Name: Steve Chasey
Year: 2L
Age: So old
Hometown: Walnut Creek, CA
What did you do before law school?
Most recently, I worked in health policy for the BC Centre of Excellence for Women`s Health, where I wrote reports using health equity and sex- and gender-based analysis to understanding the different policy implications of health programming for different sub-populations.
What area of law are you interested in?
I came into law school with a fairly narrow focus – to do health law – but as you`ll probably find in your first year, my perspective broadened significantly as the year went by. I received some great advice from someone in the health law field, which is that health is so broad that it uses all kinds of law and a law student would do well to find the area of law they are excited about and bring that to the field. Or, if you find yourself taken another direction, go with it. So that`s what I`m doing. To my great shock I`m finding business law interesting as well as constitutional law.
A fun fact about yourself…
Hm. I had a big hand in writing You and Your Health; A Woman’s Guide, which is a BC Government document.
What was your favourite part of Orientation Week?
I came out of Orientation Week with the feeling I think the organizers are probably aiming for – I met so many people that I felt comfortable walking into the first day of class. In terms of a specific event – I had a great time sitting down with my small group at dinner and getting to know people a bit better.
What was the best advice an upper year gave you when school started?
I got lots of great advice from upper years, but perhaps the best was from the panel on how to CAN. That helped me get some needed perspective on note-taking, prepping for finals, etc. Though I think the best advice came from Professor Goold – do the reading. Seriously. Do it.
What was the worst advice an upper year gave you when school started?
Not naming any names, but a second year last year told me to skip most of my classes and spend more time partying. That`s a terrible idea. Just for the record.
What was your favourite part of first year?
Is it too nerdy to say I loved getting into the conceptual parts of the law the best? I suppose it is, but I`m going that way anyway. Coming from a healthcare background, I`ve always been interested in the mix of theory and day-to-day implementation of a social program. That`s all the law is. It`s awesome. All of it. Except maybe the boring bits.
What was the most challenging part of first year?
I`ve never worked harder at anything than I did for the month or so before finals, but I actually don`t know if that was the most challenging part. It ranks up there with the entire adjustment period at the beginning of the first semester where you are learning how (and when) to take reading notes, what`s the appropriate amount of time to spend prepping for class, when you can get away with scrimping on reading and when you really need to get each point. That balance and approach is different for everyone and is a particular challenge to get on top of right away.
What was your favourite social event in first year?
Halloween. But I was wearing a fedora so I suppose my opinion is biased.
What would you do differently in 1L?
I wish I`d gone to more lunch-time events. I found I was pretty zoned out by the time morning classes were finished and I wish I`d pushed myself a bit more to get to some of the incredible speakers and sessions that were put on.
What extracurriculars would you recommend to 1Ls?
Definitely do the FMC Negotiating Competition in the second (or third) week of school. You go to a downtown firm with a fact pattern in hand and negotiate against other teams of UBC students in front of partners who act as judges of your performance. Incredibly intimidating, but worth the cold clammy sweat you will undoubtedly experience.
What was your favourite class? Favourite professor?
These two are deeply related. Often I hear people say their favorite classes are their favorite because they are taught by their favorite professor. It`s no different for me, Constitutional Law was fantastic, Professor Bakan is a conlaw genius. That said, I debated writing out a list of my favorite profs and realized I`d be covering a lot of them. The level of teaching at UBC Law is consistently excellent.
Any words of wisdom for the incoming 1Ls?
There will be a time you feel overwhelmed. Everyone does. Don`t try to convince yourself you aren`t freaking out when you are and when you realize it, go talk to someone outside of law school for a healthy dose of reality.
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