🚀 go-pugleaf

Archive-name: king-hall/faqpart4
Posting-Frequency: monthly
Last modified: Jul. 15, 1995


      The King Hall USENET FAQ [ASCII/Multipart] (Version 1.1) Part 4 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 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 I 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 the following:
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 notified of any use other than personal use.
Permission to reproduce any version of this FAQ may be revoked by me at any
time.

- - - - -

      The King Hall USENET FAQ [ASCII/Multipart] (Version 1.1) Part 4 of 6
      Frequently Asked Questions at and About King Hall (c) Copyright 1995
                                       by
                             David F. Prenatt, Jr.


4.2)  FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SECOND YEAR OF LAW SCHOOL.

4.2.1)  ON CAMPUS INTERVIEWS (OCI).

4.2.1.1)  What is OCI?

     The term OCI refers to the longstanding practice of various law firms
     to coordinate their hiring efforts through Career Services (primarily
     for second year law students).  The OCI process is not unlike rushing
     fraternities and sororities (i.e., a superficial popularity contest).

4.2.1.2)  Should I participate in OCI?

     It depends on what kidn of job you want.  OCI takes up a lot of time
     and energy, and you may end up getting a high-paying/dead-end job with
     a glass ceiling.  About seven years after law school, many lawyers who
     go to work for large firms find themselves out of a job and without
     enough practical legal experience to open their own law firm.  In
     other words, be careful what you wish for, it may come true.

4.2.1.3)  What alternatives are there to OCI?

     You can simply apply for the jobs that interest you.  For one reason
     or another, many job openings are not advertised (smaller firms and
     judicial clerkships, for example).  Whatever you choose to do, be
     discrete about your success and failure.  Much like first year grades,
     looking for a job during the second year of law school is a challenge
     to the self-esteem of most law students who don't get the job offers
     that they want.

4.2.2)  JUDICIAL CLERKSHIPS.

4.2.2.1)  What is a judicial clerkship?

     A judicial clerkship is a paid position as a legal clerk working for a
     judge or group of judges that begins after you graduate from law
     school.  Judicial clerkships are different from judicial externships,
     which are often completed for course credit during law school.
     Judicial clerkships are extremely prestigious and the competition for
     them is very fierce.

4.2.2.2)  How do I apply for a judicial clerkship?

     Each judicial clerkship has its own guidelines.  Contact the judges'
     chambers for more information on a particular clerkship.

4.2.3)  SECOND AND THIRD YEAR COURSES AT KING HALL.

4.2.3.1)  LAW REVIEW AND MOOT COURT.

4.2.3.1.1)  Should I do Law Review or Moot Court?

     Yes.  Either one or both.

4.2.3.1.1.1)  Which program is better, Law Review or Moot Court?

     Law Review is much more prestigious than Moot Court and can open a lot
     of doors, but Law Review is also much more demanding on your time than
     Moot Court.  Both programs are very rewarding.

4.2.3.1.1.2)  Can I do both Law Review and Moot Court?

     Yes, at least during the first semester.  Alternatively, you can do
     Moot Court during your third year, but that would preclude serving on
     the Moot Court Board or Moot Court Teams during your third year.
     Whether you want to continue with Law Review during your second
     semester is the real issue.

4.2.3.1.2)  What sort of demands upon my time should I expect from Law
            Review?

     The first semester of Law Review requires "candidates for membership"
     to fulfill modest office hour requirements, complete a cite checking
     assignment, and submit two drafts of a "note" or "comment" on a topic
     of their choice [Note:  first semester requirements for Law Review
     Writers were recently changed from one "good faith draft" during the
     first semester to two drafts.  The jury is still out on the prudence
     of this decision, which is primarily a gatekeeping mechanism.]
     However, the second semester of Law Review is extremely demanding,
     whether or not you succeed in becoming a Member or Editor.

4.2.3.1.2.1)  How do I become a Law Review Member?

     Any second year law student at King Hall can "write-on" as a Member of
     Law Review.  Each draft of your note or comment is reviewed by two
     staff editors who are assigned to you, and you revise your note or
     comment according to their editorial feedback.  When your staff
     editors run out of criticism, they usually recommend your draft to the
     Notes and Comments Editor who is assigned to you.  Your Notes and
     Comments Editor makes the decision of whether you become a Member.

4.2.3.1.2.2)  How do I become a Law Review Editor?

