Law school is not easy, and every student experiences it differently. Here are some tips on law school essentials. In addition to pulling from my own experience now as a 3L, I’ve included thoughts from some of my classmates.

 

What’s in your bag?

When we discuss professionalism in class, we associate it with preparedness. Here are some essentials to keep in your bag:

  1. Pens/pencils/highlighters: This goes without saying, but it is always good to have a few of these handy in your bag.
  2. Notebooks and loose paper: These are good for taking notes.
  3. Organization tools (binder, notebooks for each class, etc.): You will likely end up with several handouts or notes for each class. This helps keep them organized and easier to retrieve later.
  4. A planner/to do list: This helps keep track of your schedule and manage your time effectively.

 

Technology Essentials

This can really vary for each person depending on how comfortable they are with technology.

  1. On the laptop
    • Google Drive: This is a great way to organize notes for each class without cluttering your hard drive. I set-up my Google Drive by creating folders for each semester and then subfolders for each class.
    • Google Calendar: A simple way to keep track of classes and appointments and can be synced across devices so that you never miss a deadline. I try to set up my Google Calendar at the start of the semester. I enter my classes and any major due dates – this can take some time, but it is worth it.
    • Desktop Folders: I prefer to keep things organized on my desktop. A lot of times, you may have to download documents. Keeping them in different folders on your desktop can help you keep track of them. This is also a great back-up system if you don’t have internet access for Google Drive.
  2. Other electronics
    • iPad: A great organizational tool to take electronic notes. Although brand new ones aren’t affordable for everyone, previous generations and refurbished models can be found at reasonable prices. I personally use the Goodnotes app.
    • Grammarly: A free writing app that helps improve your writing. This program also helps people with dyslexia and other reading/writing disabilities.

 

Remote Learning Essentials

(Even though we are back to in-person classes, the following tips are still a great way to improve your at-home studying experience.)

This past school year, I found out that I had carpal tunnel. This motivated me to start investing in products that would make things more comfortable since I am sitting at my desk all day staring at the computer.

  1. Second monitor: I bought my monitor from OfferUp for $20. I no longer need to strain my neck since it is at eye level, and the additional screen space allows me to have multiple windows or programs open in an organized layout.
  2. Ergonomic keyboard and mouse: As someone who developed carpal tunnel, this was an essential for 3-hour long essay exams. Amazon has great options.
  3. Comfortable chair: An essential when sitting in front of your desk all day.

 

Stress Relief

I would consider this as the most important law school essential. Law school is difficult, and it is important to be kind and forgiving with yourself. Remember, don’t feel guilty about taking a mental health break. It only helps you later.

  1. Friends: Keep a social life outside of law school to re-energize yourself. Reach out to friends that you haven’t talked to for a while, plan zoom hang-outs, facetimes, etc.
  2. Family: Spend time with your family and be present. Don’t think about deadlines or checking your email.
  3. Pets: I have a dog and she has been the greatest support. Whenever I feel unmotivated or stressed, I take her for a walk. It helps reset my energy levels.
  4. Treat yourself: Whether it’s eating at your favorite food spot or buying something you saved up for, you deserve it!

 

There are several ways and tools that will make law school a little bit easier. Try some of these products or tips and see what works for you. These are just some things that personally work for my friends and me. I hope this gives you some ideas to help improve your own law school experience, and good luck!

The Department of General Services, known by its acronym of DGS, is a centralized business management hub where the state government can utilize specialized techniques and skills as necessary to ensure a high level of efficiency and economy. These services include, but are not limited to, planning, acquisition, construction, and maintenance of state buildings and property; purchasing; printing; architectural services; administrative hearings; government claims; and accounting services. The Department of General Services shall develop and enforce policy and procedures as it deems proper to ensure effective operation of all functions performed by the department and to conserve the rights and interests of the state.

DGS has the following divisions and offices, including Procurement Division, Real Estate Services, Facilities Management Division, the State Architect, the Office of Administrative Hearings, the Interagency Support Division, including Fleet and Asset Management, the Office of State Publishing, the Building Standards Commission, and the Commission on Disability Access. In the DGS Administration Division, there is Enterprise Technology Solutions, the Office of Fiscal Affairs, Human Resources, Business Acquisition Services, and Risk and Insurance Management. There is also the DGS’s Director’s Office which includes Sustainability, Audit Services, Legal Services, Planning and Research, Legislative Affairs, and Public Affairs.

