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Article #39King Hall Law School USENET FAQ Part 6 of 6
From: David Prenatt
Date: Sun, 13 Aug 1995 00:00
Date: Sun, 13 Aug 1995 00:00
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The King Hall Law School USENET FAQ Part 6 of 6
Frequently Asked Questions at and About King Hall
(c) Copyright 1995
by
David F. Prenatt, Jr.
King Hall, 1995 Alumnus
U.C. Davis School of Law
University of California
Davis, CA 95616-5210
dfprenatt@ucdavis.edu
The King Hall Law School USENET FAQ (King Hall USENET FAQ) may be comprised
of more than one part. If it is, please see the TABLE OF CONTENTS in Part
One for a complete list of the questions that have attempted to answer and
for other important legal information. Caveat emptor: I assume no
obligation for anyone through the publication of the King Hall USENET FAQ.
Furthermore, all versions of the King Hall USENET FAQ are my personal
property and are protected by applicable copyright laws. All rights are
reserved except as follows: I hereby give my permission to anyone who has
access to this version of the King Hall USENET FAQ to reproduce the
information contained herein for non-profit purposes, provided that proper
credit is given to me as the author of this FAQ and that I am promptly
notified of any use other than personal use. I may revoke permission to
reproduce any version of this FAQ at any time.
- - - - -
The King Hall Law School USENET FAQ Part 6 of 6
Frequently Asked Questions at and About King Hall
(c) Copyright 1995 by David F. Prenatt, Jr.
10.1.2) THE MULTISTATE PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY EXAM (MPRE).
The MPRE is a multiple choice exam, and the course offered at King
Hall in Professional Responsibility (PR) should cover the substance of
the MPRE. The King Hall PR course (as opposed to the MPRE) is a
requirement for graduation. It is usually a good idea to take both
the King Hall PR course and the MPRE at about the same time so that
you can use the PR course to help you prepare for the MPRE.
10.1.2.1) Submitting an Application for the MPRE.
Submit your application on time. There are very stiff fees for late
applications.
10.1.2.2) Preparing for the MPRE.
If you spend more than 40 hours preparing for the MPRE, you will be
overprepared. Review your materials for the King Hall PR course,
watch a taped lecture offered by one of the many commercial bar review
courses, and practice multiple choice questions for the MPRE.
10.1.2.3) Taking the MPRE.
The MPRE is just like any other standardized multiple choice exam, and
a mediocre performance is still a passing grade. If you don't pass
the MPRE the first time, you can take it over again as many times as
you like and no one will be the wiser.
10.1.3) THE MORAL CHARACTER EVALUATION.
The Moral Character Evaluation is the most invasive experience you
will probably ever have (barring an application for a top secret
security clearance), but very little will prevent you from becoming a
member of the California Bar, certainly nothing of which you are
unaware. If you are behind in child support or alimony, you cannot
qualify, but most other people without felony criminal records do
qualify. Just make sure that you fully disclose all of the blemishes
and warts that may appear on your record.
Completing the Moral Character Evaluation Application is quite a
chore. You must obtain accurate information about things for which
you probably don't maintain any records. Moreover, you must get your
fingerprints taken by a law enforcement official. Contact Community
Service Officer Christian Sandvig (<dpd@wheel.dcn.davis.ca.us>) of the
Davis Police Department at (916)756-3740 for information on how and
when to have your fingerprints taken.
10.2) EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AFTER LAW SCHOOL.
The nice thing about being an attorney is that you can always find
work. However, you can't always find a job with a law firm, or a job
that you want, or a job that pays you what you are worth. In many
instances, an attorney must work for him or herself. Don't be afraid
to do contract work, contact your local bar association for referral
business, or seek employment outside of the legal profession.
10.3) LIFE AS AN ATTORNEY.
