Law Students

Prodigal Daughter

Posted on June 25, 2009
From the Volokh Conspiracy, via google alerts and an anonymous tipster:Congratulations to Recent Boalt Hall [g]raduate Carolyn Zabrycki, whose student article (Toward a Definition of "Testimonial": How Autopsy Reports Do Not Embody the Qualities of a Testimonial Statement, 96 Cal...

On MJ

Posted on June 25, 2009
Obviously you've all heard the news of the passing of Michael Jackson. I don't know how to feel exactly. First, I'm naturally saddened by the loss of any life, especially one as iconic and influential as his. But there's that other part of me. The one that remembers a more umm, erratic, Michael Jackson? I guess, I don't want to be seen as badmouthing the dead especially so close to the tragedy...

Paging IP Nerds

Posted on June 23, 2009
I know it's not one of the bar exam topics, but I have an IP question that someone might be able to answer. In short, Friend T asked me about this situation and it struck me as an interesting legal question worth exploring, so here it is.Friend T recently held an engagement party at some Armenian banquet hall (if you're Armenian, you know the routine: lots of food and envelopes stuffed with cash as gifts...

Help is Nigh on the Student Loan Front

Posted on June 22, 2009
Do I understand all of this? No, to be honest, I don't.But undoubtedly many students will find the article, which features various boalties in its summary of changes in law school loan forgiveness and repayment programs, helpful.

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Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel

Posted on June 20, 2009
Does anyone else see a strong parallel between TJ's recent photo of the excavation at Boalt and the conclusion of the famous children's story, Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel?I mean, how are they going to get the excavators out? It will take either a wrench or a crane.

Budget update

Posted on June 18, 2009
---------- Forwarded message ----------From: Christopher Edley <edley@law.berkeley.edu>Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2009 17:05:29 -0700Subject: Budget updateTo: Students - 1L <students-1ls@law.berkeley.edu>, Students - 2L<students-2ls@law.berkeley...

Won't Somebody Please Think of the 2Ls?

Posted on June 15, 2009
At the gentle urging of the folks at the Clerkship Notification Blog, I figured I'd remind Boalties about that invaluable resource for those pursuing the clerkship path. I'd also point out the many clerkship threads on this blog can be found in the formerly "Kevin Smith" label...

"I'm gunna pass this damn thing" thread

Posted on June 13, 2009
Here's a new thread that is meant to be more focused on bar prep study - questions, advice, mnemonics, bitching about lecturers, etc.To help start it off, try this link to a prior N&B thread on helpful mnemonics.Good luck everyone![Note: I'm going to try to keep this thread at or near the top to encourage use...

Uighurs relocate to new beachfront property

Posted on June 10, 2009
Some very good news indeed: the Obama administration has finally found a country willing to accept 17 of Guantanamo's Uighur detainees. And now the funny bit: that country is...the tiny island of Palau. Of course, Micronesian hospitality isn't free. Per HuffPo, "the U...

Hang on to Your Handgun

Posted on June 06, 2009
As you may know, the Ninth Circuit recently held in Nordyke that the Second Amendment is incorporated into the 14th Amendment's due process clause. Last week the Seventh Circuit held exactly the opposite in National Rifle Association v. City of Chicago (pdf)...

Grades Open Forum

Posted on June 05, 2009
Loathe the idea of this thread, but providing in response to a comment request below.One question I had earlier is how can a 3L get a grade before a 2L in the very same class - aren't we on the same curve?

[Intentionally Left Blank]

Posted on June 02, 2009
Not Sotomayor, but the other Mayor. Commenter with the wittiest/funniest proposed title for this post wins that honor.

Prop 8 Re-Redux

Posted on May 28, 2009
By now we all know that the California Supreme Court has ruled that Proposition 8 is constitutional, but that existing same-sex marriages shall stand. It was probably the correct legal decision, though not the correct moral one.I'm posting to share this link: Today, Ted Olson and David Boies filed a federal equal protection claim challenging the validity of Proposition 8...

Chutspah Watch

Posted on May 28, 2009
Legislature wants greater control over UC policy because they are upset with administrator salaries accompanied by fee hikes. Hmmm. In that case, might I demand greater control over the Legislature for raiding the UC's coffers to cover its own incompetence?

$@!$# the PC at Work For Throwing My At-Home Apple Use Into a Tailspin

Posted on May 28, 2009
That's all.Feel free to share your frustrations & embarrassments during the first week of your summer internship here. (Anyone who ended up in the wrong law firm today after entering the wrong elevator bank, raise your hand. Any hands raised? No hands? Oh...

