Times Square, November 3, 2007

So on Saturday morning I rode into Times Square. Here are some pics from my camera phone. The pics are kinda good if I do say so myself. If you click on the photos the pictures should enlarge.

8:50 AM on Saturday, November 3rd. 47th & Broadway.

Then there was the naked cowboy who appeared @ 11:30AM. It was prolly 50 degrees outside. But was more weird is that more folks aren't staring at him. See what I mean abou zero boundaries in NYC?

History of Crime in Harlem

I checked out a movie this weekend, American Gangster. Like many of the other folks that have checked out the movie, I have mixed feelings. However, I mostly think that it was a story that I found to be interesting, intellectually that is. After all, I spend my days fighting crime. I left the theatre with many questions, some of which could have been addressed via editorial action on the part of the producers of the movie. Other questions were better answered by conducting my own Google research, which is how I earn my recreational PhD in random topics. I heart Google.

Today, I had the day off because of Election Day. I know, it was weird. But don't worry, I am working this weekend and through the Veterans Day Holiday, so I will get my fair share of time in. I spent the day running errands and working on my research.

Here's a roadmap of the sources that I found most interesting:

If you are interested in learning more about the history of crime in Harlem, click here. I learned soooo much about my community from this link. For instance, I always thought the Cotton Club was black owned. I didn't know that no matter your financial condition black folks weren't even allowed through the front door! I also learned that the Cotton Club was acquired from a black man after he was pushed out by the mob. Then there were a number of books and names mentioned that I plan to check out later.

Before the movie was made, New York Magazine published an article about Franc Lucas called The Return of Superfly. The article was written by Marc Jacobson and filled in the gaps that I had after the movie. Marc Jacobson also got Franc Lucas and Nikki Barnes (played by Cuba Gooding, Jr.) together for an interview recently, click here.

The American Gangster had a daughter, Francis Lucas. And the absence of any mention of his children was another reason the movie left much to be desired. Here's a link to an article printed in this month's Glamour magazine on Frank Lucas' daughter and her experience growing up with parents that are incarcerated. She has an organization that provides resourches to children with incarcerated parents, called Yellow Brick Road.

Not your average defense attorney . . .

I don't see this type of client advocacy in the courtroom everyday. Momma, nem may be on to something.

When Barack was like me, well almost . . .

Senator, and hopefully our next President, Barack Obama also made a pit stop in NY on their journey to becoming a legal eagle, and perhaps the next President of the United States. Read about what folks that knew him when had to say via a recent New York Times article, click here.

There are some differences between how Barack and I both wound up in the Big Apple. He is a he, and I am a she. He arrived as an undergrad that xfer'd from a west coast school. I arrived as a lawyer recently graduated from an east coast school. I didn't sleep in an ally, instead I moved into a brownstone with roommates from law school. Although I should point out that I don't think any move to New York City is an easy transition. But we both were uptown. We both arrived black. He would go on to become a lawyer, and I can only hope that I will become a better lawyer by the time I leave, if I ever leave. Subtle, but obvious intersections.

deja vu (sp?)

In a city as big as New York, its amazing how small it can feel at times.

I have ran into 3 friends randomly while out and about in NYC.

Incident #1

I was walking down 125th Street one day after work. I just got off the 4 train and walked right into one of my classmates from Georgetown. How exciting! I told her that it was such a wonderful surprised to see her. I was on the way to treat myself to a slice of red velvet cake from Sylvia's, so I invited her to join me for cake and a cup of tea.

Incident #2 & #3

I was walking down 125th Street another day, a Saturday, after a day full of errands. I visited the Studio Museum of Harlem, the Post Office, the dry cleaners. I first ran into Cornelius of Harlem Heritage Tours. A few years ago, two of my girlfriends and I visited NYC and we took a walking tour of Harlem and Cornelius was our tour mobile operator. It was at that moment that I fell in love with Harlem. So it was amazing to run into him (guiding another tour group) while on my afternoon stroll through the neighborhood. But on this same day I ran into my college friend Jenique. Jenique was my homegirl my first year at FAMU. I say first year, because she didn't return for junior year, deciding instead to start her own business, Crush Groove Cosmetics. I can't believe that I am about to say this, but I had not seen Jenique in seven years!!! I didn't know I was that old. But as soon as I saw her walking my direction, I immediately knew who she was. She lives 2 blocks from me. I wound up kicking it with Jenique the following Monday and she and I hung out until 5AM. Yeah, I know . . .Bad Idea.

But this brings me to Incident #4.

I was at the grocery store, shopping, buying my beans and rice, tomatoes and squash, pineapples and granola, you get it . . . I look up and I see another one of my law school classmates, Ashley. I knew that she was in New York, but we'd lost touch. But get this, she lives in Harlem too, about 8 minutes away from me. We chatted, caught up. She shared that she wasn't shocked at all that I am now in the District Attorney's Office. (I wondered what that means?). We exchanged numbers and vowed to keep in touch.

Isn't that weird?

and sometimes you just wanna crash

because sometimes you stand up for the people,
and the judge shoots you down.
and sometimes you make bail applications and
sometimes people are released and
you feel like you failed
sometimes defense counsel makes crazy motions
and you actually have a solid basis to oppose them
and thats when the judge denies their motion
so you celebrate, and your colleagues say, good job.
but celebrations are short lived
because the next case is called and
you can't serve notices, because your information is confusing
and sometimes people in the courtoom cry
and you wonder, what's going to happen when they leave here?
but then you try to talk to a colleague and they say,
"You did your best"
but what's best when you represent the People of the state of New York?
what's best, what's best, WHAT IS BEST???
you worry that you aren't smart enough for other people's safety to be based on your ability to make arguments straigh off the dome to the judge in less than 10 minutes.

so sometimes when you get home on a Friday, from a long week.

