Life as a Paralegal

Tour de Embassy

2007-05-04T09:22:00.000-07:00

This morning was unusually suspenseful, depressing, and exhilarating all at once, so let me recount it.

The other paralegal had been out all week, so I'd been running solo with a lot of extra work. And one of the tasks we commonly do is to "legalize documents," which requires getting a seal from the U.S. State Department and the embassy from the country from which the company would like to do business. If this sounds exotic or exciting to you in any way, restrain yourself: it's not.

So I'm waiting in line at the U.S. State Department Office of Authentications, which is possibly the most depressing place on Earth. Think the DMV, except there are a bunch of bike couriers and random business people speaking at least 3 different languages in a dingy room with BBC News blaring from a TV overhead. It took especially long this time, and by the time it was over, I felt like all the energy had been sucked out of my body, much like the feeling Harry Potter would feel if he was stuck in a room full of Dementors for half an hour. I then took a cab over to the Korean Embassy to get the last seal. But I discovered I forgot to bring the copies, which is required. So I came back to my office, knowing full well I had half an hour until they closed at noon (working at an embassy must be a sweet life). When I got back I discovered that I had not made the copies yet. I frantically tried to pull them together, but the copier was acting up, so I didn't finish getting everything together until 11:50. Would I have enough time?

The Korean Embassy is located at 2320 Mass Ave., about 6 blocks and two roundabouts away from my office. I knew the average time it takes me to go down the stairs and hail a cab is about 5 minutes. I also knew the traffic was going to be bad, and going through those roundabouts, I probably wouldn't make it in time. But then I remembered that I had my bike with me. I knew I could weave in and out of traffic, and I knew it was mostly downhill, so I give it a shot. I put all the documents in a messenger bag, slung it over my shoulder, and took off. I was riding behind this car that abruptly turned in front of me and would have hit me if I didn't get to an abrupt stop. I cursed the fact that my bike doesn't have a horn to express my displeasure and continued onward, my dress pants-wearing legs pumping as fast they could. I pulled into front of the Embassy, locked my bike and looked at my cell phone: 11:56. I had gone from the 4th floor of my office, accross two roundabouts and 6 blocks in 6 minutes. I nodded confidently at the security man and walked to the front counter (I go there a lot, so he knew who I was.) I handed my documents to a giggly Korean girl and knew that my job was done. I smiled to myself, knowing that the lifeforce had returned to my body.

Financing a Legal Education

2007-04-30T08:15:00.001-07:00

How much does law school actually cost? The short answer is a whole helluva lot. Even if you are lucky enough to win a scholarship, you will still probably have to go into debt to finance your legal education. The hope one has is that the debt will be promptly paid off with a great job after graduation. If you're in the early stages of the decision of whether or not to apply to law schools, let me share some numbers about how much it has all cost for me (keep in mind these things get more expensive every year, so it might be higher in 4 years):

LSAT Class (optional) approx $1,000
LSAT Books approx $200
LSAT Charge $125 each time you take it
Registration with the LSAC $50
Application Fee average $65 per school
Seat Deposit average $150 per school

So let's say you are not sure if you want to go to law schools, but you want to apply to see where you could get in. Let's say you take a KAPLAN class (which includes all the materials), take the LSAT twice to improve your score, apply to 8 schools, and pay the seat deposits at the 2 best schools that accept you. By my calculations, you would have spent $2,120 before you even stepped into a class room. And this is a conservative number because it does not factor in travel costs associated with campus visits, lost pay from studying, and that many people apply to more than 8 (which I find excessive). You can save about half right off the top if you decide against the class, which I didn't take myself (see previous post for information about studying).

Let's assume that you decide to go to law school. What's it going to cost while you're there? Costs obviously differ depending on what school you go to, and what city you live in, but let's take 2 schools, School A and School B.

School A is a state school in a city with low cost of living. As an in-state resident, your tuition is about 18 grand a year. Housing is pretty cheap.

School B is a private school in a city with higher cost of living. Tuition is 35 K a year, and living expenses are 3 K more a year. Over three years the difference between these schools would total 60,000 dollars. Just something to keep in mind.

Studying for the LSAT

2007-04-19T12:08:00.001-07:00

The LSAT is a different test than anything you've probably taken before. It is not a test of general knowledge, like the GRE. Unless you're a certifiable genius of some kind, you are best served by studying for it. There are two ways to approach the test: sign up for an (expensive) class, use the materials they give you, and go from there. Or you could spend much less money on books and, using self-discipline, study on your own. I never took a class, so I will focus on how to study for the LSAT completely on your own (it can be done, trust me.) To begin with, I recommend these books:

PowerScore Logic Games Bible: This was the main book I used the first time I took the test, and I only got 1 out of 22 wrong in the Logic Games section. Logic Games went from my greatest weakness to a strength. If you're having any problems with logic games, I HIGHLY recommend going through this entire book thoroughly.