Sotomayor Talking Points

Posted on May 27, 2009
I have a feeling this is going to get nasty. I know after the 2004 election, during some of the bleakest times for a Democrat, I was itching for a fight over Roberts. But after surveying the political landscape I regretfully realized the impossibility and inanity of such an act...

It's Sotomayor!

Posted on May 26, 2009
I'm heading out the door to my first day of work, so I don't have time to do a lengthy post about this. (Patrick, feel free to update this with your thoughts.) But I thought we should throw up a post about the recent announcement. My two cents: the AP may think she would be the first hispanic justice, but Josiah Bartlett and I disagree...

It Begins [for the rest of us]...

Posted on May 26, 2009
Barbri began for the rest of us today (CA Berkeley location - EDIT: NY Berkeley location is tomorrow). Gotta love that overwhelmed look on everyone's face this morning.In true Berkeley fashion, things got off to a rocky start - notably, tech problems with the video sound...

Who would Jesus ban?

Posted on May 22, 2009
Liberty University (founded by evangelical and Teletubbie-hater Jerry Falwell) has banned the college Democrats student group, citing that the parent organization (the Democratic Party) contradicts the "moral principals" held by the school. These values clearly do not include freedom of speech and political beliefs...

Antitrust Theories for Giggling and Crying

Posted on May 21, 2009
The San Francisco Chronicle has the following story: "Green Day lashes out at Wal-Mart policy"Wal-Mart will not "stock any CD with a parental advisory sticker." Instead, it requests a censored "clean" version. Green Day -- affronted by the request -- refused to provide one...

Fraudulent VISA text message

Posted on May 20, 2009
Just thought I'd warn everyone out there. I received a fraudulent text message today that purported to be about my Visa card. It said that my account had been frozen for abnormal activity and gave a 408 area code phone number to call. I called my bank and credit cards directly and pretty much confirmed that the text was fraudulent, none of my cards were frozen...

Right Back Where I Started From

Posted on May 20, 2009
In the early parts of this decade, a bubble brewing in California burst, tanking the economy. Pundits, grocery store workers, and conservatives called for the Legislature to have the power to save up reserves during boom times to use during bust times...

It begins . . .

Posted on May 18, 2009
. . . well, for some of us at least. For those of us inept enough to demand a live Barbri session, Barbri started this morning bright and early at 9am . . . well . . . more like late and behind schedule at 9:30ish (at least for the SF St. Mary's session)...

Congratulations, graduates! Now get the hell out.

Posted on May 16, 2009
This is an open thread about graduation, JY protests, still-unfulfilled writing requirements, barbri study, inchoate post-graduation plans, and other fun topics.Special recognition goes out to graduands posting between 9 and 11 a.m. And don't worry--it'll be better than the absolutely crap gifts they plan on giving the winners of the "class gift mod participation" competition...

Restatement 1st of Summer Associates

Posted on May 13, 2009
It's been done before. But I figure the complete meltdown of the legal market warrants a new look into the topic of how/what to do as a summer associate. These are just my off-the-cuff thoughts and not authoritative for any firm for reasons that should be obvious...

Potomac Fever!

Posted on May 13, 2009
Today, the SF Gate openly speculates on DE for SCOTUS. Also here (bottom of page).I feel there's not much to say, except to note that many commentators feel the next nominee will be an LGBT female, and to note that DE purports to have fallen in love with the Bay Area, professes no Potomac fever, and claims he'd prefer to spend his days sailing the bay...

DE on NPR re SCOTUS Nom

Posted on May 11, 2009
Here.

Rankings that REALLY matter

Posted on May 10, 2009
The jury's out as to whether USNWR rankings are that big of a deal.What's in? The only rankings that really matter, of course: The First Annual Party Law School Rankings.How did dear ol' Berkeley Law do? Seventh - narrowly edged out by UVA and narrowly edging out UM...

Sixteen Tons

Posted on May 08, 2009
As a commentator notes in the thread below, it will cost $2,864.68 more to attend Boalt next year. But hey, it's always darkest right before it gets even worse, right? Just think: we could be in the class of 2015. What will tuition be then?Now, that's a load off.

Health Insurance with a Twist

Posted on May 08, 2009
I'm sure everyone just got that e-mail about personal info stolen from Tang. I'll repost it in the comments. But I've now had my personal info potentially stolen from UCLA and UCB. Cool.

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