     The process is pretty much the same, but new staff editors are
     assigned to you, more exacting standards are invoked, and the Editor
     in Chief must approve your paper after you are recommended for Editor.
     [Note:  Exceptions to this process do exist.  Check with one of the
     current Notes & Comments Editors or Editor in Chief if you think that
     special circumstances apply to your situation.]

4.2.3.1.2.3)  What happens after I become a Law Review Editor?

     After you become a Law Review Editor, you review the work of Law
     Review Candidates and Members as described above.  You may also wish
     to seek one of the elected positions on the Law Review Editorial
     Board.  Check with current Board Members for further information on
     these positions.

4.2.3.1.2.4)  What happens if I am not recommended to become a Law Review
              Member or Editor?

     You can always appeal such a decision by your editors, but the odds
     are stacked against you because the guidelines for what constitutes a
     member or editor quality draft are very subjective.  Thus, it's best
     to comply with the editorial demands of your editors.  Many good law
     review writers who do not succeed in becoming a Member or Editor are
     simply too defensive about the editorial feedback that they receive.
          On the other hand, your editors may neglect their duties to you.
     If this happens, you should promptly report them to someone you can
     trust, preferably someone who can take some sort of affirmative action
     to remedy the situation.  Otherwise, you will end up as one of the
     many people who gets eliminated from the law review process every
     year.  You may get eliminated anyway if you encounter some sort of
     problem with your topic that you cannot fix, such as pre-emption.

4.2.3.1.3)  What is Moot Court?

     When most people talk about Moot Court, they are talking about the
     year long program of Appellate Advocacy at King Hall.  There are
     actually several Moot Court programs; Appellate Advocacy is the most
     popular one.

4.2.3.1.3.1)  Why should I do Moot Court?

     Moot Court will help you acquire valuable skills in oral advocacy.

4.2.3.1.3.2)  What should I expect from Moot Court?

     The first semester of Moot Court (i.e., Appellate Advocacy) involves
     researching and arguing both sides of three hypothetical cases on
     appeal.  The second semester of Moot Court is different in that it
     involves a single hypothetical case comprised of two issues on appeal;
     you work with a partner who helps you prepare a written brief.
     Participation in the second semester of Moot Court is also used to
     qualify students for certain Moot Court teams.

4.2.3.1.3.3)  How do I qualify for a Moot Court team?

     Many of the Moot Court teams are selected from the Appellate Advocacy
     program, but there are several other teams that are sponsored
     independently by the law school that have nothing to do with the
     Appellate Advocacy program.  In addition, you can create your own team
     for one of the competitions that is not sponsored by the law school.

4.2.3.1.3.4)  What is the Moot Court Board?

     The Moot Court Board runs the year long Appellate Advocacy program.
     Students are elected to the Moot Court Board by the outgoing Board.

4.2.3.2)  THE ADVANCED WRITING REQUIREMENT.

     Many people use Law Review or Moot Court to complete the Advanced
     Writing Requirement, but any professor can help you complete the
     writing requirement.  For more information, contact Nicole Waterman
     (ngwaterman@ucdavis.edu) or Dian Francis (dpfrancis@ucdavis.edu) in
     the King Hall Registrar's Office in person or at (916)752-4299.

4.2.3.3)  CLINICALS.

4.2.3.3.1)  Should I take a clinical?

     Yes.  It is an opportunity that few attorneys have for obtaining
     practical lawyering skills that few attorneys have, but a clinical
     should not be used as a substitute for other more challenging law
     school courses.  I took the Civil Rights Clinical, conducted by
     supervising attorneys Carter "Cappy" White and Professor Margaret
     Johns.  As a Certified Student Attorney, I represented sua sponte
     plaintiffs in meritorious Section 1983 claims assigned to the King
     Hall Civil Rights Clinic by the Eastern District Federal Court in
     Sacramento.  I strongly recommend the Civil Rights Clinical for any
     law student who is interested in any type of civil litigation.
          Like most clinicals at King Hall, the Civil Rights Clinical
     requires students to be in good academic standing and become certified
     as a Student Attorney.  This means that you must have at least a 2.0
     G.P.A and complete courses in Civil Procedure and Evidence (concurrent
     enrollment in Evidence is permitted).  Students can enroll for upwards
     of two to six units, graded on a Pass/No Pass basis, but the total
     number of students who can enroll is limited.
          In addition to the general requirements of other clinicals, the
     Civil Rights Clinical requires students to complete a three unit
     substantive course in Civil Rights (graded) and a two unit Skills
     Seminar (Pass/No Pass).  Many students take the Civil Rights course
     without taking the Civil Rights Clinical, but the Skills Seminar is an
     integral part of the Civil Rights Clinical.  All Student Attorneys in
     the Civil Rights Clinical must attend a weekly one hour meeting, much
     like an office meeting for a law firm.

