It looks like it will be a very challenging but fun summer. There are a good number of social events set up including both Mets and Yankees games and a scavenger hunt in Central Park, all designed to help us meet as many Associates and Partners in the firm and get to know our fellow summer classmates.

Outside of work, I have been exposed to the joys of Manhattan commuting. I have a very short commute on one of the express subway lines from the Upper East Side down to mid-town but boy are those subway cars packed and warm! It may get a little unbearable later this summer. My apartment is good, but it's in an old building so that brings character and little quirks and annoyances, but overall it is good.

The restaurants nearby are great and there's even a reasonably priced grocery store a short walk away. Everything one needs (almost) is within a short walk.

Well, it is a beautiful sunny day outside and I have to figure out where to do my laundry. Take care!

NYCSA

Done 2nd year - weird!

2008-05-05T09:37:00.003-04:00

As of Friday at 5:30pm when I uploaded my take-home exam I am officially finished 2nd year, Law II, 2L whatever you'd like to call it. It is definitely an odd feeling to be 2/3 of the way through this ordeal we call Law School.

Last year when I posted about being done (1st semester of 1st year) I felt exhausted and I couldn't believe how far my understanding had come.

At this point I still feel exhausted at the end of 2nd year, but the one difference is that I feel I had much more control over the whole experience. I have my plan, my system and I stick to it. It works for me and it seems to produce the results I want. Don't get me wrong my brain is still pretty tired but I have less worry about what comes next. Maybe I am just really happy I don't have to take summer school?!

For those unfamiliar with the JD/LLB program in order to complete all the required courses to complete both the US and Canadian law degrees in 3 years students take 2 summer classes in the summer between 1L and 2L. It's really not that bad, the classes are at night, 4 nights a week, but it is definitely manageable and it is possible to balance the school work with a research assistantship or other part-time job.

I must say it feels pretty good to be 2/3 of the way to becoming an American attorney and 1/2 way to being a Canadian Barrister/Solicitor (with articling in there, there is an extra year of course).

Watch for posts from students about summer jobs in NY and Toronto and we'll be welcoming a new contributor to post about summer school and the summer life in Detroit-Windsor.

We'll finally get a decision on our Canadian Moot problem!

2008-04-25T10:00:00.001-04:00

Top court to rule on use of police sniffer dogs

This case was our Canadian Moot Problem last year (2007). There will be a decision today on the case by the SCC.

For those who don't know the ins and outs of the JD/LLB program we "Moot" twice in our first year legal writing and analysis class, called "Applied Lgeal Theory and Analysis" or ALTA for short.

As with nearly all North American law schools each first year JD/LLB writes arguments for and delivers oral arguments before a moot court regarding a current problem of law. The twist with the JD/LLB program is that we get to do it twice. Once in the U.S. and once in Canada.

Interestingly, the case linked above is the case we argued for our Canadian problem. A decision is expected today.

Employment Stats - sort of...

2008-04-12T11:02:00.003-04:00

My apologies for taking so long to get back to our anonymous commenter. It is that time of the year, exams, papers and all that end of year stuff keeps stealing my time.

I will try to get some employment stats for the program itself, but it will take some asking around. In the meantime, here are some of the places where some graduates of the program are now, or are headed shortly. This does not include 2L summer jobs.

Clerkship with the Ontario Court of Justice.
Clerkship with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in the Hague.
Articling with Farris, Vaughan in Vancouver.
Articling with McCarthy Tetrault on Bay Street (Toronto).
Articling with Cassels Brock on Bay Street.
Junior Associate with Paul Hastings in New York.
Junior Associate with Miller Canfield in Detroit (and Windsor).
Clerkship with the Federal Trial Court in Ottawa.
Articling with Lerners in London.

And there's many more. I just don't remember all of them off the top of my head. What I do know is that nearly every member of the 3L class has a job waiting for them after graduation.

I hope that helps.

