David Kohler, Courtesy of Southwestern Law School

By Sarah El Ebiary

We were all shocked and saddened to discover the recent passing of our beloved professor David Kohler. As one of the founding members and a former managing editor of Southwestern’s student newspaper, The Commentator, I wanted to run a special tribute section in his memory. For this section, I collected submissions from several past and current students who wanted to contribute either a couple of sentences of thanks or a couple of paragraphs of what he meant to us all as a professor. While a public memorial is still being planned, The Commentator is still collecting submissions so please feel free to contribute your thoughts and personal messages in memory of professor David Kohler.
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I have been fortunate enough to have the rare opportunity of working with Tamara Moore in the Donald E. Biederman Entertainment and Media Law Institute and as Professor Kohler’s research assistant for the past four years. Our little “institute family” grew close over the years, however, I never had the chance to tell Professor Kohler (aka: “Dave”) how much of an inspiration he was to me personally.
He was always available when I needed advice with regard to job interviews, golf clubs, or you name it. At the various institute events and conferences, Dave introduced me to some of his friends – the smartest minds in the field of media law and lead counsel from landmark first amendment cases we learned in class.
He encouraged me to compete in the First Amendment and Media Law Diversity Moot Court Competition administered by the American Bar Association Forum on Communications Law. At first, I really did not want to do it as I always thought of myself as pursuing a more transactional career. But after my partner and I placed second in the national finals (Yale took first), the confidence I gained from the competition was unlike anything I ever experienced throughout law school, and it was all due to his support.
Dave was my boss, my professor, my externship faculty advisor, my moot court coach, my mentor, and my friend.  I was really looking forward to having Dave as a colleague in the field of media law. Nonetheless, I am truly grateful that Dave played an integral role in shaping my career and my life. He left with me invaluable knowledge, wisdom, and confidence that I will always hold dear. Most of all, I think I’ll miss his loud, hearty laugh that upon hearing you couldn’t help but smile. Those who knew him best would agree.

Sarah El Ebiary, Juris Doctor Candidate, May 2010
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It is always sad to hear when a fellow member of a community passes away. Professor David Kohler was no doubt an integral part of our community at Southwestern. Moreover, he was a great mentor and advisor for students interested in entertainment and media law.
My interaction with Professor Kohler started long before I attended my first doctrinal class at Southwestern. I was put in contact with Professor Kohler through a family friend my senior year of college. Not only was Professor Kohler willing and eager to tell me all about Southwestern and the various classes and programs in entertainment and media law, he even went so far as to have a meeting with myself and my family to discuss all the options Southwestern had to offer as well as answer any questions.
Professor Kohler went above and beyond in assisting me with my decision to come to Southwestern. His love for the law and education was readily apparent whenever you interacted with him. Although I never had the opportunity of having him as a professor, he will always be considered a friend.
His passing is truly sad, and he will be missed and remembered. I am sure I am only one of many who have a special memory of Professor Kohler to give thanks for.

Maxwell Briskman Stanfield, 2L Part-time Day

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I had the opportunity of taking “Representing Journalists” with Professor Kohler in Spring 2009. Professor Kohler’s experiences and course inspired me to specialize in Entertainment and Media Law, as well as to pursue a career in this field. I will be forever thankful. He will always be in my family’s prayers.

Francisco Ramirez, LLM student

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David Kohler was the rare professor who could make technical and procedural aspects of law interesting and relevant. I have used lessons learned from him many times in my work. He will be missed.

Alex DiBona, Class of 2009

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Professor Kohler was a consistent champion for the success of Southwestern’s students.  His extensive experience in the field of media law combined with his enthusiasm for teaching will be greatly missed. He was not only a cutting legal mind, a dedicated professor but a genuine and welcoming person.  It was a privilege to have known him.

Aleksandra Urban, Juris Doctor Candidate, December 2009

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I was extremely saddened to hear of Professor Kohler’s passing.  He was such an interesting professor and kind mentor.  He was able to bring the legal practice to life for his students with real world examples and stories.  He will be sorely missed.

