Law students: drop LLB for U.S.-style JD

From Western News

By Paul Mayne
Thursday, December 6, 2007

With an eye to international employment, Western Law students have voted overwhelmingly in favour of changing their degree from LL.B. to J.D. (Juris Doctor), matching similarly named degrees at U.S. universities.

The J.D. designation is typically regarded as a professional degree, requiring an undergraduate degree as well as a law degree. Outside of Canada, in countries such as the UK and Australia, it is possible to enter an LL.B. program directly from high school. Students feel J.D. would facilitate international employment...

Read more here, and give us your comments on this changeover that more schools are adopting these days. Thanks!

University of Toronto Law school gets a boost

Businessman and lawyer David Asper has donated $7.5-million to establish a centre for the study of constitutional rights in his name at the University of Toronto's faculty of law.

This was from the Globe and Mail site (click here). Unfortunately, you have to pay for the stupid article (I hate that! $5 for an article!), so I don't know the details. Anybody else out there know more? Please comment.

Law is Cool

I just came across a great Canadian Law School Blog and Podcast - Law is Cool (http://lawiscool.com/)

I'm going to copy directly from the About Page, because I was so impressed, and I'm sure they won't mind if I plug them a bit here:

Law Is Cool is a new blog and podcast addressing issues related to law school and the legal field with a Canadian focus.

The contents are intended for three broad audiences:

1) Current and potential law students

2) Graduates reviewing for their bar exam

3) Members of the general public interested in learning more about the law

Law Is Cool is intended to be an exciting and engaging resource for all three groups. This require your participation to make it happen. If you are a first year law student in Canada, feel free to contact us about joining the team.

The Team:

Omar Ha-Redeye has an educational background in nuclear medicine, health administration, and public relations. He has worked in all three fields for several years before deciding to pursue a law degree at the University of Western Ontario.

Thomas Wisdom is a political science major from the University of Toronto and a first year law student at Osgoode Hall.

Ken Saddington is an engineer from Queen’s University, and is starting Law at the University of Western Ontario.

Marie Winfield has a BS Engineering & Public Policy, BA French (Washington University in St. Louis) and an MA French Language & Literature (University of Pennsylvania). She is studying her first year of law at the McGill University in Montreal.

Vimal Baid is a first-year law student at the University of Saskatchewan.

Gail Geronimo studied psychology at York University and is in her first year of law at the University of Ottawa.

Rob Evans has a BAA in psychology from Kwantlen University College in Surrey, B.C. He is starting the LLB/JD joint program at the University of Windsor and University of Detroit Mercy.

Gerard Kennedy studied Canadian Studies, Political Science, Christianity and Culture at the University of Toronto, and is pursuing law at Queen’s Universiy.

Adrian Di Lullo studied political science at Carleton, and is starting law school at Queen’s University this year. Adrian is heading up the international conflict section with a focus on the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Daniel Simard is in the joint LLB and Masters of Environmental Studies at Osgoode Hall and York University, and is currently in his first year of law.

Jacob Kaufman studied History and Economics at Queen’s University, and is currently a first-year law student at the University of Western Ontario.

Kashif Ahmed completed a Bachelor of Business Administration at the University of Regina, and is currently in his first year of law at the University of Saskatchewan.

Ajay Gajaria is a fourth-year political science major at the University of Western Ontario. He heads up the support team for the site.

I was really happy to see a publication of this kind. I have added it to my blogroll.

Please let me know if you know of a Law School Blog or Legal Blog that I have not mentioned, or that I don't include in the blogroll. Thanks!

CanadianLawSchool.ca Revamped

I reworked www.CanadianLawSchool.ca today. I plan to post some more resources, cans, news, etc. on that site. You can also find more detailed information about my book, So, You Want to be a Lawyer, Eh? Law School in Canada (2nd Edition).

My book is now available on Amazon.ca at the lowest price available - $17.83 - 27% off of the retail price of $24.95. It is also available on Amazon.com, but you'll have to pay a bit more - $18.96 - 24% off retail.

I noticed the following on Amazon.ca:

#2 in	Books > Professional & Technical > Law > Specialties > Educational Law & Legislation
#2 in	Books > Law > Specialties > Educational Law & Legislation
#3 in	Books > Professional & Technical > Law > One-L > Legal Profession

Alternative Careers (nevermind legal)

I have been asked quite a few times about alternative legal careers. However, today, I came across a fairly long-running thread on Lawstudents.ca that asks the question, what would you be if you were not a lawyer. A great question! Most of the posts are nonsense, of course, but I think it is a question worth asking yourself if you are anywhere in the midst of becoming or acting as a lawyer.

In asking myself this question, I came up with the following list in order of most desirable at the top:

1. Professional writer - photographer;
2. Property Developer and Renovator;
3. Law professor;
4. English professor;
5. Publisher;
6. Librarian

That was a fun exercise, and provided for at least some loosening of the career strings. Please post your alternative careers here (no nonsense please - only legitimate careers). Thanks!

2nd Edition now available on Amazon.com

I noticed today that the 2nd Edition of So, You Want to be a Lawyer, Eh? is now available on Amazon.com. The "Inside the Book" feature and further information should be up on Amazon.com shortly.

Maclean's first-ever ranking of Canada's law school

It has been a while since I posted, and Macleans came out with a ranking for law schools in September. It isn't really their first ever ranking. They did a ranking a number of years ago.

It's really nice to have a ranking other than CanadianLawyer magazine. However, I don't think that Maclean's did a very good job at ranking. There is far too much emphasis on such things as number of articles published by professors, and the number of placements of students articling / clerking with the Supreme Court of Canada. In my mind these are not true reflections of the quality of education, or more important, the quality of job placements or students upon graduation.

I have commented more completely in the 2nd Edition of my book.

Have a read through the rankings, and especially the commentary. It's worth reading. I hope that the magazine continues to provide an annual ranking so that we might see some trends. As I have indicated previously, the CanadianLawyer rankings are all over the map over the past 6-7 years, and are not a reliable source at all. I am glad that Macleans has at least tried to be scientific in their approach.

Post your thoughts and comments here once you have read the rankings. We would all be interested in your thoughts.

A reward for hard work - and not giving up

ANTHONY REINHART
From Friday's Globe and Mail
E-mail Anthony Reinhart Read Bio Latest Columns
October 25, 2007 at 8:55 PM EDT

“Law school's really hard when you don't have the funds there to help you,” Ms. Williams, a second-year student at York University's Osgoode Hall Law School ...

