Law School Scenario 011

When my college friends talk to me about their jobs, 

wedding plans, vacations, boyfriends, new houses, etc.

Law School Scenario 010

When my friends invite me out 

but I have to stay at home and finish reading for the class.

This is soooo me every single f*$% Friday night :((

Law School Scenario 009

To all those who will take the second week 

of the Bar Exam this Sunday ...

Good luck !

We salute you !

Law School Scenario 008

To all the incoming 1Ls …

Law School Scenario 007

When my non-law friends try to relate 

to my law school experience.

Law School Scenario 006

When my professor calls on me to answer his ridiculously difficult 

hypothetical question  in the class.

This is soooo Persons and Family Relations :))

Law School Scenario 005

When my professor assigns TWENTY cases to read 

and then only discusses FIVE of them the next day.

I was like:

No ... Seriously ?

Law School Scenario 004

When I check my Law School Grades ...

Law School Scenario 003

When my professor keeps lecturing after class is supposed to end.

I was like:

Swear ! We have a Prof like that :))

Law School Scenario 002

When it's time for me to pay my tuition fee in Law School ...

Law School Scenario 001

When I don’t know the answer to my professor’s question 
and look at my seatmates for help.

What to Expect on Your First Semester in Law School

I do not recommend law school for many people, but if you have made the decision to go, and are sticking to it, here are a few things to expect.

The first day of law school, like the first day of any long journey, is exciting and scary. Orientation will probably be the beginning step, where the professors and dean will give speeches about how special you are for being there. If you have gotten into law school, you are special. Specially sado-masochistic. But anyway...

Ano nga ba ang nilalaman ng Cyber Crime Law ??

Sa totoo lang npakaraming ayaw o hindi pabor sa pagpasa ng batas na may kinalaman 

sa malayang pagpapahayag ng saloobin sa mundo ng Internet.

Wala pa akong masyadong pang-unawa sa bagong batas na ito pero hndi ko na kailangan pang maging experto sa batas para hndi mapuna na ito ay taliwas sa sagradong batas na nkapaloob sa 

Sec. 4 at Section 18. (1) Article III also known as The Bill of Rights

"Section 4. No law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech, 

of expression, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and petition the government for redress of grievances."

Section 18. (1) No person shall be detained solely by reason of his political beliefs and aspirations.

Isa akong blogger, responsableng blogger!

Study Tips for the Exams !

It's that time again. Say goodbye to fingernails, goodbye to your social life and goodbye to sleep. Exams are looming, but don't start stressing just yet. QS Top Universities has put together the top 10 study tips you'll need to get the results you want.

1. Give yourself enough time to study. Don't leave it until the last minute. Despite what people say, cramming all the information into your brain the night before isn't the best way to approach an exam. Set out a timetable for your study. Write down how many exams you have and the days on which you have to sit them. Then organise your study accordingly. You may want to give some exams more study time than others, so find a balance that you feel comfortable with.

The Legally Blunt says: Tooomoooo ! Sabi nga ng kwela kong prof sa LegPro kahit gano ka kagaling kung 3 hours ka lang nag-aral , talo ka pa rin sa 8 hours nag-aral ... Medyo mahirap nga langto sa Law School lalo pa at halos puro working students tayo pero sabi nga nila if there's a will , there's a way !

Reviwer for the Finals [1st Year, 1st Sem]

Just click on the Linked Title of the  Subject and there you go !

 You can now download the file ...

Legal Research

by Rufus Rodriguez

Statutory Construction

Prepared by Justin Sucgang

DLSU Law

Legal Profession/Legal Ethics

UP Law

Criminal Law I

Prepared by Atty. Renato Callanta Jr.

The ever generous lawyer/professor from PUP College of Law

Political Law/Constitutional Law I

Prepared by Louie, Carrie, Evelyn, Thel, Gem, Ronald

ATENEO CENTRAL BAR OPERATIONS 2001

Environmental Law I

Prepared by Ma. Sabrina Hernandez

(The humblest person I've ever known)

Persons and Family Relations

UP Law

Go to Law School They Said ... It will be fun they said !

Kung pwede ko lang iinom lahat ng problema tuwing nkaka-encounter ako ng mahihirap intindihing mga cases , malamang lasenggera na ko ngayon .

Minsan pkiramdam ko , ginagawa ko ng coloring book ang mga libro ko ...

Kunyari iha-highlight ko yung mga importanteng details only to find out puro kulay na pala ang buong pahina . tsk !

