Participating in the Tribal Judicial Support Clinic provided me with a unique perspective on tribal law practice. During my time in the clinic, I conducted research to be used for consideration in larger governmental projects by a tribal attorney. The majority of the research had to do with staying up to date on issues that directly impact tribal self-governance and internal relations.
Working in the clinic allowed me an opportunity to develop a clearer understanding of the basic concepts of tribal law and sovereignty in an environment where I could directly apply it. Through this, I also developed a vibrant understanding that my learning style requires such immediate application of rules to a particular scenario in order to allow myself the best opportunity to concretize and deepen my understanding of rules and issues. This will be indispensable experience beyond clinic work and in my coursework as well.
I primarily spent time working for the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation at the Nation’s Government Center. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to meet people the tribal attorney works with regularly, including individuals working for the Nation’s government, the state government and other attorneys that specialize in fields of particular importance to the Nation. I was able to observe various projects that the tribal attorney was currently working on and had an opportunity to make connections with other students from Washburn Law that were working in the tribal attorney’s office as well. Overall, the experience demonstrated the variety and extent of work being accomplished while working for a tribal government as an in-house attorney.
Law school can seem overwhelming when balancing reading, homework and exams. Time is an incredibly valuable resource in law school and finding a balance between school, sleep and a social life can be difficult. The good news is, it is possible to find a balance between all of those things and find eternal happiness… or whatever the law school equivalent of that is. Being able to manage your time effectively will make your experience significantly better. For me, that entails treating law school like a 9 to 5 job.
1L James Schmidt is pictured on the Speaker’s Balcony in Washington, D.C. Photo courtesy of James Schmidt.
Because I worked full-time in Washington, D.C. before coming to law school, I was able to learn a lot about time management. As a Senate legislative staffer, I was often working on multiple projects at once and at a certain point prioritization of projects became necessary. Being able to pick between what you absolutely need to do versus what you would like to do is crucial to maximizing your time. For me, I’m able to maximize my time best when I’m at Green Hall because I treat my time there like it’s my job. From 9 to 5 (or until my work for the day is done), I’m either in class or trying to prepare for another class (or taking a long lunch). That way, when I go home at the end of the day, all of my work is done. Procrastination in law school can lead to a stressful experience. In undergrad, putting off your work until the day before is generally a conundrum you can work yourself out of. In law school, getting your work done in advance can greatly relieve your day to day stress, and frankly is essential to getting your work done on time.
Also important, having enough time to sleep and enjoy what free time you have. There will be times in law school where you have two assignments due at the same time, while also still having to prepare for class. It is easy to get overwhelmed in these scenarios, and for me, sometimes I find it necessary to forgo preparing for a cold call in class in favor of finishing my assignments and getting eight hours of sleep. This is why I find treating law school like a 9 to 5 important to my success. I know that after I go home for the day, I have the rest of the day to do whatever I want. Although 1L year will be stressful, finding that time to relax and watch a movie or go bowling with friends can prove more beneficial to your success than staying up until 2 a.m. studying.
While living in D.C., James Schmidt played on a recreational office softball league. Photo courtesy of James Schmidt.
As you begin preparing for your first year of law school, think about how you manage your time currently and how you can transition to applying that at law school. Effective time management can change your law school experience from stressful… to still stressful, but significantly less stressful and being less stressful will lead to a better overall law school experience.
Law school is a big adjustment for anyone. But for those of us with kids at home, it can be a complete shock to the system! Good news… the initial shock dissipates fairly quickly. Not only is law school doable for us parents, but it is a place where we can dream, develop and dare to push ourselves harder and further than we realized possible, and our children get to watch from the front row!
I am a first-year law student, starting my legal career later in life with two teenage daughters at home. Initially, I thought it was crazy to go to law school at this stage in life. I assumed it would be too hard to make happen, and I wouldn’t be a good fit. But, to my relief, I quickly realized that I was just one of many students who have interesting and storied paths leading them to KU Law. With help from my family, it’s very doable. From the first day in Green Hall, I have felt as an integral part of this community!