YOU JUST CRASH.

False Alarm

no trial today. The defense attorney decided to serve motions. Now we are going to have a hearing to determine whether or not their motions will be granted, and following the hearing, we will hopefully have a trial.

This was a bummer.

MY FIRST TRIAL

well actually it would be my second if you count the one I did as a summer associate last summer.

Anyway, I am scheduled for my first trial tomorrow. The defendant is charged with assault, and he basically got in a fight with an older man who was injured pretty bad, but not bad enough for a felony assistant to handle the case. He is facing jail time, for sure. I have worked on my direct, opening, closinng. I need to work on some lines for the cross examination of the defendant, but I am almost there.

This is how it works:

the night before an ADA has a case on we drop it in the appropriate box for the part that it is going to. Before I left work tonight, which was @ 715PM, I dropped my case. Tomorrow when the case is called the ADA in that part will make the record that I told them to make and if everything lines up--available ct room, defense willingness to go to trial, etc. etc. I will be trying my first case.

This is like the night before cheerleader tryouts. I WANNA GO TO TRIAL!

I will let y'all know what happens.

Law School Debt

ain't a joke. I have 2 weeks left to fill out my loan forgiveness application and fax it over to the good folks over @ Georgetown. It is due November 1st. I am so glad I went there, because our Loan Forgiveness Program seems to be pretty awesome in comparison to some of my colleagues. One school caps their forgiveness at $5,000. Let's just say that will prolly cover 4 months of loan payments for me.

I can't figure out how to position these loans though. Do I consolodiate or not consolidate? Do I include my GradPlus loans? I guess I'm gonna have to call the financial aide office tomorrow.

NYC on a Friday night . . .

I had an exciting weekend folks. Good times all around. I got home Friday evening around 6PM. I had plans to meet a girlfiend from Brooklyn to catch Tyler Perry's Why did I get married and to celebrate the anniversary of her 1 year presence in NYC. We were gonna meet @ 7 until I got a phonecall from my roommate offering me a ticket to see The Color Purple. I felt bad, but on a social scale, Fanny & Oprah trump Tyler Perry, so I cancelled.

I meet my roommate and her brother and his partner. We get in the theatre. We are sitting on the FRONT ROW! So I text my momma and tell her how I love NY. We open the Playbill booklet. Something falls out. The role of Fantasia will be played by Montego Glover.

WTF???

It's Friday night and Fantasia calls in. She got life messed up.

So we left. No Color Purple for me. No Fantasia for me. I was, however, treated to dinner by some pretty awesome folks, that were pretty good company too. We ate at the Eatery. I recommend the mac n cheese, the cheesecake, and the waiter we had. The waiter even put us up on game, when he informed us that Fanny is gaining quite the reputation for not showing up. I think it's tacky. While I do love Fantasia, she ain't on Beyonce status. I wonder if Oprah knows about her attendance. I will keep my fingers crossed that when I buy tickets, she will be there.

It does suck that those front row tickets we had were rush tickets, meaning my roommate's brother stood in line the morning of the show and got a special rate. They only cost @ $30.

Cleary Gottlieb has a bad hair day

I forgot to post this . . .

By Vivia Chen/The American Lawyer
August 27, 2007

It seemed like a nice frothy summer treat for some hardworking gals at a hard-driving law firm. Instead of hosting another earnest discussion about client cultivation and leadership, the women lawyers group at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton invited an editor from Glamour magazine. The topic: the dos and don'ts of corporate fashion.

First slide up: an African-American woman sporting an Afro. A real no-no, announced the Glamour editor to the 40 or so lawyers in the room. As for dreadlocks: How truly dreadful! The style maven said it was "shocking" that some people still think it "appropriate" to wear those hairstyles at the office. "No offense," she sniffed, but those "political" hairstyles really have to go.

By the time the lights flicked back on, some Cleary lawyers -- particularly the 10 or so African-American women in attendance -- were in a state of disbelief. "It was like she was saying you shouldn't go out with your natural hair, and if you do, you're making a political statement," says one African-American associate. "It showed a general cluelessness about black women and their hair."

The episode also produced a "mixed reaction" along racial lines, says this associate. "Some [whites] didn't understand what the big deal was ... but all the black associates saw the controversy."

Cleary Gottlieb's managing partner, Mark Walker, who heard about the incident from some of the attendees, also saw trouble. Soon after the event, Walker issued an e-mail that denounced the hair commentary as "racially insensitive, inappropriate, and wrong." Calling the beauty advice "appalling," Walker says, "You don't tell people that their physical appearance is unacceptable, when certain characteristics are associated with a racial group." He asks, "What's the alternative? Straighten or bleach your hair?"

As for the identity of the editor, neither Cleary Gottlieb nor Condé Nast Publications Inc. (publisher of Glamour ) would say. Indeed, almost all of the half-dozen Glamour editors contacted for this story professed not to have ever set foot in a law firm. "Cleary what?" asked several.

And Walker says he has no idea whether the editor who sparked all this controversy is a well-known fashionista. Not that Walker would know, even if Anna Wintour herself crossed his path. "Who is she?" Walker asks. "I really don't know people in the fashion industry." (If you have to ask, she's the editor of Vogue.)

So did the Glamour editor realize how many feathers she ruffled? Walker says that the speaker was "spoken to by one of the women partners" and that she sent an e-mail apology. "I assume she was oblivious; I doubt she's racist," says Walker. "She wasn't thinking and said something hare-brained."

Or is that hair-brained?

