SBA

For those of you who didn't know, I was running for SBA. I don't even remember if I mentioned this in prior posts but I'll tell you about it now. SBA stands for the Student Bar Association. It's pretty much student counsel for law school. I ran mostly because it looks good on a resume but also because in undergrad, if you can call LABI that I didn't get involved as much as I would have liked to. That's because I was always on some kind of disciplina for getting in trouble but we wont get into that now. Well, I ran for SBA and my campaign slogan was "VOTE FOR PEDRO, OR RALPH PEREZ" The first part of that is from the movie Napoleon Dynomite. I recommend it to anyone who has an hour and a half to waste. It's very dumb and very funny. Well I didn't campaign too much. I just wore a shirt that said "VOTE FOR PEDRO OR RALPH PEREZ" Because it's too early in the semester to know anything about anyone one. I just figured if people knew my name, I'd have a chance. Well I made it, on a funny slogan and name recognition. So there you have it folks, you now know a real live senator, an SBA senator, that's what they call us. I think we even get business cards. I'll have my own designed, did you get that Steve, I NEED BUSINESS CARDS. It's Wednesday and I didn't get to explain that on Monday I realized that the honeymoon period in law school is similar to the honeymoon period in marriage, one week. Reading the cases isn't exciting, it's just work. Oh and I've lost 7 lbs. since school started. That's right, 7 lbs. in 2 weeks. If you've got the $35,000 handy and you want to loose some weight, I suggest you come up. Teeter's class is tomorrow, so that's what I'll be doing for the rest of the evening (my evening ends at 1:00am), studying for Teeter. I hope he calls on me tomorrow, I just want to get it out of the way. I look at it as being sent to the electric chair, let's just get my death over with.

Bad Day

Katie was here this past weekend and I'm going to have to figure out how to juggle being a good dad and being a good law school student. Good dad is more important so I'll figure it out but I was a little behind on monday and that translated to me being very behind today. Fortunately I wasn't the only one. Today in class Teeter (that's the tough guy) asked question after question, most of us were giving the wrong answers and finally he yelled at us, "This is unacceptable. You cannot become lawyers if you wont do the work. Don't come back unless you prepared." I felt really bad. I wasn't prepared and I knew it. That's the last real class of the day. I'm glad.

The Summary

It's only been a week but everything I've been told by upperclassmen is true. After only a week, all I think about is the law. I can't go to sleep because I can't stop thinking about the case I just read. When I do fall asleep, I'm dreaming about class or a case that I've just read. A few very important thing happened this week. First, I disagreed with a judge. Now I know that sounds pretty arrogant but this was a ground breaking experience for me and I think that every law school student notices a difference in the way they go about school after they've done it. Let me explain a little. Law school teaches the law by something called the case method. What that means is that we learn the law by reading the law, or in other words, we're learning by seeing the law applied in cases. It's not the easiest way to learn but it's definitely the most effective way to train someone to think like a lawyer. So in the case books that we read, we read judges written by opinions, wait, see how burned out I am in only a week?! We read opinions written by judges about a case that is being appealed. Well I read a case yesterday and totally disagreed with the what the judge wrote. I saw myself going from reading and learning to reading and making a legal argument. We didn't get to the case today but I had to get what I was thinking out of my head so I approached my teacher after class. I explained what I felt were the crucial issues of the case and why I thought that at trial, p. (plaintiff) could have won on the merits of the case (the facts being argued). She applauded my argument and told me I was on the right track. Then she said it, "I'm impressed that you're dissenting (fancy word for disagreeing with majority opinion of the court) from the ct. (court) so soon in your legal education." I walked away feeling really proud of myself. When we discuss cases in small groups before and after class, almost everyone argues the same points made by the ct. we've been encouraged a number of times in class to always question the ct. opinion and not to assume that the ct. is correct but it's not so easy. When you disagree with the ct., you are basically arguing the losing side of the case. So that was a big step so far in my legal education. Another thing that happened that is important only because of it's significance to me and more funny than anything else, happened today at dinner with my parents. Dad ordered ribs and asked the waitress quietly as he likes to do when he's trying to get something free,
"Do yall (how southern) still have the..."
"Seconds?" the waitress answered, as if she could read his mind, "yes, we do."
When Dad was ready for seconds, he waved her over.
"What would you like? Ribs, potato salad and beans?"
Dad wanted all three of course! She took our ticket like the do at Jalisco when you order another lemonade, thinking that it's going to be free and then they charge you, I HATE THAT...
Ok so she's scribbling on the ticket and she walks away. Mom asks if seconds are free and Dad mentioned that he thought so, and what was I doing you might ask, I was reviewing what had just happened and trying to decide if a contract was formed when Dad implied that he wanted free "seconds" and she answered before he could finish as if she knew what he was asking. Would a reasonable man (that's the test for contracts) have interpreted what waitress (now she's the defendant) said as "yes, we still have free seconds." Was that implied? If it was, would she breach that contract by charging us. If she did breach, could we (the plaintiff) recover damages? Could Dad claim intentional infliction of emotion distress for not getting his free seconds? Dad might actually be emotionally distressed. What ct. would I file in, state or federal? Where would we file, Corpus? Oakville? That's the way my mind is starting to work and it's cool, and frightening all at once. Katie's here, we went swimming and she's going to bed. If I can stay up longer than her, I'm going to....
that's right, study. Thanks to those of you who have emailed. And if any of you already have lawyers, you've got 3 years to get rid of them! I'm going to expect you all to help me get my firm off the ground. And work at the firm too! Mom's doing the books, Dad's going to build the building. Steve's going to design my letterhead and business cards. Mario's going to play live music in the office for the people waiting to see me. Ruth is going to sing. Josh is going to be my personal assitant , Richards going to provide my mats, table cloths ect. Celia's going to make personalized refrigerator magnets for my faithful clients. Debbie's going to sell me malpractice insurance, Selena is going to be my legal secretary and Jordan is going to be in charge of refreshments for the clients. Wait, no Jordan will answer the phones. Anyway, I needed a little time to get some thoughts out and do something other than law school. And now, back to law school.