Jessica Gonzalez, Class of 2007

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It is a rare skill to establish genuine rapport with someone without ever really knowing them on a personal level. It is a skill possessed by political candidates, by the finest thespians, by those who transmit a veritable “cult” of personality, that preternatural something that leaves you rapt, hanging on their every word. Professor Kohler cast such a spell on me two Falls ago in the course of our Mass Media law seminar. In fact, his effortless charisma, keen sense of humor, and infectious enthusiasm for the material inspired me to do something that I had never done before and would never do again: read the assigned cases in full. It was with great sadness that learned
Professor Kohler’s passing this week, but he will not pass so easily from my memory. His memory will linger with the same robustness he exuded when walking into a room, eternally endowing us with gusto, and charm, and unflagging vitality.

Matt Walerstein

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Professor Kohler was an outstanding, dedicated and passionate professor whose zeal and
ardent love for both the students of Southwestern and the entertainment industry was one of a kind. Thank you so much for all of your hard work and wonderful contributions and for inspiring so many people. You are in our thoughts and prayers, and will be greatly missed. God bless.

Kateri DeMartino, Class of 2009

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I had the privilege of working for Professor Kohler at the Biederman Entertainment Institute and he was one of the best professors at Southwestern. He made the office a great place to work as he was continually patient, humble, and humorous. Professor Kohler was always available to sit down and chat with students when they dropped by and did not hesitate to help students out. His passion for Entertainment and Media touched the students, faculty, and staff here. He will be greatly missed but forever and most fondly remembered.

Lucy Chan Derby

Courtesy of SW Public Affairs

David C. Kohler, Professor of Law and Director of the Donald E. Biederman Entertainment and Media Law Institute at Southwestern, passed away on October 15 after a long battle with cancer. He was 56. Appointed to the full-time faculty in 2003, Professor Kohler came to Southwestern following a long and distinguished career as a media attorney, including nearly a decade with TBS and CNN where he was senior vice president and general counsel. He taught the First Amendment Seminar, Mass Media Law, Media Litigation, and Representing Journalists in addition to directing the Institute, supervising Entertainment Practicum externships and overseeing the Entertainment and Media Law LL.M. Program. “Dave Kohler contributed significantly to the advancement of the Biederman Institute and the expansion of our entertainment and media law offerings into what is likely the most comprehensive curricula in this area of any law school in the country,” said Dean Bryant Garth. “He was an inspirational mentor to our students and a reasoned voice in crucial First Amendment issues. His extensive network of colleagues around the globe is a direct reflection of the tremendous respect he garnered as a prominent figure in the entertainment and media industries. Above all, he was a consummate professional, embodying the values that best represent what we aspire to in our graduates. All of us in the Southwestern community will greatly miss his warmth, generosity, dedication and enthusiasm.”

Professor Kohler was a veteran of more than 25 years in the field of media law where he worked with a variety of broadcast, cable and print media companies. He played a major role in some of the most significant media cases of the past two decades, including several resulting in key Supreme Court decisions. As director of Southwestern’s Biederman Institute, Professor Kohler worked with faculty, staff, alumni and other members of the entertainment and media bar to promote the programs of the Institute and expand opportunities for Southwestern students and graduates in these industries. Building on the foundation established by Donald Biederman, he recruited leading entertainment law experts from around the world to serve as advisors, adjunct faculty and guest lecturers. Professor Kohler continued the Institute’s popular “A Conversation With…” series of in-depth live interviews with prominent industry experts; organized annual symposia with the Media Law Resource Center, the Los Angeles Copyright Society and the Los Angeles County Bar Association; and oversaw the entertainment and media law summer programs in London and Los Angeles as well as Southwestern’s program for the Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Entertainment and Media Law, the first post-J.D. degree of its kind in the country.He was also instrumental in establishing the Journal of International Media and Entertainment Law that is co-produced by the Institute and the American Bar Association Forums on Communications Law and the Entertainment and Sports Industries.

Professor Kohler produced numerous scholarly articles on copyright and First Amendment issues, the most recent of which appeared in Duke Law and Technology Review, Hofstra Law Review, Hastings Communications and Entertainment Law Journal, Federal Communications Law Journal Forum and Oregon Law Review. His book, co-authored with Lee Levine, Media and the Law, was published by LexisNexis/Matthew Bender in 2009.

