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Res Gestae Law School History and Publications
2006 Vol. 56, No. 7, January 24, 2006 University of Michigan Law School
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Vol. 56 No.7 January 24, 2006
Write This Down, Poindexter: 3Ls and Profs Give Note Taking Tips
By Bria LaSalle. and the professor said (in the ea r, through verbatim can leave one confused when Andrea Hunt the brain, out the fingers); 3) when it co mes time to ma ke an outline. reviewing, I find it helpful to have the s the newsemes ter gets fully professor's co mments when I have a Ot hers are mo re selective in what they underway and Fa ll grades better understanding of the material." write down during class. Talia Dubovi begin to ad vises that "notes are tri , you may iiiii;]l!l'!=:l�:j;;:---.:2iii�/����iliiJi�=_,-...,., better if yo u actually think find yo urself armed about what yo u write with new resolve do wn. They are also mo re to take better notes, manageable at the en d of participate more, and the semester-you have study harder. Which less to read through." approach should yo u take? RG asked 3Ls Damon Lewis an d professors to ask recommen ds selectivity what ha s wo rked in preparing notes before fo r them, an d what class as well. "Trying to advice they have fo r over-prepare a lengthy law students looking brief of ea ch ca se before to fine-t une their co ming to class is a waste academic machine. of time. Chances are yo u'll probably fo cus on the When asked about wrong things. I write a few note-taking, the 3L brief senten ces about the
responses fell on a While some students take near-verbatim lecture notes, others opt for a more facts, a senten ce about the broad spectrum, ranging passive, nigh-subliminal approach. big issue, and a paragraph from taking almost no notes during class about the holding. Then I fill in the rest to transcribing the professor's every A key component of the stenographer's as it comes up in class." wo rd. approach is on-going review of both the assigned reading material an d in So me st udents prefer to use class "My method is the stenogra pher's class notes. Saving a la rge bundle of time to so lidify the informat ion they've approach: I type down everything the class tran scriptions until the en d of assimilated from the readings an d notes pro fessor says," reports Richard Lee. the semester creates a daunting task of they've prepared outside the classroom. "This wo rks fo r me because: 1) it fo rces so rting ri�C9J."\QeJ1S�P U!ili-1�� bU �cP ·· me to pay attention; 2) it makes me in fo nmti lc'Me �lt � t'f.ef, think (nominally, anyway) about what that taking\ M Ndo�n the professor's wo rds CONTINUED on Page 19 JAN 2 5 Z006 2 �es (�eshte • iTJmm«r� 24, 200fi 21\ts (1?)ts±at Editorial: First-Day Reading 3£llYl Sfi. }ITo. 7 �nifmsit� ll'f �id1igan 1Jlaw �clroll'l Board Should Be Online
Editor-i11-CI1ief ve< the bawmetc< of student its students to remain in e-mail contact to Alike Afwph_v body needs and desires, the receive course announcements. Also, as �'J[lawopen] e-mail listserve was the recent heated debate over basement Executive Editor: ab · arly this month with requests for bulletin boards suggests, display space 1\Iatt Nolan homework. This was not masochistic is at an absolute pren1ium. Wasting students asking for more reading, but of valuable wall space on a board that is only Alanaging Editor: dutiful students trying to findout what marginally useful for a few days out of Steven Boender reading had already been assigned. the year seems either an inefficient use of resources or a stubborn bow to tradition. Conlributing Editors: Before the first day of class, students Patrick Bany, Adam Blumenkrantz, must learn the first day's reading We understand and appreciate deference Dan Clad;;, Antonia Eliason, assignment in one of several ways. to tradition; after all, we're using the same Diana Geseking, Anne Gonion, The traditional method is checking the obscure name for our publication that it A/itch Holzrichte�; Andrea Hunt, bulletin board outside of where had in 1898. If ulta-traditionalists insist on Nate Ku11is, Bria LaSalle, Liz Polizzi, 120 HH x a physical bulletin board, we reconm1end Beverzv Sclmeidn; 1\ fiche lie Shwpe, each cl ass is assigned a 3" 5" card. Jay Suniukowski, Kim T110mpson Printed on that card is the first day's that the law school set up an internet reading assignment and any quick facts camera and broadcast the board live on about that class. By the first day of class the web, allowing st udents, many of Res Gestae is published biweekly during the school this semester, only about one-third of whom spend summers and breaks away year by students of the UniversitY ofMichigan Law classes had a reading assigmnent posted from Hutchins, to view their reading SchooL Opinions expressed in bylined articles on this board. assigm11entsonline. are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the editorial staffArticles with contact infonnation in ita!ics at the end of the Another way students might learn We kid, of course. That said, the bulletin m1icle or "submitted by'' in the byline are opinion a class's first reading assignment is board must yield to progress. The "wailing pieces. not factual news stmies, and the opinions wall," where students used to see their contained therein are not necessarily reflective through an e-mail, generally sent by a of the opinions of the editorial staff Res Gestae Professor's secretary, to alist of students semester grades posted by exam ID, has articles will occasionally contain adult language enrolled in the course. been replaced by the mucl1 more genteel, if and are not intended f()r readers under 18. A11icles quirky,Wolverine Access system. There's may be reprinted without pem1ission. provided that Yet another way is through the no reason why the same cmmot happen the mrthor rmdRes Gestae arecredited and notified. Res Gestae welcomes submissio11s and letters to inclusion of a syllabus in a coursepack with first-day assignments. the editor. Submissions may be made via email, that students can buy before classes start. preferably as an MS Word attachment. Letters This option is made even less efficient The school should establish a web page, of the editor nmst be clearly m1d unambig110s ly since, often, students don't know if a publicly accessible, with a posting of the marked "Letter to the Editor.·· Res Gestae reserves the right to editall submissions and letters to editor class has a coursepack until they check first reading assigmnents and, if available, in the interes1 of space. a separate bulletin board in the Reading a syllabus for each course. Students could Room. Worse still, a coursepack may not not only learn the reading assignments Mailing address: actually contain the syllabus. of all classes in one area, but tl1ey could Res Gestae University of Michigan Law School also survey the co urses in more detail 625 South State St. For students who are on a waitlist or than allowed by the space-restricted Ann Arbor. MI 481 09 not enrolled in a class, they must ask two-paragraph descriptions posted on the their friends or place themselves at the Course Description List. Web Site Address: http://students.law.um ich.edu/rg dubious mercy of [lawopen]. If this all seems inefficient to yo u, you may be Compiling this list would be, admittedly, Office: right. We have some ideas to help smooth another task for a busy administrative 116 Legal Research the pre-first day of class co mmunication staff. But the idea of a comprehensive for students and faculty. list of assignments for courses is not as foreiS'll as it may seem. A book list
------The assignment bulletin board, simply, for each semester is already posted has to go. It is underutilized and obsolete [email protected] at a school that all but explicitly requires CONTINUED on Page 21 �cs (tf}cshtc • JJ;:muaq:.! 24, 2006 3 South MricanJustice Gives MLK Talk
By Antonia Eliason in the U.S. It was in 1963 at the centenary and iden ti fy shortcomings, engaging ® of the Emancipation Proclam.ation that in national debate to determine how n January 16, in celebration King made his historic "I have a dream" to achieve their goals. Justice Mo kgoro ot_ Martin Luther King Jr. speech. As Justice Mokgoro said, "those compared this to the United States ten Day, stu dents and faculty wo rds uttered by MLK still resonate years after the birth of the civil rights fi lled 250 Hutchins Hall to hear Justice n1ore than 40 years later." It is now movement, when Martin Luther King Jr. Yvonne Mo kgoro speak gave his "Where do we about South African go from here" speech civil rights and law in in 1967. In this speech, the 21st Century and King took time to reflect its comparison to the on the state of equality progress of American in the United States, civil rights. saying that much had already changed - "ten The firstblack wo man years before, Negroes to beco me a member were <�!most invisible to of the Consti tu tiona! the larger society ....bu t Court of South today, civil rights is a Africa, Justice Yvonne dominating issue in every Mo kgoro is currently state." In spite of a decade visiting the University of significant progress, of Michigan Law however, the problem School and co-teaching was far from solved. Constitutionalism in South Africa. She has Justi ce Mo kgo ro taught at universities in 250HH was standing room only for Justice Mokgoro's speech. pointed out that more South Africa, the U.K., the than two hundred years U.S. and the Netherlands, and has served wide! y believed that America has fo und after the adoption of the U.S. Consti tution on the panel of Conm1onwealth judges, consensus and commi tted itself to the and more than fo rty years after the "I have reviewing pro visions of the Kenyan idea that all people are equal irrespective a dream" speech, the sort of equal society Consti tution go verning the judiciary. of race and creed. en visioned by King is still a distant ideal fo r America. Justice Mokgoro began by highlighting When So uth Africans finally adopted that on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, their constitution in 1996 they declared To day, Mo kgo ro said, Dr. King's we commemorate Dr. King and the "We the people of South Africa... adopt statements resonate in South Africa. In her legacy of his dream. King's dream gives this constitution as the supreme law of opinion, when one interprets Dr. King's us the oppo rtunity to reflect on the the Republic so as to heal the divisions ideas in the way he articulated them, one contemporary legacy of that dream on of the past and establish a society based is led to believe that the ideal he had fo r co untries including the United States. She on socialju stice an d fundamental human his country and his people is no different continued with a further conm1emorative rights ." The goal of the new South from what South Africa desires. Almost note: that we also should pay tribute to African constitution is to build a united twelve years into their new democratic the contribution of Rosa Parks, since it and democratic So uth Africa. Their system, the South Africans can, like King, was her refusal to give up her seat on the commitment to this go al, according to look back and say they have achieved bus that stirred the resulting movement Mo kgo ro, is exemplified by the decision much. through which Martin Luther King Jr. was to grant amnesty to apartheid supporters chosen. Justice Mo kgoro then called fo r a as a way to heal divisions gi ven the According to Justice Mo kgoro, the mo ment of silence. lingering impact of apartheid on the U.S. still faces one of the wo rld's most people of South Africa. disturbing challenges- that ofna rrowing Following this tribute, Mo kgoro the gap between the wealthy and the poor. co mpared the impact on true equality In 2004, South Africa celebrated ten It is this gap that the President of South and social justice made by the shuggle years of democracy. Many challenges still Africa criticizes when describing South against apartheid in So uth Africa versus lay ahead, and at various levels ofsociety that made by the civil rights movement So uth Africans had to acknowledge CONTINUED on Page 22 4 ,3Rcs (!i)cshtc • Wmtunr� 24, 2006 Summer Holiday in Cambodia:
