Moving On (5-9-09)
Posted by Jon Johnson on Jun 2, 2009
Well I have finished all my finals. My last one was Torts II this morning. What a test! Three hours of non-stop writing. There were so many issues that it was impossible to address each one in the time allowed. But I think I had well reasoned arguments and will come out at the top end of the class. I also took my Professional Responsibility final last Wednesday. It was extremely difficult and tricky. The ABA rules are at times counter-intuitive to my personal moral ethics. This is mainly because of rule 1.6 regarding client confidentiality. Think of the evidence rule of attorney/client privilege and expand that scope. I understand the reasoning and why the rule is so restrictive, but there where cases in which you wish the lawyer could talk, but was prohibited. My other final was Civ Pro II last Saturday and thankfully it wasn’t too bad. But I worry that I missed too many issues. I guess I will know in June how much I missed. Lastly, my thesis for Climate Change seminar ended well. I had around forty pages of well reasoned arguments. I will be tweaking it this summer in hope of getting it published in one of the law journals. I will let you know how that goes. Overall it has been a good second year. They always say that the first year is the hardest. I agree, but the second year is not much easier. By the second year, you finally understand how most things work and you are familiar with the terminology but the reading assignments greatly increase in length and depth. I am now at the halfway point to being a lawyer. I am excited and ready to start the next semester, but for now I will enjoy the time I have with my family. See you next fall!
End of Semester Reflections (4-15-09)
Posted by Jon Johnson on Jun 2, 2009
Only two more weeks until this semester draws to a close. I am excited that I will soon have a well deserved break for three months. This has been a great but long semester. The classes were interesting and the professors were extremely knowledgeable and entertaining. Civil Procedure II turned out to be very interesting and not the least bit scary or intimidating as told in many law school horror stories. I am just about done with my thesis paper for my seminar and it turns out that it is much better than my Master’s thesis. I guess the short time frame was more of a help than I originally anticipated. I will soon begin my final review for my finals. I am glad that I continued to outline each class though the semester. It was another thing that I did not want to do, but the extra effort was worth it. I highly recommend starting your outlines the first day of class. By doing this and continuing to revise it each week, you will have a useful tool for preparation of finals. During the first class, ask the professor how they conduct their exams, such as whether they rely heavily on case names and facts or are more focused on black letter law. This will help determine the format for the outline. I know when I began law school, my outlines were eighty to one-hundred pages. I was thrilled to get it done and then when I began to study for the final in that class, I found that the outline was too large and too detailed. An outline should be clear, concise, and as short as possible without sacrifice of important aspects of that area of law. Additionally, I learned besides continuous (OCD like) outlining, to review the material that we study each week, memorize the outline and make sure the application of law is well understood. By doing this, there will be less stress in the reading period trying to remember fifteen weeks of material for each class. I may have mentioned it previously but, ask the professor what hornbooks they recommend, if any. Don’t go out and buy a hornbook or treaty on the area of law that you will be studying without guidance from your professor or you will be sorry. Some are excellent and others are not worth the paper or ink. Overall, just try being prepared and always ask questions. Law professors seem intimidating at first, but they are there because they care and want you to succeed.
Other Hurdles to Graduate (3-30-09)
Posted by Jon Johnson on Jun 2, 2009
This spring I am in a Seminar class of about 15 people. The focus of the seminar is on International Climate Change Law. So far this class is fun but challenging. We are learning a lot about the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, Kyoto Protocol and the possible changes coming up in December in Copenhagen. Although we do not have a final exam, we do have a thesis paper that is due by the end of the semester. Having written a thesis paper for my M.B.A. degree at Alvernia College, I knew it was going to be a challenge. For that paper, my requirements were at least 50 pages in a year. However, for this class, the paper must be at least 20 pages, which must be done in 15 weeks. As an added bonus for taking this class, the thesis can be used to fulfill the upper level writing requirement for graduation. I will let you know more about the class and the paper later this semester.
Knowing the Requirements
Posted by Jon Johnson on Mar 15, 2009
To become a lawyer that is allowed to practice the law in Pennsylvania, we must complete many tasks. One of these tasks is to pass the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) at the required percentage set by the state you will be practicing law in. To learn more about the MPRE please visit the National Conference of Bar Examiners website. You should really consider taking the MPRE after your second year or during your third year. The test is offered four times a year and as of this writing, three locations convenient to those in the Harrisburg area are available. During your second year spring semester, you will most likely take Professional Responsibility. This is an excellent class that will review ethical and Professional conduct of lawyers when dealing with clients, peers and judges. The class so far has given me a good review of the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct as well as leading cases that have modified those rules. Although each state has their own version of rules of professional conduct, they are all now based on the ABA framework. I am currently scheduled to take the exam this summer, so I will let you know how it turns out this coming fall.
