Seriously, what are you so diligently recording in your notes? I swear, from the cacophony emanating from your keyboard, I think you must be recording every single word that comes out of the professor’s mouth. Oh, come on now. That student just pulled that out of their butt, and the professor is even hemming and hawing, with a “well… I’m not sure that is what the court was getting at…” and there you are tippity-typing away. Is that exchange really going to help you on the exam? Or are you just recording every word so you can digest it later? That doesn’t seem like a good way to take notes to me, because you seem to be lost in your keyboard and missing the discussion. I could be wrong about that, but when the professor called on you, he had to repeat his question. Not because you didn’t hear it… in one ear and out the fingertips. But you certainly weren’t listening. Oh well, you’ll probably smoke me on exams anyway.

During orientation last week my criminal and legal writing classes actually met, so we did get a “preview” of what’s to come in regular class sessions. Today, we met for regular class, Criminal Law, followed by Legal Writing. It was a complete and utter blast. I am super charged and ready for this semester. I wonder how long this will last?
I did have a personal revelation today, during criminal: I am a gunner. Yes, I’d read the dreaded warnings about gunners and the consternation they cause other law students. I certainly didn’t mean to cause any students anxiety and I sure don’t want to be “that asshole”. I just can’t help it.

When the professor poses a question, my hand just involuntarily creeps up. Not always, there are times when I don’t really get what he’s asking, or genuinely don’t know the answer. But more often than not, I found my hand was raised, and I did get called on. And when I got called on it felt great.

Why did I enjoy it so much? A couple of reasons: first, and most importantly, I wanted confirmation that I was on the right track. Not necessarily validation that I was “right”, but that I understood what was going on in the case as well as what was going on in class. Second, I like the Socratic Method. Yes, I’m a freak. But I think that dance is really great. Today the criminal professor “hammered” on one of my points, and it was fantastic. He actually made me re-examine my stance, analyze the issue a little more, and in the end, I drew a new conclusion that was more appropriate to the case. And I knew why it was, and how my initial impulse was flawed. I’d always feared that the Socratic Method was just a clever guise for torturing and humiliating students, but at least for today, I actually got the oft stated higher goal of learning through questioning.

So, I like speaking in class. And I like the Socratic Method. And I guess that makes me one of the “gunners”. Now, I just help I can avoid being one of the assholes.

Orientation Program: The Legal Assistance Program

Welcome to law school! I’m here to speak with you about the Legal Assistance Program, which provides help to members of the legal profession with substance abuse problems. Alcoholism (and substance abuse) is one of the largest problems facing our profession today. Between 25%-50% of all disciplinary actions taken against attorneys are the result of alcohol and substance abuse problems. Substance abuse is not a moral flaw or a question of character. It is a disease and we treat it as such. It is critical that if you know of a colleague who has an alcohol or substance abuse problem that you do not stand idle by and let it go unchecked. You can come to the Legal Assistance Program confidentially; we can work with you to plan an intervention to get your friend the help they need. Together we can work to help those members of our profession who are struggling with this disease of alcoholism. Thank you.

Now we’d like to make a few announcements: Do not forget the Dean’s cocktail party tomorrow evening featuring hors d’oeuvres and an open beer/wine bar. And the Student Bar Association would like to remind you of the upcoming “social” at [hip local club] two weeks from Friday. $5 cover for the open bar with student I.D.

Today was another day of orientation. Actually, we did have our first legal writing class today, but we didn’t have a first day assignment, so it was easy to ease into the class. I really enjoyed our professor, he seems like a knowledgeable guy and he?s not particularly intimidating. Since I’ve written, edited, been edited, and published before, I’m actually looking forward to legal writing. My “self-editing” can really be improved and I’m anxious to learn a style of writing that is specific to a profession. I can?t tell you how many times we were warned, “Don’t be shocked if you don’t do as well on the first assignments as you hoped. There will probably be some tears.” I say, bring it on, man, bring it on!

I remember when I first started writing technical books; I had such a negative reaction to being edited. I think all beginning writers have this idea that there prose is sacrosanct. When they face the red pen of the editor, they bristle at every cut or suggestion. Well, now I’ve written enough books to know that a good edit is what makes the difference between a decent writer and a great writer. An editor isn?t as married to the text. They can more easily cut extraneous information and often they can help reorganize the text to help it flow and be an easier read. If legal writing is going to help teach me the skill to be a better self editor, I?m all for it. Then my writing will be in even better shape when I pass it along to my editors and peers, and when I get their comments back then I’ll be able to take my writing even further!