Going to Law School

[Clipper]

I've been interested in law school for a long time, perhaps dating back to my teenage years. This past fall, with work frustrations mounting, I decided to move forward and take the LSAT. I studied for three months and took the exam in December. I ended up with a great score -- much better than I expected. I am delighted to announce that I've been accepted at Lewis & Clark Law School and will begin my new adventure in August! I am so excited!

L&C is an excellent law school, the campus is beautiful and the people are very friendly. It's a little daunting to be 36 years old among so many new college graduates, but that just adds to the challenge. :)

Just wanted to share my good news!

[LaMemChose]

WTG! Congrats to you, Clipper. :applaud:

[Mike Honcho]

Awesome. Will you be a full time student? Or will you still work and take classes? I've considered law school as well.

[JenJen]

WOW Congrats! Best of luck to you.

[Clipper]

Awesome. Will you be a full time student? Or will you still work and take classes? I've considered law school as well.
Hey there. I opted for the part-time Evening Division for several reasons:

- I can continue to work and thereby maintain an income, albeit reduced.
- Evening and Day Division students are treated equally, so there's no part-time stigma.
- I can transfer to the Day Division after the first year, if I wish.
- The course load is easier to manage, especially given the complexities of having an SCI.
- I'm a night owl.

I plan on going part-time at my current job through the first year. I'd like to have a clerkship after my first year and go from there. L&C is the only law school in Portland, so clerkships are very flexible. Importantly, I'll have good health insurance through the school.

[30something]

Clipper,
That is fantastic! This is the age in life where we (at least I)mourn the options we didn't explore when younger but you are actually doing something about it!!!!
Congrats!! (this just might inspire me....)

Please keep us informed of your progress.

[betheny]

That is really good news. I know you'll kick legal butt. What kind of law are you going to pursue?

[lilsister]

Congratulations Clipper! Is there a specific area of law that you are interested in now? With your writing abilities, intellegence and determination I am confident that you will be a lawyer extroidinaire. Best of luck, Deb

[Clipper]

Betheny and Deb -

I haven't narrowed my focus just yet. But I would like to help disabled folks navigate the complex issues we face -- access, housing, employment, etc. I doubt this will be my main practice area, however, as I'd like to provide such services at minimal cost to those who need them most. I like aspects of administrative/regulatory law (aviation and maritime), but First Amendment issues also are appealing. Then there's criminal stuff, torts ...

All first-year law students pretty much take the same core courses. So I'm like a kid in a candy shop right now!

[need coffee]

WHOA Clipper thats Impressive, I think its a GREAT idea, we Need all the smart, caring lawyers we can get in this world. 36! Ahhhh you are just a youngin, even if you were my age 46 Id say "go for it", I LOVED visiting my daughters college, we went into the Master class room (where she sang opera) and I played thier awesome Grand, no one is EVER too old to go to school I feel. Im looking forward to seeing your progress with this , you sure have my support.:applaud: Bravo to you.

Jealous Jo, who wishes she had the guts AND healthy Brain to go back too.

BIG HUGS!!!!

[Sebastiang]

I bet that you will probably find that even taking part-time classes you will find it hard to do anything other than work on your law school work. I decided to start on the part-time program as well because it had been so long since I graduated. Studyin law is EXTREMELY different than studying in your undergraduate program. Two different worlds.
But, for me it was a bit different as two weeks after school started we found that we were pregnant. So, that also took much of my time and mental time. Good luck, it is an awesome experience, at least the first year. There are a couple things that you must consider as you say that you are 36, as I am older as well, 32. Keep in mind everything that you have to consider.

[Acarson]

I have been a lawyer for 20 years. If there is anything I can help you with please feel free to ask.

[john smith]

I can see the shingle now:

Clipper, Kiran, Ozymandias, Smith, & Associates, LLC :D

John

[Lizbv]

Way to go Clipper, congrats! Best wishes :)

[zillazangel]

WAY TO GO!! THat is so awesome. Congrats!

[zillazangel]

I can see the shingle now:

Clipper, Kiran, Ozymandias, Smith, & Associates, LLC :D

John

and Spanos. :)

[darkeyed_daisy]

I am really happy for you clipper. You will make a fine lawyer no matter what area you choose. Congrats!!!!!

[buckwheat]

Congratulations Clipper! I applied and was accepted to Lewis & Clark too! I visited there in December and really liked the school. It's so beautiful how they've built it right into the park and surrounding woods. I applied to several schools in California too, and am leaning towards staying here (provided I get into a school that's right for me), but anything is possible; I really miss Oregon.