A nice inspiring story. Read more.

Canadian law school in the works

Cassandra McKenna cordweekly.com Oct 03, 2007

Laurier has recently put forth a proposal to the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities to open the first Canadian law school in almost 30 years; proposal includes a unique co-op program. Read more.

U of C law school moves up application deadline by four months

Andrew Barbero Gauntlet News October 04, 2007

Are you an aspiring University of Calgary law student? Then you better have already written the LSAT. The U of C law school has moved their application deadline forward from Feb. to Nov. 1 starting this year. The move means potential law students must have written the law school admissions test no later than Sep. 29. "The main problem was we were behind compared to other schools in Canada," said U of C law school director of admission Keith Yamauchi. "When we sent offers out to students, they were turning us down because they had already accepted somewhere else." Read more.

U of T Faculty of Law getting ready to expand

The University of Toronto today revealed the three competing designs for its law school expansion to be built south of the ROM on Queen’s Park Circle.The $60-million project will add 100,000 square feet of classrooms, lecture halls and faculty offices to the historic buildings, something the dean said is sorely needed. Read more.

Back and Better than ever - 2nd Edition is finally ready!

I have received many inquiries about whether this blog is dead, or whether I am dead. I assure that neither rumour is true.

I have had to go "underground" for a couple of months in order to catch up with all of my law firm work, and to finish the 2nd Edition of So, You Want to be a Lawyer, Eh?.

The book is finally finished, and is now ready to order from the publisher (orders@writingonstone.ca) or the distributor (Sandhill Book Marketing - www.sandhillbooks.com). It will come up on Amazon.com, Amazon.ca and Chapters.ca shortly. If you order it directly from the publisher, you will get a 20% discount off of the retail price of $24.95.

Here's the description from the back cover:

So, You Want to be a Lawyer, Eh?
Law School in Canada

Every year, an estimated 10,000 to 15,000 people apply to Canadian law schools, vying for just over 2,000 coveted spots. The competition is even fiercer when applying for a law job. Adam Letourneau, BSc, BA, LLB, 2005 graduate of the University of Alberta Faculty of Law, former Editor-in-Chief of the Alberta Law Review and owner of Letourneau Law, Barristers & Solicitors, reveals in this second edition many insider tips on how to gain admittance to law school in Canada. He explores how to cope and succeed in law school and how to land a coveted law job post-graduation. Drawing upon personal experience and the experiences of numerous Canadian law school graduates, Letourneau shares insights on the LSAT, applying for law school, study strategies, summer jobs, the articling application process and much more. This book will save you hours of research, hours of study and tons of stress. This second edition includes new law school graduate comments, updated admissions information, what being a lawyer is really like, tips to avoid pitfalls and more, with over 13,000 additional words and three new chapters.

"As a future Canadian law student, I was frustrated with the lack of guide material available to Canadian law students...it was important to find a book like this that addresses the particular elements of Canadian Law School." --F. Voisin, Ontario

"So, You Want to Be a Lawyer, Eh? outlines the process and offers tips to improve your results in the application process, at law school and in finding an articling position. I will be attending law school next year and I am confident that this book will help me succeed." --Jaime, Ontario

"This book provides an honest and fair appraisal of the law school process, from applications to graduation. I was truly interested in a law school resource that took me `behind the scenes' and into the law school atmosphere, and this book met such an objective." --N. Peterson, Vancouver

"I have read a number of guidebooks on how to succeed at law school and this is by far one of the best." --Dan, Ontario

For more information go to www.CanadianLawSchool.ca

Part of the Writing on Stone Press Canadian Career Series.

You might also be interested in a couple other books that were released last month in the Writing on Stone Press Canadian Career Series:

So, You Want to be a Doctor, Eh? A Guidebook to Canadian Medical School by Dr. Anne Berndl, MD

So, You Want to be a Pilot, Eh? A Guidebook for Canadian Pilot Training by James Ball

Lawyer Gone Bad

Oh man, I am pissed!

Yesterday, I received my Macleans magazine. Title in yellow bold on the front cover: "Lawyers are Rats".

Then, on the same day, I received in the mail from Penguin Group a hardcover version of the book "LAWYER GONE BAD, MONEY SEX AND MADNESS IN CANADAS LEGAL PROFESSION" by Philip Slayton, along with a press release.

The article in the Macleans magazine is an interview with Slayton, a long-time lawyer, law professor and former law school dean. I read it when I got home, and I am not happy. Not happy at all.

I will provide more comments once I read the article again, and once I read the book.

I have no idea why I received the book. I never asked for it. I'm not sure if it is because I am a lawyer, because I subscribe to Macleans or because I am also involved in the publishing business.

I noticed that as of today, Amazon.ca Sales Rank for this book is #26 in Books.

Apparently the Canadian Bar Association provided a response, and it was published in the August 13 issue of Macleans. Macleans has posted a response to their complaints. I think Macleans has its dates all mixed up, as it is only August 2 today...I need to read the response by the CBA and the counter-response by Macleans.

I'll comment more, believe me.

TGIF - in Lawyer's terms

Man, Friday just couldn't come sooner this week! It's been really busy. Lots of new clients, a new Associate started at our firm, some really challenging files. I loved it a lot, but now I am really feeling it.

I have been working really hard on my running this summer. On June 29, I was in a 5K race. I did pretty good (28min:14sec). I came in 3rd in my age category, which made me feel kind of good. I had to stop a couple times to walk because I was overheating.

Today, I ran the same course, as if it were a race. I beat my previous time by a minute and 18 seconds. It felt great. My time was 26min:56sec. That's an 8:40/mile pace. Pretty good considering that in January of this year, I could not run faster than 13:00/mile, even if I was only going 0.5K. That's a pretty good improvement over 7 months.

I am training pretty hard for a 22K in September. I really am determined to finish it. I found out I have ITB Syndrome, which I have alleviated greatly through physiotherapy and with some straps that I put above my knees. I think this will be the trick towards finishing. The fitness is coming right along - I just have to remain pain free.

All of this has helped my practice greatly. Being in cardiovascular shape really does help with my office-endurance. I have lifted weights for years, and considered myself in shape, but not like I am now.

I am trying to lose about 5 lbs (I call them my articling year 5 lbs) and think this will allow me to tackle those hills in the Banff 22K in September.

