Law Students

MBE

Posted on July 28, 2010
Uh... wasn't that supposed to be the easy part? I feel like they were rude not to provide lube.Also, it's pretty cool that Wills and Civ Pro are now MBE topics.

The Arizona Ruling

Posted on July 28, 2010
NYT coverage here and Judge Bolton's opinion is here.  What really caught my eye was a line in the NYT report that legal experts think this ruling is headed for the Supreme Court.  Maybe I misread it, and they meant the case is headed to the SCOTUS, but I think they meant appeal of this ruling will end up in the SCOTUS...

Titans vs. Trojans

Posted on July 26, 2010
No, this is not some reimagination of Homer's classic. Rather it is the lawsuit that the Tennessee Titans filed today against the U$C Trojans and Lane Kiffin for intentional interference with contract. For the college football fans out there studying for the bar, this can be a nice (if not comical) way to review some key concepts: jurisdiction, diversity of citizenship, notice pleading, etc...

Bar 2010 Predictions

Posted on July 26, 2010
As mentioned before, these predictions are very nearly worthless, and the reason I'm posting them the day before (vs. earlier) is because I don't want anyone to give them any weight. But without further ado, my unscientific data analysis and gut lead me to believe that the following will be our essay topics:(in no particular order)1...

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Looking to Take Your Mind of the Bar Exam?

Posted on July 23, 2010
Tune in to CNN's "State of the Union" with Candy Crowley this Sunday at 6:00 am and 9:00 am Pacific for an interview with Dean Edley (via Hotline on Call):Guests for Sunday...Join us this Sunday for State of the Union with Candy Crowley. General Michael Hayden, whose past job credentials range from Director of the CIA to the National Security Agency, will sit down and talk with Candy about the current state of our country's national intelligence program...

N&B Congratulates Victoria Nourse for her Seventh Circuit Nomination (Unlike Boalt)

Posted on July 21, 2010
Boalt Hall has always been a bit parochial. Like Paris, it tends to divide the country up into two regions: its own (California) and "everywhere else." Still, it's suprising that Boalt's webpage hasn't gotten around to congratulating Victoria Nourse (J...

Yes, Oakland is STILL F-ing Dangerous (or, Thank Goodness for McDonald v. City of Chicago?)

Posted on July 17, 2010
A while back I wrote a post entitled "Oakland is F-ing Dangerous." I was responding to what I felt was a disingenuous and rather slimy column by the Oakland Tribune's editorial board, which was in turn responding to a Boalt Hall administrator's claim that Oakland may be a few things other than "vibrant" and "thriving...

Is Mel Gibson a victim?

Posted on July 15, 2010
Like most people with an internet connection, I lost irretrievable minutes of my life listening to Mel Gibson's racist, enraged, and occasionally terrifying telephone conversations with the mother of his child this week. I stopped listening after the third one, but I think we're on tape number five now...

You could be getting course credit for this!

Posted on July 12, 2010
As part of my ongoing effort to have a heart attack before I'm 30, I read the Drudge Report every day. Imagine my surprise when today, I clicked on a random link and saw dear ol' Dean Edley staring quizically back at me! It seems our illustrious Dean has made national news by advocating a fully-online degree program at UC Berkeley...

Sad News

Posted on July 12, 2010
My co-bloggers through the years and myself are former students of Professor Frickey. I understand the current Boalt community received news of his passing from Dean Edley, but I think many alumni may not have yet heard, hence, this post.

Uncle Zeb Goes Digital

Posted on July 12, 2010
If you are a Boaltie and don't know who Uncle Zeb is, shame on you! Run to the library and ask to see the "Zeb Book." Do it now - you will be glad you did.If you are an alum who misses the musing wisdom of our communal cosmic companion, you're in luck...

Steele Justice!

Posted on July 08, 2010
John Steele (this one, not that one) has made Boalties a generous offer regarding the Professional Responsibility component of the California Bar Exam. Here is his message:For Boalties, I am offering some free documents that may help with PR essay questions, and will hold a free webinar to explain my suggestions...

This is Your Brain; This is Your Brain on the Bar

Posted on July 07, 2010
Ugh. I doubt I am the only person who feels irritated, stressed out, and grouchy these days. Is it really already July? This word cloud, which I made from the sample answers to the 2008 and 2009 July California Bar Exams, rather nicely describes the space between my ears:Click the image to enlarge...

Murphy's Law

Posted on July 07, 2010
Looks like the Class of 2010 had the right instinct with respect to the graduation speaker - unlike Uncle Zeb (who was quoted voraciously at the Greek Theatre in May) Professor Murphy has left the building. Congrats to her; it's our loss.

235,000,000 of America's Firearms Killed No One Yesterday

Posted on July 03, 2010
Anticipating that its gun control law will be struck down on remand after last weeks decision in McDonald v. Chicago (that Second Amendment case), the City of Chicago has unanimously passed what it says is the strictest handgun ordinance in the country...