PowerScore Logical Reasoning Bible: Similar to the previous book, but focusing on the logical reasoning section. Not quite as groundbreaking, but still essential, given that half of the questions are logical reasoning.

Next 10 Official LSAT Preptests: This one just has the questions and answers, with no real explanation or strategy included, so I definitely recommend only using this book in conjunction with strategy guides (such as the ones above). Some books don't use actual questions from previous tests, but this one does, since the LSAC wrote it.

Everyone is different, but my strategy for the LSAT is as follows:

-Begin about two months before the LSAT is administered (LSAC administers the test in February, June, September, and December), looking over questions and reading some broad strategy guides. Consult your library for books if you want to save money.
-Find a real, actual test past from the past and test yourself under the most realistic conditions possible (especially time constraints) to see where you stand.
-Purchase the two strategy books above and try to master each of the sections. I'd recommend only focusing on one section at a time for best results, although occasionally look through the other section to keep it fresh in your mind.
-In the month before the test, do at least one full test (all in one sitting. Don't split up the sections!!) each week to gauge your progress. Keep in mind that mental fatigue will set in during the test if you don't get your brain in shape. The test will take 3+ hours and LSAT questions are very mentally exhausting.
-The writing sample: don't worry about it. You've been writing your whole life. You're not going to improve much in either direction, and I doubt it will help you much in getting into law schools.
-Similarly, the reading comprehension section is challenging and requires practice, but once again, it is just using skills that you have (hopefully) learned during your undergraduate experience. There is no definitive book out there that I am aware of to help you too much in this section. Don't ignore it, but focus more on practice/repetition than strategy. For each passage I recommend skimming the article, skimming the questions, and then reading the passage thoroughly, in that order, before you tackle any of the questions.

How should I know if I should retake the test?
-Tough question. In my experience, I thought I was going to do much better than I did the first time I took it, so it made sense to try again. I improved by three points, so it was probably a good idea. I would advise retaking the test in only the following situations:
1) Your practice scores were significantly higher than your LSAT result.
2) You didn't prepare yourself enough, and think you will have more time/motivation the second time around.
3) Something went wrong that day, such as sickness, uncomfortable test taking situation, or other random thing that won't affect you in the future.

So that's my guide to the LSAT, if you have any questions that I didn't cover, feel free to shoot me an email (mcfors@gmail.com).

Happy Easter

2007-04-09T09:02:00.000-07:00

This past weekend I had the pleasure of being visited by two of my college friends, which is always great. It's easy to lose perspective of your life when you move to a new city, get a new job, and meet a bunch of new people. It's always nice to shoot the s*** with some friends who have known you a long time, and are looking upon our nation's capital with fresh eyes. A view of any building, even the Washington Monument, the White House, or the Capitol Building every day as part of your daily routine can become ho-hum, but it takes outsiders to remind me that it's pretty cool I can see all those great buildings every morning on my way to work. I also thought it was really cold this weekend (the high temperatures barely touched 50), but they had no complaints (I guess it's been a little colder in Michigan?)

In a completely unrelated matter, props to the class of '07, who are graduating in a few weeks. It's strange for me to think that next year will be the class of 2010, with kids being born in the 90's. They probably don't even remember Nirvana. God, I'm getting old.
By the way, Ohio State fans make me sick...

Trip to Ohio

2007-04-02T12:32:00.000-07:00

This weekend I was lucky enough to obtain a "travel scholarship" to Cleveland, so I decided to take a visit to Case Western Reserve Law School (CWRLS. What a pretty acronym). First of all, I must say that Ohians are very friendly people, maybe even more than Michiganders. And I would also say that Cleveland reminds me of Detroit, with more areas that you'd feel safe in. I have ruled out Wayne State at this point. It was difficult to do, as I've been attending public schools in Michigan my entire life. But it would be even harder to pass up a higher ranked school with more opportunities. Since I've basically decided where I'm going to go to school, my worries have now shifted to the following areas:

1) Find housing/a roommate in Cleveland
2) Whether or not to buy a car
3) The disturbing amount of friends I have that are in their first year of law school and seem to be desperate for a summer job.
4) That the Lions will draft Calvin Johnson

March Madness

2007-03-20T06:21:00.000-07:00

March Madness is upon us, and with it my first foray into an "office pool." I was dumb enough to ask a co-worker who runs the pool, and they responded with "now you do." Apparently, whichever new employee inquires about it must heretofore take on the responsibility (I should probably check Webster's on my usage of "heretofore.") So I set one up on CBSSportsline.com and cajoled as many of my fellow employees to join as I could. And amazingly, I'm in first place out of 21 entries.

