Traffic Court puts 1L in fast lane to litigation experience

KU Law student Ian Patterson represents the University of Kansas in a Traffic Court case

I’ll tell you right now, your first year of law school is a lot of reading and writing. Although reading and writing will be a large part of any attorney’s job, other skills like client communication, oral argumentation, and basic courtroom etiquette are equally essential. One of the coolest things I’ve experienced here at KU Law is the opportunity to get involved in low-stakes litigation as a first-year student.

With that lead in, let’s talk about something near and dear to my heart: Traffic Court. The University of Kansas is large, with a correspondingly large number of parking lots. When people get parking tickets on campus, they have the opportunity to appeal to the KU Court of Parking Appeals, which is staffed by none other than the students of KU Law. The first-year students get to serve as attorneys, and the second- and third-year students serve as judges.

Your case

One of the coolest things about Traffic Court is that in September of your first year of law school, you can be representing clients. Although the appeals are for parking tickets, I assure you, the clients are very real. They have a story, agenda, and stake in the outcome of your performance. Being a lawyer requires a “bedside manner” of sorts, and there is no substitute for experience. Being able to represent clients right out of the shoot makes you feel like a lawyer, act like a lawyer, and improve as a lawyer.

Your research

Once you have a client and understand his or her case, the next step is to begin to research arguments to support your client’s position. Traffic Court is unique in that it has a narrow body of case law created and followed exclusively by the KU Court of Parking Appeals. It is the responsibility of the attorneys to look at prior Traffic Court cases and make comparisons and distinctions with the ultimate aim of forming a coherent argument in favor of your client. As a practicing attorney this is exactly the kind of thing you will be doing on a regular basis. Getting familiar with the process early is immensely beneficial to you and your clients.

Your argument

This is the fun part. Now that you’ve researched the relevant cases and formed an argument, its time to take it for a test drive. Traffic Court normally gives each side seven minutes for oral arguments with the defense attorney going first. My favorite part of oral argument is that it very rapidly turns into a discussion. The justices are interested in probing the limits of your argument, clarifying your facts, and testing the practical application of your legal theory. They do this by interrupting you with questions. As frustrating as this can be, it is once again an example of something you will have to do in practice.

Your experience

At the conclusion of your arguments, the justices critique the attorneys for both sides. They suggest alternative arguments, way to improve your presentation, and pointers on courtroom etiquette. I can tell you first hand that each time you go into Traffic Court you will do better than your previous performance, and you will be improved when you leave. Law is a practice because there is no substitute for experience. That fact that you can start gaining that experience in September of your first year is an unbeatable opportunity.

Furthermore, the structure of Traffic Court speaks to the collaborative community at KU Law my fellow bloggers have pointed out. Traffic Court is entirely student driven. You are getting feedback from your peers, and those peers want to see you succeed. They also want to see you improve and will let you know where that can happen.

I’ll leave you with this final thought: There are few things more satisfying than standing in the KU Law courtroom as a 1L and saying, “Your Honor, the University appears by Ian Patterson, prosecuting attorney, KU Court of Parking Appeals.”

Then again, I did write an entire blog about it, so maybe I’m biased.

— Ian Patterson is a first-year law student and KU Law Student Ambassador from Minneapolis, Minn.

Will this be on the exam? Succeeding in law school with the Coffee Consumption Calculation

The Coffee Consumption Calculation

When starting law school, there is a common assumption you will finally be relieved of all the math and science you dreaded through undergrad and before. But little did you know, law school is just another three years of equations and balancing tests. In Torts, you deal with Judge Hand’s negligence formula. In Con Law, you use the Pike balancing test. Even in Lawyering you are supposed to balance all these factors in some sort of totality of circumstances way.

Ashley Akers

I’ve come to accept I will never escape these scientific formulas. Instead, I decided to enjoy the math and science of law school. This led me to my greatest law school accomplishment: the Coffee Consumption Calculation. Unlike these other law school formulas, this five-part test is absolutely crucial to functioning properly in law school. It has been tested for approximately two full semesters, and I assure you it is infallible.

Keep track of your points carefully:

Part One

What half of the semester are you in?

  • 2 point for first half
  • 3 points for second half

 

Part Two

What day of the week is it?

  • 5 points for Monday
  • 4 points for Tuesday
  • 3 points for Wednesday
  • 2 points for Thursday
  • 1 point for Friday

 

Part Three

How many hours did you sleep last night?

  • 0 points for 8+ hours
  • 1 point for 6-8 hours
  • 2 points for 4-6 hours
  • 3 points for 2-4 hours
  • 4 points for 0-2 hours

 

Part Four

How many classes do you have today?