4.2.3.3.2)  What clinicals are available?

     There are legal clinicals available at King Hall for virtually every
     field of the law.  Contact Clinical Director Betsy Stewart
     (ejstewart@ucdavis.edu) at (916)752-6564 for more information on how
     to sign up for a clinical in a field of law that interests you.

4.2.3.4)  PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY.

4.2.3.4.1)  When should I take Professional Responsibility?

     Whenever it is convenient, but you need to pass this course to
     graduate from King Hall.  It is a one unit course graded on a Pass/No
     Pass basis.

4.2.3.4.2)  When should I take the Multistate Professional Responsibility
            Exam (MPRE)?

     Whenever it is convenient, but you need to pass the MPRE to become a
     member of the bar.  Application forms for the MPRE can usually be
     found in the King Hall Registrar's Office.

4.2.3.5)  Should I try to become a tutor or Teacher's Assistant (TA)?

     Yes.  It has tremendous resume value, and if you intend to teach law,
     the experience is invaluable.

4.2.3.5.1)  What is the difference between a tutor and a TA?

     Tutors are somewhat unique to King Hall.  All first year course other
     than Legal Research and Legal Writing have tutors.  There is also a
     Resource Tutor. The tutors are paid and their job is to help students
     who ask for help in their coursework.  They tend to be very good
     students who did well in whatever course they are tutoring.
          TAs are unpaid positions for Legal Research and Legal Writing.  A
     law student who works as a TA receives course credit.  I had no desire
     to work as a Legal Research TA, but I did work as a Legal Writing TA,
     and I found the experience very rewarding, albeit extremely demanding
     on my patience and my time.

4.2.3.5.2)  What are the qualifications necessary to become a tutor or TA?

     Check with Assistant Dean Toni Bernhard (aebernhard@ucdavis.edu) at
     (916)752-0243 for this information.  She is responsible for hiring
     people to fill these positions.

4.2.3.6)  OTHER COURSES.

     The faculty presents a forum every year to help second and third year
     students make this decision.  You should attend this for the most
     current information available.  However, I do have some general
     recommendations.  You should include at least one skills class in your
     law school education, such as Trial Practice or Negotiations.
     Moreover, you should take advantage of the various classes that offer
     a paper as an alternative to a final exam for two reasons:  First,
     instructors usually allow you to rewrite your paper to bring up your
     grade; And second, this will give you a knock-out writing sample,
     possibly of publishable quality.

4.2.3.7)  SPECIAL PROGRAMS.

4.2.3.7.1)  JOINT DEGREE PROGRAMS.

     You can work towards a graduate degree in another department of U.C.
     Davis while you earn your law degree (e.g., you can earn an M.B.A. at
     the Graduate School of Management).  If you chose to pursue such a
     program, you would take all of your classes at King Hall during your
     first year and after that divide your time up between classes at King
     Hall and the classes that are required in your other discipline.  You
     would be required to file a separate application for the other program
     and satisfy the admission requirements for that program.

4.2.3.7.2)  TAKING COURSES OUTSIDE OF KING HALL FOR CREDIT TOWARDS THE
            JURIS DOCTOR.

4.2.3.7.2.1)  Can I take courses in other departments of U.C. Davis towards
              and get credit towards my law degree at King Hall?

     Yes, but there are limitations on how many you can take (in
     combination with a number of other courses) and you must obtain
     approval before you enroll in courses outside of the law school.
     [Note:  Whatever grades you earn in course outside of the normal law
     school curriculum will be converted to a Pass/No Pass grade, and the
     standards for a passing grade in these classes are higher than they
     are for other students.]  Check with Assistant Dean Bernhard
     (aebernhard@ucdavis.edu) at (916)752-0243 for more information.

4.2.3.7.2.2)  Can I take courses at other colleges, universities, or law
              schools for credit towards the Juris Doctor at King Hall?

     Yes.  In fact many students attend other law schools for a semester or
     more, but there are many specific requirements.  Check with the
     Assistant Dean Bernhard (aebernhard@ucdavis.edu) at (916)752-0243 for
     more information.

4.2.4)  COMPLETING THE REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION TO THE BAR.

