It is important that you take good care of yourself in order to live a long and happy life. You need to be physically, mentally, and emotionally healthy as well to succeed in law school. How does a law student (or lawyer) take care of his/her health while pursing a law degree or a busy law practice?
First, as my mother always says "you are what you eat." Good nutrition is essential to a healthy mind and body. You shouldn't eat pizza, fast food, and ice cream every night - once in a while maybe. Fruits and vegetables should be somewhere in your diet. A nice apple or a salad for example. Your body will thank you.
Second, you should do some type of exercise a few times a week. Not only does exercise help you to maintain the appropriate weight, it also helps you to feel better and think clearly. Take a break and go for a walk. I swim and do yoga most mornings. It helps me to relax and get ready for a challenging day.
Next, find something you really enjoy and do it once in a while. Despite the other things you are doing in life, always make time to have some fun. What is it that you really enjoy? Reading? Read something other than a casebook!! How about an absolutely silly movie? When I was in law school the major films were Star Trek: The Wrath of Kahn and Star Wars: The Return of the Jedi. Nothing like a good science fiction/fantasy story to take your mind off of Torts and Contracts if only for a couple of hours. Actually, I saw each several times.
Finally, build or maintain close relationships with friends or family. It is wonderful to have people to spend time with who care about you and have nothing to do with the law or law school. If you are from a family of lawyers, they will understand your need to talk about something other than the law.
Take care of yourself.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
THE JIGSAW PUZZLE
I just started working on the spring schedule. Some say this is the most important thing I do. If you like to put together jigsaw puzzles you would love to put together our academic schedule. I used to love working jigsaw puzzles when I was younger. Maybe that's why I enjoy doing the schedule.
The first step is to figure out what courses the full-time faculty will teach during the semester. You may have noticed that most faculty have required and bar courses they routinely teach. I teach Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure Pre-Trial for instance. That part is easy to figure out.
The harder part is making the days and evenings work for full-time faculty. For instance, since Professor Foster is teaching Property in the day division, the electives she teaches must be in scheduled in the evening. The bar course she teaches (Decedents Estates) will have to be offered in the evening the semester she teaches it. That also means that the other professor who teaches Decedents Estates, Professor Flannery, will have to teach it in the day division. Because he is teaching Decedents Estates in the day, his other course will have to be offered in the evening. Professor Flannery also teaches Family Law. Since it was due to be offered in the day this semester, he will get to teach it next semester when it will be in the evening. You can see how carefully my house of cards has to be constructed. If one thing changes - lots of other things have to change.
Next, I have to fill in the schedule with other electives. How do I choose those electives? I look at what has been offered in the past and try to get an idea of what should be offered. Some of this depends on what full-time faculty are available to teach. Some of it depends on what adjunct faculty are available to teach. Some of it depends on student demand. Tax classes don't seem to be very popular right now so we don't offer many. Most of our adjuncts practice law full-time or are judges. They work all day so they must teach at night. Believe me, we don't pay enough for them to choose us over their regular job. They teach because they enjoy it even though it requires lots of hours to prepare a class.
Seminars that offer students the opportunity to get Upper Level Writing credit, get offered again and again and again. It is important to give lots of opportunity to meet the requirement. There is also the Policy and Perspectives requirement. Certain class need to be offered to give students a chance to meet this requirement.
If there is some neat new course that can only be offered once in a while, it is offered in the evening division. Evening students can't go to school during the day (normally) but day students can go to school in the evening (most times). If I have a choice, I schedule such classes in the evening.
This started out as a simple explanation of scheduling and has become too long.
The first step is to figure out what courses the full-time faculty will teach during the semester. You may have noticed that most faculty have required and bar courses they routinely teach. I teach Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure Pre-Trial for instance. That part is easy to figure out.
The harder part is making the days and evenings work for full-time faculty. For instance, since Professor Foster is teaching Property in the day division, the electives she teaches must be in scheduled in the evening. The bar course she teaches (Decedents Estates) will have to be offered in the evening the semester she teaches it. That also means that the other professor who teaches Decedents Estates, Professor Flannery, will have to teach it in the day division. Because he is teaching Decedents Estates in the day, his other course will have to be offered in the evening. Professor Flannery also teaches Family Law. Since it was due to be offered in the day this semester, he will get to teach it next semester when it will be in the evening. You can see how carefully my house of cards has to be constructed. If one thing changes - lots of other things have to change.
