Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Life After 22
One of my friends has recently undertaken the grand project of helping people figure out what to do when they graduate from college and have no idea what they want to do with their lives. Simply put, he wants to create the ultimate guidebook for 20-somethings that want to figure out "what it all means."
http://www.lifeafter22.com
http://www.lifeafter22.com
Checking back into reality: What law students are thinking right now.
So, It's been a while.
This semester has been consumed with Moot Court preparation. The 2009 Giles Sutherland Rich Memorial competition is coming up in 2 short weeks (in sunny Palo Alto!), and the intra-school competition finished last Thursday. Scott and I have been preparing relentlessly and are confident we will do well.
School has been less of an issue this semester. I suppose the old adage is true: First year they scare you to death, second year they work you to death, third year they bore you to death. I do find the boredom kicking in pretty often however...
I finally received my registration number from the USPTO: 63690. The whole process took entirely too long, but should be rewarding in the end. It's certainly a nice line on the resume.
Anyway, enough about me.
To go back to the original purpose of these writings: I wanted to let the world, or at least anyone who reads this blog, what the typical law student is thinking at this point in their career. I've realized that this analysis is necessarily market driven. This necessity comes from the overwhelming sense of entrapment that comes from the instability in the job market and the crushing debt of not working for three years.
For those who are unable to secure any gainful employment, the decision to attend law school is likely reconsidered on a daily basis. Never were we told that if we worked hard, got good grades, went to law school, that we might actually have our dreams ripped out from under us because no one would hire us.
For those of us who are lucky enough to have secured a job (even that pie-in-the-sky firm job) we are constantly in fear that a phone call will come with the message "oops, we screwed up and over hired, good luck!" This fear is not unfounded. A glance at legal blogs chronicling the woes of the market (http://www.Abovethelaw.com) shows that over 1,500 attorneys and support staff have been terminated in the last three weeks. Some of the largest and "most stable" firms have been routinely firing 10% of their entire workforce. Whether or not these fears are real or contrived does not matter so much as the fact that they exist. The possibility of losing a job before ever setting one foot in the door, or worse, working a job all summer without a real possiblity of getting a full-time offer can destroy all the dreams that aspiring young lawyers came to law school to realize.
It's not all bad though, at least we have the bar to look forward to!
The amazing upside to this terrible situation is that it will all go away when the market turns. Legal services are as critical to the framework of America as apple pie, baseball, marriage, and divorce (arguably all of which require legal services). For those who are unable to obtain traditional legal employment, new avenues are opening each day as the demand for cheap alternatives to the dark wood paneled legal firm increases. Organizations such as Axiom Legal (http://www.axiomlegal.com) are forming to meet this demand with new business models for the legal industry.
On a somewhat unrelated note, I'd also recommend checking out Patently-O (http;//www.Patently0.com) for up-to-the-minute updates on all things patent related. This is a must read for anyone interested in Patent Law.
Also, for the lighter side of the law, check out Lowering the Bar (http://www.loweringthebar.net)
This semester has been consumed with Moot Court preparation. The 2009 Giles Sutherland Rich Memorial competition is coming up in 2 short weeks (in sunny Palo Alto!), and the intra-school competition finished last Thursday. Scott and I have been preparing relentlessly and are confident we will do well.
School has been less of an issue this semester. I suppose the old adage is true: First year they scare you to death, second year they work you to death, third year they bore you to death. I do find the boredom kicking in pretty often however...
I finally received my registration number from the USPTO: 63690. The whole process took entirely too long, but should be rewarding in the end. It's certainly a nice line on the resume.
Anyway, enough about me.
To go back to the original purpose of these writings: I wanted to let the world, or at least anyone who reads this blog, what the typical law student is thinking at this point in their career. I've realized that this analysis is necessarily market driven. This necessity comes from the overwhelming sense of entrapment that comes from the instability in the job market and the crushing debt of not working for three years.
For those who are unable to secure any gainful employment, the decision to attend law school is likely reconsidered on a daily basis. Never were we told that if we worked hard, got good grades, went to law school, that we might actually have our dreams ripped out from under us because no one would hire us.
