I just returned from my meeting at the beautiful Sage Bistro on campus. It's the locale for our Friday night banquet that's happening during Orientation Week and my favourite lunch spot on campus (when my dad is paying). It got me really excited for Orientation Week which is less than two weeks away! Besides the rolling mountain landscape and the Pacific backdrop, I could picture all the connections that are going to be made in that room shortly. Some of the people that I met during Orientation Week have become some of my closest friends and I'm excited for all of you to meet one another and have the same experience over fresh spaghetti bolognese, four cheese ravioli and tiramasu! (Yes, I just finalized the menu...)
Another event that's been in the forefront of my mind lately (and not because it's hard to plan) is "The First Lecture with Anne Giardini". Besides being the president of Weyerhaeuser, an active member of her community and mother of three children, she's a best-selling author. I bought her latest novel "Advice for Italian Boys" last week-end and have been enjoying reading it while picturing her hectic life as she wrote it and worked full-time. If you need a good read before school starts, I definitely recommend it or perhaps her other novel "The Sad Truth about Happiness" which I haven't had the pleasure of reading...yet!
If you have any questions about any of the Orientation activities/events/schedule or pasta give me a call (604) 827-3552 or email: orientation@law.ubc.ca
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Monday, August 10, 2009
Summer sun something's begun...
Besides being my go-to karaoke song, "Summer Loving" from Grease is an apt title for this post because that is precisely what I'm doing right now, loving my summer. Not only do I get to look up drink specials at work (as part of my job--honest), it's allowed me the flexibility to go travel for a few weeks (well, that and my student loans...), which brings me to the real point of my post: summer jobs.
A lot of people start law school already stressed out about where they are going to work that summer. The first few weeks of September and the Career Services Office is teeming with first years wanting to know about summer positions. I'm no CSO expert (but don't worry--you'll meet the real experts during Orientation Week) but I can shed a little light on some of the opportunities that are open to first years for their summer jobs.
My job: my job is wonderful and I would highly recommend it to anyone and everyone, but unfortunately there's only one job, so I can't really go about doing that. If you love to plan events, enjoy working with people and have lots of energy it may be perfect for you. This year there were two other jobs open at the faculty--Student Services Assistant and Careers Services Assistant, but this may change from year to year. If you do get the opportunity, definitely apply for these jobs as they're fun and allow you to get to know the faculty and staff in a different capacity.
Research Assistants: lots of professors are working on projects and research and many need research assistants. These jobs are often posted on the Career Services website or can be established in a more casual capacity by going and talking to a professor whose area of interest aligns with your own.
Fellowships: a few law firms offer fellowships where students get to work alongside a professor and become immersed in his/her research.
LSLAP: Law Students Legal Advice Program offers around 20 full-time summer jobs. These jobs are obtained in a job-draw usually held around early April. You get ballots for the job draw by volunteering with LSLAP throughout the year. LSLAP summer students almost always get to go to court and get a lot of first hand experience with real legal issues...and there's also a great camping trip involved...
ProBono, Canadian Journal of Family Law, Law Revue: are some other student organizations that offer summer positions. Again, these positions may be obtained by general job postings OR from students volunteering with these organizations throughout the school year and then being a priority for any summer job that comes up.
Summer jobs are really the least of your worries right now as a soon-to-be 1L, but if you want more information our amazing Career Services office has lots of info on their website or in person: www.law.ubc.ca/careerservices
If you have any questions about drink specials, orientation week or anything else for that matter give me a call (604) 827-3552 or email: orientation@law.ubc.ca
A lot of people start law school already stressed out about where they are going to work that summer. The first few weeks of September and the Career Services Office is teeming with first years wanting to know about summer positions. I'm no CSO expert (but don't worry--you'll meet the real experts during Orientation Week) but I can shed a little light on some of the opportunities that are open to first years for their summer jobs.