No Checks and Balances in NYC -- my social life

I heard that one of my friends told another friend that New York is scary. My initial reaction was yeah, but you have to be safe right? s

Except she wasn't fearful for her safety. She was fearful of the possiblities.

You see according to her there are no checks in balances. Apparently a man ran dow nthe street in a Batman costume and no one even looked at him. She thought this was strange. Cuz anywhere else folks would've laughed at him, pointed, or whispered at least. Not so here. People got stuff to do. And that's the thing. In NYC you can be yourself and there is something for everyone because no one is really worried about what you are doing

So . . . I've been trying to get in where I fit in, except I don't remember anymore. Law school can change you. I think i've become boring. Or gained an appreciation for the finer things in life . . .like sleep, good friends and sleep. Before law school I was cool, or at least I thought of myself that way. I had hobbies. Things I enjoyed. I don't remember what they are, and that's tough.

Things I know I don't enjoy:

Clubs
Long Lines outside of clubs or anywhere
Boring people
Expensive food that tastes bad
snobby people w/no personality
people that have stopped growing
dry conversation
Expensive bar tabs
self-important people
too much rap music

The first weekend I was here, my roommates and I hung out at a rooftop bar/lounge of a cool hotel downtown. BEE A YOO TIFUL, except a cocktail started @ $20. I guess you pay for the ambiance sometimes. But I decided not to and kinda worried about that being rude, you know not having a drink when everyone else is drinking. But, I quickly got over it.

Another weekend, we hung out with a Swedish man that owns art galleries. We hit up a ultra-exclusive lounge, so exclusive that I don't know the name. Ooooh, I saw Solange and a WASP-ylady that had to be 7o years old. She was decked in her Chanel suit, complete with those crazy glasses. I felt as though I was at the center of a Vogue social hour. Except it wasn't vogue to me. The art collection was spectacular. Several Picassos and some other notable artwork. I forgot the names of the artists. The music again was that European techno stuff. I can only take it in doses. Next spot that not was another place full of rich, self-important people. The Swede had friends there, that had a table w/bottle service. I met Oprah's alleged godson/stylist. That was how he introduced himself to me. I politely introduced myself to him too. "I'm __________, I'm an Assistant District Attorney." He loved it. He loves women doing their thing. I told him, that he must be in love with me then, huh? Also @ our table -- Evan Ross and a bunch of other dudes and beautiful girls that no one was talking too.

to be continued . . .

I am a brand new Assistant District Attorney.

So, this blog is supposed to be about my journey to becoming a legal eagle. I really haven't been talking about the legal stuff too much lately. See, the thing is that after one sits for the bar examination, all they wanna do is fall asleep. And that's exactly what I did. Then I took the MPRE, resigned from my job, and moved to NY.

Did I mention, that I love NY? And not in the revive New York City Tourism way. I love my neighborhood, the potholes, the people that live outside on the corner of my block--although I hate the stench of urine. The guys that sit on the other corner and play spades. My neighbor that walks her dog everyday at 830AM. The folks that I pass and greet with Good Morning. New Yorkers are really nice--at least the ones in Harlem USA anyway. but I digress . . . back to my legal journey.

I am an Assistant District Attorney.

I started work the beginning of September, along with 53 other . Well, I started training. It was probably pretty much like the way it feels to graduate law school and then start studying with Barbri. You're excited but you really don't feel like sitting through class. But all the information is useful because now you need to know it because its better than being thrown in front of a judge and getting chewed out. I finished three weeks of training last week and I received my bureau assignment -- Criminal Court. This means that for the next 2 years or so I will be working in the complaint room--charging crimes, interviewing cops and witnesses, arraigning criminal defendants, handling misdemeanor cases and perhaps going to trial. There is never a dull moment.

So far so good. I definitely do not regret not showing up at the law firm. In all seriousness the money could be better, but fortunately Georgetown's LRAP program is pretty good, so it will work out. I have everything I need to make it work -- roommates.

A Belle takes a Bite out of an Apple

Sorry folks. I have been without internet access. I haven['t been able to update you on NYC. I finally made it, and boy is there a lot to catch up on. i will try to be brief, because I am going to a Poetry Slam with my roommates, and I need to get ready.

I've been here since September 1st. I live in Harlem and I LOVE IT. It feels just like Alabama. Well not quite, but almost. The similarities are nice neighbors that are very helpful and everyone on the block speaks to one another. Like no one looks at you weird if you say, "Good Morning." They actually respond back. This is different than DC in my opinion. Also, we can get a full church service without even leaving the house. All that is required is opening a window or two and we can get the sermon, the choir, the music, and the shouting. It's really neat. There are t4rees oin our backyard and actually grass too. The dissimilarities would include the smell of urine the moment you turn down my block. To be fair, though I now know exactly when to stop inhaling so as to avoid the stench. There are a few people that don't have the luxury of housing that have made the corner of the block their home, hence the bathroom smell. No fear though, I am in a safe neighborhood.


We are getting settled in. I need to get a few more things for my bedroom, but we hope to have a housewarming soon to have friends over. Again, that's the thing about New York.

In other news, I love my job so far. We have been in training for the past two weeks, but training ends on next Wednesday. I have learned so much, but there is so much more to learn. I have been getting home around 530PM evevry night. I catch the subway to and from work most days, unless I am running late. Then I just get a sedan ride to work. It's not expensive. When I am on the train I only make 3 stops before I arrived at my final destination. Then I walk a few blocks before I arrive at work. Not a bad commute at all.

Sweet Home Alabama!

