Phoenix

Last week, I took my first business trip.  I was a last-minute add to the trip.  I was working with two colleagues to prepare for some meetings in Phoenix, and they said, "You know, it would be easier if you would just come with us...  Let's look up some flights!"  And so, I found myself in Phoenix on Tuesday and Wednesday last week.

The intensity of the hot weather in Phoenix cannot be overstated.  It was 108° when I was in town, which is extreme.  As I exited the airport for the first time, I was shocked to learn that even one's eyeballs can feel hot.  And yet, it was freezing in all of the buildings with air conditioners blasting, so my Bay Area instinct to dress in layers nonetheless proved useful.

We stayed at the Hotel Valley Ho, which is a historic hotel in Scottsdale.  The architecture was designed by a student of Frank Lloyd Wright, and it has an awesome "Jetsons-in-the-desert" feel--that very 1950s concept of the future, mixed with Arizonan elements.

Our meetings went well.  Having spent a lot of time preparing the materials for the meetings, it was great to see our work in action, and meet a lot of our clients.  I should be heading back to Phoenix in early August for another set of meetings--hopefully I'll be able to spend a little more time there and explore the city.

Settling In

I've been at HomeBase for six weeks now, and it's been awesome.  Having been an intern, it was easy for me to jump right into the work and start taking on responsibility.  It's a bit frustrating to have to study for the bar exam while gearing up in my new job, because I'd love to be able to pour 100% of my energy into work.  But, in another six weeks, the bar exam will be over, and things will really start to fall into place.

The nature of my work is very fast-paced and eclectic, which I love.  In a single day, I might research pending legislation, draft a grant proposal, write a memo on some best practices, or facilitate a meeting with clients to brainstorm how to improve their system.

While most of our work is in the Bay Area, we also have some national technical assistance work for HUD, which takes us all over the country.  Indeed, I will be going to Phoenix for a couple of days next week for some meetings. I am excited by how quickly I've begun to feel like a valuable team member with things to contribute.

Last week, I gave a presentation at our regional steering committee on Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act.  It felt a bit like a "fake it 'til you make it" moment, because I'm by no means an expert on heath care reform, but I think it went well.  I, like most folks in the policy world, am awaiting the Supreme Court's opinion on the ACA with baited breath.  My hope is that they'll leave the entire law in effect, but my prediction is that they'll sever the individual mandate.

Today was lovely, because it was the annual intern hike, which is like our version of a company picnic.  We all carpooled out to the Marin Headlands for some hiking, followed by a BBQ picnic near the beach.  What a fantastic way to spend a Wednesday.

Coming Home

This week has been exciting, unexpected, and a bit nostalgic.   On Wednesday, I began a three-month staff lawyer contract position with  HomeBase!  I am extraordinarily fond of HomeBase, as it was the location of my first legal internship.  I interviewed for a position with them back in March (in fact, on the day after the bar exam ended), but they weren't able to hire me at that time.  Then, on Monday, I got an email from my old supervisor asking me if I'd be interested in some contract work.  I said "Absolutely!" and got a call from the executive director on Tuesday night, asking me to come in Wednesday.  So whirlwind!  For now it is a full-time contract position, but there is serious potential for it to turn into a permanent position.

It all happened so quickly, I didn't even have time to let it sink in and become really excited about it.  It's strange, because it doesn't feel like a "new" job; having already worked there for a summer, I mostly just feel nostalgic.  Indeed, reading over my posts from the summer of 2009, I realized that the last time I did Bay to Breakers (which I'm doing next weekend), I was working for HomeBase!  It's all coming full circle.

This changes everything.  I have an income (and can buy stuff).  I have a plausible path to a permanent position, which would enable me to get my own place and reassert my independence.  I can start repaying my student loans.  Most of all, this gives me a huge psychological boost on my bar exam results coming out next week.  Even if I don't pass, knowing I am employed makes me feel a lot better about it.  (And, because HomeBase mostly does policy work, bar admission isn't a requirement to work there.)  My heart is full of joy and thanksgiving.


Sing a new song to the LORD,
for he has done marvelous deeds.
His right hand and holy arm
have won the victory.
The LORD has made his victory known;
has revealed his triumph in the sight of the nations,
He has remembered his mercy and faithfulness
toward the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the victory of our God.


Shout with joy to the LORD, all the earth;
break into song; sing praise.
Sing praise to the LORD with the lyre,
with the lyre and melodious song.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn
shout with joy to the King, the LORD.


Let the sea and what fills it resound,
the world and those who dwell there.
Let the rivers clap their hands,
the mountains shout with them for joy,
Before the LORD who comes,
who comes to govern the earth,
To govern the world with justice
and the peoples with fairness.

- Psalm 98

Habitat

At the end of the long day, I surveyed myself.  My jeans were covered in sawdust and mud.  My arms boasted a chalky pink-red hue.  My right hand sported several burgeoning blisters.  And, my hair was molded into what could only be described as hard hat hair.  As my appearance confirmed, my first time volunteering with Habitat for Humanity had been quite productive.

On Friday, I went up to Daly City to work on the construction of a four-story building that will provide condominiums for 36 families.  Monica invited me to tag along as her guest to volunteer with JusticeCorps members for César Chávez Day.  It was fitting to spend the day laboring as a construction worker, contemplating workers' rights.  After learning more about how Habitat works, as well as safety protocols, we divided up into smaller groups to accomplish various tasks.

Along with ten other volunteers, Monica and I spent the day nailing up OSB to studs to form interior walls and rough door framing.  I didn't have much knowledge about carpentry, so it was exciting to get a little technical with things like nail schedules and measurements.  And, I had never used a chalk line tool--so cool!  At the beginning of the day, it was taking me a long time to hammer in each nail, but I was much better by the afternoon, swinging my hammer in long, forceful arcs that hit the head almost every time.