In a completely unrelated topic, has anyone noticed how similar this tournament is playing out to the Big Ten football season? Think about it, we have Ohio State and another Big Ten team at the top (Michigan in football, Wisconsin in basketball), both of whom lose worse than expected (blown out by USC, and lose in the 2nd round). There is also a large drop-off after the top 2 (only Ohio State made it to the 2nd round). Despite the higher ranking of OSU, Florida is looming on the other side of the country with more talent. So what does this mean for the rest of the tournament? Don't be too surprised if Tennessee beats Ohio State. And if they manage to survive that game, I can see Texas A & M giving them a run for their money.

Decisions, Decisions

2007-03-05T11:13:00.000-08:00

First of all, for anyone who is a regular reader, I would appreciate some feedback as to what you want in this blog. I don't always know what people are looking for, and if there are any specific questions or topics you would like me to address, shoot me an e-mail at mcfors@gmail.com [I had a umich.edu account, but those expire after you've been graduated for a year :( ]. I will be happy to take any questions about applying to law schools, working as a paralegal, life in D.C., or who my favorite character on Friday Night Lights is (Matt Saracen). I will also be willing to go on a 15 minute rant about how much I miss the University of Michigan. That being said, here's an update on my law school applications....

After finishing up my applications in late December/early January, I have heard back from 7 schools. My record is 2-1-4. U of M figured I did enough damage in 4 years and has had enough of me, and American, Minnesota, Loyola (Ill.) and Indiana decided they liked me, but only enough to place me on a wait list. Wisconsin still hasn't gotten back to me more than 2 months after I applied, and Case Western Reserve and Wayne State have both accepted me unconditionally. So if you are applying to schools next fall/winter, expect a similar timetable.

Assuming Wisconsin doesn't accept me, and I don't get off the waiting list at those 4 schools, I am left with a difficult decision: do I go to the school that is ranked 50th in the country, but where tuition alone is 34 grand a year, and is located in Ohio? Or do I go to the tier 3 school located in my hometown (sortof) for "only" 18 grand? I'm still not sure. When you're looking at law schools, it's important to think long-term. Schools like Wayne State are phenomenal for getting a job in their own state, but finding employment outside of Michigan may be difficult. What people have told me is that if you can't get into a top 25 or top 50 law school, go to a place where you'll want to live, because there aren't many New York recruiters coming to Detroit.

D.C.

2007-02-27T07:16:00.000-08:00

After spending my entire life living in Michigan (besides a summer in Spain and a short internship in Washington), I moved to the District of Columbia in June of last year. As you might guess moving from a town of 81,000 people (Troy) to a town of 115,000 (Ann Arbor) is much less of an adjustment than moving to a 'bustling' city of almost 600,000 in the city alone, not to mention NOVA and SOMA (Northern Virginia and Southern Maryland, which add about 5 million people).

There is an inevitable transition felt when moving from the Midwestern suburbs to an East Coast city, especially one with "Northern charm and Southern efficiency." In many ways, D.C. is a great place to live, with ample jobs, opportunities, a tremendous public transportation system, and has diverse and very well-educated citizens. There are also advantages you don't think of. For example, so many people travel to D.C. on business or for tourism that there is almost always someone coming into the city that I can meet up with for dinner or drinks. And it's cool to have so many important decisions about our nation being made right in my backyard. But, onto the negative.

I don't live in a state. I can't technically vote for Congress (although I maintain my Michigan voting status). There are very few native Washingtonians. There is no local accent, or local culture, really, except an obsession with professional appearances and one's own career path. In many ways, I don't live in a real place. The Capitol is a unique animal that does not exist anywhere else. Almost everyone is a lawyer, or employed in a field relating to the federal government. Therein lies my biggest problem with D.C. So many of the people are that Type A personality that you might associate with a Republican lobbyist: fancy suits, obsessed with work, competitive. They are the kind of person that you can have a great superficial relationship with, but are not authentic in the sense that I'm used to from growing up in Michigan. They will ask you about your weekend, but you won't reveal any secrets to. As LBJ once famously said, "if you want a true friend in this town, get a dog." And I think there is some truth to that.

I do not want to dissuade anyone from moving out here. I just hope you are educated about what you are getting into. It's an exciting place, with a lot of young people, and a great place to work. But just don't expect it to be Ann Arbor 2.0.