It's Not Just a Job, It's an Adventure
By Anne Gordon to get out, and the opportunity cost of that and helped the Cambodian government adventure is going to skyrocket as soon write better laws to help preserve forests. 7� aw students are not known for as you hit graduation. Have something And I traveled to remote regions of the �JJ beingparticularly adventurous. to talk about in interviews other than country,spending hours in the "Southeast 1 We've chosen a pretty straight, your Legal Practice memos. Don't worry Asian squat" on the ground in thatch rel, y predictable path for ourselves about a writing sample; get great pictures huts, listening to village elders tell stories in becoming lawyers; our grandmothers instead. about their land and their history. After must be so proud. Because hours, I got to hang out with an really,let' s face it: most of us amazing group of Cambodians, are anal retentive, neurotic, Canadians, Italians, French and well, in the words of one Indonesians, Aussies, and even of my favorite movies, typical some pretty cool Americans. "indoor kids." And I even had a weekly singing gig in a nightclub with Those who know me, know a Filipino band -THAT doesn't that I'm constantly trying happen to every summer law to stir things up, and that I intern,let me tell you. ten d to encourage people to break out of this mold. We And this was not just my job. were all interesting people Others on theprogram got to do once, and for some reason similarly amazing things, and becoming law students has really have a hand in shaping a sucked the life out of us. developing country. Still other Here, law is too often a vehicle Anne Gordon, 2L, negotiating a settlement in an open air students have gone to Uganda, conference room, Rattanakiri Province, Northern Cambodia for moneymaking instead of Yugoslavia, South Africa, and justice, status quo instead of innovation. throughout Asia, and they will all tell you So here's my advice, particularly to I am in a constant battle to subdue my to follow your heart and your passport. the lLs, as job-hunting season quietly ty pe-A personality, and as such, I chose Future employers think it's fabulous; it looms: to go to Cambodia last summer. I was gives you great stories to tell; and most of considering a job at a prestigious New all, you'll never regret not having really Go away. Go far, far away. York organization, which sounded great gone for it when you had the chance. on paper, but would have had me on Lexis You have the rest of your lives to sit in "about 85% of my swmner," they told me So yes. Go. Learn to speak a new offices and collect writing samples and over the phone. As I paused to quell the language, drink new kinds of beer. pad your resume and eat boxed lunches. bile spilling up into my esopha&>us, my And, most of all, don't lose sight of your Most of you are probably not going to get grant fr om the Cambodia progrmn at the uniqueness here in law school - or that a firm job next summ.er anyway, because Law School cm11ein, m1d I was saved. Off thought you once had that you could seriously, what do you really know after I went to Phnom Penh. chm1ge the world. You'll have a fm1tastic first year? You've taken Contracts, but do time, you'll gain an appreciation for ( a11d you have any idea how to actually look at Don't let anyone tell you that you won't a more realistic perspective of) being back one? Yeah, yeah, it's "unconscionable." get a worthwhile legal job overseas - you at school, and you'll regain a sense of That won't get you $30 an hour, that's just have to know where to look. I, for one, yourself in relation to the world around for dmm1 sure. This is your last chance worked at a public interest law finn where you. It's in there somewhere. You might at freedom, your cage is open. Run. we litigated cases on behalf of indigent just have to go a little farther, these days, RUN!!! farmers who had their land seized by to find it. the govermnent. The Kyllo decision had Do somethingthat's going to look even a direct impact upon our case strategy, Anne Gordon is a 2L. E-mail comments better on your resume: go somewhere whid1 was disappointing but exciting. I about this article to [email protected]. crazy and do something awesome. coordinated with representatives from There's an adventurous side of you dying donor govemments across the worl d, • �es (Jg)estae • ]anuarJ;t 24, 2006 5 Take Advantage of Public Service Activities
By MaryAnn Sarosi San Francisco where she represented 1Ls because lLs are at a different point INC on land conservation transactions in the process. We will have a panel ou probably pass by my office and general legal matters. Professor for them on March 28th (see below). in Hutchins Hall every day. Roach's other legal experience includes lSometimes the door is open serving as an associate attorney at Part II in the Fellowship Series will be an etimes I'm squirreled away Morrison & Foerster LLP in their on Friday, February 10 and is entitled, trying to figure out ways to bring to life commercial real estate group in San "Fellowship Stories". For this session, a career in public interestor government. Francisco, California andas an associate we've invited back three '0 4 grads Clearly one of the ways is through our attorney at Miller, Starr & Regalia in who are currently doing public interest panels and workshops. their real estate and transactional fellowships and an '05 grad who will be group in Walnut Creek, California. doing a Skadden fellowship beginning This programming doesn't begin with in September 2006. They will share me- it begins with my daily contact with Amy Han-veil Sankaran, '01, joined their insights into their application you. With the student that stops and the Michigan Law School Admissions process, tips on how to improve your chats with me in front of room 100, or Office in July 2005. Prior to that, Amy chances of obtaining a fellowship and the group that I run into out in the quad, was a law clerk to the Honorable their experiences during law school or the members of a student group that Arthur J. Tarnow of the United States that helped them land a fellowship. I meet with in my office. That's where District Court for the Eastern District Students can also sign up individually I learn about the issues and topics of of Michigan, a litigation associate at with the fellows for 15-minute sessions interest to the public service community Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, i1mnediately following this workshop. here. So, next time you have an idea for LLP in Washington, D.C., and, most Sign up sheets are posted on the OPS future progranu11ing, stop me in the hall recently,a staffattorney for the Children's bulletin board on January 27 after the first or knock on my door. Law Center in Washington, D.C., Fellowship workshop (first come/first representing foster parents and relative served). Again, this session is geared The Winter Semester Lineup caretakers who wanted to adopt children toward 2Ls and 3Ls. from the abuse and neglect system. For the first time, we have organized The fellows are: a fellowship series of workshops to OPS and OPIS are doing a three-part prepare 2Ls and 3Ls for the fellowship finandal program. Part I is on January Marisa Bono - Skadden Fellowship season. There will also be a fellowship 24 and is entitled Public Service Students' at MALDEF (beginning in 2006) panel for 1Ls later in the semester to help Creative Ways to Minimize Law School them prepare for post-grad fellowships. Debt. This program focuses more on Julimma Lee- Southern Poverty Law We also have two installments of the minimizing debt while in school. Parts Center Fellowship Inspiring Paths Speakers Series where II and III will focus on public service we bring in alumni in public interest or students' finances after graduation (dates Monica Saxena - Equal Justice Works government to talk about their careers TBD). Fellowship at tl1eLaw yers Conm1itteefor to advise students on their career paths. Civil Rights The Fellowship Series will begin The first Inspiring Paths talk was on on Friday, January 27th with Amy Myers - Skadden Fellowship at Tuesday January 17th with Professor "Fellowship lOl."This is an overview of Women Empowered Against Violence Dana Roach '99 and Amy Harwell the fellowship process and is desi!j'1led Sankaran. '01. If you didn't attend, you to help 2Ls (and 3Ls who are doing The marchto fellowships continues with can hear it at: http://www.law.umich. clerkships) prepare for the upcoming a visit on March 16 by Susan Butler Plum. edu/cu rrents tude n ts/Pu b licServi ce/ fellowship "season". We will review Susan Butler Plum is thefou nding director workshops.htm. the tools to use to identify fellowships, of the Skadden Fellowship Program
giveL 'vou a timeline to follow and discuss having started it in 1989. We've invited Dana Roach, '99, is a visiting clinical considerations and protocols involved in her to talk to you about the fellowship, the assistant professor at the Law School's the application process. 3Ls who went application process, and to listen to your Legal Assistance for Urban Communities through the fellowship process begi1ming questions about the program. Clinic (LAUC). Prior to joining the last Spring will describe their experiences LAUC, she served as a regional attorney and share some of the dos and don'ts that at The Nature Conservancy (INC) in they learned. This is not designed for CONTINUED on Page 23 Jf\cs (�cstuc • J'Jauunru 24, 2006 Attractive Nuisance: Introducing the Poetry of Hart Crane
By Jay Surdukowski endures. It's a poignant loss, peculiarly American in its commemorations and his week's poem is by early standoffish modernism. W20th Century poet Hart Crane. I have selected one of the six Crane's poetry is intensely di fficult parts of a longer poem sequence called at times-almost all the time, in "Voyages": fact. "Voyages V."is one of his more accessible-though perhaps only just.