     Many requirements for admission to the California State Bar can be
     completed during your second year of law school.  See Section 10.1 for
     more information about these requirements

4.3)  FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE THIRD YEAR OF LAW SCHOOL.

4.3.1)  Why is there a third year of law school?

     Apparently, to make sure that your second year is not your last year.
     The first year they scare you to death; the second year they work you
     to death; and the third year, they bore you to death.

4.3.2)  What does one do during the third year of law school?

     Different people do different things, but most of the time the third
     year of law school is simply a recapitulation of the second year.  The
     changing of the guard is effected on Law Review and Moot Court as new
     boards are elected to these programs.

4.4)  LAW STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS.

     Virtually all of the law student organizations at King Hall are
     chartered through the University and funded primarily through the Law
     Student Association (LSA) and bake sales.  Each organization defines
     its own purpose.  Last time I checked, each law student organization
     had an open membership, and thus each organization is best defined by
     those students who choose to become its members.  During my tenure as
     a law student at King Hall, I belonged to a number of student
     organizations that I thought were worthwhile, and serving as the Vice
     President of the Federalist Society.  I also patronized all of the
     fund raising activities and social events that interested me without
     regard for which student organizations were sponsoring it.  [Note:  I
     have specifically decided against including a list and description of
     the various law student organizations at King Hall.  You will find
     such a list and description in the application pamphlet that is sent
     out to prospective students.]

4.5)  SERVICES AVAILABLE TO KING HALL STUDENTS.

4.5.1)  SERVICES AVAILABLE TO LAW STUDENTS THROUGH KING HALL.

4.5.1.1)  LIBRARY SERVICES AT KING HALL.

4.5.1.1.1)  What library services are available to law students at King
            Hall?

     All King Hall students, faculty, and staff are issued a key to the
     building and have access to the law library (other than the reserve
     section) 24 hours a day.  Most books may be checked out to your study
     carrel, which you share with other students until your third year of
     law school.  Check with the Law School Library Reference Desk for more
     information on the various library services available to students.

4.5.1.1.2)  What should I do if I encounter trespassers after hours in the
            library at King Hall?

     You have many options to deal with trespassers at King Hall, but you
     are not obliged to do anything about them.  U.C. Davis is a public
     university, and members of the general public have a right to use the
     facilities at the law school to study or do legal research.  However,
     if someone doesn't have a key to King Hall, they don't have a right to
     be in the building after the library closes.
          The official policy of the law school is that no one without a
     key to the building is allowed to be in King Hall after the law
     library closes, but this policy is not strictly enforced.  I always
     treated trespassers as "uninvited guests" and tolerated them unless
     they did something that bothered me.  However, if you want trespassers
     to leave, you don't need to give any justification.  Simply place a
     call to the campus police, and the campus police will get rid of the
     trespassers very quickly.

4.5.1.2)  Financial Aid.

     Contact the Director of Law School Financial Aid Lu Bastian
     (lrbastian) at (916)752-6573 with your questions about Financial Aid
     at King Hall.  She and her staff, currently one Cindy Alvarez
     Necoechea (calvarez), have my unequivocal endorsement.

4.5.1.3)  Career Services.

     Contact Career Services Director Jane Thomson (jthomson@ucdavis.edu)
     at (916)752-6574 with your questions about Career Services at King
     Hall.

4.5.1.4)  The Perfect Tender Infant Care Co-op.

     Student volunteers, some of them parents themselves, staff the Perfect
     Tender Infant Care Co-op, which cares for the infants (under one year)
     of law students.

4.5.1.5)  Computer Services at King Hall.

     Contact Computer Specialist Steve Langford (sdlangford@ucdavis.edu) at
     (916)752-SLOW with your questions about computer services at King
     Hall.  While no one has all the answers, Steve has more answers about
     computers than most people do, and if he doesn't have immediate
     answers to your computer questions, he will usually be able to refer
     you to someone who does.   See also Section ?.

4.5.1.6)  Food at King Hall.

     Between 9am and Noon during most school days, you stand about a 50/50
     chance of encountering a bake sale downstairs.  Similarly on school
     days, you stand about a 1 in 5 chance that some organization is
     offering free food to encourage attendance at one of its meetings.  If
     all else fails, there are several vending machines on the bottom floor
     of the law school.  Of course you can always brave the elements, and
     take a five minute walk to the Silo or the Coffee House.  See Section
     5.1 for more information on food services on the U.C. Davis campus.