The endurance to achieve Consistency
Posted by Jon Johnson on Mar 1, 2009
We are now five weeks into the second semester as 2EDs. As always, the semester is moving quickly and it is an awesome feeling to know that we are almost at the half-way point of our legal education. Every day brings a new challenge that will consistently test your commitment to continuing your legal education in the extended division. To overcome these challenges, you must have the willpower to continue going to class, study and take notes each class, work your full time job and continue a relationship with your family. Consistency is the key. By now, you should have a good handle on what works for you and what does not. This means consistently attending class, taking notes, participating in class and keeping a good outline that will work for you during finals will be your key to success. If you can stay consistent throughout, you have an excellent chance of moving up your GPA each semester. Good Luck!
Here we go again.
Posted by Jon Johnson on Jan 27, 2009
Well the Christmas holiday has come and past. It was a very pleasant and much needed break. I had almost 4 weeks to recoup and get ready for Spring Semester. Three semesters down and five to go!
While I was off, I had time to work on this Blog and study for my certification in the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program that is held at the Harrisburg campus every year. Volunteers provide free income tax preparation assistance to low-income, elderly, and disabled taxpayers as well as to taxpayers for whom English is a second language. VITA assistance covers federal, state and local tax returns. This is a great program that provides a needed service in the community and gives the volunteer valuable experience working with clients. For more information on becoming a volunteer for VITA please follow the link.
Grades have been released for last semester and I did better than expected. Grades normally come out the first few weeks of the next semester. This is primarily because Ninety-five percent of the final exams are in essay form and consists of two or more essay questions. Multiple that by twenty to thirty students per class and then consider each professor on average has two to three classes and the sum is that each Professor has many pages to read and evaluate in a very short time. I have heard from many professors that they would be happy to teach for free, but they would require considerable pay to actually grade exams. So as you are waiting for grades to come out, the next semester is already in full swing. Try not to worry about it and just concentrate on the present.
For Extended Division Students, the second semester of your second year is the first chance you get to choose an elective and decide your own schedule. This semester I am taking Torts II, Civ Pro II, Professional Responsibility, and a seminar on Climate Change Law. This means that I have class on Mondays from 4:00 pm to 10:05 pm, a two hour class on Wednesday and another four hours on Thursday. So far it seems manageable. My only concern is commuting to Harrisburg on Mondays. I have exactly one hour to get from work to the campus via Interstate 78 to 81. It is normally a 40 minute drive so any delays could be a problem. If you will be commuting to the campus, it is always a good idea to talk to your professor at the beginning of the semester to let them know your situation and then they normally will be more understanding if you are actually tardy. However, try not to be a habitual offender. If you find that you are consistently late, then consider taking classes that start a little later or see if you can work out some arrangement with your employer on those days.
Ready for the Holidays
Posted by Jon Johnson on Jan 26, 2009
Well it has been an exciting and fast paced semester. From Con Law to Civ Pro and Property II, I can easily confirm that Constitutional Law is in fact the most challenging class yet, but at the same time, the most enjoyable. When taking Con Law, you must keep up and truly learn the concepts. Keep in mind that there is no right reason or side. But you must be able to articulate and defend the side that you ultimately choose.
We have just finished finals week and I am now heading home for a nice 3 ½ week break to enjoy the holidays with the family. I just came to the realization that Christmas is next week and I have a lot of work and shopping to do yet. See you in the Spring!
Seconds Please!
Posted by Jon Johnson on Jan 25, 2009
So we survived the grueling first year of law school and our second year now begins. We had three long months to rest and catch up with family as well as take care of all the home projects that accumulated over the past year. So now the fun begins, partie deux!
This semester, we are taking Constitutional Law ( my favorite), Civil Procedure I, Legal Methods III, and Property II.
Although the first year was very challenging, this semester is turning out to be challenging in other ways. First, is the amount of increased reading. Easily twice as much as the first year. Also, unlike undergrad study, you are expected to fully remember and use the knowledge that you gained from your first year. One advantage even though the read has intensified is that we now have a basic working knowledge of legal concepts and the unfamiliar terms don’t seem so odd anymore.
The 1ED (1L) Rollercoaster –Is it really that bad?
Posted by Jon Johnson on Jan 2, 2009
Absolutely not! But that does not mean it will be easy. As an evening student, you will quickly find that time management is essential. Right from the start you will be expected to read many cases a week in four different areas of law and be able to discuss the facts of each case, how the particular theory of law applies to the case and why the case turned out the way they did. You will need to balance and use every hour of each day to achieve a maximum benefit. I cannot stress enough how important it is to outline each class each week and do not procrastinate. Keep an eye out for workshops presented by the academic fellows and professors. They are a big help in understanding how to succeed in class and on the finals. Also, when planning your schedule, don’t forget to allot time for yourself and your family. They will appreciate it and you will enjoy think about something other than law school.
