February 26, 2011

Regardless of where you stand on the issue of women's reproductive rights, I think this poster says quite a bit about the state of politics at the moment.  All of these talking heads, regardless of party affiliation, spew nonsense about a given issue because they've assumed a party line.  However, no mention is made of and no consideration given to how all of these issues interact; there is zero reconciliation of, for example, protecting the rights of an unborn child and rescinding those same rights once the child announces he or she is gay.  The absurdity of various aspects of the political system is absolutely infuriating: if you aren't angry about what is happening in each and every government in this country, you are simply not paying attention.  I am grateful there are everyday people who see these problems and use their now-protected right to speak out on any given issue, again, regardless of their party affiliation or where they stand.

February 25, 2011

(This photo is so cheesy, but it works: it incorporates time and the job aspect, as I'm wearing a watch and a suit.)  The time has come!  The UT Law Clerkship Program is now in full swing, which means clerkship interviews are (hopefully) around the corner, which is followed closely by graduation.  Clerkships are 1-2 year post-graduation job placements with judges from around the country.  A law clerk functions as the judge's briefing attorney and develops excellent legal research and writing skills.  These positions are highly competitive and highly coveted for this very reason.  Today we had our first clerkship workshop, which focused on Texas state courts.  As part of the program, a handful of students were chosen to have lunch with various state judges.  Happily for me, I was chosen to have lunch with the chief justice of the Texas Supreme Court, Chief Justice Wallace Jefferson.  It was an amazing experience speaking with him about clerkships, the state of the legal field, and how the field has and will continue to change.