Happy Holidays from Susie Law School
No animals or polar ice caps were hurt in te making of this game but it's great fun! Only managed a score of 312m so far... sure I can do better!
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Monday, December 10, 2007
Mock examining
Next week we have mock exams. Three of them to be exact - one for each compulsory subject.
The consensus in law school is that most people are anticipating abject failure. Apparently the average mark last year was an impressive 30%. Considering the mark required to pass the final exams is 50% I felt this fosters a great deal of confidence in the fact that since most people passed their final exams, there is enough time to do all the revision well between now and the end of February. As a result many of my peers are planning to carry out minimal revision and prepare to perform the happy dance if they succeed in obtaining over 30% in the mock exams (seeing as that would be deemed 'above average').
However, the situation has created within me considerable cognitive dissonance.
In one corner is the Logical Susie. She accepts there really is not enough time for the kind of decent revision between now and next week that would be required for say a 60-70% outcome. Therefore she has decided the best course of action is to instead focus on detailed consolidation and do what she can in the mocks, and not worry if the result is less than encouraging. It is all about experiencing what the exams will be constructed and suchlike.
In the other corner, however, is Competitive Susie. She is thinking that really it would not do to fail the mocks. This is despite the fact that they are entirely insignificant and most people improve greatly from their mock result when they sit the final exam. She is wanting to do all she can to maximise the points she can score, and see exactly how well she COULD do, to provide confidence for the impending final exam revision and at least a small smidgeon of self-satisfaction.
Currently Logical Susie is winning. She has convinced me to sit down and carry out very diligent consolidation activities which, although taking longer than superficial cramming, is providing me with a much better in-depth understanding of the topics and which should put me in good stead come exam-time.
However, notwithstanding this victorious outcome, I fear it is highly unlikely that Logical Susie will be able to convince Competitive Susie not to be too disappointed when she averages 29% in the mock exams...
The consensus in law school is that most people are anticipating abject failure. Apparently the average mark last year was an impressive 30%. Considering the mark required to pass the final exams is 50% I felt this fosters a great deal of confidence in the fact that since most people passed their final exams, there is enough time to do all the revision well between now and the end of February. As a result many of my peers are planning to carry out minimal revision and prepare to perform the happy dance if they succeed in obtaining over 30% in the mock exams (seeing as that would be deemed 'above average').
However, the situation has created within me considerable cognitive dissonance.
In one corner is the Logical Susie. She accepts there really is not enough time for the kind of decent revision between now and next week that would be required for say a 60-70% outcome. Therefore she has decided the best course of action is to instead focus on detailed consolidation and do what she can in the mocks, and not worry if the result is less than encouraging. It is all about experiencing what the exams will be constructed and suchlike.
In the other corner, however, is Competitive Susie. She is thinking that really it would not do to fail the mocks. This is despite the fact that they are entirely insignificant and most people improve greatly from their mock result when they sit the final exam. She is wanting to do all she can to maximise the points she can score, and see exactly how well she COULD do, to provide confidence for the impending final exam revision and at least a small smidgeon of self-satisfaction.
Currently Logical Susie is winning. She has convinced me to sit down and carry out very diligent consolidation activities which, although taking longer than superficial cramming, is providing me with a much better in-depth understanding of the topics and which should put me in good stead come exam-time.
However, notwithstanding this victorious outcome, I fear it is highly unlikely that Logical Susie will be able to convince Competitive Susie not to be too disappointed when she averages 29% in the mock exams...
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
Invaluable LPC advice
Last year I reported my puzzlement with outlining.
In academic study this was never appealing to me in any other sense than revision notes. I still maintain it is just revision notes but I can see the as due to the different teaching styles across the pond where revision only becomes similar at a later stage in education when big nasty finals start to rear their ugly head.
In comparison to academic study the LPC is a whole different beast altogether. Gone are the days when you would have a lecture on a topic one week and then a seminar on the same topic the week after. Now everything is all over the place, information strewn across the curriculum left right and centre.
So, I have started outlining.
Ok when I say outlining I really mean that instead of making revision notes by hand I am doing them on my trusty PC. The significant benefit of this being that I can write down all the information from my lectures and seminars, combine pieces of law from enough pieces of paper to annihilate all the forests in Sweden, and then work out what is linked together and move it all around. Obviously with handwritten notes once you've written it down, the whole thing becomes much more confusing if you realised something else was relevant and you didn't put it in!
Potentially, dear readers, you may feel this is one of my less enticing topics. However, there is a point to it. The point is - consolidate. When they say this all the time on the LPC they are not kidding. The contents are bitty, you get lots of pieces of information and it is up to you to make sense of it.
So, boys and girls, do not leave it all until the last minute. No time like the present. You will thank me later.