And I’m not the only parent here; there are many of us! If you’re a parent and thinking about joining us at KU Law, you can do it! Here are a few tips some of us parents have put together on how we are able to be successful law students without losing our minds at home!
First-year law student Kendra Stacey is pictured with her two teenage daughters. Photo courtesy of Kendra Stacey.
1. Keep the important things important.
First-year law student Ely Markarian is a father of four ranging from 6 to 12 years old. He has found that by inking in the important daily tasks and time for his family, he is able do his school work in the remaining time left under much less stress because he knows his family has been taken care of.
2. Be intentional.
Third-year law student Sasha Raab is the head Dean’s Fellow, executive comments editor for the Kansas Law Review and mom to Edith (3). Raab insists that one the most important factors of a good school/home life balance is to have times at home when she is 100% present. She makes the time from daycare pick up until bedtime a law school free time.
3. Have a support system and use it.
Second-year law student Angie Lyn is a single mom of Charleigh (8) and president of the Student Division of Federal Bar Association. Lyn insists that being able to rely on her close family and friends is invaluable. Her mom lives with her to help with her daughter, and her best friend keeps her daughter one night a week for a sleepover.
4. Don’t expect perfection.
First-year law student Mary McMullen is class president and mom to Jarek (5), James (1) and Meredith (3 months old). She stresses that she had to let go of preconceived expectations, both for her family and herself. She knows it is necessary to give a little on both fronts and understands that perfection is an irrational pressure all of us put on ourselves.
Stephen McAllister, L’88, speaks at the University of Kansas School of Law on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020. McAllister is the U.S. Attorney for the District of Kansas and a KU Law professor. Photo by Ashley Golledge.
The DDLC started the semester with a lunch program where U.S. Attorney for the District of Kansas Stephen McAllister, L’88, spoke about acknowledging his white privilege and the work we all need to do as we strive to make the legal profession a more inclusive environment. There was also a Q&A portion that allowed students, staff and faculty to engage in a discussion both about McAllister’s experiences and the diversity, equity and inclusion work still to be done in the legal profession. McAllister is the E.S. & Tom W. Hampton Distinguished Professor of Law at KU Law.
The DDLC and DEI Committee are also hosting a three-part series on compassionate and non-violent communication skills, which will be led by Dr. D.A. Graham — the University Ombudsperson. The series will run over the lunch hours on Wednesday, Feb. 26, March 18 and April 8. Each session in the series will be crafted to be informative and practical, in the hopes of providing students, faculty and staff with the tools necessary to engage in challenging discussions surrounding diversity, equity and inclusion outside of DDLC and DEI Committee events. Check the KU Law website calendar for more specific information on each session closer to the session date.
The DDLC is also excited
to build connections between the Alumni Diversity Advisory Council and the
current student body. The Council is made up of diverse KU Law attorneys who
practice in a range of areas of law and who have knowledge about navigating
topics of diversity and inclusion in the legal profession. Keep an eye out for
upcoming collaborative events between the DDLC and the Council.
As we mentioned in our fall semester wrap-up blog, the DDLC and DEI Committee are truly excited about the consistent engagement and support we’ve received. We want to encourage members of the KU Law community to engage with us even further by contacting the DDLC with any diversity, equity and inclusion events, policies, etc. that you would like to see at Green Hall. We also welcome any feedback on our previous events and policy initiatives. Please feel free to reach out to the DDLC as a whole at ddlc@googlegroups.com, or to any individual member, whose information and email can be found here.
— By Delaney Hiegert, a 2L from Topeka and member of the Dean’s Diversity Leadership Council
Prior to starting law school, I worked
as a high school educator in Houston. I first entered education teaching 9th
grade biology and pre-AP biology. The students I had the privilege of working
with left such an impression on me that I later transitioned into a college
& career advising role to assist my former 9th graders as they
prepared to make decisions for their postsecondary endeavors. Each night, I
would retire to bed satisfied with the work I had done that day, feeling an
almost intoxicating sense of purpose. Each morning, I found little difficulty starting
the day as I was mostly excited to continue the work I had done the prior day.