I had always wanted to do Habitat, and I was glad to have this opportunity.  While I enjoyed the day, I'm not sure it was my favorite type of volunteering.  Reflecting on the experience, I think I thrive the most through community service where I am actually able to interact with the person receiving the benefit of my labor.  Here, I could see that there were walls where there had been none, but it was not quite the same as seeing the face of a person I had impacted directly.  Perhaps my experience would be different if I did one of the international week-long builds, where I could see the community being affected.  That being said, I think I would do Habitat again, because doing construction felt pretty hardcore, I felt like I learned some practical skills, and the organization has a very good structure.

Final Finals, Finally

No more school,

Yet, way more books,

Is the bar exam as hard as it looks?

I had my last class of law school on Friday.  While it wasn't very representative of my classroom experience these past three years, it was delightful: my professor had our fact-finding mission team over to her house for lunch.  We debriefed our year-long seminar, and popped open some champagne to celebrate our hard work.  The fact-finding mission has been one of the best things about law school, so it was a great way to conclude.

Of course, it's not quite over yet...  I'll be working on final exams for the next two weeks.  I have an essay due tomorrow for Nonprofit Organizations, an in-class exam on Thursday for Family Law II, and then self-paced take-home exams for Immigration Law & Policy and Law & Development.  All told, this is actually the easiest final exam period that I will have had in law school, which is nice.

While my take-home exams aren't due until May 17th, my family arrives on the 14th, so my goal is to finish things before they arrive.  I may even be able to finish things sooner than that, depending on my efficiency and diligence.  However, I also want to complete the Early Bar Prep work that Barbri has provided us with to work on before our bar review course begins on the 23rd, so I'll be keeping myself busy one way or another.

Despite outlining and paper writing, I've had some fun during the past week or so.  I attended the Easter Vigil at Holy Trinity last weekend, which was standing room only and a beautiful service that made me both laugh and tear up.  Last Sunday, the CSA had our third annual Easter Brunch, which is always delicious and fun.

On Monday, I had an insightful conversation over dinner (at Busboys and Poets, yum) with a new friend I had met the week prior at the Holy Thursday Mass on main campus.  Isn't it a bummer to make new friends right before one is about to move cross-country?

I spent most of Tuesday at a very interesting Immigration Law & Policy Conference that was hosted by the law school, the Migration Policy Institute, and CLINIC (Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc.).  I loved that my Immigration professor told us to skip class to attend the conference instead.  Many of the take-away points were unsurprising: we need comprehensive immigration reform, ICE needs to start using their new PBNDS, and indigent immigrants in the court system should have the right to counsel.  However, I did find the session on 287(g) agreements and Secure Communities to be particularly insightful, because they had the Chief of Police from Prince William County, VA, speak about how they implemented 287(g), and its impact on the community.

Friday night was the Poverty Journal's end-of-year banquet, which was at La Tasca.  We had delicious tapas and sangria, and then hung out at a nearby bar called Redline.  The bar has self-serve beer taps at every table, which was pretty unique.  My Editor-in-Chief, Betsy, gave me a splendidly nerdy mug that says "data are plural," which was an issue we had to address repeatedly during our edits this past year.  Being Managing Editor was a lot of work this year, but I'm going to miss working on the journal.

Yesterday, Jess and I, along with our friend and fellow Cal alum Mike, went to the ballpark to watch the Giants beat the Nationals.  I hadn't been to the Nationals park before, and was very impressed by the layout--we were in the cheap seats for the first half of the game, but I still felt like I had a great view.  And, the food was delicious; I had a Ben's chili dog and funnel cake.  The best part of the game was at the end when Brian Wilson closed--I was proud to be wearing my number 38 jersey!

Alas, my blogging study break is officially over.  Back to paper writing!

March to Victory

I have been working non-stop for the past three weeks!  My human rights fact-finding report on the repatriation of persons with mental disabilities is officially complete--sent it to our graphic designer this morning!--after a ton of work from our amazing group of nine students.  I've been putting in about 25 hours of work per week on the report this month, on top of my full course load, the Poverty Law Journal, the Catholic Student Association (CSA), and searching for a job.  However, I'm energized rather than exhausted.  I love being busy.  Boredom is my worst enemy.  To that end, here are some highlights from the past three weeks...

• I got a very short haircut, which I'm enjoying immensely.  It is so nice to not have hair on my neck!  I told the stylist that I didn't want any hair past my jawline, and she did a great job.
• I did a series of informational interviews with immigration non-profits in the Bay Area while I was in town for Spring Break.  No one was hiring, but I got some good information about what it's like in the field, and about public interest law in general.
• I tried out a delicious, yet simple, sautéed shrimp recipe from my new cookbook, and had Brad and Marie over for dinner.  Yum!
• The CSA had Fr. Ray Schroth, the author of a new biography on Fr. Bob Drinan, come speak at an event.  I enjoyed learning more about Fr. Drinan, and even got a signed copy of the book.
• My journal hosted a symposium on the intersection of legal education and poverty law, which was very successful.
• It started to feel like spring, but then regressed to winter.  Snow in late March?!  I do not approve.
• I did some trash clean-up at Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens, which is so beautiful!  We sorted and bagged over a dozen giant bags of trash and recyclables.  I really wish people would stop littering.

There are many more things that I could talk about: e.g., getting addicted to John Grisham novels, journal bake sale tabling for prisoner literacy, planning the CSA budget, Bluebooking, crashing the Tax Journal's end-of-year party, handing out free St. Patrick's Day cookies, sooo much report editing...  But, I don't want to ramble.

In other news, there are five weeks of classes left, and I graduate in 55 days.  Our human rights report launch is in two weeks, and we have a ton of amazing advocacy meetings lined up with D.C. policy makers.  It's definitely starting to feel like the home stretch, and I'm excited!  Please keep my job search in your prayers--I have an interview this Friday (which I don't want to blog about until after the fact).

Whirlwind

It has been a whirlwind start to the semester.  On top of my course load, I have been doing a lot of work for the Georgetown Journal on Poverty Law & Policy, and my human rights fact-finding mission just finished the first draft of our report.  This work has taken up so much of my time that, lately, I've been wishing for more "free time"--not to go have fun, but simply to have time for both homework and sleep.