Lawyers are hated and feared by most people because lawyers are most
commonly associated with legal problems like divorce, personal injury,
and criminal prosecution. Indeed, this is how most people first
encounter lawyers. But most lawyers have nothing to do with divorce,
personal injury, or the administration of criminal justice. They work
for very rich people who pay very well for legal advice on wills,
contracts, and other legal instruments that prevent people from ever
having to appear in court. When a good lawyer does his or her job
well and gets paid for it, it's simply not newsworthy. Many lawyers
are thus quietly transformed from being starving students to being
upper middle class professionals.
Many people make more money after they graduate from law school
than they or anyone else in their families have ever made in their
entire lives. I often hear stories about the disappearing middle
class (i.e., the rich get richer and the poor get poorer). Higher
education explains this statistical anomaly because of its resulting
"leapfrog effect" on personal income, particularly with professional
programs like law school. Along with the money, law school graduates
obtain tremendously enhanced personal prestige because they command
respect in their business and personal dealings with people who are
unfamiliar with the law.
Having a law degree, however, does not necessarily make you a
better person. In some instances, it does exactly the opposite. But
that's a topic that is beyond the scope of this FAQ.
11) FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT COMPUTERS AND LIFE ON THE INTERNET
FROM MEMBERS OF THE KING HALL COMMUNITY.
I have provided very basic information about computers and life on the
Internet in this section that is of specific interest to people who
are members of the King Hall community or are not computer literate.
If you are computer literate and you are not a member of the King Hall
community, you will probably find very little here that is of value to
you. However, if you are computer literate please read this section
and give me your feedback.
11.1) BASIC QUESTIONS ABOUT COMPUTERS.
11.1.1) Why should I use a computer?
It is easier and faster to accomplish many tasks by using a computer.
11.1.1.1) Do I really need to use a computer?
No. You don't need to use a computer, but many tasks are very
difficult or even impossible to accomplish without a computer. You
will also find that a modicum of computer literacy is required of all
members of the King Hall community.
11.1.1.2) Isn't it difficult to learn how to use a computer?
No. Learning to use a computer is very easy, but this is a very well
kept secret. People who are familiar with computers are very
intimidating to people who do not know how to use computers.
11.1.1.3) How can I get the computer training that I need?
Admit your ignorance, both to yourself and to the people who offer you
help. Teaching people how to use computers is extremely difficult,
but it doesn't have to be that way. Many people erroneously assume
that they understand how computers work, and this makes teaching these
people extremely difficult. Of course, people who know what they are
doing may not be able to communicate with you or they may not be
interested in helping you. Avoid these people.
11.1.1.4) What practical uses would I have for a computer as a law
student?
Most law students find that using a computer for word processing is
much easier than typing a paper. Moreover, most law firms use
WordPerfect and demand that their associates be familiar with
WordPerfect. While word processing is not the only application for
computers, it is easily the most common and most popular (second only
to computer games). Once you become familiar with word processing,
however, you may want to check out some of the other applications for
personal computers. Stop by any store that sells software and do some
window shopping.
11.1.2) Do I need my own computer?
No. Computers are as ubiquitous as telephones. The only reason you
would want to own a computer is for convenience, much like owning a
cellular phone.
11.1.2.1) What kind of computer should I buy?
You should buy a computer with the features that you want at a price
you can afford. If you are reading this FAQ for a recommendation,
then you probably want either a Macintosh(r) or an IBM/IBM Clone.
11.1.2.1.1) What is the difference between a Macintosh(r) and an IBM/IBM
Clone?
Macintosh(r) computers are much higher quality technology than IBM
technology. However, IBM is the standard for computer technology and
is much more affordable than Macintosh. Thus, if you are on a limited
budget, you probably want an IBM/IBM clone, especially because
whatever you do buy will be obsolete before you buy it.
11.1.2.1.2) What is an IBM clone?
IBM assembles its computers from technology that is available on the
open market and sets the standard for other computer companies (at
least it once did). Many companies build IBM clones (properly
referred to as PC systems) with technology that meets or exceeds the
standards that IBM sets.
11.1.2.2) What kind of features should I have on a computer?
There is no easy answer to this question, but as a general rule avoid
all the bells and whistles and buy only proven technology. New
technology is inherently unreliable because many bugs are found only
after a product has been released. Members of the King Hall community
have access to a variety of computers through Information Technology-
Campus Access Point (IT-CAP), so find out for yourself what features
are the most useful and reliable.