In academic study this was never appealing to me in any other sense than revision notes. I still maintain it is just revision notes but I can see the as due to the different teaching styles across the pond where revision only becomes similar at a later stage in education when big nasty finals start to rear their ugly head.
In comparison to academic study the LPC is a whole different beast altogether. Gone are the days when you would have a lecture on a topic one week and then a seminar on the same topic the week after. Now everything is all over the place, information strewn across the curriculum left right and centre.
So, I have started outlining.
Ok when I say outlining I really mean that instead of making revision notes by hand I am doing them on my trusty PC. The significant benefit of this being that I can write down all the information from my lectures and seminars, combine pieces of law from enough pieces of paper to annihilate all the forests in Sweden, and then work out what is linked together and move it all around. Obviously with handwritten notes once you've written it down, the whole thing becomes much more confusing if you realised something else was relevant and you didn't put it in!
Potentially, dear readers, you may feel this is one of my less enticing topics. However, there is a point to it. The point is - consolidate. When they say this all the time on the LPC they are not kidding. The contents are bitty, you get lots of pieces of information and it is up to you to make sense of it.
So, boys and girls, do not leave it all until the last minute. No time like the present. You will thank me later.
Saturday, December 01, 2007
Interviewing and failing...
My interviewing and advising exam is in the near future*. I am concerned.
Let me give you a short explanation. You go into a room with a client. You have twenty minutes. They tell you their problem. You ask them questions about the bits they have missed out and you need to know. Then you give them some advice, a few options and advantages and disadvantages of each.
In usual LPC style the assessment is highly artificial. You have to say certain things in certain order in a certain way. You have to summarise what the client has said at particular times of the interview. There are about 6-7 points you can ask them questions on. Some of these are crucial - i.e. if you don't get that information, you will fail. This makes sense, as it is information that will change your advice. Others are less important.
As a great surprise to myself I was competent in my mock assessment. This was despite only asking two questions, and forgetting to set out my advantages and disadvantages of my options in the required way. In other words I told the client what they were but I didn't say stuff like "the advantages of Option 1 are..." etc.
I don't normally suffer from nerves. In my previous job I spent hours and hours talking to clients. Daily. A situation where they asked me something and I had to totally wing it is not unknown.
So why is it that this twenty-minute jumping-through-hoops exercise is so difficult to contend with? Bah!
*excessive detail could out me, so try to cope without knowing exactly when it is.
Let me give you a short explanation. You go into a room with a client. You have twenty minutes. They tell you their problem. You ask them questions about the bits they have missed out and you need to know. Then you give them some advice, a few options and advantages and disadvantages of each.
In usual LPC style the assessment is highly artificial. You have to say certain things in certain order in a certain way. You have to summarise what the client has said at particular times of the interview. There are about 6-7 points you can ask them questions on. Some of these are crucial - i.e. if you don't get that information, you will fail. This makes sense, as it is information that will change your advice. Others are less important.
As a great surprise to myself I was competent in my mock assessment. This was despite only asking two questions, and forgetting to set out my advantages and disadvantages of my options in the required way. In other words I told the client what they were but I didn't say stuff like "the advantages of Option 1 are..." etc.
I don't normally suffer from nerves. In my previous job I spent hours and hours talking to clients. Daily. A situation where they asked me something and I had to totally wing it is not unknown.
So why is it that this twenty-minute jumping-through-hoops exercise is so difficult to contend with? Bah!
*excessive detail could out me, so try to cope without knowing exactly when it is.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Work glorious work!
Currently I have a surplus of it. I started consolidation this week and that was actually quite helpful, particularly for property which I was slightly despairing with originally but now am pretty confident it will be fine...
I've just completed a 'to-do'-list for the five remaining weeks of term and it is looking pretty full. To be honest, I prefer it that way as it will motivate to work hard.
Mock exams take place te last week of term - one in property, one in BLP (Business Law and Practice) and one in Civil Litigation. I mused briefly with the idea of just turning up and doing my best without any revision but that thought didn't last long - instead I've decided to attempt a reasonable amount of revision for two reasons:
1) I want to get an idea of what the exams will be like in a more realistic way - my downfall on the conversion was not knowing what to expect in exams!
2) There will be less work to do for the actual exams as I will have already gone through the topics in the mocks and can simply alter or supplement my revision notes.
Organising what work to do is such fun. Doing it is sometimes a rather different matter... wish me luck!
I've just completed a 'to-do'-list for the five remaining weeks of term and it is looking pretty full. To be honest, I prefer it that way as it will motivate to work hard.
Mock exams take place te last week of term - one in property, one in BLP (Business Law and Practice) and one in Civil Litigation. I mused briefly with the idea of just turning up and doing my best without any revision but that thought didn't last long - instead I've decided to attempt a reasonable amount of revision for two reasons:
1) I want to get an idea of what the exams will be like in a more realistic way - my downfall on the conversion was not knowing what to expect in exams!