DGS is responsible for government claims duties, state property, buildings and grounds, state projects, state burial grounds, state land settlement, state building energy retrofits, Rector dam, integrated pest management, administration of state records, state forms management, the California State Contracts Register, small business procurement and contracting, the Office of the State Printer, the Golden State Financial Marketplace Program, the Office of the State Architect, purchasing of prescription drugs for government agencies, and the Commission on Disability Access. It’s a pretty wide variety of roles and responsibilities that have been placed on the Department of General Services by way of California’s Government Code.

You can find the full transcript of the audio in today’s podcast here.

 

On December 2020, eligible immigrants could once again file initial applications for benefits through Deferred Action of Childhood Arrivals (DACA). DACA is an immigration policy whereby certain people who came to the United States as children and met several guidelines could receive temporary renewable protection from deportation.

However, a recent case has made that more challenging.

On July 16, 2021, Federal District Judge Andrew Hanen ruled that DACA was illegal and enjoined the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from accepting new applicants. This means that first time applicants can still file DACA applications, but those applications will be put on hold because the DHS is currently prohibited from granting initial DACA requests. This new ruling has NOT affected existing DACA recipients and they are still eligible to renew DACA .

While this ruling is at least another temporary setback for the many undocumented immigrants hoping to apply for DACA, there is still hope that it will reopen again. DACA has faced setback after setback throughout its nine-year history, but has always prevailed. We are optimistic that DACA will reopen soon. President Biden has indicated that he supports DACA and intends to have the Department of Justice appeal this decision.

DO I QUALIFY

Even though DHS is not accepting new applications at the moment, there are still some things you can do. First, you have to see if you qualify for DACA. To qualify, you must:

1.  Have been born after June 15, 1981
2. Have entered the U.S. before your 16th birthday
3. Have continuously lived in the U.S. since June 15, 2007 up to the present
4. Have been physically present in the U.S. on June 15, 2012
5. Have been undocumented as of June 15, 2012
6. Be currently enrolled in school, have graduated high school, or have a GED, and
7. Have no significant criminal history

If you qualify, the best thing to do would be to prepare all of your documents so that when initial DACA are once again being decided, you will have everything ready for submission.

DACA RENEWAL

Current DACA recipients are NOT affected by the decision and DACA renewals will continue. DHS is still processing and approving renewal DACA requests. For people looking to apply for DACA renewals, we recommend that you apply six months before your current DACA and employment authorization expire.

HOW DO I FIND HELP

Here at the McGeorge Immigration Clinic, we provide free legal services to qualified individuals who are interested in applying for DACA. We work holistically with our clients to assess eligibility for DACA and other immigration benefits. Even if you are still unsure about DACA, please contact us to learn more about other forms of eligibility. If you have questions or are interested in applying for DACA, please contact us at (916) 340-6080 to see if you qualify for a consultation at our Immigration Clinic.

About Justin Trinh

Justin is a rising second-year student at University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law. He has been a student attorney in the Immigration Clinic since May 2021.

Nikki Kuklo (2E, Class of 2024)

You got accepted to Law School! Congratulations! Now, I want you to take a deep breath and buckle up for an information dump, because that is what the 1L Orientation is. Once you get through that, you will go straight into trying to figure out what a case brief is and how you can possibly get through all your reading assignments. You will likely feel as though you cannot focus on anything else because if you do, for even a second, you will forget everything you just learned in class and will fall desperately behind in your reading. So, I want to take a moment to point out some things I missed in my first semester.

Everyone’s first semester is the same to some extent. None of us have ever encountered anything like law school–and we will likely never encounter anything like it again. But law school is not only about learning the law; it’s about networking and building connections, finding out more about yourself, and discovering the type of law you want to practice after law school. I didn’t realize there were opportunities to advance these facets of my life running in the background during my first semester.

To start, let’s talk about an acronym that you will see in early emails that may make no sense to you (Was that just me? Oh well, I’m going to tell you anyway.) “CDO” stands for “Career Development Office” and it was my number one missed opportunity; not that it’s too late–I am still a 1L after all–but I wish I had understood what it represented, not just what the letters stood for, earlier. I cannot stress enough how useful their website is. I highly recommend starting here: Create Your Career Plan. From there you can find awesome timelines to assess what you can do for your career during each year of law school.