Voyages V. The speaker and his lo ver are in a coo ling part of a relationship-perhaps a fight,
Meticulous, past midnight in clear rime, perhaps the start of a separation-yet
Infrangible and lonely, smooth as though cast it brims with eros. The meter mimics
Together in one merciless white blade- the ebb and flow of the sea, of heart
The bay estuaries fleck the hard sky limits. poundings. A favorite line has always been: "h1 all the argosy of yo ur bright hair
-As if too brittle or too clear to touch! I dreamed I Nothing so flagless as this
The c.1bles of our sleep so swiftly filed, piracy." There is a kinship with the high
Already hang, shred ends from remembered mo dernism of the sober Wallace Stevens stars. but at the same ti me a scent of visceral
One frozen trackless smile ... What words lust. The layers of meaning come through
Can strangle tlus deaf moonlight? For we rich and varied-if yo u wo rk at it, if yo u The Danish sailor Emil Opffer before the romance them, learn them, know tl1em.
Are overtaken.Now no cry, no sword Brooklyn Bridge; Hart Crane's two great loves. Consider tl1e word "argo sy,"mean ing a Can fasten or deflect this tidal wedge, of great mischief in elementary Latin fleet of ships, to describe the multitude Slow tyranny of moonlight, moonlight loved courses with his poetic message to male of blonde hairs on the lover's head, and And changed . "There's lovemaking as an act of piracy, a lawless rivals found in XVI: pedicabo ego vos et taking. It continues the sea metaphor for irrumabo. Crane had this audacity as well, Nothing like this in the world," you say, the closest male equivalent in American the relationship but is also rewarding is 1-:nowingI cannot touch your hand and look when we know the backstorv to these poetry until perhaps Frank O'Hara. J Too, into that godless cleft of sky poems is Crane's intensely physical and brief lo ve affair with a Danish merchant Where nothing turns butdead sands flashing. Crane, like F. Scott Fitzgerald, ravaged hi s nerves by having a sawed-off marine sailor. Indeed, "argosy" also "-And never to quite understand!" No, shotgun consciousness-the universal means a large merchant vessel. In all the argosy of your bright hair I dreamed condition was connected to his body Not lung so flagless as tlus piracy. like vein works. He was violently bound A poet is always losing, even in the up in his age-its bursting, clattering, moment of having. Writing is want. And But now blasting achievements, but also its brutal for few is this more true than Hart Crane Draw in your head, alone and too tall here. industrial realities. Many critics say it in the six poems of "Voyages." Your eyes already in the slant of drifting foam; killed him. Mo st famously, Crane was Your breath sealed by the ghosts I do not Walt Whihnan's inheritor in celebrating Like Edna St. Vincent Millay, Sylvia know: tl1e distinctly American and individualist Plath, Ro bert Lowell, John Berryman, Draw in your head and sleep the long way ethos, openly defying the American-in and Anne Sexton (to name a few), home. exile T.S . Eliot with an alternative myth Crane's biography often towers in the to "The Waste Land." Crane's boo k imagination. There are as many fiery Robert Lowell proclaimed in a poem length poem, The Bridge, was based on anectdotes about Crane as there are at mid-centu.ry that Crane was a modern the majesty of the Brooklyn Bridge. Eliot cables suspending the Brooklyn Bridge he Catutlus. Catullus wa s the eminent saw modernity and called it bad. Crane adored: Crane blasting hi s Victrola at full "fucketeer playboy" and troublemaking vo lume in order to write; Crane crashing reveled in it and called itgo od. Eliot won poet of Rome, the bane of buttoned-up that round in poetry, suffice to say. But it CONTINUED on Page 21 lawyer Cicero's existence and the source is partly in its "failure" that The Bridge 2Rcs (tfi cshtc • 3]mmnrn 24, 2006 Admissions A.D. Shares Her Career Path, Thoughts on Public and Private Practice
By Michelle Sharpe Do you think it made a differencethat get a job." You can explain it and you can you didn't take a year off? do it, but it's much harder. my Harwell Sankaran, '01, is the Assistant Director of Law My dad's a lawye1� so I talked to him That being said, when I first got here, I School Admissions. She joined about that very issue. When I told him, did feel a bit out of place. There were lots th 1 g m Law School Admissions Office "''m thinking about taking a year off," of others who came straight from college, in July 2005. Prior to that, Amy was a law he said, "To do what? You want to be but that is not what l noticed at first. I felt clerk to the Honorable Arthur J. Ta rnow a lawyer, why not go and be a young like the main character in Legally Blonde of the United States District Court fo r the lawyer?" He suggested that if I had for the first few days, especially during Eastern District of Michigan, a litigation something in mind to do, then fine, but orientation when everyone goes around associate at Skaddcn Arps in Washington, otherwise, I should just head to law the group and says what they did prior D.C., and, most recently, a staflattorneyfor school. Looking back, I don't regret that to law school. Reese Witherspoon says, the Children's Law Center in Washington, decision at all, because I didn't have a "Well, I was president of my sorority." D.C., representing fo ster parents and .------�And I wasn't in a sorority, but I came relative caretakers who wanted to adopt straight from college and I worked at children from the abuse and neglect system. the water deparh11ent in my hometown Amy received her J.D. cum laude from the that summer just trying to save a little University of Michigan Law School. money. Everybody else had done amazing things, like climbing Mt. Can you talk a bit about your Everest, working for Yitzhak Rabin the background, family life, how you year before he was shot, starting their came to Michigan? own non-profits, and so on .
Both of my parents are from ... Or got a Ph. D. in the most Michigan, and I was born in Ann random subjects. Arbor, but we moved to Arkansas when I was three. I graduated from high Exactly. But I got over my initial school in Arkansas, and my parents intimidation pretty quickly, and I still live there, so I consider myself learned so much from those people. from Arkansas. For college, I went to Amy Sankaran and her husband, Adjunct Clinical Intimidating, but great. Southwest Missouri State in Springfield, Assistant Professor of Law Vivek Sankaran. Missouri. Well, actually, my university So you came to Michigan. What did changed its name to Missouri St ate this you like most when you were here as year, so that's been a little bit confusing plan for time off, and I really was ready a student? for me. to learn the stuff they wanted to teach me in law school. For me, college was I really liked most everything. I've So where do you say you went to fun and interesting, but when I got here, already mentioned my classmates, and college? I said, "Ahh, they're finally tead1ing me I liked living in the Lawyer's Club my the stuff that I want to know." first year. I liked that the law school is its I know! That's what I'm saying. I don't own little world witl1 lots of things going know. My diploma still says Southwest On the other hand, if you have on, but then the rest of the University of Missouri State but I think they'll give me something in mind to do, I suggest that Mid1igan is just outside the quad, with one with the new name if I ask them to. potential law students serious! y consider even more stuff-athletics, plays, lectures, doing it. It's really hard to take time off etc. I loved the clinic I did. I was in I was a political science major, and once you get on a legal track. When we're Hea dnotes, and I had a blast doing that. I graduated from college in 1998 and reading applications of those who've had applied for law school during my senior time off, almost anything you decide to year. do between law school and college is a positive for us. After law sd1ool, time off 8 looks more like, "Oh, that person couldn't CONTINUED on Page 8 ;lRcs (�cshtc • JJnmmrl,J 24, 2006 were interes ting. [was also interested in CONTINUED from Page 7 criminal law. I do remem.ber knowing Do you think clerking is a good They're good. that, no matter what the issue, I wanted to idea? do litigation and direct representation. I They're good, and they're so fun. didn't see myself, and I still don't, wanting I think clerking is a great idea; it's good And it's non-law so it was a nice break, to do class actions or policy work. for almost anything. If you want to be a except each semester when we would litigator, it is invaluable to see the inner argue about what music we were going So I am not sure how I settled on child workings of the court. If yo u want to do to sing. I always dreaded that meeting advocacy, but I decided to give it a try. transactional work, it is still very useful because no matter how hard we tried, The firs t sununer I went to the Public because many of the cases are deals or everyone started arguing and becoming Guardian's office in Chicago. They con tracts that did no t work out. You can very lawyerly. represent almost every single abused see the endgame. an d neglected child in Cook County. It What was your least favorite class? was a good sunm1er, but since I co uldn't I go t to see all areas of law and I lo ved practice law as a 1 Lin Illinois - you can it. It was intellectually so fun. Itseemed Least favorite class ...En terprise in Mi chigan - I didn't get to do all the almost every week, I would pick up a Organizations. I had a visiting professor things that 2Ls co uld do. Looking back, new area of law. The lawyers provided who might actually have been quite fine, I might have chosen a place where I could the briefs to get you started, an d then you but I dislike all things business. I didn't actually try a couple of court cases. But too k bo th briefs and yo u checked their like the class at all. The rest of my classes that's why I was happy we have a Child facts and made a recommendation about were mostly good. My favorite class, Advocacy Clinic, where I did get to do what should happen. You'd get to loo k at besides the Child Advocacy Clinic, was the courtroom advocacy piece during my it like a judge would an d you'd start to Public Interest Litigation with Mark second year of law school. see what is effective and what isn't, bo th Rosenbaum. He's a fantastic professor. in writing and during oral argument. It Second summer? was fun to see how the judge thought So, for the lLs trying to figure out about things. And then it was great to see what to do for their first summer, how Wiley,Rei n and Fielding, a big firm in him on the bench ask the questions we did you figure out what to do? DC. I just liked the people I interviewed had in chambers. My judge had Instant with. Since I was trying a firm to see if I Messenger. Career services handed out a book - I liked it, I decided not to care that much remember it was green - listing all the about their areas of law. It appeared to On the bench? Public Service employers. It's probably me that most of the big firms did some online now. As with everything