Case Digests for Statutory Construction

G.R. No. 113092 September 1, 1994

MARTIN CENTENO, vs. HON. VICTORIA VILLALON-PORNILLOS

236 SCRA 197

Facts: The officers of a group of elderly men of a civic organization known as theSamahang Katandaan ng Nayon ng Tikay launched a fund drive for the purpose of renovating the chapel of Barrio Tikay, Malolos, Bulacan. Martin Centeno, the chairman of the group, approached Judge Adoracion G. Angeles, a resident of Tikay, and solicited from her a contribution of P1,500.00. It is admitted that the solicitation was made without a permit from the Department of Social Welfare and Development. As a consequence, an information was filed against Centeno, for violation of PD No. 1564 or the Solicitation Permit Law. Centeno filed a motion to quash the information on the ground that the facts alleged therein do not constitute an offense, claiming that PD No. 1564 only covers solicitations made for charitable or public welfare purposes, but not those made for a religious purpose such as the construction of a chapel.

Issue: Should the phrase "charitable purposes" be construed in its broadest sense so as to include a religious purpose?

Dear Mr. Know-it-all ...

Dear Mr. Know-it-all  ...

Hanga tlaga ko sa taglay mong utak! Bangis mo sa memorization :)) Hindi na ko magtataka kung bakit madalas pa sa madalas eh ikaw ang highest sa mga exam lalo na nitong nakaraang midterm pero tandaan mo ! MAS MATAAS AKO SAYO SA POLITICAL LAW !! di ko na sasabihing bagsak ka dun ^^ hahahaha ! Anyway, that's not the point ... Bilib ako kung gaano ka kagaling mag-explain lalo na pagdating sa mga hypothetical questions parang ngumunguya ka lang ng mani .

Ano nga bang taglay mong sikreto? Ang sabi mo lang samin isa kang full time student .. and so ? Dami namang full time student pero di gaya ng performance mo .. iba eh ! At dahil full time student ka , nagattaka naman ako kung paano ka nkakasurvive sa law school ? Kamusta naman ang gastos ? Pagpapaprint pa lang ng mga cases na babasahin milyon-milyon na ! Samahan mo pa ng mga libo-libong halaga ng mga libro nila Sta. Maria, Bernas at Rufus-Rodriguez. 

Interview with The Hot Law Student Chic

• How much is the tuition fee in PUP College of Law per Semester? 

10, 500 for the first sem... I don't know for the next coming semesters. Refer to this link to get the complete information about fees you'll be paying :)

• How's the classrooms in PUP Law School? 

Isn't it inspiring to inspire ?

This is how my friend/co-worker/featured blogger blog looks like:

Teacher and Writer Wannabe

Click on the link to follow her :)

  

 Her post owing people her "McArthur" peg from writing and of course blogging.

Reviewer on Persons and Family Relations

Click on the link below to download a reviewer on Persons and Family Relations and go share it with your friends and please don't forget to spread this blog to help other law students :)) Thanks !

Persons and Family Relations

UP LAW BAROPS 2007

ONE UP LAW

Reviewer on Political Law I

Click on the link below and feel free to use and share this simple yet very helpful reviewer :)
And if you have law student friends, let them know about this blog. Thanks !

Political Law I Reviewer  

ATENEO CENTRAL BAR OPERATIONS 2001

Persons and Family Relations Course Syllabus

POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES

College of Law

Sta. Mesa, Manila

COURSE SYLLABUS FOR FAMILY RELATIONS

1. THE CONSTITUTION AND THE  REGULATION OF FAMILY RELATIONS

1. The Family (Art. 15, 1987 Constitution)

2. Policy of protection and government support to family.  (Art. 2, Sec. 12, 1987 Constitution)

3. Equal Protection. (Art. 2, Sec. 14: Article 2, Section 1, 1987 Constitution)

2. MARRIAGE

Tuition Fee in PUP College of Law

Currently, the PUP College of Law charges P500 per unit as tuition fee. Thus, a law student will pay a tuition fee of P 9,000 for an 18-unit regular load assuming that he is a full-time student. The amount would be lesser if he is a working student as he cannot surely take a full regular load. A working student may only manage to enroll around 12 to 15 units per semester.

On top of the tuition fee, a law student will also pay miscellaneous fees amounting to P 1,050 which includes medical and dental, library fee, registration fee, energy fee etc. So, all in all a regular full load semester would cost a full time student P 10,050--an amount which is very minimal compared to other law schools. The total amount may however be paid on installment: at least half of which during enrollment and the balance before mid-term examination.

Bedan Law Student died because of Hazing

I just received a text message from my Best friend, also a Freshman Law Student in San Beda telling me about his classmate who passed away yesterday because of hazing so I googled about this information 'cause I think this concerned us, law students, in so many ways. So here's the report from ThePOC.net

A San Beda College of Law freshman has reportedly died Monday due to injuries caused by a hazing incident.