Next, I have to fill in the schedule with other electives. How do I choose those electives? I look at what has been offered in the past and try to get an idea of what should be offered. Some of this depends on what full-time faculty are available to teach. Some of it depends on what adjunct faculty are available to teach. Some of it depends on student demand. Tax classes don't seem to be very popular right now so we don't offer many. Most of our adjuncts practice law full-time or are judges. They work all day so they must teach at night. Believe me, we don't pay enough for them to choose us over their regular job. They teach because they enjoy it even though it requires lots of hours to prepare a class.
Seminars that offer students the opportunity to get Upper Level Writing credit, get offered again and again and again. It is important to give lots of opportunity to meet the requirement. There is also the Policy and Perspectives requirement. Certain class need to be offered to give students a chance to meet this requirement.
If there is some neat new course that can only be offered once in a while, it is offered in the evening division. Evening students can't go to school during the day (normally) but day students can go to school in the evening (most times). If I have a choice, I schedule such classes in the evening.
This started out as a simple explanation of scheduling and has become too long.
Monday, August 17, 2009
The End of Orientation
Today is the last day of student orientation. Another year - another class launched into the adventure that is law school and the legal profession. I enjoyed meeting students, their parents, and spouses yesterday at the reception. It seems like only yesterday I was a 1L... It was actually long ago and far away. Before we know it graduation day will arrive and the law school part of the adventure will be over. Enjoy it!
Another Associate Dean thing - remember that we are now a non-smoking campus. Smoking is not allowed on any UALR property. This includes the building (of course) and the parking lot. Get the message - it is a very bad habit. It is time to give it up. Students who don't follow the rules get to come see me.
Another Associate Dean thing - remember that we are now a non-smoking campus. Smoking is not allowed on any UALR property. This includes the building (of course) and the parking lot. Get the message - it is a very bad habit. It is time to give it up. Students who don't follow the rules get to come see me.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
OSSA - Out-of-State Student Association
I just learned of a wonderful new student group organized by a couple of 2Ls. The Out-of-State Student Associations (OSSA) will work to acclimate out of state law students to the Little Rock metropolitan area. Members are interested in practicing law inside and outside of Arkansas.
Sounds like just the thing for students new to the area and/or those who want to relocate after graduation. It may seem far off but graduation is just around the corner for all of you!
Look for more information about OSSA. I am sure it will become very active around the law school.
Sounds like just the thing for students new to the area and/or those who want to relocate after graduation. It may seem far off but graduation is just around the corner for all of you!
Look for more information about OSSA. I am sure it will become very active around the law school.
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
No - not the holiday season but the beginning of a new academic year.
That may be an overstatement but I look forward every year to meeting the new students. All that excitement and nervousness.
As you prepare for the first day of class, remember to read the notices posting assignments and the assignments themselves carefully. Many questions can be answered by this simple step. Attention to detail is important.
For the 1L's - TWEN stands for The West Education Network. Most professors set up a TWEN site for their class so that students can easily find the syllabus, assignments, etc... You can get to all of the law school TWEN sites by looking under "Student Affairs" on the law school website.
Remember read carefully!!
That may be an overstatement but I look forward every year to meeting the new students. All that excitement and nervousness.
As you prepare for the first day of class, remember to read the notices posting assignments and the assignments themselves carefully. Many questions can be answered by this simple step. Attention to detail is important.
For the 1L's - TWEN stands for The West Education Network. Most professors set up a TWEN site for their class so that students can easily find the syllabus, assignments, etc... You can get to all of the law school TWEN sites by looking under "Student Affairs" on the law school website.
Remember read carefully!!
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
FIRST CLASS ASSIGNMENTS
It is almost time to start a new semester. First class assignments are rolling in. Keep an eye on the law school website (student affairs) for your assignments.
Remember there is more to life than law school even if you are a law student. Be prepared but relax and enjoy the process.
Remember there is more to life than law school even if you are a law student. Be prepared but relax and enjoy the process.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
SPRING 2010 COURSES
The project for the week is a list of courses to be offered in Spring 2010. All required courses and bar courses (except Conflicts) will be offered.
Suggestions are welcome. The final schedule depends on interest and the availability of faculty (adjuncts and/or full-time) to teach.
Suggestions can be submitted to the Associate Dean at afepps@ualr.edu or Assistant Dean for Student Affairs at vdnation@ualr.edu.
Be patient! The schedule takes time.
Suggestions are welcome. The final schedule depends on interest and the availability of faculty (adjuncts and/or full-time) to teach.
Suggestions can be submitted to the Associate Dean at afepps@ualr.edu or Assistant Dean for Student Affairs at vdnation@ualr.edu.
Be patient! The schedule takes time.
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