A magna cum laude graduate in Anthropology at Duke University where he also earned his law degree and served on Law Review, Professor Kohler was a member of the Georgia and Virginia State and District of Columbia Bars.

The funeral for Professor Kohler will be held in Virginia. Information regarding a local memorial service is pending.

By Sally Derohanessian, 1L

On Saturday, September 26, the Oscar-winning filmmaker Roman Polanski was arrested in Switzerland on his way to the Zurich Film Festival, where he was to receive a lifetime achievement award. In 1977, Polanski pled guilty to drugging and raping then 13-year old Samantha Geimer in Los Angeles, in order to obtain a lesser sentence as part of a plea bargain.  Before sentencing, Polanski fled the United States and has been living in France as a fugitive for the past 31 years in order to avoid prison time.  Swiss police were able to arrest Polanski because of an international warrant for his arrest issued by the United States.
State and federal prosecutors in the United States have attempted to bring closure to this case by keeping a close eye on Polanski, and with his wide acclaim, it is hasn’t been difficult to track him down.  However, the difficulty lies with the extradition treaty between France and the United States, which states that, “either country may refuse to extradite its own citizens.”  As a born citizen of France, Polanski has enjoyed a comfortable life under the protection of this treaty.  Even outside the protection of France, Polanski has been able to travel regularly across Europe without any fear of being arrested.
However, after Polanski’s attempt to dismiss his case in December, the United States made a stronger effort to pressure European authorities for his arrest.  In learning of his visit to the Zurich Film Festival, Swiss officials decided to comply with the arrest warrant issued from the United States.  Polanski, now 76 years of age, was taken into custody by Swiss police upon his arrival to the Swiss airport.  The U.S. expects Switzerland to extradite Polanski under bilateral treaties. If the Swiss courts carry out the extradition, Polanski will have to face sentencing in the United States.
There is a wide gap in the emotions expressed amongst U.S. and French citizens on whether Roman Polanski should be punished for his crime.  The majority in France have used his career as an Oscar–winning filmmaker to gloss over the seriousness of his crime.  The widespread public opinion in France is that Polanski is “the victim of an obsessive U.S. justice system that is ready to pluck him up and drag him off to prison.”  Europeans in general feel that because Polanski is a talented artist and celebrity he deserves a break from something that happened 31 years ago.  According to Paris intellectual Karim Emile Bitar, “there is an obvious underlying assumption: that talent and artistic genius should allow someone to get a free pass and be above the law.”  While this may be the cultural view in France and Europe, it is not the sentiment appreciated in the United States.
In the meantime, the French cinema industry and Hollywood, including directors Woody Allen and Martin Scorsese, are outraged and are petitioning for Polanski’s release.  There have been mixed reactions among many world leaders as well.  Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said, “the case involves a great director but still, it is also a case of rape, of sex with a child.”  While it is easy to get carried away with the varying sentiments which are spread across continents, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton reminded the media that, “the 1977 sex crime charge is a matter for judges, not diplomats, to handle.”  This is an important factor to keep in mind, but it is also important to focus on the moral aspect of the case.  This is not about Roman Polanski, or about Hollywood or the French government; this is about a 44-year old who raped a 13-year old child.  As the New York Times explained, “this case has nothing to do with Mr. Polanski’s work or his age.  It is about an adult preying on a child. Mr. Polanski pleaded guilty to that crime and must account for it.”

By Alex Hoffman, 3L

On Friday, October 9, the Nobel Prize Committee announced President Barack Obama as the recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize for 2009. This announcement has stirred controversy as to its validity, due to President Obama’s mere nine month tenure in office. It also appears that the prestigious award may be more of a burden to the president than a benefit, as the announcement comes on the heels of a Saturday Night Live skit highlighting Obama’s failed attempt to bring Chicago the 2016 Olympics. The skit also portrayed President Obama as a do nothing president, lacking accomplishments, as well breaking many of the promises he made to his supporters during the campaign.