I don't know what direction I'm going to go either. Environmental, Intellectual Property, Public Interest, there are so many interesting avenues. University of San Diego (where I applied too, still no decision letter) also has a night program, which is appealing for all the reasons you mention.

Good luck! I'll keep you updated on where I end up...

[Aly]

That is great! Congrats to you :applaud:

[rdf]

Good on you Clipper. I've always wanted to go to law school. I have a BS, but always thought I could make a good attorney - and it's very interesting to me.

But the costs have prohibited me from applying. And I'm recently retired - so I guess I'm headed the wrong direction :D

But I'm glad for you Clipper :)

[KiranA]

Congrats for getting into lawschool!! Now turn around and run away, REALLY REALLY FAST. Just kidding.

Like others have said, I would suggest trying it part-time. I decided to be a hero and start off with full-time studies and it was way too intense. I didn't have time for anything else, and as much as that's the life of a lawstudent, it's crucial that you have other things going on outside of lawschool to keep you sane.

I had to sacrifice my sports the first year and paid big time. Not only is it beneficial for you to maintain other aspects of your life during these next couple of years simply because it's good for both your physical and mental health, but I find I connect more with firms I visit at wine and cheeses when I bring up what I do outside of lawschool. They'll be looking for some well-rounded individuals, so be true to you. :D

[Liz321]

very cool!

[davesgirl aka anty]

Congrats Clipper way to go :applaud:

[JimmyMack]

I can see the shingle now:

Clipper, Kiran, Ozymandias, Smith, & Associates, LLC :D

John


Sounds good John but you would want to have an LLP



JimmyMack

[chick]

Very cool, Clipper!

Congrats. What you've accomplished so far, which you will undoubtedly continue to do in this latest adventure, is really something to admire. :)

Have fun!

[Zeus]

and Spanos. :)
Good to see somebody's looking out for me! Congratulations Clipper - awesome news.

Chris.

[SlomoScott]

So, how is school?

I just took the LSAT on 9/29, now it's time for me to apply.
I'm in the same boat you are, Clipper. I'll be 37 my first year of law school. That means I'll be 40 when I graduate!!!

Oh well, life goes on with or without you.

good luck!
scott

[Clipper]

Hi Scott.

School is wonderful - it's everything I hoped it would be and more. Law school is EXTREMELY demanding on your body and your mind. I feel like I could study 24/7 and still not be fully prepared. In response to your question in the other thread, here is my basic routine:

Caregiver helps with shower/dressing in the morning
Study until 4 p.m.
Eat dinner, relax until 5 p.m. when I leave for school
Class from 6-8:30 p.m.
Study from 9-11 p.m.
Caregiver assists me into bed at about 11:30 p.m.

First-year students have Wednesdays off at my school, so I study much of the day/evening. On days that I work, I study for just a couple hours in the afternoon. On weekends, I generally build in some time away from the books on Saturdays but study much of the day on Sunday. I'm fully self-sufficient when at school. Some things to consider:

How you will take notes in class (computer, by hand, notetaker, record)
How you will take notes when reading/studying
How you will carry your massively heavy law books

That's all I can think of right now. If you have any specific questions, please feel free to send me a PM.

[john smith]

Hi Clipper;

I am glad to hear Law School is all you had hoped. Which courses are you taking?

John

[betheny]

Can you buy those books on disk, I wonder?

[Clipper]

Hi John! How's Noah doing?

Classes this semester:

Constitutional Law
Contracts
Civil Procedure
Legal Analysis and Writing

Beth -

I don't know for sure about the availability of books on CD or the practicality of having them in that form. For me personally, I have to highlight and write in the margin and refer to them in class. I do have one book that is super gigantic (commercial codes). I've copied the sections we use in class and put them in a binder. You can also have books
re-bound into smaller units.

[john smith]

Hi Clipper;

Noah seems OK. He doesn't call much. We take that as a good sign. He lives alone, gets about 20-25 hours per month of home help with things such as grocery shopping and housekeeping. He is waaay busy with his course load. There is no part time or night classes at Berkeley Law.

He has each of the classes below 3x per week but they are spread out over the five weekdays.

Legal Research and Writing
Property
Civil Procedure
Contracts.

The school provides tutoring for an hour two mornings each week. It is highly recommended but not required but he goes. First year students are also assigned Study Groups. His is comprised of himself and four Jewish girls whose parents are attorneys. So, a good group and I'm sure they are looking out for each other's progress.

LOL about the load of books. Noah had to carry them in his lap because he was worried the weight would tip him over backwards. I think he may have had them re-bound to reduce the size. He lives close to campus, but the Law School is all the way at the top of Bancroft Avenue which rises steadily from Sather Gate. He now uses a power chair, compliments of Medicare.

John