I got work to do.

I spent several hours today making flash cards of all the cases we have covered thus far in constitutional law. Yes, it’s spring break. Yes, I’m doing work. Why? Because so far this semester I’ve been a terrible student (by law school standards, at least) and it’s now or never if I’m going to make a decent showing on exams.

Okay, well the situation is not quite that dire. Sales is an open book exam and basically a continuation of contracts so I know I’ll pass for sure. Legal Writing is based on my memos and the final covers ALWD citation format–cool. Legal Ethics is just common sense, the same three ABA model rules we’ve been parroting all semester and remembering the stories we’ve read. I can cram for that the night before and be good. So, Civ Pro and Con Law are my bogeymen at this point. I’ve been doing all the reading for Civ Pro but it’s just not coming together, so I will be stalking my professor from the time we get back in school all the way up to finals if need be. I’m not totally lost in Con Law, but it’s my only 4 credit course and I need to have the cases memorized. Nothing but sheer force of will is going to get me through that pain. Hence, the flash cards.

They seem to be helping already. My notes from the first week of class are completely useful but the cases that so mystified me back then are making a lot more sense. It’s interesting to see how the law evolved over time, and it proves that anyone who believes that Supreme Court Justices are completely unbiased is a fool. I don’t understand why there was such a kerfluffle over judicial activism when Sotomayor and Kagan were being approved for the bench. Every justice engages in judicial activism to some degree (I’m looking at YOU, Scalia and Thomas!) .  Political beliefs are so ingrained in one’s psyche that it’s impossible to ignore them completely and evaluate cases in some kind of vacuum devoid of personal experiences and values. Hell, they call Supreme Court decisions “opinions” for crying out loud! If that doesn’t tell you that SCOTUS is just a group of very smart lawyers entrusted with our nation’s judicial future, and not Madame Justice come to earth in human form, I don’t know what will.

In other news…I am so ready for 1L to be over. 6 more weeks to freedom! I can’t wait to start my internship and get a chance to put all this theory into practice.