Wills for Heroes

I don't think I have posted about this before, but I volunteer occasionally to assist a team of lawyers with creating and executing wills (and powers of attorney) for first responders in the Chicago area.  It's something I've wanted to do for years, but when I worked with the courts, I wasn't allowed to do pro bono work.

In October, I joined Wills for Heroes at the Geneva, IL fire station.  I manned a station with another female lawyer and we filled out forms for two or three wills for first responders.  It was really nice to talk with them and try to inject some humor into talking about your own death on a Saturday morning.  It was also kind of surreal, because the fire alarm went off in the middle of one of our client interviews.  (He didn't have to go put out the fire.)

They also had some hilarious stories.  While we were waiting for our client's wife to call back with some vital information, I asked him what his best story was.  Characteristic for these men, he said humbly that he had no good stories.  Upon further prodding, he admitted that he did have one:  while he was chasing a shoplifter, the shoplifter took off her clothes and squirted all of the pursuing officers with breast milk.  (My table partner asked the obvious question:  "What kind of range did she get?"  Answer:  "Four or five feet.")

So, when I learned of another Wills for Heroes event taking place this weekend, I jumped at it.  This one was at Chicago Police Headquarters at 35th and Michigan.  And this time, they were running low on "experts," who are the people who actually review the finished wills and help the clients with signing / witnessing / notarization.  I felt very fancy with my red "expert" badge.

I got there with plenty of time to spare and parked in the type of large parking lot that only police enjoy in the city.  The entrance had two long glass cases of gleaming silver badges, which I assumed were awards for service.  (More on those in a minute.)

At first, I was at a table with another expert, and we had a lot of fun with two different sets of clients.  Again, lots of joking, lots of personal chit chat.  Then, I had to move tables because they didn't have enough experts, so I did two more on my own.  On my own!  It was really fun.  My favorite client was very chatty about a particular pound cake recipe that included 7-Up, so he wrote out the recipe for me.

I left feeling really great about helping these brave men and women.  One thing I noticed was that a lot of Chicago police are married to other members of the force.  In my favorite couple, the wife was one of the only female officers assigned to the Englewood neighborhood in the 1970s.  Crazy stories there.

On my way out, I stopped to look closer at the cases of badges I had noticed on my way in.  Instead of being awards for service, they were medals to honor officers killed in the line of duty.  There really was no greater reminder for me of the importance of what I had done that day - helping to ensure that these officers, who put their life on the line and have a very real threat of death on duty, have full legal protection in case the worst happens.

Do wizards not have lawyers?

I have been re-reading the Harry Potter series, and I must say, so far it has been quite enjoyable indeed.  However, I've noticed a lot of holes that I've never noticed before.  One of them was, where did Voldemort's wand go after he was "killed" in Godric's Hollow?  Apparently J.K. Rowling has said that Peter Pettigrew went back and got it, and I guess that's fine.  

But this one from Book 4 I'm having a lot of trouble with:  Harry must compete in the Triwizard Tournament because after his name was submitted and accepted, there was a "binding magical contract."  I think that this contract is void (not merely voidable) for at least three reasons:

1. Forgery:  Harry did not put his own name into the Goblet.
2. Fraud:  The fake Moody admits that he put Harry's name in under another school, which presumably would not exist (or at least would not compete in the Triwizard Tournament).
3. Incapacity:  Harry is not only under the age limitation imposed on the contest, but the age limitation is also the age of majority for wizards:  17.  As Harry is only 14, he cannot sign any contract on his own but must have a parent or guardian sign on his behalf (and wizards do recognize this rule, see Harry's permission slip in Book 3).

Do wizards not have lawyers or courts?  Sheesh.

Last day downtown

I have been commuting to downtown Chicago since shortly after I began writing this blog six years ago.  In every season, in every weather, and in good times and bad, I have bought my month passes and dutifully walked miles every day around this fair city.


That time has come to an end, at least for the time being.  I have taken a position in the Development Office of Northwestern University's Evanston campus - a job I could not be more thrilled to have.  And I do love Evanston.  But there's just something about Chicago.

I think I will miss three things the most.  First, I will miss taking the train with Dave every day and doing my Sudoku and crossword puzzles.  


Second, I will miss running into people on the street and being able to attend free social drinking events at DePaul or the Chicago Bar Association.  


And third (and most dire), I will sorely miss my Daley Center farmers' markets.  I know that Palatine and Evanston have markets, but I developed a rapport and familiarity with the vendors at the Daley Center, and I will miss them.  (Of course, I can always send Dave to buy peaches for me...  And where else can I find Cox's Orange Pippin apples?!)


Now I think I will iterate some stories from these crazy years:


The first time the Drum Bum yelled "We got DePaul in the house!" when he saw me approaching.


