Topic: Balance

Explore Portland!

I think of this week as the Week of No Return. Extra time has become increasingly short as the assignments and readings have become longer and more complex. We just reached the semester’s mid-point and everyone, including myself, is beginning to get into a flurry, raiding the supplies for extra notebooks, pens, highlighters, sticky notes, and power cords and buckling down to begin outlining for final exams. Outside of school, I also do pro bono work with a community organization and have an internship with a non-profit group, so time is always at a premium for me. Regardless of how busy school is getting it, I’ve found my work outside of school to be not only personally fulfilling, but also a great way to practice and apply the skills I am learning in class.

In an effort to escape the boiling pot that law school can sometimes be, my friends and I have adopted the weekly tradition of “Explore Portland.” Explore Portland is our Thursday night ritual (though we should probably change the name from “Explore Portland” to “Eat Portland”). We’ve ticked a number of Portland hot spots off our list, including: Last Thursday on NE Alberta, Podnah’s BBQ, the Laurelhurst Theater, King’s Burritos, Pok Pok, and next week we’re adopting a Halloween theme and visiting Portland’s Haunted Houses. This week we dined at Delta Café and Bar for a taste of the good ol’ South. There were hush puppies in a pond, chicken fried steak, biscuits and collared greens, and plenty of sweet tea to go around. (photo courtesy of Lindsay Ray).

Law school is intense, wonderful, crazy, enriching, and frustrating; it’s an emotional experience. I’ve learned in my short time here (nine weeks in!) that it’s important to take a step back every once in awhile, and for me, that’s Explore Portland. It’s a designated evening each week, where I take time leave the law school bubble (admittedly, many lame jokes about negligence and duties owed abound at Explore Portland dinners), to take time for myself, and to enjoy being in Portland. Stepping back from my studies for one night a week, isn’t going to set me back; to the contrary, I see it as a chance to recharge my batteries and reflect and embrace the law school experience. 

Delta Cafe and Bar

23 October 2009

Here we go again…

Fall semester is in full swing, and although this is my third year, it still takes me a while to get in the groove.   I am taking a lighter load than usual this semester for a number of reasons—any of which standing alone would be sufficient.   

I’ve been asked several times whether law school gets easier as time goes on, and I think like most things, it does.  One advantage is having more control over selection and scheduling of classes.  This term, I am only taking three classes in hopes that I will finish my A paper.  I am working as a legal intern at the Lewis & Clark Legal Clinic in the tax section where I get to represent clients who have controversies with the IRS.  In addition, I continue to clerk for a government agency.  Which brings me to another question several students have asked—is it a good idea to work and go to school at the same time?  The answer to this question should be addressed on a case-by-case basis, but generally, my response is a resounding “yes!”  Assuming the work is legal in nature; working helps bring the concepts introduced in class to life, and it can help determine what type of work you find enjoyable. 

Finally, another oft asked question is—how do you balance school, work and family?  My response is that it takes a commitment from your partner, your kids, your friendships and yourself.  Every family and relationship is different, but for me, knowing when to say “yes” and when to say “no” has been crucial.  I can usually tell when an area of my life is out of balance, and I try to respond to that imbalance as soon as I recognize it.  My law school journey has not been easy street, but it has been one of my most fulfilling undertakings so far. 

If you are struggling with whether or not you should apply to law school because you are afraid you can’t manage the demand, I can confidently say that with the right mix of support and courage, law school is not only possible, it is enjoyable as well.   So, get your applications in before the deadline and get ready to learn how to think like a lawyer!

“Law school taught me one thing: how to take two situations that are exactly the same and show how they are different” –Hart Pomerantz

13 September 2009