  • 3 points for 1-3 classes
  • 4 points for 3-5 classes
  • Don’t get out of bed for 5+ classes

 

Part Five

Additional factors

  • OCI day: Cut the points in half so you don’t squirm all interview
  • If you’re “up” in class: Add 1 point
  • Have a lot to drink last night? Add 2 points
  • Sitting in one of the freezing rooms for class? Add 2 points

 

Calculation

Add up all your points.

  • Every 4 points = 1 pot of coffee
  • An extra 2 points adds 1/2 pot
  • 1 extra point adds a shot of espresso

Example 1: 13 points = 3 pots plus 1 point leftover adds 1 shot of espresso.

Example 2: 14 points = 3 pots plus 2 points leftover adds 1/2 pot of coffee.

Disclaimer: Please keep in mind this calculation is a bare minimum. Nothing, including this calculation, is keeping you from drinking more coffee as needed.

— Ashley Akers is a first-year law student and KU Law Student Ambassador from Casper, Wyoming.

Lawyer suits, eye patches and peg legs, oh my!

KU Law 2014 Jessup International Law Moot Court team

Back in February, KU’s international moot court team traveled to Denver, Colorado to compete in the 55th annual Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition. The Jessup Moot Court competition is the world’s largest moot court competition, with participants from 80 countries and more than 550 law schools. The competition is based on a fact pattern that draws on contemporary international legal issues and themes.

This year, the problem focused on the law of the sea, and included pirates, artificial islands, and shipwrecks (oh, my!). I, along with my four other team members and Professor John Head, our faculty advisor, packed our nicest suits, eye patches, and peg legs, and took off for Denver University’s Sturm College of Law to compete in regionals.

The competition was fierce, and our team faced many worthy opponents. Our performance was based on our memorial submission, which took most of winter break to complete (hey, I can’t make Jessup sound like it is all fun and no work) and our performances during oral arguments. While our team did not advance to the international rounds this year, we did not come home empty handed. One of our team members, Ashley Akers, was a Top 5 Oralist at the competition and plundered a shiny new plaque from the high seas to show off around Green Hall. We also had the chance to make friends with students from the region, who were able to share in some of the highs and lows of the competition. (Please do not insert Colorado “Rocky Mountain High” joke here). Although it was an unofficial honor, our competitors graciously bestowed upon us the honor of “Best Team to Have a Beer With.”

When we weren’t facing off against competitors or making friends, we were enjoying Denver. Between rounds, we fortified ourselves with Qdoba and Snarf’s sandwiches, which became my local favorite. We also worked in some sightseeing and saw the very first Chipotle. Our team nearly passed out from all the excitement.

All in all we had a lot of laughs and worked our tails off. I could not be more proud of the team. It would have been great to advance to internationals and compete in Washington, D.C., but it sure tempers the sting of defeat coming home with a new plaque and having met some wonderful and incredibly talented new friends. Now if only Southwest could give Jon his luggage back, we could all retire our peg legs, fog machines, and pirate jokes, and resume our lives back here in Green Hall. Until next year!

— Kasey Considine is a second-year law student and KU Law Student Ambassador from Boston.

Maintaining a healthy balance in law school

Johnathan Koonce, KU Law student Before applying to law school, I talked to as many people as I could about their law school experiences. The recurring theme was this: “Law school is extremely hard” and “Don’t go to law school unless you are sure that’s what you want to do.” I thought to myself, “How hard could it really be?”

To my surprise, the warnings I received were true. Law school is, in fact, hard, and it does take up the majority of my time. So I had to find ways to stay healthy and sane in such a pressure cooker of an environment.

First, I have found that it is imperative to have at least one fun thing to look forward to each week. Although most of my time is spent studying, there are plenty of ways to decompress. I recommend carving out some time each week to do something fun.

My personal happy place is playing pick-up basketball with other law students once or twice a week. On the first day of 1L orientation, I quickly found that a number of my classmates enjoy playing basketball, too. There’s even a Facebook group that helps law students find dates and times to organize a few games. I find that these weekly games are a great way for me to escape the traditional worries of school and just enjoy the moment.

If basketball isn’t of interest, there are many other ways to spend your time. KU Recreation Services has a fantastic gym, equipped with a climbing wall and racquetball courts.

Beyond physical activity, the law school itself, or groups within it, facilitate and host fun social events. In the past couple of weeks, three events have taken place that bring together law students, professors, guests and alumni to enjoy an evening out: the Diversity Banquet, the Hope Gala (formally known as Pub Night), and Barrister’s Ball. Most notable of the three for me is Barrister’s Ball, also known as Law Prom. This was my first year attending, and it was a blast. It is always fun to have a reason to dress up and enjoy a night of food, drinks, friends and dancing. Law Prom is one night that the law school student body looks forward to each year, and it almost always sells out.

I have also found that spending time with friends and family has been helpful in relieving stress. Taking time off on a Friday or Saturday to grab a bite to eat or watch a basketball game with friends helps take my mind off school just long enough to for me to recharge and prevent burnout. The key is finding a balance that works best.