I am at home. In Alabama. I am happy. I am at peace and I am rested. There is nothing like the red clay mud, the sweet people, and the southern twang, childhood memories and old friends. I rode through my old neighborhood and even ran into some of my childhood friends. I visited my high school and talked to the guidance counselors and some of my old teachers. This was a necessary trip before I dive into New York City and the person that I have been preparing to be all of my life-a lawyer.

THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE HOME.

By the way, next week is the week. I will officially be in NYC. I start work on September 4th.

Wrapping Up . . .

Tomorrow is my last day at work. I'm starting to get sad. I haven't even began the process of cleaning out my desk, although the thought of throwing everyting away is starting to give me motivation.

Seriously . . .

When I was 17 years old, I won a scholarship that offered me an opportunity to work every summer during undergrad with a job offer attached after graduation. I immediately accepted it. Two weeks after high school graduation, my mom put me on an airplane to Washington, D.C. for my first flight, and my first apartment. I was scared, but I made it through the first summer and the second and every summer after. I graduated college and gladly began my good government job six weeks later. In hindsight, I was lucky. Many of my classmantes didn't have jobs. Even though I had a job, I never forgot about my ultimate goal -- law school. I applied to law schools the following fall. I got into my first choice and attended law school in the evenings while working my good government job during the day.

Law School was hard. It tested me in so many ways, most of them had nothing to do with academics. Again, I made it through.

What's funny is that I have known many of my coworkers since I was 17, a young girl with a thick southern drawl is how they first met me. Now I am a lawyer moving to NYC to start my career. It's funny how quickly things happen.

Is this what is meant by bittersweet?

MPRE -- Studying recommended!!!

On last Friday, I sat for the MPRE. I took the MPRE later than usual because I missed the March registration deadline. Everyone that I knew that took the exam explained to me that I would be fine. After all, they simply reviewed the material the day before the exam. To quote my dear friend Mirenda aka Ma Henny, "Whatevva Hunney". Let's just say that after taking that exam I don't think it's wise for anyone to spend less than 2 weeks preparing. Even though I just completed the required Professional Responsibility course this Spring, I was at a loss on some of those questions. I seriously underestimated this one.

My word of advice to those who have not yet sat for the MPRE - STUDY!!!

I don't know how this one is gonna go down folks.

5 Tips for Friends of the Bartender

Now that the NY Bar Exam is over, I have been trying to figure out what to do with myself. Let me first just say that the bar exam was the most exhausting thing I've done in my life. So after the exam, I immediately went to the Westbury LIRR station waited for the next train into the city in order to rush back down to the District. Can you believe I had to wait 2.5 hours!!! Talk about being annoyed -- all I wanted to do was sleep. So I thought. For the first time, I didn't sleep a wink on the train. I guess my body was too tired to sleep. Weird.

All in all I am simply glad that its over. I don't feel one way or the other as to whether or not I think I passed, and quite frankly, I think that to have an opinion either way is bad luck . . . Nevertheless, everyone seems to ask me this question. I guess they just don't know what to say. This brings me to my "5 Tips for friends of the Bartender"

Tip #1 -- Do not ask a recent bar examinee how they think they did, or any variation of this question, including, "How do you think that you did?". It makes them actually formulate an opinion, and worse yet, it makes them relive the anxiety thgat is the bar exam. If you can't find anything else to say, ask them what they plan to do in order to celebrate. This is more forward thinking. No one wants to relive the bar, unless of course they have to. This brings me to Tip #2

Tip #2 -- It is inappropriate to ask a recent bar examinee whether or not they passed. That's simple enough, just don't ask. You should also avoid the corollary: "I passed, how did you do?" I know some friendships that have been ruined over this very thing. If you must know, look up their name, simply and discreetly, when the passing list is made public. Bar results are announced in November for most states.

Tip #3 -- Don't ask what are you going to do now. This is normally construed as an inquiry into future legal employment. I know that some of you may be thinking, what's wrong with that. I understand your confusion. Only way I know how to break it down, is to inform you that law school and the legal profession can be very cold, competitive and cruel. The reality is some folks have jobs, some folks don't. If the person that you are asking does not have a job, you may remind them of a fact that that they are desparately trying to cope with. Your inquiry can send them backwards in their road to recovery. Because you don't know which side of the fence they sit on, it's best to just mind ya bizzness! Again, just mind ya bizzness.

Tip #4 -- It's generally impolite to talk about questions/answers on the bar exam. This point applies to bartenders. I know that you studied your badoonka doonk off all summer. So what! I still do not want to dissect the first issue on the NY essay. Yeah, you know the secured transaction/commercial paper one. The one about the bank check. Look dude, I wrote an answer like I never wrote before, and that's bout all I could do. I don't care what you wrote. I've already given my USB key to the little ol' proctor. I can't change it now. May all my essays rest in peace. But seriously, some folks relish in this nonsense. You know the ones, always sticking around after finals to debate the issues. It's like doesn't final mean anything to you? Quite frankly, discussing a recently submitting exam is rude and inappropriate. Especially if you don't know the person.

Tip #5 -- Please send up good thoughts for the recent bar examinees. We need them.

None of these rules apply if the person you are speaking to avoids these tips first. The key here is to not be presumptious. Tread lightly. We are dealing with sensitive subject-matter, and more importantly, sensitive people.

NYC Apartment Search -- the outlook is bright!

Today I have good news to report.

I don't know that I've told you this before, but I'm a little OCD about Google, and well research in general. So everyday, I spend about 45 mins to an hour looking for housing accomodations in NYC. I've learned alot about the rental market, and am beginning to notice trends. For example, I can kinda guesstimate how long properties in my area of interest will remain on the market. But the search can be intimidating, and I was starting to get concerned about whether or not we would be able to find a spot. Let's be clear, while there are tons of places in NYC, I just ain't ready to move into an apartment where my refrigerator is in the middle of my living room. Call it what you like but us southerners are into room or rooms--clearly defined. But today I was surprised to find several apts available in my area and in my ideal price range, all with rooms, all renovated many with no broker fee. WOO HOO!!!