The time that the "peach people" told me that they call me "the peach lady."


Cupcakes with Judge McGing.


The time the "Happy Wednesday!" bum walked with me on Madison Street and called me "sunshine," all while asking me what my problem was and why I wouldn't give him any money.


Drinks with Chad during law school, missing about five trains, and forgetting to tell Dave that I missed the trains (so Dave went to the station to pick me up anyway).


Oral arguments at the Appellate Court.


Drinks at Sonnenschein in the Sears Tower.


Coogan's with Judge Rogers.


Studying for the bar exam in Millennium Park.


Monthly lunches with Diane.


Untold numbers of people getting hit by trains and screwing up my commute.


The time there was a bomb threat at the Daley Center and hiding out in a law friend's firm until it blew over.


Interviewing at law firms in virtually every building in the Loop, and getting rejected from all of them (except for my clerkship at Peck Bloom).

Epic snowstorm during first year of law school that almost prevented me from turning in a legal writing final.


The time I bought 20 lb. of tomatoes from the Federal Plaza farmers' market and lugging them around town all day.


The after-finals party, first semester of first year of law school.


Graduation at the Civic Opera House.


Taking the bar exam at Loyola Law School near Watertower Place.


Burgers at Epic Burger and Hackney's.


Mid-term drinks during first year of law school with a certain unnamed professor at DePaul who told us that he could "drink us all under the table" because he is "Jewish and deviant."


The Blackhawks rally in 2010, which I watched from the 11th floor of the Daley Center.


Random weirdos on the Metra, including a guy who shouted "Shut the f**k up, lady!" to someone on her cell phone, as well as a guy having an argument with his wife:  "Not now, I'm on the train...  GodDAMNIT, Becky!"


Monthly meetings with my lawyer mentor circle, where I learned a lot about the kind of work I want to be doing as a lawyer (and more specifically, the kind I don't ever want to do).

I'm sure I'm forgetting a lot, but this is a pretty good sample of my experiences.  (And looking back, I'm realizing that I should probably take Dave's advice and not engage with bums so directly...)  

The more things change...

I am thrilled to announce that I have a job at Northwestern University, and although it is starting out as a part-time thing, it sounds like I should be going full-time in a few months.  I'm with the trusts & estates area of the Development Office, which basically processes alumni gifts that are made in the form of a will, trust, insurance policy, etc.  It is really interesting, everyone is really nice, and I am so glad I found something at a non-profit university where my degree is a plus (and not a minus).

The funny part is that tonight I went to my annual DePaul Law Review Alumni event, where we meet with all classes of the Law Review and award a distinguished alumni.  I had worried I would feel ashamed (given my recent employment worries) at not being more successful since graduating.  When I was walking in, I realized that I am really, really proud to have been an active, published member of the DePaul Law Review and its board.  That is something no one will ever be able to take away from me, even if I never again practice law.  I have my article (on Westlaw and in libraries!) and I have my contribution to student authors.  I was a part of something with great people, and it was a fantastic time in my life.

During the event, there was a lot of talk about what it means to be a lawyer and to have a career in the law.  I realized that I don't have to totally leave behind everything about the law.  I will always have my knowledge and experience, and of course the people I met.  Hanging out with my successful classmates, I was able to introduce everyone to judges and justices that I met during my tenure at court, and I realized that never in my wildest childhood dreams did I ever think that I would be rubbing elbows with the likes of these people.

Life is good.

Back, kind of

I wasn't going to post until I had good news to share, but I don't really know when that will be, so I just decided to post because I had been kind of wanting to.


Some difficulties with my employment situation have made me strongly question a career in the law.  Everyone in my women's mentor circle is miserable in private practice, and my work in government has shown me problems there, too.  I used to believe that I wanted to be a career clerk, but I now know that that career is neither desirable, nor really possible.  But I'm almost 30 years old and my career is unsettled.  That kind of feels like a failure.


I have thought long and hard about what I really want to do with this life of mine.  I truly value my free time, hobbies, and part-time jobs.  I do not think that my decision to attend law school was a very good one, so I do not feel compunction about going down a path where a J.D. is not required.  In fact, based on my personal gut feeling about the jobs I have been applying to lately, I am done with the law entirely.

Today I had an interview that was quite possibly my last interview with a law firm, ever.  I was not excited about the work, and the billable hour minimum requirement was higher than I'd ever even heard of.  I realized that even if I was offered this job, I would not take it.  I wish I could say that I stood up and left right there and then, but I waited until tonight and sent them an e-mail to withdraw my candidacy.  That felt pretty good.