Last, but not least, sleep is crucial to my success. If I want to fully function each day, I need an adequate amount of sleep each night. Getting the right amount of sleep and practicing healthy eating habits (or at least eating regularly) helps keep my mind and body strong enough to endure the ups and downs of law school.

Law school is hard work. What makes it bearable and more enjoyable is managing your time and taking advantage of fun activities outside the classroom. I encourage students to find the balance that works best for them.

— Johnathan Koonce is a second-year law student and KU Law Student Ambassador from Colorado Springs, CO.

Why I Teach: Suzanne Valdez

When Suzanne Valdez launched her legal career, she developed most of her professional expertise on the job — an experience that sparked an unexpected passion for equipping future lawyers with practical skills.”As a young lawyer, I never learned how to do a deposition,” Valdez said. “If I could give our students an opportunity to learn that in an educational arena where they can make a mistake and clients’ interests aren’t at stake, why not?”

Valdez’s vision inspired the Deposition Skills Workshop, a simulated deposition and case theory discussion performed under the guidance of experienced alumni faculty. The course has grown from 18 students to 48 in six years, becoming a model for the Expert Witness Workshop, which was developed with the same format. Valdez hopes to eventually offer a Negotiation course with a similar structure.
Valdez, L’96, was working with Kansas Legal Services when she got a call from Professor Webb Hecker. KU was hiring a supervising attorney in its Legal Aid Clinic, and given her fondness for Green Hall, Valdez applied. She was hired, with the opportunity to teach Practice in Kansas, her favorite course, and eventually Criminal Prosecution Clinic, Pretrial Advocacy and Professional Responsibility.
“I said, ‘I’ll give you three years,’” Valdez recalls. “I like new experiences; I like to move around.”
But 15 years later, Valdez is still teaching at KU and practicing at a firm in Lawrence, with a case load ranging from civil cases to employment law, family law and landlord/tenant issues.
Throughout her career, Valdez has watched the legal profession evolve and the KU curriculum respond to those changes. She says employers today are looking for practical, hands-on experience and solid lawyering skills in addition to the traditional academic background.
“Doctrinal teaching is necessary, but it’s not the only thing,” she says. “The days of firms hiring kids out of school and bringing them on for two years and paying them to learn on the job, those days are long gone. The days of having a law review and moot court alone on your resume are gone.”
Thanks in part to Valdez, KU Law students have plenty of opportunity to fill their resumes with practical skills before they leave Green Hall, which she says is just as enriching for her as it is for the students.
“Teaching makes me a better teacher and better lawyer,” she says. “It’s one of the most gratifying experiences for me. I see these workshop students dressed in suits, and they evolve in a matter of four days into fabulous lawyers who can do a deposition. That’s a great thing.” 

From Africa to Lawrence and back: One student’s journey

Law school was always part of “the plan” for me. I did not know what I wanted from it or what it could give me, though I gave my best guess in my personal statement. When classes began, my thoughts were elsewhere. I had just finished an internship at the U.S. Embassy in Malawi and had fallen in love with the sights and sounds, the work and people. Little did I know I would end up in Windhoek, Namibia, for my last semester of law school. I just needed time to fit the plan and the passion together.
The seed was planted when I walked into Professor Raj Bhala’s International Trade Law class in August 2012. From that first day, I have drawn inspiration from Professor Bhala’s combination of legal study, politics, economics, history and travel. This triggered a search for something similar: where my work within the law could intersect with that passion for economic development born in Malawi.
I found a spark in my paper topic for Professor Bhala’s Advanced Trade course: I wrote about Sub-Saharan Africa’s failure to use the WTO dispute settlement mechanism and need to build legal capacity to change the status quo of international trade law. In subsequent semesters, I studied economic development and international business and saw an opportunity to get experience on the ground – an internship in Africa. 
After a month or two of sending applications, the Legal Assistance Centre’s Gender Research and Advocacy Project in Namibia offered me an internship in September.  My round trip flight was booked in November, and I left in January.
Here my primary work is contributing to Namibia’s first publicly available annotated statutes. I also help Dianne Hubbard, the American ex-pat and Harvard Law grad in charge of the Gender program, do advocacy research. I search for comparable jurisdictions that have enacted policies we want the Namibian government to model. Such searches include corporal punishment, voter registration for local elections and bail restrictions for those accused of gender-based violence.
Finding statutes and court cases is the most unorthodox part, especially when the Internet connection is down for a day or two, or a ministry office is empty because people come late, leave early and respect the 1 to 2 p.m. lunch hour over all else (though I am doing my best to assimilate, trust me).  For all its unusual challenges, this work is rewarding, I know my skills are continuing to improve and I am showing employers my intents and passions.
I may not yet know what is next for me, but I now have faith in the process.  After all, I started and will end law school in the same place – just back from Africa.