RW

Necessity of a car?

2008-03-29T22:26:00.003-04:00

It was asked, in the comments, whether it was necessary to have a car to travel back and forth [across the border]?

While having your own car certainly makes things easier in terms of coming and going across the border, it is not by any means a necessity. Most people arrange themselves into carpool groups in order to save on gas and the tunnel/bridge tolls when crossing the border. This is exceedingly easy, since every 1st year JD/LLB has the same schedule.

How do most students travel between the two schools?

Most students go the carpool route with classmates. Although it is also possible to take the Windsor Transit Tunnel Bus, which operates connecting downtown Windsor and downtown Detroit through the tunnel and has stops within walking distance of UDM Law.

How is the transportation system in Windsor?

It is certainly no TTC (Toronto Transit Commission) and it has its share of issues, but by and large the Windsor bus system covers a good portion of the city and is convenient enough for a number of law students to use it daily. I can't speak from extensive ridership knowledge, but I have been a patron at least a few times and my experience was good.

I hope that helps.

Today was the Annual G. Mennen Williams Moot Court Competition at UDM, it is the competition in which all 1Ls at UDM participate as the major project of 2nd semester ALTA (Applied Legal Theory and Analysis), and the JD/LLB's of 2010 had an outstanding showing! Of the 34 quarterfinalists (out of nearly 270 contestants) 9 are JD/LLB students. More than 25% - Not too bad at all!

RW

More Job News For the JD-LLB Class of 2009

2008-03-18T21:04:00.002-04:00

I am pleased to report that 2 more of our JD/LLB compatriots have landed summer jobs (a few weeks back now) with:

Osler, Hoskin and Harcourt LLP - Ottawa
McKenzie Lake - London, ON

There's more to come soon! Lots of interviews are happening.

RW

Interesting Article/Book detailing the differences in US & Canadian criminal justice systems.

2008-02-12T22:38:00.000-05:00

Law Times - ONLINE: EXCLUSIVE: U.S. prosecutors hold all the power

Interesting and worth a read.

RW

Windsor 2nd year PC Candidate

2008-02-05T22:16:00.000-05:00

Montrose candidate replaced by PCs

Interesting news, a current Windsor Law 2nd year student is the PC Alberta candidate for the Alberta Provincial riding of Calgary-Montrose.

He might have to ask Premier Stelmach for time off to write exams?

RW

Employment stats for the Class of 2009

2008-02-04T00:01:00.000-05:00

Here are the current employment stats for the class of 2009 as of Feb 1, 2008.

Eight students in the JD/LLB class of 2009 have summer (2L) jobs at the following firms:

McCarthy Tetrault - Toronto (2)
Torys - Toronto (1)
Boutique IP Litigation Firm - Ottawa (1)
Thatcher Proffit & Wood - NYC (1)
Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker - NYC (2)
Shearman & Sterling - NYC (1)

Many more members of the class have had good results in interviews and are pursuing London, Ottawa, and other Toronto opportunities.

Windsor Law #6 out of 14!

2008-01-23T15:09:00.000-05:00

Click here to see the Canadian Lawyer magazine ranking of the 14 Common Law Schools in Canada.

Not so bad, and a big jump from the #13 spot in the Maclean's article.

RW

Law School Musical

2007-12-13T12:03:00.000-05:00

Everyone should watch this. It's a nice 2.5 minute study break.

Good Luck with exams.

RW

A response to the Maclean's Law School rankings.

2007-09-25T19:51:00.000-04:00

Law Times - New law school rankings ‘incomplete’

So you know by now that Windsor placed 14th out of 16 in the Canadian Common Law School rankings Maclean's just published.

Here is an interesting response to the article, challenging it to be more broad in its scope of evaluation.

Check out the article above.

There's an election going on!

2007-09-17T14:55:00.000-04:00

If you've been able to lift your eyes from your books, you may already know there is an election happening in Ontario. If you didn't notice, don't worry, I think most of Ontario hasn't noticed either.