now! I of everything. In retrospect, that wasn't Onthe bench. So if I had questions for didn't graduate that long ago, just four the best way to go . The guy I interviewed the litigants, I could IM them to him.And years, but many things have changed, and wi th did all of the types of law that I he would often ask them, so that made most of them have to do with technology, was interested in, but it turns out he was oral argument very exciting. For my very such as wireless all over campus. one of the only ones doing that work. first oral argument during my second And he left the firm before I arrived that week at the court, it was the Thursday Anyw·ay, I narrowed it down to child summer. It turned out that their main after 9/11. So,as yo u might imagine, that advocacy and just applied to a bunch of litigation cases were insurance defense week was quite disrupted. I'd done my organizations that were in the big green an d re-insurance, which I quick!y realized best on my memo an d recommendation, book. I didn't go searching out professors didn't interest me at all. It wasn't that big but it was not as polished as I wo uld have or students who had done child advocacy, of a deal fo r the summer. It was still fun, liked it to be. At the end of the parties' but I should have. I don't remember I met some nice people, and I eliminated arguments, the Judge IM'ed me, "What googling, either. Of course we had the some areas of law that I absolutely did not should I decide?"An d I'm sitting at my internet, but I don't remember Coogle. like. And when I wen t hunting fo r fitms desk in front of the judge and the litigants again, I tried to look behind their generic facing me and I panicked, "But I wrote a Did you know you wanted to go into list of types of cases to see what the firm memo an d I to ld him ... maybe I didn't child advocacy? was mainly known fo r. give him enough infom1ation ... I don't... I think ..." It turns out, he was to tally I'm not sure. I knew I liked kids. A lot Third summer? Oh that's right. There pulling my chain. He kn ew exactly what of people say that in interviews fo r child is no third summer. he was planning to do wi th the case; in advocacy. An d in interviews we'd always fact he ruled from the ben ch the opposite say, "Well that's nice, but there's mo re to Right, just graduation. After graduating of what my memo said to do. it than that." But that was the genesis of in May 2001, I wen t and clerked fo r Judge it fo r me. I enjoyed spending time with Tarnow in the Eastem District of Michigan children, and I thought their legal issues fo r two years. I had a great time. CONTINUED on Next Page JRt�5 (�cshtc • Jlnmmr\1 24, 2006 CONTINUED from Previous Page people would put in email. payments will be with you for several years. Don't buy a huge house with So you went to Skadden after. Why did you leave Skadden? payments that you can only afford if you stay at tl1e firm. That is not to say tl1at you Yes, during the second year of my
shouldn't treat Jvou rself a bit - do
The Long, Dark, Car Repair of the Soul
By Mike Murphy My girlfriend's a bit OCD in th e same familiar to many of us. Explaining way that it is a bit cold outside, so one his life decisions, Brock says, "I am a espite my very best efforts not night we satisfied her inner demons human first, then a lawyer." Every other to, I learned something over by rearranging the furniture in a spare lawyer ii1 the book questions his logic. the break when I was stranded bedroom so as to free up the radiator. We Grisham thus paints Brock as a renegade as utomotive castaway. Twice. My were, in fact, moving around furniture corporate lawyer, one with humanity that car's alternator turned into the Black and agreeing with each other, an activity overrides his greed and litigiousness. Widow of car parts, frying two batteries which doubtlessly sounded suspicious to Since when are lawyers not humans? (A in separate incidents, diimning my car's anyone (say,her entire family) downstairs . more compelling argument can be made headlights and interior lights into "stealth On a bookshelf I found a dusty copy of for law professors and undergraduate mode" when I drove at night and making John Grisham's "The Street Lawyer." students.) me call in some markers at triple-A to get Ironically (or, I fear, characteristically) two tows (say that one fast). I stole it from the Reverend an d Mrs. Several times in the book, the characters Barnard's house. cynically reminisce about how fhey were Even though it was apparent even to a idealistic lLs who wanted to "save the mechanically unsophisticated person (me) It's the story of Michael Brock, a D.C. world." I'm all for idealism, but that after a brief but infonnativeGoogle search antitrust associate at a big firm. One day seems like an awfully big-for-the-britches that the car's symptoms were indicative a deranged homeless man takes him feeling for graduate students. When I of a breakii1g altemator, two mechanics hostage in his office. The homeless man was a first-year student, I couldn't even refused to repair it. Ever the crim.inal is killed, and Brock survives (helh his save my GPA, much less the world or genius, my altemator would cleverly pass name's Brock, which makes him nigh anyone in it. their computerized diagnostic test and invulnerable in a novel) Brock later learns then immediately start doling out power that his fi rm's real es tate department But I knew I wanted to be here and surges like teaspoons of cyanide into my - the most innocent A Bar I May Actually Not Enjoy By Matt Nolan One example of what they require: the video game place in the union) that before filling out the application, you don't exist anymore. This would be fineif hen I was a kid, my dad have to fill out an application card. This the Bar did not require the address of the would take my sister and card is available at the registrar's office entity, its phone number, my ilmnediate me to Bonicki's, a sports if you attend school in Illinois. Here, supervisor's name, the supervisor's ba Muskegon where they would however, you have to actually send in current contact information, and a myriad serve pretty good, cheap food in the a request to GET the card, which you of other fun details. Are you kiddmg me? afternoons. I loved Bonicki's, and I then send in ... again. That's right. You Is there a chance that I could be kept out still do. It's a great place to relax, there have to send in a request to get your of the bar because I worked for Orchard are plenty of TV screens on the walls, formal application, whid1. itself is only View High School as a custodian for and everybody knows my name. [Cue six weeks back in the sunu11er of 2001? "Cheers" music?] Does that really impact my character and fih1ess? "After numerous When I turned 21, I quickly grew to like emails, Google and Good Time Charley's, too. It isn't quite as Despite losing time to watch the West familiar as Bonicki's, but itstill had cheap Yahoo people searches, Wing and continue my January pleasure food, drinks, and a good atmosphere on phone calls, and other reading, I was still relatively satisfied Thursday nights. intensive detective upon completing the above tasks. After numerous emails, Coogle and Yahoo work, I remembered But, as the years went on, my good people searches, phone calls, and other who was." will toward Charley's waned. The I intensive detective work, I remembered bouncers became a bit more scrutinizing. who I was. The waitresses became a bit quicker to paternalistically cut offdrunks. The the request to take the test. I guess this But, the Bar wasn't finished with me overall attitude became less friendly. I keeps lots of little card delivering elves yet. Just like the waitress who spends felt as if Charley's still wanted me to feel employed, but come on! 20 minutes to run your credit card at the at home, but warned me not to put my end of an already long night there was feet on the furniture. On ce you getpastthe card, the questions another page. Question 50: list all traffic begin. Is there a practical reason to ask infractions you have incurred. While I still like Charley's, and the list for every residence where I have lived of bars I like could go on for a while, over the past decade - in chronological Are. You. Kidding. Me? To accomplish I want to warn you about a bar that I order!? My list included nine locations. this task, I would need to have the state am extremely apprehensive to begin Does the Illinois Bar really care that I lived tell me; because there's no way I kept a frequenting. They have rigorous rules of in Washington, D.C. for seven weeks as record of that stuff. Who does? It turns conduct and an attitude which makes the an intern at the age of 20? If they do, out that's exactly what the Bar wanted me doormen at Charley's look more anemic should they? to do, and a drive to Lansing to pick up a than the Detroit Lions. It is the Illinois full report (which significantly weighed State Bar. My Mr. Wolverine rehearsal hours down the drive back) was added to the dwindled away as I tracked down my folly. I know what you're thinking: "A whole own past and then vanished entirely bar for the state of Illinois? What a huge (although I'm going to kill on the opening Having a thorough background check party!" Only,no. dance segment) when I got to the .next of applicants before they can enter a bar section: previous employment. I had to is a good idea. But here's hoping Charley's I realized the deadline to register to list every employer I have had over the doesn't add character and fitness to the ID take the July test without paying a late last years, both for and not for profit, and check and pat downs. fee was rapidly approaching, so I fina!Jy full and part time. checked out the informational website Matt Nolan is a 3L. E-mail comments about to begin the process. My first reaction To appreciate my dismay.you have to this article to [email protected]. to the tone of the infom1ahon provided know that I jump around to lots of things, was: holy crap. These people reallywant meaning one se.mester in a job is an me to join? I've felt more welcome at the accomplishment. Also, a decent number • Horseshoe in Columbus. of my jobs involve entities (campaigns, 14 J!lcs (li)cshtc • ]«mtm:u 24, 2006 There is Hope Ye t For the Jobless By Nate Kurtis wandered down the halls, that I would will work for the government, including have to beat them off with a stick just to judges; and the rest will work for non s anyone out there worried get to class; and I find that just isn't so. profits. Those statistics indicate that there about the looming job sear.ch? Shouldn't we have employers begging is no standard 1 L smmner, and that's our I was. n't. Last term, while to give us jobs? point predsely: there is no tTack! U is your se g y everyone else wrote cover opportunity to be a little adventurous and letters and sent mass mailings,I watched SG: That would be nice. In fact, many try something different. Family Guy. When break came around students will have that. Un fortunately, and others interviewed, I spent my time you'll have to wait a year because law RG: Purely hypothetically, let's say I en joying the local nightlife with friends. firms in particular are fairly