The Red (and Green) Pens of Death

Continuing, apparently, my inter-semester theme of holiday fun, lawyer-style, today we have a Christmas carol, as edited by an attorney. This entry is not only fun and a good introduction to Legal Writing, but it does serve as proof that--like so many of my idiosyncrasies--it's not just me. This is something lawyers just do.

While Shepherds Watched Their Legal Flocks by Night

Christmas Cheer, Law Firm Style

If you're looking for a way to while away all those empty hours during your break, you could always vote in the Above The Law Holiday Card Contest. Law firms from around the country submit their online cards in the hopes of winning. You can check out the entries in this year's contest here.

Utah Approves "Limited Practice Paralegals"

Utah became the second state--as far as I know--to approve what they are calling "Limited Practice Paralegals." (Washington was the first.) A paralegal in Utah with an associate's degree and some form of certification will be able to apply for an LPP license. LPPs will be able to help clients fill out legal forms, prepare settlements and represent them in mediated negotiations. The task force in charge of the new license anticipates that they will be employed primarily in family law, evictions, and debt collection.

You can read more about the new Utah LPP license here.

Great skiing AND great job opportunities. What more could you ask for?

A Scott Hoy Ad--Really! (Morning Only)

Lawyer Ad: Child Support (Morning Only)

immigration attorney advertisement (Morning Only)

Pro Per? or Practicing without a License? (Morning Only)

The OJ Simpson Jury (Morning Only)

We started watching at 1:19, until the end.

Supreme Court Dogs: POM Wonderful v. Coca-Cola (Morning Only)

Supreme Court Dogs: US v. Windson (Morning Only)

John Oliver on Public Defenders (Morning)

Kramer vs. Kramer Court Scene (Morning)

Family Law (Morning)

This one is also a fun review for the Family Law class.

Reminders

1. Sign up for your spring 2016 classes ASAP. You can make an appointment to meet with me by calling 765-260-5730 for my assistant or (if you're avoiding me, and you know who you are) you can go up to the advising center any time. 
2. Make sure you have health insurance for 2016. If you need to get your own health insurance, look into www.gravie.com. This website, which is free to use, helps you navigate the health insurance marketplace. We expect that most of our students who need to get their own insurance will be able to do so either free (outright or after a tax credit) or very inexpensively. I cannot say that I've used it, since I have insurance through the college, but it's supposed to be pretty user friendly.

Resume Advice from a Lawyer (Who Isn't Me!) (Again!)

You know that I love to share things that show that, even though lawyers may disagree with one another on just about everything, we are united in our OCD. Laugh if you want, but these are the people you signed up to work with ....

10 Things I Hate about Your Resume

Administrative Law in Action

The Indiana Department of Environmental Management will be hosting a public hearing on Tuesday at Harrison High School to solicit public comments about renewing a wastewater treatment plant's license. The hearing starts at 6 p.m. (10-20 points)

More information is here.

Ivy Tech Men's Basketball

Yes, Ivy Tech has a basketball team. Ivy Tech Lafayette will have a home game against Ivy Tech Northwest on Saturday, December 12, at 8 p.m. The game will take place at St. James Lutheran School, 615 N. 8th St., Lafayette. Admission is free. Bring the kids, cheer on your campus-mates, and get some last minute engagement points. (10-20)

Drunk Lawyer (Afternoon Only)

For those of you who are interested, there is a full-length version on youtube in which we are introduced to some woman he picked up in a coffee shop and learn the results of his breathalyzer.

Crash Course: Court System (Afternoon Only)

Note: This video is not 100 percent accurate, but it's still a pretty good--if rather speedy--description of the United States court system.

John Oliver on Elected Judges (Afternoon only)

Does The Law Pose a Threat to Video Games? (PM class only)

Judyism: Judge Judy At Her Best (PM class only)

Making Blog Searching Easier

You might notice that at the bottom of some posts I have labels. I actually try to do this all the time, but you know how it is. It's like attaching something to an email. You mean to do it, but that doesn't mean it will always happen.

Anyway, if you are looking for all of the posts that pertain to a particular topic, click on that label, and all of the posts that share that label will pop up. I figured this knowledge would be especially helpful for the 101 students as their Legal Video Film Festival continues.

Do note that I don't have separate labels for the morning and afternoon film festivals, but I will try to state which class watched it in the title of the post. The first batch, of course, consisted of the videos I picked out for both classes.

And for everyone--there are a number of good videos here, including a few by John Oliver, who was just (today!) nominated as Criminal Justice Newsmaker of the Year by The Crime Report for his work in drawing attention to problems in the criminal justice system.

Here's What Taking the Bar Exam Is Really Like (AM class only)

John Oliver on Public Defenders (Morning Class Only)

The Funniest Lawyer Commercial Ever! Would You Hire Him?

This is the only video to be featured in both the morning and afternoon versions of the PARA 101 film festival. He is a real attorney--does he have some real ethical problems?

Going on TODAY!!!

• Tippecanoe County will be remembering the victims and survivors of Pearl Harbor (74 years ago today) at noon in the county office building. (Off-campus engagement points 10-20)
• Political columnist George Will will be speaking at Purdue in Fowler Hall, Stewart Center, at 6:30 p.m. The talk is scheduled to last approximately one hour. (Off-campus engagement points 10-20)

Sorry about the late notice!!! Both events are, of course, free.

Bryan Wilson - TEXAS LAW HAWK

It's hard to add anything to Bryan's tongue-in-cheek ads. Love him, hate him, you at least know what he does (or what he thinks he does).

2014 Jamie Casino - 2 Minute Super Bowl Commercial - Casino's Law

Some people just don't like lawyer advertising and never will. But if there is such a thing as a pretty good legal ad, Jamie Casino's ads from 2014 and 2015 would probably fit the bill.

Scott Hoy Presents The Most Confusing Commercial Ever

What is Scott trying to accomplish here? Don't feel bad if you don't know. I don't, either.

The Legal Video Film Festival Continues!

This week's installment of the Legal Video Film Festival concludes with a celebration of legal advertising: the pretty good (Jamie Casino's ads from 2014 and 2015); the bad >> Bad lawyer commercials; the confusing (Scotty Hoy--what is that man trying to accomplish?); and the funny (Brian Wilson, the Texas Law Hawk).

Tune in next week for student-selected videos. (And this is a reminder to my 101 students: Select your videos!!!)

A Deposition Gone Horribly, Horribly Wrong

My Rose (Sherwood v Walker)

This video is a nearly accurate (except for the part where the boy and the cow drown themselves, as far as I know) musical rendition of a famous contract case.

Stibbins v. Foster Oral Argument

We are continuing with our legal film festival with a video of the oral argument in a case we discussed earlier, Stibbins v. Foster. We only watched about 10 minutes of it in class, although you are certainly welcome to watch the whole thing. All of the Court of Appeals' oral arguments are available at the www.in.gov website, but the link here is specifically to Stibbins. Stibbins v. Foster

A Smidgen of Legal History

Exactly 60 years ago today, Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a bus. Her actions led to the Montgomery bus boycott and eventually to the modern civil rights movement. This is a good day to remember that your actions can have repercussions far beyond your immediate circumstances.

National Novel Writing Month