In a statement posted late Monday night on the Facebook page of the San Beda College of Law Student Government (LSG), the victim who allegedly died after undergoing fraternity initiation rites was identified as Marc Andrei Marcos.

“This is what we have confirmed so far: at about 3pm this afternoon, we have received reports that a 1st year Bedan law student, Marc Andrei Marcos from 1P, has been confined at the DLSU Medical Center, Dasmarinas, Cavite, but he did not make it,” the statement said.

Class Suspension as of July 30, 2012

BY RAPPLER.COM
Posted on 07/29/2012 10:41 PM | Updated 07/30/2012 8:09 AM

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED 7 a.m.) - Classes have been suspended Monday, July 30, by local government units and several universities and colleges due to inclement weather brought by the effects of tropical storm Gener (international codename Saola) and the Southwest Monsoon, which has caused flashfloods and cutting electricity since Sunday.

My Theme Song as a Law Student

THE CLIMB

Miley Cyrus

Lawyers/Law Students Dilemma ... I'm sooo busy !

Life's daily challenges and dissappointments puts one in a position where you can't but get busy, it is automatically assumed that the busier you are, the more likely you will achieve your goals or aims in real time. The problem comes when you get so busy you can hardly live your life, where the only thing that comes to mind is to work yourself till you can no longer keep up. When you get to such a stage, you will be tieing a noose round your neck,letting out a laugh could even become a waste of time, a sign that you have fallen into the busy trap.

Lawyers are Liars ... Myth !

There is something that most people do not know. A lawyer is bound to take up any brief that is entrusted to him, regardless of his personal feelings about the truth of his case. It is Law, part of the ethics of the Profession, akin to the dictum that a doctor cannot refuse to treat a patient who comes to him in distress. He is not entitled to refuse any brief except on certain specified reasons, including lack of knowledge of that field of law, ill-health, conflict of interest, etc. So when a person accused of a crime seeks to engage a lawyer, he is duty-bound to defend him, even if he feels his client is guilty as hell. His job is to find out the facts of the case which entitle his client to the least punishment prescribed under law. It is his job – to ensure that his client gets a fair hearing.

Imagine a situation where a person has no right to defend himself. The Police arrest him, the Judge finds him guilty and sentences him without even giving him a chance to say anything in his defense. Even if he is allowed to present his case, his lack of knowledge about the law handicaps him in presenting his case in the best light. That is where a lawyer’s services are necessary. If not, we could as well go back to the Law of the Jungle. Eye for an Eye and all that.

Collection of Funny Lawyer Quotes

• There are three sorts of lawyers - able, unable and lamentable. - Robert Smith Surtees
• Whoever tells the best story wins. - John Quincy Adams
• A Lawyer will do anything to win a case, sometimes he will even tell the truth. - Patrick Murray
• Ignorance of the law excuses no man - from practicing it. - Adison Mizner
• In almost every case, you have to read between the lies. - Angie Papadakis
• A lawyer is a gentleman who rescues your estate from your enemies and keeps it for himself. - Lord Brougham
• A man is innocent until proven broke. - Anonymous

“A lawyer with a briefcase can steal more than a thousand men with guns.” -Mario Puzo


“You win some and you lose some, but you get paid for all of them.” -Anonymous

How do you see your Law Professors?

We have different opinions about what kind of professors do we have. Sometimes, we call them lazy, demanding and frustrating! But what about the good things they have imparted to us? I've known lots of good professors during my stay in PUP-CEFP, they do not only teach what is asked from them to teach, rather, they share life's lesson which you can bring with you wherever you go and things you'll never learn inside the classroom --VALUES . Let me share with you a beautiful article I read in Young Blood (Yes, I'm a fan of this column). This is about an ordinary student and an ordinary Law Professor who taught him extraordinary lessons.

My other father

By: John Paul Samonte
Philippine Daily Inquirer

How to Easily Digest a Case

TIPS ON DIGESTING CASES: You can never escape digesting cases in the College of Law. The objective in digesting cases is to discover how the law was applied. Your professor is less interested in the brilliancy of the lawyer or the parties involved or how they won or lost their case. What matters is how the Supreme Court resolved the issues.

1. DO NOT DIGEST UNLESS YOU KNOW THE CODAL PROVISION. It's a total waste of time. On the contrary, if you know what the law requires, it is easy to determine if the parties obeyed or disobeyed the law. The Court always sides with the party who obeyed the law.

2. DO NOT DIGEST CASES SINGLY. Groups of cases must be digested together because they all apply the same law - sometimes in contrasting manner. Spend the most time thoroughly digesting the first in a batch of cases. Succeeding cases will simply re-apply the same principle. However, look out for reversals of rulings.