So, I am going up next week to view my potential cribs in person. Hopefully, they will still be available. But for now I am in NYC Relocation heaven. Trust.

BET Music Awards, tonight @ 8PM

Diddy -- It's a wrap. Or maybe I'm just growing up. Who knows?

In either case, for all you foks that are into music, here's my plug for Internet Radio. I've been into internet radio for a few years now. Yahoo, VH1 music, freemusic.com. I went to turn on my station, and learned that today was a Day of Silence in protest of recent changes to the fees that are associated with playing the music. Royalty rates for webcasters have been drastically increased by a recent ruling and are due to go into effect on July 15. Apparently, if Congress doesn't repeal a law that goes into effect next month, my internet radio days may be gone for good, and that really makes me sad, angry and frustrated. Please help!!! Check out the website: http://www.savenetradio.org/, for more information on how you can get involved.

Happy Studying. I'll be watching the BET Music Awards in honor of June being black music month and all. Besides, I'm skipping Essence Festival this year b/c of the bar.

HONEY DO "My To Do List"

Off the top of my head, here's all of the things that I need to be doing, (in addition to studying) but that I have not gotten done yet. It's funny how much life continues to go on, even when studying for the bar.

1. Sell Car. (have detailed and list for sale)


2. Find NYC apartment


3. Renew auto registration. This was truly a waste of $$$ considering that I will be xferring my southern car tag in for a big city tag in a couple of mos. grrrrrrr!!!!


4. Pay Bills


5. Modify Albany Hotel Reservation


6. Change Albany Flight Reservations


7. Minor home repairs


8. Turn in resignation letter.


9. Open new checking accounts.


10. Fax off hardship deferrment for student loans.


11. Plan bar trip.


12. Book California air tickets


13. Call momma.


14. Work-out.

I just want you to know that you can fail the NY Bar Exam.

Writing a blog about the bar exam is cool. I've met some awesome folks who are doing the same thing, learning what works and what doesn't. However, in so doing, I am opening up myself to public scrutiny. And today I am feeling horrible. Fed Judx, NY Civil Practice are two of the most boring outlines I have attempted to read. Does that mean I'm going to fail the bar exam?

No one really ever wants to talk about failure. And I think I understand why. The thought of failing is scary, embarassing, and in most instances not really an option. Nevertheless I am having a freak out session in my mind.



according to a friend of mine that is doing fed district ct clerkship -- "You can fail the bar. She goes on to say that she wants me to be aware because, "no one ever broke it down to her like that when she was studying. On a positive note though, you have the ability to alter the outcome of your bar experience by putting in the time now." That was motivating

According to another friend, the one that's at a top BIGLAW litigation firm, "you aren't going to know everything, even the night before the bar." Now that's reassuring, yet still somewhat unhelpful.

Friends.

So today, I'm thinking . . .how in the hell should I approach the subjects that I've already fallen behind on-- Fed Judx and Civil Practice like the back of my hand. Does anyone out there have tips on how they tackled these two subjects -- and quickly.

This reminds me of a lesson I learned during first year, there's no such thing as a short cut.

Happy Studying.

I am qualified to take NY Bar Exam on Laptop!!!

that was a doobie, but I found a friend willing to lend me laptop for a couple of days so that I will be comfortable. The software seems to be pretty straightforward, alot nicer than ExamSoft plus with more features.

If only the hotel prices in Albany would drop, better yet, if only the availability of rooms would increase.

Sup Ct, says car passengers have 4A standing

US Supreme Court holds that a passenger as well as a driver has standing to challenge the legality of a police officer's decision to stop a car. All in a unanimous decision. All this just as I finish my Search and Seizure -- Automobiles outline. No worries, we aren't responsible for this new decision on this year's bar exam. Here's the story . . .

Want it in MBE Format? Here 'tis .. .

Bruce E. Brendlin, was a passenger in a car that was stopped by a deputy sheriff in ONOUDIDN, CA. The deputy soon ascertained that Mr. Brendlin was an ex-convict who was wanted for violating his parole. An ensuing search of the driver, the car and Mr. Brendlin turned up methamphetamine supplies. Mr. Brendlin pleaded guilty to a drug charge and drew a four-year prison sentence. But he continued to appeal on the issue of whether the evidence of drugs found on him resulted from an illegal search and should have been suppressed because of the Fourth Amendment’s protection against unreasonable search and seizure. The prosecution argues that Brendlin lacks standing to bring forward such a motion. How should the judge rule on the appeal?

A. affirm, as passenger Brendlin was not seized by the search.
B. affirm, unless the police had probable cause to search the passenger.
C. affirm, a balancing of society's interest in eradicating methamphetamines outweighs the privacy interest of a passenger in an automobile.
D. reverse, when a officer makes stop he seizes not only driver of car, but also car and every person in car.

BAR BLOGGERS BIRTHDAY!!!

Bet you'll bust if you boast that boisterously!!



Today's my birthday and I'm having a private party in my head!

So far I have received . . .

• an acapella voice messagefrom my uncle, the counter tenore, singing our family's version of Happy Birthday
• A midnight phonecall from my baby brothers-not so baby any more,
• voice messages from two of my three aunts wishing me well.
• a pop-out card from my friends at Southwest Airlines,
• an e-mail from my friends at Carnival Cruise
• an invitation to join my girlfriend and her mother for her mother’s birthday dinner.
• Two Birthday Cards from my birthday twins at work.
• Drama, drama and more drama . . . will it ever end?

