Now that I’m in “Work you to death phase”…..

September 7, 2007 — Shannon Quadros

Fellow 2L law school victim, Luke Gilman echoed the oft-repeated truism of the ladder of law school life which goes something like this: “Scare you to death, Work you to death, Bore you to death”. These allegedly represent your three years (in my case 3.5-4yrs) in law school.

I don’t think I was ever really scared my first year. Okay maybe a little when my hair started falling out and when my cholesterol shot up 45points in 6weeks. But it wasn’t out of fear. I was just burdened more than I had ever been before. So I thought.

My 2L year is a kaleidoscope of multiple bright points that however small unto themselves, have this aggregate effect of making me feel like I’m on the rack. While I can’t tell you enough about how much I’m actually learning about methamphetamine production and use ( courtesy of the Houston Journal of International Law) and spousal abuse and infliction of emotional distress (My Moot Court arguments); I will say that along with that and my classes in Constitutional Law with Prof. Peter Linzer (probably the most interesting class I’ve taken in law school thus far) and Family Law with Prof. Tom Oldham, my cup certainly runneth over.

I will have to also account for Factor X, in this regard, who sailed into my life mid-summer. I guess no man, not even this Brown Boy, can live as an island, so I’ve now found myself juggling many-a-thing besides law school and a full-time job. I certainly do hope that the “bore you to death” phase is all that it’s cracked up to be. I for one am looking forward to the day in law school, when I can confidently say “gosh I’ve got nothing to do”.

Posted in Blogging, Evening student, Friends, Houston, Houston Journal of International Law, Law school, Life, Moot Court, Part-time, UH Law, University of Houston, Work. 2 Comments »

Three more things you can do when you’re surfing the web

July 1, 2007 — Shannon Quadros

The Houston Clear Thinker himself, Tom Kirkendall recently linked to my blog off his blog without me having to ask or as more likely in my case, pay him copious amounts of money on a periodic basis. I actually read his blog quite frequently myself and it’s a wonder I haven’t linked to it before. I have decided that today I shall remedy the situation and consequently you shall see a brand spanking new link to Houston Clear Thinkers on the blog roll to the right. Tom talks about everything, kinda like me though he is far less Joycian stream of consciousness than this blog overwhelmingly tends to be. Which is probably why more people read his blog then mine.

In addition to Houston Clear Thinkers, an old friend Anora W. sent me two brilliant links to sink my virtual teeth into:

1. www.TED.com

2. www.WeFeelFine.org

www.TED.com or Technology, Entertainment & Design is an alarmingly fantastic nexus of genius. That’s all I can say to describe it. Check it out for yourself.

www.WeFeelFine.org is a remarkable thought experiment about collecting data on what people feel via their blogs and manifesting that data in a visually appealling and interactive form. I suggest taking a gander at the creator’s page and see some of the other brilliant bits of work they’ve come up with.

The chappies at www.WeFeelFine.org understand that words are simply constructs of thought and the way you arrange words and manipulate them have a profound effect on their reception. This reminded me of a day long ago when I read about the telepaths in Alfred Bester’s The Demolished Man. I’ve had the tune stuck in my head for 15 years:

Four, sir; three, sir;
Two, sir; one!
Tenser, said the Tensor.
Tenser, said the Tensor.
Tension, apprehension,
And dissension have begun.

        - From The Demolished Man by Alfred Bester

Posted in Art, Blogging, Communication, Internet, Language, Literature, Media. 1 Comment »

A new class, a new beginning? Perhaps the beginning of the end

June 1, 2007 — Shannon Quadros

Being in law school and taking breaks from it is like suffering from a post-traumatic stress disorder. When you’re going through the stress stimuli, the world’s quite often a blur and you’re bursting with responses and reactions and you’re so overwhelmed that you don’t say much. When it’s over because you’re so overwhelmed you often don’t know where to begin. That’s why I’ve been silent for the past few weeks. Savouring my time away from law school, discovering that I still had friends that were willing to speak with me after many moons of neglect and just the ability to not spend much time in front of my laptop has kept me from blogging. Now that the summer semester is upon us however, it’s back to the old ways.

This summer features Property Law with a visiting professor from Chapman School of Law, Donald Kochan , who not only has a website going, but some degree of progressive pedagogical thought, enough to be willing to have a mid semester practice exam, reviews thereafter and even posting old exams online. I hear the rumblings in the cobwebbed halls of legal academia already.

Property Law is my crash course into the world of economics. Having been a tech-geek for far too long, I’m glad I decided to pursue law because I would have never been exposed to much of the thinking, literary linkage or historical lessons that the study of law affords me. I mean where else can you have pithy wisdom from ancient Roman tomes such as Juntinan legal thought right next to the equally potent maxim of “Finders Keepers, Losers Weepers”.