Happens after a bloody recitation in Criminal Law I

I really felt so frustrated yesterday afternoon because I wasn't able to finish all the assigned cases for our subject that day (Criminal Law I .. just so you know) 

It was actually very easy understand because of the book/hand-out our good professor provided us .

The thing is .. we were assigned to read tons of cases and bet to tell you , each cases has a minimum of 7 pages and a maximum of 15 pages . Take note ! I used Verdana for the font style and 8 for the size not to mention that I maximized the margins and divided it into 2 columns .. now you got it !

If you've been following My Personal Blog : Simply Jhaycee

You will know that I'm not only a student so that's the main reason why I was sooo f*cking nervous to get called by the professor coz I wasn't able to finish everything ..

Books to have for a First year/First semester Law Student

• Legal Research - Milagros Santos-Ong 
• Statutory Construction by Rufus Rodriguez or Ruben Agpalo
• Legal Profession by Edgardo Villareal
• Criminal Law by Atty. Renato Callanta Jr. (He's actually our professor and he made his own book which is very comprehensive and concise)
• Revised Penal Code (Every Law Student should have one!)
• Constitutional Law I known as Philippine Political Law by Joaquin Bernas
• 1987 Constitution (for Christ' sake!)
• Environmental Law I (No prescribed Author .. just make Google, LawPhil and Chan Robles your reliable Bestfriends)
• Persons and Family Relations Law by Melencio Sta. Maria
• Codal (The pocket size Civil Code of the Philippines)
• Family Code of the Philippines

that's all folks !

Schools with no classes due to flood (July 3, 2012)

State weather bureau PAGASA says a Low Pressure Area (LPA) spotted 30 kilometers north of Ambulong, Batangas is bringing scattered to widespread rains over Southern Luzon including Metro Manila.

At 7:25 am, PAGASA posted on Twitter that flooding is “possible” in “low-lying areas and those located near the river channels.”

“People are advised to monitor the weather condition,” the weather agency tweeted.

FUUUUUUrst terrifying week in Law School !

Many would love to know how it feels like to be in Law School .. As for me , if I only knew anyone who can give me precautionary measures in Law School , I would spend my whole day asking questions to that person but I don't know any! So I guess , it's gonna be a long guessing game journey for me.

An Insider's Guide to Law School

First year, they scare you to death. Second year, they work you to death. Third year, they bore you to death. There's more than a grain of truth to this bit of legal lore: Here's how to stay afloat as you dive into law school, year by year.

Books, movies, and every lawyer you meet feed you the same horror story: Your first year in law school is going to be the toughest of your life, complete with mountains of reading, sadistic professors, and cutthroat classmates. While the experience varies from school to school and student to student, most first-years say that the agony described in "One-L" and "The Paper Chase" is only half the story; hard work and a steep learning curve do come with the territory, but not only is it possible to survive your first year—it's actually possible to enjoy it.

Academics
Grab your new laptop (some schools, such as Stanford, require you to buy one; you'll find that many students actually use them to take notes in class), and hit the ground running. Generally, law schools split the first-year class into sections. You will get to know your sectionmates well, as you take all your classes with them. Though sections disband after the first year, the bonds formed during this intense period are usually some of the strongest in a law school career.

First-year students attend class roughly 14 to 15 hours per week. Whether your courses are yearlong or semester-long depends on the school, but the first-year curriculum is virtually identical at every law school in the country:

• Civil Procedure covers the nuts and bolts of litigation.
• In Torts, you learn about civil injuries and their remedies, often with a healthy dose of economic theory.
• Contracts is the study of enforceable agreements.
• Criminal Law, not surprisingly, covers criminal statutes and penalties.
• You debate the merits of abortion rights, free speech, and gun control in Constitutional Law.
• Property is the study of ownership and rights, and when these rights are infringed.

Most schools also require a first-year seminar in legal writing and research, often culminating in a moot-court exercise where 1Ls argue an imaginary case before a panel of "judges" played by professors or practicing attorneys.

Tip: Some schools require you to dress the part for this, so you may have to spring for a suit.

Conventional wisdom has it right: Be prepared to spend more time reading than ever before. "Nothing prepares you for this much work," says Bethany Currie, a 1L at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. "I'm constantly surprised by how much homework there is." Expect an adjustment period as you learn to read case law, a unique skill that only practice can perfect. "In the beginning of my first year, it took an hour to read and brief a 10-page case," explains Deborah Dencer, a 1L at another Midwestern law school. "But eventually it becomes second nature." In time, you'll find yourself breezing through cases at warp speed.

Briefing a case is just what it sounds like: Creating short outlines for each case helps immensely when you're called on in class; plus, they're an invaluable study aid at exam time. There's no right way to brief a case, but following a set structure helps. Usually, you start by stating the nature of the case and what rule of law it illustrates; following that, you might summarize the key facts, identify the issues, and indicate the court's holding and decision. One student at Cardozo Law School says, "In the first semester, they ask you the facts of the case a lot, so briefing is really helpful. But going forward, you start learning to highlight and to make marginal notes."

