From shifting views on legal education to new gun control measures, lawyers have plenty to talk about as summer winds down. Here are five hot topics we’d love to see YOU write about this fall.
Tips and advice for 1Ls
Sales of Black’s Law Dictionary are picking up — that’s right, law school is back in session. As a seasoned attorney, or maybe just a sage 3L, what’s your advice to new 1Ls? Whether you have great tips for internship hunting or a foolproof way to understand the rule against perpetuities, now is a great time to share your knowledge with the newest members of our profession.
Should law school be two years?
Earlier this week, President Obama told a crowd at Binghamton University, “This is probably controversial to say, but what the heck. I am in my second term, so I can say it. I believe that law schools would probably be wise to think about being two years instead of three years.” While the idea isn’t new, President Obama’s comment has stirred plenty of conversation on our Facebook and Twitter feeds.
Tell us how you would reform legal education. Should it be two years plus an apprenticeship? More like the medical school residency model? Or do you have a completely out-of-the-box idea?
Fall Fashions for Lawyers
It’s time to tuck away those summer whites and break into your fall wardrobe. Hats, emerald green, and classic prints are emerging as hot fall fashion trends. Share your tips for incorporating trendy styles into your business wardrobe, or tell us which must-have pieces every lawyer needs this season. Just make sure your hat picks match our shoes!
Tips for Advising Marijuana Start-ups and Investors
Yesterday, the Obama administration announced that it won’t block Washington and Colorado’s legalization of marijuana, provided that distribution is regulated. Marijuana remains illegal under federal law. Regulations are currently being finalized by the Washington State Liquor Control Board, and sales could begin in early 2014.
All this has investors and entrepreneurs lining up in hopes of high returns. How are you advising business clients hoping to get their piece of the marijuana brownie pie?
Let’s talk Second Amendment
With tragedies like Sandy Hook and the senseless murder of Christopher Lane fresh in our collective memories, the topic of gun control is on everyone’s mind. Yesterday, the White House announced two new executive orders to help curb gun violence. Start the conversation: share your thoughts on gun control measures and reducing gun violence in the U.S.
We encourage you to consider crafting a blog post about one of the ideas above, or any other topic that interests you. Ready to get started? Find information on submitting a post here. Have questions? Email blog@wsba.org!
Julia Nardelli Gross. Julia is the Bar’s Online Communications Specialist. She manages the Bar’s social media presence and website, and works on other member communications.
Originally from Massachusetts, Julia moved to Seattle to attend Seattle University School of Law. Outside of the office, Julia spends her time cooking, concocting natural cleaning supplies and beauty products, and travelling with her husband and daughter.
Contact Julia at juliang@wsba.org or 206.733.5951.
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lwk2431
“Yesterday, the White House announced two new executive orders to help curb gun violence.”
But nothing the President did yesterday will have even 0.0% effect on “gun violence.” The Executive Orders primarily prevent the re-importation of WWII and Korean War vintage M1 Garand rifles. The U.S. gave a great many of these to its Allies like S. Korea.
These rifles, which are not “assault rifles,” and will not take a “large capacity magazine,” are of interest primarily to collectors and individuals interested in owning a piece of American history. Some of these rifles might have served on the beaches of Normandy on D-Day or at Bastogne in the Battle of the Bulge.
These guns are of absolutely no interest to criminals or psychopaths. They don’t figure into crime statistics at all. So banning their re-import will obviously have no effect other than to deprive law abiding citizens of a piece of history.
Some people refurbish and use M1s in service rifle matches that restrict firearms to “service grade” M1 Garands (not fancied up target rifles). So I guess it will make target shooting more expensive given the limited number of M1 Garands currently in the U.S. That is a worthy goal, I guess – maybe Pres. Obama defines collecting and target shooting as “gun violence”?
“Start the conversation: share your thoughts on gun control measures and reducing gun violence in the U.S.”
If you want to reduce gun violence there are things that could be done. Push for more people to carry legally concealed handguns. Criminals are intimidated by citizens with guns and interviews with violent criminals in prison show that they are more often more afraid of armed citizens than the police.
Gun control largely works to make it more difficult for law abiding citizens to get or own firearms while inconveniencing criminals not at all. Americans use firearms somewhere between 100,000 and 2,500,000 times a year in self defense (depending on who’s research you believe).
If you really want to reduce gun violence rethink the War on Drugs. Most gun violence is inner cities and involves drug traffic and gangs.
lwk
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