Party Planner

While I was setting up a breakfast for 100 law students last year, one of the professors who used to be Department of Justice litigator told me that I should consider litigation because there were many similarities between it and party planning. He mentioned how both positions you require you to be detail oriented, prepared to deal with the unexpected, capable of working with difficult people, and able work under stressful, time-sensitive conditions.

I could definitely see how winning a case is like executing a perfect event. In fact, my excitement about surviving my first day in court was only doubled when the law section party I helped plan went without a hitch. The food, venue, turnout, weather, etc was absolutely perfect. When everything falls into place, it's such a big adrenaline rush.

Before law school, I considered getting a degree and pursuing a job that put more of my event-planning skills to use. Working advance or another position for a political campaign, getting an MBA or MPA (Masters in Public Administration), etc. But I realized that while I could be a lawyer and plan events on the side, it would be hard to be an event planner and practice law in my spare time.

So I guess it all worked out. Now I learn the law and get paid to plan social activities. And soon I will be a lawyer, and will probably find a way to put my bossiness to work-- whether it's putting together an office holiday party or commandeering the PTA.

Trial Tales

What is the difference between a pitbull and the opposing counsel I went up against today? Absolutely nothing.

Today was my first appearance in court, a pre-trial settlement hearing. I was not as nervous about speaking in court as I was because I had no idea what was going to happen at the hearing. The case is so far along, many different things could have happened, and I did not feel like I had enough time to prepare for it all. I basically did not want to be blindsided and hurt my client.

Fortunately all of that nervousness went away when opposing counsel confronted me in the hallway before the hearing. Basically, he was a bully; chuckling at my legitimate claims and condescendingly telling me good luck, he would see me at trial. Instead of worrying about the unknowns of the hearing, I became much more focused on fighting for my client, showing this lawyer that I was not the idiot he thought I was, and kicking his butt. Yeah, I am just a little bit competitive and my opponents should not trigger that side of me.

Overall, the hearing went well and very quickly. I said all my lines correctly and answered all of the judge's questions comfortably. We set a date for the actual trial with a new judge, which was a little sad because this one seemed to like me and not like opposing counsel much.

At first I thought opposing counsel was just a jerk to me because I was a young, inexperienced student attorney that he thought he could intimidate. But you could tell how he was not respectful of the judge and completely rude to his own client. In fact, after trial, he yelled at his client to shut up when she tried to talk to me. I know that people joke that you have to have icy veins or be heartless to stay sane in family law, but boy this guy was a complete tool.

Trial and Tribulation

When I said, "Hectic litigation, here I come" on Tuesday's post, I had no idea that it would come too soon. That scheduling hearing I thought was this Friday is actually a pre-trial hearing, which is ultimately the last step before the big show.

Needless to say that I am a little nervous right now. I got the case on Tuesday, met my client for the first time today, will be flying solo tomorrow since my partner has a big interview he cannot get out of, and I very little idea of what could happen tomorrow. As a methodical planner and preparer, this is not the way I like to operate, but I know this is how the law operates. But it's hard to get someone, particularly a law student, to let go of control or be ok when we lose it.

I just need to keep repeating to myself: Breathe. Confidence. Speak Clearly.

Election Guide

*Stolen from DailyKos

Attack Mode

My clinic partner and I got a divorce today and I am going to court for a scheduling hearing for it on Friday. Hectic litigation, here I come.
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I had a dream last night that we were going to war with the Chinese, and that I was in the military. In my dream there were billions of Chinese people storming out in perfect lines, wearing brightly colored outfits, doing acrobatics (clearly, I was traumatized by the Beijing Olympics) and I was so scared at the prospect of stepping out onto the battlefield and dying knowing that we were outnumbered and not nearly as disciplined as our enemies. Even though it was just a dream, I found even more respect for those who are in the military, law enforcement, or even just unsafe areas.

On a lighter note, part of my battlefield dream was that we had to finish editing a law review piece on net-neutrality before we could go fight. Clearly, I have been doing way too much work for my journal.
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Finally, as much as I want my vote to make a difference in the Presidential Election, I do admit that I am really glad that I do not have to watch all these attack ads. Its getting ugly and I am ready for it to be November 4.

Read to Suceed, Bible Style

When I saw this odd picture in the Los Angeles Times of the huge head of Pope Benedict XVI projected up onto a screen to make it look like he was reading out of the Bible, I wondered what shenanigans he was up to this time.

Turns out that he was leading a Bible reading marathon that will cover the whole book in seven days. While reading the Bible front to back seems to fit with Pope Benedict's old school, traditional personality, I became more interested the more I read about the event.

"The roster of about 1,300 readers features former Italian presidents, current Cabinet ministers, soccer stars, foreign diplomats, cardinals, intellectuals, actors and opera singers as well as ordinary citizens.

The Vatican invited a multi-faith, multiethnic cross section of participants to the event in the Holy Cross in Jerusalem Basilica here. They include Orthodox clergymen; an Algerian female writer and five other Muslims; and the Israeli ambassador to the Vatican, along with a survivor of the Auschwitz concentration camp and 14 other Jewish readers." --LAT

It was cool to read that actor Roberto Benini (Life is Beautiful) ended the first segment and Andrea Bocelli sang between readings. The Pope's mission was to make the Bible accessible and show that "the Bible belongs to everyone without any discrimination or cultural or ideological barrier." And in case you were wondering why the Pope's head appeared on the big screen, he did not come for security reasons.

Although I do not completely agree with all of his rules or philsophies, I thought this was a unique and good idea. I must say that Pope Benedict is growing on me more and more.

McCain-Fey '08

In case you missed the VP debate, here's a pretty good summary courtesy of SNL and Tina Fey.



SNL should start volunteering for the McCain campaign because these Sarah Palin skits must increase their viewership at least two fold. Unfortunately (actually, fortunately) I do not think Tina Fey would be on board since at the Emmys she said, "I want to be done playing this lady November 5. So if anyone could help me be done playing this lady November 5, that would be good for me."

By the way, I just watched Mean Girls, which stars and was written by Tina Fey. So funny and true. I love that woman.