 To all the prospective law students out there, the study of law is not what you thought it was going to be. Not that it’s bad in any sense, it’s just that you’re not learning what you see on TV. You don’t really learn to cross-examine a hostile witness in anything but perhaps trial advocacy or by being part of the mock trial team. Two things that most law students don’t ever delve into. You don’t go to law school to learn the state of the law or what the law is on the books currently (well not really). You’re in law school to learn why the law is the way it is and perhaps if you’re lucky, how to apply it.

Law professors have this nasty habit of trundling to death the tired phrase : “you’re in law school to learn how to think like a lawyer”. If you want to know how to do that, just read this. (hat tip to Gilman for that one). That’s right, the study of law is really just playing one very long game of “What if?”.

I think I’ve just become a jaded second year law student.

Posted in Blogging, Donald Kochan, Evening student, Law, Law school, Life, Property Law, UH Law, University of Houston. No Comments »

And the survey says…..

May 21, 2007 — Shannon Quadros

Jamie Spencer at AustinDefense is on the hunt for the Top Criminal Defense Blogs out there. If you’re an avid legal blog reader, particularly blogs on criminal law and defense and would like to chime in with your favourites, send Jamie an e-mail  and let him know.

Jamie can be reached at jamie -AT- austindefense.com

I have to say that between reading Mark Bennett’s blog and some of Jamie’s posts, I’ve given quite a few thoughts these past few days about a possible career in criminal defense. With the death of habeas corpus and dubious imprisonment happening far too often these days criminal law seem remarkably appealing. I wonder if they’ll forgive my criminal Criminal law grade. It’s not that bad really, it’s just not the alpha grade I really wanted.

Posted in Blogging, Criminal Law, Law, Law firms, Law school, Media, Rankings, Research. 1 Comment »

Legal writing - The most criminal of all enterprises

May 10, 2007 — Shannon Quadros

Houston-based criminal defense lawyer Mark Bennett writes a remarkably interesting blog that I discovered courtesy of Gilman’s Blawgraphy . Bennett is part of a husband and wife criminal defense team (I hate to think what happens in that household when someone doesn’t take out the trash!) and through his blog chimes in on the world of Criminal Defense.

Bennett (Mr.) posted on the need and use of Plain English which is one of the most refreshing things I’ve read in a long time. His blog goes up on my wall of shame/fame (i.e. BlogRoll) and should be added to your daily dose of legal fiber.

Bennett claims to be a radical too. If we all could learn to be. If only just a little.

Posted in Blogging, Communication, Criminal Law, Custom, Houston, Law, Law firms, Legalese, Tradition. 1 Comment »

You know you’ve been in law school too long when….

May 3, 2007 — Shannon Quadros

My second dose of humor today came in the form of a legal co-ed who has rarely failed to amuse me.

Ana puts it all in perspective:

“I managed to get through my second final without my colon exploding. I’m calling that a success.”

Suddenly my contracts final doesn’t seem so bad. 

For more life and times of this manifestation of George Carlin with curves, read on at http://www.rubyredslipper.blogspot.com/

Posted in Blogging, Humor, Law school, UH Law, University of Houston. No Comments »

My name is Inigo Montoya. You didn’t let me in your law school. Prepare to die!

April 12, 2007 — Shannon Quadros

The ladies at the admissions office at the University of Houston Law Center are certainly a motley crew. They are generally harassed by the prospective masses only to be largely forgotten once we’re in. I happen to deal with them quite frequently because I’ve taken a vested interest in how my law school is run and I try and help them out as much as I can with regards to feedback about the admissions process, the look of the applications material etc. So I was generally quite pleased when they started writing a blog about the admissions process at the UH Law Center. If you haven’t read it and are a prospective student, you certainly should.

With them quoting Inigo Montoya and telling you why an e-mail address such as ‘SexyMama2006′ is virtual insanity they deserve a pat on the back for their efforts to demystify the admissions process. I think it’s a grand idea. Grand enough to warrant a link on my wall of shame i.e. my blog roll.

Posted in Admissions, Blogging, Communication, Houston, Law, Law school, UH Law, University of Houston. No Comments »

You say goodbye and I say Hello!

March 13, 2007 — Shannon Quadros

In the beginning was the blog.

I’m not sure what I’m supposed to say for my first posting in my new spot in the blog world. This is supposed to be a new beginning for me. I’m a born-again blogger. After much thought and obfuscation I’ve decided to put myself out there for the world to see. Whether this venture in a new space will bring good things, we shall have to see.

So do you like what you see?

Posted in Blogging. 5 Comments »