Advice for first years
I know I blogged about my exams and all that, but I feel like I need to do one last post about law school before I move on and start blogging about my articling year (starting May 22nd).
So with that in mind, this post is dedicated to things I have learned in law school that aren’t the law. This is for anyone getting ready to go to law school, and more specifically anyone who’s getting ready to go to law school at UBC.
1. Break Situation: Some profs manage their time a lot better than others do. I’m not trying to come down on anybody here: Teaching law students is a hard job. But some of them get behind and then get to urge to catch up by blowing through break time. There is an offer out there you have to watch out for. A prof might say this: “Would you rather have a break now or skip the break and leave a bit early today?” This is a trap. Do not go with the latter option. There are a few people in every class who try to speak for everybody, and these people always seem to like the latter option. Try to resist. Chances are you’ll miss your break and hey, you’re not going anywhere early.
I’m not saying this is always the case, but in my experience that is what usually happens. You have to know the prof. Some can be trusted with this. Most can’t. Beware.
2. Food Situation: As I’ve said before, Candida’s is not a particularly well-stocked eatery. It is possible to find good food there, but there are a few things you need to know. If you’re heading there after 1:30 looking for a sandwich, it’s not gonna happen. All the good stuff is gone by 1:00 most days. Proceed directly to the SUB. Also there is no ATM in the law building. I don’t know why. Although Candida will probably spot you a cup of coffee, it might get awkward asking her to spot you a full meal. Again, proceed to the SUB.
If Candida’s is closed (it closes at 3), there are vending machines in the interaction area. The change machine has been broken for two years. Either that or it’s newly broken every time I’ve tried to use it. So bring change or go to the SUB. And don’t expect to find anything in those machines that resembles healthy eating. If you want healthy, head over to the lower level of the SUB. There’s a good sandwich place and those can be made up all nice and healthy.
3. Bathroom Situation: This one is for the guys. Watch out for the sink furthest to the right in the lower level bathroom (where the lockers are). If you turn the knob what might seem like a reasonable amount, water will shoot out at a very unreasonable rate, and some may or may not hit the front of your pants. If you have to use that sink, use extreme caution.
4. Laptop Situation: I don’t know exactly how many students bring laptops to class these days, but it could be as high as 80 percent. Some classrooms have power at every seat, but a lot don’t. If your battery can’t handle it, either get there early or bring a power cord. I used to bring a power cord in second year before I got my new battery, and it was so so so useful. Power cords are great.
And sometimes a bit scary. I don’t pretend to know a lot about electricity, but I’m fairly certain a standard power outlet wasn’t meant to have four power cords coming out of it with twenty laptops plugged in. But I haven’t seen any fires, so maybe it’s okay.
Ok well that’s my fairly useless advice to new law students. I guess there’s a lot of stuff to be said about grades and jobs and all that, but you’re going to have too many people talking to you about that as it is, so I’ll leave it alone (don’t believe the hype!!).
And what are the chances that any first years are even going to read this? Did I write this for nothing? I probably did.
Seriously though, it’s hard to believe it’s finally over. I still think one of the hardest parts about law school is getting in, but there is a whole lot of studying that needs to be done if you want to survive. And first year really is a trip, but completely doable. Again: Don’t believe the hype.
Thanks to everyone out there who made law school a great experience!! This includes law friends, and profs, as well as non-law friends and family that have supported me over the past three years. And to those profs out there who might have made it a little less great than it could have been, thanks for giving me something to complain about!
I’m not going to miss going out to UBC most days, but I am going to miss three day weekends and the ability to take a personal day whenever it seemed warranted. And it seemed warranted with even the weakest, lamest of excuses (I’m good with myself that way).
Okay, next stop PLTC and the articling year. You think you’ve seen complaining on this blog so far? Just wait...
So with that in mind, this post is dedicated to things I have learned in law school that aren’t the law. This is for anyone getting ready to go to law school, and more specifically anyone who’s getting ready to go to law school at UBC.
1. Break Situation: Some profs manage their time a lot better than others do. I’m not trying to come down on anybody here: Teaching law students is a hard job. But some of them get behind and then get to urge to catch up by blowing through break time. There is an offer out there you have to watch out for. A prof might say this: “Would you rather have a break now or skip the break and leave a bit early today?” This is a trap. Do not go with the latter option. There are a few people in every class who try to speak for everybody, and these people always seem to like the latter option. Try to resist. Chances are you’ll miss your break and hey, you’re not going anywhere early.
I’m not saying this is always the case, but in my experience that is what usually happens. You have to know the prof. Some can be trusted with this. Most can’t. Beware.
2. Food Situation: As I’ve said before, Candida’s is not a particularly well-stocked eatery. It is possible to find good food there, but there are a few things you need to know. If you’re heading there after 1:30 looking for a sandwich, it’s not gonna happen. All the good stuff is gone by 1:00 most days. Proceed directly to the SUB. Also there is no ATM in the law building. I don’t know why. Although Candida will probably spot you a cup of coffee, it might get awkward asking her to spot you a full meal. Again, proceed to the SUB.
If Candida’s is closed (it closes at 3), there are vending machines in the interaction area. The change machine has been broken for two years. Either that or it’s newly broken every time I’ve tried to use it. So bring change or go to the SUB. And don’t expect to find anything in those machines that resembles healthy eating. If you want healthy, head over to the lower level of the SUB. There’s a good sandwich place and those can be made up all nice and healthy.
3. Bathroom Situation: This one is for the guys. Watch out for the sink furthest to the right in the lower level bathroom (where the lockers are). If you turn the knob what might seem like a reasonable amount, water will shoot out at a very unreasonable rate, and some may or may not hit the front of your pants. If you have to use that sink, use extreme caution.
4. Laptop Situation: I don’t know exactly how many students bring laptops to class these days, but it could be as high as 80 percent. Some classrooms have power at every seat, but a lot don’t. If your battery can’t handle it, either get there early or bring a power cord. I used to bring a power cord in second year before I got my new battery, and it was so so so useful. Power cords are great.
And sometimes a bit scary. I don’t pretend to know a lot about electricity, but I’m fairly certain a standard power outlet wasn’t meant to have four power cords coming out of it with twenty laptops plugged in. But I haven’t seen any fires, so maybe it’s okay.
Ok well that’s my fairly useless advice to new law students. I guess there’s a lot of stuff to be said about grades and jobs and all that, but you’re going to have too many people talking to you about that as it is, so I’ll leave it alone (don’t believe the hype!!).
And what are the chances that any first years are even going to read this? Did I write this for nothing? I probably did.
Seriously though, it’s hard to believe it’s finally over. I still think one of the hardest parts about law school is getting in, but there is a whole lot of studying that needs to be done if you want to survive. And first year really is a trip, but completely doable. Again: Don’t believe the hype.
Thanks to everyone out there who made law school a great experience!! This includes law friends, and profs, as well as non-law friends and family that have supported me over the past three years. And to those profs out there who might have made it a little less great than it could have been, thanks for giving me something to complain about!
I’m not going to miss going out to UBC most days, but I am going to miss three day weekends and the ability to take a personal day whenever it seemed warranted. And it seemed warranted with even the weakest, lamest of excuses (I’m good with myself that way).
Okay, next stop PLTC and the articling year. You think you’ve seen complaining on this blog so far? Just wait...
posted by Darren at
12:06 PM
3 Comments:
No you didn't write this post for nothing :)
I thought it was pretty funny, and I don't even plan on going to law school, at UBC or otherwise.
hey thanks, good to know it was read!
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