How to get $100,000.00 in debt

Go to law school. Actually, first graduate high school. Enroll in a university and take general studies. Rack up some debt by getting a student loan, signing up for a few first-time credit cards, and make sure that you have all the good things in life - bikes, holidays, weekend trips, climbing gear, cool duds, some coyboy boots for the Calgary Stampede. You know, all the essentials. Limit summer working so that you can go on language exchange programs and such. Graduate with a B.A. or B.Sc. Spend a bunch of time and money preparing to take the LSAT. Spend a bunch of time and money preparing your law school applications. Get accepted.

Next, show up on your first day, and start shelling out dough for textbooks and tuition. Don't forget that differential fee. Plead for a bursary. Get turned down.

Spend umpteen hours reading for 100% exams during your first year. Forget about part-time work. You don't have time.

Spend umpteen hours writing essays and preparing for more 100% exams in your 2L and 3L years. Forget summer jobs - you are too busy applying for articling positions.

Buy some good suits for your articling interviews. You'll need more than one - you don't want to wear the same one to a second or third interview!

Spend most of your hard earned dough during your articling year on more suits, sushi and steak lunches with senior associates and partners, and bribes.

There you have it. At least $100,000.00 in debt.

My experience wasn't exactly as described above. But, it was definitely along the same pathway. Be careful out there. Debt can enslave you. It doesn't have to be this way.

Law School Debt

Ok - time to fess up. Debt is killing me! I think I have posted here about student debt before, and I know that I talk about it a bit in my book. But, I think it is time for a dose of reality - both for myself and for my readers.

I have racked up about $95,000.00 in debt because of my choice to become a lawyer. How? Well, I carried about $24K of student loans into law school. I then racked up about another $18K of student loans during law school, and about $17K of a student line of credit. Of course, we also racked up some credit card debt during law school, and during my article, and during my first year of practice.

Luckily, I was able to receive a number of grants, bursaries and scholarships to pay for my expenses during law school.

A debt like mine is not unusual for law graduates. Many will build up debts in excess of $100K before entering their articling year. Some will add to that debt during their articling year because of a low salary.

I have been living in semi-denial for about a year now. Suffice it to say, starting up a law practice cannot be done for free. And suffice it to say, the money does not start rolling in on day one.

But, now is the time to face reality head on.

Here's the deal: I have started a blog called The Debt Elimination Game. It is an open door look at my personal debt. It is a confession of sorts. It is an opportunity to make myself accountable and to face the problem head on. The truth is that it is a problem - a big one.

The reason I have been able to face this problem is that for the first time in my adult life, I feel like I am in a place where I can actually service my student debt. I am finally making a decent salary.

Many people in my position might want to extend the period over which they service their debt. But, when I had a close look at the situation, I realized that I am paying about $1,000 per month to pay minimum payments on all of my debts. I am paying almost half of that $1000 in interest. It's killing me. And that is with interest relief on my Canada student loans.

Like everything in my life, I am taking on a really big bite. I have made a personal goal (in conjunction with my spouse) to pay off all of my debts, save my mortgage, in 18 months. That's $95K in 18 months. Ludicrous? I don't know. I really think that I can do it.

I am hoping that as the story unfolds, I can learn a lot, and perhaps pass it along to current and graduated law students - to help them avoid the debt, and then to tackle it.

Debt is a major problem for many graduating students. Debt can be crippling. It can be depressing. It can be debilitating and limiting. It can limit your options dramatically. It can trap you into a lifestyle that you don't enjoy, with little hope of escape.

Join me as I take on the next chapter in my quest to become the best lawyer that I can be, the best person that I can be. Join me in the Debt Elimination Game.

Next LSAT test

The next LSAT test will be September 29. Registration must be completed by August 28. Late registration goes until September 4. Don't miss it!

Lawyer marks 50th year in profession

Half-a-century ago, fresh out of law school and uncertain of his future, Nick Pustina took his friend Bob Zelinski up on an offer to come visit his hometown.

While here he witnessed a most unusual event: as a funeral procession made its way down the street, motorists pulled over and men stopped to remove their hats, standing respectfully silent.
It made a lasting impression on the 23-year-old.

“A community that paid attention to its citizens that way would be a nice place to live and practise,” Pustina recalled in an interview Monday.

Today, Pustina still lives in Thunder Bay and continues to practise law. Wednesday marks the 50th anniversary of his being called to the bar.

Read the rest of this inspiring article here.

Law medalist heading to Supreme Court

Last March, after a day of back-to-back interviews with six Canadian Supreme Court Justices and a flight home from Ottawa, UVic law student Christine Joseph was looking forward to sleeping late the next day. Instead, her ringing phone woke her up early.

“It was good news,” says Joseph in an interview from Vancouver.

On the other end of the line was Supreme Court Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin offering this year’s UVic Law Society Gold Medal winner a position as her clerk.

Very inspiring - read the rest of the article.

Next LSAT is looming

The next Canadian LSAT test is scheduled for June 11, 2007. Are you ready? Surf this blog and www.canadianlawschool.ca for various resources.

UVic prof seeks to end fingerprinting for U.S. school entrance test

Fingerprinting Canadians to deter cheating on law school entrance tests may be scrapped, thanks to a determined University of Victoria philosophy professor. Read about it here.

Despite hardships, single mom kept raising the bar

There's a great law student success story article here. I like hearing these kinds of stories.

Back in the Saddle

Whew, whirlwind month! My law partner withdrew from the partnership to seek different pastures. Had to change everything over to Letourneau Law. Hired another, seasoned, legal assistant. Have an associate starting in August. Work has started coming into our firm like crazy. It's really hard to keep up, thus why we need more help.

Also tried to take a few days off to spend with my family. It was really hard. There is a lot of benefit to having other lawyers in your firm for those times when you need to get away. I guess you could just put up a "gone fishing" sign, but clients don't seem to appreciate your need to go fishing.

I have nothing to complain about. Business is fantastic. I am really enjoying my work. I still have a pretty balanced life. Actually, it is really balanced compared to my colleagues who are working at Big-Law.

New Cram Course MBA/LLB Program at Western

This is interesting - Learn how you can complete both the Ivey MBA and the Western LLB programs in just three years. This is a new program. Usually, an MBA/LLB combined program takes 4 years. I wonder how they are able to cram it all into 3 years.

Courting Clerks

There's an inspiring article at McGillREPORTER by Pascal Zamprelli about some McGill law students who were chosen as clerks to the Supreme Court of Canada. Although it isn't a very detailed article, it gives some good insight into the process and the meaning of being chosen as a clerk by one of the Supreme Court Justices. This is a fantastic honour and quite an amazing achievement by these individuals! Way to go.