11.1.2.3) What kind of accessories should I get on my computer?
It depends upon what type of applications you are using. If you are
reading this FAQ for a recommendation, you probably only need a
printer and/or modem (if that), and you can probably get by without
either one.
11.2) What computer facilities are available to law students at U.C.
Davis?
U.C. Davis provides computer facilities for all registered students,
including word processing and Internet access. In addition, King Hall
provides computer resources specifically for law students, such as
LEXIS and Westlaw. There are two computer rooms at King Hall: The
LEXIS/Westlaw room upstairs, and the computer lab in the basement.
11.2.1) How do I obtain access to the computer facilities at U.C. Davis?
Open an ez-account. You can do this at the LEXIS/Westlaw room in King
Hall or at any of the computer rooms anywhere on campus. However, you
will usually have to wait at least 24 hours before you can use your
account.
11.2.2) Will I lose access to computer services at U.C. Davis after I
graduate?
No. Your computer privileges will remain unaffected when you graduate
(this is a very well guarded secret). However, this does not mean
that your ez-account will remain active. If you have a problem with
your account, such as with your password, you will have to prove that
you are still associated with the University to get someone to fix the
problem for you.
11.2.3) What should I do to make sure that I still have access to computer
services at U.C. Davis after I graduate?
For a small monthly fee, the Davis Community Network (DCN) will give
you 50 hours of access to the dial-in computer services that U.C.
Davis provides to its students. Anyone can telnet to the DCN server
at wheel.dcn.davis to join the DCN. For more information, see the
davis.dcn USENET newsgroup or visit the DCN Home Page on the World
Wide Web (<http://dcn.davis.ca.us>).
There are also a number of companies that will provide free or
low cost access to commercial services. The most satisfactory and
reasonably priced is UUNET. For more information on UUNET, send your
snail-mail address to info@uunet.uu.net (uunet!info). Whatever
Internet service provider that you choose, you will probably have to
buy your own computer, your own modem, and your own software.
11.3) What is the Internet?
The Internet is a worldwide computer network. It is used primarily as
a medium for the communication and free exchange of information and
ideas.
11.3.1) How can I obtain access to the Internet?
You can use your ez-account to "telnet" to one of the computers at
U.C. Davis from King Hall, from one of the computer rooms on the U.C.
Davis campus, or from your home computer via modem.
11.3.1.1) How do I obtain access to the Internet from King Hall?
Go to the LEXIS/Westlaw room or the Computer Room in the basement of
King Hall. In the LEXIS/Westlaw room, you will find several IBM
clones with the Windows program running. Use the mouse and "double-
click" the Win/QVT icon on one of these computers; then click the
button marked "Terminal" that appears on the screen. If it is your
first time signing on to the Internet, you will probably need some
help. Steve Langford (<sdlangford@ucdavis.edu>), Computer Specialist,
works in the office adjoining the LEXIS/Westlaw room, and it his job
to help the members of the King Hall community with all of their
computer needs. See Steve if you need any help.
11.3.1.2) How do I obtain access to the Internet from one of the computer
rooms on the U.C. Davis campus?
Every computer room is different. Check with the site attendant.
11.3.1.3) How do I obtain access to the Internet from my home computer?
You will need special software. Check with Steve Langford
(<sdlangford@ucdavis.edu>) at (916)752-SLOW for more information.
11.3.2) How do I communicate with other people on the Internet?
Communication between individuals on the Internet usually takes place
through the institutions of e-mail and the USENET newsgroups. These
are the most straightforward and easy to use Internet applications.
Live time conversations also take place with the Internet Relay Chat
(IRC) and the World Wide Web provides multimedia communication.
11.3.2.1) Are there any rules for e-mail and the USENET newsgroups?