2) There will be less work to do for the actual exams as I will have already gone through the topics in the mocks and can simply alter or supplement my revision notes.
Organising what work to do is such fun. Doing it is sometimes a rather different matter... wish me luck!
Sunday, November 11, 2007
My Sunday Gripe
Small children running amok in supermarkets.
Should not be allowed.
But it is a lovely sunny day so I will let it go for now.
Should not be allowed.
But it is a lovely sunny day so I will let it go for now.
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
LPC - preparing you for practice?
In case anybody hadn't realised, the LPC is essentially pretty artificial. Makes sense really - I mean, you can't really simulate real law firm conditions all the time and by default some of it has to be adapted.
Let's take a Legal Research assessment. You get given a question, you go off an research it. In practice, this is something a trainee solicitor is very likely to do, so it makes perfect sense it is assessed on the LPC.
However, there is something inherently artificial about this situation. In practice, if you have any questions about what is required, you will trot off to your supervisor and ask them kindly to ring up the client for clarification. This is not an option in Law School.
So you could theoretically fail this skill that is required from a lawyer, not because you cannot do the research, but because you don't have a supervisor or client to tell you what it is they really want you to answer.
Way to teach real lawyering skills.
Let's take a Legal Research assessment. You get given a question, you go off an research it. In practice, this is something a trainee solicitor is very likely to do, so it makes perfect sense it is assessed on the LPC.
However, there is something inherently artificial about this situation. In practice, if you have any questions about what is required, you will trot off to your supervisor and ask them kindly to ring up the client for clarification. This is not an option in Law School.
So you could theoretically fail this skill that is required from a lawyer, not because you cannot do the research, but because you don't have a supervisor or client to tell you what it is they really want you to answer.
Way to teach real lawyering skills.
Thursday, November 01, 2007
Roll Call
Dear readers
You will be very pleased to hear this week I have been working very hard and am feeling much better about the lack of reading that took place during Reading Week.
Yesterday I spent five hours with Business Accounts and didn't even realise, because I was enjoying it so much! It is a special moment when your Assets minus Liabilities equals your Capital on a balance sheet.
Anyway, during a period of study I was contemplating my blawg. And I was wondering how many people actually read it.
So, here is your challenge dear reader. If you read this on a regular basis (yes, mum, that includes you!) please post a comment and say hi. As you know you can be anonymous. But I would like to know if I actually have any regular readers, or whether I'm just sitting here writing for the benefit of myself and various computer-generated adverts.
Oh and PS. there is a new blogger on my blogroll - the aptly named Law School Blogger.
Now it might just be me, but I think he looks oretty hot! Provided those are actual photos of him and not his better looking older brother.
You will be very pleased to hear this week I have been working very hard and am feeling much better about the lack of reading that took place during Reading Week.
Yesterday I spent five hours with Business Accounts and didn't even realise, because I was enjoying it so much! It is a special moment when your Assets minus Liabilities equals your Capital on a balance sheet.
Anyway, during a period of study I was contemplating my blawg. And I was wondering how many people actually read it.
So, here is your challenge dear reader. If you read this on a regular basis (yes, mum, that includes you!) please post a comment and say hi. As you know you can be anonymous. But I would like to know if I actually have any regular readers, or whether I'm just sitting here writing for the benefit of myself and various computer-generated adverts.
Oh and PS. there is a new blogger on my blogroll - the aptly named Law School Blogger.
Now it might just be me, but I think he looks oretty hot! Provided those are actual photos of him and not his better looking older brother.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
A bit of fun waste of time...
thanks to fellow legally blonde...
1. Name one person who made you laugh last night. Lady I live with.
2. What were you doing at 0800? Getting ready to go to school.
3. What were you doing 30 minutes ago? Probably facebook...
4. What happened to you in 2006? I went to Law School. Got a Training Contract. Started my blawg. And many other things you need not concern yourselves with.
5. What was the last thing you said out loud? "Oh I don't like her either" to my housemate about the annoying lady in Spooks.
6. How many beverages did you have today? Bottle of water. Two cups of tea. Coke and glass of milk (not together).
7. What color is your hairbrush? Brown.
8. What was the last thing you paid for? Cup of tea this evening in the bar I went to. Yes tea in a bar. Get over it. It's very cosmopolitan.
9. Where were you last night? Dancing, then home.
10. What color is your front door? Brown?
11. Where do you keep your change? In my purse. Where else?
12. What’s the weather like today? Pretty crispy sunny autumn day! Although now it is dark, alas.
13. What’s the best ice-cream flavor? Just one? Phish Food. No Raspberry. No chocolate mint, no... yeah you get the picture....