My job: my job is wonderful and I would highly recommend it to anyone and everyone, but unfortunately there's only one job, so I can't really go about doing that. If you love to plan events, enjoy working with people and have lots of energy it may be perfect for you. This year there were two other jobs open at the faculty--Student Services Assistant and Careers Services Assistant, but this may change from year to year. If you do get the opportunity, definitely apply for these jobs as they're fun and allow you to get to know the faculty and staff in a different capacity.
Research Assistants: lots of professors are working on projects and research and many need research assistants. These jobs are often posted on the Career Services website or can be established in a more casual capacity by going and talking to a professor whose area of interest aligns with your own.
Fellowships: a few law firms offer fellowships where students get to work alongside a professor and become immersed in his/her research.
LSLAP: Law Students Legal Advice Program offers around 20 full-time summer jobs. These jobs are obtained in a job-draw usually held around early April. You get ballots for the job draw by volunteering with LSLAP throughout the year. LSLAP summer students almost always get to go to court and get a lot of first hand experience with real legal issues...and there's also a great camping trip involved...
ProBono, Canadian Journal of Family Law, Law Revue: are some other student organizations that offer summer positions. Again, these positions may be obtained by general job postings OR from students volunteering with these organizations throughout the school year and then being a priority for any summer job that comes up.
Summer jobs are really the least of your worries right now as a soon-to-be 1L, but if you want more information our amazing Career Services office has lots of info on their website or in person: www.law.ubc.ca/careerservices
If you have any questions about drink specials, orientation week or anything else for that matter give me a call (604) 827-3552 or email: orientation@law.ubc.ca
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
A mature student's take on law school
Special guest blog entry by Laura McPheeters
You've read on this blog about the trike race, beer-ups and small groups. You've heard that the social aspect of law school is extremely important and that you will make your best friends here. Many law students on the good side of 30 fully participate in all of that and have large circles of friends. On the other hand, many don't have the time or inclination to do more than attend class and read or study in the library, and they still have a rewarding time at school.
I have three young kids and I've already been to graduate school and had a career. I am a part-time student, so I'll be around longer than most. In three years so far, I have yet to see the trike race or set foot in a beer-up. Nevertheless, I have made friends in school through participation in classes, moots, clinical programs and the Mature Law Students' Association, a loosely-knit group I started up two years ago.
For what it's worth, here is my advice to incoming mature law students. Stay focused on what you want from school. If you want a social whirl, go for it. If you already have a full and busy life, then use your time efficiently at school. Go to class, go to the library, go home. You won't be the only student who doesn't go to the beer-up. Don't worry, you'll meet great people through the clinics, moots or other activities that you choose to spend your time on. Get to know your small group even if you don't see them outside school; it's good to have allies at school if, let's just say, your hard drive dies and you lose several months' class notes because you've been lazy about backing up. Voice of experience speaking...
If you have any questions about being a mature or part-time student, please email me, Laura, at elderlylawstudents@gmail.com. Welcome to law school!
You've read on this blog about the trike race, beer-ups and small groups. You've heard that the social aspect of law school is extremely important and that you will make your best friends here. Many law students on the good side of 30 fully participate in all of that and have large circles of friends. On the other hand, many don't have the time or inclination to do more than attend class and read or study in the library, and they still have a rewarding time at school.
I have three young kids and I've already been to graduate school and had a career. I am a part-time student, so I'll be around longer than most. In three years so far, I have yet to see the trike race or set foot in a beer-up. Nevertheless, I have made friends in school through participation in classes, moots, clinical programs and the Mature Law Students' Association, a loosely-knit group I started up two years ago.
For what it's worth, here is my advice to incoming mature law students. Stay focused on what you want from school. If you want a social whirl, go for it. If you already have a full and busy life, then use your time efficiently at school. Go to class, go to the library, go home. You won't be the only student who doesn't go to the beer-up. Don't worry, you'll meet great people through the clinics, moots or other activities that you choose to spend your time on. Get to know your small group even if you don't see them outside school; it's good to have allies at school if, let's just say, your hard drive dies and you lose several months' class notes because you've been lazy about backing up. Voice of experience speaking...