Yes. U.C. Davis imposes regulations for e-mail and the USENET with
its Acceptable Use Policy. There are also informal rules of conduct
that are enforced by the Internet community, fondly referred to as
"netiquette." Contact Student Judicial Affairs Officer Donald Dudley
(King Hall Class of 1993 <djdudley@ucdavis.edu>), at (916)752-1128 for
more information about the U.C. Davis Acceptable Use Policy. As for
netiquette, use your own good judgement.
11.3.2.2) What is the difference between e-mail and the USENET newsgroups?
The primary difference between e-mail and the USENET is privacy.
However, neither e-mail or the USENET are completely confidential.
While an e-mail message is not completely private, it is directed to a
particular individual or group of individuals; a USENET article is
available to anyone who has access to any newsgroup where the article
is posted.
11.3.2.2.1) How do I use e-mail?
The most straightforward and easy way to use e-mail is by using a
program called "pine," which is an acronym for "pine is no-longer elm"
("elm" was an e-mail program on which pine was based) To use pine,
type in "pine" (without the quotes) at the Unix prompt. Pine is menu-
driven, so just follow the instructions.
11.3.2.2.2) How do I access the USENET newsgroups?
The most straightforward and easy way to use the USENET newsgroups at
U.C. Davis is by using a newsreader called "tin." To use tin, type in
"tin" (without the quotes) at the Unix prompt. The tin program is
menu-driven, so just follow the instructions.
11.3.2.2.2.1) How many USENET newsgroups are there?
There are several thousand USENET newsgroups (more than anyone could
ever hope to read) and more are being created every day. Thus, you
have to decide which newsgroups you want to read.
11.3.2.2.2.2) How do I figure out which USENET newsgroups I want to read?
The USENET newsgroups are organized into a hierarchy that includes
regional and other domains.
11.3.2.2.2.3) Which USENET newsgroups are of interest to members of the
King Hall community?
It depends upon the individual, but at the very least members of the
King Hall community would probably be interested in a number of the
regional domains that are available through the U.C. Davis USENET;
people who are new to the Internet would also be interested in a
number of newsgroups found in the news.* domain. You should subscribe
to news.announce.newusers until you feel that you know more than most
of the people reading that newsgroup. You will also find FAQs on
every conceivable topic in the news.answers USENET newsgroup.
11.3.2.2.2.3.1) What regional domains are available through the U.C. Davis
USENET?
The ucd.* domain, the ucb.* domain, the davis.* domain, the yolo.*
domain, the sac.* domain, the ba.* domain, and the ca.* domain are all
regional domains that the U.C. Davis USENET can access; Netscape can
access virtually any USENET domain through the World Wide Web (WWW or
Web).
11.3.2.2.2.3.2) Does King Hall have its own USENET newsgroup?
But of course! The ucd.king-hall newsgroup was founded by Joel
Siegel, King Hall Class of 1997.
11.3.2.3) How do I use the IRC?
To use the IRC, type in "irc" (without the quotes) at the Unix prompt.
There is online help available for the IRC and most of the people whom
you meet on the IRC will be willing to answer your newbie questions.
You will also find a FAQ on the IRC in the news.answers USENET
newsgroup (among other places).
11.3.2.4) How do I access the World Wide Web?
You can access the World Wide Web by using a text-based program, such
as "lynx," or by using a web browser, such as "Netscape." Access to
the multi-media features of various web sites (i.e., pictures and
sound) is the biggest advantage of using Netscape.
11.3.2.4.1) How do I use lynx?
Just type in "lynx" (without the quotes) at the Unix prompt, and
follow the instructions you find on the screen.
11.3.2.4.2) How do I use Netscape?
Netscape is easy to use and has many revolutionary and exciting multi-
media/multi-protocol features, but you will probably need help from
someone who knows what he or she is doing, so see Steve Langford in
the Lexis/Westlaw computer room. For more information, visit the
Netscape Home Page on the World Wide Web (<http://home.netscape.com>).
11.3.3) What other resources are available over the Internet?
In addition to the communication and exchange of information that
people accomplish using e-mail, the USENET, and the IRC, people can
download archived information from the Internet using "file transfer
protocol" (ftp).
