Not Home for the Holidays
By Jennis Hemingway • November 26, 2010 •Writers in Residence
I can’t explain how delighted and pleased I am to have the house to myself. My husband and children left two days ago to drive ten-hours and spend the holiday with his family. They will be gone for five full days. As a 3rd year law student, with final exams and papers due in the next few weeks, my family knew I couldn’t spare the time to join them. Although I have been studying, writing, and wasting little time, so much feels different. I can do as I choose without feeling guilty- or at-least worried. There is no one to…
An OWLS View: Another Advantage to Being an Older Law Student
By Jennis Hemingway • September 30, 2010 •Writers in Residence
Older “Wiser” Law Students (OWLS) generally have more experience which they can draw upon to provide context to their studies, along with greater financial resources, than younger students. Yet, overall, it is probably not advantageous to be an older law student. Unlike the traditional student, many OWLS have children, spouses, aging parents, real estate responsibilities, and other obligations that “get in the way” of law school. However, last weekend the OWLS at my law school, had the advantage. But first a little background. When I started law school, it didn’t take me long to realize I wasn’t like most students.…
Balance? A Day in This OWLS’s Life
By Jennis Hemingway • September 01, 2010 •Writers in Residence
Balance - really? To attend law school (or have a career), while you are a mom, wife, homeowner, etc., you need a lot of support – hired or donated – to really have “balance.” You need someone to clean, cook, wash clothes, grocery shop, drive children, pay bills, and be home to oversee repair or service callers. Without that help, you have to cut corners, make sacrifices, and accept less. A nanny, stay at home spouse, parent, or other person could and often does provide this support, although that typically requires financial means – often not available to law students.…
An OWLS View: The Signs of Aging vs. The Times of Anti-Aging
By Jennis Hemingway • August 06, 2010 •Writers in Residence
Droopy eyelids, wrinkled or sun-damaged skin, and sunken cheeks don't help older law students look as alert or prepared as they may be for an assignment or interview. Signs of aging may be mistaken for evidence of being tired, hung over, out of shape, etc. Many OWLS I know want to look their best for upcoming interviews. Some older students choose to have cosmetic procedures to freshen up and believe it will make them more competitive in the job market. At a recent law-school fund raiser, which included attorneys from the community, procedures such as peels, facials, and injections were…
An OWLS View: Summer Interns, Externs and Associates
By Jennis Hemingway • June 24, 2010 •Sexism, Sexual Harassment, and Other Forms of Discrimination
Summer Interns, Externs and Associates networking events are dominated by men and younger law students. In addition to a few CLE events offered this season, I have attended a networking happy hour hosted by our county bar association, and a tour of the state supreme court, hosted by the state's Women's Lawyer Association. Both events were underrepresented by OWLs and women. My top-tier law school has more than 50 percent women- and a substantial number of OWLS, as do many law schools. Yet, of the 80 associates, externs, and interns touring the state supreme court today, about 66%…
An OWLS View: Is Education Wasted on the Young?
By Jennis Hemingway • May 25, 2010 •Writers in Residence
Older students and traditional students prepare for law school exams and paper deadlines differently. Younger students frequently comment about being up all night cramming or writing before the test or paper due date. I've never heard these comments from older students. OWLS may lack the ability or endurance to pull all-nighters. Or, perhaps more seasoned students have learned that sleep is necessary for them to function well. Maybe older students have learned to plan better, to budget time and therefore don’t need to miss a night’s sleep.In addition to cramming, in their third year, many students don't attend class or even…
An OWLS’ View: Laptops in the Classroom - What are the Issues?
By Jennis Hemingway • April 30, 2010 •Writers in Residence
When the ABA published an article about a 57-year-old Economics Professor going to law school and being appalled at students’ use of computers in the classroom, I decided to look into the issue.[FN1] Several professors have broached the topic in my classes- often to inform students of the ongoing debate among educators regarding laptop use in the classroom. In my two years at a first- tier law school, only one professor banned laptop use. Our dean has considered the feasibility of banning Internet use in the classrooms.Like other students who completed their undergraduate degrees without a laptop, when…
Are Older Students Young Lawyers?
By Jennis Hemingway • March 28, 2010 •Writers in Residence
My friend was distressed after hearing a prominent judge say, "I like law clerks because I like to work with young people.” That same week my professor explained, "If you're a young lawyer, you take less risk." An email read, (The Justice) “will speak about skills that we should work on developing as young lawyers.” And the public defender told his audience, “Young lawyers are the strength of the PD's office.”Every time I hear young lawyers, I wonder to whom it refers. You must be under 36 (or admitted to practice for five years or less) to be among 150,000…