President Obama stated he was “surprised and deeply humbled” by the award and that he did not “view it as a recognition of [his] own accomplishments but rather as an affirmation of American leadership on behalf of aspirations held by people in all nations.” Obama asserted that he would accept the award on December 10, “as a call to action, a call for all nations to confront the challenges of the 21^st century.”

Critics on the right view the award as premature and purely political. The Republican National Committee released a statement, which remarked, “it is unfortunate that the president’s star power has outshined tireless advocates who have made real achievements working towards peace and human rights. One thing is certain, President Obama won’t be receiving any awards from Americans for job creation, fiscal responsibility, or backing up rhetoric with concrete action.”

Conservatives are not the only ones crying foul. Many on the left who supported Obama’s candidacy did so under the premise that he would work to end the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Since the nation is still embroiled in two wars and there is now a possible troop surge in Afghanistan, for liberal supporters of Obama’s award, the celebration is bittersweet.

The Nobel Prize Committee defended their choice, stating their decision was unanimous, and pressed that Obama had made efforts towards nuclear disarmament as well as stressing diplomacy between nations. World leaders welcomed the award and emphasized the symbolism of it over its substance. French President Nicolas Sarkozy said the award represented “America’s return to the hearts of the world’s peoples.” Similarly, German Chancellor Angela Merkel emphasized the “new tone” Obama has set and proclaimed the Nobel Prize was an “incentive to the president and to us all.” The 2008 recipient, former President of Finland, Martti Ahtisaari viewed the award as prospective, remarking that “the world expects that he will also achieve something.”

While many question the committee’s choice to receive the award, the Nobel Committee has been known for giving out controversial awards that appear more political than substantive. Some critics view the 2002 and 2007 awards to Former President Jimmy Carter and Former Vice President Al Gore as examples of prizes that were repudiations of Bush administration policies. Yasser Arafat’s 1994 Nobel Peace Prize was also considered controversial due to his involvement with terrorism.

President Obama is the third sitting United States President to win the Nobel Peace Prize, along with Presidents Woodrow Wilson and Theodore Roosevelt.

Compiled by Shaun Cunningham, 3L

Largest Law Firm in the United States: DLA Piper (3,785 Attorneys, 1,270 Partners)
Largest Law Firm In California: Latham & Watkins (751 Attorneys, 213 Partners)
Largest Law Firm in Los Angeles: O’Melveny & Myers LLP (206 Attorneys, 57 Partners)
Best Paying Firm (Best paying company in the US according to Fortune): Bingham McCutchen (Starting Salary $160,000, Average Total Pay for Associates $256,312)
Best Firm to work at in Los Angeles according to an American Lawyer survey of 2009 Summer Associates: Bingham McCutchen
Highest Volume of Transactions During the Past Two Years: Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP (504 billion)