11.3.3.1) What is ftp and how does it work?
The ftp function resembles the telnet function (the basic method of
gaining access to the Internet for e-mail and the USENET), but ftp is
only used for downloading or uploading information. There are
generally two ways to access a computer via ftp, anonymous and
privileged.
11.3.3.1.1) How do I use anonymous ftp?
When you know which anonymous ftp site has the information that you
want, you can then log onto it and get that information using using
the ftp program:
* Type in "ftp" (without the quotes) at the Unix prompt,
followed by the name of the ftp site that you wish to
access. For example:
ftp ftp.site
where ftp.site is the name of a hypothetical ftp site that
you want to access.
* You will be asked to provide your username, type in:
anonymous
* You will be asked to provide your password.
DO NOT TYPE IN YOUR PASSWORD! *ANONYMOUS* FTP IS SUPPOSED
TO BE *ANONYMOUS*! If you wish, you may type in your
Internet address as a return address, but you do not need to
do so. Virtually any response to the password request will
give you access to an anonymous ftp site.
* Type in the GET command, followed by the exact name of the
file that you want to obtain. For example:
get ftp-document
where ftp-document is the name of a hypothetical document
that you wish to obtain. This procedure will retrieve an
ASCII document.
* If for some reason, there is something wrong with the
document that you obtain, start over and set the code to
binary by typing in "binary" (without the quotes) after you
have opened the anonymouse ftp site. Specifically, type in
the following:
binary
This should fix the problem so that you can GET the document
that you want. If it doesn't, then the file you have is
probably compressed or encrypted, so you will need to find
out what program you should use to decompress or decrypt the
file. Check with King Hall Computer Specialist Steve
Langford (<sdlangford@ucdavis.edu>) at (916)752-SLOW for
more information.
* To quit the ftp application, type in "quit" (without the
quotation marks). For example:
quit
Note: Steve Langford (<sdlangford@ucdavis.edu>) has set up several of
the computers in the Lexis/Westlaw with simplified ftp access.
Contact Steve Langford at (916)752-SLOW for more information.
11.3.3.1.2) How do I use privileged ftp?
A privileged ftp site requires an actual username and an actual
password (as opposed to an anonymous one). In addition to the GET
command, you can also use the PUT command with privileged ftp. For
example:
put ftp-document
where ftp-document is the hypothetical name of the document that you
want to load to the privileged ftp site.
11.3.3.1.3) How can I find out what files are available via ftp?
You can use various "search engines" on the Internet, such as
"gopher," "archie, "veronica," and "jughead." My favorite search
engine on the World Wide Web is Yahoo (<http://www.yahoo.com>).
Contact Steve Langford (<sdlangford@ucdavis.edu>) at (916)752-SLOW for
more information on search engines.
11.3.3.1.4) How do I obtain ftp files by e-mail request?
For information on ftp by e-mail service, send an e-mail message to
ftpmail@decwrl.dec.com with the text "help" somewhere in the body of
the message. Many ftp sites have mail-server software that will send
ftp files by e-mail request. For example, to obtain this faq by e-
mail send the following message to mail-server@rtfm.mit.edu:
send usenet/news.answers/ucdavis/king-hall-faq/part*
. . .
quit
Where * is replaced by the numbers 1 through 6 in successive lines of
text. Other FAQs that I have written are archived at rtfm.mit.edu
under the usenet/news.answers directory under the appropriate archive
name. See Section 1.5 for more information about these other FAQs.
To obtain one of these other FAQs change the text of the line that
begins with send so that the archive name ucdavis/king-hall-faq is
replaced with the archive name of the other FAQ.
11.3.3.2) What legal resources are available on the Internet?
There are too many legal resources available on the Internet for me to
offer a complete catalog. However, there are two superb resources
that will help you find out what legal resources are available on the
and where you can find them for yourself:
* The law.listserv.* USENET newsgroups are an excellent resource
for cutting-edge legal information of all kinds. The most
popular of these newsgroups is law.listserv.lawlib, moderated by
Associate Director Judy Janes (<jcjanes@ucdavis.edu>) of the U.C.