For those of us who are lucky enough to have secured a job (even that pie-in-the-sky firm job) we are constantly in fear that a phone call will come with the message "oops, we screwed up and over hired, good luck!" This fear is not unfounded. A glance at legal blogs chronicling the woes of the market (http://www.Abovethelaw.com) shows that over 1,500 attorneys and support staff have been terminated in the last three weeks. Some of the largest and "most stable" firms have been routinely firing 10% of their entire workforce. Whether or not these fears are real or contrived does not matter so much as the fact that they exist. The possibility of losing a job before ever setting one foot in the door, or worse, working a job all summer without a real possiblity of getting a full-time offer can destroy all the dreams that aspiring young lawyers came to law school to realize.
It's not all bad though, at least we have the bar to look forward to!
The amazing upside to this terrible situation is that it will all go away when the market turns. Legal services are as critical to the framework of America as apple pie, baseball, marriage, and divorce (arguably all of which require legal services). For those who are unable to obtain traditional legal employment, new avenues are opening each day as the demand for cheap alternatives to the dark wood paneled legal firm increases. Organizations such as Axiom Legal (http://www.axiomlegal.com) are forming to meet this demand with new business models for the legal industry.
On a somewhat unrelated note, I'd also recommend checking out Patently-O (http;//www.Patently0.com) for up-to-the-minute updates on all things patent related. This is a must read for anyone interested in Patent Law.
Also, for the lighter side of the law, check out Lowering the Bar (http://www.loweringthebar.net)
Monday, September 8, 2008
Recreating the Universe
This Wednesday is going to be an epic day for particle physicists, and indeed, for the entire world. Physicists at CERN will be recreating conditions that approximate one billionth of a second after the big bang in a particle accelerator that is 17 miles in circumference. The purpose of this experiment is to attempt to confirm (or deny) several theories of particle physics. Potentially, this test could prove the existence of alternate dimensions, cause particles that have only been theorized to finally be detected, or even show scientists they are completely wrong about current notions of governing principles of the universe.
One of the most interesting tests this experiment will conduct involves the detection of the Higgs Boson. This particle is one that was theorized to exist as a result of the joining of two of the fundamental forces - electric and weak nuclear. Essentially, observation of this particle would explain why massless fundamental particles can come together to form massive particles. Keep your eyes open!!
Full Story!
One of the most interesting tests this experiment will conduct involves the detection of the Higgs Boson. This particle is one that was theorized to exist as a result of the joining of two of the fundamental forces - electric and weak nuclear. Essentially, observation of this particle would explain why massless fundamental particles can come together to form massive particles. Keep your eyes open!!
Full Story!
Monday, August 4, 2008
Chicago in Review; SF on the horizon
The Loyola Patent Job Fair was a great success in my book. Other than it being humid as... well... it was really humid, I think the fair went off without a hitch. I got a chance to explore more of downtown than in my previous trips to the windy city, and the company wasn't too bad either. (We had 10 students from UCD attend the fair.) Thanks to all who made thier way to Chicago to meet with me. I really appreciate your time and thank you for the opportunity.
As for upcoming events, the Bay Area Diversity Career Fair and the San Francisco Intellectual Property Law Association Job Fair are this weekend. Saturday and Sunday are jam packed with interviews yet again, but at least this time, I get to sleep in my own bed. If you happen to be one of the people sitting across the table from me this weekend, I look forward to meeting you!
More to come later. Congratulations to Vijay Singh - 2008 WGC Bridgestone Champion! now I can only hope Golf channel replays that final round....
GO VIJAY!
As for upcoming events, the Bay Area Diversity Career Fair and the San Francisco Intellectual Property Law Association Job Fair are this weekend. Saturday and Sunday are jam packed with interviews yet again, but at least this time, I get to sleep in my own bed. If you happen to be one of the people sitting across the table from me this weekend, I look forward to meeting you!
More to come later. Congratulations to Vijay Singh - 2008 WGC Bridgestone Champion! now I can only hope Golf channel replays that final round....
GO VIJAY!
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Chicago and iPhones!
The Loyola Patent Job Fair is only a few weeks away! After getting my resume into tip-top shape, I should be ready to take on the grueling two days of interviews.
And now for the legal story you've all been waiting for:
IPHONES DON'T WORK! or at least not for a couple of hours...
okay, so it's not exactly a legal story, but the newest iteration of iPhonemania was released a couple of days ago. I really do feel bad for people that waited in line for hours (not unlike myself for the first release) only to have their dreams of iPhone-topia to be pulled from underneath them like a tablecloth. Apparently, the new 3G version of the iPhone was not activate-able (the MPEP says I'm allowed to make up my own words - lexicographerizing) for a few hours after it's initial release. The part that made this less than cool was that old iPhones were also deactivated by the initial part of the process, so these tech-hungry hooligans were without access to YouTube and Facebook for more than 11 minutes. For shame Apple, the only way to rectify this situation is to create a new version of the iPhone so that you can get it right this time!
