Me & My Blog
Hello World
Currently a 2L at San Joaquin College of Law in Clovis, CA and I’m approaching the beginning of my second year. I decided to go to law school because of my fascination with the rules that lay behind everything that we see. The computer monitor you’re staring at was built according to a specific set of rules that were debated on, legislated, and finally codified into a physical body of law or regulation. The road you drive, the path you walk on, the chair you sit in, the food you eat, and the purity of the air you breathe has, in some way, shape or form, come across Man’s inspection through inquisitive and specific use of the law. My foray into law school is learn how these rules intersect with the structures and activities of everyday life either hypothetically or actually in the forms of cases I’ve read in my texts.
This blog fulfills the hypothetical aspect of my law school education. And because I think it’ll be cool too – to speculate, to day dream, to complain, or to caution on some aspect of California law (or certain federal laws, if the mood strikes me) that seems interesting to write about.
Citation Style
Most law students learn to cite according to what’s called the Harvard Bluebook, however San Joaquin trains its law students to cite according to the California Style Manual. Accordingly, I also use the CSM to cite my sources.
Strict Liability in Blog?
Yes, I know; other law students and attorneys chose legal/witty sounding names for their blogs, such as Ross Ipsa Loquitur. Since I couldn’t think of anything better at the time I chose a name that coincided with the new material we were learning in our torts class: strict liability in tort (which concerns products liability for those of you who are legal eagles). I thought I was such a genius for coming up with this goofy sounding name; I even justify it with the fact that because strict liability in tort was a creation of the California Supreme Court (Greenman v. Yuba Power Products (1963) 59 Cal.2d 57 [27 Cal.Rptr. 697, 377 P.2d 897]) then it would be awesome because Strict Liability in Blog is a creation of a California law student…who might someday plead a case in front of the CA Supreme Court? Yeah? Maybe? No?
I guess I fail at that one. But still! So, anyways, I’m stuck with the name, but this is my blog, there are many like it but this one is mine. Enjoy your stay and if there’s a good amount of time in between posts its because life is beginning to get busy again as school and work is starting up. Good day!
Last Edited: 8/22/08
Hi Eric,
I’m starting SJCL in the Fall 08. I enjoyed reading your Blog. I was hoping you would give me the scoop on what to expect. Please be as detailed as possible. I understand the time requirements and the fact that I’m going to be reading and breifing my brains out. Are there other things that you can tell me about the prof. or hints as to how to approach the classes? or how to organize and what about study grps.
I’ve heard that SJCL loses more than one-half of its L1’s by the end of the first semester, and even more by the end of the first year. is this true? Did you see any trends with these students?
I hope to talk to you again.
New2Law
Hello,
The “scoop” that you’re looking for is really quite simple: read and brief your cases, pay attention in class, pick a good study group, and cease any and all inklings of a social life.
For more specific details on your 1L year: your professors are not going to be difficult to figure out; the contracts class might seem like random information is coming at you but by the time you get to offer and acceptance everything begins to fall together and you realize the class isn’t as hard as you think it is. Torts was an awesome class (next to research) and the only real struggle I had in it was taking exams because there’s so much material you’ll have to write out and remember. Civil Procedure is a challenge to some students because it doesn’t seem to suit anyone who is a linear thinker; the class is really all about the strategic maneuvers lawyers can do from pre-trial to trial itself. Legal analysis and research had the most “work” attached to them; not so much reading as it was writing papers.
Yes, historically half the 1L class usually doesn’t survive but not always. Even so, that shouldn’t even bother you or concern you because if you study hard, read and brief your cases, and follow along you’re not going to drop out or get cut.
Welcome to SJCL and prepare for the most unique (and challenging) graduate experience of your life! I hope you find this info helpful and if not email me again. See you around the halls!
Erick