Pushing the Limits

On January 1, 2007, I made a resolution that I was going to act my age again. That meant that I was going to get my body back, and stop feeling like I was in a 52 year old shell of a body (I'm 32). I determined that I would run a half-marathon (about 22 KM) in 2007. Thing is, I hadn't run in about eight years. Because of cycling injuries (bad back) and chronic IT Band Syndrome, I had stayed away from running. I had swam and cycled fairly extensively, and lifted weights consistently (although I fell off the wagon a few times in the last couple of years). But running was something I thought I would never do.

My back ached most of the time during 2006. It was maddening. Being in a desk job again wasn't helping. So, on January 1, I decided to do everything within my power to regain control. I went to the massage therapist, I went to the physiotherapist, I went and got an MRI on my back, I started doing some yoga, I went and got new orthotics from two separate sources. And I started running.

I didn't even have proper running shoes. Only some old dilapidated sneakers that hurt my feet like crazy. So, I popped my new orthotics into some boat shoes (like loafers) and headed out into the snow. I ran a half kilometre at an absolute snail's pace. I made it to the gym, worked out for a while, then headed back home. I then jogged back home very slowly. No pain. Cool!

A couple days later, I did it again, then again. I made sure that I didn't push things, which is my tendency in most situations. My motto was avoid injuries at all costs. Don't push yourself and get sick. Well, I hurt my back a few times, and had some lapses. But, within about a month's time, I was able to run to the gym, then hop on the treadmill for 2-3 miles, then run back home again. I started getting excited! Things went like this, with some minor setbacks, and then some slow and steady gains until March 24. In January, I had signed myself up for a number of races, wanting to commit myself towards my goal of a half marathon in September.

On March 24, I was scheduled to run a 10 KM race. I was pretty nervous. I hadn't been able to run the whole week before, and was afraid I would be pushing my luck. All went well until the last 1.5 KM, when I hit a huge hill. My IT Band started acting up. I got a little flustered, but pushed on. Run 30 seconds, walk 30 seconds. I conquered the hill, made it to the finish line, and secretly celebrated internally. I had accomplished something fantastic! Although I was nowhere near the time that I had run in my early 20's (about 45 minutes), I had finished successfully (1:05), I was not seriously injured, and I certainly wasn't the last man in. My body recovered within a few days, and I started back to training.

Training was sporadic for the next couple of weeks, but I tried to get time on the road when I could find time. Yesterday, I was scheduled for a 10 mile race (16 KM). Now I was really scared. I got to the race, and determined that even if I had to crawl, I was going to finish. I had come this far, I wasn't going to back down. The first 5 KM went great. No real problems. But the hill at Mile 2 had started to irritate my IT band on my right knee. The next couple of miles I went slowly, but surely. I wasn't out of breath at all, but I thought I should take it easy, so as to avoid injury and give myself a better chance at finishing. By the half-way mark, I started to really feel my knee. There was a big downhill, and I tried to take advantage of it by coasting down it, using gravity to my advantage. It went well, but by the time I reached the bottom of the long hill, I started to feel like I couldn't run any more. Walking was OK, but running really gave me some pain. I started having to take walking breaks. 60 seconds running, 20 seconds walking. Then 45 and 20. Then 30 and 30. Pretty soon, I had to go to 30 seconds running and 60 seconds walking. By the time I hit the last kilometer, it was 30 seconds running and 120 seconds walking. But, I remained determined. I would finish this thing, and I would move on towards the half marathon.

I finished, and I finished proudly. I had just covered more distance by running than I had ever covered before. I finished in 1:53:27, which isn't really a great time, but it was my time. 1:53:27 of the best time of my life. I had finished. I got a medal and a t-shirt, and wore them proudly. I showed them to my kids, and it made them smile. Their Daddy was happy, so they were happy. I had proven to myself that I could conquer my own fears again. That I wasn't going to let time and gravity and fear control my life.

I mentioned the IT band stuff above. Until today, I didn't even know that I had IT Band Syndrome. I didn't know what it was. Today, because I still felt some discomfort in my outer knees, I decided to try some self-diagnosis. Because I wasn't suffering from any inflammation in January, my physiotherapist had failed to diagnose the problem. I have now learned that I am a classic case. But, it can be controlled. Through particular exercises and stretches, and by utilizing an IT Band Wrap/Strap, I should be able to alleviate the problem, and get on with things. (my knees already feel way better by this evening). I have great hope that the problem will be overcome, and that I can then accomplish what my body is able to accomplish. Had I not tried to push the limits, I wouldn't have discovered that there was a way to move past my limitations and achieve goals that I had swept to the side.

I am scheduled for another 10 KM in July, a sprint triathlon at the end of July, a couple short races in August, then the half marathon in September.

The reason I post this post here is that I think it is so important for lawyers, young and old, to look outside of their work, to inspire themselves with new non-law goals. To concentrate on nourishing the body and soul and mind with hobbies, sports, adventures, or whatever else expands a human being.

Maybe this post will inspire you. I don't know. But it sure felt good writing about what I consider to be a great accomplishment. As a budding new law student or lawyer, you will have to push yourself. Don't be afraid to try new things. Don't be afraid to try really hard things. Without trying, you will never know what is possible. I once heard a great speach where the speaker said that you should always try to swim out 20 metres before you decide to come back to shore (she was an avid surfer and ocean swimmer). The water near the shore is always choppy and often cold and scary. But, often, when you get past the 20 meter mark, things smooth out, and become more comfortable. Life is a lot like that, I think.

By the way, my back hasn't hurt in about 3 weeks. Amazing what happens when you start using your body, becoming more aware of it, and treating it right.

Flying Solo

I have been wanting to buy Flying Solo: A Survival Guide for Solos and Small Firm Lawyers for a while now. I am now about 10 months into opening my own law firm, but was hesitant to buy the book as it retails for about $100.00. But, I splurged on it last week while surfing Amazon.com. What a disappointment!!!

I bought the book because it had the best Amazon.com comments and had the most stars. But in order to benefit from this book, you would have to be absolutely GREEN in every way in order to feel as though you had gotten your money's worth.

Only one chapter was worth anything, in my opinion - a short snippet taken from some other source and reprinted in this book that provided tips on how to conduct yourself to ensure that you retain clients. The rest was pretty much junk.