Fortunately, things should be slowing down a bit soon.  I am really looking forward to this weekend, because we get next Monday through Wednesday off for Presidents' Day, and my dear friend Christopher is coming to visit!  It will be so lovely to take a few days off from the frenetic pace of the semester to live the life of a DC tourist while knocking off a few items from my DC to-do list.

Before we get too far into the semester, I wanted to take stock of my classes.

Family Law II: Georgetown Law splits family law into two courses: marriage and children.  I'm taking the class on children.  It's been very interesting so far, to think about the rights of children, paternity/maternity issues, how to define parent, and financial responsibility.  While I don't anticipate working explicitly in family law, I know that many of these issues will be relevant in any public interest career, so I'm glad to be getting an overview.

Immigration Law & Policy: I am really enjoying this course.  It feels a bit strange to have waited so long to take this course, given that this is what I want to do with my career.  Indeed, I find that between my internship with the Arlington Immigration Court and the other courses I've taken, I already know a lot of the material.  Nonetheless, it's nice to have all of this information presented in a coherent matter.  Plus, our professor is very passionate, and we have a lot of great policy discussions.

Law & Development: This course is not what I was anticipating.  I thought we'd be looking at how developing nations use the law to develop.  Instead, this is basically an economics course.  Seeing as I majored in International Political Economy, everything covered so far has been a rehash of things I learned in undergrad.  Hopefully this is just setting the framework for the course, and we'll get into development policy issues soon.

Non-Profit Organizations: I was also surprised by this course.  It is a lot more technical than I expected.  It feels like my Corporations class from last year, but looking at the formation of 501(c)(3) organizations.  Yet, it's not a tax class--there's a different course that looks at 501(c)(3) status.  Although the material is a bit tedious, I think it is good to understand the laws governing the operation of non-profit organizations, because I will most likely be working for non-profits in my career.

Fact-Finding Seminar: This is a continuation of the year-long seminar for my human rights fact-finding mission, but we don't meet very often as a class.  We've broken up into two teams--report writing and advocacy--and I'm on the report writing team.  It will be exciting to get feedback from the advocacy team on our first draft!  It was a great feeling to meet last night to take a look at our compiled first draft, which is 47 pages long, single spaced.  We put in a solid amount of work, and I'm pleased with the results.

Bouquet of Newly Sharpened Pencils

The start of a new school year always makes me think of Tom Hanks' quote from You've Got Mail about wanting to give Meg Ryan a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils.  Last week was my first week of school, so I thought I'd tell you a little bit about my classes...

Public Interest Advocacy is a seminar about the public interest law movement.  As a future public interest attorney (I hope), I'm excited to learn more about the history of the movement, and to discuss possible answers to tough questions, including what is in the public interest, and who gets to decide.  My professor is arguing before the Supreme Court this semester, and invited us all to come watch!

I am both intimidated and invigorated by my Law of War seminar.  My professor used to run West Point's law of war program, and almost everyone in my class is active military (with an especially high number of Navy JAG officers).  Meanwhile, I am taking the class because of my interest in how the law of armed conflict (a.k.a., international humanitarian law) interacts with international human rights.  I think this class will challenge me to articulate my viewpoints, and will broaden my perspective on some arduous issues facing us in the context of 21st century terrorism.

My International Law of Labor and Employment class is more along the lines of international law classes that I have taken in the past.  Actually, it feels a bit like a throwback to my International Political Economy courses at Cal.  However, I am new to labor law issues, and thus am looking forward to learning more about the ILO, sweatshops, migrant workers, child labor, and the plethora of multilateral treaties attempting to address these human rights concerns.

As I mentioned back in April, I was accepted into the Human Rights Institute/Georgetown Human Rights Action 2010-2011 fact-finding mission on the safe repatriation of persons with mental disabilities.  This includes a year-long Human Rights Fact-Finding Seminar with two professors and a fellow for only nine of us students.  It is going to be a lot of work, but well worth the effort.  We'll be researching all fall, traveling somewhere (TBA, possibly Mexico or Guatemala?) for a week in January to do on-the-ground interviews with persons who have experiences these issues, and then writing our report in the spring, followed by advocacy efforts related to our findings.  It's basically like running our own project within an NGO for a year, but getting course credit. I'm very excited!

I am also getting credit this semester for an awesome externship, but my employers have asked us to refrain from publicizing our positions online.  I will say that I am getting excellent experience in immigration law, and am thrilled to finally have broken into this field, as I am so interested in refugee and asylum issues.  If you're curious, I'd be happy to discuss offline.

Lastly, I am taking a one-unit seminar on The Practicing Lawyer and the Poor, which looks at the Catholic social teaching on the preferential option for the poor.  We'll be discussing the moral obligations of lawyers in the context of domestic and global poverty, which are issues very close to my heart.  We only meet four times during the semester--including once at our professor's house!--so I cannot yet comment on the class itself.  However, in preparation for our first class, I am currently reading Tracy Kidder's book Mountains Beyond Mountains, which details the incredible biography of Dr. Paul Farmer, a doctor-anthropologist who founded a health center and hospital in the small derelict village of Cange, Haiti.  I'm only ten chapters in, but am already captivated by the questions that Dr. Farmer's actions raise for me--especially whether it is possible to give enough, or indeed, too much of oneself.

So, that does it for classes.  My other major responsibilities for the year are Managing Editor for the Georgetown Journal on Poverty Law and Policy, and Co-Chair of the Catholic Student Association.  We had a wonderful time orienting our new staff editors for the Poverty Law Journal last week, including a rousing game of Bluebook Bingo!  (To my law school/lawyer readers: who else is excited about the Rule 18 revisions in the new 19th edition of the Bluebook, by the way?!)  The CSA is off to a good start as well; we had a well-attended pancake brunch after last Sunday's Mass of the Holy Spirit.

I also had time for fun non-academic things last week, but ironically my academics prevent me from delving into them at this juncture.  To be continued, with exciting tales of two birthdays, one symphony, and zero boredom!

