Classroom Do's and Don'ts

Posted by: L

Well, we are officially into the second week of classes! What better way off to start off your semesters with a "Classroom Don't" straight from the halls of Your University.

Ok, ladies this one is for you:

Don't show up to class wearing a backless halter dress and no brassier and four inch heels.

(Dramatic pause for a moment to let all you Readers take that in. Yes, said "outfit" was witnessed by L.)

Don't nix any and all boobie support, because yes, when you go to put your bag on your shoulders your dress will creep out of place and we very well be beamed with Nipplegate 2.0.

(Need I remind you that grading is anonymous? You are not helping your GPA by dressing like a floozie.)

Yes, the temperatures are creeping back up to beach weather for the weekend. BUT, you need to remember that you are in a professional setting and anything revealing or hoochie-esque should be saved for the weekend and your own time. You're here to get a J.D. (not your M.R.S.) and it is more likely than not that you will eventually be working with your peers or encounter your peers later on in your career-- you don't want to be known as "that girl."

Don't feel like you need to rule out all sundresses, though (she types as she sits wearing her J.Crew Jessie dress, with a coral Jackie cardigan by her side, you know, incase there's a chill in the classroom).

Do keep your selections modest and cover up your thighs and cleavage. (Trendy can be modest.)

Have any of you seen first week classic dressing Don'ts?

Share in the comments!

Classroom Do's and Don'ts: MPRE Edition

Posted by: L

The MPRE is over! At least, for now. Scores will be available in (5) weeks, so I will be ignoring anything related to it until then.

Some overall thoughts of which really surprised me:

• The number of individuals that failed to realize that if your room number was "201" that you would be on the second floor of the building, not the first.
• The frequency at which this occurred.
• How many individuals, still, waited in the wrong line and went into the wrong classroom.
• How many individuals waited until the instructions were completed (2) times and still couldn't follow them.
• No matter how prepared you are, it's still a crapshoot in terms of your score. How do they calculate that requisite "85" for MA, anyways?

On the plus side, I still have +/- (5) times to take it again, just in case. Phew.

So, after this experience, some Classroom Do's and Don'ts:

Do:

• Complete Barbri practice exams (duh.). There were a few similar questions on the real exam as the practice ones. After completing those, I knew for certain I was getting the right answer. (Now just hope this helps enough for the 85!)
• Read the official instructions, on what is and isn't allowed in the testing room, because yes, you will have to remove your hat, your celli will be confiscated, and you will have to spit out your gum.
• Scope out the building if you're unsure of what your Admission Ticket means by "Room 100" or "Room 200". Helpful hint: The first number will likely be the floor of the building you are on. Find your nearest staircase and get marching up it.

Don't:

• Be "that" guy/girl. Or I (or someone like me) will talk about you loudly to my neighbor.

Good luck to everyone that took it this Friday!

Did anyone have similar thoughts or experiences? What did you think??

Classroom Dos and Don'ts

Posted by: B

In honor of the start of the Spring semester a Classroom Don't.

Don't talk back to a professor.

While most of you may read that statement and reply "DUH!" unfortunately not everyone follows that piece of advice.

Case in point: B's classmate was asked by a professor to close his laptop (it's kind of a class rule not to have a laptop on, open or even out on the desk during class). The student, instead of dutifully shutting it laptop and/or turning it off, responded that he would prefer to keep it open and on during class. The professor told the student he would see him after class.

Next week, the student did not have the laptop up.

Point of the story: Be respectful to your professors. If you professor asks you do to something, do it. Whatever you do don't talk back it will just put you in a bad light when it comes to the professor's opinion of you.

Classroom Dos and Don'ts

Do: Know where your classroom is

Case in point: B's class was canceled. L was on break from her class. Obvs they were talking in the hall when someone walks right by them and into an ongoing class.

Both B & L look at each other and L says "I don't think that is his class."

B: "Well I guess we will find out soon."

10 seconds later the guy walks through the doors exiting the room, shaking his head. He looks at both of us and said "Ha. That was the wrong classroom."