I can't believe that this book is in its 4th edition. I mean, I don't need a tutorial on what word processor I might like to purchase, or how to use email. I should give some credit - there were some snippets in various places in the book that might help me to better manage my time, with email, telephones and client interview scheduling.

This book was too "big picture" in places, and too "details oriented" in the wrong places. It was far too generic in terms of making decisions about your solo career, and too specific at times, which I found to be rather insulting. I have been through law school, undergraduate studies, and high school. I started using the Internet heavily in 1995. My generation just doesn't need these types of tutorials. Perhaps this book would be good for someone in their 40's or 50's thinking about making the jump and hanging their own shingle. For me, it was $ misspent.

But, sometimes these experiences are catalysts of sorts. Since reading this book, I have decided to author my own book about starting up a solo law practice or small law firm. Nothing like learning through experience. That's how I wrote my book, So, You Want to be a Lawyer, Eh?: A Comprehensive Guidebook for Prospective and Current Canadian Law Students and it has been much more successful than I ever anticipated.

Here are some things that I plan to include, which were sorely missing from Flying Solo:

1. What is it really going to cost?
2. Can I do this right out of law school/articling?
3. What mentoring is available?
4. What resources are available from my bar association?
5. What are the advantages/disadvantages of starting up with someone else?
6. How should I structure a partnership agreement?
7. What are the advantages of a partnership vs. an associateship?
8. Grassroots marketing vs. traditional marketing methods

I will add more items to this list, as they come to mind.

Coming soon to a bookstore near you (OK, give me 6-9 months):

MY SHINGLE: The solo and small practice lawyer's bible

If you have ideas for the list above or the pending title, let me know.

One thing I might suggest: If you have any inclination towards becoming a solo lawyer or starting your own firm, start reading up on it as far in advance as possible. You will avoid some potentially serious pitfalls. Not that I have had any real problems, but I know I could stand to learn more to make my experience even more successful.

It's Not About the Bike - Great Book!

I have been a huge Lance Armstrong fan for years and years and years. I have been an avid cyclist since I was a teen, and followed every one of Lance's wins daily during his 7EVEN victorious Tours. But, I have never taken the time to read the books that he wrote about his journey. This Easter Weekend, I took the opportunity to read the book (I found it in a Value Village, while looking for chapter books for my voracious reading daughters). I was skeptical (man- I try not to do that!) at first, because I have read other sports memoirs and left them dissapointed. But, this book was truly not about the bike. The bike was beautiful, the Tours were fantastic, but the book left me believing that Lance is the real deal. I have not felt so inspired for a long time.

If you need a pick-me-up to help you through the LSAT preparation, the law school application process, the 1L mid-terms or final exams, or the articling or summer job application process, pick up this book. Even if you don't like cycling, you will be inspired.

Big Business Beyond Bay Street: Abundant opportunities in Calgary are drawing young lawyers away from the ‘centre of the universe’

Way to go Calgary! Friday March 30th in Canadian Lawyer Magazine, Pamela Fieber writes:

Like many Ontario law school students, Julie Inch assumed she’d focus her career ambitions on Bay Street. Then she spent a summer in Calgary. “I loved it,” she says. “Once you work there, you will never want to leave. I loved the energy of Calgary.” Inch, now in her final semester at the University of Windsor, begins her articling year at Calgary law firm Burnet Duckworth & Palmer LLP this summer. "I didn’t even apply to Bay Street at all,” says Inch. “I had read up on the economic boom, and it just really made sense to go where the action is. There’s a lot of potential to be successful.”

It’s boom time in Calgary, and the big deals are flowing as fast as the oil and gas. That means good times for law firms — and good careers for those who want in on the action.

Read the full article here.

Gavel knock to Essien at Law Target. Thanks Essien.

Client Counsel Games

UVic law students primed for client counsel games
Victoria Times Colonist, Canada - 4 Apr 2007
Nicole Smith and Brigeeta Richdale of UVic's law school have earned a berth in the World Client Counselling Competition, taking place in Sydney, Australia, ...

Wow - this is a really cool achievement. Way to go Nicole and Brigeeta!

UBC Law is growing

Grant will help fund new UBC law school
Vancouver Sun (subscription), Canada - 2 Apr 2007
The University of British Columbia’s Faculty of Law received $2 million today to be put towards construction of a new law school building. ...

UBC Law Faculty Receives $1 Million Gift From Borden Ladner ...
University of British Columbia, Canada - 2 Apr 2007
UBC plans to construct a new facility on the existing law school site at its Vancouver campus. “The gifts from BLG and the pioneering BC Ladner family will ...

First aboriginal female judge appointed in Manitoba

Winnipeg Free Press

Thu Apr 5 16:47:00 CDT 2007

"A lawyer from northern Manitoba has become the first aboriginal woman to be appointed a judge in this province.

Doreen Redhead was appointed to the provincial court of Manitoba, effective immediately. A swearing in ceremony will be scheduled as soon as possible.

Redhead graduated from the University of Manitoba Law School in 1996. She has practiced law on behalf of the Fox Lake First Nation in Gillam, and the Keewatin Tribal Council in Thompson.

“It’s a huge step forward for women and for First Nations people,” said Attorney General Dave Chomiak. “It was actually very moving for me this morning to phone her and tell her what an honour it was for me to do that.”

Chomiak said having a female aboriginal judge gives the courts a better reflection of the population of Manitoba.

Redhead was selected by Chomiak from a list of candidates recommended by an independent judicial nominating committee, chaired by chief provincial court judge Raymond E. Wyant. Representatives of the Law Society of Manitoba and the Canadian Bar Association were also on the committee."

This is an awesome story, and one that I am very proud of. Way to go Redhead!!! Very inspiring.

My Top Ten for Being Your Own Boss in Law

I was recently asked by a friend why I do what I do. I.e. Why did I start up my own law firm, and why I chose to practice in a relatively smaller community? I answered him with the following list of reasons why I chose to do what I do:

10: I hate having a boss. I made a resolution when I graduated law that I would never use a resume again. So far, so good.

9: I hate having a glass ceiling in terms of income. I want my income to be based on the work that I put in each day. So far, so good.

8: Sometimes I feel lazy (not often, but sometimes), and I want the choice to be lazy. So far, so good.

7: I hate big cities. I lived in one most of my life. I hope to never go back. So far, so good.

6: I like the extra hours of sunshine in this part of the world. (I live in Southern Alberta)

5: I like proving people wrong. I don't like naysayers, and don't invite them into my life.

4: I like practicing law, but I like building things better. I want to build the largest and best law firm in Southern Alberta. I'm on my way.

