MSL IS A FINE SCHOOL

MSL IS A FINE SCHOOL


Shortly after I took the MSL entrance exam in July, 2009, I was pulled over by the cops while driving home. My driver's license was suspended and as a result, I was arrested and my car and license were taken by the police. I spent a night in jail. On the following morning, I was brought before a judge in a crowded court room, shackled in handcuffs and leg chains. The Judge asked "How do you respond to the charges?" I responded "Your Honor, I just came from taking my exam to enter into law school and does the state of Massachusetts have the jurisdiction to confiscate my license and car that was issued by the state of Maryland," while "I am a resident of the state of Maryland and at a disadvantage here in a Massachusetts' Court.” The Judge said "We are going to dismiss the case and declare you not guilty, but we fine you $100 for driving through our state on a suspended license." I was happy to beat that case. However, I had to catch a greyhound bus ten hours to Baltimore, borrow the money from my Mom, and ride the greyhound ten hours back to Massachusetts to get my car out of impound. This was the first of mishaps I had in Massachusetts.

I must say that I cherished the opportunity to attend MSL. I was excited to be a student there and I enjoyed every moment of my experience as a 1L student. MSL has a brilliant and unique program to transform students into lawyers. I brought this excitement and passion to my classes everyday. The reading work load was not as overwhelming as some people would have you believe. As I shopped for law schools, I noticed MSL has a cozy down to earth approach in dealing with students as opposed to the cold distant approach that ABA schools entertain. I enjoyed my professors Puller, Starkis, Coyne, Martin and Malaguti. I learned a lot from these professors in such a short time. Rohit and Darius gave me good support. During the five months I attended MSL, I absorbed all that I could in terms of how a law school operates and what it expects from students. I learned also that grasping the principles of law has so many twists and turns, but CALI and study guides helped me adjust. I was an outsider for many years wondering what the law school experience was and MSL gave me that privilege.

You may ask: “Why did you leave?” Bluntly, living in Massachusetts for me was bad. From the first day of class to the last day of class, I slept in my car at night, and lived in the school during the day. After class, I stayed in the library until it closed. I had no problem sleeping in my car because I had everything I needed as if I were on a camping trip. Survival 101. When necessary I showered at MSL, thanks to its two showers. You would think that I lived in a penthouse because I came to class clean and fresh. The amount of money I was allotted from the student loan was only enough for food and other expenses but not for rent unless I wanted to have my rent paid and not eat. I was shocked to be 421 miles away from home, dealing with the pressures of law school and not have enough money for housing. I was so excited to be a law student that I did not care about sleeping in my car at night. I parked my car at night at the La Quinta Inn Hotel near the school, and turned my Ford Taurus into a camping trailer. One of the most essential items I possessed was a quilt that I had bought at K-Mart in Salem, New Hampshire. That quilt saved me from freezing to death during the winter months. I stayed warm and cozy at nights huddled under my quilt even when it was freezing cold. Some mornings in November, I awoke with a snow- covered car in a blizzard, and I would brush it off and drive to attend my morning Civil Procedure class. Maybe, I could have found another student to share an apartment, but that was not my interest.

The students at MSL were always so helpful and made me realize that movies like the Paper Chase are just Hollywood baloney. While chatting with a friend one day at the front desk in the library, Dean Velvel walked by. Dean Velvel had on his slippers, a T-shirt and jeans. Dean Velvel made the library atmosphere at home and cozy in such a way that I realized you can relax and not be so uptight at MSL. That was a hilarious and memorable moment for me at MSL. However, I told no one at the school about me sleeping in my car because I did not want any sympathy. I enjoy independence and prefer to handle my own affairs. I could not bear living so far away from the mid-Atlantic region. I only like to live, work or go to school anywhere from New York to Washington, D.C. The mid-Atlantic region is the life of the east coast in my view. I am more resourceful, self sufficient and able to earn money quickly in that region. I did not mind driving eight hours back and forth from Baltimore to Andover because having my car allowed me to come and go from each city at anytime. While attending MSL, I ran out of money and had to borrow money twice to get back home and that angered since I prefer self-reliance. I then began to have stress about my car having problems, and all these things made me realize that going to MSL was a wonderful experience but living in Massachusetts was not. I really wished that MSL was anywhere from DC to New York because I would have never left such a fine school. I cherish the book: Against the Tide by the MSL faculty. MSL is a wonderful alternative to the cold- blooded and heartless ABA law schools. I am currently attending another law school. Having a law degree is equivalent to a black belt in karate. I want to fight my own legal battles. Having said all there is to say: I thank MSL for the opportunity to attend such a commendable law school.


by Allen J.Zakki, 1L