focused on didn't have a job lined up yet. .. yeah, the 2Ls. So, you will get a job! It takes a hypothetically .... What steps should I I'm freaked now! When I retumed to little bit of work, but really not that much be taking at this point? campus, it seemed that every person I ran because you are here. into had at least one offer from a law fin11, SG: For the lL sunm1er it's mailings, and I didn't even have a resume. I was RG: That's good. What kind of job cover letters and resumes. Understand starting to regret frittering away my free should alL be looking for? that those are samples of you r potential time on drunken debauc ... err ... quiet and make sure that they are excellent observation of the many, many holidays SG:In particular for 1 Ls -understanding writing samples in and of themselves . this break. the financial constraints that some Then, obviously, once they ask for a students are under, and that they may writing sample, it's got to be top notch. I needed to play catch-up, an d fast. choose to work for law finl1S for financial One step is talking to people; upper To begin, I wen t to Meijer's and bought reasons- we really wan t to encourage class students are probably the best special paper for my resume -my veritable students to do something else because resource you have. That's why we make ace in the hole. For some reason, that the vas t majority of our students will a list of where studen ts worked in their didn't seem like enough, so I sought help work for a law firm, especially a large summers, so you can ask them about from an expert. law fi rm, their second summer. So, to their experiences. Networking with be able to evaluate that experience and your fe llow Michigan classmates is a After surprisingly little begging, Susan to see what works best for you and what great resource because they' ve all done Guindi, Director of Career Services for you like in a job, do something different amazing things. the law school, offered me an empty bag you r fi rst sull1l.ner. to help control my breathing. She also RG: What resources are available from agreed to talk with me to help lessen RG: You mentioned that a majority the career services office? my panic. of 2Ls work for law firms; is there a standard job track for law students? SG: I think the most important resource Res Gestae: Can I have a job, pretty is meeting with a career service advisor please? SG: Every part of me fi ghts against at least once, more than once if necessary, this idea of tracks because I think that and as many times as studen ts feel Susan Guindi: Yes. students think they need to be on the necessary. 'right track': they have to get into the right RG: Wow, that was a lot easier than I kindergarten or it's all over, right? RG: Should we bring cookies? thought it would be. Do you have any lined up for me? RG: Clearly! SG: No! We are all trying to get away from cookies after the holidavs. Bring SG: Nope. SG: It's not true! There is no track! salads, bring carrots, no cooki�s! Really, There are certainly more common paths. you don't have to bring anything to meet RG: Oh well, it was worth a shot. But I mentioned that most students will work with one of us. Including myself, there are let's talk about that for a second. We in a large law firm their second summer, four lawyers in this office, and MaryAnn W all got into Michigan Law School, and and then most students wi ll accept those Sarosi in the public service office. e are it was iiber competitive. I don't know offers for their post graduate job. For happy to talk about what you want to about other people, but I figured that the lL summer: about a third will work do, and also to look over a draft of your for a law firm, in other words a large or cover letter or resume to make sure that once I got in, that would be it. I thought ···---·----· I would be mobbed by recruiters as I small law fin11; about a third or higher CONTINUED on Next Page JRcs (�cshtc • J)mmnr� 24, 2006 15 CONTINUED from Previous Page but what's in your plate; be it lobster, it is hitting all the key points and that RG: Would you recommend we be it ribs, be it the wine glass that is you are presenting yourself in the best wait for grades before sending out starting to get too low. The food should way possible. Also, we've got all sorts resumes? be secondary! of programs coming up throughout the semester. A lot of the ones last semester SG: I wouldn't wait, I would start the RG: A good tip right there. Is there were about resumes and job search ball rolling and once you get grades you any general advice you wish everyone skills, but this term we have progran1s can notify the employers. If the gradesare knew about resume writing? about ideas for various law practices, programs to help with interviews, and SG: You don't want it to be cookie cutter because you want to distinguish programs about clerkships. Students "Legal employers are should definitely take advantage of these yourself. Now, having said that, you looking at a spectrum of presentations. don't want purple paper with stars all factors when they look over it. It distinguishes yourself but not RG: You mentioned things for the at students. If you're in a positive way. standard lL, but what should a 2L be interested in being in RG: Right, crasher's rule #6. But, doing if they don't have a job yet? New York and you've wouldn't it be memorable ... never stepped foot in SG: They should be talking to us to let them know that lots of people have been the city, then you,r 1 L SG: Memorable, but it's memorable in their boat before, whether by choice summer is important to on the way to the recycling bin is the or not, and have gotten great jobs. They establish a connection problem. should be continuing to network, and we there." can put them in touch with alums and RG: ... Oh. other lawyers in the conununities they are looking at. They should write letters and -Susan Guindi SG: What I want people to know is itis follow up with their applications. We've a piece of advocacy. It is presenting what got job postings, we've got another small is most relevant to the potential employer; on campus program coming, and we've it is not a biographical expose. You don't got all sorts of resources and databases to great you want to notify them quickly. If have to put i.n that when you were five help facilitate a job search. they aren't so great, wait till they ask for you babysat your baby sister. That may them. It's all part of being an advocate; be relevant for some jobs, but not so RG: Let's talk for a moment about you want to put your strongest points relevant to working at the DOJ. geography; we've heard rumors that forward. law firms are looking for you to have RG: What happens to all the resumes ties to the area. Is this true or can a lL RG: Assuming we all do get jobs, are that employers don't like? go to Ta hiti and finda nice legal job on there things we should be doing over the a beach somewhere ... summer from a job search perspective? SG: I suspect a fair number recycle them; especially the purple ones. SG: And take their career services SG: Yes, networking. If you're in D.C. advisor with them ... for the summer and D.C. is where you'd RG: Well, thank you very much for like to come your second summer, talk talking with me. I know I'm reassured! RG: Exactly! Is this a big concern? to one of us and we can put you in touch Now, if you will excuse me, I have to go with some alwm1i in the area. Not as a buy different resume paper... SG: Legal employers are looking at a way to start applying to finnsearly,but as spectrum of factors when they look at a way to get your name out there. I think The Career Services Website may be students. If you're interested in being it's also reassuring to talk to lawyers and found at: http://www.law.umich.edu/ in New York and you've never stepped to realize just how much Michigan law cu rrentstu dents/ careerservices/index. foot in the city, then your 1L summer is students are in demand. hb11 important to establish a connection there. Ifyou 've been in New York since the day RG: If we end up being invited to Nate Kurtis is a 1L seeking gainfu l you were born and begrudgingly left t� dinner with an alum or a recruiter, do employment. Questions, comments, and job come to Ann Arbor for Law school, then you recommend ordering the lobster? offers may be sent to: [email protected]. No you can have a little more geographic other warranties e:rpressed or implied. flexibility because you've already got SG: Don't order anything that is going those ties established. to make it impossible to focus on anything • 15 JRcs(i cshtc • 'J)amtatt;! 24, 2006 Students Should Unite Against Senseless Internet Policy Submitted By withdraw from class discussion because classes. In fact, 011 the law school's Nicolas Jampol of the availability of the wireless internet, homepage, a "Nota Bene" reads: "The but rather uses the internetbecause he or Law School wireless network allows s my class began and the she withdraws from the class discussion. students internet connections within professor commenced his The internetis not the culprit of the lack the classroom, library, Law Quadrangle, lecture, I peered inside my of focus, but rather a symptom. And the and beyond" (emphasis added). That en ckpack and realized that the wireless internet can and has l1 een easily is pretty misleading, unless fhey want recent 5th Circuit case I had printed replaced by numerous other outlets for prospective students to know they can out from the course website for today's unfocused students. Other than games use their intemet in. classrooms as long as lecture was sitting neatly on my desk at already installed on laptops like the there is no class in there. Even under the wireless internet "Access Policy" on the home. Within 30 seconds I could have wonderful spider solitaire, students may; website there is no mention of the limited downloaded the case from the course work on other assigm11ents or just mayle website and fully participated in the class engage in good old-fashioned zoning access during classes. Administrators discussion. Yet inexplicably, at one of the out. Students insistent on avoiding class know the value of the wireless internet top law schools .in the nation, an in-class discussion have been known to install in recruih11en t. But once we are students, restriction on wireless internet prevented video games on their computer to play they could not care less. me from doing that. I was thus confronted duJing class, n:md1 moredistracting than with two options: (1 ) either avoid eye leaving my e-mail open. The restriction of wireless internet contact with the professor and try to during class is obviously intended to rementber what I could from my reading While there is absolutely no evidence acconunodate the professors who believe the previous night, or (2) leave class, that students who otherwise would be it takes the focus off them. But I think after find a computer, print out the case, and surfing the web now participate in class more than twenty years of smooling and retum to class with the case. In the dead discussions, there is anecdotal evidence tuition payments that take my breath center of a row without <:m easy escape, (i.e., my anecdotes) that the