Second year at Jimmy Green Hall

As I reach the midpoint of the semester, I have found the second year of law school to be busy yet enjoyable. Now that I feel like the pace of the semester is beginning to slow, I have had a chance to realize how much I miss the summer. I am sad to see that summer has ended because I had a good time gaining experience working in Wichita. I enjoyed putting some of what I learned the first year to use, dealing with real client problems, and, of course, the weekly competition of lawyer league softball.

With the end of summer, the lawyer softball league season came to a close with the playoffs and a banquet at the always convivial Larry Bud’s Sports Bar & Grill. As my team surged toward a last place finish in the league, I didn’t have much of a chance to recognize the joy of playing a sport, however badly, as a way to relax away from the practice and study of law. Only now do I realize how precious those moments were when 45-year-olds tore muscles and broke bones trying to relive their glory days.

Although the second year has been more enjoyable than I thought that it would be, as the weeks began to pass I realized that I had a hole in my heart–a hole the size of a men’s slow pitch softball. Naturally, I, like thousands more on KU’s campus, have tried to blunt the pain caused by the absence of glory in one sport this time of year by turning to basketball. Every week, I meet up with fellow law students to recreate the festive nature of lawyer league softball.

So far, the games have been a success. There are guys who haven’t played since junior high, like me, a couple who played in college, some former collegiate female stars, and even a former WNBA player. Despite the dimly lit, too-small court and the old and injured knees, the joy of reliving those glory days serves as a nice break from studying.

James Carter, 2L

Google Maps helps you out on Election Day

Take a trip to Google Maps and you will see something different today! Google is making it easy for you to find all the information you need to vote.

http://maps.google.com/vote

Simply type in your full address and Google will provide you with the location of your polling place along with directions. On top of that, Google lists the candidates who will be on your ballot.

Most impressive is the inclusion of resources for voters. Notice that included in the Kansas search is the Kansas election website, voter registration search and information for absentee voters.

So now you have no excuse! Get out there and vote, people!

W. Blake Wilson
Instructional & Research Services Librarian

An introduction to OUTLaws & Allies

OUTLaws & Allies is the LGBT club here at KU Law. We want to give lesbian, gay, bi, and transgendered law students, as well as our straight allies, a safe place to learn the law, meet others with similar interests, and attend legal conferences pertaining to the issues that affect our everyday lives and to have a good time in the process. We also work with the OUTLaw club at UMKC and with KC Legal, which is the Kansas City LBGT Bar Association. This allows us a unique opportunity to meet and become acquainted with other law students and working attorneys, including many KU Law alumni. Every February we attend a weekend LGBT Law Conference in St. Louis along with several other Midwest law schools. If you have any questions regarding any aspect of law school or the OUTLaws in particular, please contact me at Rrash1@ku.edu.

Ryan Rash, 3L
President OUTLaws and Allies

Getting involved at KU Law

KU Law affords students countless opportunities to tailor a legal education to meet your personality. Combined with a smaller to mid-sized student body and comparable to other reputable law schools, students receive the individualized attention foundational to a successful experience. Entering law school, I have always hoped to work in Kansas City at either a corporation or law firm. Therefore, I sought opportunities that would best prepare me for my future. KU Law exceeded my expectations.

As a first-year student, I was immediately presented with opportunities for mentorship and networking. Career Services provided me with a valuable mentor to explore the ins and outs of networking and job-prospecting in Kansas City. I was also paired with a Dean’s Fellow (upper-level student mentor) that provided a valuable student-perspective on the transition from undergraduate to law school. Additionally, the student body has countless organizations, social events, and activities to choose between. Immediately, I felt connected and involved in my law school.

As the year progressed, I began exploring more substantive opportunities to gain hands-on experience. I participated in the joint writing competition and was accepted to the Kansas Journal of Law & Public Policy. On the Journal, I had the opportunity to edit, review, and cite-check the work of prestigious practitioners, professors, and scholars. This perfectly aligned with my desire to develop strong legal writing and researching abilities. I also obtained an invaluable position as a judicial extern for Magistrate Judge K. Gary Sebelius through KU Law’s Judicial Clinic. This provided a real opportunity to understand the practice of law as a young attorney and apply my classroom learning in a meaningful way.

