So how did I wind up in a situation where I was living in the Deep South and immersing myself in work that I hadn’t had much exposure to before law school?

I got lucky.

This semester, my class got to watch clips from “A Few Good Men” and “My Cousin Vinny,” much to our delight (we even applauded after the clips were over).

I am taking an Eighth Amendment Law and Litigation course, taught by Professor Bryan Stevenson. He is brilliant, and the course is easily the most influential one I’ve taken, ever.

There are many aspects of law school – particularly 1L year – that closely resemble high school: the different crowds, the feelings of insecurity, the terrible cafeteria food. The parallels continue into 2L year.

I am working this summer as an extern for a federal district court judge. It’s a great job – I see both very skilled and very poor lawyering, observe trials, examine issues from the judge’s side of the bench, write a lot–and learn how to stretch a dollar.

After being thoroughly entertained and impressed by fellow law students’ performances in both Law Revue (an annual musical that satirizes all things law school) and the Deans’ Cup (an annual basketball game between the law schools of NYU and Columbia that raises funds for public interest jobs), I am convinced there are people in law school who missed their true callings.

What place does religion have on a law school campus? Why would you ever discuss such a personal issue as faith in such a public forum? Good questions. I’m in the Christian Legal Fellowship to explore the interrelationship between the practice of law and Christian faith.

One of the things I wasn’t worried about when arriving at NYU from Los Angeles was finding my way around the school. Everything you need to do while at the law school – studying, eating, stealthily napping – takes place in Vanderbilt Hall or Furman Hall.