3: I like clients. I find them fascinating. Doing this allows me to be with MY clients each and every day.

2: There are a lot of bad lawyers out there. I would rather be on the other side of a file from a bad lawyer than working with one. Thus, why I want to have autonomy in choosing who I work with.

1: I really, really love my kids. I want to be with them as much as possible, I want them to have a better life than I did as a kid, and I want to give them opportunities only limited by their own imaginations. Being my own boss allows this for me. I want all associates and partners in my firm to have this same opportunity (if they want it). Shaun (my firm partner) also has a young son, and loves to be with him as much as possible. Money is good, but it's not everything. Being a member of our firm allows you to choose how you want to balance money and other things in your life.

Writing these things down was a real wake-up call for me, and has made me feel happier ever since. This route isn't for everyone, but so far, for me, it has been the best possible route I could imagine. Others I have spoken with have said they would be scared #*!?less about going out on their own. But, the truth is that the majority of lawyers practice in solo or very small firms. There must be some good reason for that. What do you think?

Court OKs fees, residential school deal can proceed

Looks like Tony Merchant will get his bucks. Does anybody know whether lawyers are still picking up clients for this settlement? Or has that phase already passed?

Dalhousie Law School is OLD!

Here's a tidbit for you : "Dalhousie is the oldest university-affiliated common law school in the British Commonwealth."

That's the claim on the Dalhousie Law School index page of their website. Who knew!

Defining Your Practice - Your Area of Law

One year ago, definitely two years ago, and unequivically three years ago, I never would have thought of myself practicing anything but corporate legal work. Litigation? Family Law? Dependent Adult Law? No way. Absolutely no way.

But, now law school has come and gone, the articling year has come and gone, and nearly a year into my practice, I am now practicing not only corporate stuff; I am also practicing real estate, wills and estates, litigation (some of it class action stuff), family law, and dependant adult stuff. It just goes to show that you just shouldn't peg yourself too early on in your legal career. Let things steep for a while. The stuff that you don't like will settle down to the bottom of the barrel, and the stuff you like will rise to the top. You will naturally move towards the work, the clients, and the outcomes that you want to spend your time on. Don't try to go against the grain.
I never would have thought (OK, I admit I had some far off John Grisham inspired fantasies) that I would like courtroom lawyering. But, I am learning that I really quite like it. I love the collegiality with the other members of the bar, and the judiciary. I love bantering with the court clerks.

So far, I enjoy mixing a solicitor and a barrister practice. It suits me well, and keeps things interesting. As my law firm grows, I can start pushing work that doesn't really suit me to others in the firm -- stuff that they might really like. Eventually, I will find my niches and be even happier than I am today.

Happy Birthday, copyright 2007

Unhappy Birthday is a grassroots project run by citizens who are outraged by rampant copyright infringement in today's society — particularly in relation to the song Happy Birthday. It's a funny read!

Did you know Happy Birthday is copyrighted and the copyright is currently owned and actively enforced by Time Warner?

Did you know that if you sing any copyrighted song:
...at a place open to the public
...or among a substantial number of people who are not family or friends
You are involved in a public performance of that work?

Did you know an unauthorized public performance is a form of copyright infringement?

With four children now, I am going to break the law more and more each year!

Gilligan's Island and the Law

Today, I was daydreaming while drafting a Statement of Claim for Divorce, and remembered sitting in a law class (can't remember which one) in my first year of law school, surfing the web. I had come across this article called "Legal Tales from Gilligan's Island". It is a fascinating essay by Robert M. Jarvis (Professor of Law, Nova Southeastern University. B.A., Northwestern University; J.D., University of Pennsylvania; LL.M., New York University) which seeks to shed some light on the jurisprudence of Gilligan's Island.

I used to absolutely love to watch this show, and still enjoy seeing a re-run if one ever comes on (although I haven't seen one in two years, as we unplugged our TV two years ago).

In any case, if you are in the midst of a boring law class, or looking for some relief from your law job, shoot over to the essay and have a read. You won't be dissapointed.

Please post your comments about the essay here, as I would be delighted to hear your response to the essay.

Race for the Top

There is a promising new article at The Gazzette about law student / law firm recruiting.

"A thousand or so ambitious law graduates. Two dozen big law firms. A couple of hundred high-paying jobs.

These are the vital statistics for an annual event now under way - the race for a place at one of Montreal's top law offices."

Apparently it is a multi-part article, with subsequent columns coming out looking at the recruiting madness that occurs in Quebec each year, with students trying to find jobs, and then law firms trying to attract the cream of the crop.

"In stories this week and next, we look at the dance from both sides. This week it's from the students' perspective: what it takes to make the right impression on a law firm, and the risks and rewards - to the ego, report card and wallet - that participating in the recruitment process presents.

Next week, the tables turn as the firms compete for the best and brightest students to make their recruitment spending pay off. At whose office will they choose to spend their 70-hour weeks?"

I'll provide updates when the new articles appear. I am really interested to see what they say.

Help Josh go to Law School

Here's a neat idea - sponsor a kid to go to law school for a 10 day trial run. That's the deal for a 14 year old British student who says "It's the chance of a lifetime and I've wanted to be a lawyer for as long a I can remember, maybe because I like arguing!"

I think it would be a really great thing if law schools themselves would sponsor law school demos. I have heard of programs where law students will go to high schools or junior highs and put on mock trials. But, I think it would be pretty cool if I had gotten the chance to sit in on some real law school classes. It would have really helped to guide my path towards the law. I probably would have become a lawyer a lot sooner than I did. Then again, I might have been really put off by the intensity of the experience. Worse, I may have experienced that awful property professor that I had in my first year of law school. That would have turned me off of post-secondary school altogether!

Show me the Money!

Check this out! One family puts up $25,000,000.00 for Harvard Law School. I know a few Canadian Law School deans who would love to have similar headlines:

University of Alberta Faculty of Law receives $15 million from famous author alumni.

or

University of Victoria Faculty of Law receives juicy $6 million from former kayak champion, LLB alumni 1986!

That would be pretty cool.

Actually, I read in my alumni magazine recently that some big hotshot cut a cheque for mega bucks for the U of A Faculty of Law. I hope they buy something more exciting and useful than the plasma screen T.V. in the entryway, which they bought with the differential tuition cash grab from a few years ago.