As conscientious law students, I would suggest that it is our duty to make sure we exercise our democratic right to vote. Therefore I admonish all of you (who are eligible) to vote in the October 10th election!

For information on how you can get on the electoral list (if you want to vote locally), or how you can vote through an absentee ballot take a look at the Elections Ontario website: Elections Ontario Home Page

Also, you will note that there is a referendum question on the ballot this year. We get to vote on whether we would like to see a change to the way we elect the Provincial Legislature here in Ontario.

So get informed and take a few minutes to get on the electoral list, or request an absentee ballot from your home-riding, it won't take much time to do so.

Another Law Student Blog...

2007-09-15T15:02:00.000-04:00

There are a few other law students out there blogging about their experiences taming the monster that is the law. Here is one I enjoy reading every so often.

Lisa Hutch - The TRIALS

Lisa is going into her second year at the U of Saskatchewan Faculty of Law. She's a good writer and frequently updates her blog.

Take a gander.

What next for this blog?

2007-09-07T21:33:00.000-04:00

Well, I am not sure I ended up posting one tip every day... but there were a number of tips. I hope they helped.

I have never, by any means made any suggestions that I had all the answers or that all of my postings were my original thoughts/tips/ideas. So, because ideas matter and because the only way to find the truth is to hear all sides of the story, I have invited a few additional upper year students in the JD/LLB program to contribute to the blog.

I hope that over the course of this year, we'll be able to cover a number of different topics and get multiple points of view on these topics.

Possible blog-postings in the next few months:

Hear from 3rd year students about their summer experiences working in law firms across the US and Canada this summer.
Dispatches from the frontlines of the Toronto OCI process.
Learn about the infamous East meets West....
Find out where JD/LLB's will be articling or beginning as new associates next year.
Hear about the search for articles.
Inside information on the interview process.
Law Review, just what does it mean to be "on Law Review"?
Volunteering for CLA.
What do we do for fun?
Is Moot Court really moot?
Working in the center of the universe.
Life as a OneL.
AND MORE!

If there is a topic you'd like to see covered, please let us know what it is by leaving a comment. We aim to please our readers.

More Border News: Lineups grow at U.S. borders with Canada, Mexico

2007-09-03T10:21:00.000-04:00

globeandmail.com: Lineups grow at U.S. borders with Canada, Mexico

Still, it doesn't seem to mean regular, significant delays for the tunnel, but it certainly stinks when you are cutting it too close.

TIP A DAY #14:

Leave at least an hour to cross the border to get to class. You just don't want to risk it. If you get to UDM/UW early then you now have some extra time to read, review your notes, print some documents or get a coffee. But at least you're not late.

Ontario's cross-border business at risk: study

2007-09-01T14:12:00.000-04:00

CTV.ca | Ontario's cross-border business at risk: study

Interesting article. Some of this is what we in the JD/LLB program see every day. The comments on the article seem a little out there, but the article is interesting.

You can also take a look at the study itself here.

What to do this weekend!

2007-08-30T22:04:00.000-04:00

Hey all,

When you're new in town sometimes you don't hear about all the things that are happening around town.

This weekend there is an Indy Car Race, the Belle Island Grand Prix and if I was to be in town, that's where I would be all weekend, sitting in the sun with a nice cold beer, watching the cars go fast.

If you want info on the race check out the website here. I believe you can order tickets there too, or just get info. I think the best deal is the general admission. Pack a cooler, your shades and the sunscreen and you're "off to the races!"

Have a great Labour Day and get ready to meet all the incoming LLBs! The rest of your first year class!

What to do on the weekends.

