Law Riot - Part 2

An Open Letter to My Future Employer: Hire These People Instead

Dear Potential Future Employer, Today, I would like to express why, good sir (or madam); it would be in your best interests to look beyond the scope of your traditional associate hiring criteria. Law firms often fail to grasp how the personalities and social abilities of their employees deliver real profits or losses to their [...]

3 Steps 3L’s Should Take Now to Prepare for Student Loan Repayment

By Todd Balsley, GL Advisor High student debt levels among law school graduates and a tight job market have captured major news headlines, leaving many graduates unsure how they will manage their student debt burden. Fortunately, federal programs like Income-Based Repayment (IBR) and Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) are available and can help borrowers minimize [...]

Before You Talk About Your Grades With Anyone…Read This

Top 5%? Top 10%? Top 20%? Fantastic. Put that on your resume, tell your parents, your family, your pre-law advisor who you eventually want to thank in your fairy tale valedictorian speech, but for the love of God, don’t talk about your grades to other students at every gleaning moment. It must be for sheer [...]

Law School Valedictorians: Top 5 Things Not To Say In Your Graduation Speech

Valedictorians: You’ve made it. 3 years of library-living, blue-booking, and junk food-eating has finally paid off. You’re the best. You’ve probably made it onto at least one or two of the various honors organizations your school offers. Lemme guess: Law Review and Moot Court. You might even be an editor on Law Review. Suffice to [...]

Turning Down Law Review?

Law reviews work differently across the nation. Most commonly, at the end of your 1L year, depending on your class rank, you’ll either get an automatic bid to be on law review, or be offered a chance to compete in the write on competition. Mostly, students in the top 10% are given an automatic bid [...]

Gay Marriage Ruling Expected: Issue will eventually wind up at the Supreme Court

Posted by Scott W. on February 7th, 2012

The 9^th Circuit Court of Appeals is expected to rule soon on the legality of California’s current ban of gay marriage, which was put into place after the successful passing of Proposition 8 by voters in 2008. Regardless of who wins this ruling, both sides have said they will appeal to the Supreme Court if they wind up on the losing end.

This highlights the social divide in America today over the issue of marriage, with the two sides deeply entrenched on their respective sides.

Proponents of traditional marriage view gay marriage as an assault of the institution of marriage, which was created by God, and fear it will result in further social engineering of public institutions, specifically within schools. In fact, many public schools today teach about homosexuality to children as young as five, and parents dislike the government preaching morality to their children, especially when it contradicts their religious beliefs.

Opponents of traditional marriage claim gender should not play a role in marriage and are working to provide “marriage equality” for all, regardless of sexual orientation. Movements across the country are underway to redefine marriage and the issues will not likely go away, but only become more salient of a topic.

For the full story, read here.

This Reflects Poorly on Society (Funny/Sad Google Search)

Posted by Allen DeVries on February 2nd, 2012

Really? When typing in “what’s the best way to ___________,” I came up with this gem. While I’m not going to divulge what I was looking for the best way to do, this was seriously disturbing. Quite honestly the most disturbing part was “how to kill a dragon in Skyirm.” I think the photo speaks for itself.

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Working with Senior Attorneys: Striking the Balance between Assertiveness and Deference

Posted by Ruben Escobedo III on January 18th, 2012

as·sertive·ness n. : a form of behavior characterized by a confident declaration or affirmation of a statement without need of proof; this affirms the person’s rights or point of view without either aggressively threatening the rights of another (assuming a position of dominance) or submissively permitting another to ignore or deny one’s rights or point of view. (Source: Wikipedia.)

def·er·ence n.:condition of submitting to the espoused, legitimate influence of one’s superior or superiors. Deference implies a yielding or submitting to the judgment of a recognized superior out of respect or reverence. (Source: also, Wikipedia.)

Enter the first year associate. She dresses and acts the part, but her youthful physique gives away her novice. The only time she might pass for a lawyer with any experience is when she is writing emails.

Have an unruly defendant? Tape his mouth shut.

Posted by Scott W. on January 6th, 2012

A Pennsylvania judge recently went to great lengths to ensure his courtroom would be silent and free from unruly behavior. Defendant Erik Britt had his mouth taped shut after he repeatedly disrupted jury selection (one can imagine the judge ordering the defendant to shut his “pie hole!” But alas, there was no pie for Britt). Judge Timothy Creany would have none of these shenanigans in his courtroom and ordered sheriff’s deputies to restrain the man with handcuffs and tape his mouth shut. Unfortunately, the man continued to mutter noises and disrupt court proceedings anyway.

Britt was acting as his own lawyer; on charges he assaulted a prison guard. He was later ordered to undergo a mental health evaluation by the court.

For the full story, read here.

What Do Employers Prefer? Moot Court/Mock Trial or Law Review?

Posted by Allen DeVries on January 5th, 2012

This is a debate that is relatively new to me so I’m looking for a little feedback (unlikely I know). To me, before a few weeks ago, there was a clear answer; Law Review was the premier achievement one could gain in law school. However, a meeting last week got me thinking that maybe it’s not so great; and quite frankly, I’m starting to agree. While the optimal answer is that you should have all three on your resume, the more likely answer involves a choice.