Class Preparation – Reading cases takes a certain amount of skill and concentration. Before law school, I considered myself an excellent reader. I could read quickly and retain the information with little effort. But when I began reading cases in Contracts I and Criminal Law, I felt as if I was reading a foreign language. The solution for me was to slow down, learn the concept at the beginning of the chapter and then read the case holding and rational. Then I returned to the beginning of the case and read it again. The bottom line is to learn what you should be reading and then estimate how long it will take to finish a subject. You will quickly find that the information is less intimidating and you will be able to follow along and participate more in class. Find what works for you and stick to it. If what you are doing is not working, change your habits immediately. It makes no sense to waste time. Also, do not be afraid to ask questions in class. More than likely, there are others in your classes that have the same questions.
Before you know it, fifteen weeks pass and finals are here. This is the point where you find whether your time management and preparation has worked for you. If you do it correctly, the reading period before finals should be a time for you to just review the material covered. If you find that you are just beginning to make outlines and organize the subjects covered, you have waited too long. This does not mean you will not do well on the final exams, but it does decrease your chances of doing well on them.
After finals are over, enjoy your time off, you have earned it! There is no need to stress about grades, because they will not be released until mid to late January. So just prepare for the spring semester and when classes start, focus on them. It is also a good idea to meet with your fall semester professors after grades come out to find where you scored points and the areas of exam writing that you need to work on. Most professors are more than willing to meet with you if you ask. When grades do come out, keep in mind that this is law school. You are surrounded by the best and brightest. If you are used to top notch grades and being at the top of the class, be prepared for less than stellar numbers. Don’t lose sight that the standard for excellence is much higher than anything you have ever done before. Keep the faith and do better in the spring semester.
Spring Finals will creep up quick enough and then there is finally a nice long break to recuperate. Law school is tough, but chances are that if you are attending classes at night and working full time, you already have the will power and determination to see it through and you will do well. I had my doubts during the spring semester and I now know that law school will only become the nightmare some suggest it is, only if you let it. Good Luck!
Hi and welcome to my blog!
Posted by Jon Johnson on Dec 20, 2008
Hi and welcome to my blog! My goal for this blog is to inform anyone interested in attending law school what it is like from the perspective of an evening student at Widener University School of Law.
So why do you want to go to law school? I know there are many answers. For some, maybe it is a chance of being a part of a noble profession. Others, maybe a significant pay raise and job security, and some maybe a chance to help others. For myself, that question has a simple answer. Passion! Passion for justice and resolution of life’s problems. The chance of entering a profession that I would look forward doing for the rest of my life.
Putting all the lofty ideas aside, if you are truly considering law school, here are some general tips that may help you.
- Do well on your undergrad degree. Although undergrad GPA is not the only factor law schools look at, the higher the GPA, the better chance you have of getting admitted.
- Determine which law schools you would be interested in attending. – visit www.abanet.org for accredited schools.
- If you are working full time, many schools now offer evening / extended programs.
- Start preparing now to take the LSAT. – visit www.lsac.org for more info.
- Look online or at a local bookstore for study aids on taking the LSAT.
- Be ready to dedicate many hours to reading and attending class.
- Have a good support network. If you are married or have children, discuss with them that this commitment will require a lot of time, which means less time for everyone else.
- If you have questions, ask law school admissions counselors, LSAC, or the ABA / your state / local bar associations. They are generally very eager and willing to help you get the information you need.
- If you have little or no pre-law experience, try to learn some of the common terms used in law / law school. (Case Briefs, Socratic Method, etc.)
- DO NOT READ the book 1L by Scott Turow!
If you are thinking about attending law school in the evening, here are some more specific tips that may help:
- If you are planning on working a full time job plus attend school in the evening, make sure that your employer will be flexible when you need them to be. . (e.g. – special projects, final briefs, mid / final exam weeks). Just be up front with them and most employers will work with you. However, you know your employer and their mentality, so ultimately it will have to be your decision on discussing such matters with them.
- Again, if you have immediate family, discuss with them how they feel about you attending law school and any thoughts or concerns they may have. Involve them in the process. If you visit any open houses, bring them along, so they can talk to admission counselors too.
- Effective time management is essential to succeed. Procrastinators beware! With working a full time job, full time class load, and staying connected to your family, time become very valuable. Know your priorities and stick to them.
- Most important, if you are accepted to a law school take some time off before the fall semester begins and do something fun!