2007-08-23T17:02:00.000-04:00

TIP A DAY #13:

This weekend, for some of you will be the first weekend in Windsor. For some of you it will be your 2nd, 3rd or 4th weekend in Windsor, for another group of you it will be your first weekend in the "401 Club" driving back to Toronto (its OK too). Go to the zoo, if you are zoo people, go if you're not... it will be fun. But, that only takes care of an afternoon.
Here are my suggestions for weekend activities in Windsor:

Take in a tasting/tour at one of the many local wineries. This is a wonderful way to learn a little, taste some decent wine and see a little bit of the countryside outside Windsor. Information can be found on the South Western Ontario Vintners Association website. Most of the tours are only $5 or so, and you get 6 small tastings, along with a souvenir glass. Also, most wineries offer tastings apart from the tours, so you don't have to tour every winery.
See if there is a festival in town, often Windsor has various festivals along the waterfront.
Check out Greektown in Detroit. Lots of greek restaurants, some nice bars, a casino and a nice little "main street" area of sorts, usually pretty busy on a weekend night.
Go to a Tigers baseball game, a Lions football game, or a Redwings hockey game. Great entertainment and despite the size of the city tickets are usually available.
Go to a college football game, Michigan State or Michigan games are an amazing experience, but both are hard tickets to get.
Take a tour of the Walkerville Brewing Company or the Canadian Club Distillery. Probably free samples.
Go to Point Pelee National Park. Awesome for bird watching and the annual Monarch Butterfly migration, strange I know, but it is something to see, and close by too.
Go to Pelee Island on the ferry boat. Canada's southernmost island (I think)
Go to Cedar Point Amusement Park in Sandusky, Ohio. THE BEST amusement park for roller coasters in North America. The best.
Hang out at home and do your readings?!?!? Sometimes it has to be done.

Anyhow, those are my suggestions, there are many fun things to do around here, ask any and all upper years or classmates who are locals.

Enjoy!

Should I buy the "recommended" texts?

2007-08-21T22:19:00.000-04:00

TIP A DAY #12

Good question!

All recommended texts are not created equal! By that I mean that I found some to be immensely helpful, while with at least one book I never touched it. So the general tip I hear from many is to maybe "test drive" the recommended textbooks. Most, if not all are available on reserve or in general circulation in both the UDM and UW Law libraries. So you have the option of being able to take the books for a test run and see whether it is helpful to you. If it is, maybe it's worth the investment. If not, then don't worry about it. Or maybe you could share a copy with your carpool?

Tips on the first day of Orientation

2007-08-20T14:09:00.001-04:00

Congratualtions, you've made it to the first day of orientation, a step that many people only dream of. It's OK, you can be proud of your accomplishments. Today is a special day for you.

TIP A DAY #11:

Getting advice from upper year students.... If you are like me, you're probably pretty nervous, excited and full of questions about this beast called law school. So you're probably eager to ask a bunch of questions. It is advisable to ask upper year students for advice and information, and by and large their advice will be helpful and thoughtful, but I will add one caveat. Take everything you hear with a grain of salt. That is to say that everyone approaches the study of law in different ways. No two students have the same approach, learning styles or study habits. So, what works for one may be the worst possible advice for another.
Top Pieces of Bad Advice I have heard:

"You don't need to go to this or that orientation session, its boring."

BUNK! Go to everything you can, you never know when an important tidbit of information will be handed to you.

"You don't need to read for Prof AB or C's class."

Beware of such advice, people who did well, worked hard and that meant reading before and after class.

Similar to the above, "I never read for any classes."

Again, my caution here is that you never know if this upper year student has the same career goals that you have, or if they learn the same way you do, etc. This is bad advice.

"I just got a bunch of upper year outlines and notes, and I did fine"

Really? Did they? What is 'fine'? They certainly might have, but it is always a safer bet to do your own work in preparation for classes and exams. Each year a prof does things a little differently, emphasizes a different area of the law, adds a case or two, and in some situations changes the casebook year to year. So, what an upper year student may be peddling as the gospel, might do you more harm than good.