14. What excites you? Many things. Exactly how lame would it be to say Law?
15. Do you want to cut your hair? No, I prefer someone else to do it... but I don't want it any shorter than it is.
16. Are you over the age of 25? Sadly, yes.
17. Do you talk a lot? Of course.
18. Do you watch the O.C.? Yes, but not anymore because they cancelled it... still haven't seen Season 4 though!
19. Do you know anyone named Steven? I know a Stephen. So technically I guess not.
20. Do you make up your own words? Probably. I tend to combine words a lot...
21. Are you a jealous person? Of men? No. Of people with Manolo Blahnik Mary Janes? Yes.
22. Name a friend whose name starts with the letter ‘A’. Abigail.
23. Name a friend whose name starts with the letter ‘K’. Katy.
24. Who’s the first person on your received call list? My Law School friend I went out with this evening.
25. What does the last text message you received say? "I don't really want to tell you that!!!
26. Do you chew on your straw? No.
27. Do you have curly hair? Not without copious amounts of styling.
28. Where’s the next place you’re going to? Probably to the kitchen to make a cup of tea. I realise this is making it sound like I drink a lot of tea, I don't actually, it's just been a tea day today.
29. Who’s the rudest person in your life? Um... nobody I'm friends with...
30. What was the last thing you ate? Garlic Bread.
31. Will you get married in the future? I hope so but it's not a mandatory experience.
32. What’s the best movie you’ve seen in the past 2 weeks? I haven't seen many films recently. Particularly good ones. Probably Dirty Dancing the other weekend.
33. Is there anyone you like right now? I like lots of people, my friends, family... ok ok I realise I am being facetious and this means romantically... not really, there are some things in the pipeline but I'm too busy to care!
34. When was the last time you did the dishes? The dishwasher does the dishes.
35. Are you currently depressed? No. But asking "currently" sounds like it's a common everyday exper
36. Did you cry today? no.
37. Why did you answer and post this? I was bored waiting for CSI: New York to start.
Back in action
So Reading Week passed with little reading taking place. I pursued some Business Accounts related work on Saturday - so much fun, lots of maths involved! :) However I soon realised where I had gone wrong during Reading Week.
Here's the thing. I did actually do a fair bit of work over the week. I did everything I had to do and a bit extra. Not everything I wanted to do, but enough. Yet I was left feeling a smidgeon guilty about my failure to work hard during the week 'off'.
This was clearly because I had decided to do lots of work, then didn't feel like it and spent some of the time I had set aside to work doing other stuff. Of course relaxation is crucial. And I did have various pre-scheduled social engagements taking place. However this was not the problem.
What I should have done was set aside a couple of days when I wasn't going to do any work and spend those days specifically not doing any work. Scheduled chilling-out time so to speak. Then some other days would have been work days and my studying would have been more concentrated. I probably still would have got the exact same amount of work done, but felt less bad about my time spent not doing work.
So clearly, it's all about how you spin it. And in the spirit of this newfound wisdom, I spent Sunday doing absolutely nothing.
Here's the thing. I did actually do a fair bit of work over the week. I did everything I had to do and a bit extra. Not everything I wanted to do, but enough. Yet I was left feeling a smidgeon guilty about my failure to work hard during the week 'off'.
This was clearly because I had decided to do lots of work, then didn't feel like it and spent some of the time I had set aside to work doing other stuff. Of course relaxation is crucial. And I did have various pre-scheduled social engagements taking place. However this was not the problem.
What I should have done was set aside a couple of days when I wasn't going to do any work and spend those days specifically not doing any work. Scheduled chilling-out time so to speak. Then some other days would have been work days and my studying would have been more concentrated. I probably still would have got the exact same amount of work done, but felt less bad about my time spent not doing work.
So clearly, it's all about how you spin it. And in the spirit of this newfound wisdom, I spent Sunday doing absolutely nothing.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Susie Law School v The Library
Staying at home didn't work out well on Monday. After typing up the first part of my research memo, I pretended to do research on the second part and spent most of the morning chatting to Mummy Law School and most of the afternoon talking to a boy. And then I went out for the evening.
I am in principle against studying at home, because home is for relaxing and I don't want to get it confused with work. The TV doesn't really distract me because I don't watch a lot of TV. The internet, however, does. And everything is fine as long as I don't have to do work on something online. Unfortunately my research had to be done online. You can see where it all went wrong...
Yesterday was better and I completed the research on the second part, decided it leave it in peace and think about it for a couple of days, and do some other work. But turns out stuff I needed was at school. So today I went to school. Only to find out that additional stuff I needed was at home! So I came home and have worked for a couple of hours.
Generally speaking, studying isn't going well at the moment but I have finally worked out the problem.
