Topic: Evening Program

A Typical Day in the Life of a Full-time Working, Evening Student

The other day, while deciding what to write my most recent blog post about, I realized that while I’ve posted a lot about events that have occurred on campus and in the Portland area, I haven’t really provided a “snapshot” of my daily life. To some being an evening student may be a bit daunting but it is entirely doable and still provides an opportunity to have life outside law school and work. Below is what my day was like yesterday (with some notations about how things may differ at other times.* 5:30 a.m. - Alarm goes off. It’s early and dark - instead of jumping out of bed I’m going to hit the snooze for a bit.* 6:00 a.m. - Finally drag myself out of bed and begin the process of getting ready.*6:30 a.m. - I grab a coat and my rain boots, put my dog on a leash and head outside to briefly walk the dog. (Note: Having a dog during law school is the best - they provide you unconditional love!).*6:40 a.m.  - Back inside from the walk. I make some peanut butter toast and grab a cup of coffee and head out the door.*6:50 a.m. - I’m walking to work and it’s DARK outside. I can’t wait until “fall back” this weekend so it will lighten up a little.*7:00 a.m. - I arrive at work and boot up my computer. While my computer is booting I have a brief chat with a coworker about the lack of physical activity and movement in our modern lives. I’m trying to figure out how to fit in a workout regularly so I don’t feel like such a slug.*7:15 a.m. - My boss (an attorney) has reviewed and approved two letters that I drafted yesterday so I convert them to pdf and electronically fax them.*7:45 a.m. - I receive an e-mail from my boss concerning the potential settlement of a client’s case. I had previously conducted a review of the claim and drafted the settlement demand and she needs some additional information in order to make a proper response to the defense counsel’s counter-offer.*8:30 a.m. - I complete my evaluation of the points my boss wanted me to address and e-mail her re: same.*8:45 a.m. - Time for a cup of tea - Yerba Maté (it’s my new saviour because it has natural caffeine!).*8:50 a.m. - It’s time for me to begin working on a settlement proposal in another case. Typically drafting a settlement offer involves combing through a voluminous claim file and writing a persuasive letter as to why we think we will prevail in court if we don’t settle. I’ve been working on this case since Monday. It’s amazing how little interruptions like phone calls from clients, etc.  prevent you from completing big projects as quickly as you would like.*9:30 a.m. - I have a question concerning an idea for one of my arguments in the settlement letter so I head into one of the attorney’s offices in order to run my argument by her. I want to make certain my idea has merit before incorporating it into the letter.*9:45 a.m. - I return to drafting the settlement proposal.*11:30 a.m. - Hunger has struck - I grab my tupperware and head to the kitchen to warm up my food. Then I return to my desk and continue working while eating. (Note: not talking a lunch break is my choice because I have a good writing flow going).*1:00 p.m. - A client unexpectedly drops by to see me and drop off paperwork. I briefly meet with him and appraise him of the status of his case.*1:25 p.m. - Time for some more tea!*1:30 p.m. - And I’m back to working on the settlement demand.*2:45 p.m. - I’m called into an attorney’s office to discuss our strategy on another case that is pending in litigation. We have briefs due in early November and I will be assisting with the legal research and part of the brief writing.3:00 p.m. - Time to head home for a brief break before school.*3:15 p.m. - I’ve arrived at home. I put on my tennis shoes and head out the door with my dog. Luckily it’s not raining (although the sky is still gray) so I’m heading on a long walk with my dog around the waterfront.*4:30 p.m. - I’m back at home. Time to pack up my books and laptop for school. After packing up I give my Mom a call to catch up.*5:15 p.m. - Hi ho, hi ho, it’s off to school I go. I’m in the car and headed on the 10 minute (if there is minimal traffic) to school.*5:30 p.m. - I walk into the Legal Research Center at Lewis and Clark. Since I have 30 minutes before class starts I’m going to get ahead on a little of my reading.*5:55 p.m. - Head to class.*6:00 p.m. - Commence Conflicts of Law (which state or country’s law applies in a multi-state dispute) class. Today we are discussing how a U.S. Court obtains personal jurisdiction over foreign plaintiffs.*7:20 p.m. - Conflicts is over. I have a 40 minute break before my next class so I head to the next classroom in order to do a little more reading ahead (and also a little checking of Facebook and e-mail).*7:45 p.m. - A few of my friends and I created a “dinner club” this year. There are 4 of us involved and every Monday and Wednesday one of us brings dinner for all of us. This means that we all are well fed and on Monday’s and Wednesdays and only have to cook a meal once every other week. Today is Meg’s day to bring dinner and she’s made delicious homemade chicken noodle soup and toasted some sourdough bread.*8:00 p.m. - Alternative Dispute Resolutions begins. Today we have mock mediations in groups of three. I’m an attorney for an injured teenager and we are suing the school board for negligence related to a slip and fall accident. We proceed with mediation and miraculously reach a settlement in our allotted time (only 3 groups in our class reached an agreement, the other 16 were at an impasse). We head back to class for a debriefing session with the professor.*9:20 p.m. - Class is over.*9:40 p.m. - I meet a few friends for a margarita in SE Portland.*10:30 p.m. - I head with one of my friends to her house to pick up a part of my Halloween costume that I’m borrowing from her.*11:00 p.m. - Back at home. Time to take the dog out quickly and then head to sleep. Good night world! Tomorrow begins a similar schedule.

29 October 2009