First-year law student Cortez Downey is pictured with some of his former students. Before coming to law school, Downey was a high school educator. Photo courtesy of Cortez Downey.
Making the transition from full-time professional to full-time law student has been rewarding, yet difficult. I fully anticipated the challenges of keeping up with assigned readings, briefing cases and preparing for cold calls. I was less prepared for some of the other challenges. As a working professional, it was much easier to gauge my daily productivity and quality of work. Also, the work I did each day came with the instant gratification of helping students learn and define, pursue and attain success for themselves. In law school, there have been a number of instances it was unclear exactly what the goals of the day were besides going to class, reading and more reading. Most unfamiliar to me, however, is the lack of purpose I sometimes feel given that despite all my studying and reading, my law school career so far has seemed to serve no benefit to anyone apart from myself.
My transition from full-time professional to full-time law student has been aided by the supportive team of faculty and staff, the sense of community at KU Law, and the realization that while having had a career prior to law school presents unique challenges, it also comes with valuable skills; including, but not limited to: the ability to manage time effectively, the appreciation of establishing and maintaining a strict sleep schedule, the self-awareness that I produce higher quality work before 2 p.m. and after 4 p.m., the understanding that sometimes resting is the most effective use of an evening, and the patience to trust the process, while wherever possible, seizing opportunities to be of service to others.
2L Sydney Buckley is interning for a federal judge at the United States District Court for the District of Kansas. Photo courtesy of Sydney Buckley.
Now over halfway through my 2L year, I can confirm that the common mantra — “1L year they scare you death; 2L year they work you to death; 3L year they bore you to death” — certainly captures the 2L year well. However, despite this year’s increased workload, I’ve really enjoyed being able to choose my own schedule. One of my favorite parts of 2L year has been working at a Judicial Field Placement. Since September, I have been interning for a federal judge at the United States District Court for the District of Kansas. My days at the courthouse are not only incredibly educational, but are also a welcome break from Green Hall.
While at work, I split my time
between observing, researching and writing. The observation side has been great,
while concurrently taking courses such as Evidence and Trial Advocacy as well
as competing in moot court. I get to see some of the skills I’m learning about
put into practice by practicing attorneys. I’ve watched portions of trials
(both civil and criminal), as well as many proceedings such as motion hearings,
change of plea hearings, status conferences and sentencings.
One of the most exciting parts of my internship has been the research and writing assignments I’ve worked on. In most of my prior legal writing (whether that be 1L Lawyering Skills, firm work over the summer, my more advocacy-driven 2L classes or preparing for moot court competitions), I am generally always approaching a legal problem with the goal of advocating the best position for my “client.” However, there is no advocacy involved in chambers. Rather, a judge’s sole job is to determine what the law is and how it ought to be applied to the parties’ dispute. I love getting a behind-the-scenes look at this process, and I really appreciate how seriously the judge I am interning for takes this task. He is incredibly thorough, especially when presented with a particularly tough issue. I have come to realize how hard it can be to determine what the law is and how it should be applied, particularly when there are no guiding Tenth Circuit cases on the issue. In those cases, the effectiveness of a parties’ advocacy can play a key role in helping the court make some of those tough decisions.
I think that the most practical takeaway I’ve learned is the importance of providing clear and effective pleadings and briefs to the court. It’s incredibly frustrating to read a brief that lacks coherence, cites to outside jurisdictions when Tenth Circuit law is available, or (either explicitly or implicitly) misstates the law. Conversely, it’s incredibly valuable to read a brief that is concise, advocates the party’s position well, and provides ample on-point citations to proper binding authority. If a party omits a critical point for fear that it “looks bad,” or fails to provide citations to the key cases, the clerks will notice. This is a certain way to quickly lose credibility with the court.
This short blog post captures just a few of the many things I’ve experienced while participating in the Judicial Field Placement Program. It’s amazing how much I’ve learned in such a short time! I am so grateful to the judge I am interning for and his staff for their kindness and willingness to help me learn, and I am excited for the opportunities that the rest of this semester will bring.
