Author Archives: Christine Napoleon, JD

Flying Books and More. . .

Good luck to the students with exams this week! 

Whether you are taking the bar or finishing up summer classes, you can, finally, allow yourself to enjoy the rest of the summer.  Though most of you probably feel that you cannot relax until you have your results in your hand and know without a doubt that you have passed, remember that there really is nothing you can do to expedite this process. 

What you can do, however, is to take your mind away from your exams and results by doing fun activities. One such activity is watching movies like this one that won the Academic Award for Best Short Film in February 2012: The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore.  Described by some as an “allegory on the curative powers of the story,” this movie takes a whimsical look at how books can make a difference in your life–something my librarian soul agrees with wholeheartedly!!

Time Well Wasted!!

Weekends don’t count unless you spend them doing something completely pointless.

                                                                                                               –Bill Watterson

With the bar and finals approaching, most of you probably view the arrival of yet another weekend with both dread and delight! Dread that there are only a few more weekends between you and the exams; delight that you are almost done. Dread that there is so much more you have to study; delight that you might be able to do something fun or get some much needed rest. Dread that you are going to waste time this weekend, delight that you have time to waste this weekend….While it is important to be prepared for your exams, it is also important to pace yourself and take breaks—both physical and mental so that you do not burn out!!

With a little planning, your time can be both well-spent and well-wasted!

So, here are some fun choices….

For me, this weekend is all about Spidey! Watch the Amazing Spider-Man in action at a theater near you or the IMAX to enjoy spine-tingling special effects and rate your spider senses. However, if a masked superhero is not your cup of tea, how about a crusader of a different mettle? Learn what law and justice really means from Atticus Finch as he takes on the case of his life in the classic, To Kill a Mockingbird.

Enjoy the hot weather! Go to the beach and get some sun (don’t forget the sunblock), or take advantage of summer deals like the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens’ offer of tickets at half-price for those days that the temperature is predicted to hit 92 or higher.  Make sure you print the coupon from their website before you visit the Zoo. In addition, the grand opening of the Riverside Arts Market is on Saturday.

No matter what you decide to do this weekend, remember to spend some time well-wasted!!

To Do or Not To Do: Professionalism and the Lawyer

Only one week before summer officially begins! Yes! Yes! Yes!

It’s wonderful to imagine that you’ll spend your time having fun at the beach, travelling, or indulging in various other forms of entertainment.  Reality, however, often falls short. For most law students, summer is the time for externships, internships, clinics, summer school, and bar prep!

One thing to keep in mind this summer, as you work towards your goals, is that the legal world is a small one and that your reputation follows you around.  You don’t want to be either of these “stellar” examples: Vegas Lawyer; Florida Lawyer. 

While it might be fun to read about or watch these lawyers, do you want to be remembered for being unprofessional?

The Agony and the Ecstasy!!

Guts and Glory; or Blood, Sweat, and Tears? With sports, it always depends on if your side is winning or losing, or the level of violence involved. This is the perfect weekend to experience the highs and lows of organized sports; there is something for everyone! Some of the options are the Stanley Cup playoffs (Go Canucks!!), UFC, and the Roller Derby. 

If you are not into the agony and ecstasy of organized sports, maybe you want to check out all things Turkish at the Turkish Festival, or visit the Tour de Farm event, which showcases Northeast Florida farmers, free food, and more.

Whatever you choose to do, make sure you enjoy the penultimate weekend before finals.

The Lighter side of Research!

Hope you enjoyed your spring break and are ready to get back into the swing of things!

Still working on your ALWRs, MSJs, or other legal research projects? Next week, we are offering Workshops in low cost legal research because sometimes Westlaw and LexisNexis do not provide all the answers.

Here is a fun look at legal research: Research tips; Why you should take breaks!; Westlaw vs.LexisNexis

Mid-Term Exams, Daytona or Orlando?

Many of you have mid-term exams next week, so it might be a good idea to buckle down and hit the books this weekend!  Remember that study aids from the Academic Success Collection can be checked out for 3 days at a time.  Also, try to get some rest in between those marathon study sessions.

However, for those of you who are fortunate enough not to have mid-term exams and would like a fun, action-filled weekend, there are a couple of options! You could head to Daytona for the Daytona 500, or catch the NBA All-Stars in action in Orlando.