December

December - One month until '07. Five months until Law School starts. Five months of relative freedom before my nose is back at the grindstone. Is it a bad sign when the grindstone is looking better than the relative freedom?

This week I'm learning how to read cases and write briefs in my orientation class. The writing part I've figured out. It's figuring out the rule that is being discussed that is kicking my bum right now. Facts, easy. Problem/Complaint, check. Rule/Legal Theory--uhhhhhh.....I'm going to phone a friend??!!..Oh well, at least I have a lot of them that I can phone.

The good sign is that I am starting to be able to spot things I've read about in my Orientation class when I read the Law newswire that I get every other day or so. Today's had a discussion about privacy and ethics in medical research and the application of the "reasonable expectation" rule. It's at the appellate stage right now, so it will be interesting to follow up and find out what the California Circut ruled on and defined in terms of "reasonable expectation" here. I'm starting to keep a list of cases and rules that I can use to refer back to when I start classes in April. Yes, its a bit compulsive of me, but I've learned from previous grad school experience that this is the type of behavior that keeps you sane and out of trouble when you find yourself in the deep end of Academia.