I don't like the library at this year's law school as much as the last one, or at University. Normally I have easily found a good spot to study, and stayed there like a happy little law student.
No such luck this year. The new library is dark and horrible, with stupid low ceilings. I like to be near a window but that doesn't seem to be an option unless I sit in one of those nasty little cubicle things, which just don't work for me. I need space. But you only get space in the middle where there is no natural light.
Ergo I blame the Law School for my lack of motivation and poor (current and hopefully temporary) work ethic! And will be staying home tomorrow. Sans turning on the computer.
I am in principle against studying at home, because home is for relaxing and I don't want to get it confused with work. The TV doesn't really distract me because I don't watch a lot of TV. The internet, however, does. And everything is fine as long as I don't have to do work on something online. Unfortunately my research had to be done online. You can see where it all went wrong...
Yesterday was better and I completed the research on the second part, decided it leave it in peace and think about it for a couple of days, and do some other work. But turns out stuff I needed was at school. So today I went to school. Only to find out that additional stuff I needed was at home! So I came home and have worked for a couple of hours.
Generally speaking, studying isn't going well at the moment but I have finally worked out the problem.
I don't like the library at this year's law school as much as the last one, or at University. Normally I have easily found a good spot to study, and stayed there like a happy little law student.
No such luck this year. The new library is dark and horrible, with stupid low ceilings. I like to be near a window but that doesn't seem to be an option unless I sit in one of those nasty little cubicle things, which just don't work for me. I need space. But you only get space in the middle where there is no natural light.
Ergo I blame the Law School for my lack of motivation and poor (current and hopefully temporary) work ethic! And will be staying home tomorrow. Sans turning on the computer.
Monday, October 22, 2007
Reading week
It's Reading Week. Or what is otherwise known as "week off doing any work and then having a panic at the end when you realise you should have been doing work"
Of course none of my regular readers will be the bit least surprised that I actually plan on studying a lot this week. Today I will mostly be attacking my Legal Research coursework. Obviously I want it to be good but it seems somewhat frustrating to complete a piece of work and work hard at it, only to be assessed as "competent" or "not yet competent". That basically means that a person who got 90% is as good as a person who only got 51%. This does not bode well for my competitive streak!
However, for one day only I am conducting an experiment and staying home, instead of hitting the library - this may be a mistake.
The pros are that I only just got up, and feel rested and refreshed, there is no transport involved (well I am going out this evening but that's a whole different issue), and I will save money on lunch. The major con is that I am a library bunny at heart, and working at home sometimes poses distraction problems.
Best get on with it, wish me luck!
Of course none of my regular readers will be the bit least surprised that I actually plan on studying a lot this week. Today I will mostly be attacking my Legal Research coursework. Obviously I want it to be good but it seems somewhat frustrating to complete a piece of work and work hard at it, only to be assessed as "competent" or "not yet competent". That basically means that a person who got 90% is as good as a person who only got 51%. This does not bode well for my competitive streak!
However, for one day only I am conducting an experiment and staying home, instead of hitting the library - this may be a mistake.
The pros are that I only just got up, and feel rested and refreshed, there is no transport involved (well I am going out this evening but that's a whole different issue), and I will save money on lunch. The major con is that I am a library bunny at heart, and working at home sometimes poses distraction problems.
Best get on with it, wish me luck!
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
Unintentional Hiatus
Hello children,
I have been very sparse in my posting recently, and I apologise. This has by no means been for any other reason that I haven't managed to think of anything of value to write about.
Unfortunately the case is still the same, and I feel bad about letting you down. I'm still enjoying Law School, as I'm sure you would expect. Although Iam still pretty convinced I will fail interviewing because I just cannot think of the right questions to ask quickly enough.
I started Tax Law over the weekend which was very enjoyable, and I'm quite looking forward to accounts which I will be starting in a couple of weeks. It will all be fine apart from interviewing. Hmpf.
I promise I will try my hardest to think of something fun and law school-related to post about soon. Honest.
I have been very sparse in my posting recently, and I apologise. This has by no means been for any other reason that I haven't managed to think of anything of value to write about.
Unfortunately the case is still the same, and I feel bad about letting you down. I'm still enjoying Law School, as I'm sure you would expect. Although Iam still pretty convinced I will fail interviewing because I just cannot think of the right questions to ask quickly enough.
I started Tax Law over the weekend which was very enjoyable, and I'm quite looking forward to accounts which I will be starting in a couple of weeks. It will all be fine apart from interviewing. Hmpf.
I promise I will try my hardest to think of something fun and law school-related to post about soon. Honest.
Saturday, September 15, 2007
What are they actually teaching us?
Here is a little low-down on what I think so far...
