Today I’m sick, so I’ve got the day off. I’ve got lots of days off, actually, but I’m trying to do schoolwork with this one. Monday and Wednesday I only have one evening class, and no class on Friday. Plus I’ve quit reading for the rest of my school life. That alone has been enormously freeing. I’ve never studied my notes for Final exams, just the BarBari, Siegel’s, etc., so I figured Why not just do that at the beginning?
And suddenly I have so much free time!!!
It’s glorious – I’m really really savoring it because I know it’s all downhill from here.
This also means I get to focus a lot on my Trial Practice class. I’m of two minds about this; the entire class (and, more importantly, the “competition” that serves as our Final) is performance-oriented, with its only basis in reality being its form and procedure. Our “crime story” kinda sucks and we can’t stray outside the lines – ie, if we want to explore alternate theories, or go deeper into the evidence, the profs look at us with raised eyebrows and give a little laugh. Now, to be fair, we’re all babies at this, so such restriction can help keep us focused. But it also reinforces the fact that our “job” is just to figure out the script the profs and judges want, do the little song and dance, et voila.
But it’s also really good experience – I say that as someone with zero courtroom experience, so I might not know what I’m talking about. At this point, I think any exposure is good exposure, and I am learning a ton. My workshop prof is demonically charismatic – the second he starts speaking I just believe everything that comes out of his mouth. I can’t help it. Now that’s a trait to model (or is it?).
Anyway, we’ve done our Direct Examinations (look at me capitalize it!), Crosses, and tomorrow we are to have “perfected our Direct” so we can integrate Exhibits and demonstrative aids. I did rather poorly on my Cross (I suppose I’d heard the objection “Calls for speculation” in movies and stuff, but I didn’t know how it was used in real life, nor did I even remember it could be used – I had no idea what I was doing, period!). That still smarts, and it doesn’t help that tomorrow I’m going to give my “perfected” (ha!) direct in the voice of a backwater frog. (And that ain’t Cajun! Hoo . . . the cold meds are kicking in). If we miss a single class, we fail the course.
I really have a problem doing canned stuff, it’s so frustrating. And I also want to win, which is doubly frustrating. I *have* to win – my partner wants to win (she is really great), the prof’s team has won for the past 5 years (and I don’t want to be the one to break that record), and plus, I know I won’t be handling any trials for probably like a billion years because of just how the system goes, so I want to do well.
Only I have no idea what I’m doing. Suppose I should get used to it, eh?
And suddenly I have so much free time!!!
It’s glorious – I’m really really savoring it because I know it’s all downhill from here.
This also means I get to focus a lot on my Trial Practice class. I’m of two minds about this; the entire class (and, more importantly, the “competition” that serves as our Final) is performance-oriented, with its only basis in reality being its form and procedure. Our “crime story” kinda sucks and we can’t stray outside the lines – ie, if we want to explore alternate theories, or go deeper into the evidence, the profs look at us with raised eyebrows and give a little laugh. Now, to be fair, we’re all babies at this, so such restriction can help keep us focused. But it also reinforces the fact that our “job” is just to figure out the script the profs and judges want, do the little song and dance, et voila.
But it’s also really good experience – I say that as someone with zero courtroom experience, so I might not know what I’m talking about. At this point, I think any exposure is good exposure, and I am learning a ton. My workshop prof is demonically charismatic – the second he starts speaking I just believe everything that comes out of his mouth. I can’t help it. Now that’s a trait to model (or is it?).
Anyway, we’ve done our Direct Examinations (look at me capitalize it!), Crosses, and tomorrow we are to have “perfected our Direct” so we can integrate Exhibits and demonstrative aids. I did rather poorly on my Cross (I suppose I’d heard the objection “Calls for speculation” in movies and stuff, but I didn’t know how it was used in real life, nor did I even remember it could be used – I had no idea what I was doing, period!). That still smarts, and it doesn’t help that tomorrow I’m going to give my “perfected” (ha!) direct in the voice of a backwater frog. (And that ain’t Cajun! Hoo . . . the cold meds are kicking in). If we miss a single class, we fail the course.
I really have a problem doing canned stuff, it’s so frustrating. And I also want to win, which is doubly frustrating. I *have* to win – my partner wants to win (she is really great), the prof’s team has won for the past 5 years (and I don’t want to be the one to break that record), and plus, I know I won’t be handling any trials for probably like a billion years because of just how the system goes, so I want to do well.
Only I have no idea what I’m doing. Suppose I should get used to it, eh?
posted by i heart public defense at 1:52 PM
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