How does one write a judicial opinion?
So, our kick-off writing assignment for Spring 2006 is to write a judicial opinion for the Superior Court of Pennsylvania. Sounds like fun huh? Well, it would be - if I knew what I was doing! I finally sat down to write it this afternoon and reaffirmed my absolute cluelessness. I haven't the faintest idea where to start. Ok, thats not entirely true - I kinda know where to start, but I've got little direction as to where this is supposed to be going.
Sound familiar? Well, thats kinda how law school is ... little direction, learn by doing, or rather - by failing - time and time again. But there is redemption - after ALOT of hard work, time and effort, there is redemption - although its not quite as sweet as you hope it would be.
I'm facing a dilemma of lack of direction in alot of areas, not just legal writing. My main purpose for the first couple of weeks is supposed to be to figure out what I'm doing this summer (in addition to keeping my nose above water with school work, but thats a given). Seems only natural ... I'm in an academic program, and I'm going to need a job when I get out - best to hit the ground running, right? Well, I'm not sure what I want to be doing. I know in my gut what I want to be doing, and what I want to be doing five years from now, but my genetic risk-averse tendencies are coming out again. I've had to really push myself so as not to fall onto the easy path which will lead me to a job/project that I probably won't be super happy with and take initiative to do something useful with my time. I've been blessed with a couple of options that are relatively easily achieved, but they're options that won't neccessarily give me a new experience, and I guess thats what I'm trying to get out of all of this. Do I sound confused? Well, I am, and I guess everyone is.
Back to the judicial opinion - am I the only one freaking out about not knowing how to write it? Why does it seem like everyone else around me knows what they're doing - have they been attending some underground legal writing class while I've been paddiddling around? Or are they all just as clueless as I am? If they are, they're alot better at faking it than I am. Or I'm just being a nerd and engaging in some unneccessary trips to freak-out over an assignment that's essentially pass/fail?
argh, I dunno.
On a high note - Bruegger's has a new coffee flavor - Golden French Toast! I kinda feel like I'm in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, eating the three-course-meal gum - "I can feel the maple syrup going down my throat!" - its AWESOME. Although I'm likely gona get sick of it soon and revert back to Hazelnut Cream, or just the regular house blend.
Sound familiar? Well, thats kinda how law school is ... little direction, learn by doing, or rather - by failing - time and time again. But there is redemption - after ALOT of hard work, time and effort, there is redemption - although its not quite as sweet as you hope it would be.
I'm facing a dilemma of lack of direction in alot of areas, not just legal writing. My main purpose for the first couple of weeks is supposed to be to figure out what I'm doing this summer (in addition to keeping my nose above water with school work, but thats a given). Seems only natural ... I'm in an academic program, and I'm going to need a job when I get out - best to hit the ground running, right? Well, I'm not sure what I want to be doing. I know in my gut what I want to be doing, and what I want to be doing five years from now, but my genetic risk-averse tendencies are coming out again. I've had to really push myself so as not to fall onto the easy path which will lead me to a job/project that I probably won't be super happy with and take initiative to do something useful with my time. I've been blessed with a couple of options that are relatively easily achieved, but they're options that won't neccessarily give me a new experience, and I guess thats what I'm trying to get out of all of this. Do I sound confused? Well, I am, and I guess everyone is.
Back to the judicial opinion - am I the only one freaking out about not knowing how to write it? Why does it seem like everyone else around me knows what they're doing - have they been attending some underground legal writing class while I've been paddiddling around? Or are they all just as clueless as I am? If they are, they're alot better at faking it than I am. Or I'm just being a nerd and engaging in some unneccessary trips to freak-out over an assignment that's essentially pass/fail?
argh, I dunno.
On a high note - Bruegger's has a new coffee flavor - Golden French Toast! I kinda feel like I'm in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, eating the three-course-meal gum - "I can feel the maple syrup going down my throat!" - its AWESOME. Although I'm likely gona get sick of it soon and revert back to Hazelnut Cream, or just the regular house blend.
posted by zai5h at Wednesday, January 18, 2006
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