I think the best piece of advice that can be given is to figure out how you learn, experiment and take a little time to decide how you work best and don't be afraid to change things up if you need to. This is your career, you are in control and the investments you make now in your learning will pay off in the short and long term. For this reason, one should be take advice (other than a prof's) with a grain of salt. You are smart enough to succeed in this endeavour, but it will be a long, hard journey. People are here to help along the way, and most upper year's are helpful and want nothing more than to see you succeed. Just be careful how much weight you give to their tidbits.

Enjoy orientation and make sure you take some time to mix and mingle with your new classmates, now is the time before it gets crazy with readings and assignments.

TIP A DAY for a few days!

2007-08-16T09:08:00.001-04:00

Sorry everyone, I was out of the country.

TIP A DAY #8

If you're like me and the majority of the student body at UW Law and in the JD/LLB program you are from somewhere outside the Windsor/Detroit area. This means you probably only know Windsor as the road between the 401 and the Ambassador Bridge, or less, you've never been here before now. So, here are my recommendations for places to buy groceries:

A&P on Huron Church Road and Tecumseh: a fairly nice sized grocery store, I believe it is open 24 hours and conveniently it is located along that drive from Toronto so you can stop for groceries on the way back in.
Price Chopper just off Wyandotte Road, near Classic Bingo IV, a cheap, no frills grocery store that still carries name brands. The address is: 799 Crawford Street.
Food Basics: A similar type of store to Price Chopper and it is more centrally located downtown. Located at: 880 Goyeau. This makes it really convenient on the way back from Detroit, but in first year you likely only have time to get a quick bite to eat and cross the border before your next class.
My favourite is the Real Canadian Superstore: It's a little far, but I think it's worth the trip. Carries all your favourite PC brands. 4371 Walker Road (it's also right near Costco, Canadian Tire, Best Buy, and a bunch of other big box stores.
There are also a number of Zehr's and Sobey's scattered around town.
My apologies, but I cannot comment on Detroit grocery stores.

TIP A DAY #9:

Find an outlet away from Law School, whether it is playing intramural hockey, running on the riverfront or playing World of Warcraft. Do something!! Even better if you can do it without too many people from Law School. It's just a good idea to get away from it at some point on a regular basis.
It's also not a bad idea to try to maintain relationships with people outside of law school, whether that means people from back home or people you've met at UW or UDM. Just a good idea to get out and away from your schoolmates.

Take care, back to the beach!

A clarification and more tips!

2007-08-13T08:51:00.000-04:00

Just to clarify, I know I said I would be publishing at least one tip a day from last week until Labour Day, what I meant to say was every weekday. So just so you don't think I have abandoned this blog, I will only be publishing on weekdays for the most part.

TIP A DAY #7

Books to read before starting, or in the first few weeks:

Acing Your First Year of Law School, by Shana & Henry Noyes: This is a short book, a very easy read. It is written by two American attorneys, and it is directed at the U.S. Law School experience, but it is still very applicable to the Canadian experience, and definitely applicable to the experience students will have in the JD/LLB program. Provides many helpful tips and reminders, many of them common sense, but sometimes hearing it again and again does help to instill good habits.
OneL, by Scott Turow: Another quick read, again written from the perspective of a 1L at a U.S. Law School this time in 1975. Surprisingly though, I found it to be an insightful peak behind the doors before I started. The book is a collection of the author's journal notes from his first year at Harvard Law School, and it is amazing the similarities in what the author endures in his first year and our own experience.
When I searched Amazon.com for these titles, there were a number of other books that turned up as "Customers also bought", but I have no experience with these other titles. I am sure they are good and helpful but I can't personally make any recommendations.
It might be worth picking up a "Canadian" Tips for Law School book, I did not, but I have heard a few were helpful to some of my classmates.

Well that's all for today, enjoy preparing. I am going to the beach.

More Tips!

2007-08-10T10:28:00.000-04:00

Thanks to the one brave soul who left me a question on the comments, I will definitely tackle that question in a day or two. Keep them coming, please!

