How did you find this blog...

Usually through Google, TSR, a few search pages about Personal Statements and hyperlinks from other Blogs all star in the traffic.

But then I saw this...

Oh dear.  I didn't know I wrote erotic poetry.  Coming soon: 50 Shades of Law.

First Day of School

Hurrah! First day! Suddenly you are thrown into a group of people you’ve never met before and expected to pretty much immediately get on.  On the whole, the specific type of person attracted to Law are unique and at the very least decent company.

Yet, a David Attenborough style observation was needed of the most vocal wildlife seen in the Common Room:

1.  Girls. Replete with fake tans, juicy couture, pashminas, and always ready for a selfie.  These are commonly found sat together talking about “OMG drama!” or exactly just how drunk they were the night before.  Each member in a gaggle of this species have exactly the same hairstyle, makeup, eyebrows, and outfit to show just how alternative and unique each one of them is.

2.  Boys. “Banterific” and very much in love with themselves. Barbour jackets and Jansport bags galore.  This species will typically leave room for cats around them to fully dominate their surroundings. Litter they refuse to tidy away upon departing often marks their absence.

Both groups are very busy throwing their Law Willies around, spouting names of Judges and Partners they “know” or are related to.  Nobody outside that little group listens.

We all end up equal at University – a student number and unflattering photo on a piece of white plastic.

So You've Made it to Lectures. Now What: Wherein LL Rants

Image: JT Zuhlsdorf www.wdtprs.com 

Most if not all places where lectures, seminars, and talks are given are specifically designed places.  They have a specific purpose.  The very layout of the room ensures everyone can see and hear what the presenter is doing/saying.  It is a place where knowledge is imparted and questions can be asked.

  Some even have specific dedications - in honour or memory of a specific alumnus who achieved great things (or just happened to have a lot of money, as in the case of Carole Nash - there are lots of music auditoriums named after her).

There are a videos on Youtube of lecturers losing their patience at students talking during the lectures.  It's highly distracting.  During my last degree, I saw at least ten people ejected from lectures within the first week because they weren't courteous enough to not gab.  Then too self-absorbed to apologise. 

People teaching through lectures, seminars, and tutorials aren't just doing this for sh**s and giggles, they want you to succeed.  They've probably prepared long and hard so they can talk fluently and give you extra nuggets of information for the exams. Listen to them - or at least pretend to.  

What I've learnt through the faults of others

1. Show up on time, or sneak in at the back silently and take a seat near the back if you're late.

2. Phones away and on silent.  It's only an hour, or maybe even 45 minutes. You can survive without it.

3. Ask the lecturer if you can record the lecture before placing the dictaphone on the desk.

4. Do not ask questions during the lecture.  Wait until the end or do it by email. Otherwise you shall make enemies.  Don't be 'that guy.' 

5. If you're told to be quiet by a fellow student, obey.  Don't be 'that guy.'  Your life isn't so important that you can interrupt others' learning.

Please remember this, you lecture-blabbers, when you 'yuk it up' at the back (or even the front) of theatres; when you get your phones out for selfies or Facebook chat; when you snigger at the diligent student who turns around and tells you to shut the f*** up.  This is Higher Education, not Costa Coffee or High School.

A friend of mine lectures for an LLB course, and the students who bother to show up are apparently the worst behaved in the faculty, closely followed by those studying the GDL at another institution.  She has a dim opinion of them.  

Sorry… am I not being fluffy enough?  “Time’s have changed!”, you say? "We do it quietly!" "We've paid to be here so will do what we want."

I don’t think so.  Don't be 'that guy' - you will make contacts at Law School, and the person who told you to shut up in Land Law may well, one day, be a Partner in a Firm who turns you down for a job because you were a dick in years past.

In case you missed them...

Ultimate Guide to Writing a Law Personal Statement

New Year's Resolution

Paralegal Route to Qualification 

Apprenticeships in Law

Law in a Box

This week I took delivery of books for my degree.  A late Christmas present from myself to myself.  

See if you can match the Module to my much more accurate Book Titles:


So Your Client Thinks They're in an American Law Drama

Imaginary Funds

Have You Been Injured or Killed in an Accident That Wasn't Your Fault?

The Module Everyone Almost Fails

That Bit You Need to Understand the Rest of the Course

Things Your Friends Will Ask You About Because "You're a Lawyer"

That Pesky Law Making Entity We'd Sometimes Rather Ignore

Jeremy Kyle


Module Titles (mixed up)

Constitutional and Administrative Law

Land Law

European Union

Family Law 

Equity and Trusts

Criminal Law

Law of Tort

Contract Law

Question: Blogging...

Always nice to answer reader questions:

Hi, I started a blog months back and I can't find fresh stuff to write on, do you have certain rituals routines and is it important for a associated writing space just for you and how do you get creative or do you need to be simply popular? 

My writing space is anywhere I might salvage a few extra moments of quiet; together with WiFi that isn't slowed by other people either looking at naughty things over the hairnet, or stealing my passwords *cough* avoid Caffe Nero *cough*.  

This is occasionally the loo, or more often than not, the train (until Mrs Smelly asks me to move so her Primark Couture bag can sit on my seat, or Mr Liverpool Accent pesters me for 'eleven pence cheersthanksmate').

So my advice to you, dearest, is that there are bloggers everywhere, so good luck with that...

Image: http://www.motifake.com/

New Year's Resolution

I was absolutely thrilled to see that we can exist in 2015 thanks to Mr New Year, the Internet, and of course the United States of America (who always seem to get a look in on anything decent).  Here is the resolution:

THE YEARS ACT

WRITTEN RESOLUTION

Resolution in writing of the sole director of the world (the "New Year") dated this 1st day of January 2015.

BACKGROUND

A. The World is organised and operates under the laws of the New Year.

IT WAS RESOLVED THAT

1.  A new year may begin on this day.

Dated in the Country of The United States of America on the 1st day of January 2015.

Director Name:  THE NEW YEAR        

See what I did there?  Happy New Year, may 2015 be your annus mirabilis.  


Image Source: http://www.bradmontgomery.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Scribble.png