restriction away, students have earned the right to I slinked down in my chair, settling on causes real problems for our classroom detennine for themselves how best to leam option number one. experience. Somehow everybody lost and whether they want to use the internet sight of the benefits of having wireless during classes. The administration has The professors and administration internet in the classrooms, presumably presented zero evidence that the intemet believe that restricting the internet will the same reasons that motivated the policy has encouraged class discussion allow students to focus better and thus huge effort by the law school to set up the or reduced the various distractions of promote class discussion. The first network and promote it on the website. students in the class. assumption here is that students are like Students cmmot look up the definitions little puppies, their attention fixed on one of words, refer to cases not included in The administra tion needs to start thing tmtil anything else more interesting the casebook, quickly look up some legal listening to the students, not just the comes along. The students surf the intemet concept or doctrine, a11d cmmot consult faculty; and the student body needs to not because they lack focus or are bored the casebook's supplemental materials take action to ensure this happens. If the with the discussion, but because there often available at the publisher's website. Law School Student Senate can tum its are more Hashing lights on the internet. Sometimes students need to have access attention from its Draconian regulations Professors presumably believe that to e-mail for important reasons: last conceming the listserv and Mr. Wo lverine without the internet,everybody would be week I had to leave class to write a one to this important matter, perhaps alert and focused on the discussion. The word response to an e-mail from a clinic something could be accomplished. Maybe second assumption is that students who professor that had arrived seconds before the students need to grab their pitchforks don't focus on the class will be unable the internet shutoff. It would have taken and torches, and show the administration to find any way around the prohibition. me five seconds, but ended up taking over that we have a right to be heard on issues Unable to access the internet,the students ten minutes (not to mention the additional that affect our learning and our classroom will surrender and pay attention during time to get reoriented in the lecture). experience. class. The administration still uses the Nicolas Jampol is a 3L. E-mail comments The professors and adminish�ation seem existence of a wireless internet in i.ts about this article to [email protected]. to be ironically confused by the issue of promotional materials, but with no ,< causation: The unfocused student does not infonnation about limited access during • 11\cs(li) cshtc • JJznm«rlJ 24, 2006 17 SFF: What it is, What it Does, AndWhy Yo u Should Care By Mitch Holzri chter Much of SFF's funding comes from Professor Soper donated dinner and a student initiatives, including the SFF relaxing night in his hot tub. Professor s many 1 Ls are now realizing, Auction in March. "I hope students Simpson donated a copy of his book, it's hard to turn down the Big realize that when they attend an SFF event, Cannibalism and the Common Law, Law money. Finns in Chicago they contribute to providing legal advice signed in his own blood-no joke-as an . York are willing pay $30,000 to underrepresented communities," said well as a lunch he arranged with Judge or more for a su1m11er, and as much as Mock. Richard Posner. $140,000 after graduation. Fundraising is Fun SFF is eagerly accepting donations for While 42°·o of students spend their this year's auction now. SFF Treasurer first summerworking for public interest This Thursday, January 26, from Molly Moeser encouraged students to organizations, only 14% of students do 7:30 to 10:00p.m. , SFF will host its first be creative. "You'd be surprised what a the same second year, and only 9�·o of fundraiser of the semester: a Karaoke small �:,>r oup of students can come up with students accept employment with public Night at Charley's Upstairs. A $5 cover among themselves to donate," she said. interest organizations after graduation. will go entirely to SFF's grant pool. The "And every donation goes a significant When we consider the costs of tuition event last occurred three years ago, and way to providing more grants." and the opportunity costs of forgoing a SFF is now reviving it. Big Law salary, it's w1derstandable why Applications Abound students eventually seek out firms like In addition to raising money, SFF hopes Duey Cheatum & Howe. the event will excite the campus about So how do you receive a grant? SFF, in antidpation of the March Auction. Every year, however, Student Funded Last time the karaoke event occurred, This year's applications were made Fellowships attempts to tum the dreams of Dean Caminker and Professor Friedman available in the Reading Room on January starry-eyed matriculates, many of whom sang a duet. There is no word yet whether 16, and are due February 1. Last year indicated a preference for public service an encore will occur this year. approximately 150 students applied, and work on their law school applications, 69 grants were awarded. into a plausible reality SFF will also hold a raffle during the Karaoke Night for students who The applications are read blind by the Last year SFF provided scholarships, participated in the L-STARhotel voucher members of the SFF Board, none of whom $3,000 each, to 69 students doing unpaid program. Students who participated are eligible for SFF grants. The criteria public interest work. The $200,000 SFF in the program asked firms during are largely unchanged from previous provides each year is at least a start interviews to donate the cost of the hotel years. The application questions prompt toward rededicating students to the accmmnodation to SFF. The program applicants to discuss the work they public service. raised upwards of $16,000 this year. will do with the organization over the summer. SFF wants to ensure that both "Even if some students who end up The Auction is the organization's the applicant and the organization will receiving SFF gr By Steve Boender band wrote them in minutes, simply directions, probably the most striking finding a decent melody, a few passable departure is "Juicebox." The verse, led he downside to being the lyrics, put them down on tape and then by a sort of "Theme from Batman" (TV first band to bring a music headed out to the bar. Not so with First version) bassline, features Casablancas scene into mainstream public Impressions of Earth. Casablancas' blood, speak-singing with rapid-fire delivery. consciousness is that such a The chorus completely t1ips band runs the risk of dying this around, with Casablancas along with the scene it helped howling somewhere north jump-start when people move of the top of his usual range on to something new. Nirvana over the dueling guitars of avoided this fate only because Albert Hammond, Jr. and Kurt Cobain killed himself Nick Valensi. I can't help but before the anti-Seattle backlash think of early (read: good) really arrived, thus leaving the U2 albums where Bono was burden of scapegoat on Eddie still struggling to explore Vedder's shoulders. Becoming the limits of his own voice. so associated with a certain scene Not that I'm comparing The that people can't look past it Strokes to U2 - The Strokes into the m.usic is an asset for a aren't nearly as wealthy, mediocre band cashing in on the annoying, or irrelevant as flavor du jour, but a real liability Bono & company. (Okay, for a band earnestly trying to mostly Bono, but I'm sure make good records. After two the rest of the band would decent albums, The Strokes are at prove to be sanctimonious the pivotal point in their careers douchebags too, if they were where they will either transcend actually allowed to speak in the too-cool-for-school detached public.) hipster mentality they helped create, or sink along with it into the sweat and tears are all over these songs. Thequestion remains: haveThe Strokes annals of history, only to be resurrected One element Casablancas retained is progressed on this album to the point of by Michael Ian Black and Hal Sparks in his penchant for borrowing from other transcending the cliched Williamsburg VH-1's inevitable "I Love the Aughts." artists. He's certainly not the first person hipster image they helped create? The to lift a melody every now and again, answerdependsmostlyon the listener. The So which is it? It is clear that The but he's clearly the boldest. "Ask Me band isn't quiet about its love for Robert Strokes are trying hard here to broaden Anything" sounds exactly (EXACTLY) Pollard and his band Guided by Voices their horizons, at least on a superficial like a Stephen Merritt cast-off from (recently defunct). While GBV never level. Gone is the heavy distortion that the 69 Love Songs sessions, lyrically headlined the ComcastDisneyViagra was applied to Julian Casablancas' vocals and musically. All that's n1issing is the Supetimnbotwelvedollarbeer-dome, they on the first two records, and it appears ukulele. "Razorblade," one of the more consistently sold a respectable number of drummer Fabrizio Moretti finally learned textbook Strokes songs on the record records and concert tickets to a loyal fan how to play his instrument. At first has a chorus blatantly lifted from Barry base. It looks like The Strokes are also glance, this may not seem like a drastic Manilow's "Mandy." Actually,it is a nice headed in this direction. The majority of departure, but Casablancas' Radio juxtaposition, hearing Casablancas sing America will move on, writing off The Shack microphone and Moretti's listless the line, "My feelings are more important Strokes as a decent band that died with beats were m.ajor components in the than yours" to the same tune as one of the the Brooklyn scene, while a small portion band's detached sound. Clear vocals and schmaltziest pop songs ever recorded, of the audience will hang arom1d for tl1e teclmical dru1m11ing simply reek of effort. whether it was deliberate or not. long haul. I think that would suit The The songs themselves also demonstrate Strokes just fine. intensified focus. The songs on the first While many of the tracks on the album two albums sounded effortless, as if the show the band experimenting in different • • . ' JRcs- (1f)cshtc 3)zmuaru� 24 211116 19 1 NOTES, from Page Professor Croskery-Roberts at,>Tees: "I to learn a different style of note-taking "My in-class study method is to use the found my class notes most useful when I just because I was in law scl1ool." time to listen to what the professor says; I thought critically about what was being rare!y take more than a paragraph or two said in the classroom before (and while) Finding whicl1 method works for you of notes per class," says Stuart Allen. "I taking notes." Professor Primus added may take trial and error, but that doesn't find that writing more than that means that "the major learning in my classes is mean your semester has to suffer. Staying that I'm