traditions

As many of you can imagine, the law and the legal tradition have incredible numbers of traditions. I learned a new one today. The first year law class of 2006 (me included) wrote their first exam today. Because of the large number of us (roughly 120) we write the exams in the law library. The law library has three levels, the basement, the main floor (the pit) and a mezzanine that overlooks the pit.

As this is the first exam for all of us, we were quite focused and intense. Several minutes before the exam begins we are allowed into our seats, and then the "invigilators" say "GO". Well completely unnoticed, there's 100 upper year students on the mezzanine who broke out into cheering, yelling, applause, I even think there were a few musical instruments. It's a nice tradition, which I understand has been going on at the College for more than twenty years. Sort of a welcome/good luck thing. It's nice, but it can throw you off your game when you're completely surprised. As for the exam, today was Contracts, and all I have to say is that preparation paid off.