Interviewing and advising
I am going to fail this. Ok, hopefully not, but I'm certainly not feeling particularly confident. Basically what happens is that you get a bit of law in advance. Then you go in, meet a "client" for the first time, and interview them and give them advice on a legal problem based on the bit of law.
I have no trouble with the "client rapport" bit. Eye-contact, sympathetic noises, politeness etc. That bit is fine. However - working out the correct questions to ask and giving the right advice is a whole different matter! I so far have managed to get this completely wrong every time, and missed out something important, or downright just got the facts entirely backwards. I don't really see how this will improve, seeing as the problem is different every time so can't exactly prepare that much in advance.
Mock assessments start in October. Watch this space.
Business Law and Practice
I like this so far. Many people don't. Mostly those are the people who don't understand it though I think. Ok, so there is quite of lot of statute which I'm not so keen on, but I have an interest in the subject area, so I am enjoying the course at least until now. I can't wait to get to the juicy bits like share issues and stuff (although possibly I need to wait until the electives to really get into that...)!
Legal Writing
I don't have much to say about this. It's basically learning to write in a lawyer-like way. Evidently that doesn't mean using lots of latin and complex constructions. It's all about brevity and Plain English. Common sense really. You might imagine most people reaching Law School would have some skill in writing, but apparently that would be an incorrect assessment.
Practical Legal Research
Using hardcopy sources in the library find out the name of the defendant's dog in the case involving a border dispute, taking place somewhere in Nottinghamshire between 1567 and 1701. Hours of fun.
Property Law and Practice
I know what you are thinking. And no, apparently it isn't Land Law. It's a whole different kettle of fish it would seem. The lecturer at least is very good, and when she asked how many people hated land law about 90% of arms went up in the air, including her own. Not mine, incidentally. I am ambivalent towards Land Law. We haven't had a Small Group Session yet so the jury's out. I don't think I will love this, I also don't think I will hate it. I imagine I will happily do the work like a good little law student, and mostly enjoy it. But not as much as BLP or some other subjects though.
Civil and Criminal Litigation
This sounds fun. I am not planning on becoming a litigator, but isn't every young to-be-lawyer's dream ultimately based on picturing themselves in a courtroom, cross-examining the hostile witness and making them break down in floods of tears to confess that, yes, in fact they DID kill their husband/wife/lover/annoying postman?
PCFS
That's Professional Conduct and Financial Services. Seems straightforward enough, there isn't much to it. However, I fear I won't spot the professional conduct issues as they will apparently come up in all the different exams secretly. And if you miss one out in interviewing, you will fail. Ugh.
Still to come
Business accounts and solicitors' accounts. These involve numbers. I like numbers. All is well.
Revenue law. Again, numbers. All good.
Probate and administration of estates. Death doesn't appeal to me but I suppose this is the closest I will come to using Equity and Trusts Law on the LPC so I shouldn't complain.
Advocacy. See "Civil and Criminal Litigation". It's all about courtroom etiquette, and conducting fake trials and stuff. Sounds like great fun!
Drafting. A bit like legal writing but not. It's actually writing specific legal documents. This could go either way. I guess it depends on whether I will be any good at it.
I think that is all. So far so good. I hear people aren't supposed to enjoy the LPC and it's supposed to be boring, but so far I don't think so. I guess we'll see in a few months and see if I was wrong...
Interviewing and advising
I am going to fail this. Ok, hopefully not, but I'm certainly not feeling particularly confident. Basically what happens is that you get a bit of law in advance. Then you go in, meet a "client" for the first time, and interview them and give them advice on a legal problem based on the bit of law.
I have no trouble with the "client rapport" bit. Eye-contact, sympathetic noises, politeness etc. That bit is fine. However - working out the correct questions to ask and giving the right advice is a whole different matter! I so far have managed to get this completely wrong every time, and missed out something important, or downright just got the facts entirely backwards. I don't really see how this will improve, seeing as the problem is different every time so can't exactly prepare that much in advance.
Mock assessments start in October. Watch this space.
Business Law and Practice
I like this so far. Many people don't. Mostly those are the people who don't understand it though I think. Ok, so there is quite of lot of statute which I'm not so keen on, but I have an interest in the subject area, so I am enjoying the course at least until now. I can't wait to get to the juicy bits like share issues and stuff (although possibly I need to wait until the electives to really get into that...)!
Legal Writing
I don't have much to say about this. It's basically learning to write in a lawyer-like way. Evidently that doesn't mean using lots of latin and complex constructions. It's all about brevity and Plain English. Common sense really. You might imagine most people reaching Law School would have some skill in writing, but apparently that would be an incorrect assessment.
Practical Legal Research
Using hardcopy sources in the library find out the name of the defendant's dog in the case involving a border dispute, taking place somewhere in Nottinghamshire between 1567 and 1701. Hours of fun.