not paying full attention to the supposed to happen by getting students focused and positive can help smoothe actual conversation. Class is more useful to think in real time." any seams you may experience from for understanding thought processesthan changing your note-taking style. And it is for learning blackletter law." However, some classes seem to require once you find what works for you, avoid takinglots of notes. If the subject matter is switching to autopilot. Alex Mertens set Professors edwed that sentiment and complex, for example, it may be necessary the bar for herself at the begim1ing. "I consistently said they put more emphasis to try to get everything down and sort try to engage on the first day of class. In on listening actively in class than on through it later. Moreover, professors doing so, I trick myself into thinking that taking stacks of notes. However, they have different teaching styles, so you I must hold myself to this high standard agreed that you should do what works may need to adapt your note-taking style for the duration of the semester." for you. to each class. Professors regularly account for class Overall, professors recommend participation in assigning grades, and avoiding the urge to be a stenographer. not just for the students who speak "I rarely took more than what could be "I spent fartoo much time up every day. So how can you get jotted down on two pages," said Professor trying to 'get it all down' and class participation credit? Professor Mark West. Professor Rachel Croskerv too little time synthesizing Primus said "good class participation involves discussing the subject material Roberts said that when she first start�d my understanding of the law school, she followed the stenography material." knowledgably and thoughtfully when approach, going so far as to bring a tape called upon, being willing to make recorder to class if her professor would ·Professor Rachel arguments against various positions I permit it. However, she adds, "I spent Croskery·Roberts take in my Socratic persona (though not far too much time trying to 'get it all just arguing against me to be contrary: down' and too little time synthesizing my the point is to argue for what one actually understanding of the material." thinks is the best position), and, if a Consider what method of note student so chooses, taking the initiative Professor Richard Primus said that taking will work best for you. Professor to raise relevant questions and arguments Croskery-Roberts added that while she on his or her own." not onlvJ did he not trvJ to take down every word when he was a law student, didn't think writing down every word he doesn't think it's the best way to learn in class was the best way to take notes, One student advised students to find in his classes. "If I taught a class where she did fine in classes when she did an appropriate balance between speaking the material could be best learned by that. In a peer group where everyone too much and speaking too little. "Don't stenography, then there wouldn't be arrives accustomed to being the best and say things just to say them. Everyone much point in actually having the class: brightest, it's easy to become anxious that knows you're doing it and it's annoying. we could just record me giving a lecture others may have found a "better" system If you have something to contribute, do and let people watcl1 at some later time," Many students cautioned against letting so. If you don't, don't just ask a question he said. this impulse take over. "Don't change because you think it'll get you class the way you take notes just because you participation points. If you aren't coming Rather than take copious notes, see other people doing it differently," up with something important to add, or professors tended to place more emphasis cow1seled Marisa Perry. "Different things something interesting to ask, spend more on thinking about the class discussion work for different people." titne with the reading and less time with and they encourage students to do the Spider Solitaire." same. Professor Primus said "On the If your method of taking notes wa�m't theory that the important thing to get out broken before law school, is there any Professor Primus added that while of classes is an understanding of ideas reason to fix it? Some 3Ls felt their arrival he would never penalize a student for and methods, I focused on listening and to Hutchins didn't warrant tampering speaking up too much, "I care about thinking active! y about the subjects under with the system that served them well the quality of the contributions to the discussion rather than writing anything in undergrad. Mary Catherine Martin discussion, not the quantity." down." agreed: "I just take notes throughout class the same way I did in college. I didn't try • 20 )Res (iestae • JJmtuar11 24, 2006 ;� PRE5SWIRI: ACROSS 1 . Before the storm 5. "She'll be there __ 3 p.m." 7. Seven year __ 10. Lassie 12. Opposite of Ye s 13. There are seven 15. Begone! (Imperativeverb) 16. Mentally exhauste d 19. State next to California 20. Without people 21 . A ballerina dances here 22. Madman 24. Wily 25. Long ago ti mes 26. Hair color 31 . Rose ___ 35. The highest point 36. Spain and Portugal 38. To neaten 39. The conscience 41 . Carmen, e.g. 43. Baha 46. Obliquely 47. Tibetan priest 51 . Unwholesome 53. "In the same book" 55. A clam 56. Overly showy 23. Malt beverage 57. A tide 26. Hotel parent company 58. Present indicative of he 27. "Learn it to" 60. Prods 28. Roman Goddess of plenty 61 . A major sta r 29. A degree 62. Hair style 30. Pass this and get $200 63. Eye ailment 31 . Female 32. Rage DOWN 33. Yo ung swine 34. Portuguese saint 1. Piece of garlic 37. To occupy a space 2. False name 39. A sta mp 3. Opera singer Jerry 40. Where ashes lie 4. Change fro m one stage to another 42. A NY lake 5. Actinon chemical symbol 43. Military supplies 6. One not living on campus 44. A people of NorthernThailand 7. Managing Editor of "Sports Night" 45. Sicker 8. Sea bird 46. Island in the New Indies 9. Percentages of Irish farm cro ps 47. A 30's dance 10. Whining speech 48. A traditionalsaying 11. Nabisco cookie 49. Allot 14. Whirl 50. Singing brothers 17. States of being free 52. Priestly garments 18. Elongated fish 54. After shave brand 20. One puts this on first 59. Thus Answer Key on Page 24 �1'5(li51'sh t1' • JJauum:l4 24, 2006 21 EDITORIAL, From Page 2 on the web at http://www.law.umich. Qu estion on the Qu ad: ed u/ currents tu dents/registration/ index. hun. It comes out at least a week or two before the semester starts, allowing savvy "IfYou We re a Crime Boss, What students to order their course books online or buy them used. If professors Wo uld Yo ur Crime Name Be?" must submit their list of required and Reporting by Dan Clark and Jay Surdukowski recommended books, and that list is compiled by an adminisu·ator, adding a projected first day reading assignment would not be much of a stretch. As law students, our nightly readings are incomprehensible enough. Using a hodge-podge of methods to find out what pages to read is more frustrating. We hope that the adn1inistration sees the potential benefit of a centralized web list of first-day assignments and syllabi, and we urge its consideration . • ATTRACTIVE, from Page 6 Nadine Gartner, 3L Dr. Carey Cuprisin, 3L a thick typewriter out a window in a fit '"The Castrator.' Definitely." '"Long Claw Louie,' And 'Louie' spelled of anger; Crane the candy-ass son of a likethe Italian Louie." conservative Midwestem candyman who ironically invented candy in the shape of a lifesaver; Crane leaping to his death off a steamership. He lived hard and he would die hard. As my Latin teacher (an ex-lawyer) would say: "You live by the fuck, you die by the fuck." Crane's outsized personality lives on in some marvelous art. Lowell's tribute is delivered in Crane's own voice, where he is imagined "wolfing the stray lambs" along the Place d'la Concorde. Robert Creely also captured Crane in a poetic portrait. Some readers may remember the Museum of Modem Art's recent and record-breaking $10 million acquisition Kirstn Tatar, Distribution Desk Diva of the large drawing (6' x 7') by Jasper Andrew Goetz, 2L Johns titled "The Diver," a depiction of "'Sasquatch the Mongol,' because "'The Quiet Storm."' Crane's suicide. Onecan make out hands ['ve been called Sasquatch and I'm crisping through the cold water's surface. Hungarian." [Query: Whether she means Are they raised in a death dive or prayer? Magyar, not Mongol? Lo and Behold, QQ Is he drowning or waving? discovers after some " internet research" that tile Mongol Empire, at its height, stretched Jay Surdukowski is a 3L who encourages Query whether QQ autlwrs Jay Surdukowski from the Korean peninsula to Hungary. everyone to sulmtit their writing to Griot and Dan Clark could climb through Dea11 Think about that one next time you pick up this week. E-mail a/[email protected] with Cawinker's second floor window in the dark of the your course packs.] your work . night with their co111bined height of 12' 5". • 22 �cs (Ji}cshtc • J]auuaq 24, 20116 MLK, from Page 3 guarantee in the South African that Martin Luther King Jr. was open Africa as a two nation state - a nation of constitution is asy1mnetrical application to the idea of governmental programs wealthy and a nation of poor. - the court's emphasis is on the that compensate for historical wrongs imporbmce of examining the impact of against African Americans. Although In the United States, the Bill of Rights, the discrimination on groups of people. the term "affirmative action" wasn't which is widely acclaimed as a visionary She noted that it will be interesting to widely used during Dr. King's lifetime, he document embracing political, social see the differences in outcomes from the advocated special programs that would and economic rights, has become a differing approaches of U.S. and South allow African Americans to enjoy equal n1ecl1anism for increasing the quality of African jurisprudence. rights, even proposing a minority bill of life for those who would otherwise lack rights. He always insisted that African acess to basic amenities. In South Africa there are a number of Americans should be compensated widely accepted black empowerment through a massive program based on the Although the U.S. constitution does measures like affirmative action, but principles of common law. not explicitly include a protection or also further measures. The validity of guarantee of social and economic rights, affirmative action measures in South The United States Supreme Court has Mokgoro said that it appears from Africa can be seen in the commihnent to upheld the constitutionality of affirmative Dr. King's comments demonstrated a equality, said Mokgoro. She highlighted . action in university admissions, but has vision of the indispensability of socio some notable result of these efforts: in limited it. Affirmative action in the U.S., economic rights on the basis of the 14th South Africa before 1994 the public service according to Mokgoro, is based on a Amendment. The 14th Amendment of the was largely dominated by white males, negative concept of equality, where the American Constitution was a source of but now, black people