image by flickr user Louise Python
Attention 3Ls!
The Georgia Office of Bar Admissions no longer requires your paperwork to be notarized — so rather than offer you free notaries as we’d originally planned, we’ll be offering free coffee instead. Stop by the Conference Room during the following times for a free jolt of caffeine.
Where: Library Conference Room (Room 101)
When:
Wednesday, Nov. 12, 10 am-2 pm
Monday, Nov. 17, 10 am-1 pm
Monday, Nov. 17, 5-6 pm
image by Flickr user julesandjoe
Woohoo! So you’ve pretty much gotten done with another (or, for 1Ls, your first) semester of law school! Now just for acing those final exams. Before you get there though, here are some tips for making the most of your time and for enjoying a delicious and (relatively) nutritious Thanksgiving dinner!
First, for the classic turkey. Skip the struggle and mess of preparing a turkey and just pick up a traditional Thanksgiving day bird from your local Publix supermarket. Your kitchen and any dinner guests will thank you. And with all the extra time you save, you can focus on outlining, finishing up your Lawyering: Foundations memo or maybe even something more recreational like football. Hey, it is called Thanksgiving B-R-E-A-K.
With all these delicious dishes, I’m sure your Thanksgiving dinner will be top notch, and hopefully, you’ll be able to use all the time you save to start getting on your study grind.
Don’t forget to be thankful for all the food, friends, family and wonderful opportunities (like being in law school J ) you have in your life.
Wishing all of you the happiest and restful of Thanksgivings.
Here are a few suggestions of some of the things that should be on your radar as exams and winter break draw near.
For the scared 1Ls: Yes, your first exam period in law school is intimidating. Fortunately, everyone else in your class feels exactly the same way. Here are my personal recommendations to help you better prepare for exams.
For the overworked 2Ls: You’re over the first year hump, but many of you are now trying to fight off anxiety of finding an internship position for the summer. Here are some tools to help you throughout the job application process.
For the “bored” 3Ls: Due to the old law school adage, “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,” many 3Ls believed the third year would be their easiest year in law school. I know plenty of peers who disagree with that notion. While classes maybe easier to prepare for, there are many peripheral tasks to complete, specifically the bar exam application.
Good luck on exams and see you in the library!
Study space will be in high demand as we get closer to the exam season. The study rooms located in the Law Library are some of the best places prepare for exams if you prefer group study. The study rooms come in several sizes, include whiteboards, and have hardware for you to hook your laptop to a projector. While you can always go to or call the circulation desk to reserve a study room, it is generally more efficient to book at study room online using the Law Library Study Room Booking System.
By using this system, you can book a study room while away from the library and then simply pick up the keys from the Circulation Desk. The online system allows you to reserve a study room up to 7 days in advance. Please be aware that only groups of 2 or more law students can reserve a study room. Additionally, to avoid forfeiture of a study room, 2 members of the group must be present within the first 10 minutes of the reservation. For more policies, see the Policies webpage.
To reserve a study room online, follow the steps below.
1. Go to the Law Library’s homepage and click on Book a Study Room.
2. Using the calendar at the top of the screen, select the day you would like to reserve a room. Next to each room you will see how many people are recommended for a room (Ex. Room 120 (6) means 6 people). Click on the time for the room you would like to reserve. At this point, you will need to log-in with your Campus ID and Password.
3. Using the form, provide your name, the names of your group members, and the reservation times. Do not forget to click save!
4. Lastly, when your reservation time is due, stop by the Circulation Desk to pick up the key. At this time you can also check out markers for the whiteboard. If you need to cancel a reservation, just stop by the Circulation Desk or call at 404-413-9100.
By this time in the semester, if you have heard it once you have heard it a thousand times, start your research with a secondary source. Easier said than done, right? With a library full of treatises and law review articles, it can be hard to nail down which source is the best source to use when beginning a research project. Believe it or not, one of the best sources (at least I think) to start your research with is the tried-and-true legal encyclopedia.
Now, this is not your parents’ encyclopedia – or maybe it is if your parents were attorneys. Vaguely similar to the encyclopedia you used to write grade school papers, the legal encyclopedia provides users with a concise overview of a variety of legal topics. Name one other resource in the library you can use that defines the basic elements of assault, explain consideration, and cites to primary sources? A legal encyclopedia is a treasure trove (not in the legal sense) of information. And the best thing about it is you can access it online or in print.
Popular Legal Encyclopedias
flickr photo by debagel
I know that no one here at the College of Law wants to believe it, but there will come a time when you need legal resources and not have (free) access to the panaceas that are Westlaw Next, Lexis Advance, or even Bloomberg Law. But fear not, I am going to expose you brief glimpse of the world of free legal resources (well, for Georgia at least).
Statutory Law
Case Law
Administrative Law
Well, there you have it; a rather brief and superficial overview of some free Georgia legal resources that are available to you. On a final note, always keep in mind that the ultimate free legal resource is one that you probably spend a lot of your time studying in already, yeah that’s right, the Law Library.
Image by flickr user networkosaka
In honor of ABA’s Pro Bono week (Oct. 19-25), here is some information about the many opportunities in which you can gain hands-on experience helping your community while still in law school.
In order to help you gain real world experience prior to your swearing-in ceremony, GSU offers a number of clinics open to 2Ls and 3Ls. Many of these clinics will provide you an opportunity to work towards graduating with Highest Distinction through the Pro Bono Recognition Program.