I've got some items in the works, and I'm currently temping at a fun position with a fun company.  I really hope that I'm able to break into a new career soon, and I've got a lot of pending applications and contacts.  I don't want to say anything to jinx it, because I have a lot of ups and downs in the last few months.  But to cheer myself up, and as a sort of personal mantra, I thought I'd list some things that are crappy, along with reasons I'm thankful anyway.


First and foremost, my dad is sick with leukemia again and needs another bone marrow transplant this summer.  This has been a constant source of worry for my family.  BUT...  At least he is still here.  I can still pick up a phone and call my dad, or drive an hour south to see him, and that is something that a lot of people wish they could say.


Second, I realize that my time in the law has had its ups and downs, and sometimes it has felt like a huge mistake and waste of time and money.  BUT...  I don't know if I'd be considering the really exciting and valuable jobs that I'm applying for now if I hadn't been down like I have been down.  And, I am thankful to have the really great part-time gigs that I have.  Teaching crochet and knitting classes has been a really great time for the last five years, and I'd like to continue into the indefinite future.


And finally, some of my friends' marriages have been falling apart, which really sucks.  These are people whose weddings I attended.  BUT...  I still have a strong relationship with Dave, and more than any professional goal, I have always sought to have a loving relationship with a man like him.


I am lucky.

Hiatus

I don't pretend that there are very many people who read this blog, but I thought I would let my few readers know that I am going on hiatus for a bit.  You might have noticed that I haven't published any posts for a few weeks, and this isn't because I'm lazy or I've been hibernating.  I'm going through a rough patch, and there are some things that are happening in my life right now that I just can't post about. 

Don't worry; everyone is healthy (except for Dad, but he's still kickin' it), I just have to take a break.  I'll be back.

My first opinion

As most of my readers (a.k.a. Mom and Diane) know, I got a new job at the Illinois Appellate Court. It's been a wild ride so far, but I wanted to post a link to my first opinion, which was filed on September 30 (last Friday).

Here it is!

I don't know how long that link will be good, but I figured I'd post it to mark the occasion. It was a civil case about a car crash, and it stirred my memory of first-year torts cases. My next case is criminal, which has been a learning experience!

Lesson 1: Vehicle blunders

Most readers of this blog have some idea of the types of cases I work with: appeals of City of Chicago fines up to $50,000. About half of these are parking, registration, or vehicle equipment tickets under $250. And many of them could have been prevented, saving much money and emotional hardship (and I'm talking both for the ticket recipient and myself).

Obviously I'm not giving legal advice here, this is just a list of ways to stay out of common pitfalls that I see in court every day. Here are some rules to live by in Chicago:

When you move, change your license and registration ASAP.

This is for several reasons. Number one, you are legally obligated to do so. Number two, you risk missing your license plate renewal by mail. These are both pretty straight-forward.

Number three, if any by-mail tickets are issued to you, they will go to the wrong address, you will be defaulted, and it will be your fault. The tickets will double and you won't be allowed to vacate the default.

Don't let anyone drive or ride in your car if there is even a slight possibility that they are carrying drugs.

If someone is caught in your vehicle with drugs, the vehicle is getting impounded and you will probably lose the car. This is true whether it's yours and you're driving, whether it's a passenger, or whether you're not in the car and someone borrowed it. And if a relative or friend took the car without your knowledge, that applies, too, unless you report it stolen. Many people don't do this because they don't want their loved one to get arrested. But will your loved one reimburse you when they lose your car to the City of Chicago?

STOP AT RED LIGHTS.

This one seems obvious, but people somehow seem to think that they will contest these red light camera tickets and win. You will, in all likelihood, not. They have you on camera and they can watch you blow right through the light. There is no defense. And if you can turn right on red in the intersection, you can make the turn even if there are cameras present, but you must stop first.

This is personally starting to bug me a lot in my suburb; even at intersections where right turns on red are allowed, people are refusing to make them because they're afraid of the camera. Sigh...

No tint allowed in front windows!

This is something that people don't understand for three reasons. Number one, dealers are allowed to sell cars with front tinted windows within the City. (I think this is just a problem of uneven enforcement.) Number two, car shops are allowed to install tint in the City of Chicago. (I think this is just difficult to police.) And number three, the Illinois statute on the subject allows tint up to a certain level on all windows.

It's the last one that really seems to be popular lately, and I can understand why people would think that the higher law rules. But in this case, the City of Chicago has home rule authority (granted by the State of Illinois) to enact stricter ordinances relating to vehicle equipment, and windows are vehicle equipment. The home rule power does not allow the City to change the rules of the road or other statutes, but it does allow the tint. This is a serious ticket - $250.00 a pop, and no warnings issued. If you have tinted front windows, I would stay out of the City!

And lastly...

Careful where you park...