Journaling

Last night, the Poverty Journal had our end-of-the-year banquet. It was on the rooftop of Tabaq Bistro on U St., and the weather was perfectly gorgeous. I had a mesclun salad, salmon with lobster sauce and mashed potatoes, and chocolate cake. Quite delicious!

It was great to honor Hasa, our outgoing editor-in-chief, for all of the hard work he has put in this year. I hope that we can continue lead the journal in a good direction next year. I think my managing editor position will be a lot of work, but well worth it.

I was very surprised during the banquet when I was given a trophy for all of the community service I've done for the journal this year! Ha ha, I don't think I've received a trophy since high school. It has my name on it and everything:

A bunch of us went out after the banquet to the lounge downstairs at Saint-Ex. At first, it was a pretty empty bar, but it rapidly turned into a dance party, which was fun. It was nice to relax with friends for the evening, what with next week being the last week of school, and final exams starting up on the 5th. Madness! There is much work to be done over the next few weeks, but it'll be fine. It's just a matter of pacing myself.

My last final is a paper due on the 18th, but I'm not flying out to California until the 22nd--so, D.C. kids, let's hang out! It'll be fun to pretend to be a tourist for a few days, and maybe even check off a few more things from my to-do list...

Celebrity

Relay for Life was a lot of fun last night! In sum, I raised $365, and my team raised close to $2,500--thanks to everyone for your support! The Georgetown Journal on Poverty Law and Policy was out in force, handing out pamphlets to educate students on the connections between cancer and poverty. We even met President DeGioia, and gave him a copy of the journal. Heh, we also "met" Scruff McGruff the Crime Dog. And, while wearing my Cal baseball cap, I discovered that there are a lot of people on main campus who are Bear fans for one reason or another. Go Bears!

Matt and Bryan (two of my GJPLP teammates) and I decided to attempt to walk a marathon while at Relay! The event was on the football field, so we didn't have the benefit of an actual track, but we figured that six laps around the field at 300 yards per lap is a mile (300 yds x 6 laps = 1,800 yds; 1 mile = 1,760 yds).

By the end of the event, we had to revise our goal to 20 miles, which we completed! There were several factors that contributed to our inability to finish the full marathon:

• Interruptions for ceremonies (the event was only 12 hours long)
• A narrow and crowded pseudo-track
• A thunderstorm with 25-mph winds
• Lack of energy from staying up all night
• Blisters on our feet and aching knees
• No actual preparation or training

I had a big blister on my right foot, so I ended up walking the last 10 miles barefoot, which was actually kind of nice on the AstroTurf. Unfortunately, it rained pretty much the entire time, but at least that kept us from getting too hot while speed-walking. 20 miles is definitely the farthest I've ever walked, and gives me a new appreciation for the sheer madness of people who run marathons.

The other neat thing about Relay was that I came home with a goldfish! Matt won the fish, but realized that it wouldn't be very compatible with his cat, so Jess and I have adopted it for now. The journal decided to name the fish Tracy Chapman (a reference to a song played at our journal's orientation). If it survives the summer, maybe we'll keep it in the journal office this fall?!

Anyhow, after Relay, I got home around 6 am, slept for some of the day, and spent the rest of the day hobbling around the apartment (my legs are so stiff!) and studying for finals (two weeks away, eek!). This evening, Jess and I headed to the law school to watch a Georgetown Gilbert and Sullivan Society production of H.M.S. Pinafore, which was excellent! I had a bunch of friends in the show, and laughed so much.

Before the show started, I happened to notice a man sitting four rows in front of me who looked somewhat familiar to me. "No way," I thought to myself. "Why would he even be here?" I looked up a photo of him on my iPhone, just to make sure, and then turned to Jess excitedly and said, "Look! It's the Chairman of the Fed! It's Bernanke!" And, indeed, it was:

Do you see the back of his head? Balding, blue shirt, center of the photograph. I'm sorry for the terrible quality, but it was very dark in the auditorium. It was definitely him, though! He did turn around at one point, and I caught sight of his distinctive beard. I have determined that people like Bernanke are my celebrities. I may know nothing about pop culture, but I absolutely freak out when I spot the people who run the government. D.C. is my Hollywood.

Speaking of D.C. "celebrity" sightings, I failed to mention that when David visited a couple of weeks ago, we saw Nancy Pelosi during our tour of--where else?--Congress. We were in Statutory Hall when, unannounced, Pelosi and a bunch of staffers walked right by us! David and I gawked at her, mere feet away, and she smiled at us. I was unable to respond, and just continued to stare at her, slack-jawed. Once she had exited the room, I was very frustrated by the rest of our tour group for not even noticing her, but I suppose most middle schoolers wouldn't recognize the Speaker of the House. Sadness.

Fight like a Hoya!

Relay for Life is Friday! While I've surpassed my individual goal of raising $300, the Georgetown Journal on Poverty Law and Policy is still working hard to reach our team goal of $2,000. Please help us to reach our goal!

This year, on Thursday, April 15th, 2010, Relay at Georgetown is trying to add another $100,000 in 24 hours. If you would like to find out more about the $100,000 day check out this video that was shown at the last team captain's meeting. Here is the YouTube clip:



Please support me in the fight against cancer and make a gift to my team. I appreciate your support and thank you for taking the time to read this post!

Join Me and Fight Like A HOYA! Hoya Saxa!

Peace,
Amanda

P.S. - Please read on for a letter from Megan Quail, our Relay for Life 2010 Event Chair, who wrote to us about why Relay for Life means so much to her personally.

When my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer in September 2001, I was terrified, but I always knew things would be ok. They had to be. My mom is my hero, my rock, my everything. Touched by my favorite Beatles song, “Let it be”, I found solace in the lyrical advice to let life find its answer for me. My mom had her left breast, lymph nodes from her armpit, and a muscle removed, but she walked away with her life.