By Mariana Aroditis 3L
For some reason there aren’t enough good sports bars in Los Angeles. However, this review will balance the pros and cons of some popular places in the area. There really should be no excuse for not being able to watch your favorite game with your favorite beer. Here’s a small review of popular places around L.A. If you can think of better ones, please let me know before the next big game!
(Arranged in no particular order…)
1)    Busby’s, Mid-Wilshire – No one really likes Busby’s, but for some reason people always go there. Often rented out for alumni events or work parties, there is usually a good group there to cheer on USC or watch the Lakers game. There’s enough tables and TVs, but the food is barely edible. And worst of all, you are at Busby’s.
2)    Big Wangs, Hollywood – Big Wangs is a fun place in a fun location with good food. With different kinds of sauces and wings, this place is great for every guy and his girlfriend (who will only eat boneless wings). The problem with this place is that it gets crowded way too early, and then there is no place to eat your wings.
3)    Father’s Office, Culver City – There really is no reason I put this place on the list other than they have great food. They have two small TVs in the front, and you will likely have to fight people to get seats at the bar, but it will probably be worth it.
4)    Darkroom, Melrose – This place has a great long bar and a dart board; you really don’t need more. There’s also big screen spread around the bar and plenty of seating. Another perk is an outdoor section on Melrose so you can people watch and watch the game.
5)    El Guapo, Melrose – Please, please don’t go to this establishment. While it may have a lot of TVs and a lot of space, the munchies are disgusting and will make you wish you stayed at home with a Digiorno.
6)    Yardhouse, LA Live – I know there are a lot of Yardhouse haters out there, but you really can’t beat this place. The bar is obviously huge, there are a million different beers, and the appetizers are almost always half off. It is also the perfect place to escape to if you are in the library and realize you would rather watch a game than write a practice essay. One huge con is that the parking is expensive, but when you are eating a half-priced pizza, you really shouldn’t care. Splurge a bit. Happy hour times:Monday through Friday 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.; Late night happy hour: Sunday through Thursday, 10 p.m. to close.
7)    The Parlor, Santa Monica – If you live on the Westside you should absolutely live at the Parlor. There are big TVs, good food, good bartenders, and usually a good crowd. At game time there is never a line to get in, but there’s always fun people inside!
8)    South, Santa Monica – During a popular game there is standing room only. To add insult to injury, the food is sub-par and the beer choices are awful. However, there is usually a good crowd there. But, if you get there late you will have to stay in line. My opinion, get back in your car and drive to the Parlor.
9)    Yankee Doodles, Santa Monica – The biggest draw are the pool tables. Other than that, they have a decent beer selection and edible bar food. The people there are usually sketchy, so you definitely have to play pool to keep occupied. During big games, they pull down huge projector screens for maximum viewing pleasure.
10)    The Happy Ending, Hollywood – By far one of my favorite places. There are plenty of tables and booths, great food, and a big beer selection. They also make buckets of mixed drinks! Chances are if you come to The Happy Ending for the game, you will end up staying there all night and taking a cab home. With a lobster tank (where YOU can win a lobster) and beer pong tables, this place is like a fun house.

By Jennifer Skornik, 3L
So you spend two months studying for the Bar, finally take it, and then have to wait several months for results.  Why not vacation?  Whether it’s three weeks or three months this might the last big chunk of free time in your adult life to experience different cultures, eat great food, and travel to an exotic location. Andrea Escalante, SW alum who took the August 2009 bar, said, “My bar trip was a great way to take a break from the anxiety of waiting for results – except I still thought about that while on the trip.”
Whatever the motivates to go on a bar trip, most grads want to take advantage of one of the last times they will be able to take a few weeks away without missing work or other responsibilities.  Why not take the path less traveled?  Everyone agrees that Disneyland probably won’t cut it.
Above the Law, a popular legal blog, ran a forum for the August 2009 bar takers to post their picks for best destination and we’ve narrowed ours down to a few of the best that don’t require making the euro-dollar conversion.
1.    Route 66 Trip: Road trip somewhere in the USA. Inexpensive and you don’t have to deal with the exchange rate. Plus, you get the added benefit of moving your stuff if you’re moving back home or somewhere new for work.
2.    The Safari. Check out South Africa and try your hand at a safari. While you’re over there you can cruise to the Seychelle Islands.
3.    Vietnam. For a long time, Thailand has been the hotspot of East Asia, but young travelers are beginning to flock to Vietnam for the beautiful beaches and untouched destinations. February bar takes beware – monsoon season in the north runs from October through April.
4.    Buenos Aires. For February bar takers, Buenos Aires is a hot spot to check out. With fabulous wineries to enjoy and a night life that goes on until the early hours of the morning, you can enjoy the summer all year round. Also, for those ski buffs who are taking the summer bar, some of the world’s best skiing can be found around the corner in Patagonia.
5.    Passaic River. It’s no surprise that after the exciting 14 hour days of studying for the bar at the library downtown, some students opt to just get away to a quiet cottage along a river. One choice is the Passaic River in Newark. It’s a stone’s throw from Krug’s Tavern and within walking distance to Casa Vasca.
6.    Australia. Just next door to Tahiti you hop from city to city with special city hopper passes and checkout the outback. Common stops include Melbourne, Carrins (for some great barrier reef diving), and Sydney. A lot of packages also include New Zealand and Fiji as destinations, depending on how long your vacations are.
7.    Morocco. For those of you who really want to get away from the world there are desert treks, and Morocco has some of the more tourist friendly programs but you can also check out destinations such as Ethiopia. Lonely Planet offers a great, though expensive, Morocco excursion.
8.     Burning Man. Just kidding.
8.    Costa Rica. Surfing in Costa Rica for a couple of weeks does not sound too shabby either.
9.    Panantal. Have you always wanted to see what a capybara is in person? If your heart jumped as you longingly exclaimed “yes” then you might want to check out the wetland region of Brazil, which offers a wide array of biodiversity rivaling Brazil’s rainforests. You know who you are, you enjoyed pulling up photos of cute animals in class to distract you from lecture. Here’s your chance to adopt your own.
10.    Ireland. Rent a castle for a month. Take a bunch of your friends. Make some new ones. Enough said.
11.    The Budget Buster- French Polynesia. The equivalent of getting a helicopter to drop you off at prom, the Paul Gauguin cruise liner allows you to enjoy state of the art ship with the ultimate in luxury. They boast six star service and cruise year round including stops at exotic locations like Tahiti.
Either way: don’t put it on your credit card.  But take some time to trip, you only live once!

