The Great Change: Turning Cathy into a Lawyer

On retrospect, maybe the California bar exam wasn't so bad. At least Sacramento had plenty of restrooms. And my essays didn't get eaten by buggy software...

While I reserve the right to complain further about the bar exam generally (because it's still deserving of quite a bit of criticism) I'm done worrying about how I did on this particular one. I've got other things to worry about now and can't spend any more bandwidth on this.

I've also moved on to my next legal adventure: the New Jersey CLEs. Today was the first one. In some ways it was really interesting and very practical. On the other hand, the six hour flood of information wasn't really useful as either an overview or a tutorial. I'm also Not Happy that these courses have homework that must be completed, and soon, in order to get credit. I was really looking forward to NOT having to study law in all my free time for a change, but no such luck, apparently.

Objectively I do think this CLE program has some significant flaws, including that it must be completed in person in New Jersey. I also think its utility is lessened by a somewhat amorphous curriculum. But it is an interesting concept: teaching new lawyers how to lawyer. So while I've got issues with the particular execution of the ideal, I don't fault it as a requirement. In fact, it's probably one of the most rational requirements I've ever had to satisfy in my quest to become a lawyer.

Today's course was on family law, and later this week I'll do real estate law, wills and trusts, professional responsibility, and civil trial preparation. Since each class is an all-day affair I bring lunch. Yesterday my dad, whom I'm staying with to do this, offered to pack me one. And like I always enjoyed when I was younger, he even included a note.

Unfortunately it was a lawyer joke...