Achievement Unlocked: Juris Doctorate

[GearRyu]

Hello everyone!

Been forever since I last posted. Why? Well, as some of you know, I'm a law student. Or was! In May, I graduated. Before you ask, it's a three year program.

So, what's next? The Bar Exam! Yes, you see, having a JD isn't enough to practice law. Until I have my bar license, I'm not actually a lawyer. The exam's at the end of July, and I've been studying day in and day out for it. Yes, now that I'm out of law school, I actually have to study more than I ever did.

But what's the big deal? Well, it's basically pass/fail, semi-curved, failure requires retaking it several months later, and I literally cannot get work as an attorney until I pass it. It's a two day exam, consisting of two six hour days, divided between a battery of essays and multiple choice exams on about a dozen fields of law: everything from Contracts to Constitutional Law. One question might be about writing checks; the next one is about search and seizure of personal property by the police.

I'll get my results back in October. Yes, that means I will wait over two months (and possibly as long as December) before I get my results back. And I'll be waiting on my character and fitness results at the same times: Yes, you do have to pass an ethics check before becoming an attorney.

When I get my license, I plan to go into litigation. I'd prefer to work in public litigation (e.g. gay rights), but there is little work in that for new attorneys. I'll probably work in criminal litigation, likely as a public defender, for a few years. However, I'm also interested in civil litigation (personal disputes between people). I don't know whether I could do business litigation - good money, but I might hate the work. Whatever the case, I'll be doing what I love.

Which is good, because I'll be broke for the first few years. You see, when you graduate law school, they don't hand you a million dollars and a host of sexy high-profile cases. You start out about $200,000 in debt working the small time. Now, that debt can disappear quickly if you take certain jobs, but many of the jobs which net you over $100,000 a year are the same jobs where you work 80 hours a week, and wake up one day realizing you're 40 years old and have no life. That's not the life I want; I'm not sure I could survive without video games, tabletop RPGs, and classic movies. :-P

Perhaps the weirdest thing I deal with is the reaction I get from people when I tell them about my attending law school: at least once a month, I'll get somebody saying, joking, "Oh, good, I could use a good criminal defense attorney some day!" I know it's a joke, but I still find it a little weird to have people say, "Just so you know, I totally expect I'll commit a crime and need somebody to defend me" with the hidden subtext of "do you work for free?"

I will say that it's nice to not have to wonder about many of the law-related questions I had before I attended law school. Not to say I have all the answers. Law school is as much about the philosophy of law as it is about the state of the law. It's perhaps more about what you don't know, and the ability to understand where there is room for interpretation, when something is confusing or vague, and where there are contradictions, or where there ought to be exceptions. It's fascinating stuff, even if (or perhaps because) the answer to so many questions is a firm, definite "maybe".

For those curious about non-law related stuff I've been doing... Well, playing through video game RPGs chronologically since the inception of the genre, watching a lot of classic movies, playing tabletop RPGs, and working on a tabletop RPG of my own design. Also, I have a DeviantArt and FurAffinity page where I do story commissions. I haven't had much time lately because, well, studying for the bar - but I still love to write. I hope to write a few articles about writing transformation fiction, process, and how to make characters for transformation-based RPs.

I hear the site and the community has undergone many changes since I was last about. I hope all of you are doing well. Be amused.

Disclaimer: I cannot, and will not, give legal advice. Do not construe anything I say as legal advice. I cannot give legal advice because I am not yet an attorney. If you are seeking legal advice, speak with an actual practicing attorney.

[DalekSec]

WOOT!!! WTG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

At least once..you have to call a judge "Judgey Wudgey" and yell out NYUK NYUK NYUK in the courtroom!!! *grin*

[vincent_richter]

Originally Posted by DalekSec

WOOT!!! WTG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

At least once..you have to call a judge "Judgey Wudgey" and yell out NYUK NYUK NYUK in the courtroom!!! *grin*

He would either need to be a Superior Court judge acting as a witness in a lower court, be willing to face contempt charges, or be reeeeeally good, "golf tomorrow, Ryu?" buddies to get away with that.

[DalekSec]

OK OK..try it in an empty courtroom first and see how it goes. :P

[vincent_richter]

Gotta be careful with that, too.
Many a man's been mistaken for Ol' Squint, for shouting nonsense at empty chairs.

[Bozo]

Congrats dude!! I almost forgot we were going to have a lawyer among us. And good luck with Bar!

[GearRyu]

Originally Posted by DalekSec

WOOT!!! WTG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

At least once..you have to call a judge "Judgey Wudgey" and yell out NYUK NYUK NYUK in the courtroom!!! *grin*

I'm flamboyant, but not that flamboyant. :-P

There is room for some informality between attorneys, judges, and opposing council. However, it usually happens outside of the courtroom. There's a concept called "decorum of the courtroom". Basically, it's the idea that the courtroom needs to be a place of dignity, formality and respect - so as to effectuate justice and avoid ending up with situations like Inherit the Wind (where, sadly, some of the bizarre courtroom behavior did occur in real life).

Good time as any to mention that I sport a long ponytail. No, I'm not cutting it when I get a job (with the eternal caveat, "unless I have to"). It actually works in my favor if I go into criminal defense. Strangest thing was when a criminal defense attorney whom I clerked for told me, in no uncertain terms, "do not cut your hair". Which is a relief, as I could no longer do this: *swish swish - swish swish*

Thanks, Bozo. And good luck with your continued medical studies. :-)

[GearRyu]

Another neat thing about becoming an attorney: I gain a title; Esquire

Originally Posted by Bozo

I almost forgot we were going to have a lawyer among us.

I could have sworn the Process Forum already had one or two attorneys actively hanging out. Am I really the only one?

[DalekSec]

Originally Posted by vincent_richter

Gotta be careful with that, too.
Many a man's been mistaken for Ol' Squint, for shouting nonsense at empty chairs.

At least the chair, made more sense than old Barry Ombozo. Has a better chance of staying out of prison than he does, as well.

[DalekSec]

Originally Posted by GearRyu

I'm flamboyant, but not that flamboyant. :-P

There is room for some informality between attorneys, judges, and opposing council. However, it usually happens outside of the courtroom. There's a concept called "decorum of the courtroom". Basically, it's the idea that the courtroom needs to be a place of dignity, formality and respect - so as to effectuate justice and avoid ending up with situations like Inherit the Wind (where, sadly, some of the bizarre courtroom behavior did occur in real life).

Good time as any to mention that I sport a long ponytail. No, I'm not cutting it when I get a job (with the eternal caveat, "unless I have to"). It actually works in my favor if I go into criminal defense. Strangest thing was when a criminal defense attorney whom I clerked for told me, in no uncertain terms, "do not cut your hair". Which is a relief, as I could no longer do this: *swish swish - swish swish*

Thanks, Bozo. And good luck with your continued medical studies. :-)

Oh Lord...

No...NOOOOO...

Behold your future!!!



Even though I sport rather long hair and, often tie it back...I just... EEEEEEEEEEEEK!

[Ilovebe]

Originally Posted by GearRyu

. Law school is as much about the philosophy of law as it is about the state of the law.

Here, here! I'm currently writing my doctoral dissertation, and I'm dealing with some pretty indepth legal philosophy, including positivism, realism, pragmaticism, and a lot of Ronald Dworkin's thinking.

Congrats getting the law degree!

[GearRyu]

Thank you very much!

Mm... legal positivism. It's usually such a dry view of the law, even if you're talking about soft legal positivism.

Also, that picture - just, wow. Amusing. XD