Six years later, I lost a friend at age 19 to cancer. This time, I wasn’t so willing to “let it be”. Days after his funeral, I joined the Relay For Life committee. Not to sound like a walking cliché, but doing so changed my life. Six months after the 2009 Relay, I ran my first marathon for the American Cancer Society. Another six months later, I’m chairing my first Relay For Life event. With three days to go, there have been a lot of sleepless nights in preparation and excitement for the event. Unfortunately, cancer also never sleeps. Last week, it once again roared its ugly head and attacked my mom’s right breast. Now, in addition to preparing for Relay, my family is also preparing for my mother’s second mastectomy.

This time around, I’m not scared. I’m angry. At first, I didn’t think it was fair that my mom would have to lose another breast and months of her life to this terrible disease after everything I’ve done to fight it. But then, I realized that maybe my mom got cancer again to show me how much Relay For Life and the American Cancer Society have done towards finding a cure. Because of medical advancements, my mom CAN have a mastectomy to save her life. This year, I’m relaying for my mom. For the last 21 years, she’s been my hero. But this year, you are all my heroes.

Because of your support of the American Cancer Society, my mom WILL live to see my 22nd birthday. Because of you, I will live to see the day where someone with my mom’s diagnosis won’t have to undergo surgery or chemotherapy at all to eradicate the cancer cells. Because of you, we will find a cure for cancer in my lifetime. Thank you for your support and for being my hero.

Fight Like A Hoya,

Megan Quail
2010 Event Chair

Relay for Life

I will be participating in my fourth Relay for Life the third weekend in April with a team of my fellow editors on the Georgetown Journal on Poverty Law and Policy. This involves raising funds for the American Cancer Society, and I would love your support. Anything you can contribute will have an impact (even $10), and we greatly appreciate your help. Please help me to fight cancer through Relay for Life! You can made a donation by visiting my Relay page.

My journal is participating in Relay for Life to raise awareness about how cancer severely impacts poverty in America in a number of ways:

• Poor people lack access to quality health care and are more likely than others to die of cancer.
• Poor people endure greater pain and suffering from cancer than most Americans.
• Poor people face substantial obstacles to obtaining and using health insurance and often do not seek needed care if they cannot pay for it.
• Poor people and their families must make extraordinary personal sacrifices to obtain and pay for health care.
• Cancer education and outreach efforts are insensitive and irrelevant to many poor people.
• Fatalism about cancer prevails among the poor and prevents them from gaining quality health care.

In light of these devastating facts, I hope that you will join me and the Georgetown Journal on Poverty Law and Policy in bringing us a step closer to a world where cancer can no longer claim another year of anyone’s life. Thank you for your support.

Just Keep Swimming

This has been quite a week. My first and second weeks of school blurred into one behemoth of a week due to the first weekend of my Negotiations seminar, which met from 9 to 4:30 Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I am really enjoying the seminar, but, gosh, ten days without a day off is kind of harsh for a student accustomed to a four-day week. Plus, I had to go in to campus yesterday to table for the Catholic Student Association at an admitted students reception, and to take care of some business for the Poverty Law Journal. At least I didn't have to leave my apartment today, especially in light of the weather:


Seriously, when I went to bed last night, there was no snow, and now we have half a foot. Though, it was gorgeous to watch all day while sitting on my couch, studying constitutional law and sipping hot apple cider.

I mentioned a couple of my classes last week, so I'll take a moment to fill you in on the rest of my schedule. My Constitutional Law II class is fantastic. I am delighted to be taking it with the same professor as I had for Contracts last year. Apparently, his premise for the course is to attempt to convince us that judicial review was a bad idea, though he admits that he will probably fail. I just love his lecture style--methodical, passionate and witty.

I am also enjoying my Refugee Law and Policy seminar. The past year has really opened my eyes to my personal interest in the intersection of international law and poverty law, and I feel that refugee law is a fascinating example. I would really like to do the CALS clinic at Georgetown next year, so this seminar serves as a good introduction.

My Negotiations seminar is awesome. It meets a total of two weekends over the course of the semester, with some assignments outside of class, and counts for three credits! Incredible. The class sessions are a lot of fun, because we mainly break out into role playing exercises with classmates. So far, I've represented a diverse array of clients: an opera company trying to hire a soprano, a radio station trying to hire a host , a single mother accused of neglect, an investor seeking an easement on a neighbor's property, a high tech start-up disputing a contract with an investment bank, and a British jockey trying to break into the Kentucky Derby. I am excited about this class because negotiating is not just a lawyering skill, but a life skill.

I also started my internship with the Legal Clinic. Everyone there is very nice, and excited to have my help. So far, I've been doing some document review. Next week will be interesting because I get to meet with each attorney to discuss their fields of work.

The Poverty Law Journal has been keeping me very busy this past week. I turned in a team assignment, submitted a paper I wrote last semester on the 2007 Hague Child Support Convention for potential publication as a note, and applied for Editor-in-Chief! Elections aren't until next week, but we had a Q&A session Thursday night where anyone on staff could ask questions of the three of us who are running. I focused on my leadership experience (CSA, ADX), editing skills (English major, high school newspaper Ed-in-Chief, general nerdiness), and desire to foster a greater sense of community. We'll see what happens!

I've also managed to do a few fun things, in spite of my busyness. Jess and I went to a D.C. Cal Alumni happy hour, I went to a party with a bunch of friends from 1L year, I rocked out to Deaf Dog and the Indictments (a band comprised mainly of judges), and I attended a Poverty Law Journal party. Oh, and watched the State of the Union, of course.

Sigh, I also watched the final episode of the Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien. I really appreciated his farewell message. In particular: "Nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get. But if you work really hard and you’re kind, amazing things will happen."

I was so impressed by how Conan handled the whole ordeal. I hope that we see him doing something amazing on September 1 (my birthday!) when he is allowed back on the air. Also, I was excited to read that his production company, Conaco, is working on a new drama that "focuses on a Supreme Court justice who leaves the bench to start his own practice." I would watch that!

Aaron Burr was a Scoundrel

I flew back to D.C. on Saturday. The best part of the trip was getting a free upgrade to first class for my ATL-DCA flight! Wow, first class is pretty nice. Delta offered me free wine, gave me real candy bars instead of those weird cookies, and the flight attendant was hilarious. Plus, I sat next to a similarly upgraded passenger, Javier, who is also a D.C. grad student. We toasted our good fortune and had a great flight.