The City of Chicago has tons of revenue officers driving and walking around the city constantly, just itching to give you a ticket. Do not give them a reason to give you a ticket. If you want to park in a questionable spot, the best idea is just to leave it and find another spot. Here are some places that you can never park in Chicago, under Municipal Code of Chicago 9-64-110 and others:

• Blocking sidewalk (AT ALL)
  
• On a bridge
• Under a viaduct or underpass (this includes railroad and L tracks, although strangely you can park under L tracks in the Loop)
• Bus stops or taxi stands
  

This is important because the City doesn't have to post signs to ticket you for these violations. Also, you can only park in an alley if (1) you're engaged in loading or unloading and (2) the car isn't taking up the whole alley. All of this is in the municipal code, and if you're going to be parking in Chicago, I would read it if I were you.

So, that's the end of my rant - I would like to think that, after this job, I know more about parking in the City of Chicago than many lifelong residents. If you have questions about parking, you should read the code or contact an attorney / alderman in your area. Good luck out there, and stay safe!

Lesson 2: Judging, judges, and judgment

I work with judges all day, every day, and since these men and women seem very elusive and mysterious to the general population (and lawyers at large), I thought I'd share some of the things I learned about judges and their careers at the bench.

Judging kind of sucks

Judging is hard. I think a lot of people (and I was one of them) thought it would be easy to be a judge - each side presents its argument, you decide which one is obviously correct, and you enter judgment accordingly. Unfortunately, fact situations can be heart-wrenchingly difficult to decide, especially when you know that one side is always going to walk out of your courtroom angry.

And it can be especially difficult to decide a case on review, as my judge and I do. The standards for over-turning an administrative law judge's rulings are high. And we also have a parade of pro se, confused people who were either churned out of the system like sausage, or who are habitual liars. It can be hard to tell who's who.

And lastly, it's hard to have real job security as a judge. You can be moved to a different courthouse or section on a whim, and not always to somewhere you want to go, and your job is dependent upon elections. I have seen judges lose their job or get kicked back to the circuit court after a short stint in the appellate court, such that celebration gets turned into resignation all too quickly.

Judges are real people, and some of them are very weird

Judges can seem intimidating. Just think of the judge in "My Cousin Vinny." Attorneys really only see the personal side of judges after they have been appearing in front of the judge for a very long time, or when you see the judge at a social event. (And doing so can remind you of the first time you saw a teacher at the super market - you think, "Oh my god, they don't just live at work?")

I see a different side of judges on a day-to-day basis. Judges are, for the most part, very, very kind. They have hilarious spouses, kids that frustrate and worry them, and former careers doing much the same as any other attorney. One of my judges loves my baked goods to a degree I never thought possible. Another judge in the Daley Center is semi-famous for his obsession with roller coasters. Judges tease each other, worry for each other, and celebrate with each other.

I think I always thought that judges' chambers were necessarily stuffy and formal, and I'm glad I've been able to see the other side.

Judges know everyone

When I started my job and began walking around the courthouse with my judge (after all, I am an "elbow" clerk!), it immediately became apparent to me that this man KNOWS EVERYONE. Everyone. We can't walk down the street without stopping to say hi or catch up with someone, and people are constantly calling his office to say hello. In fact, at my cousin's wedding two weekends ago, my judge knew one of the groomsmen from his time as village supervisor in the western suburbs. Who knew!

And almost all of my judges in the Housing Section knew the appellate justice that I'm going to work for next week, and they all dutifully called over to recommend me. I owe them so much and have no way of repaying them, except perhaps in baked goods!

Lesson 3: The bad side of government work

There is no good without bad - no light without dark. I love working for the government, but here are some of the downsides.

Income

As a judicial law clerk, I made only slightly more per year than the job I left to attend law school. I know that state's attorneys, public defenders, etc. don't make much more than that. I didn't expect that I would make very much money at this job, but it has been fine because I have a roommate/husband and less debt than most.

Many government attorneys are being forced to take second jobs as bartenders, waitresses, painters, etc. to make ends meet. (This has been true for years.) It would be much more difficult if I was single, because it's difficult to live on a small salary in the City of Chicago without a roommate.

The salary doesn't bother me that much, because I know I work fewer hours and have a better quality of life than many of my friends in private practice. But every now and then, the vast difference in salaries astounds me: is the work of a biglaw associate worth four to six times what my work is worth, even if we graduated from the same school, earned similar grades, and were both on law review?

Furloughs

Furloughs are a big downside to government work these days. Take our already low salary and give us another 5 to 15 percent pay cut, because that's what furlough is: unpaid leave. The City of Chicago was up to 24 or 25 furlough days per year before they stopped the furlough days earlier this summer - so that's basically like going a whole month without pay. Ouch.