Family

2007-02-20T08:23:00.000-08:00

It is a challenging point in one's life to go from lifelong student to a member of the workforce. And, I think that it has become more difficult for our generation. Jobs aren't as guaranteed, wages are struggling to keep pace with rising health care, student debt, and other costs of living, and there is an increasing amount of pressure to get advanced degrees, as higher education has spread to a larger segment of the population. Should it be any surprise, then, that more of us are living with our parents after graduation? Or delaying starting a family? Let's imagine for a second that I am my grandfather, growing up in suburban Detroit in the 1940's. I graduate from college, getting a BA, which is more than enough to guarantee me a job with the Big Three. I have very little debt from college, because it is so affordable. I have a steady job that I know is stable, I get married at 24, and pass on my seed by 25. I make enough money to live comfortably, and I even am able to build a cottage up North. Pretty sweet life, eh?
Now, imagine I'm growing up in the 80's. I graduate from college with a BA, but my major is English, so I know I'm going to have trouble finding a job. I have loads of debt because college costs have been spiraling out of control. I look for a job in Michigan for a long time, but nothing appealing is available, so I'm forced to move to Chicago or Washington, D.C. I work for a couple of years, trying to pay off debt, knowing that I won't stay in this job for long. I'm frustrated that I'm passed over for the jobs that I really want by people with master's degrees and J.D.'s, so I eventually (and reluctantly) attend law school. I accrue even more debt, but after getting my degree I finally get the job I want. I'm now 28 and still single. I have a wealth of experiences, but in some ways I'm 6 years behind my grandfather.
I bring all this up not just to complain about the situation we face, but to illustrate why our generation behaves differently then previous ones. I think there is something in all of us that strives to be a part of a family or a community, and when that disappears, we have a natural urge to get it back. We are part of a family during our childhood, and then in college enter a different, larger family while living in the dorms or in a group house. But once out in the real world, that family is gone and we are left to fend for ourselves. Can you blame us for trying to return to a place that felt so comfortable and natural to us? We should really ask ourselves what is so shameful about a 24 year-old living at home? Now, I admit, I don't live at home, and I can think of a hundred different reasons why it is a good idea to move away. But I feel that there should not be such a stigma attached.

Law School Update - Life in Purgatory

2007-02-13T08:32:00.000-08:00

It's February, so many of us who applied to law schools in December and January are now hearing back from law schools. I happened to apply to 8 of them, within a three-week period during that time, so it's high time I hear back from some.

In my personal statement I wrote about how lucky I've been. I was put on the waiting list for my favorite job ever, Summer Orientation Leader (I found out a week before the job started someone was fired and I was in), I was put on the waiting list for my summer abroad program in Spain (I eventually got in), and I was the 9th place finisher in my election to student government (only the top 9 vote-getters win a seat representing LS&A in MSA, and 10th place had four fewer points than I did.) So I wrote about those situations, and I ended it with this ominous paragraph:

It is quite mind-boggling for me to think about how the three great experiences I had while I was in college might not have happened if not for a little extra persistence on my part. I think I have learned a lot from each, and plan on applying all those lessons to the whole law school experience. Needless to say, if I am put on another waitlist, I will not give up. Because I now know perseverance, professionalism, and a good attitude can result in some great “luck.”

So what have been my results so far?

Thursday: letter received from American University in D.C.: I am on their waiting list.
Friday: letter received from U of Minnesota: they have deferred my decision until May.
Saturday: letter received from Loyola (Ill.): I am on their waiting list.

There are only four possible explanations for this:
1) Admissions counselors took my essay as a challenge, and are testing my resolve by putting me on the waiting list.
2) I had a premonition about getting put on a bunch of waitlists that is now coming true.
3) God is punishing me for my sins. Or...
4) I applied to a lot of schools in which I was a borderline candidate, and by coincidence I was put on the waitlist by three of them in three days, in no way related to my promise to not give up if I'm on the waitlist.

So, I'm keeping to my word and not giving up. I've already told Loyola and American that I would still like to be considered, and I am not completely discouraged (though a little frustrated.) And I haven't heard back from my top choice, the University of Michigan (any law admissions people out there? Hint, hint.) But September 1st is a long away, so if anyone else out there is going through the law school admissions process, hang in there.

First Post

2007-01-25T07:36:00.000-08:00

Welcome!! I would like to start by thanking the Alumni Association for this opportunity to share my experiences via this blog. It is a great honor. Let me begin by describing my situation. I graduated from the University of Michigan in December of 2005 (it's already been a year!) as a political science and Spanish major. I was pretty sure I wanted to go to law school, but I had a few questions I wanted answered before I committed three years and god knows how many thousands of dollars on the endeavor: What's it like working at a law firm? Am I prepared mentally and spiritually for all the hard work that law school requires? And most importantly, am I really interested in studying law, or am just not sure about my career goals and want a three-year pass from the working world?
I figured the best way to answer these questions was to get a job as a paralegal in an actual law firm. And that's exactly what I did. With the help of Rick Frank (LSA and Law School Alum), I secured a job as a paralegal at Olsson, Frank & Weeda, an FDA and USDA law firm located in Washington, D.C. And while I don't profess to have learned all the answers yet, I would recommend anyone with similar questions to not jump right into law school upon graduation. By the time our generation hits old age, the average life span will be about 80 years. That means we have about 60 years left. That's a long time, why rush into a three-year mulitple-thousand dollar commitment? Get some real world experience first, and then apply to law school. You will not regret it.