What if I am on top of my reading, but feel clueless about some of the material?

• Go through your class notes and try to determine what specific questions you have about the course.
• Write down your questions and where the reference is in your notes/casebook so that you can find the spot quickly if you need to refer back to it.
• Read a study aid to gain more understanding about the specific topic.
• Some learners clear up their confusion by outlining the material.  By “pulling it together” for inclusion in an outline, the material is no longer abstract or confusing.
• If you still have questions, ask for help from your classmates or your professor. 
• The more specific you can be about your questions, the easier it will be for someone to help you.
• Have your class notes/casebook with you when you ask for help so that you can show the person the material that is confusing you.
  

Whether you are working on a writing assignment (BLS open memo) or getting ready to take an exam, one of the easiest and most important things to remember is to follow your professors' instructions.  Should your paper be single-spaced or double-spaced?  What are the margin requirements?  What font is recommended?  Where are you supposed to write your exam number?  How many copies do you need to submit, and in what format?  Whatever the instructions may be, do not overlook them.  You do not want to lose points over careless mistakes. 

The University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law welcomes Christopher Slobogin as its Fall 2010 Distinguished Scholar in Law and Public Policy.  Professor Slobogin is the Milton Underwood Chair in Law, Professor of Psychiatry, and Director of the Criminal Justice Program at Vanderbilt University.  He will give a faculty workshop on September 30 on "The Future of the Fourth Amendment."  Each semester, the Law School identifies a nationally renowned scholar in law and public policy to give a workshop as part of its Faculty Workshop Series, enhancing the exchange of ideas and intellectual inquiry at the Law School, particularly at the intersetion of law and public policy.

The current version of the Spring 2011 schedule (with exam schedule) is attached as a PDF.  This is the version that will be used for registration in early November unless there are errors that need correction or unusual circumstances necessitating change. 

 

There were a number of changes to the first draft that was released in mid-August, mostly in response to student input (to the extent practical and feasible).  Unfortunately, we cannot now add entirely new classes unless one or more classes do not receive sufficient enrollment during registration.  

 

In the next two weeks, the course notes will be released, including course descriptions for 999 courses, but the course notes are still being completed at this time. 

 

If you have questions, please contact Dean Arnold at tony.arnold@louisville.edu.  If you would like advice as you put together your spring schedule, Dean Arnold, Dean Bean, or Ms. Ballard would be glad to talk with you.

 

The courses that we can offer in Summer 2011 have also been identified.  They are: a) Basic Income Tax (4) (Blackburn) (core); b) Decedents Estates (4) (Jones) (core); c) Externships (Jordan) (skills); d) Land & Ecosystem Conservation (2) (Arnold) (writing seminar; will meet 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. every day for the first week of the summer session with field trips/research in the region and then there will be no more class meetings while students write papers over the remainder of the summer term); e) Restorative Justice (2) (Duncan) (skills); f) Solo Practice Management (2) (Urbach and adjuncts) (skills); and g) Women and the Law (2) (Fischer) (writing seminar; perspectives). 

 

In the next two weeks, at least 3 different scheduling options for these courses will be presented to students for feedback from students who plan to take summer classes.  Unfortunately, though, the summer teaching budget is totally maxed out, which means we cannot add any other courses to the summer schedule.  This schedule represents a 40% increase in course offerings over the previous summer in an effort to meet many different student interests and needs.

How are your course outlines coming along?  By now, you should have enough information in each course to begin outlining.  Then, you want to add to your outlines regularly – preferably every other week.  Remember that your outlines will be your primary study aids for exams.  Once you have a good outline for a segment of the course, your class notes and case briefs will no longer be your focus for that part of the material.

Campus Health Services will be here at the law school to give flu shots:  Thursday, October 7, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., and from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.  Shots are free for students and for faculty and staff who are at least 80%.

The law school softball team - the Bottom 90% - battled to the finish in their second-place showing in this fall's tournament. After cruising through the early rounds, the Bottom 90% defeated the eventual champions in the opening game of the championship series, but was bested in the rubber match. The Bottom 90% thanks their fans for their support.

Attention students graduating in December 2010, May 2011, or August 2011: 

On Tuesday, November 9, at 1:00 p.m., representatives from the Kentucky Office of Bar Admissions, including Mr. Grant Helman, Chair of the Character and Fitness Committee, will present a mandatory bar program for graduating law students on candor and related bar issues you may face when applying to take the bar. 

ABA Standard 302(a)(5) requires that each student receive substantial instruction in “the history, goals, structure, values, rules and responsibilities of the legal profession and its members.”  In addition, Interpretation 302-6 requires that the School of Law “involve members of the bench and bar in the instruction required by Standard 302(a)(5).”  This program is designed to provide instruction on professionalism issues concerning law students and lawyers and also to satisfy the ABA’s requirement in Standard 302(a)(5). 

Your attendance at the November 9 program is a requirement for graduation.  Please mark your calendars now and plan to attend.  If you have an absolute conflict that will prohibit you from attending the November 9 program, you must notify Dean Bean so that alternative arrangements can be made. 

Graduating students planning to take the KY Bar Exam in July 2011, or February 2012, will receive a handout during the November 9 program providing instructions on completing the Kentucky Bar Application.  A separate program focusing on the Kentucky Bar Exam will be offered on January 11, 2011, at 12:15 p.m.  All graduating students taking the KY Bar Exam are strongly encouraged to attend this program.