Cook County is requiring employees like me to take 10 furlough days before November, although since I'm leaving far before then and haven't taken any furlough days, I really don't know what's going to happen. (I hope I don't have to take any against my accrued vacation time.)

Politics affect your job

Dave and I have both seen this. Dave's job has been threatened multiple times by government shutdowns in the past six months, and my job is threatened by Cook County budget cuts. The court unions voted about whether to take layoffs or furlough, but my job was affected by that vote even though I'm not in a union.

Everyone hates you

OK, this isn't exactly true, but it kind of is. Everyone thinks government workers are lazy and overpaid (hah!), and I think this is particularly because no one knows exactly what you do. As long as there is food in the grocery, widely available TV and internet, and smooth roads, I don't think the average American really gives a shit about very much.

In the Daley Center, I can tell you that most of the public I meet are friendly and just want some directions or help. But some of them feel totally screwed by the system, and guess who's going to get the brunt of their displeasure? The judge, court clerk, and myself, that's who, even if it's the City of Chicago that took their car away or fined them.

And Dave has been really disheartened by how little the public seemed to care about the government shut-down, even though he helps students every day and brings money back into the government from loans that should not have been disbursed. No one sees what he does, so no one thinks he needs a job.

It can be very disheartening, but I just try to help the people that I can help and make a difference in some lives. The ones that I am able to help are really grateful, and I am always glad when I can make someone's day by reversing a fine that shouldn't have been levied.

And, finally:

Public courthouses are like Soviet Russia

I saved this for last because it's the most humorous, and pretty much speaks for itself. I have no idea how old my computer is at the Daley Center, but let me tell you, it's got some problems. Trying to get office supplies, such as paper, staples, tape, bulletin boards, etc., is like trying to find jeans in Soviet Russia. Every time we need a ream of paper, our office manager sighs and goes around to barter god-knows-what. She comes back with the paper, and we still have no idea where it comes from.

Of course, times are tight, and all businesses are cutting back on office supplies. But in the Daley Center, it can get pretty bad. When the new court calendars came out in 2011, I wasn't able to get one, so one of the seasoned clerks had to go around to his sources to obtain one. A CALENDAR.

Dave's office is bad, too - when their microwave broke, they just pooled together to buy a new one rather than submitting a requisition to Washington, D.C., because apparently the last time this happened, it took them years to get a new microwave. And this is in a branch of the feds that actually brings money back into the government by taking back student loan money!

In short, government work can be hard, but it's still a good lifestyle and very rewarding. I wouldn't have it any other way.

Lesson 4: The good side of government work

Attorneys have been doing a lot of talking in the past few years about work-life balance. This idea was first introduced to me during my professional ethics class in law school, when we read this article. Written by a then-professor and former biglaw litigator, the article urged law students to consider a career in public service as an alternative to high-paying attorney gigs. The money is less, but what is your time with family, friends, and yourself worth to you?

At the time, I agreed with the article but didn't think I had much of a chance at actually landing a government job, let alone a career. I had failed at multiple applications to various positions, and I was convinced that I was going to have to take the first crappy, long-hour position that I managed to obtain.

So glad I was wrong!

I was very lucky to land my clerkship, and it has been a great position. I get to work with judges on real cases, I have reasonable hours and decent benefits, and I have made so many networking connections that I can't even count them. And my judge is the nicest man I have ever met. (Judges as a rule are pretty friendly and nice, but my judge really takes the cake.)

And every day, I realize how lucky I am compared to the attorneys I know who are unhappy in their law firm jobs. Maybe it has always been this way in the profession, but I feel that work-life balance is getting worse even as pay gets worse, simply because graduates have nowhere else to go. Even as my career gets better, I try vehemently to discourage law school hopefuls from actually matriculating.

I was lucky, many of my friends were not.

As a result of working in government, I have been able to have my evenings free, to take vacations when I want to, and have my work days free of the professional stress that billable hours and workplace competition can have on new attorneys. I appreciate that a great deal, and I think it's important if I'm going to maintain my relationship and life in the way it's been going.

And my job gave me the connections, experience, and mindset necessary to transition to my new job, which, again, I am lucky to have. I hope this post didn't come across as too braggy, I just mainly wanted to convey to the universe how grateful I am that my chips landed in the way that they did.

But, you know that there is no good without the bad. Tomorrow, the dark side of government work!

Lesson 5: I love working in the Loop

This is my last week at my clerking job in the Circuit Court, so I figured I'd go through some lessons I learned at this job. I did this when I left my first job (see the posts at 7/31/2006 through 8/4/2006) - and wow, it's hard to believe I've been doing this blog for that long.

Anyway, here's the first in the countdown:

Lesson #5: I love working in Chicago's Loop!

This one is not exactly surprising, but I figured I'd start with an easy one.