Well I still have a few more hours, heck I plan on celebrating this all month, to the extent that the bar review allows it!

Happy Studying folks!

Aspiring lawyer missing -- Stepha Henry - PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD

I heard about this story on the radio this morning and then later read this post from the Magnolia Diva.

***************************


It's AMAZING how much the media would rather talk about that rich, spoiled, whimp, Paris Hilton, than report on a missing 22-year old minority in Miami...

Here is a link to one of the stories on her.

Stepha Henry, a 22-year old honors graduate of John Jay College of Criminal Justice who is working her way to becoming a lawyer mysteriously disappeared after leaving Brooklyn to visit a relative in Miami, Florida.




On May 24, 2007, Stepha Henry headed to Florida to relax and have some fun. After working full time while studying hard for the LSAT (law school entrance exam), she was looking forward to visiting her aunt in Miami and attend a reggae concert.

She was last seen leaving her aunt’s home with an unknown man driving a black sedan, possibly a four-door Acura at about 1:00 a.m. on May 24, 2007, on her way to a Fort Lauderdale dance club called Club Peppers. Police spoke with the man who was last with Stepha, and he alleges they separated at the club.

She has not been seen since and did not make her return flight to Brooklyn on May 29.

She is black, has red hair and brown eyes and is about 5-feet-2 and 110 pounds, police said. Anyone with information is asked to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at (305) 471-8477 or NYPD Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS.

Please post this story and picture on your blogs since the media isn't giving this story the attention it should.

Crim Law & Procedure: Genarlow Wilson released from prison today

Do y'all recall the story about a Georgia high-school athlete being senetenced to ten years for having consensual oral sex with another teenager at a party? The judge threw out his sentence and he was released. The prosecutors plan to appeal the judge's order.

Initally when I read that last line I was thinking . . .prosecutors can't appeal because the appeal will necessitate a retrial. But I thought about it and an appeal of the judge's order wouldn't require a new trial, just a hearing to discuss whether or not the judge's order was procedurally invalid. Now I'm confrused? The defense originally appealed Mr. Wilson's sentence on the grounds that it was cruel and unusual punishment.

In review . . .

Q: What's more complex than studying for the New York Bar?
A: Preparing to move to New York City!

In preparation for my move, I had to put my home up for rent.
Craigslist works wonders, i got over 20 phonecalls and 10 of the
people actually showed up. A few even filled out the application on
the spot and forked over the application fee. let's keep fingers
crossed that at least one of the applicant's pans out. Goodness knows
that I can't lose another day to showing my place. The sooner I get
it rented out the sooner I can put a deposit on a place in NYC.

And about that bar . . .

I don't want to make this a bash Micromash session, but technical
support just ain't technical nowadays. In an attempt to remedy an
issue with my software I found myself explaining the software program
to Micromash Technical Support. She decided that I really did have an
issue that was going to need to be referred to the programmers. She
asked for my Barbri number and I had to remind her that I am using
MICROMASH . . . not Barbri. That's when she informed me that she
provides tech support for both Barbri and Micromash. Go figure.
Either way, I won't get help until tomorrow. The thing is I'm sure
it's a pretty simple fix.

Until we meet again . . .

New York Bar Exam Laptop Lottery = No Macs allowed

Whoever, ever, ever heard of such a thing.

Congratulations, you have been selected for the July NY LAPTOP Lottery!

So I'm psyched, doing my ghetto girl dance. I rarely win anything, and the odds that i would win this, well I wasn't too hopeful. I look at the timeframe that I have to pay the $70 -- hmmm looks like I need to do this immediately. Wait, do I have $70?

Yes, of course I do. What are the minimum laptop requirements:

512 MB of RAM
• 100 MB free hard drive space
• Internet access for laptop (for purposes of downloading software, receiving e-mail regarding laptop testing, uploading qualification exams, and uploading Essay and MPT Answers)
• Microsoft .NET 2.0 Framework
• Microsoft Windows Operating Systems XP or Vista (Software Secure does not support Non-North American Versions)
• Functioning USB Port
• Functioning CD drive
• Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0
• No APPLE / POWER PC /MACINTOSH (in any form, even if it runs Windows)
• No Mini-PCs

Are you serious??? Everyone who is anyone uses a Mac these days, it's 2007 not 1997! What do THEY have against Macs? They're explicit too. Would it have hurt to find a software company that developed software suitable for both PC and MAC. duh!!! Alas, I'm not so lucky after all. **tear**

This is important because I have taken all notes and law school exams on laptops and I type way faster than I think (hence the errors in my blog, but who's proofreading anyway?). The one time that I didn't use my laptop was b/c I mistakenly forgot to pack my power cord. And let's just say I was riding the curve that day. I've got to figure something out and fast because I have to take a mock test on the laptop that I play to use by June 18th!!!

Do I have a cause of action?

Micromash . . .not the perfection that I was hoping for

This weekend I got in some real good study time, and I am finally beginning to understand "The Micromash Way". Here are my thoughts:

1. The errors in the literature make me nervous. While reading I can't help but wonder who wrote this stuff and where did they get the information from. And then I begin to wonder about who they hired to type it up. Was it an attorney or a high school drop out? Either way, it is certainly evident that NOBODY proofread this information before sending the error-laden document to a printer to be bound in books and sold to desparate law school graduates like myself. Needless to say, I have finally decided to call in reinforcements. What's worse than not knowing the law, well studying the wrong law. PMBR CDs where are you???