At the link you can also find self-assessments, which I found wildly illuminating. I am a first-generation law student. Most of the law school experience has been overwhelming for me, but I doubt I am alone in this. Even people coming from long lines of lawyers will find benefit in the self-assessments. They help you identify who you are as a person, which in turn helps guide you to a better understanding of where you want to work, in what kind of law, and for what type of practice. Efficiency is key in life & law and this puts you on the fast track to managing your future and finding focus.

Personally, I discovered that corporate practice will likely not be a great fit for me because I am motivated by and value highly self-expression (which is a bummer because who doesn’t want to make those big bucks!) But recognizing this before I apply for post-grad jobs–or even more imminently, internships and externships–puts the focus on jobs that suit me personally and will enhance my overall happiness and fulfillment. The self-assessments will help you focus on exactly why you are in law school, what you want out of your law school experience, and exactly how you want to practice after school.

Next vocab tip: “MCO” stands for “McGeorgeCareersOnline”. Even if you are in the part-time program with a job already, MCO provides you with access to so much more than just jobs. At the risk of sounding like an infomercial here, it will make your life better. I recommend starting here: Job Search Resources and not just jumping straight into the MCO site. It will give you a general explanation of what MCO is and a couple other career related services. You can also find instructions for MCO, which I wish I had discovered before signing up for the service.

On the MCO website you can find jobs, upload resumes and cover letters for ease-of-sending, check out MCO events, schedule On-Campus Interviews (OCI) and counseling appointments, and connect with a mentor through the Alumni Advisor Network. All of which are aimed to help get you plugged into the expansive and practical network at McGeorge. You can never make connections too soon and in the times when you feel lost in law school, having a mentor can be a great way to keep you motivated to push through to life after law school.

One last thing I want to stress: the CDO is there to help. When you get an email from them early in your first semester (and you will), don’t assume they are just piling on to your already hectic schedule. They are trying to help you see the big picture: life after law school. And while it is crucial to focus on your classes, it is nice to pull your focus out occasionally to recall why you came to law school in the first place. If you do not have a concrete ‘why,’ like me, I suggest doing the work to find it (see self-assessments above) and speaking with the counselors through the MCO. You can also get in touch with a CDO advisor by simply emailing them at lawcareers@pacific.edu.

Best of luck as you continue through school. And remember: don’t miss the big picture.

In 1994, California created the Bergeson-Peace Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank, more commonly known as Ibank. The IBank is California’s only general purpose financing authority. It helps finance public infrastructure and private development that promotes a healthy climate for jobs, contributes to a strong economy, and improves the quality of life in California communities.

The IBank is part of the GO-Biz office, which is short for the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development. The IBank is governed by a five-member board of directors. A full-time executive director runs day-to-day operations. The IBank issues a number of different bonds to finance its programs. There are also a number of different programs within the IBank, including the Infrastructure State Revolving Fund Program.

The IBank also issues loan guarantees in partnership with seven different collaborating financial development corporations, or FDCs, in California. According to the IBank, since its inception it has financed more than $55 billion in infrastructure and economic development projects in California.

You can find the full transcript of the audio in today’s podcast here.

California’s Department of Consumer Affairs, more commonly known as DCA, is responsible for protecting California consumers. The DCA does this through oversight enforcement and licensure of professions. By regulating the professional licenses, DCA protects consumers from unscrupulous and unqualified professionals and professionals from unfair competition by unlicensed practitioners.

The DCA is comprised of 37 different boards, bureaus, and commissions, which are found in Business and Professions Code § 100. All of these different boards, bureaus, and commissions ensure private businesses and professionals engaged in these activities are properly licensed. Each of these boards or bureaus are required by statute to meet twice per year, once in Northern California and once in Southern California. These meetings are open to the public, including licensed professionals the board or bureau regulates.

These boards, bureaus and commissions are required to establish minimum qualifications and levels of competency for licensure. Most importantly, these DCA boards, bureaus, and commissions are responsible for addressing any grievances that are filed by consumers regarding alleged unprofessional conduct or even incompetence fraud or unlawful activity.

You can find the full transcript of the audio in today’s podcast here.

Julienne Correa(Class of 2022)

In the last article about diversity in the law, I discussed the need for diversity within the legal field. Here, I will discuss diversity efforts I have come across through law school.

Diversity fellowships, internships, and scholarships recognize the need for diversity in the legal field by providing equitable platforms for law students. I had no contact with the legal field prior to law school beyond what I learned in the undergraduate pre-law programs, and I was unfamiliar with how law school operated. The three programs discussed below showed me the importance of specific opportunities for diverse students.