According the Chris Chaplin, 3L, the best legal job is being a judge.  “It’s a respectable position with stability and seemingly decent hours.”
Jennifer Yi, 3L, posits that the best legal job is to be a “guardian ad litem or advocate for children’s rights.”
According to Masih Kazerouni, 3L, the best legal job is to be compensated while protecting the constitutional rights of your client. He went on that “there is no greater satisfaction than standing up for and defending the principles of our Constitution.”
Dikran Sevlian, 3L, ponders out loud that the best legal job is arbitrator, because the strict “rules of evidence do not apply.  And you can render a resolution of a case without the hindrances of a trial.”
One anonymous 1L said that the “best legal job is to run a referral mill.  You advertise, people call, and you hand off their cases to the proper attorney.  This is the best way to make sure potential clients get good representation. And its relatively straightforward work. ”
According the Nir Asseraf, 3L, the best legal job is “to be a DA.  You get to see the legal system in action.”

By Shaun Cunningham, 3L

Forget the large firm practice, these jobs are way cooler and don’t leave you feeling empty at the end of the day:
1.  Advocate for a cause: Think Thurgood Marshall taking cases for the NAACP.  He didn’t sell himself out because he had student loans, he fought on the front lines for racial justice even when he wasn’t getting paid.
a.  How can I get this job?  Sign up for a cause or organization, or get together with some fellow students and organize!  There are hundreds of causes that need passionate advocacy.  Public Interest Law is an area that helps marginalized members of society.  Get an internship in a public interest law firm to try it out.
2.  Bad-ass solo practitioner: Think Clarence Darrow.  Darrow was one of America’s greatest trial lawyers.  He was progressive, saving the world one client at a time.  He passionately advocated against the death penalty.  In fact, Darrow never lost a capital case.  Darrow saved all 102 of his death penalty clients from the death penalty.  Many of those cases he took for free.
a.   How can I be a solo practitioner: Get over your fear!  The number one piece of advice is start a small firm with a few fellow students in your graduating class.  This makes the logistical side easier.  Also, build and rely on a network of attorneys to help you out when you have questions on cases and to get cases referred to you.  Learn as much as you can.  Don’t be scared, more people do this than you think!
i. Get all the practical experience you can.  Also, if you have a professor who is or was a solo or small firm practitioner, ask about it.  Good professors to talk to about solo practice are Shafiroff, Burger, and Dean Pyle.
3.  Advocate before the United States Supreme Court: this job is easy!  Justice Thomas doesn’t even ask questions!  If you passed both rounds of oral argument for LAWS, you can do it.
a. How can I get this job?  Uncertain. You probably need to get an interesting case and keep losing.  Then keep appealing until you reach the Supreme Court.
4.  Federal/county public defender: stand up for the promise in the 6th amendment!  Public defenders are appointed to defend clients in criminal cases.  Usually, they are the only friend of the criminally accused.  In our system, the public defenders are the most critical factor in protecting the public from the awesome power of the government.
a.  How to get this job:  if you like trial work, consider this job.  The experience is worth the decent wage.  Further, many successful lawyers start out in the government and move into private practice or judgeships.  But watch out!  Los Angeles County is currently supposed to have a hiring freeze for PDs and DAs.
5.  Judge:  In California, an attorney must practice 10 years before qualifying to sit on the bench.  For some judges, being a judge is pretty easy.  They rely on the research assistants and stop working after 5pm.  But for most judges, the job is challenging.  They are drowned in mind-numbing paper work, have to make important decisions with limited time, and deal with attorneys all day.  However, judges are critical components of our society.  They are respected, as they should be.  Most are charismatic and outgoing, and do wonderful things for our community.
a.  How can I get this job? You have to be appointed or elected.  So you need friends, money, or both.  Help out with a governor’s campaign.  If he or she is elected, you will get something, at least an autographed photo.  Otherwise, build a reputation as an honest and diligent attorney and engage the political community.  Another way to the bench is to be a district attorney in a conservative or seemingly conservative county and to be labeled “tough on crime.”
6.  Arbitrator/Mediator: Decent hours, good pay.  Most mediators and arbitrators are experienced attorneys who are recognized for their success in a particular practice area or for their dispute resolution skills.
a. How can I get this job?  Arbitration/Mediation is best for specialists in particular practice areas, or for those attorneys with significant experience in litigation, trial or on the bench.  Having this experience is critical to understanding what is important in a case and to help the parties to understand where or why they should settle their case.