A note about outside aids: While commercial hornbooks, casenotes, and outlines (the CliffsNotes of the legal world) are certainly useful to many students, they're not necessarily a substitute for reading the cases yourself.

Tip: Before you shell out money for guides, ask a 2L or 3L for advice and check to see if they're available in the library.

Most schools use the time-honored Socratic method to teach law in the classroom. Rather than lecturing, professors call on students randomly (or for some lucky sections, according to an alphabetical list) and question them at length—in front of the class—about the implications of the assigned reading. This type of dialogue, pioneered by the Greek philosopher Socrates, forces students to arrive at the answer by gradually building a logical chain, link by link. This teaches you to apply legal reasoning in novel situations, instead of merely memorizing the principles behind a given case.

Cold-calling is also an extremely effective method of getting everyone in the class to do the reading every day. It's natural to feel like a deer caught in the headlights when you're called on for the first time; chances are, everyone in the class will freeze up under questioning at some point. While you may never forget the time it happens to you, bear in mind that your classmates will only remember their own moments of embarrassment.

At most schools, class participation won't affect your grades. "Be prepared for daily classes," says Pedro Cervantes, a 1L at the University of Illinois, "but focus more on ensuring that you know how to take the exams at the end of the semester."

The exam period will generally last for two weeks at the end of each semester. Some schools give you a week of reading days to prepare; others might allot only a weekend for this purpose. Exams are often three hours long, writing intensive, and sometimes may be taken on your laptop; at some schools, there are take-home exams for which you will be given a set period of time.

The best way to prepare is to take the exams your professor gave in previous years. Many law schools file them in the library; if yours doesn't, ask your professor if you can see an old exam. Most 1Ls also find it helpful to create course outlines, which boil down the substance of the course into a digestible form. "Put your notes into outline form from the very first day of school," advises a 1L at Suffolk University in Boston. "It saves you a lot of work right before finals." Organizing a study group of two to six friends or sectionmates can help you fill in the gaps and keep you motivated. And stay calm, cool, and collected through the whole ordeal with tips from our resident health guru, Dr. of Law.

Tip: Review for common first-year exams by attending bar prep classes. Although you won't take your bar exam till after your third year, many bar review courses are offered for first- and second-year classes to help students synthesize the material.

Grades generally don't come in for at least three to six weeks after the exam. Professors may post grades keyed to anonymous code numbers on a bulletin board in the school, or you may have to call an automated telephone information system to receive them. At some schools, you still get them the old-fashioned way—by mail.

No matter how you prepare, expect the unexpected when your report card arrives. Most law school courses base grades solely on one do-or-die half-day exam at the end of the semester, and many conscientious students get nasty surprises when they see their grades. Finding yourself in the middle of the curve may be difficult to get used to after the academic success that got you into law school in the first place. But grades "don't mean what they meant in college," Currie points out. "Celebrate with a B+, and be ecstatic if you get an A."

The curve varies from school to school. At some, the same percentage of students gets a certain grade on all first-year exams. Some have set policies, so 25 percent of students may get Cs and many more get As. At others, you may find that no one gets a C, but only 3 percent get As.

Life—Social and Otherwise
You can have a life while keeping up with your classes, but by all accounts, it's a balancing act. Working nonstop with no outlet for your stress is a recipe for personal misery and academic burnout.

"Although it is important to do your best in law school, definitely go out and have a good time," advises Cervantes, who plays on a "beer league" basketball team and maintains a busy social life. Intramural sports teams, cultural clubs, and volunteer opportunities offer the chance to relax and spend quality time with your classmates.

Zachary H. Smith, a 1L at Boston University, says his classmates provide a welcome respite from the daily grind: "For the most part, everyone is friendly and happy to spend time together inside and outside the classroom."

Looking Ahead
The National Association for Law Placement (NALP), which works with law schools and employers to set guidelines for recruiting and hiring, mandates that law schools can't give career advice to 1Ls until November 1, and 1Ls aren't permitted to begin looking for jobs until December 1.

"The limited discretionary time of 1Ls should be spent adjusting to the rigors of law school's academic demands, rather than focusing on employment concerns," explains Paula A. Patton, executive director of NALP. But once December rolls around, it's full speed ahead.

"You think you have a few years before you have to decide what you're going to do," warns Holly Yoshinari, a Harvard first-year, "but you are immediately immersed in interviewing workshops, resume seminars, and the 1L summer-job hunt."