I've worked in the Loop before, and I went to law school here, but working in a full-time, semi-permanent capacity is different. People all know where you're at, you're going to the same building every day, you're learning new places to eat for lunch - it's great!

The building I work in is also a very cool place to be - the Daley Center is at the heart of the Loop, a quick walk to everything, has a great view, and the plaza is always full of some activity, regardless of season. My farmers' market, food festivals, the Christkindlmarkt... It's all right downstairs, for me!

It's also incredibly easy to meet up with friends for lunch, and also to attend events at bar associations or other professional gatherings. And even stuff you didn't plan happens, like running into old friends or classmates on the street. I see someone pretty much every week.

I'm giving up my view of the roof of City Hall / the County Building to go over to the State of Illinois Building (a.k.a. the Bilandic Building), which doesn't have as nice a view. But it's only one block away from where I'm at now, so my commute, market, and meal habits won't be disrupted!

The last thing that I love about working in the Loop is really the most nebulous - it's the energy and pulse you feel when you're part of something so grand and vast. I had a friend once compare commuting to rushing around like an ant or cattle herd, and it's partially true. But the city is also beautiful and vibrant, especially at night. And the holiday decorations will bring a tear to your eye. I love walking around on the street, never knowing what I will see or what will happen.

It's the city of broad shoulders, beautiful Chicago.

Talk about "soft skills..."

While I am happy in my job and am not looking for another one at present, I do search the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin for some under- or unemployed friends. Today I found a strange job posting that seeks attorneys with...

"...a demonstrated belief in the importance of helping clients make a significant difference in their lives."

There are no other qualifications listed, not even number of years of practice. If they hadn't actually used the word "associate" in the post, I would think that the language would equally apply to providing the firm's clients with yoga classes?

We're talkin' softball

The judges of the 1st Municipal and Law Divisions get together every year and play a softball game, followed by epic food at the beautiful home of the Law Division Supervising judge.

I headed up to Lake Shore Drive Field today thinking that I would be a spectator, but apparently they needed more females on the field - even one still dressed in work clothes and velcro shoes, such as myself.

It was a fun game, and as I've never played 16-inch softball before, I don't think I did too poorly. In my first at-bat, I got to first base and all the way around to third before the last out of the inning. In my second, I was out at first, but I batted in a run, so that was something.

I was placed at center field, and I was really hoping the ball would never come to me. It only got near me once, and I pretty much flubbed it. I was afraid to catch it sans mitt.

From the Housing Section, Judge McGing made an appearance as first base coach - they took pity on him and didn't make him play in a full suit. So he rocked a cigar and manned the first base station throughout the game, even offering some nice suggestions to the other team's runners. ("Yeah, yeah, keep running to second! HAH!")

In the end, the game was closer than it's been in years, but the Law Division still whooped us as usual.

The food at Judge Maddux's home afterward was delicious, and his home was truly beautiful and amazing. It felt like we were in a magazine. Dave took some ribbing about how I was out in the field and he wasn't, and apparently (based on the general comments), I did better than people expect a girl to do. I guess that's all I can hope for!

Caught a late train home and picked up some food for bunny, who was waiting not-so-impatiently. It was a good night and a lot of fun.

Maybe this is why the economy failed

I read through the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin classifieds every day to send job postings to my under- or unemployed attorney friends. Today I saw one that really makes me sad.

Wanted: Disbarred lawyer wanted for mortgage Loan Company, present position Palatine, IL. This will give you some income while you put your life back in order. American Home Finance (number withheld for this blog)

What the hell?! Great, so finance companies are running around purposefully hiring disbarred attorneys to deal with loans? Umm, do they know that many disbarred attorneys lost their licenses over financial issues?

Siggghhhhhh. This posting is almost as depressing as the bankruptcy / divorce attorney position in Pekin, IL for under $30K (with no vacation).

Val does jury duty!

Well, I was FINALLY summoned for jury duty! I have wanted to go for years, and I was summoned to the criminal courthouse at 26th Street. I always meant to visit this courthouse during law school but never found the right time. The chief judge told me that today was the right time.

I figure today's post will read best as a timeline. So here's how I spent my day:

7:15 a.m. - Leave house.

8:30 a.m. - Arrive at 26th Street courthouse. Breeze by parking attendants without being checked for jury summons. Breeze through attorney check-in line without anyone checking my attorney ID badge. I guess I must look like I know what I'm doing.

8:35 a.m. - Check in on jury floor and begin waiting. I notice that at least one of my fellow jurors looks like a serial killer.

9:40 a.m. - Watch video on jury service, partially narrated by my boss, Chief Judge Timothy Evans. Continue waiting while other panel numbers are called.