Property Law and Practice
I know what you are thinking. And no, apparently it isn't Land Law. It's a whole different kettle of fish it would seem. The lecturer at least is very good, and when she asked how many people hated land law about 90% of arms went up in the air, including her own. Not mine, incidentally. I am ambivalent towards Land Law. We haven't had a Small Group Session yet so the jury's out. I don't think I will love this, I also don't think I will hate it. I imagine I will happily do the work like a good little law student, and mostly enjoy it. But not as much as BLP or some other subjects though.
Civil and Criminal Litigation
This sounds fun. I am not planning on becoming a litigator, but isn't every young to-be-lawyer's dream ultimately based on picturing themselves in a courtroom, cross-examining the hostile witness and making them break down in floods of tears to confess that, yes, in fact they DID kill their husband/wife/lover/annoying postman?
PCFS
That's Professional Conduct and Financial Services. Seems straightforward enough, there isn't much to it. However, I fear I won't spot the professional conduct issues as they will apparently come up in all the different exams secretly. And if you miss one out in interviewing, you will fail. Ugh.
Still to come
I think that is all. So far so good. I hear people aren't supposed to enjoy the LPC and it's supposed to be boring, but so far I don't think so. I guess we'll see in a few months and see if I was wrong...
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Whilst in my professional conduct class last week, I had a rather sobering, and terrifying, thought. I believe I have mused along these same lines earlier but it is becoming more and more real. I am actually going to be a lawyer. The professional conduct class in particular helped hammer this point home, as I really cannot imagine that I would have enough integrity to not accidentally reveal my client's secrets to someone or sleep with them by mistake... perhaps I should have gone for a less pressured career with less responsibility. Like a shelf stacker in Tesco's. Maybe they are still hiring.
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Early observations
Monday, September 03, 2007
My last first day
The first day on the LPC is really nothing to get too excited about, but I already knew that from last year. There is a pep-talk about taking responsibility for your own learning and suchlike (some poor girl in the back fainted, it wasn't THAT boring), a tour of the building, and a couple of hours with our personal tutor handing in various forms.
This afternoon I spent two hours going through the timetable, which is quite frankly insane. It isn't the same every week, and there is a whole lot of compulsory independent learning to be done, so I am currently trying to decide on the best way to organise my work... I feel it's more important I try to get on top of what I need to do and when first, before I actually start doing it tomorrow.
On that note, I am returning back to my insane timetable.
This afternoon I spent two hours going through the timetable, which is quite frankly insane. It isn't the same every week, and there is a whole lot of compulsory independent learning to be done, so I am currently trying to decide on the best way to organise my work... I feel it's more important I try to get on top of what I need to do and when first, before I actually start doing it tomorrow.
On that note, I am returning back to my insane timetable.
Sunday, September 02, 2007
Preparations for my first day on the LPC
So, tomorrow it begins. The Legal Practice Course, or what could be dubbed the Largely Pointless Course, if many more experienced legal minds are to be believed.
I have my multiple choice quiz answers, which I am not particularly convinced are correct, but I believe I've made a sufficiently good effort that they will not be showing me the door as soon as I arrive.
I have my multi-coloured forms, bearing my signature, as evidence that I agree to attend/to let them know if I cannot attend/to not look for porn on the Law School computers etc etc. (Somewhat disturbingly I have also agreed to follow the student regulations, but a copy will only be available after I've handed in the form... something fishy here... if only I knew anything about contract law ;)...)
I have my SRA (Solicitors' Regulation Authority) forms, to say I am enrolled as a student member and they are satisfied I am of good character and have not, in the past, been caught doing anything unsavoury. Such as looking for porn on the Law School computers.
I have my stationery all ready, apart from little page tags, which they didn't have in WHSmith, or Ryman, and a new pencil case and everything. I feel like it truly is, first day of school. Albeit this being my last EVER first day of school. Sniff.
I have my little airhostess suitcase ready to bring home yet another pile of law books, to take the spot of the ones from last year that I just about managed to fit under the bed, out of the way.
But most importantly - I have new shoes. They are possibly the most beautiful shoes I have ever seen, but to describe them to you lovely readers could reveal my secret identity. Suffice to say they are -for once- not pink!
Wish me luck!
I have my multiple choice quiz answers, which I am not particularly convinced are correct, but I believe I've made a sufficiently good effort that they will not be showing me the door as soon as I arrive.
I have my multi-coloured forms, bearing my signature, as evidence that I agree to attend/to let them know if I cannot attend/to not look for porn on the Law School computers etc etc. (Somewhat disturbingly I have also agreed to follow the student regulations, but a copy will only be available after I've handed in the form... something fishy here... if only I knew anything about contract law ;)...)