Jess was kind enough to pick me up at the airport. When we got home, the first thing I unpacked was the Christmas present for her from my mom--a Zhu Zhu pet hamster! Jess got one that is yellow with stars on the back. We didn't exactly feel like 23-year-olds as we sat on the floor of my room and played with our hamsters, but it seemed a fitting way to celebrate being back in town.

On Sunday, I jumped right back into things. I went to Mass at 11 am (which felt, of course, like 8 am), followed by a Catholic Student Association co-chair lunch meeting. Then, I went to the bookstore to pick up $770 of books. Ouch. They gave me a cardboard box to carry them all to my locker, which is fortunately only a couple hundred yards from the bookstore. I grabbed a couple of the books, and headed to the library. Impressive... I made it a whole 21 hours without setting foot in the library.

That night, Jess and I took advantage of Restaurant Week by having dinner at Morton's, a steakhouse in downtown D.C. It was delicious! I had a Caesar salad, filet mignon with béarnaise sauce, garlic mashed potatoes, and double chocolate mousse. When the maître d' took us to our table, he informed us that we were sitting in Larry King's booth! Indeed, there was a painting of Larry on the wall above us, with the inscription "Larry's Corner." According to the maître d', when Larry eats at Morton's, he just walks in and sits himself down at that booth. "If Larry comes tonight, I guess he'll be eating dinner with you!" he told us, in a slightly rehearsed manner that was nonetheless delightful.

I spent MLK Jr. Day mainly at home studying and doing work for the Poverty Law Journal. Jess and I did venture outside for a trip to Trader Joe's, where I purchased many delicious items, including edamame, chocolate mochi ice cream, clementines, and sourdough bread. I have been amazed by the weather in D.C. the past couple of days--arguably nicer than the Bay Area was over break, at least during the day.

Today was the first day of school. On Tuesdays, I have two classes back-to-back in the same classroom, which is nice (because I don't have to set up my laptop and books twice) but a bit monotonous, atmospherically. At least it's one of the nicer classrooms (200).

My first class, International Environmental Law, looks like it will be awesome! The professor seems enthusiastic and knowledgeable, and I even answered one of her questions correctly. I was a little nervous about my lack of experience with environmental law, but my international law background more than makes up for it. I found the reading assignment very interesting because it discussed the impact of environmental issues upon indigent populations in developing countries. I'm very interested in the intersection of poverty law and international law.

Next, I had International Law II. At Georgetown, IL I (which I took last spring) focuses on public international law, whereas IL II is about corporate international law (i.e., trade, investment, and finance). Personally, I've discovered that I'm more interested in public IL than private IL, but it will still be interesting to learn more about setting up international business deals, arbitration, and the WTO. I mean, I did major in International Political Economy with a concentration in Law and Economics, after all.

This week is going to be pretty crazy. Typically, I will only have class/internship four days per week; however, this weekend is the first of two Friday - Sunday sessions for my Negotiations seminar. We will be meeting from 9 am to 4:30 pm each day! So, I have to go ten days straight without a day off. Don't pity me, please--I did this to myself. Actually, I'm really excited about the seminar, because negotiating is such an important part of life, not just the legal field. I'm reading Getting to Yes right now, which provides a very interesting strategy.

Well, back to homework; 63 pages of reading for Constitutional Law II tomorrow! Plus, tomorrow is the first day of my internship with the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless [hereinafter Legal Clinic]. At least the authors of my Con Law book seem to have a sense of humor. They keep throwing in quirky facts at odd moments. For example:

Marshall outlived all of his contemporary adversaries, including his enemy Jefferson, and was determined to outlive populist President Andrew Jackson as well. Only in this last aspiration did the Chief Justice fail. He stubbornly refused to resign, notwithstanding failing health, and in 1835 became the first Chief Justice to die in office. While it was being tolled on the occasion of his death, the Liberty Bell cracked. (Can you beat that for symbolism?)

Seriously, that is the authors' parenthetical at the end, not mine. So far, I've also discovered a fantastic footnote about the "scoundrel" Aaron Burr, many exclamation points at unexpected moments, and an unlikely comment on Justice Harlan's predilection for chewing tobacco on the bench, but I'll spare you.

One more thing: I am an ardent Conan O'Brien fan. I watch his show every night (indeed, I have watched every single episode of his Tonight Show). I am devastated by NBC's actions, and am so fearful for what the end of the week may bring. Poor Coco! Though, I will admit that it has been interesting to follow this from a legal standpoint--all of the legal blogs I follow have been abuzz with speculation about his contract. Specifically, I'm curious to see whether Conan's lawyers will be able to successfully argue for a definition of "The Tonight Show" that includes the specific 11:35 time slot. In the meantime:

I'M WITH COCO!

Taking a Break

I've been home for a week. I flew out last Tuesday, in spite of the fact that I overslept and missed my flight! I am still in disbelief that I did such a thing. However, Delta was extremely helpful. I woke up at 6 a.m., 40 minutes before my flight was scheduled to depart, and, after freaking out for about five minutes, called Delta to see if I could reschedule. When I called, an automated system asked me for my frequent flyer number, and then connected me to an operator who said, "Hello, Ms. Stempson, I see that you are going to miss your flight..." and proceeded to tell me that there was another flight I could catch at 8:25. I was amazed that she did all of this instantaneously without even asking me why I was calling. Plus, they only charged me a $50 fee, which I thought was very reasonable. I've been very impressed with Delta during my transcontinental flights over the past couple of years, and this is yet another example of their excellent service.

The first few days home were not quite vacation time, as I had a paper due on Friday. I decided that I preferred to finish editing my paper at home, rather than sticking around in D.C. In light of the crazy snowstorm that dumped 20.5 inches on Arlington and shut down the airports, I am very thankful that I decided to fly out early. I am pleased with how my paper turned out. I wrote it for my Transnational Law seminar, but got it to overlap with my Poverty Law Journal note. The topic was "Child Support and Indigence: How the Hague Convention on the International Recovery of Child Support and Other Forms of Family Maintenance Will Help Poor Creditor Parents."