12:00 p.m. - Begin eating lunch (packed lunch of almonds, whole wheat Fig Newtons, Au'some Fruit Nuggets, and a square of 60% cacao chocolate).

12:05 p.m. - My panel number (2) is called and I have to stop eating lunch. We are lined up and marched over to the criminal court building, room 202 (one of the "space ship" courtrooms). The judge explains the case, which involves a young Hispanic male accused of beating and spitting on a police officer. The judge begins asking general questions of the group, at which time two people make sad attempts to get out of jury duty. A female declares she has "already decided" the case, and a male attorney claims he is prejudiced against the prosecution by virtue of his past criminal defense work.

1:05 p.m. - Dismissed for lunch. Finally scarf down my Fig Newtons, etc. Call my judge to see if he knows the presiding judge (Hon. Charles Burns), which of course he does. My judge also knows the attorney who tried to get out of jury duty. Whoops! I also visit courtroom 302 (read the book) and one of the big old fancy courtrooms on the fifth floor.

2:00 p.m. - Return from lunch. The judge has the defense attorneys shuffle our summons cards and 28 out of the 45 are called into the courtroom (which, again, looks like a space ship). I am called. The judge asks questions of each of the potential jurors, including past lawsuits, criminal charges, dealings with police officers, etc. I am clearly not going to serve at this point because I work closely with police officers at the Daley Center.

3:30 p.m. - Questioning is completed, the parties go into the judge's chambers to pick the jury.

4:10 p.m. - The parties emerge and the judge says that they have mostly decided on the panel but need one more juror. The judge picks a few more names and asks them the same questions as he did to the rest of us. When the parties agree on the extra juror, it seems they have a complete set. The judge calls the names of the selected jurors (I am not called), and after they have gone into the jury room, the judge tells us that our duty is complete. He is about to release us when a note comes out of the jury room that one of the jurors can't serve. I recognize him as one of the only jurors who traveled as far as I did, so I assume he is just trying to get out of it because he lives so far away.

4:30 p.m. - The judge begins questioning additional people to fill the slot of the lost juror. All of us glare at the one who gummed up the works. I turn around and joke with the other jurors about how we weren't wanted. Finally another juror is chosen and we are able to leave. I ask the defense if they rejected me because I work with cops, and they say yes. I figured. I walk out chatting with two other jurors, one of whom is an attorney. We decide that it is interesting that both young, Hispanic male prospective jurors were not selected (though two older Hispanic males were).

4:45 p.m. - Leave parking garage.

6:05 p.m. - Arrive at home, eat sushi dinner with Dave!

Even though I didn't get selected, I did have at least one definite verdict - being a juror candidate means a lot of down time. At least I got through a lot of my Somme book.

One other thing to add is that the neighborhood around the courthouse wasn't as bad as I'd heard it was, but it definitely got worse as I neared the interstate. Basically when you go north of the L tracks, you see a lot more broken-down businesses, boarded up homes, and random people walking around shirtless. Oh well - jury duty is over for this year!

Around the loop in summer

At the Daley Center farmers' market yesterday, a judge at work bought flowers for all the women of the office. I think that you'll agree that this sunflower variety is fairly stunning.


I just keep staring at it and touching it. I wish I could keep it forever.

And today I got to attend an Alliance for Women event with Attorney General Lisa Madigan as a speaker! The event was in Jenner & Block's new office, which has some beautiful views indeed.

Madigan spoke to us about women in government, which was interesting for me because I think working for the government, and particularly the attorney general's office, s something I'd like to do for the long term.


Pretty cool views, indeed.


I was even able to take some brownies back to the office to share. Thanks, Jenner! It almost makes up for the fact that there was a really insane call today and yesterday; I've been looking forward to this nice, quiet weekend.

Observing the Blagojevich trial

So, I got to observe the Rod Blagojevich trial in federal court today, which was pretty awesome. My judge sent me over, and I arrived first thing in the morning at the Dirksen courthouse.

Of course, I ran into Hot Rod's brother in the cafeteria. Then I got up to court to get my ticket and plopped down on the uncomfortable bench for the next 8 hours.

Rod was there, of course, as was his wife, brother, and team of seven defense attorneys - at least, that's how many I heard there are. I actually went to law school with one of them! Crazy!

I farted around in court with some sketches of Hot Rod; apparently these made me a minor celebrity in my row. I was paying attention, but it was a long time to sit around and listen, especially during the repetitive attorney questioning.

I personally like this rather abstract one:

In court today, Doug Scofield testified about the various tapes that have been recorded of his November 2008 phone conversations with Hot Rod. His conversations contained some of the more inflammatory statements printed in the paper, such as "it's f*cking golden" and "This is a president that's all take and no give!" We got to hear lots of tapes today, and Mr. Scofield testified that Rod was "jealous and angry" that it was Barack being elected president, not him. Sigghhhhh.