Delay in Publication

The 2nd Edition of So, You Want to be a Lawyer, Eh? has been delayed somewhat by the publisher. We expect it to be available by May, 2007. It has taken some extra time to gather the new information and corroborate its accuracy. As well, there is lots of new information, so that has taken longer to sort through with editing, etc. It will be really good though, and is worth the wait. In the meantime, you will still find the First Edition very useful and well worth the $15.

For those of you who have purchased the book - thank you. I really appreciate your support. I also really appreciate the positive feedback that some of you have left at Amazon.com, Amazon.ca and Chapters.ca. Thank you.

Hooray for Mooters across Canada!

I came across this article recently. It made me happy to see some media recognition for the winners of the Gale Cup moot. I had a good friend who competed in a bilingual moot (Gale Cup is also bilingual) and they said that it was really hard. I competed in the National Aboriginal Moot, which was a lot different than most of the moot formats, in that it was non-confrontational, but rather more collective or collaborative. It was definitely a highlight of my law school experience.

Residential School Case Aftermath

There's a fairly good (although somewhat biased) article on the controversy surrounding contingency based lawyer fees for the Canadian Residential School case here. If you are interested, there are quite a few articles on the subject, and especially on Mr. Tony Merchant and the Merchant Law Group. Tony and his firm stand to make the most out of the deal, and that has left a lot of Native people, as well as other lawyers and citizens in general pretty upset.

New Lawyer for Letourneau Eden LLP

We just hired a new lawyer for our firm. I am very excited about this. It is my goal to one day have the largest firm in the area I live in. I am now one step closer to this reality! It's great to set goals like this. You just never know what might happen. I have a habit of asking unreasonable requests of others (it often results in magical happenings), so why not ask unreasonable things of yourself from time to time.

Leading Partner

My wife gave me a great idea the other day. She said you really shouldn't try to be a Managing Partner for your law firm. You should try to be a Leading Partner. It was a small side comment on her behalf, but it has sent my mind on fire in many ways, both for my own practice/firm, but also for other law firms. Some of the major firms have CEO's, from my understanding, but I would venture to say that most firms have simply a managing partner, which is changed on a rotating basis.

I really like the idea of a business leader at a law firm, not unlike the President of a Corporation. Lawyers need real leaders to lead them towards success. A Leading Partner would not get himself dirty in the day-to-day operations. They would employ an office manager, who could be a lawyer or non-lawyer to do this. The Leading Partner would focus on business development, strategic partnerships, firm strategy, both growth and maintenance. Things like that.

For us smaller firms, I like the idea of taking on more of a leadership role - leading by example, and strategizing for future growth. This is really more my cup of tea when compared to administrative management. I hope one day to be able to lean more towards the leadership than the management, but it may take a while to make the complete transformation. In the meantime, I think it would be very healthy to at least take on more of a leadership mindset, and put more of my brainpower towards building the business, encouraging strong lawyers in the firm, and making sure that everyone is as happy as they can be in their jobs.

Part-time Law Studies

I received an email inquiry from a mother who wants to attend law school in Canada, but would like to do so on a part-time basis. She was afraid that this might not be possible.

This is a very possible and feasible option for some who attend law school in Canada. I had a friend who had two children while attending law school, and chose to reduce her last two years to a part-time schedule. It worked out great for her. She did very well in her classes, became the Editor-in-Chief of the law review, and managed her family time very well, considering. Although it took her a while longer than some of us, she ended up at the same destination.

The options for a part-time schedule were reduced once she got to the articling year, where part-time work just doesn't exist. Very few, if any, law firms would be open to this type of schedule, at least at the beginning. And, I believe that this would go against the requirements of the law society articling requirements.

But, by my friend's articling year, she had already spent a few years giving lots of time to her new children, and they were perhaps at an age where out-of-home childcare was a viable option.

So, part-time law school, no problemo.

Finally...A Female Managing Partner!

I was sitting in Dairy Queen yesterday with my kids after a fun time at the swimming pool. I was pleased to find The Globe and Mail newspaper to read while the kids attacked the french fries.

I flipped to the "Law Pages" and found an interesting story about a female lawyer who works for a Toronto law firm called WeirFoulds LLP. I quote from the story:

"Last month, Ms. [Lisa] Borsook's career veered onto a path seldom travelled by other women in her profession. The real estate leasing specialist was elected managing partner of WeirFould's 80 lawyers and 120 staff, making her one of only a few female chiefs ever appointed at a major or mid-sized Canadian law firm."

Wow!

That's pretty big in my mind. I don't know too much about WeirFoulds LLP, although I am sure that many of you from out East know all about it. But, I think that they are very, very smart. I liked what the article said about the response from one of Lisa's partners: "She's just so damned good at what she does that I don't care what her sex is."

It's really too bad that such a comment is necessary, but as Ms. Borsook says, "The law is still a testosterone-fuelled profession." I hope that this move by WeirFoulds will help to change that. Its bound to happen. I noticed in my alumni package that came last week that the % of women at U of A law school is around 56%. It won't take long for a change in the equalibrium at law firms. Maybe not a year, but I can see a definite change within 20 years.

My partner and I often comment that we would like a female lawyer to join our firm, so as to balance things out a bit - provide a fresh and unique perspective.

There are probably some out there who will think that Weirfoulds and I are out to lunch. So be it. They shouldn't voice their opinions too loudly though. They may have a female managing partner to answer to one day...

The Importance of Rest

Guess what the percetage of Type A personalities permeate law school and the legal career?

I don't know the answer to that question, but I would venture to say that it is a very high number. Most of my colleagues from law school were very high achievers. There were doctors (i.e. PhD), marketing specialists, entrepreneurs, writers, philosophers, etc. Beyond their professional credentials, many of them also went all out with volunteer activities, sports, fitness, hobbies, political interests, activism, partying and attempting to attract the opposite sex.

Most of them did everything 110% (I hate that cliche). Where many of them fell down, and will fall down is their inability to give the body some rest.

This topic is especially relevant for me, since we just had a baby. I had to remind myself that many men, and women, choose to take anywhere up to a year off from regular life to connect with their new child, and to adjust to a major, major life change.

It reminded me that it's OK to take the time necessary, to get the rest that I need, and to support my family. There's no better time than now to take care of these things. The practice will always be there. My children will not.

I wish I had taken more time for myself and my family during law school. I did take time, but I wish I had taken even more. I wish I had gone on more holidays. The few thousand dollars would have been a minimal part of my debt. I wish I had attended fewer classes and just gone for runs instead, or read good trashy novels. The end result for my career would have been the same, I think, but I would have been even happier.

