The Great Glass Elevators

I can't believe I set foot back in that building again. It was this morning. A sunny but very cold day and my dad needed to get his watch. The place was the Dallas World Trade Center (no not the one in New York). Ever since my parents started their antique business here in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, they became members of the WTC. So why would I be so apprehensive about this place? Well it was 2001 and I was expected to complete a task that usually accompanies graduation from law school. You guessed it. I had to the take the State of Texas Bar Exam.

So there we were parking and going inside the building. It was much quieter than I remember but the floor number was unmistakable - 12th floor. Interestingly enough this building does have a 13th floor. What could have been. I have always been apprehensive about this place because of the 2 1/2 days that occurred that July. I remember leaving that building every day as the test went on feeling nauseous. Not to mention that I had to take the large glass elevators to get up there.

I don't know why, but I have always felt anxiety in elevators. Of course I am not afraid of heights. I don't mind being up in high environments. I have climbed mountains and enjoyed the views. What I don't like is the potential that I might fall. That the cables will break and I will plunge down out of control. Perhaps some counselor or psychiatrist will analyze that and say, "Hmm. That's interesting!" I think it is because those devices represent one of the ultimate moments when you have no control over the situation.

Well we made it out okay. I even learned that the place was even larger than I originally imagine. There are also some great jewelry shops on the floor we were on. They even measure, cut, and set there own items on-site. We later went to Central Market and Fiesta. We were in search of Turrón de Alicante my mom’s favorite dessert from Spain.

Four Interviews in Two Days

Wow. What a whirlwind couple of days. I just drove back yesterday to Dallas to spend the holidays with my parents. I was originally planning to drive back around 3 PM, but as luck would have it the tenth and final person I needed to interview called me and agreed to do it that day. So I completed 6 of 10 interviews during this week. I am sitting here watching Beverly Hills Cop II while I am typing this. I keep forgetting how intense interviewing another person can be.

The first time I did two in one day left me so tired and drained. This week I did two on Thursday and two on Friday. These last four were so rich with information. They were exactly the stories I needed to hear. Last night when I got home, I remember having not eaten all day so I managed to eat some chicken salad (yes that I actually made), but then I passed out in a chair. When my parents got home from a party they were still pretty alert. But I could not remember what my mom was trying to say about the party.

So what did I learn over two days that made me so stressed out. It can be really intense when you hear words like terror, personal hell, stress, and panic used to describe the first year of an educational experience. Hey did you know that Chris Rock was in Beverly Hills Cop II? Since these are all individuals who are first in their family to go, it is understandable that they might use these rather concerning psychological terms. I know for me it brought back some intense memories for me about my higher education experiences.

Can't wait until January 17.

Quote of the Day

[Rugen has invited Humperdinck to watch Westley being tortured]

Prince Humperdinck (Chris Sarandon): Tyrone, you know how much I love watching you work. But I've got my country's 500th anniversary to plan, my wedding to arrange, my wife to murder, and Guilder to frame for it. I'm swamped.

Count Rugen (Christopher Guest): Get some rest. If you haven't got your health, you haven't got anything.

from: Princess Bride, The (1987)[12.23.06]

Anytime You Need a Good Laugh

I have a good friend I went to college with who now has a 2 1/2 year old. Because his family lives here in Austin, I have gotten the rare treat of seeing him grow as an infant and toddler. I have found that his energy and innocence have actually increased my patience level as an adult. He is a pretty funny and cute kid who just this moment is running around the apartment trying to get our attention. Two hours ago, he successfully opened the front door (despite to bolt locks and a childproof device on the knob) before dad ran to scoop him up.

I remember the first time I came over and his dad told me he could climb out of the crib. In my excitement his uncle and I took him to his room to see it done. We walked him in, put him in the crib, and motioned him to come to us. Oh right now he has the wire of a PS2 controller in his mouth trying to make me laugh. His uncle then took out his camera phone and we recorded 60 seconds of it. We were both amazed at his creativity and laughing uncontrollably as we realized what this meant for dear old dad.

I know I am not related by blood but I have come a part of his world. In fact I have been known affectionately as "Aggie" since he learned to speak words. Darn he still can't say Erik. I think his mom and dad are practicing that with him just so he'll keep saying it. Oh, now he has a green cap cover stuck to his mouth trying to make me laugh and dancing in front of the TV. He was extremely entertaining the first time he opened the sliding door, climbed over the child gate, and wanted to blow bubbles just to name a few. I have managed to store pictures on my camera phone of various stages of his life so far. I hope he keeps his creativity and sense of humor for many years. Oh now his is trying to open the zippers and close the clips on my backpack. Yes he's been able to do that for about a year and "No" just doesn't work.

I suddenly have an incredible urge to go blow some bubbles.

Reengineering Project

You know when you have spent too much time in school. In my case it has been 13 long years moving from undergraduate to law school and finally graduate school. That's right, one can spend too much time in books thinking that all the answers can be found there. When you start college you think that your going to get all the answers. You are looking for that Holy Grail which will get you the A in every class. I know I wanted the "stereo instructions" for everything such as grades, relationships, work, etc. Then you get into law/grad school and learn about the grays. No longer to do you get nice pretty black and white answers.

Every question leads to more questions with very few answers and the answers you were so certain about are no longer so. Then you take stock of your life and realize you spent so much time in search of knowledge (well at least trying), you forgot there are things you can't learn in school. I am so close to the end of my formal schooling but I still sense that something is missing. This past weekend, I decided enough was enough. So today, I made the commitment to begin a significant personal development project. It will probably take longer than I have time left on my degree to complete, but I think it will be worth it.

Quote of the Day

"You'll have to forgive Hank. His heart's in the right place but he keeps his brain in a box at home." - Arthur (Rip Torn) from "Larry Sanders Show, The" (1992)

Sir Thomas More: Legal Ethics and Public Interest Law

Sir Thomas More (7 February 1478 — 6 July 1535) was an English lawyer, author, and statesman. During his lifetime he became a leading humanist scholar, served as Henry VIII’s Lord Chancellor from 1529 to 1532, and published Utopia in 1516. He was executed as a traitor for standing up for his convictions in opposing King Henry VIII's claim to be the supreme head of the Church of England. In 1935, More was canonized in the Catholic Church by Pope Pius XI as Saint Thomas More and later declared the patron saint of lawyers and statesmen.

I hear many stories of high school students and undergraduates aspiring to the legal profession not for the pursuit of justice, knowledge, or some other altruistic motivation. Instead the repeated response given is that they want to make money. Of course law schools are happy to cater to that pursuit. There have been very few advances and incentives for encouraging careers in public interest law, and the majority of graduates from ABA-accredited law schools still go to private law firms. Also consider that states like Texas do not require pro-bono work in the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct (it is only recommended).

How many lawyers today would be willing to stand up for their convictions and faith against the state? So what should an attorney do if s/he has a client they know is guilty but they have an excellent chance of convincing a jury of his innocence without breaking any laws (including the code). Should the attorney tell the prosecutor and/or the public? Well consider this point well. The ultimate penalty for disobeying the legal code of ethics doesn't involve death of person (as was the case with Thomas More), but it does mean the death of one's ability to practice the profession of law.

How many top-of-their class law students would be willing to sacrifice the potential for a lucrative firm position to work in public interest law? Today laypersons and lay groups have attacked legal codes of ethics (such as the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct) as self-serving of the profession rather than protecting the morals and values of society. There are also attacks that the legal profession fails to adequately serve those who need it most - those in the lowest socioeconomic stratum. What would be the most effective incentive (moral, financial, etc.) to produce a change in the career aspirations of law students and practicing attorneys?