If you want more info on today's hearing, click here. Rod maintained his composure, except during one excerpt, when Rod was quoted as saying, "No better or worse than I am now, right?" He gave a brief, quiet laugh to a defense attorney, clearly looking back and thinking that he certainly is worse off now, after an impeachment and federal indictment.

The jury was 18 people, which seems like a lot to me - 11 women, 7 men. To me, the judge seemed tired of the defense attorney's tactics, at one point telling him to "spare us the campaign speech." So, we know where the judge's heart lies - guess we just have to wait to see where the jury's lies.

Yes, at one point in court, I even did a sketch of the eagle. I like this little guy.

It was really interesting to get to see this in court, and I think I'll be watching the trial coverage more closely now. In a few weeks, we'll know Rod's fate. What a wild ride Illinois has been on.

A tour less traveled

Today I went on my much-talked-about tour of the Chicago south side. The judges in my section went on a road trip with some city building inspectors, and we looked at some houses that have either been set to be demolished or will soon have demolition proceedings instituted against them. I got to tag along, by virtue of being a clerk embedded in this section.

We went to some neighborhoods in and south of Englewood, which is one of the most depressed and crime-ridden areas of Chicago. It was interesting to go from block to block and see how the area changed. Some blocks south of Englewood actually looked pretty nice, but apparently even one vacant home can serve as a focus for gang activity and drive out legitimate homeowners. Even in the semi-nice area we visited, apparently there have been some shootings recently. Lovely.

Other areas seemed to be mostly vacant buildings, and some areas had already experienced so much demolition that it seemed like there were small parks - seedy-looking, weed-ridden parks, I guess. There were a lot of residents on their porches watching us drive by. I noticed there weren't too many other cars riding around, so we must have looked like a parade float to them.

That was the other eerie thing I noticed - there were no national chains of any kind. No big grocery stores, no fast food, hardly any gas stations, even. As my friend Faron says, when even McDonald's won't touch an area, you're in trouble. I talked with the judges about this, and they agreed that there is no infrastructure in these areas. Basically the only place that people can shop for groceries nearby are seedy little corner stores where you can buy, as one judge said, "two eggs. Not a dozen - two." You begin to see the hidden costs of living poor.

It was a really interesting experience, and I'm glad I got to see the community impact of the judges' decisions in court. Obviously, it will take more than that to improve these areas, but the housing crisis and home prices in the area have a lot to do with whether companies are willing to come in and invest in an area. At any rate, for now, I'm glad I was there during the day and with a gaggle of judges for protection!

Busy days, busy nights

Today at the Daley Center was simply so crazy that I had to blog about it. I should note that I am under a confidentiality agreement with the Cook County Circuit Court, but that that does not apply to information in the public record (i.e., everything written in this post). So enjoy as if you were in open court with me today.

So, my first two weeks as a judicial law clerk flew by. We are always busy and I've been spending a lot of time observing in court. However, this week has been a bit slower because there are a lot fewer cases on the docket. It's the week of a judicial conference, so at least half of all judges are away from court. That means my judge has been bouncing around covering other dockets, but that all dockets are empty or very light (one or two cases on each call, typically).

Today, however, there was a big trial about a South Side motel that, according to the City and various community members, has been acting as a hub for drug deals and prostitution. I got to observe the whole hearing, including all the testimony from under-cover cops about drug deals and prostitutes, as well as the pastor of a church that has been active in advocating for the shut-down of the motel. In fact, many members of the church were present in court, many sporting t-shirts about the controversy.

It was neat to watch the testimony, as well as the interplay between direct, cross, and redirect examinations. Finally, Judge McGing ruled on the matter, ordering the closure of the hotel. At that moment, the whole courtroom (with the exception of the hotel owner and counsel, of course) erupted into cheers. It felt good to be part of a process that helps a community clean up a hub that's clearly a hub for criminal activity, whether deliberately or negligently. I sort of felt like cheering with them, although I knew I should definitely not do that!

After the hearing was over, I went back to my desk and started working on memos for our next cases on Monday. (The administrative reviews I work on are virtually non-existent this week, so lack of memo-writing has been another cause for slow days.) Of course, what is the basis of the first administrative review file that I pick up? Prostitution. Niiiiiice. It was my first prostitution case, and it couldn't have come at a more apt time.

Being that it's both springtime and Earth Day, a bunch of jokes came to mind. "It's raining prostitutes at the Daley Center" was one. Aside from that, Earth Day was actually kind of fun. It's the day I got my plant Stan in 2001, and I also got a free packet of basil seeds on the street. Yay for planet Earth, and yay for cleaning up the city (even if it's figuratively)!