Tuesday, September 25, 2012
What would you like to know?
I have been sitting here racking my brains on trying to figure out what I could post next and drawing a blank. Once I have that first attorney position or start interviewing, well there go, easy stuff. But what interests you to know now? Are there questions that you have about the bar? As you all know, I am now an expert at taking the bar. What can I answer to help you along with your journey? Drop me a line either in the comment section of this post, or email me using the button at the upper right hand corner. The point of this blog as always been to encourage other single parents thinking of going to law school. Encouraging YOU makes me feel encouraged.
Monday, September 24, 2012
Let's Talk Finances
When you fill out your bar application you have to check boxes for late credit payments. Apparently this is to see if you are financially responsible. If you have any credit blip you admit to, and you have to admit to it by the way or it is an integrity issue, then chances are there is going to be a character and fitness review. This is something your law school does not prepare you for. I know several friends right now whose admission is being delayed until the Board of Bar Examiners can do some digging.
Apparently they ask for a current credit report, a financial affidavit and other facts about why you were late on your payments. They do not allow you to send in this additional information here in Oregon until after you know that you have passed the bar. Then you have 3 1/2 days to send back the requested information. Fun times, right? Seems that this should be requested beforehand. If there is a serious issue to bar admission, then how can the applicant actually remedy the issue in 3 1/2 days?
Anyway, all this to say, if you pay your bills on time --- even if you have to go to a blood bank to sell your plasma, then do so please.
Apparently they ask for a current credit report, a financial affidavit and other facts about why you were late on your payments. They do not allow you to send in this additional information here in Oregon until after you know that you have passed the bar. Then you have 3 1/2 days to send back the requested information. Fun times, right? Seems that this should be requested beforehand. If there is a serious issue to bar admission, then how can the applicant actually remedy the issue in 3 1/2 days?
Anyway, all this to say, if you pay your bills on time --- even if you have to go to a blood bank to sell your plasma, then do so please.
Saturday, September 22, 2012
The Day After......
This morning I woke up and did not believe that yesterday happened. I think after fighting for so hard the relief feels unreal. I had to go to my computer and open the results again and look to just make sure it was all real.
After everything was said and done yesterday, I burnt my bar study books! LOL. Yes, yes it felt good. I even took some pictures which I will share one on here.
I have a friend who took it with me that did not pass. I felt for this person like nothing else because I have been there so many times. You want to be happy for your friends, but you are left asking that ultimate question: Why? Why did they pass and not me?
I have spent a lot of time analyzing why. Why would God do this when I went to law school out of obedience to the dream that He gave me many years ago. I don't know that the "Why" will ever truly be answered. But a dear friend reminded me of a few things of the Why....... my daughter has had to share me with this journey for an awful long time. And these last two years have been full of turmoil for her... but the beauty is that I was able to be there for her. My family went through a series of hospital visits, personal issues, pregnancies and other things where I had the time to assist. I was there to take care of them, to love on them..... in ways that if I had passed, there is no way I could have been there. If for only those reasons, in the bigger scheme of the cosmos, I did not pass, then it's okay, I am at peace with it.
I write this to say to all: If you find yourself in my position, please don't give up. There is likely a bigger purpose in the journey that you need to learn. I am still learning and analyzing mine. Someday I might even be grateful for the lesson.
After everything was said and done yesterday, I burnt my bar study books! LOL. Yes, yes it felt good. I even took some pictures which I will share one on here.
I have a friend who took it with me that did not pass. I felt for this person like nothing else because I have been there so many times. You want to be happy for your friends, but you are left asking that ultimate question: Why? Why did they pass and not me?
I have spent a lot of time analyzing why. Why would God do this when I went to law school out of obedience to the dream that He gave me many years ago. I don't know that the "Why" will ever truly be answered. But a dear friend reminded me of a few things of the Why....... my daughter has had to share me with this journey for an awful long time. And these last two years have been full of turmoil for her... but the beauty is that I was able to be there for her. My family went through a series of hospital visits, personal issues, pregnancies and other things where I had the time to assist. I was there to take care of them, to love on them..... in ways that if I had passed, there is no way I could have been there. If for only those reasons, in the bigger scheme of the cosmos, I did not pass, then it's okay, I am at peace with it.
I write this to say to all: If you find yourself in my position, please don't give up. There is likely a bigger purpose in the journey that you need to learn. I am still learning and analyzing mine. Someday I might even be grateful for the lesson.