Once I submitted my paper online, vacation officially began--not only for me, but also for my family! We've been hanging around the house, baking Christmas cookies, doing some shopping, and getting ready for our Christmas Eve gathering with my uncle and grandmother. Our family tradition is to eat crab on Christmas Eve, yum!

Also, I wanted to share some internship news. First, I am excited to say that I was offered--and accepted--a spring internship with the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless! So, next semester, I will be interning with the Legal Clinic 10 hours per week, which will involve direct client casework, researching legal questions, coalition work, and community education work.

I am still searching for a summer legal internship in the Bay Area. Yesterday, I had an in-person interview with the Santa Clara County office of Bay Area Legal Aid, for a summer internship position. (I had a screening interview with them in D.C. back in October.) The office is right in downtown San Jose, which would be a very easy commute from Sunnyvale. (I plan to live with my family again this summer to save money.) I enjoyed meeting the attorneys who interviewed me... They were both friendly and enthusiastic about their work. BayLegal provides legal services to low-income people living in the Bay Area. Law clerks get to work in one of three fields: domestic violence, housing, or public benefits.

Not sure if I'll post again before Christmas, so:

Merry Christmas!

(Doesn't that photo make my three-foot tree look enormous?)

September Digest

I didn't post last month because I was out and about doing stuff! So sue me. (Though, I wouldn't recommend it, seeing as I'm studying law and whatnot.)

I had a nice birthday, even if it was the second day of school. (Tax Law lecture = best birthday present ever! Or, not.) Jess and I went to the Cheesecake Factory for dinner, which was delicious. Especially memorable was the Chocolate Oreo Mudslide cheesecake (chocolate Oreos baked in creamy chocolate cheesecake with a chocolate-almond brownie crust), complete with a candle and singing waiters.

I am really enjoying being on the Georgetown Journal on Poverty Law and Policy. My grammatical nerdiness is finally paying off--I love being a staff editor! I also like that we do community service together as a journal, living out our mission. We did some cleaning at Central Union Mission last month, and I'll be doing some work with S.O.M.E. (So Others Might Eat) later this week. Also, I'm on the Article Selection Committee, which is exciting, because I have some input on which articles we choose for publication!

Things are going well for the Catholic Student Association. (We renamed the Catholic Forum, to clarify our purpose.) I'm a co-chair, and am very excited about the enthusiasm I've seen from students about this year. Attendance at our weekly Bible study has been more consistent than last year. We're going through the Gospel of Mark, which has been very interesting. To supplement my understanding, I am reading Mary Healy's fantastic book on Mark, written for the Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture.

A few of us attended a lecture by Fr. James Martin last week on "Laughing with the Saints: Joy, Humor and Laughter in the Spiritual Life." It was great--he told jokes the entire time, but with a good message: that laughter is good for your spirituality. You may recognize Fr. Martin as the author of several excellent books, including My Life with the Saints, and as a guest on the Colbert Report. In fact, you can watch his lecture on YouTube. I especially appreciated the discussion in the context of my confirmation name, Sarah, because she gives birth to Isaac at a very old age, causing her to remark, "God has given me cause to laugh, and all who hear of it will laugh with me." (Genesis 21:6) Indeed, Isaac means "he will laugh."

I checked out the National Postal Museum on a whim a few weeks ago. I've been meaning to do so for ages, because it is only a couple of blocks from campus, and now I can finally check it off of my D.C. to-do list. I must say, it was a lot more exciting that I had anticipated. Honestly, I was expecting a museum with postage stamps framed on walls. Rather, it was very interactive, and a good place to take kids, although it felt like the museum hadn't really been updated since the mid-1990s. I especially liked the exhibit of F.D.R.'s stamp collection.

Another item completed on my to-do list: the National Zoo. My Corporations class was canceled last week, so I went to the zoo instead! My favorite part, of course, was seeing the owls. They had adorable little burrowing owls (pictured at right)! The owl on the left kept flying around, perching on a tall cactus to survey the area, while the owl on the right was sleepy. The zoo also had two barred owls, who were serene and dignified.

My dear roommate and I have had our share of fun this month, too: watching Cal football with the Cal D.C. Alumni Club, meeting up for lunch and shopping at our local mall, giving some Iraq Air Force vets (one of whom was a friend of Jess from home) a tour of D.C., a spontaneous late-night trip to 7-11 for Slurpees, attending an Oktoberfest in Maryland via water taxi, cooking together in our beautiful kitchen, and watching House, M.D., in spite of the fact that we don't own a television. Good times.

The ultimate testament of how much better 2L year is to 1L year: I actually am finding time for a bit of light reading. Fr. Alexei (one of the Catholic chaplains for Georgetown Law) recommended The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell, so I'm reading it right now. In a nutshell--Jesuits in space! I think the Amazon review sums it up well:

In 2019, humanity finally finds proof of extraterrestrial life when a listening post in Puerto Rico picks up exquisite singing from a planet which will come to be known as Rakhat. While United Nations diplomats endlessly debate a possible first contact mission, the Society of Jesus quietly organizes an eight-person scientific expedition of its own. What the Jesuits find is a world so beyond comprehension that it will lead them to question the meaning of being "human." When the lone survivor of the expedition, Emilio Sandoz, returns to Earth in 2059, he will try to explain what went wrong... Words like "provocative" and "compelling" will come to mind as you read this shocking novel about first contact with a race that creates music akin to both poetry and prayer.

Well, that is my September digest. I attended some other museums and events, and caught up with a lot of people whom I hadn't seen all summer, but I think you get the gist of how September was for me--busy, but in a good way. Tune in next time to read about going to Red Mass with the Supreme Court (and possibly the President), celebrating Jess's birthday, and even attending a congressional hearing for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee!

Wake Me Up When September Ends

Um, where did September go? Well, I wrote the following post last week, and then things got busy, and I never finished editing it, and thus it was never posted. Oh, dear. I'm going to post it as-is, and move on.