Summer gigs aren't easy to come by, since few firms recruit 1Ls on campus. Expect tough competition for cushy summer associate positions; even at top schools, 1Ls will get numerous rejections for every offer. Sending out 200 resumes and cover letters to firms in your target cities and getting "dinged" (rejected) at 195 isn't an uncommon 1L experience. If you're determined to work for a particular firm, persistence (and good old-fashioned connections) may be more important than what's on your resume. Visit your career office for information on how to conduct the 1L job search. If you don't find out what you need, ask a career counselor for advice.

The most reliable, though certainly not the most lucrative, way to build your legal resume during 1L summer is to take an unpaid internship with a nonprofit organization, such as a legal aid bureau, or a government agency (e.g., a local prosecutor's office). Some law schools provide stipends to students doing unpaid summer work; if yours doesn't, it should still be able to help you apply to private foundations that do.

Tip: If your summer job doesn’t cover all your expenses, ask professors about research opportunities. They’re a great opportunity to boost your resume and earn some extra cash.

You read case law at the speed of light. You write three-hour exams in your sleep. So why is 2L known as the year they work you to death?
In September of your second year, the onslaught of extracurriculars, recruiting, and clerkship hunting pick up where academics left off in May. Your second year is unlikely to be as nerve-racking as your first, but in many ways, it's just as tough.

Academics
There's a knack to taking law school courses, and by the time your second year rolls around, you'll finally feel like you know what you're doing. "Expect that the material will begin to come a little more easily," says Sam Pollack, a 2L at Boston University. But the important thing about your second-year classes isn't whether they're easy or hard, it's the fact that you pick them yourself. After a year of being force-fed civil procedure, torts, and contracts, the opportunity to choose classes that inspire you is a welcome change.

Douglas Sondgeroth, a 2L at Boston College, finds his second-year classes "more difficult, but definitely more interesting and rewarding," in part because they allow students to "explore their own interests and focus on specific issues that a general first-year course cannot consider."

Tip: If your law school allows you to cross-register for courses in other parts of the university, take advantage of it. A course in business, government, or a foreign language adds perspective to your legal education and gives you the opportunity to meet graduate students in other disciplines.

Extracurriculars
For resumé-building types, year two is all about journals. While many schools still have only one journal, usually called the "Law Review," student-edited journals are proliferating, and you may have an array to choose from. At some universities, only the flagship journal (e.g., Harvard Law Review) holds an entrance competition, but at most, high grades or winning writing competitions are necessary hurdles for any journal work. These competitions, or "write-ons," usually take up a week at the end of 1L spring; expect a lengthy project that tests your legal writing and editing skills.

No matter how you get it, a position on the editorial board of a legal periodical is a useful credential throughout your career. The prestige comes with a price tag, however: Anywhere from 10 to 40 hours of your week will be consumed in evaluating manuscript submissions, editing the accepted articles, and tediously checking the accuracy of hundreds of footnotes. If you are intrigued by legal scholarship, the challenge can be fun. For some students, though, it's just another obligation. "Be careful what journal you work for, if you work for [one]," cautions a New York University 2L who is less than fascinated by cite-checking. "It can be a big time-suck and is not very rewarding."

Upper-class moot court is another extracurricular option that can impress potential employers; it's a step closer to the real work lawyers do. Most schools field mock trial teams who argue fictitious cases in nationwide tournaments. Many also offer intramural appellate competitions, where teams of students prepare and argue simulated Supreme Court cases. These activities are excellent training if you intend to go into litigation.

If you're looking for the most practical experience of all, clinicals offer upper-class students the chance to work on cases for actual clients. Clinical work may involve anything from assisting in the composition of a friend-of-the-court brief to single-handedly arguing an eviction trial in front of a jury. Although handling a divorce case for a battered woman or helping to research a death-penalty appeal can be emotionally exhausting, it's likely to be the most satisfying achievement of your law school career. (Read about some current cases law school litigators are working on in Student Litigators: Three Court Fights to Watch.)

Tip: "If your school offers clinical programs or externships, don't hold them off until your third year," urges Seth Eichenholtz, a 2L at Syracuse University.

Recruiting
Deep down, the professors know it: Until 2Ls have their summer offers, no one is paying much attention in class. That's one reason law schools keep moving the fall recruiting season back; at some, like New York's Brooklyn Law School, on-campus interviewing begins as early as August.

Recruiting exposes the naked elitism of the legal profession. Top firms may refuse to interview students whose GPAs are below a certain cutoff, and they adjust that cutoff based on the name of the school. For example, a firm might grant interviews to students at second-tier schools only if they have GPAs of 3.7 or above and are members of the law review; to students at top-20 schools only if they have a 3.3 or above; and to any interested student who attends Yale, Stanford, or Harvard.