2. Speaking of PMBR CDs, there has got to be a better way to absorb this information. I mean READING 20+ pages of straight law gets a little dull. I need questions at the end of reading or something, but hey that's just me. After studying for a week, I am beginning to appreciate the Barbri video method. What Micromash is missing is CDs. I don't think it would cost that much more to have the person that "typed" the study guides speak into a microphone to record CDs. Hey maybe while speaking she can actually read what she wrote.

3. Lastly, more instructions on MBE studying. Like what subject should I begin with. When should I move on to the next MBE subject? stuff like that.

We do have attorney-mentors. I hope they are getting paid for answering all of my non-essay related questions. I sure have alot of them. On the positive side of things, I definitely like the software and the way that you can manipulate the questions. But because of all of the other errors I find myself worrying that someone spent a little more time reviewing the questions in the software.

I am prayerful.

Larissa finally eliminated from Monique's Charm School

A diversion I know. . .

I am a sucker for reality TV, it all began in 1993 with the first
season of Real World. i use it for my own psycotherapy. You see, my
first year of law school i was drowning in all the seriousness that is
first year law school, and I needed an escape. i found the release I
needed through Jerry Springer and America's Next Top Model. For me
the more ridiculous the people on TV were, the more normal i felt.
hey, it got me through first year sane.

Some of my favorites have been Venus and Serena, Being Bobby Brown, My
Fair Brady, Flavor of Love, white rapper show, The Fame Games and now
Charm School. so I speak with experience when i say that Larissa was
a parasite on the show. I liken her to Puck from Real World.
Everyone, remembers Puck. He was always getting on someone's nerves,
most importantly mine. this is a problem, cause you would think the
viewing audience is supposed to be entertained by his outlandish
behaviors.

Such is the case with Larissa. She got on my damn nerves. She was a
loud, angry, juvenile, backstabber with deep seated issues that she
refused to address just like some of the women that I left behind in
high school and met in the dormitory my first year of college. You
couldn't get through an issue without her yelling and cursing someone
out. It's like come on, don't you get that your behavior is not
charming? But the irony is that she prided herself on being so real,
but yet sold her homegirl out to Becky's wackness. Gimme a break!

But Larissa knows who not to mess with. She hasn't been seen arguing
with my girl Sapphyri. I am rooting for her, she has grown the most
of all of the women on the program and seems sincere.

What part of the country are you from?

 

The following snidpit was posted today in The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education Bulletin.  I found it interesting that a higher percentage of African-Americans in the west hold 4-year college degrees than African-Americans in the northeast.  It was also interesting that the gap between the two races was larger in the northeast than in the south. What are your thoughts?

 

African Americans in the Western States Are More Likely to Be College Educated Than Other Black Americans

Nationwide, slightly more than 18 percent of all adult blacks over the age of 25 hold a four-year college degree. For whites, the figure is 31 percent, significantly higher than the rate for blacks.

But there are vast differences in the educational attainment of blacks and whites depending on the region of the country in which they live. It is in the western states where blacks have made the most progress. In the West, 24.8 percent of all black adults over the age of 25 hold a college degree. This is about 34 percent higher than the national average for blacks and 52 percent higher than the rate for blacks in the Midwest.

Furthermore, the gap between the races is much lower in the West than in other regions of the nation. In the West there is a gap of 9.7 percentage points between the college completion rate for whites and the college completion rate for blacks. Nationally the difference is 12.5 percentage points. In the Northeast, the gap is the largest. In that region there is a 16.3 percentage point gap in college completion rates between whites and blacks.

More advice on studying for the bar exam

For more advice on studying for the bar, check out Irrational Basis. She's compiled a pretty interesting link list complete with pretty handouts.

Procrastination and the Bar Review

Today I made a very important decision.

I will not procrastinate.
I will not procrastinate.
I will not procrastinate.
I will not procrastinate.
I will not procrastinate.


While driving in to work today, I reminded myself that I had not yet developed a schedule.

The mental conversation went like this . . .

Me: K, you have to develop a schedule. Design it up, print it out and account for every hour of the day and include the subjects that you plan to study for each day. It should be pretty, really, pretty.
Conscience: But, your first assignment isn't due until June 8th.
Me: Well, even still I should at least start studying for the MBE.
Conscience: But how, I don't even know what subject to start with.
Me: Let's see, the first assignment requires me to study Business Relationships and Professional Responsibility. Those aren't MBE subjects. I wonder what subject Micromash suggests I study first?
Conscience: Let's see . . .it doesn't say.
Me: Well I guess, I can't study until I know everything there is about "how to study"

and that's when I started to ignore my conscience, because I recognized that last line as my usual old excuse to procrastinate. I im'd one of my dearest-friends-in- the-law and asked her to call me. She happens to be at a top BIGLAW litigation firm in D.C. She also passed the Georgia Bar on the first try (she studied using Barbri).

she suggested the following, and noted that she will charge $30p/hour for future sessions:

1. Stop worrying about which subject to begin with for MBE.
2. While there will be some state distinctions on the MBE subject areas, they are minimal.
3. The most important component to MBE studying is building stamina while learning the material.
4. You must do 50 MBE questions each day under timed conditions, preferably in the morning.
5. Review the answers immediately following the test.
6. Spend only an hour and a half doing both.

The last bit of advice was passed on to her when she was studying last summer.

Micromash Bar Review for New York Bar Exam

I am brave. this I know. While 80% of all US law students study for the bar using Barbri, I am doing a self-study course that most of my classmates haven't even heard of. i must admit, however, that after reading all of the "introductory" materials for my self-study bar review course. I am starting to get a little scared. partly because I noticed a bunch of errors in the Micromash written material, which I am praying does not continue when I begin to read my subject-matter outlines. I am also nervous because they [Micromash writers] are telling me to study a few hours a day and gradually build stamina. excuse me, call me what you like but that's a bit frightening. who studyies for the New York bar and only spends 30 hours a week doing it!!! So as with everything else I am going to keep their guidelines in mind, and do what I do.

