Resurrecting the Blawg

Finished moot court today, in the semi-finals. I mean, I guess it's more appropriate to say I was eliminated. But it felt awesome. We fought hard and long and we did well.

Goals for the next month (um... where did September go?):

• Learn T&E, Business Organization, and Tax
• Use my beautiful camera and get back into the shutterfly mode
• Get back on the Blog-mobile

A quick thanks, though, before I proceed:

• Craig Stango, Moot Court Partner extraordinaire. Those of you that know me well know I'm weird. I count our success occurred because Craig could handle this with no problem. Just ask him about the law school ghost. He's a champ. I've given him back to his girlfriend.
• Papa, Moot Court Coach. We didn't plan this, but turns out having a Canadian coach your team is like the inverse of the plot of Cool Runnings. It works and it's fun.
• Allison Reppond, competitor and friend. She was fierce to go up against, and quick to help us after.
• Ben Moore. Yup, my old boss from this summer. I felt like I used a lot of his tactics. He's the modern day Atticus Finch and one of my professional heroes.
• Russell. Behind every married, female, mormon law student is a good husband. Thanks sweetie.
• Jess & Ian, torture experts and moonlighting barristers. Thanks guys for letting me practice on ya'll.
• Any others I could list... Wyma, Kacie and Ben, all those pals who were helpful thanks.

Now, to figure out what is going on in Trusts and Estates. More to come as Russ and I explore the state fair and the OU/UT game.

I Object.

I have had my first round of moot court here at Baylor Law. Yes, I have been here less than a year and they are already expecting me to know what to say about legal stuff.

Really it feels like I am playing "house" in a law school setting.

Here is what I expected:

The room is hot and sweaty. Everyone has beady little eyes squinting at me. I stand up to speak and swagger to the podium. I give my introduction flawlessly and immediately am pressed with questions from the judges (called barrister's). I shoot each question down with my eloquence of legal principles. Soon all are aghast at what I've done. In fact, the other side bursts into tears. Just then my time for speaking is up and I humbly thank the court for their time and sit down.

In reality:

The room is a classroom. Everyone, including me, is nervous.

My co-counsel whispers, "Go speak."

I whisper back, "Is it time yet?"

He responds, "Yes, they just said you could start".

I didn't hear that.

I get up and give a good introduction and launch into my first point, waiting for a question... and nothing. I talk for 4 minutes straight and finally a question. But I answer it in 10 seconds. I pause to see if they will ask another question but both barristers are looking down at some piece of paper that seems to have hypnotized them.

I talk for the next 6 minutes, and receive one more question. Again, I answer it and wait for another...and nothing.

I've gone through every legal point prepared, still no questions. So I start telling the court what they've said before, in other cases.

(wha-whah, who likes to hear someone repeat what they've said 40 yrs ago???)

Finally my time is up and I get to sit down.

However on the positive, I wrote a great rebuttal for my co-counsel to give, and it won the case for us.

Coming to a Future near me: Good Brie

Bought a Brie Baker. Can't use it for 2 weeks because I am in the middle of a moot court competition at law school (which has also drained my St. Patty's Day cheer).