If you have any questions about being a mature or part-time student, please email me, Laura, at elderlylawstudents@gmail.com. Welcome to law school!
Friday, July 31, 2009
Boxes and boxes and boxes...oh my!
As I sit here at my work computer dripping in sweat, I cannot begin to imagine how hot the movers have been these past few weeks. In case you haven't been around the Lower Mainland, we're in a heat wave that's comparable to the one I experienced in Israel this past May! Conveniently, this is when the Law School has planned the BIG MOVE!
Our lovely "Curtis" building (named after the first dean of UBC Law) has been the home to UBC Law for the past 30 years. I'm sure it was a lovely home in the seventies and probably the eighties as well. But come the 21st century and this home was more of a shack, a shack that didn't have enough computer outlets, looked like a cement bunker and necessitated blankets and down vests in some of the classrooms during winter.
The Law School has successfully fundraised millions of dollars to build us a new mansion! So Curtis is going down and we're moving to University Centre Lower Level (next to the Rose Garden, with a view of the ocean, and almost enough outlets for our computers!) for the next two years. All information pertaining to the move can be found here: http://www.law.ubc.ca/current/move_info.html
If you have any questions on avoiding dehydration, UBC Law or anything else give me a call (604) 827-3552 or email orientation@law.ubc.ca
Our lovely "Curtis" building (named after the first dean of UBC Law) has been the home to UBC Law for the past 30 years. I'm sure it was a lovely home in the seventies and probably the eighties as well. But come the 21st century and this home was more of a shack, a shack that didn't have enough computer outlets, looked like a cement bunker and necessitated blankets and down vests in some of the classrooms during winter.
The Law School has successfully fundraised millions of dollars to build us a new mansion! So Curtis is going down and we're moving to University Centre Lower Level (next to the Rose Garden, with a view of the ocean, and almost enough outlets for our computers!) for the next two years. All information pertaining to the move can be found here: http://www.law.ubc.ca/current/move_info.html
If you have any questions on avoiding dehydration, UBC Law or anything else give me a call (604) 827-3552 or email orientation@law.ubc.ca
Monday, July 27, 2009
Prep time
Lately I've been getting some questions about whether/how new students should prepare before coming to UBC Law. Well, my best advice (disclaimer: I am a law student and not part of the academic services) would be to lie on the beach. There was nothing I was more thankful for last December, than the fact that the summer prior to starting law school I took the time to lie on the beach in Greece and read trashy chick lit. (Yes, I love Sophie Kinsella--who was a lawyer by the way!)
In fact, picturing myself lying on the beach was part of my calming visualization techniques I used when I was scared before an exam was about to begin. I was very thankful that the summer beforehand I had given myself a plethora of experience on which to draw from. So for now, enjoy this wonderfully warm BC weather (if you're in the area) and grab a patch of sand.
In fact, picturing myself lying on the beach was part of my calming visualization techniques I used when I was scared before an exam was about to begin. I was very thankful that the summer beforehand I had given myself a plethora of experience on which to draw from. So for now, enjoy this wonderfully warm BC weather (if you're in the area) and grab a patch of sand.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Trike races and ice cream on your faces
Law school is shockingly social. I drank more beer (scratch that--ciders) than the sorority-filled days of my undergrad. Every other Friday there is generally a beer garden for the law students, where we can get together and talk about the Oakes test and other nerdy law subjects that no other group of people would ever consider as socially appropriate conversation while a beer is in hand. And beers don't always have to be in hand either...sometimes it's ice cream sundaes. There are trivia afternoons where you form teams with your professors and compete (viciously) against other student/professor teams, while ice cream drips down your chin. And then, sadly, but socially none the less, are the study days/nights/mornings (sometimes consecutively), when you spend all day and night in the library together, whispering amongst the study carrels and ordering sushi or pizza to be delivered to the library and as you eat it together for dinner/breakfast? There are also dinners at law firms, Canadian Bar Association mentoring banquets and plenty of sports teams to join.