Sacramento Bar Association Diversity Fellowship

During my first year, I learned about the Sacramento Bar Association 1L Diversity Fellowship. It encourages diverse law students to apply to firms and promote diversity in the legal field. Diverse students have an opportunity to apply to the fellowship, and if selected are matched with a Sacramento-area private law firm or organization. The program guarantees an interview for each applicant, which allows first-year students to practice interview skills for future opportunities. Further it shows students various firms’ commitment to diversity and inclusion. The program provides an equitable pipeline for diverse students pursuing legal careers in private firms.

McGeorge Diverse Bar Support Stipend  

This past year, I worked on the McGeorge BAR Prep Fund through my position in the McGeorge Unity Caucus. Its goal is to advance diversity by providing financial support to diverse students. A recent Bloomberg article discussed racial differences in Bar Exam passage rates: “By comparison, Whites passed at a rate of 85% in 2019, compared with 74% of Asians, 72% of Native Americans, 69% of Hispanics, and 61% of Blacks.” The fund aims to increase these rates for diverse students.

It recognizes the adverse circumstances that can negatively impact diverse students and decrease passage rates. Through financial assistance, students have one less thing to worry about in this critical time in their law careers.

Just the Beginning Summer Judicial Internship Diversity Project

For my 2L summer, I applied and got accepted for Just the Beginning’s Summer Judicial Internship Diversity Project. The program connects diverse students with judicial internships across the nation. The program’s goal is to create a pipeline for students to pursue judicial externships, clerkships, and eventually, judicial positions. By providing tools, resources, and networks, Just the Beginning aims to diversify the judiciary.

The program began with an assignment to watch a video about what a judicial externship entails and a writing assignment to help students prepare for the externship. This was extremely valuable information because it guided me on what to expect with a judicial externship and practice my writing skills. Additionally, we are invited to seminars discussing a variety of legal topics and advice on how to pursue a career in the judiciary. The program provided guidance throughout my externship.

Finding these opportunities made me feel supported through my law school journey. It aims to diversify the legal field by providing students with tools and equitable resources to excel in their legal career.

L-R Front row: Marisa Uribe (UC Davis) and Stephanie Allen (McGeorge). Back row: Omar Figueroa (McGeorge), Emma James (McGeorge), and Matthew Lanthier (UC Davis).

The Yolo County District Attorney’s Office welcomed three McGeorge students to its 2021 Summer/Fall internship program: Stephanie Allen (3L), Emma James (2L), and Omar Figueroa (2L); along with two other law students from UC Davis. After a year of remote work, the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office is excited to re-open its doors for in-person internships and externships. Students participating in the program have the opportunity to gain valuable hands-on experience working under the mentorship of practicing attorneys with real clients. You can read the Office’s full press release here.

The California Citizens Redistricting Commission (“CRC”) is charged with completing the decennial job of drawing district lines for state Senators, state Assemblymembers, members of the U.S. House of Representatives, and the California State Board of Equalization (“BOE”) members. Article XXI of the California Constitution established the CRC. Article XXI describes the redistricting of the Senate, Assembly, Congressional, and BOE districts every 10 years. In 2008, Proposition 11 amended Article XXI, which now has three major sections.

Section 1 states the year after the national census is taken, the Citizens Redistricting Commission must adjust the boundary lines of the Congressional, state Senate, Assembly, and Board of Equalization. This ensures district conform with the standards and process set forth in this Article XXI of the California Constitution.

Section 2 explains the CRC must conduct an open and transparent process, which enables full public consideration and comments concerning the drawing of district lines. The CRC draws district lines according to the redistricting criteria specified in Article XXI. Also according to Section 2, each commissioner must be a registered voter in California for at least five years with the same political affiliation.

Section 3 provides that the CRC is the sole legal standing to defend any action regarding a certified final map. The commission must inform the Legislature if funds or other resources are not adequate, the Legislature then must provide adequate funding to defend any action regarding any of the certified maps.

You can find the full transcript of the audio in today’s podcast here.

On July 1, 2021, McGeorge Legal Clinics welcomed Assistant Clinical Professor of Law, Ron S. Hochbaum as the first-ever director of the Homeless Advocacy Clinic. We asked him to tell us a little about himself, his work and his teaching philosophy.

Tell us how you got into your line of work.