I have my SRA (Solicitors' Regulation Authority) forms, to say I am enrolled as a student member and they are satisfied I am of good character and have not, in the past, been caught doing anything unsavoury. Such as looking for porn on the Law School computers.
I have my stationery all ready, apart from little page tags, which they didn't have in WHSmith, or Ryman, and a new pencil case and everything. I feel like it truly is, first day of school. Albeit this being my last EVER first day of school. Sniff.
I have my little airhostess suitcase ready to bring home yet another pile of law books, to take the spot of the ones from last year that I just about managed to fit under the bed, out of the way.
But most importantly - I have new shoes. They are possibly the most beautiful shoes I have ever seen, but to describe them to you lovely readers could reveal my secret identity. Suffice to say they are -for once- not pink!
Wish me luck!
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Normal service resumes in 3...2...1...
I do solemnly declare that I am finally back for good!
After my six-week shenanigans looking around the US of A, I then spent two weeks visiting Mum and Dad Law School, but now I am back.
So here is the update.
I have yet to receive any correspondence from London Law School regarding enrolment day. I wonder if I should be concerned that the Law Firm hasn't paid my fees, or if this is merely another prime example of the inherent poor administration and bureaucracy that the legal world is somewhat notorious for... I have, of course, received the inane and tedious multiple choice test on substantive law to be completed by the first day. And because I am a good little law student, I already picked up the pre-programme reading for Business Law and Practice. However I have yet to actually commence reading it... watch this space!
Many of you will be disappointed to find that I declined the PC's offer of a date. So, alas, there are no amusing anecdotes on that front. Of course I did later wish he had looked like David Boreanaz (or even David Caruso!) as the story of 'how did you guys meet' would have just been too juicy for words!
There is a new blawger on the block, Reggae Barrister who has just started an LLB via external learning... crazy fool some would say, but I say good luck!! And also, I am flattered to have been a small inspiration to a fellow blawger!
To the person who posted a comment which has not been published, I hope you know who you are, the reason I did not publish your comment was because it referred to you knowing me through an alter ego, and since Susie Law School is and will remain anonymous to most people, I have chosen to keep you kind comments to myself. But please keep reading and glad you like it!!
All hail Lucius Malfoy. Yum.
After my six-week shenanigans looking around the US of A, I then spent two weeks visiting Mum and Dad Law School, but now I am back.
So here is the update.
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
My brush with the law
I'm a nice, law-abiding person. Clearly I have in the past crossed the road on a red light or driven slightly above the speed limit, but I would draw the line at saying that burglary or criminal damage are acceptable pastimes.
However, yesterday, I was stopped and searched by the BTP (British Transport Police for those who do not know). On my way to get the underground into town, I was stopped by a perfectly nice policeman who explained that they were doing "random" searches under the Terrorism Act, looking for suspicious materials such as newspaper cuttings, explosives etc. The reason why "random" is in quotemarks will become glaringly obvious shortly... the sharpest of you will have worked it out already, I'm sure.
So he looks in my bag - the most cursory of searches really, and we have a little chat about the Terrorism Act and he wrote down my details and suchlike. As a good little law student I obviously asked what the information was going to be used for and all the answers I received were satisfactory. I got to keep the little pink (yes, PINK!!!) piece of paper and everything, so this was all very exciting.
I can hear you ask - how likely is a little blonde twenty-something to be involved in terrorism? (If you've watched season 2 of 24 you may think it is actually pretty likely). You may think this incident inspires confidence in the police and is evidence that they are carrying out truly random searches where gender or ethnicity are irrelevant.
After the policeman had given me my little piece of paper, he asked me out on a date.
Random search or blatant abuse of power?
I'll let you decide.
However, yesterday, I was stopped and searched by the BTP (British Transport Police for those who do not know). On my way to get the underground into town, I was stopped by a perfectly nice policeman who explained that they were doing "random" searches under the Terrorism Act, looking for suspicious materials such as newspaper cuttings, explosives etc. The reason why "random" is in quotemarks will become glaringly obvious shortly... the sharpest of you will have worked it out already, I'm sure.
So he looks in my bag - the most cursory of searches really, and we have a little chat about the Terrorism Act and he wrote down my details and suchlike. As a good little law student I obviously asked what the information was going to be used for and all the answers I received were satisfactory. I got to keep the little pink (yes, PINK!!!) piece of paper and everything, so this was all very exciting.
I can hear you ask - how likely is a little blonde twenty-something to be involved in terrorism? (If you've watched season 2 of 24 you may think it is actually pretty likely). You may think this incident inspires confidence in the police and is evidence that they are carrying out truly random searches where gender or ethnicity are irrelevant.
After the policeman had given me my little piece of paper, he asked me out on a date.
Random search or blatant abuse of power?
I'll let you decide.
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