Anywho, there are 3 components to bar study. I learned all about this stuff this weekend during my "introductory" study session.

1. MBE. this is the multistate exam, which is taken on Wednesday. Every bar examinee in every state takes this same exam. 200 questions, 6 hours, 40% of the exam grade. MBE consists of six subjects-Torts, Contracts, Evidence, Property, Crim Law, & Con Law. Micromash suggests you "skim" the condensed outlines, and when you are done skimming, you should use the software in a guided learning mode to answer random questions in the subject. You get feedback on each question. When you are finished with a subject, the software populates the results, and from there you can determine what areas of the law you need to focus on. And if you're having a really hard time, you can go to the review text which provides in-depth coverage of the law. And if you are an expert of course you can go on. Micromash suggests spending 25 hours each week on the MBE portion.

2. State Review. In New York, the state portion is administered on Tuesday and consists of 5 essays utilizing NY law (45 mins each; 40% of exam), 50 multiple choice questions (60 mins; 10% of exam) and the MPT-multistate performance test (90 mins; 10% of exam). I think NY has the rep for being the hardes b/c of the number of subjects tested, but I'm not sure yet. I made it a point not to talk about the bar exam during law school, and now that I'm not studying with other law students I'm really out of the loop, which I think is a better way to study. The NY Bar tests on the 6 MBE subjects and 7 other subjects that I don't care to mention. The Micromash State Reveiw pairs you with an attorney mentor. We have essay-assigments due each week that are to be submitted to the mentor who will return the essay graded. The assignments tell you which subjects that you have to read for the week, and the reading is usually 200 pages. 45 minutes should be spent on the essay, b/c this is all you will have on the exam. But you can use the study materials at your own pace. Micromash also suggests I use the software for the state questions at my own pace.

In order to be admitted to the bar I am also going t o have to sit for the MPRE- a national professional responsibility exam. Most law students sit for this exam prior to commencement, but I had better things to do-like secure post-grad employment. But I plan to take this exam August 10th, although I still haven't registered. Can someone remind me?

Hold up, wait a minute, let me put some pimping in it!

Deciding to blog was the easy part. Now I have to decide how to make the blog an extension of my greatness-aesthetically speaking, that is. So, as I learn and attempt to venture into the world of html, please be patient. There are times that you may see the page change two or three times. If you like something on the page and then I change it, please let me know. If you know html, please help! The above photo was taken from www.afrikids.com. Afrikids is a Child Rights Organisation, which works along indigenous communities in Ghana to improve the quality of life for rejected and vulnerable children.

As for the bar, I received the Micromash materials in the mail on yesterday, and I am reading over the introductory guide. (For all you Georgetown Bartenders-I am taking a self-study course called Micromash. Yes I know that everyone else takes Barbri. Yes, I placed my deposit to lock in. I decided that a self study bar review course would work better for me. I decided to assert my legal independence and venture into the world where only the brave will go by escaping the antitrust jungle that is Barbri, but I digress. . .) My next step is to create a schedule. From my understanding that's the most important component of adequate bar preparation. The publishers recommend 175 hours spent on state specific material and another 175 hours spent on the MBE (multi-state bar exam). I estimate that I will be spending two 8-hour days on the weekend, and 6 hours a day during the week studying if I stick to a 6 week schedule. Intimidating. If I stick to this schedule I should have some review time at the end of the summer. Which would be nice.

I should mention that the bar exam is going to be held in Albany, NY on July 24-25, 2007. I just booked my airfare! Woo hoo!!! Southwest was having a sale. I called Winter and Barbie**, two of my friends that are also taking NY Bar. Winter had already booked her airfare, so as usual, she lost out on the deal. But I helped Barbie save some money. Now I just need a hotel room. And of course every hotel in Albany has been booked for 2 years, by crazed and obsessed law students from all over the world. Am I going to ever escape them!!!

Other things that I did today: Baby and I got Beamers washed. Went to breakfast. Went to Law Center to get handwriting specimen for NY Bar Examiners and also submit transcript request for the same. Went to work. Worked.

Tonight I am planning on doing something fun, sadly I am going to be missing Winter's graduation party.

**All names have been changed to protect the innocent. I ain't ask for their permission, so we'll keep their names a secret. but these two names will probably become important to you, so remember them.

Studying for the New York Bar Exam . . .and Blogging

Why? Funny you should ask. Now that I have finished four grueling, stressful, hard, did I say stressful years of law school I am afraid that I will loose contact with the awesome people that I met. Second, now that I am finished law school, I have to study for the bar. Which bar? The NEW YORK STATE Bar exam. yeah, I know, that is the hard one. But I plan on studying. Why? Because I know people that are smarter than me and failed.

In so doing, I will be generally inaccessible to my friends and family. But during the process, that is studying for the bar, I want everyone to know how I'm doing, what I'm eating, what I'm thinking. You know . . .all the stuff that I would tell you if I were talking to you, but since I'm not you now have to read it.

Lastly, I am blogging because there is always room for improvement. And as I start my brand new legal career I think it would be neat to be able to look over my thoughts from years prior and use these thoughts as the barometer for my personal life. Hopefully, I will see the improvement.

Now, I make no promises. To quote my brother, "I don't want to sell you a dream and have to buy it back," I may post throughout the day. I may post once a week, or even once a month. I didn't say I was perfect, I am in the process of a huge change.