by Troy Mueller

As the thrill of a new school year wanes and emotional equilibrium begins to droop into exhaustion and anxiety, efficiency becomes a focus for any law student. Outlines, study groups,case briefs, practice exams, and review sessions are being employed alongside trips to the library, writing center, professors’ offices, career center, and other functions. To imagine the law student as I have, pick an animal that flourishes in a large group (like a herd animal). Analogize your individual situation to that animal’s community as a whole, then put that community near the river on a hot day and rattle off some common law before the lions show up.

There are a variety of methods employed in the art of time management. Some people use planners, others, the zodiac. Most use a combination of tricks and charts, but regardless of style, it’s hard to know what’s best until you’ve tried them all. Mnemonic devices are a fun way to quickly memorize material that you can recall for years and years, but why not expand on it? Here’s another way to study for classes that may not be as obvious.

MAKE PLAYLISTS.

As long as Southwestern is a commuter school, you’ll be losing time in LA traffic trying to get back to your books. Why not throw together a couple relevant tracks for that light at Vermont and Wilshire? There are lots of easy ways to acquire music and at least as many devices to listen to it. Spin ‘em (or pop in those ear buds, depending on your financial situation) and squeeze precious minutes into your study schedule where there were none before.

For example:

Civil Procedure.

California Long Arm Statute - Michelle Branch, “Everywhere”*

14th Amendment Due Process Clause - Talking Heads, “Don’t Worry About the Government”

Minimum Contacts - Brandy, “Sitting up in my Room”

Purposeful Availment - Gary Numan, “Cars”

Purposeful Availment with Intentional Torts - The Modern Lovers, “Pablo Picasso”

Purposeful Availment with the Internet - Shalamar, “Right in the Socket”

Purposeful Availment with Business Relations - Michael Jackson, “Off the Wall”

Purposeful Availment with Stream of Commerce - Pizzicato Five, “The Night is Still Young”

Citizenship - Luther Vandross, “A House is Not a Home”

*subject to limitation

If you don’t like popular syncretic music of the 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s, apply whatever your tastes are. In fact, you could be even more categorical. Many present and future interests problems resemble math equations when written in shorthand. What’s more mathematical than the traditional music of the west? (Classical, not Rawhide) Here’s an example (in order of ascending snobbery).

Property

Acquisition by Capture - Claude Debussy, “Prelude a L’apres-midi d’un Faune”

Subject to Condition Subsequent - Wolfgang A. Mozart, “Don Giovanni”

Adverse Possession - Arnold Schoenberg, “Suite for Piano”

Rules Against Perpetuities - Ludwig Von Beethoven, (piano sonata in C) Opus 111

Vested Remainder Interests - Frederic Chopin …