Make good on my wishes, and do these things for yourself this week.

Law School and Having Children

On February 15, my wife and I welcomed a new baby boy into our family. Samuel Adam is our fourth child, and is a fantastic blessing to us! We are so pleased that he is healthy, seemingly happy and at home with us.

Our two older daughters (6 and 7) are enamoured with him, and are proving to be real helpers with Samuel. Our other son (2) is also very infatuated, and has adjusted well, although it has only been three days.

I know that a lot of you have children, or are planning on having children, and are wondering what it will be like once you hit law school, or once you hit your legal career.

I had two children for my first two years of law school, and our third was born in my third year. I remember being very worried about my schedule in my first year, and feeling guilty a lot when I was studying so hard, working part time, and trying to keep our household in order. But, things smoothed out after about 6 months. I started giving myself permission to take time off from law studies, and to make special time for my girls.

By the time my son was born, I had a very set routine and felt like I could afford to give as much time as necessary towards helping my wife with the new baby, and with my other children.

I heard about a man who was a few years ahead of my who had eight children when he started law school. I think that would be very heavy! A few of my friends had babies, or had wives who had babies while in law school. It worked out. Nobody blamed their babies for bad exams. I had one friend who had two babies while in law school. She shifted to a part-time schedule, and ended up doing really, really well.

Now that I am a lawyer, I have started to feel more guilty about time not spent with my children. But, because I am my own boss, I try to give myself permission to have time off whenever I think my children need more attention. I am going to take most of the next week off - I'll only go in to put out genuine fires - and will ease back to work over the following two weeks. One thing I have learned is that babies are only babies for a very short time.

One last thought - never put off having children for your career. It is never worth it to choose the latter before the former. In other words, work to live. Don't live to work.

Should Lawyers be called "Doctor"

I was on www.lawstudents.ca recently, and followed a thread on the question, "Should Lawyers be called 'Doctor'." I thought it was an amusing thread, with lots of witty posts. It got me thinking about the place of lawyers in Canadian society. I'll share a few of my thoughts.

First, lawyers are not doctors, in the classical sense of the word. Although they often help others, they are a different professional subset than doctors. By doctors, I mean both medical doctors and academic doctors.

To be a lawyer is to be a professional. It is to be an officer of the court, an attorney (A person to acts on behalf of another). In fact, in the US, most lawyers are called Attorney, which is a lot better than Lawyer, in my opinion. It is more descriptive of what a lawyer does. Lawyer says that you know something about the law. Attorney says that you know what to do with that law - you know how to serve.

Countering that thought is the fact that so many lawyers are very self-serving. Corporate lawyers come to mind immediately, along with Personal Injury lawyers. However, many doctors are quite self-serving as well. I read recently about the increasing number of doctors who are turning to plastic surgery rather than a general practice, because of the easy money. I see many doctors driving very fancy cars to very fancy houses. But, not all doctors, or lawyers, are like this.

I am amazed that someone who has graduated medical school is called "doctor" immediately, even though they have not practiced medicine for one moment. Law graduates in Canada have to take on the name "Student-at-law" for one year after graduation. Only when they pass bar admission requirements can they call themselves "Lawyer."

Some of the posts at www.lawstudents.ca argued that the academic requirements are similar for lawyers, compared to medical doctors or academic PhD's. On this point, I would have to concur. Law school, which usually follows a four-year undergraduate degree, is a long haul. The timeline is similar to the medical student. In some rare cases, you can achieve a PhD in 7 to 8 years of academia, but I think it is usually closer to 10 to 12 years before you can call yourself "doctor".

Lawyers hold a special status in Canadian society. They are often well respected, although often criticized and berated. There are many jokes about the shark-like quality of lawyers. But, at the same time, our citizens choose to elect lawyers as their leaders time and time again.

Myself, I don't really need a special title to do my work. It is enough to say that I am a lawyer. I didn't go to school to become a doctor. Perhaps one day, but that would be another career altogether.

I do want to exchange my LL.B. for a J.D., because others in Canada have that designation now for the same amount of education that I have received. Fair is fair. However, it should be clear to everyone, lawyer and non-lawyer alike, that a Juris Doctorate does not mean that you can call yourself "doctor" or that you can equate your degree to that of a medical doctor or a PhD. They are different paths, mean different things. It is OK to be different. It's not OK to say you are better than another who has dedicated their life to a career, or to a cause.

That's all I have to say on that for now.

You've Made it into Law School - Congratulations!

I have received numerous emails from readers of my book and my blogs (Law Eh? and Canadian Law School) recently. Many of you have sent me a note to update me on your success in being accepted into one of Canada's law schools.

CONGRATULATIONS to all of you. It's fantastic news! Law school is tough to get into. Canadian law schools are tough to get into. You have all worked so hard towards this dream, and now it is a reality!

I really appreciate the kind comments about how the book and the blogs have helped you to prepare - for the LSAT, the Application Process, 1L and beyond.

Many of you have been asking lots of anticipatory questions about law school, and even more questions about life after law school. Keep the questions coming, and if it's appropriate, I will post the answers on the blogs (with your permission, of course).

For those of you who have not had success so far this year, don't give up. Many law schools put out second and third calls once they start receiving rejections from students who have decided to go to law school elsewhere. Don't give up hope yet, Amigos.

And, if you don't get in this year, don't despair. Try again next year. Write the LSAT again. If you read my book, you'll read about my abysmal first attempt at the LSAT, and how I turned it all around. I didn't give up, and now I am partner in my own law firm. A short 5 years from deciding that I wanted to be a lawyer! And I'm loving it! Never give up.

Law School Rejection - Take This!

For those of you in the process of waiting for your law school admission results, I have come across the following very useful letter. Please feel free to use it.

Dean Robert A. Jackson
Chair - Faculty of Law Admissions Committee
75B Madisson Hall, Clark University
Timmons, ON B49 6B1

Dear Dean Jackson,

Thank you for your letter of February 2. After careful consideration, I regret to inform you that I am unable to accept your refusal to offer me a spot at your law school.

This year I have been particularly fortunate in receiving an unusually
large number of rejection letters from law schools. With such a varied and promising field of candidates, it is impossible for me to accept all refusals.

Despite Clark's outstanding qualifications and previous experience in rejecting applicants, I find that your rejection does not meet my needs at this time. Therefore, I will assume a spot at your law school this September. I look forward to seeing you then.

Best of luck in rejecting future law school applicants.

Sincerely,
Marty B. Kendall