There are a few law social events that are specific to UBC Law, so specific in fact that any other person at UBC walking by would fear deeply for the future of the legal profession in BC. I'm referring to the annual Trike Race. A tradition so ingrained at UBC Law that many of our profs will regale you with stories of their trike race days as UBC Law Students. This event consists of teams of four chugging a beer and then racing one another on tricycles while the rest of the law school pegs them with water ballons. The kicker is that this year, there was still snow on the ground as they competed.
Check out a list of some of the social events here: http://www.law.ubc.ca/orientation/extra_curricular/social.html
If you have any questions about social events, tricycles or UBC Law in general, please give me a call: (604) 827-3552 or email: orientation@law.ubc.ca
There are a few law social events that are specific to UBC Law, so specific in fact that any other person at UBC walking by would fear deeply for the future of the legal profession in BC. I'm referring to the annual Trike Race. A tradition so ingrained at UBC Law that many of our profs will regale you with stories of their trike race days as UBC Law Students. This event consists of teams of four chugging a beer and then racing one another on tricycles while the rest of the law school pegs them with water ballons. The kicker is that this year, there was still snow on the ground as they competed.
Check out a list of some of the social events here: http://www.law.ubc.ca/orientation/extra_curricular/social.html
If you have any questions about social events, tricycles or UBC Law in general, please give me a call: (604) 827-3552 or email: orientation@law.ubc.ca
Monday, July 13, 2009
The New Facebook
For someone who loves to stay on top of all things current, you'd think I'd have a better grasp on current affairs. But sadly, I know a lot more about Brittany's latest saga than what is happening in Iraq. Since starting law school (no, we'll tell the truth--it all started last year when I was going to an interview and knew I'd be asked about current affairs, so along with facebook every morning I checked The New York Times and The Vancouver Sun) I've started to keep up with more than just Perez's blog.
It took me a while to get caught up with the world. A while, and some embarrassing questions to my father which resulted in him asking me on what bubble I'd been living for the past 22 years. But now I'm hooked. www.vancouversun.com is my new facebook and I get the New York Times headlines emailed to me every morning.
What's hooking me to these wordly affairs is more than not just looking vacuous amongst friends and parents. What's hooking me is that every other story on the front page of the Vancouver Sun has an element that is law-related and that I've probably touched on in class. For instance, Vincent Li's verdict was being released just as we were learning about why people would be held not criminally responsible for reason of a mental disorder in criminal law class. Two years ago the most I could have told you about Kyoto is that it's a place in Japan and you could probably find sushi there; now, I've studied a case on a non-profit group that brought the government to court for not adhering to their obligations under the Kyoto Protocol. Whether I find these subjects innately interesting or inexorably boring, I now have the knowledge to understand what is happening in this world on a deeper and more technical level, such as the logistics behind Chris Brown's court case.
If you have any questions about Perez Hilton, Law Orientation Week or anything else be sure to give me a call (604) 827-3552 or email orientation@law.ubc.ca
It took me a while to get caught up with the world. A while, and some embarrassing questions to my father which resulted in him asking me on what bubble I'd been living for the past 22 years. But now I'm hooked. www.vancouversun.com is my new facebook and I get the New York Times headlines emailed to me every morning.
What's hooking me to these wordly affairs is more than not just looking vacuous amongst friends and parents. What's hooking me is that every other story on the front page of the Vancouver Sun has an element that is law-related and that I've probably touched on in class. For instance, Vincent Li's verdict was being released just as we were learning about why people would be held not criminally responsible for reason of a mental disorder in criminal law class. Two years ago the most I could have told you about Kyoto is that it's a place in Japan and you could probably find sushi there; now, I've studied a case on a non-profit group that brought the government to court for not adhering to their obligations under the Kyoto Protocol. Whether I find these subjects innately interesting or inexorably boring, I now have the knowledge to understand what is happening in this world on a deeper and more technical level, such as the logistics behind Chris Brown's court case.
If you have any questions about Perez Hilton, Law Orientation Week or anything else be sure to give me a call (604) 827-3552 or email orientation@law.ubc.ca
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)