Not knowing where your classroom is might be acceptable the first week because you are trying to get use to where everything is located. However, after the first week you should have a basic knowledge as to where your classroom is otherwise you are going to embarrass yourself very fast.

Classroom Don't

Bringing up a topic when you don't know the pronunciations: "Don't!"

Sometimes a student may have difficulty pronouncing a professor's name. So, the student finds a way to either:
Learn how to say the name.
Use a nickname.
Use the Professor's first name.
Avoid using the Professor's name all together and just use "Professor."
F1 choose number 4. When F's new professor was participating in a small discussion with her, the professor brought up the topic of grade deadlines. When F went to mention a personal story which involved a professor whose name she could not pronounce as a little side note, F's new professor asked a follow up question (FYI these are always to be expected!), "who was your professor?"

F froze. She realized she was in a jam. After a very long awkward moment and the excuse "Oh, the name is on the tip of my tongue. I can picture her face," (which-- b.t.w.-- made the very long awkward moment longer!) she eventually attempted to pronounce it.

The professor understood (or at least he seemed to), but F was devastated and if you ask F, she is still devastated.

F definitely learned a "DON'T"!

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1. The name has been changed (in a unique sort of way) to protect the creditability of the aspiring legalista.

Classroom Do's and Don'ts

Don't disrupt the professor!

Case in point, an e-mail L's brother received from his professor, below.

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From: Professor@university.edu
Sent: Friday, September 25, 2009 2:02 PM
Subject: Classroom Disruptions

Please use the facilities before coming to class, so that we don't have so many interruptions during class. I realize that there can be "emergencies," but frequent inteeruptions [sic] become disruptive.

---

Also, B & L are reminded of the time this summer when Tricky Dick lost his whole train of thought when a student left the room to use the bathroom and couldn't get back in because the door to the classroom was locked (ha ha ha!) and then he subsequently went off on a five-minute tangent about being interrupted and how he was frazzled.

So, lesson: don't continue to disturb the professor once you know of his/her pet peeves. They can bump your grade down!

Classroom Dos and Don'ts

Do: Remember your name tag!

Lest you will definitely be called on the first night you forget it! The professors that take the University's attendance policy seriously also take note of who brings their name tags, so don't be the obvious one without yours, or it's an open invitation to be on call for that day's lecture.

Or, in the case of L: She had her name tag, but giggled¹ that so-and-so forgot his/her, which was apparently an open invitation for the Professor to call on L to present the opposing argument. (Karma worked fast that night!)

Sure enough, it was for the last class of her long week and by that time, she's just trying to stay awake enough to type her notes and pay attention through the last two hours of lecture before she can hurry home and get to bed!

Lesson: Learned.

Don't: giggle at other's when they forget their name tag.

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1. And was all in her head, "uhm. Classroom "Don't," buddy. Geeze. Miss four classes and you can't take the final, of course, Prof. wants you to have your 'tag!" Yea. The Sassmaster got schooled. ha ha

Classroom Do's and Don'ts

Do: Always bring extra pens or other writing utensils for lecture.

Case in point: During last night's evening class, L went through not one, but two pens. This would have easily become a "FAIL!" if she had to write with the hot pink highlighter that was in the bottom of her business Coach tote¹.

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1. OK, lets be honest. The Prof was all over the place on tangents tonight, so it is likely L would have just gone to the TMZ App or read Perez Hilton for the umpteenth time today while the minute hand slowly ticked by.

Classroom Dos and Don'ts

Do: Keep a balance.

With law school well underway it's about time B & L address a very important question many first years have - is there any time to have a personal life outside of law school?

To this B & L answer - "yes-- but it's all about a balance."

Don't spend all your free time focusing on and trying to maintain a full social life. You're in law school for a reason. Remember why you decided to come to law school in the first place. You need to be willing to put in the time to do well in your classes and don't get too side tracked.

It's not important to worry about the personal lives of your fellow classmates, or who received what grade on their midterm, or who's up all night writing their appellate briefs for Legal Writing. You will soon realize what social aspects and activities are important. Afterall, you did already go through Freshman year for undergrad!

However, keep the work-school-life balance because you don't want to drive yourself crazy!