TIP A DAY # 5

Don't neglect the waterfront! If you need to exercise or just want to take a nice evening stroll, Windsor's waterfront is a great place to do that. There is a bike/walking path that starts at the foot of the Ambassador Bridge and runs all the way to the Hiram Walker Distillery which is a distance of approximately 3 miles or just under 5 kilometers each way. This is a great place to rollerblade, jog, ride your bike or just walk. Excellent people watching too! There is now also a cafe in the park near downtown, so you can even stop for some food or drink. If you're lucky in the summer months there's even an icecream vendor or two riding up and down the paths.
The waterfront area is also the site of many festivals and events in both Windsor and Detroit, and as I understand it, the Detroit waterfront is also a great place to be.

TIP A DAY #6

Carpool! Carpool to Detroit! It is a great way to not only save money on gas, tolls and parking passes but it is a great way to meet your new classmates. There is significant savings in tolls, because of course an empty car and a full car cost the same, but the most significant savings comes in the purchase parking passes. UDM reserves a large number of Larned parking lot (right across from the school) passes for the JD/LLB students and allowed us to purchase them last year during orientation, but they're not cheap (~$300) So if you end up purchasing one per carpool you can really save. Then it's just a matter of splitting the tolls and gas. In first year you only cross 2x a week for the ALTA class, but then in the summer after 1st year and into 2nd year you will be crossing daily.

Again, I hope those help. Please, please do leave questions using the comments feature.

Take care.

What do you want to know?

2007-08-09T10:30:00.000-04:00

This post is directed to all incoming JD-LLB students. Tell me what you want or need to know as you get ready to start this program. Use the comments feature to leave your question and I will do my best to answer. In the event I don't know the answer, I will connect with my classmates and those in the 3rd year and find the answer for you.

Also, if you are reading this blog because you are considering an application to the JD-LLB program, feel free to leave your questions as well.

Help me help you!

Tip(s) a Day Installment #2!

2007-08-08T11:23:00.000-04:00

I hope you enjoyed yesterday's Tip a Day, here's round 2!

Tip A Day #3:

Decide which U Windsor parking pass you will need. There are two options:

U Windsor Student Pass which will cost $200 CDN for 8 months. The student lots are a little bit of a walk from the Law School, but the bonus is that you can park for free at the St. Denis Centre Gym parking lots. If you're like me, and like to work out this is a good option, you get to work out and get a little walk from your car and back!

If you decide on this option you should act fast. last year when we arrived on August 20th there were no student passes left! Check the website for details.

Canterbury College parking pass which, last year cost $30 a month, the advantage to this pass is that the closest lot to the Law School, which comes in handy on rainy or snowy days, or those days when you're running late!

This option I believe is only available in person, and there were a number left when I got mine last year, but maybe get on it before the LLB's arrive.

Tip A Day #4:

Buy a roll of tokens for crossing at the tunnel, as of the time of this post you get 20 tokens for $60 USD or $70 CDN. There is also a frequent toll-card for the Bridge, if you prefer to take the Ambassador Bridge. I don't know how that works myself as I am a tunnel guy.

Whichever option you decide on, as long as the Canadian $ is above 90 cents US you save a bit of money buying the tokens/card with US dollars.

I hope those tips help, I will try to keep them coming!

Introducing: A tip a day!

2007-08-07T22:57:00.000-04:00

After a long break, it is time to dust off this old blog....

In order to be of assistance to the incoming JD-LLB class, I thought it might be helpful to post some of the "I wish I would have known that last year..." tips.

So, check back here, as every day from now until Labor Day, I will do my best to post a tip or two each day as you get ready to embark on (and actually begin) this 3 year journey toward two law degrees.