Think about it, what’s more useful in the real world? The ability to cite each and every sentence you write in perfect bluebook format? Or the ability to think on your feet and effectively argue in front of a judge and jury of your peers? Seems clear when stated like that. In truth, you’ll probably spend a good portion of the beginning of your career learning how to NOT write like you did on law review, at least that’s what I was told. It’s just not practical to write a motion or complaint in that manner. Yeah, you learn other things on law review and continually increase your ability to be a better writer, but it’s just not practical writing. What is practical is moot court and mock trial.

With moot court and mock trial you’re learning what it’s really like to be a lawyer, albeit in a more controlled setting. You’re gaining experience arguing before a panel, questioning witnesses, preparing briefs, adapting to opposing counsels arguments, answering questions on varying points of law, and proper conduct in a courtroom. These are all things you’re likely to encounter as a first year associate. How often are you going to be asked to write a note comparing the circuit split between the 4^th and 9^th circuits? Probably not often. So, while Law Review is great and still a significant achievement, consider moot court and mock trial as well if you want to gain some more practical experience. The attorney I spoke to actually valued moot court and mock trial substantially more than Law Review. I was told Law Review surely won’t hurt me, but it’s not going to help me as much as I once thought it would.

Any additional thoughts?

How Grades Ruin My Christmas

Posted by Allen DeVries on January 4th, 2012

Grades are the worst best thing since high school. The ups and downs they can bring are monumental and quite honestly, not good for my health. This time of year I find myself checking for my grades online more than any reasonable person should. The below image is my Christmas Break in a nutshell.

Sample Thank You Note

Posted by Allen DeVries on January 4th, 2012

So, you just had a meeting with a law firm and you think it went well. If you think you’re the only one they met with and you stood out enough to make a lasting impression, you may be right. But why risk it? It’s time to go a little old fashion: Handwritten thank you card.

Head to the store, buy a pen and a simple “Thank You” card. Nothing fancy, go as basic as possible. Here is an example of a basic thank you note after meeting with a law firm. The basics of the note are to thank them for their time and a quick note about the law firm. You don’t want to spend much time talking about how amazing the law firm is; they know how great it is, they work there. Lastly, mention something personal you talked about. Maybe you both enjoy a similar hobby, athletic team or went to the same undergrad, the more personal the better. The point is to keep it short and personal.

“Dear Mr./Ms.__________________ (Partner Name),

Thank you very much for taking the time to meet with me this past week. It was a great opportunity to meet with such an established and well-respected law firm such as. I really appreciate the advice you shared regarding bar preparation, as well as the information regarding your firm. I hope to speak to you again soon.

Thank you again.

Sincerely,

_________________________”

Millions “mourn” the death of Kim Jong Il: Man who single-handedly started gray jumpsuit trend among despots is dead

Posted by Scott W. on December 21st, 2011

Today millions of North Koreans were forced to mourn the loss of their longtime leader, Kim Jong Il. North Korean state TV ran footage of sobbing citizens in the wake of Kim Jong Il’s long awaited sudden death at the age of 69. State TV said the images contained “indescribable sorrow.” I hate to break it to North Korea, but technically “indescribable” is still a description. I don’t mean to be too insensitive at the loss of human life, but let’s get one thing straight: the world is better off with this man dead. He was a tyrant whose own ego resulted in the starvation of untold numbers of his own people, who endure horrible, poverty-stricken lives on a day-to-day basis. Quite the legacy, isn’t it? Plus, the guy had no imagination when it came to personal attire. Somewhere, in a darkly lit (okay, probably not lit) room, his tailor (who probably believes the only fabric color in North Korea is gray) is rejoicing – well, after his completion of his mandatory public mourning of “Dear Leader” of course.

Unfortunately, the insane and nuclear obsessed acorn doesn’t bounce far from the fuel rods – err, tree. Kim Jong Il’s son, (who is not ill – yuck, yuck) Kim Jong Un will now rule the country at the ripe age of 27. I am sure we’ll soon trade images of indescribable sorrow for indescribable joy, right, North Korea?

For the full story, please read here.

Whittier Law School Graduate Launches Video Game Bar Association

Posted by Joseph Tsai on December 14th, 2011

Now that the video game industry composes an even larger market than the movie industry, it’s time that the legal industry take notice. Enter the Video Game Bar Association, or V.G.B.A.

Whittier Law School graduate Patrick Sweeney, partner and head of the Video Game Practice department at Reed Smith’s Los Angeles office spearheads this new worldwide association having sent out invitations to 100 attorneys in North America and Europe. In addition to Mr. Sweeney, other members of the Board include George Rose, Executive Vice President and Chief Public Policy Officer at Activision Blizzard, Inc.; David Anderson, Vice President of Business and Legal Affairs for THQ, Inc; David Rosenbaum of the Law Offices of David Rosenbaum; and Konstantin Ewald of Germany-based law firm Osborne Clarke.

So what do you need in order to be eligible for the the VGBA? Just:

What I SHOULD Have Done vs. What I DID

Posted by LawRiotAdmin on December 12th, 2011

As newly minted 1L’s are finishing their first semester of law school and veteran 3L’s are finishing their second to last semester, there is no doubt there are mixed feelings about the decision to go to law school with the current state of the legal job market. We recently got a slightly humorous, slightly dark depiction of one anonymous students outlook on his/her law school career. Take it for what you’d like, but we take it as pure humor.

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So, I’m sorry anonymous student. I’m sorry about your cold outlook on the future, I’m sorry about your bald, or eventual bald, head, I’m sorry about your debt and I’m sorry about your increased likelihood for a heart attack. But thank you for the laughs as I enter Christmas break.