EXCERPTS FROM "IMPOSED WISDOM" - Fall 2015-Spring 2016-Summer 2016
Excerpts from Journal Responses which were sent in reply to Journals submitted by University of Hawai‘i School of Law students serving academic Externships in various venues in and about Hawai‘i, and elsewhere are included hereinbelow. They are segregated into academic years: Fall-Spring-Summer for each Semester that I served as Director of the Externship Program. To see if a Journal response that I sent to YOU is included, HIGHLIGHT the link and click on go to https:
All Journal Responses are anonymous and harvested from my book, "Imposed Wisdom." Just for fun, check it out. You'll get a pretty accurate picture of who I am, what I value and treasure about my years at Richardson and which carry on into the future. " ... that's Dale."
Below, ten Teasers from the Fall 2015-Spr 2016-Summer 2016 Semesters. To see ALL of the Journal Response excerpts (they are all there), HIGHLIGHT the below link and press "Go to: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_80dwkOGDrXMk1ITlhvcUw2eWM/view?usp=sharing"
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_80dwkOGDrXMk1ITlhvcUw2eWM/view?usp=sharing
I went back to look at a prior Journal Response sent to you, thinking, "I bet your confidence and rhythm are something that I predicted in a prior Journal Response." Sure enough, I did, and what you have described is exactly as anticipated. I especially liked your description about how you delayed and "prolonged the inevitable ..." in writing, and how you are reaching beyond your "comfort zone" into the arena of confidence that pushes you well past that, now. It IS what we want and it is what you deserve. After all, as said before, we can introduce you to doors that you might want to try to open, but we don't open them for you. YOU do. And well, I might say! You are immersing yourself in an absolutely critical movement, and the chaos associated with a physical move and a new office protocol over which you had little or no control surely added unneeded stress and anxiety. You would not be blamed if you said: "I DON'T need this." Still, like a trooper, you mention it as a preamble (almost in passing), then slide quickly past it all, and report that you dove into the substance of the law and quickly embraced a new perspective than you had before - a transformation, of sorts, in a good way. Once again, I reiterate: the work that you are doing is critical and most important. Pour yourself into it.
Becoming the "whole person," the confident professional, the "good man." It's a journey - not a destination. Keep it going.
Thank you for this candid Journal - it is one that properly characterizes the disorganization at the Office - which gave me pause at first. Then, as I read further, I was buoyed by YOUR resourcefulness and initiative, which ended this Journal on an absolute HIGH. I applaud you for doing more, seeking out opportunities to be supportive of the Office and for taking charge and doing something truly useful and positive. You may well have chucked this experience off, but you did not - even as I know that it must have been frustrating for you. Not a negative reflection on your Mentor - the office disorganization and her inability to properly use you and your already advanced skills is a consequence of the enormity of her duties and the breadth of the responsibilities that she bears - quite frankly, almost insurmountable in my mind. She surely does need your expertise and help and I can imagine that when she has a moment to reflect on what you have added to her office's mission - she will surely be grateful. So, BRAVO to you for doing as you have. What you have done by enjoining the two groups is truly outstanding, if not unsung. We speak so much in law school about "making a difference." YOU HAVE.
Sometimes, in the midst of trial, lawyers will not object when an appropriate objection might have been made. Reasons? There are many.
1. Oftentimes, it is because in the scheme of the whole, the objection is not made because the answer is not going to be that harmful, or will be harmless.
2. Other times, it is because the lawyer wants to avoid the "Jack in The Box" syndrome. You know, Question. Pop up. "Objection!" Question. Pop up. "Objection!" Question. etc., etc. .... sometimes one senses that the Jury will start saying "Oh, oh, there she goes again!" So, one lets it slide.
3. Then, more often than not, it is because the lawyer doesn't know or have a command of the rules - and it goes over her head.
Ask her later, and she'll say, "Yeah, I didn't object because I was adhering to nos. 1 & 2 ... but not 3! Yeah, right.
You made me laugh out loud. You wrote "Appellate Clerks do most of the writing ... makes me wonder who drafted the opinions for all of the cases that I've read."The opinion that you found so astute may have been written by someone who you knew, and you will stop and think - "him??? or her??? No way!"
The ART of the LUNCH. Very important, although most often overlooked. Office bonding, sharing, commiserating, helping. All of those interpersonal things that one needs. One doesn't get that sitting at one's desk in front of a computer. Take it a step further: The business lunch. A critical skill. Be a social animal.
"What goes around comes around," however, in this context, the connotation is a positive rather than a negative. Indeed, the relationships, connections and familiarities gained as a result of this Externship will be repeated in the future, literally no matter where you find yourself.
This Externship is not your first Round-Up. You've "been there, done that," in other contexts, albeit not legal and not at the Appellate Court level. Thus, "lowly law student" that you are, you ARE capable of reading "1,000+ pages of documents and cutting it down to a relatively few pages ..." Why? In those 1,000 pages I dare say that there's a whole lot of, how shall I say, "stuff that doesn't add to the inquiry. It’s universal. You’ve encountered it before. It’s known as B.S."
Say, just look at YOU, rubbing shoulders with the “high maka-makas,” and working side-by side with them. And, fitting right in, I might say.
Whether you realize it or not, this kind of Journal is one of the reasons we have Journal requirements. I am appreciative of the thought devoted to, and the depth of your reflection - finding one’s self conflicted after a first year of classes and then, a visit to the real world for the Summer is not uncommon, and certainly, useful as one looks out at the horizon and ponders: "is this where I find personal and professional satisfaction?" Press on. "Man Plans, God laughs. There's many, many options for you to explore before you find that one place/thing that sparks you. You will find that niche where you look forward to going to the office (or wherever it may be) each day. The law gives you so many tools - only you know what feels the best and how to best use them.
"... that's Dale."
