Best Use of Your Spring "Break"

Spring break is finally upon us!!!!! The last few weeks have been filled with arduous research for appellate briefs for most 1L's plus the daily grind of employment for all of us part time students with full time jobs.  With the first year of Law School three quarters of the way completed, many of us took the time out to attend our schools Barrister's Ball.  This semi formal event allowed even the most serious and focused of students to unwind and enjoy a brief break with friends over a tasty beverage (alcoholic or otherwise).  For us part time 1L's, this was possibly the first opportunity to meet many of our class mates and professors outside of a strictly academic setting.   For many of us, this was the first taste of the infamous lawyer lifestyle of expensive clothes, expensive restaurants and crazy amounts of alcohol (our Barrister's ball had an open bar).  The events of the past few weeks have served to remind me why I really wanted to be a lawyer.  Sure I said in my entrance essay that I wanted to make a difference in my community, and that's still true in a larger and more universal sense.  But, the reason I (and many other people I bet) want to be a lawyer is because of Denny Crane. Truthfully it could also be Alley McBeal or any number of David E. Kelly characters who have glamorized this life style. As I venture deeper and deeper into law school it has become very clear that every lawyer is not rich, in fact many suffer from the same financial problems as the rest of the population.  It has also has become clear that there will be many long hours and sleepless nights; however, when you attend the Barrister's Ball and see all the guys in tailored suites with double Windsor knots in their ties, and all the ladies with expensive dresses on, it reinforces the fairytale.  It makes you feel like a million bucks, even if you are a broke law student.  Seriously though, I was excited that our school raised money for the Special Olympics.  Along with all the other festivities of the night, the Valparaiso SBA gave a hefty check to the charity.  The most impressive part of this is that the money was given by the students in addition to the money they gave for Haiti aid and other fund raisers on campus. Kudos to the student body at Valpo and every other law school for caring.    

P.S. A tip for all those part time students, STUDY OVER SPRING BREAK.  I have taken a few days off to clear my mind, but, if your job is as demanding as mine, you have fallen behind in reading.  Set aside at least four hours a day on four separate days over spring break to catch up and reinforce what you've read.  I got this advice from a grad that also worked and did the part time program.