and won1en,of state is prevented from discriminating on much of U.S. civil rights jurisprudence. both races constitute 72% of public service the basis of race. This is so, even though employees at all levels. social disadvantages in the U.S., like in The United States Supreme Court South Africa, are most often race-based. upheld the separate but equal doctrine The private sector, however, remains The courts in South Africa, on the other of Plessy v. Ferguson for more than predominantly white, according to Justice hand, have established laws to help poor twenty years, even though facilities were Mokgoro. One of the most significant areas communities. separate but not equal. In the U.S. it is of contemporary change in America is the believed that courts are given a mandate emergence of black private entrepreneurs; Justice Mokgoro summarized the to make social policy decisions only w1fortunately, a similar emergence has important of Dr. King's legacy: "Martin where they are seen to infringe on civil not yet occurred in South Africa. The Luther King Jr. was not simply an and political rights. Black Economic Empowerment Program American. He was then a world figure has been designed to promote black and he is today an international human In the South African constitution, ownership of business, but by 2002, rights icon. He awakened America to equality before the law is guaranteed black people held only 22% of senior its human rights obligations towards under section 9 of the Bill of Rights. It management positions, with black women its own people. Through the civil rights is notable that this equality provision still struggling to escape the lower ranks. movement he focused the attention of includes not just an anti-discrimination As Mokgoro said, although black people the world to the need for human rights decree but a positive duty that is put on are fully represented in political power in protection in the democratic economies the government to encourage equality. SouthAfrica, access to the private sector of the world. He awakened Americans As Justice Mokgoro said "the right continues to elude them. to the anti-colonial movement the world to equality is based on the notion of over. He drew the attention of African eradicating systemic forms of injustice." Ju stice Mokgoro also gave statistics Americans to the liberation movements on education in South Africa, indicating and struggles in the whole of Africa. In the context of apartheid's lingering an area where con tinued efforts to For Dr. King in the context of the civil social and political effects, South Africa bring equality are needed. In higher rights movement, the promises of liberty recognized that the formal equality education, 70% of the population over and justice enshrined in the American approach used in the United States might 20 hasn't completed secondary school. constitution were universal." lead to discrimination of a group that Even for those individuals who make experiences disadvantages. South Africa it to university level, the percentage of "Fidelity to the ideals of liberty and largely imposes positive duties on the unemployed university grads was 26°'0 justice must live forever," concluded government to help groups that were left in 2002. Justice Mokgoro, "not only in the U.S., behind due to past disadvantages. not only in South Africa, but the world Although affim1ative action is highly over." Justice Mokgoro emphasized that controversial in contemporary American an important aspect of the equality society, Justice Mokgoro pointed out • 31\es (� estae • J]muutrJJ 24, 2006 23 �������� ����������������� f� 5 �� � �-- PUBLIC SE�ICE, mPage States to ensure effective implementation happened.We didn't get together right Then on March 28 it's the lLs turn ofthe DepartmentofHomeland Security after the car incident. Instead, we were to learn about fellowships when we detention standards. Ms Mack was close friends for awhile. We started present "Laying the Groundwork for a previously Supervisor of Legal Services dating in February that first year, and we Fellowship." While lLs can't apply for at Hogar Hispano, Catholic Charities continued dating until we got married a post-grad public interestfellowships they Diocese of Arlington. Before that she few years ago. Looking back, there were can learn how to lay the groundwork worked as a litigation associate at Foley a lot of law quad couples. for a successful appli cation. Come Hoag LLP in Boston, Massachusetts. leam how students' experiences during Megan served as a law clerk to Judge Fred Yes, because it's easy. law school in terms of summer jobs, I. Parker on the United States Court of pro bono projects, journals and clinics Appeals for the Second Circuit from 1999 Yeah, everyone lives so close, and you are all taken in to account when it to 2000. She also holds an M.A. in Art have your meals together and so on. We comes down to getting a fellowship. History from the University of Chicago weren't in the same section, but manv and an A.B. from Brown University. of the couples were. There were 8 or 9 The last installment in the Fellowship couples that were living in the L.C. who Series will be on April 7th with our Before you all leave for the summer, got together first year, I think. "Other Fellowship Programs." Here we will hold a public service social hour you'll get the chance to meet with at Dominicks. The formal title of this Do you want to go back to practice? representatives of the New Voices gathering is "Do I Have to do OCI if Fellowship, Zubrow Fello wship, I Really Want to do Public Interest or Probably some day. I'm really happy Polikoff-Gautreaux Fellowship and Govemment Work?" I encourage lLs doing this now. But I also liked being a Equal Justice Works Fellowsh ip to come to Dominick's totalk to public lawyer, so I bet I will go back to practice (tentative) to learn about their programs. interest or government-bound 2Ls and at some point. Sarah [Zearfoss] does pro 3Ls who survived law school even though bono work on the side and I plan to do We return to the Inspiring Paths they didn't do OCI! We will hold this in that at the very least. Speakers Series when we host Sarah Sohn early April and will announce a date '04 and Megan Mack '99 on April 7th. soon. There is another purpose behind What advice would you give to law Sarah Sohn is a New Voices Fellows at this gathering as we would like to bring students, especially first years trying ltm11.igration Equality. As the coordinator the law school public service c01mnunity to figure out what they want to do, and of the HlV Detention Project, Ms. Sohn together before we part for the stumner. third years who are leaving? represents LGBT and HIV-positive We hope to see you there! detainees in removal proceedings and is I think folks are afraid to ask questions in the process of preparing a report on MaryAnn Sarosi is the Director of tl1e of people who have already been through HlV/AIDS and detention conditions, to be Office of Public Service. E-mail cmmnents it. They think it's an imposition, but other used as an educational tool for improving about this article to [email protected]. lawyers usually are more than happy to detainees' access to appropriate medical help. It's a really small legal world, and treatment and to encourage stricter it's easy to find someone who has worked • in your area of interest. Speaking of it enforcement of HIV confidentiality laws. SANKARAN, from Page 9 being a small legal world, don't burn Megan H. Mack, '99, is theAssociate went to William and Mary." And then I any bridges. Even if you think you will Director of the American Bar Association decided to go for broke, and asked, "Do never do a particular type of job, never Commission on Immigration. The you have a maroon Toyota Camry?" And say never. Commissionon lt111nigration advocates for he goes, "Oh no ...I hit your car." That law and governmental practice to ensure ad1nission was before he became a lawyer Finally, I think that both first and third fair treah11.ent and full due process rights and now he won't admit that he hit my years need not stress too much. You're for immigrants and refugees; provides car, but he did. not making any irreversible decisions by continuing education on developments in going to a particular job. It doesn't have im111igration law to the legal community And now it will be published. to be your job for the rest of your life. The and the public; and develops and law school education is applicable to all assists in pro bono programs. Ms.Mack Yes. In fairness to him, it was only different areas and types of jobs. I am a monitors and analyzes federal legislation, a tiny scratch. But I was pretty upset case in point. I've had several different litigation, and regulatory processes. She about my new car getting a scratch in the careers already. I am not saying that you oversees the ABA Detention Standards second week here. He was so apologetic should cl1ange jobs all the time, but if you Implementation Initiative, organizing and offered to pay for it. But there was don't like what you are doing, you can delegations of volunteer attorneys to really nothing to fix. Contrast that to and should change it. now, now he just denies the whole thing detention facilities across the United • 24 ;JRcs (�cstac • Wauunqt 24, 200.6 ,.HE EVEII,. OF ,.HEYEAR IS HERE: tiR. WO LVERINE Mr. Wo lverine will be Friday,Jan . 27 at 8pm in the Mendelssohn Theatre and will feature your favorite law school men! The ltish Lm11 St�tdetltJ· ' PERSPECTIVES ON JUDICIAL CLERKSHIP$ Ol:?,mti::;ptiott 1m iteJyo!l to: Wednesday, Jan. 25, 12:15 - 1:30 p.m.. , 250 HH Why clerk? What is the difference between clerking fo r an appellate judge and a Legal Careers & Internships: trial judge? Is it worth clerking if! don't want to litigate? Can I obtain 11 clerkship if I'm not on Law Review? What is the value of a state court clerkship? Come l1ear Working For the Micfligan alums discuss tfleir clerkships and wily you should apply fo r one of the l1est jobs in law. Government Panelists: GARY BRESNEHAN Chandra Davis, '02, former clerk to Hon. Roger Gregory, USCA-4, and to the Hon. Venessa Gilmore, USDC SDTX. Ms. Davis is a current associate at fl/qyne Comity (Detroit) McGuire Woods, Atlanta. ProJW!!tor's Ojji re & Ryan Junek, '03, former clerk to Nebraska Supreme Court Justice Jolm DAN O'BRIEN Gerard. Mr.Junek is an associate at Cravath Swaine & Moore, New Yo rk City. J'vlithigan Co11rt qf AppeaLr Jeremy Schulze, '04, law clerk to the Hon. Magistrate Judge Mona Thursday, Feb. 16 Majzoub, ED Ml, Detroit. 12:15 p.m. Bejal Shah, '03, former clerk to the Hon. Arthur J. Gonzalez, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, SDNY. Ms. Shah is practicing criminal defense law at the New York Legal Aid Society. ELLEN DANNIN, professor of law at Wayne State Professor Joan Larsen, faculty clerkship advisor. Professor Larsen clerked for Judge David B. Sentelle of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit University, will be giving a talk and for Justice Antonin Scalia of the Supreme Court of the United States. on her new book, Ta king Back the Wo rkers' Law, For more infonnation, contact Robin Kaplan [email protected], 734.764.0546 Feb. 16, at 12:15 in HH 138.