don't have anything awesome lined up...part of the reason why I ended up in LS, as I strongly resisted going but parents kinda insisted. At least I minimized the debt.

Am thinking, actually, of going back to UG and getting the "real" degree that I should have in the first place. Humanities is such bull, being in the program felt like a jobs bank.

Try to analyze why your parents thought law school would be a good choice for you. As a parent myself, I know the desire to do the best for your child is sometimes blind to the extent that you don't see the real good.

But on the other hand, your parents know you really well, maybe even better than you know yourself at times, especially if you are distressed by law school peer pressure, exams and such. If they honestly thought law school was your calling, talk to them, you might just need some reassurance in your abilities, parental love and kindness.

Find their application on the website, fill it out as a law student and attached a personal check for the amount specified in the application (I can't talk like a lay person anymore  )

but isn't it ugly for everyone? I'm sure that journalists have it worse than lawyers.

The stories that really freak me out are the ones from my school about law review people who have a hard time landing jobs. Or the whispers of people from two years ago still doing doc review.

Do you have something awesome lined up after you drop out of law school? I think it's better to do doc. reviews than working as a manager at a local gym with Masters in financing or Kindergarten teacher with Bachelors in English.  Think twice about dropping out.

I worked at BK firm as a paralegal not an atty before I went to law school. I think people in law school are a little more timid to ask for salary range because it's all about reputation. But when I was a paralegal, we always asked what the pay was and never thought it was inappropriate because you have to work in order to support your family not the reputation. So, I'd ask about the pay right at the interview and future perspectives. Others might disagree with me. I think if it's done in a professional matter, the interview would understand that you are also shopping for a good place not the first thing that comes around. I would actually suggest asking about atty salary and potential benefits at such a firm because they are so large that they don't personally care for you. Whatever is set up in their policy, that's what they are going to go by in the long run, not your performance or personality. 

Honestly, I think crim. law is much more exciting than foreclosure mill and about as profitable as this crap. 

Here in Brazil any decision made by a judge has this structure:

1.Summary -“relatório” = the judge tells the story of the demand since it´s beginning.

Ex:  Joe crashed Ann´s car into a wall.


2. Groundings - “fundamentação” = the judge states the legal basis for the decision he´s about to announce.

Ex: There is law that says that any damage must be paid by the one who caused it.

3. Disposition - “Dispositivo” = the most important part of a decision, since it´s the only one with bindding effects.


Ex: Hence, I condemn Joe to pay $400,00 to Ann, in seven days, otherwise this value will be increased by $50,00 a day, until it reaches $2000,00.


Ok. That´s how we do it here. But over there things are not very clear to me.

1.What is the structure?
2. What part of the decision binds other judges? (lets assume the decision is issued by a supreme court)
3. What is the “holding”? Is it the same as the “Dispositivo”?

I thank you for any help.

Actually I think it is somewhat similar. However, it might depend on the decision. If it is a simple matter where parties come with motions for a judge to decide, they usually also provide proposed orders. The judge picks one side and uses the proposed order with minor modifications if any. If it is a serious decision by appellate or supreme court, then judges usually write their own opinions. This kind of decision is likely to have structure similar to yours. Brief of the facts, matter at issue, judge's reasoning, and the final decision. If it is a monetary judgment, the judge usually doesn't stipulate the interest rate of the judgment, there are separate rules that govern the interest rate, when and how to be paid. Older decisions are not as structures as newer ones.

Holding is a logical explanation of the action taken by the court in light of the substantive issues and procedural history of the case.

Usually the reasoning, where the judge made some points of law, or the holding is what you would use as precedent for later cases.