#URLawSchoolProbs

This is a real email.  Seriously.

The University of Richmond Police Department is investigating the theft of an EZ-Go golf cart from parking lot R-20. The theft occurred sometime after Feb. 22, 2012. The golf cart is white with a small enclosed bed to store items. The golf cart is marked with a maroon “T” on the back of the bed enclosure.

Risk reduction:
It is recommended that you always lock golf carts to a stationary object with a chain or cable lock. Additionally, if your golf cart is equipped with doors, locking the doors will provide additional safety.

Anyone with information about this crime is asked to contact URPD by either calling (804) 289-8715 or reporting through anonymous resources listed on the webpage below.

http://police.richmond.edu/reporting/text-a-tip.html

David McCoy
Chief of Police
University of Richmond

No words.

Response to Dan Anderson, author of Alcoholiccat.com

Please read Mr. Anderson's original post on the Richmond Bluebook Exam here: http://www.alcoholiccat.com/
I should note that this is a friendly response, not attacking Mr. Anderson, but exploring a different view.
----------------

I would like to take a minute to respond to Mr. Anderson's posting on Richmond's Bluebook Exam.  He has very good points about the exam-- it is very long, very tough, and has probably evolved into a lion of a test.  I agree that the journals need to reevaluate the number and length of questions they ask. The 40+ hours each student spends on the exam is exhausting, and the number of printed pages required for answers probably kills a small forest. It kind of reminded me of sorority recruitment: you're glad you did it, but you never want to do it again.

But there is value in this process.  1Ls who never read their Bluebook become at least familiar with the rules in just a few short days.  Law students suddenly devote every ounce of their energy to learning legal citations, which are necessary for any kind of legal writing.  The I don't care how good your paralegal is, if you can write legal citations, you are a step above the many attorneys who are-- quite frankly-- embarrassingly terrible at citing their work.  In today's job market, any extra skill is invaluable to young attorneys.

I went into the Bluebook exam a complete dunce in legal citations, (even though my T.A. was amazing and tried so hard to teach me) but came out of the Bluebook exam knowing the rules fairly well.


While I agree that the exam itself is very long, I must question his apparent distaste for the law journal system as a whole.

Valentines for Lawyers

I gathered these from around the internet because, well, lawyers have hearts too (right??)....

Courtesy of Media Bistro

Courtesy of Media Bistro

Courtesy of SomeEcards

NPR

Pinterest: Is it a walking Copyright Infringement?

I love Pinterest.  It's a problem.  But I've wondered about the Copyright implications.  So have some other people, apparently, because there are some articles popping up about Pinterest's legal issues.

For those of you with a "Paid Content" subscription:

Pinterest: Is it a Facebook or a Grokster?

http://paidcontent.org/article/419-pinterest-is-it-a-facebook-or-a-grokster/

For a free analysis:

Is Pinterest a Haven for Copyright Infringers?

http://greekgeek.hubpages.com/hub/Is-Pinterest-a-Haven-for-Copyright-Violations

One great non-legal point that I think we need to think about is the PR fallout. Read this exceprt:

Copyright holders may also fear a public relations fallout that would come with a lawsuit. For content owners, it’s one thing to label hip-hop artists and music fans as “thieves.” But it’s quite another when the content involves food and dress pictures—even the most hardened copyright visigoth would pause at denouncing a 16-year-old who borrows pictures to make a collage of her future wedding. 

Thoughts?

Long Live Pinterest!! 

Ten Law School Couples, Annotated

In honor of Valentine's Day:

http://www.bitterlawyer.com/ten-law-school-couples-annotated/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+bitterlawyer%2FgmjT+%28Bitter+Lawyer%29

A Silly Comparison About Perceptions...

Best SOPA Protest Memes

As with any huge controversy, Memes erupted after the SOPA/PIPA protests.  I collected some of the best memes for your viewing pleasure:

Feel free to add any more :)

Letter to Students about SOPA/ PIPA

Some of you know that I am the President of UR Laws Student Intellectual Property Society.  Yesterday, I sent this letter out to the students encouraging them to inform themselves on SOPA/ PIPA.  I urge you to read it as well, and to look into this proposed bill.  While I myself vehemently oppose this legislation, the email below offers both sides of the debate.

Good morning friends,
If you have tried to access Wikipedia or Google this morning, I am sure you have been made well aware of the blackout in protest of the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and Protect Intellectual Property Act (PIPA). As IP students, I urge you to educate yourselves on this proposed bill.  The full text can be found here:  http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c112:H.R.3261: The Wiki page outlining the proposed bills can be read here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PROTECT_IP_Act. A fairly objective article weighing the pros- and cons of SOPA and PIPA can be found here: http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2012/01/18/pro-and-con-speaking-up-in-support-and-protest-of-sopa-and-internet-blackouts-72991  or here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-16612628.

Pro SOPA/ PIPALetter from law firm Cahill, Gordon, and Reindel LLP http://www.mpaa.org/Resources/1227ef12-e209-4edf-b8b8-bb4af768430c.pdfLetter to Politico from Rep. Lamar Smith: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1211/70948.html#ixzz1jl5OEGZk

Anti SOPA/ PIPAAn interesting full analysis (anti-SOPA) by Mashable can be read here:  http://mashable.com/2012/01/17/sopa-dangerous-opinion/
Response from the White House regarding SOPA/ PIPA https://wwws.whitehouse.gov/petitions#!/response/combating-online-piracy-while-protecting-open-and-innovative-internetIf you would like to sign the petition opposing SOPA/ PIPA, please visit  https://www.google.com/landing/takeaction/  (it takes maybe 10 seconds).


And for a lighthearted (yet educational) view of SOPA/ PIPA, please view http://techcrunch.com/2012/01/17/the-day-the-lolcats-died/

No matter which side you chose, this is a serious IP issue that will effect each of us in our IP careers. Please take the time to inform yourself.

What are your thoughts on SOPA/ PIPA?

You Know You're a 2L When...

• You no longer fear the Bluebook. In fact, you get sort of a sick pleasure out of figuring out legal citations.

Source: etsy.com via Caroline on Pinterest

• The word "internship" either makes you shudder in fear and anxiety OR makes you feel like a big-money boss.
• A professor (adjunct) tells you, "Great answer!" and you just stare at them, scared.
• You've run into at least one professor at a bar.
• You've had a full on serious and/or legal conversation with a professor while drunk.
• You've "adopted" a 1L as your own... kind of like a pet.
• You realize that if you come out of an exam feeling good, there is NO WAY you're getting an A.

Source: concurringopinions.com via Caroline on Pinterest

• You [think you] are on first-name terms with professors.... when actually you just call them by their last name.
• Stalking LinkedIn is a full-time hobby.
• You realize that you MUST do something outside of law school.
• Your friends from college have stopped calling during the week and the months of Nov.--Dec and April--May.
• Art? Who needs art on the walls? You've decorated your room with flowcharts of Agency Relationships and the Rules of Evidence.\
• You get a pitter-patter in your heart over a good suit.
• This applies to you:

Source: sunshineandpearls.tumblr.com via Caroline on Pinterest

Have any more?? Leave them in the comments section and I'll add the best!

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