Davis Law School Library. This newsgroup is frequented by
thousands of law librarians, law professors, and other legal
scholars.
* Erik J. Heels has written a comprehensive work of legal
resources on the Internet:
The Legal List,
Law-Related Resources Available on the Internet and
Elsewhere.
ftp://ftp.midnight.com/pub/LegalList/legallist.txt
A paperback edition is available from the author. The Legal List
is an invaluable reference tool, and I unequivocally recommend
that anyone with any interest in the law or the Internet get a
copy of the Legal List as soon as possible.
12) REVISIONS FOR FUTURE VERSIONS OF THIS FAQ.
I intend to add more information to this FAQ in the future. However,
I have made every effort to avoid having to change its structure and
organization. If information is substantially changed or deleted in
the future, I will make a note of it.
12.1) CHANGES IN THIS VERSION OF THE KING HALL USENET FAQ FROM PREVIOUS
VERSIONS.
This version of this FAQ should contain all of the information
contained in Version 1.1 with only minor editorial changes, but more
information has been added. For those of you who noticed a slight
structural change in this version, please be advised that Sections
4.1.2.1.* have become Sections 4.1.2.(*+1) and Sections 4.1.2.2.* have
become Sections 4.1.3.* to correct for some unintentional and
inapproprate mistructuring of subsequent sections as subsections, but
the order in which the information is presented remains the same. I
am sorry for any inconvenience that this slight structural change may
have caused you, but I decided that this change simply had to be done
eventually, and better now than later.
12.2) CHANGES THAT WILL TAKE PLACE IN FUTURE VERSIONS OF THIS FAQ.
I will probably leave the structure of this FAQ intact, but I will
continue to add more subsections, questions, and modify details and
add a hypertext version. Your comments are very much welcome and
appreciated. If you have any questions that you would like to see
answered in this FAQ, please let me know by e-mail or snail-mail. I
would also like to know how you came across this FAQ and where you
think that I should post a notice of its availability as this FAQ is
only posted to certain regional newsgroups on the USENET. I am very
sorry, but I am not able to respond to every person individually.
- - - - -
End of document:
The King Hall Law School USENET FAQ Part 6 of 6
Frequently Asked Questions at and About King Hall
(c) Copyright 1995
by
David F. Prenatt, Jr.
King Hall, 1995 Alumnus
U.C. Davis School of Law
University of California
Davis, CA 95616-5210
dfprenatt@ucdavis.edu
- - - - -
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X-Google-Language: ENGLISH,ASCII-7-bit X-Google-Thread: 106ed4,82cd2eba71c0f554,start X-Google-Attributes: gid106ed4,public X-Google-Thread: 100abb,82cd2eba71c0f554,start X-Google-Attributes: gid100abb,public X-Google-Thread: f824f,82cd2eba71c0f554,start X-Google-Attributes: gidf824f,public X-Google-Thread: 112357,82cd2eba71c0f554,start X-Google-Attributes: gid112357,public X-Google-Thread: f7418,82cd2eba71c0f554,start X-Google-Attributes: gidf7418,public X-Google-Thread: 103c92,82cd2eba71c0f554,start X-Google-Attributes: gid103c92,public X-Google-Thread: 11eee3,82cd2eba71c0f554,start X-Google-Attributes: gid11eee3,public X-Google-Thread: 10a89e,82cd2eba71c0f554,start X-Google-Attributes: gid10a89e,public From: ez032582@chip.ucdavis.edu (David Prenatt) Subject: King Hall Law School USENET FAQ Part 6 of 6 Date: 1995/08/13 Message-ID: <40lka1$ie3@mark.ucdavis.edu> X-Deja-AN: 108075334 approved: news-answers-request@MIT.EDU references: <401j54$ie3@mark.ucdavis.edu> followup-to: poster summary: This article is Part Six of a Multipart compilation of information organization: University of California, Davis newsgroups: ucd.king-hall,ucb.boalt,ucd.general,davis.general,yolo.general,sac.general,ba.general,ca.general,news.answers