Willamette's 3 + 3 or BA/JD Programs
What I would have given for this opportunity when I started my journey of going back to school. Shaving off a full year of schooling and the cost associated with that would have been phenomenal!!!!
Willamette's College of Law has partnered with both the undergraduate programs at Willamette and with Oregon State to offer a program where you complete your needed undergraduate credits by the end of your junior year and then enter into the College of Law. Once you complete your first year of law school, you get your BA from your undergraduate school and you are on your way to a law degree as well.
Admission into either of these programs does NOT guarantee admission to the law school. An applicant still must apply to the law school, take the LSAT, and have a applicable GPA. But it's doable, and it is less time to complete... which is something that helps when we think of managing our time, how much time we are out of the work force and so on. I would have gratefully leaped at the program. I was not too keen on the whole get a liberal arts major. I took a lot of classes that were time fillers (mostly electives). This program would cut some of these out.
Willamette's College of Law has partnered with both the undergraduate programs at Willamette and with Oregon State to offer a program where you complete your needed undergraduate credits by the end of your junior year and then enter into the College of Law. Once you complete your first year of law school, you get your BA from your undergraduate school and you are on your way to a law degree as well.
Admission into either of these programs does NOT guarantee admission to the law school. An applicant still must apply to the law school, take the LSAT, and have a applicable GPA. But it's doable, and it is less time to complete... which is something that helps when we think of managing our time, how much time we are out of the work force and so on. I would have gratefully leaped at the program. I was not too keen on the whole get a liberal arts major. I took a lot of classes that were time fillers (mostly electives). This program would cut some of these out.
Friday, September 21, 2012
Finally!!!!
I have stayed pretty quiet on the blog front for so many reasons.... but one critical one was studying for the bar and then trying not to freak out. This is a multiple time I have taken it.
But my dear readers --- today I found out I PASSED THE BAR! That's right. I am Lisa Wright, esq. That feels so incredible to be able to type and announce here.
So how did I do it? I focused almost exclusively on MBE stuff. I used Kaplan (AWESOME, BTW) and I used Benchprep..... both programs have 1000's of questions and they tear the answers apart. I also bought a book "Starting your campaign for the MBE" written by a law professor and bar grader...... best book ever. I found some of the mistakes I was making. I learned to find the red herrings very, very fast.
So October 4th is the big day! As I embark this next journey, I am going to try so hard to chronicle what is going on.
For now, I am working in the admissions office of the College of Law at Willamette. I am going to write some things about some of the AWESOME programs they have started there that I think are great for single parents. And I will write about job hunting, possibly setting up a practice, and the mentoring process in Oregon. There's a lot to talk about.... ALOT.
But my dear readers --- today I found out I PASSED THE BAR! That's right. I am Lisa Wright, esq. That feels so incredible to be able to type and announce here.
So how did I do it? I focused almost exclusively on MBE stuff. I used Kaplan (AWESOME, BTW) and I used Benchprep..... both programs have 1000's of questions and they tear the answers apart. I also bought a book "Starting your campaign for the MBE" written by a law professor and bar grader...... best book ever. I found some of the mistakes I was making. I learned to find the red herrings very, very fast.
So October 4th is the big day! As I embark this next journey, I am going to try so hard to chronicle what is going on.
For now, I am working in the admissions office of the College of Law at Willamette. I am going to write some things about some of the AWESOME programs they have started there that I think are great for single parents. And I will write about job hunting, possibly setting up a practice, and the mentoring process in Oregon. There's a lot to talk about.... ALOT.
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Federal Bases Are Alien Planets....
Some observations for spending a few days with my sister at Fort Carson. The most staggering is how by entering the base, you basically check the Bill of Rights, I kid you not. The thought that by virtue of coming on base, I shuck so much of my rights scares the poo out of me. And realizing that that suspension of rights dates back to a court case during world war II, when we were under attack, startles me.
Did you know that an MP can search you without probable cause? Oh yes, yes they can. In fact, when you enter the gates it gives you a list of all the searches that you are subject to.
On the converse side of that, you could basically hide on base from state authorities. So a few years ago, a state issued search and arrest warrants for a soldier who lived in the barracks of a base. He was suspected of molesting a child. The authorities believed that part of the crime was perpetrated in the car owned by the soldier and the state wanted to conduct DNA testing and a forensic search. The base would not allow the state onto the base to collect the vehicle or to interrogate the soldier. The state had to go through a long, complicated process to get a special warrant from the federal government that forced the bases hand.