Tip: Some firms shun certain schools altogether. But never be shy about contacting a firm that doesn’t recruit at your school; you have nothing to lose but one copy of your resumé.

Signing up for on-campus interviews is usually easy; all you have to do is submit a resume. If there are many options available, choosing firms can be challenging. The number of firms recruiting at each school varies, but most students interview with anywhere from 10 to 30. The pressure to choose wisely is high; 2L summer jobs usually turn into offers for full-time postgraduate work, and many firms hire only those students who have worked for them in the summer.

Tip: Talk to as many 3Ls as possible about their experiences at various firms, and do as much independent research as you can.

Interviewing can be surreal and all-consuming. Brief on-campus interviews force you to present yourself in sound bites to a succession of suits. You need to be poised, focused, and fast on your feet. Callback interviews get more intense. They are usually on-site and can last an entire day as you spend more substantial amounts of time with several members of the firm. Read Interviewing 101 for detailed advice and strategies on how to breeze past the on-campus interviews and turn callbacks into offers.

Tip: If you make callback interviews at a big firm, you'll probably be treated like a maharajah by rich and powerful partners. But don’t let the lobster and champagne banquets distract you from the task at hand: Judge the firm, not its marketing department.

Clerkships
Clerkships (one or two years of researching and writing opinions for a judge) provide an inside look at litigation you can't get anywhere else, as well as a lifelong resume boost. Federal circuit judges interview as early as October of your second year, and district and state judges follow close behind. Unfortunately, law schools outside the top 10 don't always do enough to encourage their students to clerk. If your school doesn't produce many clerks, that may be because few of its graduates apply. If you want a clerkship, go for it.

Make the most of your third (and final) year of law school: Get some rest before entering the world of work.
Your third year is the last bit of freedom you'll have before you take the plunge into the practice of law (or whatever career you choose). But it’s pointless to pay a fortune in tuition just to twiddle your thumbs. Here's how to make the most of a year that's known more for being a waste of time than a rite of passage.

Academics
By the time your third year rolls around, whatever terror accompanied 1L courses will be a distant memory. "Expect to be challenged, not tortured" in your last year, says Heather Parker, a 2000 graduate of The John Marshall Law School in Atlanta. "You can absorb information much more easily and rapidly."

You may find that the real difficulty lies not in staying up to speed in your classes, but in simply staying motivated. If your 2L summer went as planned, you will probably have your post-graduation job lined up already. As long as you don't flunk out, your offer is safe. So unless you're in the running for a degree with honors (and you care about making it), grades are just as irrelevant as they were during the spring of your senior year in high school.

Since the pressure is off, you finally have the opportunity to study what you like and to learn for learning's sake. "You are going to learn what you need to know for the bar when you take the [bar review] class over the summer, so choose classes that truly interest you and that you have wanted to take since you got to school," says an NYU 3L. Chances are, this is it for your academic career, so don't miss the chance to try a course in a new field.

Extracurriculars
If you'd rather not use this year to catch up on sleep, focus on extracurriculars. "I've worked more this year than I have in years past, but that is entirely because of my activities," explains David Bigge, a Harvard 3L.

While extracurriculars may become more intense as graduation approaches, you may also find that the nature of the work changes in positive ways. 3Ls usually run the show at journals, so 2Ls are stuck with the scut work. Take the opportunity to develop your leadership skills, and mentor 2Ls as they learn the ropes at your organization.

Jobs
If you end up without a tempting offer after your 2L summer, the job hunt will dominate your 3L experience. "The earlier you find a job, the less hectic third year will be," says Kevin Willen, a 3L at the Washington College of Law at American University. Even if you have an offer from a firm, you might want to defer it to apply for a public-interest fellowship or other special program. "Looking for jobs didn't help [make third year any easier]," says Bigge, who explored public-service options despite having an offer from a prestigious firm. "I tried (and failed) to get a fellowship; that was very busy and stressful."

If your school provides services to make the process easier, take advantage of whatever help is available. "Be sure to make use of all that your school has to offer in the way of career services and mock-interviewing sessions," Parker recommends.

Tip: Since personal contacts are key to finding jobs outside of the organized interview process, attend as many networking events as possible.

Remember that your first job is only that—a first job—and that greater opportunities may present themselves after you've spent a year in the market.

Bar Prep
Although the bar exam isn't until late July, you'll probably take one part of it before you graduate—the professional responsibility exam. Depending on the state, over the summer you will take some combination of the multistate bar exam, a state essay exam, and a performance exam. For more information, check out our article Behind the Bar.

You can sign up for a bar exam review class any time (doing it early often allows you to lock in a low price), but try to do so by spring of your third year. The class runs from May through July, wrapping up just before the test date. Popular courses include Bar-Bri and PMBR.

Tip: Sign up for a review class as early as possible to lock in a low price.