Read all the shenanigans here
And now for the legal story you've all been waiting for:
IPHONES DON'T WORK! or at least not for a couple of hours...
okay, so it's not exactly a legal story, but the newest iteration of iPhonemania was released a couple of days ago. I really do feel bad for people that waited in line for hours (not unlike myself for the first release) only to have their dreams of iPhone-topia to be pulled from underneath them like a tablecloth. Apparently, the new 3G version of the iPhone was not activate-able (the MPEP says I'm allowed to make up my own words - lexicographerizing) for a few hours after it's initial release. The part that made this less than cool was that old iPhones were also deactivated by the initial part of the process, so these tech-hungry hooligans were without access to YouTube and Facebook for more than 11 minutes. For shame Apple, the only way to rectify this situation is to create a new version of the iPhone so that you can get it right this time!
Read all the shenanigans here
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
*OMGCACPLMMW2P*
For those of you who are Text message impaired, the title reads as follows: Oh My God, California Cell Phone Law Makes Me Want To Puke.
Today, July 1, 2008, marks the very first day of California's new policy of requiring all people under the age of 18 to stay off their cell phones for any reason other than extreme emergency (and no, not like oh my god did you see jenny's hair?, but anything requiring rescue services). This much I agree with. Young drivers have enough to contend with, especially in CA. Cell phones, PDA's, etc are nothing more than probable causes of accidents. But why doesn't this logic extend to adults?
Is it not just as likely for someone who is an arguably more experienced driver to be just as distracted by a cell phone or PDA than someone who is less experienced? The argument is that they have become more able to handle distractions on the road, but do they not pose just as much of a distraction as they did previously? I know you're probably tired of reading questions at this point. I'm certainly tired of writing them. This law is particularly silly, in my opinion, not because of the intended effect, but because of the particular acts that are criminalized and the fines imposed.
For instance, the fee that is charged - $20 for a first offense is not likely to deflect even the occasional cell phone user. Let's not even think about how little this is likely to effect the ardent road warrior (who we are really trying to impact anyway, right?). Additionally, this law criminalizes the use of cell phone as long as you are holding it TO YOUR EAR. It encourages hands-free use, but does NOT CRIMINALIZE TEXTING. that's correct ladies and gentlemen, no talking while using one hand, but feel free to text using two and your eyes. LOL.
At least we can say that CA supports one thing: the sale of those little bluetooth headsets that make you look like a tool when you're walking around talking to no one. I can't wait until mine shows up from Ebay.
Read the law for yourself! I'm sure you'll laugh as much as I did.
Patent Bar Review:
Almost through MPEP 700 (aka A LOT)
Today, July 1, 2008, marks the very first day of California's new policy of requiring all people under the age of 18 to stay off their cell phones for any reason other than extreme emergency (and no, not like oh my god did you see jenny's hair?, but anything requiring rescue services). This much I agree with. Young drivers have enough to contend with, especially in CA. Cell phones, PDA's, etc are nothing more than probable causes of accidents. But why doesn't this logic extend to adults?
Is it not just as likely for someone who is an arguably more experienced driver to be just as distracted by a cell phone or PDA than someone who is less experienced? The argument is that they have become more able to handle distractions on the road, but do they not pose just as much of a distraction as they did previously? I know you're probably tired of reading questions at this point. I'm certainly tired of writing them. This law is particularly silly, in my opinion, not because of the intended effect, but because of the particular acts that are criminalized and the fines imposed.
For instance, the fee that is charged - $20 for a first offense is not likely to deflect even the occasional cell phone user. Let's not even think about how little this is likely to effect the ardent road warrior (who we are really trying to impact anyway, right?). Additionally, this law criminalizes the use of cell phone as long as you are holding it TO YOUR EAR. It encourages hands-free use, but does NOT CRIMINALIZE TEXTING. that's correct ladies and gentlemen, no talking while using one hand, but feel free to text using two and your eyes. LOL.
At least we can say that CA supports one thing: the sale of those little bluetooth headsets that make you look like a tool when you're walking around talking to no one. I can't wait until mine shows up from Ebay.
Read the law for yourself! I'm sure you'll laugh as much as I did.
Patent Bar Review:
Almost through MPEP 700 (aka A LOT)
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