As a third-year student, I feel ready and able to tackle upcoming challenges. Additionally, each of these opportunities led to new and exciting opportunities. For example, I am currently the Senior Symposium Editor for the Journal and will help host a symposium on “The Role of the States in Federal Healthcare Reform” in February 2011. I know that the skills and experiences I had were made possible because KU Law values students having opportunities at their disposal. In considering law schools, be sure to consider not just how the classroom environment will contribute to your learning; strongly consider how the larger law school experience will facilitate your development as a young attorney. I could not be more satisfied with my choices and experiences at KU Law.

T.J. Trum, 3L

Witchcraft trials

Less than a week until Halloween and we definitely do not have a shortage of witches in the news. From Delaware Senate candidate Christine O’Donnell’s campaign ad to the Witch’s Wit beer label controversy, October is definitely the season of the witch!

As I’m sure you know Western culture has quite the history with witchcraft. In the United States, we have the notoriety of the Salem witch trials but, to no surprise, the trials held in 1692-1693 were not the first trials nor were they the last. So what about the others?

Wondering this myself, I decided to check out a database the Wheat Law Library subscribes to called The Making of Modern Law: Trials, 1600-1926. A simple keyword search of “witchcraft” turned up some very interesting results!

Included in the results are records of trials, such as Record of the Trial of Grace Sherwood In 1705, Princess Anne County, for Witchcraft N.p., c.1705. This is a seven-page transcript of the procedures which occurred in one case. The language can be a bit hard to follow at times but well worth a look.

Most interesting in the results was a book entitled American Criminal Trials by Peleg W. Chandler, 1841. This 441 page monograph covers what the author sees as the most important cases to date in the United States. Meant for public consumption, it reads more like a piece of literature rather than a case book. In it is a chapter dedicated to the Salem witch trials.

So why not check out The Making of Modern Law and see what you can find? Try other Halloween-related terms for the fun of it and let me know what you discover!

W. Blake Wilson
Instructional & Research Services Librarian

Organization for ‘non-traditionals’ provides support and camaraderie

Today, I was chatting with classmates about media coverage of high-profile cases and how it affects the jury pool. To provide an example, I commented on the intense coverage as the nation watched a white Bronco run the highways of LA and how many of us walked away with strong opinions that day.

“How old are you?” said the classmate to my right.
“27,” I answered, not sure how that was relevant – but dreading what I knew would follow.

“Yeah, we were in third grade during the OJ thing. We don’t remember it.”

Ah yes, the life of a non-traditional student. It involves daily reminders that you aren’t quite like everyone else.

I had a job after undergrad and changed my mind about my career aspirations. I didn’t think it was that uncommon, but there are times when I really do feel – different. I’m not even old!

But to a 22 year-old fresh out of undergrad, all bright-eyed, bushy-tailed and full of youthful exuberance, I guess cynical, corporate road kill like myself might as well be their grumpy Aunt Edna.

I’m happy with the choices I made prior to law school. I’m happy that I went into the real world, faced a few dragons, signed my name on a few dotted lines and gained experience in the things we discuss daily in our classes.

And now I’m happy to have a group of fellow “oldsters” so that I don’t have to sit in my rocking chair alone, complaining about “kids today” while shaking my head in exasperation.

The Non-Traditional Law Students Association has found new life and is inviting all non-traditional students to join us. Our first meeting was a meet and greet on October 5. Our next meeting is scheduled for October 26 at 12:30 in room 203. Todd Rogers from the Office of Career Services and other non-traditional graduates will speak with us about job-hunting as a non-traditional student

Non-traditionals are generally defined as those who didn’t go straight to law school after getting their bachelor’s. Some of us have extra appendages (kids, spouses, litters of animals) and most of us go home to numerous chores, mouths to feed in some manner, and maybe even stress over the next mortgage payment. Our ages span from the mid-20s to people who have celebrated their 35th birthday several times over.

It’s a great place to meet others that are “like you” and share war stories about kids eating memos the night before the assignment is due, balancing soccer practice with law prom, and ways to maintain a family life while keeping up with your briefing.

Natalie Hull, 3L