A Brand New Outlook

So far this semester is very different from my first year, which I found to be largely one dimensional.  I really do think the first year curriculum is designed to keep a person confined to the library.  But don’t take my pseudo-criticism to mean that I didn’t enjoy it.  The subject matter itself is extremely interesting.  So in one sense the constant immersion in academics was somewhat enjoyable.  But the first year of law school truly does redefine the term ‘time management’.  It becomes more like ‘time apportionment’.  It is the difference between managing your time between curricular and extracurricular activities as opposed to apportioning your time between Contract Law and Property Law (notice they’re both curricular).  First year more closely resembles the latter.  But in the second year there is actually enough time and flexibility for a meaningful exploration of extracurricular interests.  I know, because I’ve done it.  And let’s just say it’s amazing how much you can alter your experience simply by changing your vantage point. 

I went to a press conference the other day for the recent Divest from Sudan bill that Rhode Island is attempting to pass.  I am sure you are aware of the massive human rights violations that have been taking place in the Darfur region of Sudan, Africa.  For the past four years the people of Darfur have suffered unspeakable atrocities at the hands of the Sudanese government.  It has occurred to many American states (twenty five to be exact) that the best way to take a stand against these atrocities is to refuse to invest in companies that do business with the Sudanese government.  In February of last year Providence became the first American city to divest from companies that do business with Sudan.  The proposed bill will call for a divestment of the Rhode Island pension fund from two companies that currently do business with Sudan.  This is undoubtedly a worthy goal. Perhaps it is something that some of my fellow future advocates here at the law school can get behind.

I am also a member of the RWU Pro Bono Collaborative, a public interest initiative in which students get the opportunity to work with Children’s Friend Services and a local law firm to design and implement legal rights education workshops.  We will present our first workshop of the year this week.  And by all accounts it is shaping up to be a huge success.  Not only that, but it is election season for the RWU Moot Court Board of which I am also a member.  As a 2L (second year law student in law school lingo), I will be one of the future leaders of the organization.  And because prospective student week is fast approaching here at the law school, the Office of Diversity and Outreach has been rather busy as well.

The moral of this week’s entry is simply this.  Do not believe the hype about law school.  It is true, it monopolizes your time a bit.  And you may eat, sleep and breathe law.  And you will probably no longer be able to watch an episode of Law and Order SVU without editing the story for legal content.  But it will by no means get in the way of your pursuit of the causes, interests and concerns that are most important to you.