When the soldier later pled guilty to the charges against him in state court and was sentenced, the base would not accept the guilty plea. The powers that be on the base allowed for a court martialing practice that cleared the soldiers name of any and all charges as far as the military was concerned. He was allowed an honorable discharge and when his time was served, he was later allowed to re-enlist at a lower rank, but still received credit for the previous time he had served.
So while a child's life was ruined, he got a short time out and when he was out a few short 14 months later, he was able to resume his life...... Including being transferred overseas where there are no sex offender reporting laws.
So while we civilians risk giving up our liberties, those soldiers are far better protected --- even when they shouldn't be.
Did you know that an MP can search you without probable cause? Oh yes, yes they can. In fact, when you enter the gates it gives you a list of all the searches that you are subject to.
On the converse side of that, you could basically hide on base from state authorities. So a few years ago, a state issued search and arrest warrants for a soldier who lived in the barracks of a base. He was suspected of molesting a child. The authorities believed that part of the crime was perpetrated in the car owned by the soldier and the state wanted to conduct DNA testing and a forensic search. The base would not allow the state onto the base to collect the vehicle or to interrogate the soldier. The state had to go through a long, complicated process to get a special warrant from the federal government that forced the bases hand.
When the soldier later pled guilty to the charges against him in state court and was sentenced, the base would not accept the guilty plea. The powers that be on the base allowed for a court martialing practice that cleared the soldiers name of any and all charges as far as the military was concerned. He was allowed an honorable discharge and when his time was served, he was later allowed to re-enlist at a lower rank, but still received credit for the previous time he had served.
So while a child's life was ruined, he got a short time out and when he was out a few short 14 months later, he was able to resume his life...... Including being transferred overseas where there are no sex offender reporting laws.
So while we civilians risk giving up our liberties, those soldiers are far better protected --- even when they shouldn't be.
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Royalty vs the Common Child
A friend of mine the other day made a great observation. On Friday of last week, a magazine published topless photos of Kate Middleton, or as we have come to know her, Prince William's fashion forward and lovely wife. These pictures were obtained due to a security lapse while the royal couple were vacationing in the south of France. Fast forward to Tuesday, a mere 4 days later, when a French court ruled that the publisher must take down all photos, must return all digital photos, prints, stills or any other replica to the palace to protect her privacy. A daily fine of 10,000 euros accrues for every day that the publisher refuses to turn the photos over.
Why is it that we protect and treasure the image of a princess to such a degree? Society and governments were concerned about privacy and the upset. And yes, it is sad that the privacy of this couple was breached. However, let's remember she was an adult who chose to get one with nature, knowing full well what risk she took by doing this.
My friend, the one who made the observation, asked why we can't do that for exploited children? Why is it that the pornographer's "rights" and "privacy" is more important than the innocence, safety and well-being of a child who has been exploited? Why did it take only 4 days to stop the further publication of tasteless pictures of a princess, but prosecution or the succession of child pornography is ongoing? I realize that the fact that there are ways to hide on the internet a poster's identity. I realize it is hard to identify the child at times. Yet I think as a society and with evolving technology it should be easier to find these predators. Yet in the US, privacy issues overrule the child's right to not be exploited. And that is sad.
So is this a question of money? Is the fact that Princess Kate has money and prestige why the French courts moved so fast? Is the fact that these children are usually victims of poverty that we shrug and turn away?
Why is it that we protect and treasure the image of a princess to such a degree? Society and governments were concerned about privacy and the upset. And yes, it is sad that the privacy of this couple was breached. However, let's remember she was an adult who chose to get one with nature, knowing full well what risk she took by doing this.
My friend, the one who made the observation, asked why we can't do that for exploited children? Why is it that the pornographer's "rights" and "privacy" is more important than the innocence, safety and well-being of a child who has been exploited? Why did it take only 4 days to stop the further publication of tasteless pictures of a princess, but prosecution or the succession of child pornography is ongoing? I realize that the fact that there are ways to hide on the internet a poster's identity. I realize it is hard to identify the child at times. Yet I think as a society and with evolving technology it should be easier to find these predators. Yet in the US, privacy issues overrule the child's right to not be exploited. And that is sad.
So is this a question of money? Is the fact that Princess Kate has money and prestige why the French courts moved so fast? Is the fact that these children are usually victims of poverty that we shrug and turn away?
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