Various Degrees of Honor

The Fall '09 semester, my last semester of my law degree, is well under way. Yet I feel it is a good time to reflect on some of the recent events in the last few months of my life. Reading my last blog entry, I am reminded of the struggle of getting summer started. I guess this summer was one of uncertainty and doubt. I searched for many weeks to find a paid part-time job. Finally had to settle for a paper route, delivering the Boston globe, NY Times, Wall Street Journal at 3am 7 days a week. I never thought I'd be delivering papers at this point of my life, but it was what I had to do.

The summer definitely included some fun stuff too. My internship kept me engaged and doing lots of tours of recycle centers and water treatment plants, ect. My friends kept me busy with trips to Walden Pond, 6-flags, free concerts at the hatchshell and Shakespear at Boston Commons. Through the summer, however, I kept thinking of my fall classes, my plans after law school and wondering how I could get experience in Estate planning/Elder law, if it was really what I wanted to get into.

With School starting again, I got some great news. I recieved the CALI Award (Highest grade in a specific course) for the Tax Clinic and a $3000 grant from the school. I also got all the classes I hoped to get, including Elder Law, Accounting for Lawyers, Tax Reform and Bar Prep. Things were going better.

With classes starting, I started thinking seriously about applying for an LL.M. in Taxation. I talked to a number of attorneys in the past who've said that the program is very beneficial for what I want to do. My friend Candice suggested that I email some Estate Planning attorney's we'd met last semester at a career fair. One of the attorneys I emailed, David Correira, one of the leading Estate planning/Elder Law attorneys in the North East, emailed me back and arranged to meet me. We talked about what I wanted to learn and he offered me a chance this semester to work in his office. Check out this Link: Correira & Iacono David already has me busy reading articles about Trusts, attending NAELA seminars, sitting in on estate planning meetings with wealthy clients and attending social events. I'm very excited about working with his firm this semester!

Having a paper route taught me a lot about life and having a good sense of humor. I also learned not to mess with raccoons when they jump out of a trash can and growl at you. Just get in your car, drive as close to the door as possible, throw the paper and run for it!

Lets get rolling already!

It's summer again in Boston, although you wouldn't know it will all the rain. After a week of lousy weather I was understandably bummed to see more rain in the forecast for the next week. Come on Summer, where you at?

I've been out of school a little over a month now. I closed out the semester with one of my best GPA's in law school so far:

Remedies: C (because technicality that my teacher wouldn't excuse)
Wills, Estates & Trust II - B+
Federal Income Tax - B+
First Amendment Law B+
Tax Clinic - A

Anyways, I was thrilled to get my grades, particularly as I look forward to apply to tax LLM programs this fall.

After I finished finals, I spent two weeks home in San Diego. My sister and I helped my mom buy a new car with her tax return money. We got her a 03 Pontiac Vibe, one previous owner 20,000 mi. It's a beautiful car and it's in mint condition. I also got to see my neices Gwen and Cora which was really fun. (I'll post some pictures of them soon).



Back in Boston I've been trying to get summer work. This week I started a summer internship program at Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) in Wilmington, MA. Unfortunately, the position is unpaid so I'm looking for other part-time work and it's proving more difficult that I thought. Whatever the reason, I'm plugging away, trying to make due and stay optimistic. Overall, I realize I've received a lot of blessings this year and am really grateful. I have great friends and family and have had lots of great opportunities. Good things are in the future!

Movies I Watched While in San Diego

Mary Poppins
Bedtime Stories
The Hallelujah Trail
The Fiddler on the Roof
Star Trek (2009)
Dvorak in Prague
The Glenn Miller Story
The Importance of Being Earnest

Patriots Day Weekend

This weekend was one of patriotism and historical reenactments in Massachusetts. On Saturday, I went with my San Diego friends, Ian and Whitney Dawson to Minuteman National Park between Lexington and Concord for the a reenactment at Battle Road and on Monday morning I went with some friends to the Lexington battle reenactment. On April 19, 1775 British troops departed from Boston to seize arms and munitions in Concord. Local minutemen and militias battled the troops in Lexington, Concord and all along Massachusetts avenue back to Boston. The reenactments definitely stirred feelings of patriotism and veneration for our country's rich history. Unfortunately I didn't take many still photos, but I got about an hour of video! So if anyone's interested in seeing that let me know!

British Camp at Minutemen National Park, Concord

Ian and I with a British Officer in Concord

Lexington with friends at 6:00am, Patriots Day

Everyone was taking turns getting "jumping pictures" in front of this flag.

It was my turn. Here's my take-off

I went for a superman shot.

Paying tribute to the honorable dead.

Jared popping a heel-clicker.

Fun Stuff - Spring 2009

The Spring 2009 semester is almost over so I thought I'd recap some the highlight of the year so far:


Got to argue a drug possession case at the Suffolk County Court of Appeals at the John Adams Court House in Boston.


Interned at the Massachusetts Appellate Tax Board with Commissioner Sharaffa

Kicked it at George Washington's house for spring break


Wandered around D.C. aimlessly in the middle of the night

Did a 3 hour driving tour of Gettysburg battlefields. Here's my roommate Jared at the top of "Little Round Top."

Almost fell in the Shenandoah River

Toured the historic town Harpers Ferry

Crazy Life

I haven't posted anything here lately because I'm loosing my mind. I've been trying to get a huge paper done for my tax clinic the last month and its been slow and arduous. I was also asked argue for the DA a case on appeal that I wrote a brief for last semester. The oral argument is April 2. Fortunately, the moot hearing went really well this morning and I'm almost done with my paper, so end in sight! Then I got to start study for finals again!

How To Deal With Winter in the North East

In Boston, winter is a disappointing and substantial portion of the year. I'm the last person to offer any advise on how to enjoy the season. As the snow piles on my car and the streets to ice, my affection for New England quickly turns to disdain.

My ward is renouned for proceeding with church when all others have declared "snow day."

Trying to find parking during a snow emergency occurs about every other Sunday (remember, church proceeds!)

Last weekend, however, my contempt for the cold weather was somewhat subdued upon the discovery of a novel past-time celebrated in these bitter territories. Snowshoeing. Brittany and I joined a small group of New Hampshire and Vermont residents at Bear Pond near Lebanon, NH. The activity was surprisingly invigorating and enjoyable. The people were really fun and upbeat. By the end of the excercise my attitude towards the cold weather had softened substantially and my appreciation for the North East rehabilitated. Now that I've made peace with the winter I'm ready to move on to the spring.

Brittany was so fast in those snowshoes. One of the trail guides, Pete, noted her speed saying, "wow, she's really going!"

I tried my best to look good at snowshoeing in front of the group. Unfortunately I blew my cover as we were heading back and I fell over while trying to say "thank you" to my fellow snowshoers. We all had a good laugh.