I'm traveling. And thinking. Hope to see some of you as I move around. John, I'll be in Chicago next weekend - perhaps you can tell me about your work next Friday night? Nona, I met your freshman year roommate yesterday in Kansas City...

-- DRussellKraft - 18 Jun 2010

One thing that I wish I had focused on more during my first year is being concise. I'm a pretty verbose person, and thought that it was incredibly difficult to keep my LPW memos to 12 pages. Writing 1000 word papers for Eben was even harder. Being in an office full of attorneys who are short on time and in most situations don't have time for anything over a 250 word summary of an issue that I present to them, I'm certainly learning the importance of keeping things short. It's definitely something that I hope to work on over the course of the summer and throughout law school.

-- DavidGoldin - 18 Jun 2010

Hi Everyone! This summer, I am working for a judge in the civil department of the Los Angeles Superior Court. My co-extern bailed before our job started, so I have a one-on-one relationship with the judge which is allowing me to learn a lot, but is sometimes intimidating.

I am most struck by how much time and how many resources our court system will give to a meaningless dispute. The judge I work for is a hard-working and learned man, who spends hours of his days dealing with people who are blatantly taking advantage of our system's low-bar to entry. If I were permitted to discuss the Court's business, I would have tales to tell.

I am quite lucky because I get to watch lawyers come into court every morning and advocate for their clients. It took about 5 minutes to see the difference between a good attorney and a bad attorney. Every day, I learn how I can use my license in a better way.

Mostly, I am learning to be well-prepared. It is striking to see how many lawyers don't know their stuff.

-- NonaFarahnik - 17 Jun 2010

This summer I am working at the Legal Assistance Foundation in suburban Chicago. It is a general services office, so I see all types of cases, such as evictions, domestic violence, unfair collection practices, mortgage scams, and public benefit disputes. I mostly conduct initial client interviews and observe court proceedings. The cases are much more fact intensive than law intensive so legal research is light. The work is satisfying and it is nice to help real people with legal problems. Some general observations:

1.People really need lawyers, and most of them needed a lawyer six months before they finally decide to consult one.

2.Inadequate health insurance causes or exacerbates the legal problems of about 40 percent of the clients.

3. There is nothing more heart-wrenching than listening to a battered spouse discuss an abusive partner. The look of despair and hopelessness in their eyes is horrifying.

4.If you want to see a trial happen in three minutes, go to an eviction trial.

5.I have never fully appreciated the necessity of public welfare programs until now.

6.Getting the full story from clients is difficult. I am constantly reminded of Eben’s tale of beating the truth out of his client.

-- JohnAlbanese - 17 Jun 2010