*****

I think it is safe to say that this year is so much better than 1L year. I feel like I know what I'm doing, academically. Certainly, the courses continue to be a lot of work, but I no longer feel unsure of myself, unsure of how to study, unsure of what to expect. Let me tell you a little more about my classes.

Corporations. I never took any courses in undergrad related to business, so this course is really helpful. I feel like I'm learning stuff that "adults" should know, especially with regards to basic corporate structure. This is one of those courses that isn't required curriculum, but is strongly recommended by most professors. I think it makes sense, because corporations are such an integral part of how our economy--if not our society--functions.

Professional Responsibility. I am really enjoying this class! In a nutshell, we meet for two hours each week and debate moral quandaries presented as hypotheticals. I think the discussions have been fascinating, especially when a classmate argues that the ABA's Model Rules of Professional Responsibility are at odds with his or her personal convictions. The course is taught from a public interest perspective, which brings an interesting perspective, as the Model Rules often fail to address issues that fall outside of the traditional role of a lawyer.

Tax Law. I am utterly shocked by how much I love this course. I dreaded taking this class--in fact, I didn't want to take it, ranked it really low on my choice of classes, and considered it to be bad luck that I had gotten in. Boy, was I wrong about this class! First of all, I comprehend the material... which, in all honestly, I was afraid would not be the case. However, what I failed to realize is that the beauty of a dry topic like tax law is how clear the law is. Instead of murky common law, we have the Internal Revenue Code! And, if that's not good enough, we can check out the regulations! It's so simple! I find the course surprisingly refreshing after the ambiguity of much of what we learned 1L year. That being said, I don't see myself becoming a tax lawyer anytime soon, but I think I'll be far more adept at handling my own finances after this course.

Transnational Law Seminar. Pretty much everyone gives me a blank stare when I tell them that I'm studying "transnational" law, so allow me to explain. It is also known as private international law, or conflicts of law. Private international law deals with private parties, as opposed to public entities (e.g., state governments, the EU, the UN). This course fulfills my writing requirement, and I'm tying it in to the note that I will be writing for the Poverty Law journal by writing about the 2007 Hague Convention on the International Recovery of Child Support.

My schedule is pretty nice: no class on Fridays, and only Corporations on Mondays and Wednesdays. I've been attempting to stick to my 9-to-5 work mentality for homework, which has been a good system thus far. Whenever I'm not in class, I go to the library to get work done. I also come to campus on Sundays for Mass, and stick around to get work done afterward. The best part is coming home without textbooks on the Metro, because I'm already done for the day.

Fresh Start

Something I have always cherished about being in school is the fresh start that accompanies each new semester. The beginning of the school year inspires such hope, such potential. I have many goals for this semester, and this year, both academic and personal. Here are a few.

Treat law school like a 9-to-5 job. I will be living off-campus this year, in Arlington. The sheer weight of law books is a great incentive to try to finish my reading on campus, as opposed to lugging the texts home on the Metro each night. (I'll have a locker at school.) Also, this summer reminded me how nice it is to not have homework at night, after a full day's work. I think I can achieve that balance in law school, if I show up to school at the same time each day, and work in the library when I don't have class.

Continue to explore D.C. During 1L year, I think that I did a great job of seeing all of the main attractions in Washington, such as museums, monuments, and government buildings. This year, I'd like to go off the beaten path a little more, continuing my 2009 New Year's resolution to "Get to know D.C. like a native." There are also some major places that I have yet to visit. Some new places on my to-do list: the Newseum, the Holocaust Memorial Museum, Mt. Vernon, the National Postal Museum, the Corcoran Gallery, and the National Zoo.

Be social. I have a feeling that this year will be more difficult than 1L year with regards to socializing with other students. Possible reasons: living off-campus as opposed to in the dorm, taking a variety of classes with different students instead of all my classes in one section with the same 120 students, and the increased workload of 2L year. So, this year, it will be important to stay in touch with the friends I've made, as well as to get to know my classmates in my new classes. I also hope to reach out to 1Ls through the Catholic Student Association (the new name for Catholic Forum). And, of course, I will continue to keep in touch with friends and family from home.

Pursue the Lord. To be honest, this wasn't the most spiritual summer for me. I mean, I was going to church each week, and feel like I'm on good terms with God, but I wasn't actively engaged in progressing my relationship with Him, and my prayer life is a bit weak at the moment. I am praying that the Lord ignites my heart with a renewed fervor to pursue Him with devotion, and to spur on others to do the same.

* * * * *

In other news, I got on to a law journal!* As you may recall, I spent half of May toiling away at my application for Georgetown Law's Write On competition. Well, the hard work paid off, because I am now officially a staff member of the Georgetown Journal on Poverty Law and Policy. It is funny how life works. I have spent a lot of time studying international issues because I am interested in a legal career in international human rights, and yet I continue to find myself pulled toward domestic poverty issues. First, an internship with a non-profit law firm working on homelessness, and now membership with a poverty law journal. Granted, the Journal does occasionally publish articles about international poverty law, but the focus is primarily upon domestic issues. I do wonder where this will take me. The Journal's Editor-in-Chief quoted Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., at the beginning of the letter to interested 1Ls:

True compassion is more than flinging coins to a beggar . . . It comes to see that an edifice which produces beggars needs restructuring.

I have to agree. If this summer taught me anything, it is that the causes of homelessness are varied and complex. By learning what those causes are, and figuring out how to prevent homelessness rather than merely providing services to those who are already homeless, we will be able to provide more stability--and, for a smaller cost. I am excited to think that working on this journal may help to identify some opportunities for restructuring in the legal realm.

*For the non-law school kids who read this blog: a law journal (a.k.a., law review) is a scholarly journal published by law students. The articles are written primarily by law professors (and some judges and professionals), and notes or comments written by law students are also sometimes published. The big idea is that law journal articles influence the development of the law. The main roles of a 2L on a journal (from what I've heard) are citation checking and bluebooking, while 3Ls take on editor positions. Law journals membership is useful because it provides research and writing experience, which makes you a more qualified candidate when applying for jobs.