Although I went to law school on the East Coast, I knew I wanted to practice in California. My law school did not have the resources or connections to help me secure an internship in California, so I took it upon myself. I periodically bought plane tickets and would cold call or e-mail public interest attorneys asking to see if they would be willing to grab a coffee and give me advice on breaking into the public interest community in California.

One of these unsolicited e-mails turned into an internship at the Homeless Action Center in Berkeley. The internship was transformative experience that introduced me to client-centered and community lawyering models. I stayed in touch with the attorneys at the Homeless Action Center all throughout law school and when I graduated, they hired me as a staff attorney. I have been advocating on behalf of homeless individuals ever since. This experience is why I am always encouraging my students to grow their networks in the legal community.

What is your favorite part of clinical work?

Watching students develop their confidence. For many students, clinic is the first time they will talk to a client and engage in the real work of lawyering. Most come to the experience frightened and uncertain. In clinic, I can provide the scaffolding students need to explore their lawyering abilities and professional identities. Over the course of the year, a student’s confidence grows and grows. By the end of the year, most are ready to “spread their wings and fly”; it’s a joy and privilege to be a part of.

What is the hardest part of clinical work?

Saying goodbye to students and clients. As lawyers, we are often taught to keep our clients and their issues at arm’s length. However, the assumptions underlying that lesson are often detached from the reality of legal practice. Our clients are coming to us during some of the most challenging moments in their lives. For many of us, especially those of us in the public interest community, we are passionate about our work. It is not just a job but a vocation. That is why I started taking the advice of one of my mentors and teach a class on the end of attorney-client relationships. Honoring the nature of the relationship and putting as much intentionality into the end as the beginning of the attorney-client relationship yields numerous benefits. My experiences with students are no different. The low student-teacher ratio in clinic allows us to develop close bonds. We celebrate the highs and commiserate over the lows of our shared work. When I say goodbye to students it is bittersweet. I know they are ready for the next opportunity but I secretly hope we are just saying “goodbye for now” and that they continue to stay in touch over the course of their careers.

What advice can you give to students in order to have a successful experience in your clinic?

Listen to your clients and practice non-judgmentally. For most of us, our clients day-to-day and lived experiences are wildly different than our own. In my experience, when students truly listen to their clients, they learn more about the world than I ever could have hoped to teach them. Through this experience they will also start to interrogate the culture of stigma constructed around homelessness. Once that veil is lifted, we are better equipped to practice non-judgmentally and meet our clients “where they are at.” These two simple but oft-ignored methods will enrich students’ clinical learning experiences and provide them the foundations for their future practice.

Who has been the biggest influence in your legal career and what did they teach you?

My former supervisors at the Homeless Action Center – David Waggoner, Mary Gilg, Kris Chappel, and Pattie Wall. David, Mary, Kris, and Pattie taught me how to practice barrier-free and holistically. They taught me to reject the superficial and misguided hurdles service providers frequently erect for clients that not only frustrate our advocacy but also ensure that prospective clients who are most in need and hardest to reach go unserved. This approach to lawyering requires us to deconstruct hierarchies and remind ourselves that just because we do not charge for our services does not mean that we have license to impose expectations upon our clients while disregarding their expectations of us.

What excited you the most about the new Homeless Advocacy Clinic at McGeorge?

The faculty and administration at McGeorge deserve tremendous credit for establishing this clinic. Although law school clinics have been serving homeless clients since the birth of clinical legal education, there are only a handful of clinics at law schools across the country that exclusively serve homeless individuals. Dean Michael Schwartz, Professor Melissa Brown, and Professor Dorothy Landsberg’s work to establish this clinic is indicative of their visionary leadership and dedication to making sure the Law School’s Clinical Program responds to Sacramento and California’s most critical needs.

Moreover, I believe the Homeless Advocacy Clinic will provide tremendously engaging and enriching learning experiences for students while offering vital legal services for underrepresented Sacramentans. Working on cases for unhoused clients will allow students to apply the theories they learned in the first year or two of law school to real world practice. They will hone their lawyering skills, like interviewing, counseling, legal writing, and oral advocacy, while providing compassionate and empowering representation to their clients.

What do you do for fun?

I love to travel and eat. I have lived on four different continents and traveled to about twenty-five different countries and thirty states. When we cannot get away, you can usually find me and my partner, Mari, trying new restaurants and cooking delicious vegan meals. We are new to Sacramento and taking recommendations!