4.5.2)  SERVICES AVAILABLE TO LAW STUDENTS THROUGH U.C. DAVIS.

4.5.2.1)  Library Services.

     The University maintains three libraries (not including the Law School
     Library):  The Health Sciences Library, the Physical Sciences Library
     and Shields Library.  A number of university also departments have
     their own collections.  All of these collections are listed on MELVYL.
     and many other libraries make their collections available through
     interlibrary loan.  Check with the Law Library Reference Desk for more
     information.

4.5.2.2)  Transportation and Parking Services (TAPS).

     Contact TAPS at (916)752-TAPS for information on parking permits,
     bicycle licenses, and related services; contact Unitrans at (916)752-
     BUSS for information on bus services.  [Note:  Discount bus passes and
     tokens are available for graduate and professional Students.]

4.5.2.3)  Computer Services.

     See Section 11.2 for information on Computer Services that are
     available through U.C. Davis to King Hall students.

4.5.2.4)  Cowell Health Center.

     Contact Cowell Health Center at (916)752-2300 with your questions
     about student health services.  Please note that all graduate and
     professional students are required to purchase the Graduate Student
     Health Insurance Plan at the time registration fees are paid unless
     they provide proof of comparable insurance coverage.  For more
     information, contact the Insurance Office of the Student Health Center
     at (916) 752-2612.  Every entering student must also complete a
     medical history form and provide proof of immunity to rubella and
     rubeola.

4.5.2.5)  The Disability Resource Center.

     The Disability Resource Center (DRC) offers a number of services for
     students with disabilities, including those students with temporary
     disabilities (e.g., sports injuries such as a broken leg).  Law
     students with disabilities should contact the DRC as early as possible
     at (916)752-3184 (TDD 916-752-6TDD) for more information on the
     assistance, academic and otherwise, that the DRC provides.

4.5.2.6)  Counseling Services.

     Psychological and psychiatric services are available through North
     Hall (916)752-0856 or by referal at the Cowell Student Health Center.

4.5.2.7)  Veterans Services.

     Contact the Veterans Affairs Office at (916)752-2020 for information
     about services available to veterans at U.C. Davis.

4.6)  OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST TO KING HALL STUDENTS.

4.6.1)  SPECIAL EVENTS AT KING HALL.

     Special events are constantly occurring at King Hall.  The list below
     is far from exhaustive.  I will provide more information on special
     events at King Hall in a future version of this FAQ.

          *    The One L Welcome BBQ.

          *    The Intro Week LSA Kegger.

          *    The Phi Delta Phi Big Sib/Li'l Sib Mixer.

          *    Cardozarama--The King Hall Talent Show.

          *    Over the Hump--The King Hall "Senior Prom."

          *    The King Hall Legal Foundation (KHLF) Spring Auction--To
               benefit public interest law.

          *    The Lorenzo Patino Banquet.

          *    Various awards ceremonies.


4.6.2)  INFORMATION ON KING HALL STUDENTS, FACULTY, STAFF, AND ALUMNI.

     If you are looking for vicious gossip about members of the King Hall
     community, you will have to look elsewhere.  The information that I
     will provide here in the future on specific King Hall students,
     faculty, staff, and alumni is meant to be flattering (albeit honest)
     and highlight their personal and professional accomplishments.  As a
     rule, the more successful members of the King Hall community are very
     controversial, and you will have no problem finding someone who is
     willing to criticize them, but it won't be done by me here.
          The role of an attorney is that of an adversary, and the most
     succesful attorneys are those who offend people with their apparent
     lack of scruples.  But as a rule, attorneys have more scruples than
     the hypocrites who pass judgement on them, so judge attorneys not by
     their friends, but by their enemies.  Every attorney who plays by the
     rules and obtains an acquittal for a guilty client, or an exhorbitant
     award of punitive damages for a minor injury, promotes the cause of
     justice.  I am proud to be a member of the legal profession, even when
     its individual members champion the "wrong" causes in pursuit of the
     greater cause of justice.

4.6.3)  LAW SCHOOL PUBLICATIONS.

     There are several official law school publications run by King Hall
     students:

          *    Environs.

          *    The King Hall Advocate.

          *    The U.C. Davis Journal of International Law and Policy.

          *    The U.C. Davis Law Review.

- - - - -

End of document:

      The King Hall USENET FAQ [ASCII/Multipart] (Version 1.1) Part 4 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

- - - - -