Day 4

I haven't slept more than 5 hours all week. I'm tired, I've got a headache that never seems to completely go away. I constantly feel like I've forgotten something at home, in my truck, in my locker or at the library. I feel like I'm playing a game with law school. I'm losing.

Enough Said...

Torts (a first year law course) starts at 9:30a. The following is the conversation that took place between professor and student at 9:30:01 (that's one second after 9:30). Note the absence of, "Good morning class," from the professor.

Prof. Teeter: Miss Mazer what was the defenses strongest 3 arguments in Vosburg v. Putney

Mazer: Um, the um defense (she was speaking pretty softly but she was also in the front row)

Teeter: Speak up Miss Mazer...

Mazer: The defense....

Teeter: Are you speaking English? Because I can't understand a word you're saying!

Mazer: Their strongest argument was...

Teeter: Who's strongest argument?

Mazer: The defenses strongest argument was the preexisting condition of the plainti . . .

Teeter: (Interrupts her mid sentence) No, No, you obviously need co-counsel.

Class went on like this for 70 minutes. It was great.

The First Day......

Couldn't sleep last night, not at all. I got up this morning about 6:00 and made it to a small little Mexican restaurant down the street from the school at about 7:30. I thought I might be able to look over a case before class. I walked into the restaurant and I couldn't believe how loud the music was. I still read, and could concentrate fairly well. I think this will be my morning spot on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

I was pretty disappointed with my first class, I honestly thought it would be intense. It wasn't. After that class I went to the library to finish up some work for my afternoon classes. I studied in a small room with two other guys from my section. We talked about class, school, the law (we don't know enough to talk intelligently about the law but we tried). I ate calabasa con pollo for lunch, leftovers from yesterday (I'm trying to save money). Class in the afternoon was great, Civil Procedure was really good, most students don't like it but I think I will. My last class, contracts, was great. Our teacher called on students, asked tough questions, it was great! I got home at almost 8 pm and I still have work to do. I'm hoping to be in bed by 11, wish me luck.

I'm Finally Here

Well, I'm finally here. The last two days have been very busy getting a feel of what law school will be like. Orientation started yesterday and was very exciting. During the Dean's address to the students, he commented on a case he had tried in New Mexico and as he spoke I felt an excitement I haven't felt in a long time. I'm very excited at the idea that in three years I could be studying to take the Texas State Bar Exam. It's Friday night now and I'm studying. I've got about 120 pages to read before Monday 50 of those are for one class alone. I'd be lying if I said that I'm as confident as I was before I got here. Part of me is screaming, "Oh my God, what did I get myself into." It's pretty comforting to know I'm not the only person feeling this way. Today, my friend Jennifer asked me if I ever think of calling it off and moving to Mexico. I laughed and then she stared at me without smiling and said, "I'm serious." I think she was. So school officially starts on Monday. We had an opportunity to meet all of our profs (professors) and the hardest one, Teeter, walked in, went to the front of the room and said, "I'm professor Teeter, your assignment is posted, be prepared to hit the ground running on Monday, I wont take up any more of your time," and walked out to all of us laughing. I think we were all really just trying to mask our uneasiness about that class. I started reading one of my assignments in bed last night. It took me about 2 hours to read 12 pages. The baseball game on ESPN was definitely a distraction but I the reading was really difficult. I had my book in one hand, Blacks Pocket Law Dictionary in the other. I had a really hard time following what the other was trying to say. I gave up at about 11:00 and went to bed. My apartment still isn't ready for visitors (sorry mom) but it will be before Monday. I still don't have a desk or a table to eat on so if any of you are feeling generous, send me an email. For those of you which are reading this for the very first time, which is all of you. I thought this would be the easiest way to let my family and friends know what was happening here at school. Check back when you have time. I'll try to post as often as I can. If my phone is off, it's because I'm at school or studying. I'll try to return voicemails and emails as soon as possible. Love you guys!!!!

It's almost time for school

I'm only about 2 weeks away from the beginning of school. I'm about to be a St. Mary's 1L and I still don't think it's hit me yet. I don't think it'll really hit me till I actually sit in a class room and feel what it is really is to be a law student. I can't wait to get to San Antonio and get settled in. I've already moved all (most) of my stuff to my new apartment in the medical center area of San Antonio. My apartments cool, hopefully it will be a nice comfy refuge from school.