Fifth Avenue Forum

law school is basically a trade school, only the trade is "law professor" and 99% of students aren't there for that job

I think that's the best description I've ever heard. Well said.

In a great example of "don't be that guy," here's an oral argument for the Seventh Circuit that highlights the importance of following the appellate court's rules. Because of you don't, Judge Easterbrook will rip you a new butthole for five minutes straight.

http://media.ca7.uscourts.gov/sound/ext ... 1_2017.mp3

I don't normally like watching or listening to people in awkward situations, but I just fired this up. I haven't even gotten to the beatdown yet, and that lawyer is utterly hapless.

My firm uses billing/time entry software that is designed specifically for law firms and is a product of one of the major legal publishing companies. The built-in spellchecker doesn't know the word "appellee," which is not exactly an uncommon legal term. One would think the folks who programmed a legal application aimed at lawyers would think to include legal terms in the spellcheck dictionary, but I guess not.

Software spell checkers/dictionaries are usually licensed products. The company that created your billing software would have to request a custom dictionary as part of the license, making it more expensive. Which doesn't really change your main point, but it's licensing, so here I am.

Anyone know the answer to this... My ex-wife is taking our kids for a trip to Europe and I'm going to give her a consent to travel letter. Is this a letter I can just type up myself or are there certain requirements for it? Thanks.

@MWB

https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail ... 1254/sno/1

https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail ... t%20letter

Thanks! That’s exactly what I was trying to find but couldn’t.

Woof. Just finished and filed a 90-page, 20,909-word appellate brief, which has been in work for a couple months. We filed for permission to exceed the usual 14,000-word limit and go up to 21,000, so we made the limit by 91 words. I hate to file a brief so long, but the case involves multiple questions of statutory interpretation, and I think the length was necessary.

Good god, man.

Researching and writing long, complicated documents is my specialty. I think it's also something my colleagues don't particularly care for, which certainly doesn't hurt when it comes to the "job security" thing.

I admire that.

If a class action lawsuit is filed, and an individual wishes not to be just lumped in with a group of claimants (wants a larger share; feels they have a stronger case and are not happy with what the group attorney is asking for; long term medical coverage, ...), do they, as an individual still retain the right to file suit against the damaging party or entity?

The reason that I ask, is a co-worker's sister and husband were at the shooting at the concert in Las Vegas and have been contacted by a firm that is collecting names for the filling of a class action suit against multiple parties. I guess the couple feel if they file as part of a group they lose possible future pain and suffering collections because the attorney's take a larger payout against a lowered cap of payment with a class action lawsuit.

Just for my own edification.

They can opt-out of the class and bring their own suit. Depending on a lot of things the court may join their suit with the class for the purpose of litigating efficiently (one trial is cheaper than two, in the public interest). But that depends on a ton of variables like venue, claim, timing, etc.

Cool, thanks for the info.

http://www.thefacultylounge.org/2017/12 ... untry.html

Diploma mills, JD version

Cooley #1!

My school is not on there. But they did fall out of the published rankings. They're now ranked but not published which is honestly very embarrassing. It might be because of the merger but I don't see why that would affect it like that. I need to start getting my Duquense transfer application materials ready.

Opening sentence in my [professor authored] Criminal Procedure class this semester.

The police officers in my class are not impressed.

Wow

I omitted the word "textbook" for some reason, there. Sorry.

These are the two lectures for this week, as well:

The Hunted and the Hatred
The Way of the Warrant

It's interesting because these professors teach brick and mortar (read: dumbass millennials going K-JD) and are now asked to teach my program as well, which are a bunch of middle aged folks with diverse backgrounds and work experience. They basically 'port over' the curriculum. My guess is this guy hasn't had to teach someone that is an actual police officer to this point, so his point of view has gone unchecked till now.

This will be fun but for the wrong reasons.

Which part of that sentence is incorrect?

I don't disagree, and look forward to the discussions, but that sets a really biased tone for a semester even if the other side is covered later.

It’s certainly provocative, but I believe that should be a part of all education.

I’m interested in hearing how the snowflakes in your class react to a professor questioning their world view.

There's a way to be provocative in law school classes -- and in fact using a traditional Socratic method makes it quite easy to do so -- without opening your text book with that. It's a bit much imo.

I just feel bad for some of my class mates, they're good people, some friends, and they're starting this semester on the back foot.

That said, I'm guessing most CrimPro classes are taught by former defense attorneys so this point of view is probably not too far from the norm anyway.