TIP A DAY TIP #1:

If you are in the market for a new cell phone or cell plan, consider getting a plan that includes metro Detroit AND Windsor in your local calling area, it will save you a lot of money and increase your ability to talk to your classmates who reside on the other side of the Detroit River. I know for sure that Telus has this feature.

TIP A DAY TIP #2:

Participate in all the social orientation events you can, it is a great way to get to know your classmates, and the other 1st years at both schools! You never know who may be a fellow associate or partner with you some day, or better yet the presiding Judge!

Check back tomorrow! And enjoy the preparation and the last few weeks of summer!

The Gist of the Chief Justice's comments

2007-03-04T20:48:00.000-05:00

OK, I know I promised long ago that I was going to post the main points of Chief Justice McLachlin's talk at U Windsor.

Here it is:

The law is essential to society.
An independent bar and judiciary is essential to our democratic way of life.
"If citizens are to have justice, they must have lawyers."
Lawyers must attempt to cultivate a sense of honour and a complete devotion to justice.
Lawyers must have a complete devotion to the ideals of justice.
Lawyers need to show courage.

OK so really that is the essence of what she said, 1.5 months ago.

1st Marks from Fall Exams... my question to the CJC

2007-01-22T23:40:00.000-05:00

So since last week....

Our class received the first exam grades, from our Contracts professor, whom I have to say did not surprise me by being the first out of the gate with marks... she's really on the ball.

I am pleased, there is some room for improvement, but overall I am pleased. I worked hard for that exam (worked hard for all of them) and also during class all semester and it seems to have paid off.

I posted 2 weeks ago that the Chief Justice of Canada, the Rt. Hon. Beverly McLachlin came to U Windsor Law to speak. I also said I would try to ask a question if there was a Q & A session.

There was, and I did. I asked the question I wrote about, in a decidedly better format, and I also prefaced it with something along the lines of "I suspect this question may be too political for you to fully answer, but...." Sadly, and not unexpectedly, Madam Chief Justice was unable to comment fully on the subject matter.

The gist of her talk was very positive and motivational.

I will post about that tomorrow.

Back to preparation of a trial brief in support of a motion for summary judgment (US Moot Problem).

Back in the saddle

2007-01-09T15:05:00.000-05:00

2nd day of classes today....

So now there are officially no excuses for not being ready, reading slowly, etc.

It sounds like we won't see any marks from our first semester exams until the end of next week at the latest, our Property and Contracts profs have both said they are not finished grading the exams, so we WAIT.

A reprieve came this morning as our Contracts prof came in to class, handed out the syllabus, said a few short words, said her grading of the exams was not finished yet, and then left. Short and sweet, but because we don't have class until 5pm, it makes for a long break. More time to read....

I have set my TiVO to record the new CBC show Little Mosque on the Prairie tonight which looks promising as a new sit-com written by a Canadian muslim about the North American muslim experience. It's apparently getting a lot of press, so my interest is piqued.

Tomorrow, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada will be speaking at the law school. I am definitely planning to attend. I don't know if there will be a Q&A session, but if there is I want to ask her to explain her resistence to having a police officer join the judicial appointments panel, as proposed by the former Martin government and picked up by the Harper government.

Anyhow, that's all for now... back to easements and covenants.

I am done my first semester of Law School... wow!

2006-12-18T20:59:00.000-05:00

Wrote my property mid-term today and so I am officially done for the semester... boy is that hard to believe.

We got here in August, started Orientation at UDM on August 21st to be exact. It feels like it was just yesterday.

When I think of how much I have learned, how much my understanding of this beast called the law has grown, I am amazed. When I think about how much work I have done, THAT blows my mind!

I have used so much paper, taken so many notes, and read so much... I hurt and I am tired.

But, I now have two and a half weeks to spend with my wife, resting, recuperating and visiting with family for Christmas. I need it.

A weird feeling I have been having every so often today... that I should be studying, reading, doing something law school related. I am a nerd, but hey it's my life now and I love it.

One semester down, and I still LOVE law school.

Take care,