The law school assured me I would get credit for an internship, so I headed down to ABC, had a rollicking time with the legal correspondent talking about JAG recruitment and Kelo v. New London, and happily rearranged my schedule (dropping Corporations with possibly my favourite professor at the law school) once they invited me back. I ask NYU how much credit I'll be getting, so that I know how much the 15 hours per week I'll be putting into legal research is worth. And then they tell me that although they'll be telling my employer that I will "get credit", it's not "academic credit" -- for the purposes of oh, I don't know, GRADUATING -- and that they're sorry if they gave me the wrong impression.
Rules of statutory interpretation. (1) If the plain meaning of the statute is clear, use the plain meaning. And then stop. Really.
OK, the man on the street would probably think that "get credit" means...I get credit! Academic credit? Well yes, seeing as I've never heard of any other kind. But no. There's fake credit too, which the law school uses to prevent the outside world from knowing that they try to keep their students from doing anything unorthodox, i.e. stuff besides preparing to be a legal automaton and work for X, Y & Z LLP for the next 6 years before total burnout, alcoholism and probably a failed marriage.
On the other hand, if you want to be one of Professor B's twenty-TA-strong Con Law minions, you can elect to have half your credit load eliminated or get paid much moolah. If you want to yell at a bunch of dudes who want to serve their country because you think they're homophobes by virtue of their desire to put on a uniform and ensure that "military justice" isn't a joke, we'll bring you the finest fruit and bagels in the land to make sure you're comfortable. And if you want to tell some of your fellow classmates that they suck, we'll do you the great service of forwarding your letter to ensure that everyone who (we also think) sucks gets it.
That's enlightened.
Rules of statutory interpretation. (1) If the plain meaning of the statute is clear, use the plain meaning. And then stop. Really.
OK, the man on the street would probably think that "get credit" means...I get credit! Academic credit? Well yes, seeing as I've never heard of any other kind. But no. There's fake credit too, which the law school uses to prevent the outside world from knowing that they try to keep their students from doing anything unorthodox, i.e. stuff besides preparing to be a legal automaton and work for X, Y & Z LLP for the next 6 years before total burnout, alcoholism and probably a failed marriage.
On the other hand, if you want to be one of Professor B's twenty-TA-strong Con Law minions, you can elect to have half your credit load eliminated or get paid much moolah. If you want to yell at a bunch of dudes who want to serve their country because you think they're homophobes by virtue of their desire to put on a uniform and ensure that "military justice" isn't a joke, we'll bring you the finest fruit and bagels in the land to make sure you're comfortable. And if you want to tell some of your fellow classmates that they suck, we'll do you the great service of forwarding your letter to ensure that everyone who (we also think) sucks gets it.
That's enlightened.