Click on the links below for information about each clinic:
GSU Clinic and Experiential Opportunities Comparison Chart 2014
GSU Bankruptcy Assistance & Practice Program 2014
GSU Fundamentals of Law Practice 2014
GSU Health Legislation & Advocacy I & II 2014
GSU Health Law Partnership HeLP Clinic 2014
GSU Investor Advocacy Clinic 2014
GSU Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic 2014
GSU Capital Defender Clinic 2014
GSU Urban Fellows Program 2014
Links that may interest you:
image by flickr user blmiers2
As fall strikes Atlanta, with cool winds blowing away the long summer days and bringing us a cornucopia of pumpkin flavored everything, from our coffees to tree leaves, students in the law school may be feeling trapped, overwhelmed, overworked, or a variety of these and a dozen or so other emotions.
Well, at least for the 1Ls and us 2Ls.
3Ls are either still in bed or out golfing, so for all intents and purposes they can be considered outside the scope of this blog post and in some far off fantasy world where coming to the law school 5x a month is not only socially acceptable but expected.
For the rest of us and our complementary Boeing 757 of emotional baggage, we still may need the rare or occasional or periodic or frequent or … ok, ok, the daily reminder of why we chose to embark on this journey and whether or not it is all worth it.
To address these constant doubts, I think it helpful and, in fact, prudent for us to take a step back and look at things from a larger perspective.
First, before the worry and stress cause us too much grief, take this quote from Robin Williams’ beloved movie, Jack, where the titular character, a 17-year-old in the body of an elderly man due to his suffering from an exaggerated form of an aging disorder, says simply in his valedictorian speech:
“Please don’t worry so much. Because in the end, none of us have very long on this Earth. Life is fleeting. And if you’re ever distressed, cast your eyes to the summer night when the stars are strung across the velvety night. And when a shooting star streaks through the blackness turning night into day, make a wish. Think of me. Make your life spectacular. I know I did.”
What a beautiful quote from a beautiful soul. And true as well, life IS fleeting. We should all take the opportunity to make the most of our time here. Far too much of the world is engulfed in conflict or poverty or situations of dire need for us to be killing ourselves over the difference between a B+ or A- in one professor’s class, in one university’s eyes. Not only can this subjective determination not accurately be determined by an outsider, but at the end of the day (namely our days) we will not be regretting having studied too little but rather having lived too little.
Not that these two things are mutually exclusive. Much of our time in law school should be cherished as a life experience we are unlikely to relive. Such experiences are not only essential to making us stronger as individual people but are a constant reminder of our humanity and our mortality; two concepts that link us all as a species. To remember our own is to remember that of those around us and that is the essence of the human spirit.
Far from being soul-crushing or joy-killing, law school is, rather, liberating. While we all may have different stories, I know that many of us share sentiments, likely stemming from our embodiment of the human spirit and strengthened in our time in law school, of wanting to use our study of law to make a difference in the world. As such, our legal education is taking us one step close to achieving that goal and giving us the tools we need to start our endeavors. While we will encounter great hurdles and obstacles, these struggles – whether they are writing a memo or taking an exam or being called on in class – are actually opportunities for us to showcase our talent and character. We would do well to remember these lessons outside the classroom as well.
As the Muslim Imam, Ali ibn Abi Talib, said, “Do not let your difficulties fill you with anxiety; after all it is only in the darkest nights that the stars shine most brightly. ”
If and when difficulties do arise, seize the moment for what it is, an opportunity.
So for now, sit back, enjoy the crisp fall air and all the pumpkin colors, lattes, and pastries as you prepare for final exams, and the opportunity to shine brightly together as a school, and in the future, as people.
It’s October, which means the Supreme Court of the United States is back in business. The Court started hearing oral arguments on Monday, October 6th. The following are a few helpful resources for those interested in keeping up with the latest term of the Court.
For those interested in learning more about the Court, the Law Library has several books on the Court:
For years, two of the countries largest professional sporting organizations, the National Football League (NFL) and Major League Baseball (MLB), have taken an individual case-by-case based approach to handling domestic violence incidents and allegations. On the other hand, the National Basketball Association (NBA) can impose a minimum 10-game suspension as well as mandatory counseling for convictions under their collective bargaining agreement.
The case-by-case approach taken by the NFL and MLB is currently facing a great deal of scrutiny, as many people believe that the leagues have historically taken a soft stance on the players and these incidents.
For example, in 2012 the Milwaukee Brewers did not suspend or fine reliever Francisco Rodriguez after he was arrested and charged for domestic violence. In another case, the Seattle Mariners suspended pitcher Julio Mateo for 10 days after he was arrested in a 2007 domestic incident with his wife, which he reportedly punched, choked and bit. In February of this year, the NFL initially suspended Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice for two games after he was arrested and charged with simple assault for an incident in which he punched his then fiancée, now wife. In September, the NFL suspended Ray Rice indefinitely and the Baltimore Ravens released him after videotape of the incident surfaced online.
Over the summer, national media attention intensified and looked critically at how the NFL handled their domestic violence incidents. This led Commissioner Roger Goodell to introduce a new league-wide domestic violence policy. Under the new policy, a domestic violence violation of the personnel conduct policy will result in a “suspension without pay of six games… with consideration given to mitigating factors, as well as a longer suspension when circumstances warrant.” While the “second offense will result in banishment from the NFL; while an individual may petition for reinstatement after one year, there will be no presumption or assurance that the petition will be granted.”
Currently the Commissioner of MLB, Bud Selig, is in discussions with the players’ union to create a comprehensive league-wide policy on domestic violence.
See the following for additional information:
The Integrity of the Game: Professional Athletes and Domestic Violence
The Blackacre Times 
You must be logged in to post a comment.