Fall 2023
As we approach the last day of class, I have come to realize that these last six months in law school have absolutely flown by. I started in the summer with criminal law, and I am very thankful that I did so. Starting in the summer gave me the opportunity to ease into law school because it was only one class, and I was able to test out different study habits that might or might not work for me. An early start also allowed me to cultivate meaningful friendships that have been a great support as we transitioned into the fall semester with more classes which were, Torts, Civil Procedure, Legal Writing, and Contracts.
This term, I have really enjoyed all my classes for different reasons. Civil Procedure is my longest class of the week, but rightfully so, because we cover all the underlying rules and structures our legal system follows. Torts has been interesting and at times confusing because we have occasionally read cases from the 1800 hundreds and old English is not as easy to read as one would expect. Contracts has been fun because the professor has many movie references and keeps the class engaged with loud outbursts of excitement. Lastly, legal writing has been challenging and a lot of work because we are learning a completely new style of writing that we have never used before. I have heard it gets easier with time.
Outside of classes, our school provides an abundant number of activities and clubs to engage in that can help manage the stress of law school. While my focus this term was on classes, I participated in a few extracurriculars like the ADR Client Counseling Competition, clubs, and networking events. These were great opportunities to get better acquainted with students, staff, and other members of the legal community. My favorite event this term was probably the ADR Client Competition, although 1Ls cannot participate until the spring term, I volunteered to be a client for the participants. Being a client participant allowed me to gain some experience in how to interview clients and learn from the competitors during the interview. Most of these events also take place in the law building and since I spend much of my time on campus it is easy to walk up or down a floor to take a break from studying and engage in the different opportunities.
Next term, I hope to engage in more networking events and participate in the write-on competition for law review which takes place in the spring. For the next week and a half, I am focused on finals!
March 2024
After finals, I finally felt like I could turn my brain off for a few days and decided to watch TV. I started watching Suits at the beginning of the term but did not have time to finish it with all my readings, so it was nice to finally finish the show. During the break, I also spent some time with friends who live in the area and caught up with my family over the phone. I decided to stay in Seattle and got the opportunity to visit with Judge Gipe over the break to observe his docket and get some behind-the-scenes exposure to what a day in the life of a judge looks like. Although the break was four weeks it was way too short and soon enough we were back to school.
Coming back to school was exciting because, after this term, I will officially be done with my first year of law school. This term looks very similar to the last term because contracts and torts classes stay the same, but they increase by one credit so there is more reading. Tort law is the law I did not think I would find an interest in, but I have grown to enjoy the subject because of the many issues it covers. Contracts this term is getting more into the nitty gritty of things so I have taken additional time to understand the material. A new class for me this term is property, and I still do not have a firm opinion on it. My professor is great and makes the information easily digestible with breakout groups, but property has still been a challenging course this term. For legal writing, we are now on our fourth and last memo which I am very excited about. Legal writing takes up so much of my time, that I am looking forward to wrapping up the last memo.
Outside of school, I started volunteering with the Latinx Bar Association at their monthly clinic. Here, I assist with interpreting and the intakes for folks looking for legal help. I started volunteering here at the beginning of the year, and so far, have found the experience rewarding because it puts into use the skills I am learning in school. It also helps me better understand how legal problems are assessed by attorneys and what is affecting our community the most. This term I have also continued connecting with folks I met at networking events whose advice I found very helpful and who have continued to provide support during law school. I am looking forward to spring break in a week, during this time I hope to start prepping for my finals and submitting my application to law review.
May 2024
Wow! Time flies by when you are in law school and what a rollercoaster it has been. It was just a year ago I was getting ready to move to a new city to start school and now in a few days, I will be taking my last final to wrap up the year. Despite the challenges and late nights spent buried in textbooks, I am proud of my growth both academically and personally. I have gained a deeper understanding of the law and its complexities, learning to think critically and analyze cases from various perspectives. Alongside my studies, I have formed lasting friendships with my classmates, bonding over our shared experiences and supporting each other through the tough times.
This term I really enjoyed Torts, we finished reviewing negligence and moved on to product liability. Product liability can be a very complex topic because of the areas it may or could apply to, but our professor made the material digestible. Property law on the other hand was its own monster I was not expecting, but I appreciate the lectures were recorded and that our professor made the material engaging. This term I also joined the Alternate Dispute Resolution Board (ADR). This board focuses on alternative methods of resolving legal issues and puts on competitions for students to participate. These competitions allow students to practice legal skills in different areas like negotiation, arbitration, mediation, and others. I am looking forward to working with a great group of folks to continue the work of our past members. I was also accepted to join Law Review this upcoming year, and I am excited to read, edit, and write scholarly articles.
Looking ahead, I will be working at the Office of the Attorney General this summer learning from their Licensing and Administrative Division. I am very excited for this opportunity to explore an area of law I have not been exposed to yet. Although I am a bit nervous, I am looking forward to applying all that I have learned this year. Most importantly, I am excited to have some time off to enjoy things I want to do and not worry about schoolwork. It is a break I have been looking for these last two weeks. I am off to enjoy beautiful sunny Seattle days!