The Mehserle Verdict

Posted on June 30, 2010
This thread comes per comment requests in the bar thread.The murder trial for the BART police officer who shot and killed Oscar Grant is wrapping up. The defense has rested and the jury is expected to begin deliberating on Friday.This morning the judge issued a tentative order taking first degree murder off the table, ruling that the facts as presented to the jury could not support the premeditation element of the charge...

Tomorrow's Big Fix for SCOTUS Junkies

Posted on June 27, 2010
Tomorrow will be a big news day for SCOTUS junkies. Feel free to use this thread to air thoughts on any of tomorrow's anticipated developments: Kagan's confirmation hearings, Stevens' retirement (lawyers at the Court will apparently all be wearing bow-ties), the death of Justice Ginsburg's husband today, tomorrow's expected rulings, or anything else that takes your fancy...

Would You Put Law School on Your Credit Card?

Posted on June 26, 2010
Someone close to me is considering law school after studying economics and sociology at a name brand east coast college. What would you say?My usual advice to prospective law students is, "Don't split the baby. Shoot for a top ten school, and if you don't make it then attend the best school can for free...

Soccer Isn't Going Anywhere or Why It's Too Bad Every American Couldn't Experience Today's Triumph

Posted on June 23, 2010
The soccer landscape has changed in the United States. Those of us who have been life-long fans have noticed this change. For better or worse, some people will continue to trash talk about the world's most popular sport and it's sad that these people fail to appreciate exactly how big this moment was for the United States in the world's most popular sports tournament...

The Beautiful Game

Posted on June 15, 2010
I think co-blogger James has fallen asleep at the wheel, so to speak, so I'm going to create this post that I'll periodically update with my thoughts on the World Cup.So far, not even 1/3 of the way through the opening round-robin of play, a few things stand out...

Yes, the Big XII is a Joke

Posted on June 10, 2010
I'd been avoiding any discussion of college football lest it renew any bitter, hate-filled exchanges between Pac 10 supporters and certain Utah fans.  But a commenter asked, so here's a thread on the moving and shaking in the college football world...

iPhones in San Francisco in a Nutshell

Posted on June 07, 2010
I'm sure anyone who has an iPhone and lives in the Bay Area will relate to this excruciatingly awkward but HILARIOUS video from Apple's own unveiling (or second unveiling, for those of us familiar with the internet) of its new iPhone. Pay particular attention to the audience response to Steve Jobs' call for suggestions on how to fix the problem...

Sportsmanship

Posted on June 03, 2010
News outlets are reporting that legendary Coach John Wooden is hospitalized in grave condition, though I'm hearing through the grapevine that he may have already passed.    As the token Bruin here, I feel obligated to say a few words. Sure, he coached Alcindor and Walton, won 10 NCAA men's basketball titles, wrote countless books on coaching--in sport and in life, etc...

There Was Only One Catch, and That Was Catch-22

Posted on June 02, 2010
Professor WF referred to Article III standing as "a word game played by secret rules." Apparently it's not the only such game. Yesterday the Supreme Court issued a clarification of the Miranda rule: if arrested you have the right to remain silent, but to invoke it you must speak...

A Midsummer Day's Open Thread

Posted on June 01, 2010
Just want to create a more updated post for the readers to share their thoughts and gripes.  June is traditionally a slow month, so we let the commenters do their thing.  But June is also when you truly see the differences between each class...

Moran to UCLA?

Posted on June 01, 2010
The Daily Journal is reporting (subs required) that our very own Rachel Moran has been offered the deanship of UCLA's Law School:Rachel F. Moran, a longtime professor at UC Berkeley School of Law, who took a leave of absence to help found the new law school at UC Irvine, has been offered the position of dean at UCLA School of Law, according to sources close to the selection process...

Turns Out There is More to Bar Review than Beckett's

Posted on May 22, 2010
It is about time to kick off this year's bar exam thread. Feel free to use the comments to discuss crazy people at BarBri, war stories about the exam, or your personal answer to the following multiple choice question:I will bump this thread periodically as need be.

Graduation: The Second Most Anticipated Finale This Year

Posted on May 13, 2010
(I'll give you three guesses on #1.)Someone in the thread below suggested we provide a forum for 3Ls saying goodbye this week. I had planned on posting something touching and sentimental after commencement, but for now, the commenter suggested we post one thing we'll miss about Boalt and one thing we won't...

How to Lose an Offer in Ten Weeks?

Posted on May 12, 2010
With summer associate programs just around the corner (ours starts on Monday I believe), I thought the lucky 2Ls headed in to work this summer might appreciate some tales of advice from us alums.Alums, lay upon us your horror stories that result in previous summer associates receiving that dreaded "no offer...

So, it's Kagan

Posted on May 10, 2010
Many speculated that Obama nominate the successor to Justice Stevens tonight. They were right.It will be current Solicitor General Elena Kagan. Those who feel the Court should have more women, or a greater presence from non-judges will likely be pleased...

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