Saying Goodbye
While most 3Ls say that they feel ready to move on, they also encourage their 2L counterparts to enjoy the freedom of their last year in school. "Take advantage of it, make plans to see people you don't always get to see, explore the city you live in, pursue any hobbies or things you have been wanting to try—because your schedule will never be this flexible again," advises an NYU 3L. You may also feel that your final year is whizzing by much more quickly than the previous two. "I did actually start to see the light at the end of the tunnel," Parker agrees. "Your third year will be over before you know it."

After three years of bonding with your classmates, saying goodbye may be one of the roughest challenges of the last year. "I have met lots of great people at law school, and many of them are good friends that I will miss," says Robert Wolinsky, a Harvard 3L. Hopefully, you'll feel the same way about your class after you've been scared, worked, and bored to death together. Try to stay in touch with your classmates after graduation; after all, no one else will truly understand what you've been through.

Content provided by JD Jungle Magazine

Soul Searching of a Law Student

How to boost your memory !

You guys all know that I now attend Law School ayt? /one of my dilemma is how to improve my memory. I'm not one those geeks who can memorize 100 pages in just one sitting. Believe me I'm not ! I am the "kabisote" type but kabisotes don't have room for Law School so I have no choice but to adjust myself to the environment I'm now having. While browsing the Internet I saw some tips on how to boost one's memory so here they are. Hope it will help both of us ^^

Political Science Shirts in PUP

Disclaimer

This is a personal blog. The views and opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of the people, institutions or organizations that I may or may not be related with unless stated explicitly.

Also, my thoughts and opinions change from time to time as I come to learn more and develop my understanding about the things and issues that I am blogging about. This blog just provides a snapshot of the knowledge, views, and opinions that I hold at a particular point of time and these might most probably change over a period of time. I reserve the right to evolve my knowledge, thoughts, and viewpoints over time and to change them without assigning any reason.

Letter for Upcoming Law Students

Hello prospective law students. ,  you and I have something in common. We have all made a poor life decision, the decision to attend law school. But unlike you, I, as a 3L, am too close to the end to rectify my situation, but you all are not. Come Monday, you will step foot into this building and you will officially become a law student. If I were you, I would do some heavy soul searching this weekend and decide if you really want to do that. Take it from me, you do not.

But if you must see for yourself, I suggest you just come to class for two weeks and see how you like it. You can still get a full tuition refund after two weeks. Treat those two weeks as a test drive. You can do the reading for classes if you want, but I wouldn't recommend it. If you are called on, just tell the professor you are taking a test drive. After all, no one expects you to put gas in a car during a test drive. But give it two weeks, and if you really want to be here...well, don't say I didn't warn you.

You Don't Want To Hear This But You Should

Do you believe in irony? Well, I have been working as an attorney for a few months now and I really like my work. I am lucky to have such a great job. The sad part is, though, I am lucky to have any job at all.

The legal market is much tougher out there than law students expect. My conclusion is that career services aren't just useless, they're largely pointless because there simply aren't enough jobs out there for all law school graduates.

Here are your options as an upcoming law grad:

1) Big firm: You already know how these work. Either go to a great school or graduate at the top of your class. Otherwise, they're not an option.

She is now an Official Law Student ... noob !

Yesterday was my first day in Law School and God knows how nervous I was.

I looked like a total jerk roaming around the building not knowing where I'm heading to.

Luckily, I get reach my destination in a flash so I sat on the center table near my classroom and interview some Law Students .. The Buzz !

They are sophomores so I supposed they can give me some tips on how to survive (Zombie Apocalypse?) .

They were very generous in giving pieces of advice but they emphasized these things :

Study hard ! Never be absent ! and have the guts !

Weew ! I don't know if I should take it positively or not ..

It seems like they were trying to scare the s#%t out of me !

Anyway , thanks to them . It helped past time ^^

Welcome Freshmen ??

or

Welcome to Hell ?

Happy Independence day From Google

AKIN LANG ANG TRONONG ITO (This throne it mine)

By: Jocelle Osana G. Dela Cruz

In life, there are things we have that no matter what happen we’re not gonna let anything nor anyone take it away from us;. We even do anything and everything just to hold on those things, it’s either because it makes us happy or because we get something out of it… and who’s good on this craft??? Of course a politician!!

A politician would take all the risk and win all the chances just to gain popularity and obviously to possess power that would put them on the top of the pedestal. And that’s the reason why there is a rampant dynasty not only in the Philippines but all over the world.

Well, I’m not really familiar with the entire political dynasty here in our country but there’s this clan that really capture my attention. I don’t know if it really is a dynasty because their family has been in the power for almost six decades or should I call it a legacy because they put a new definition to the word dynasty.