Riparian, Catchment and Other Water Rights.

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

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

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)

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:

1. 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.
   
   
2. 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.
  

RW

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

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

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!

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!

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?

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

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

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!

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.

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.

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.?

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."

RW

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

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

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

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)

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

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?

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.

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

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.

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)

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...