Graduation is quickly approaching, my last day of college is May 6, 2010! Wow! These last four years really went by fast! When reflecting on the last four years, I would have to say that they were really memorable!! I love the criminal justice major because I believe it has truly began to prepare me for my future in, near, or around the criminal justice system. I have formed many friendships with students and professors that I hope will continue in the future. Overall, my time here at ASU is a time in my life that has been very rewarding and I will never forget it!
A quick piece of advise to those students who are thinking about or already planning on attending college:
1) Always go to class
2) Form study groups
3) Take detailed notes in your classes
4) Form relationships with your professors
5) Study for your tests
6) Do ALL of the required readings
7) Ask questions if you don't understand something
8) Work hard and aim toward success!
I wish you all the best with your futures and remember your dreams can come true once you obtain a college degree because opportunities become endless with a strong education! Work hard and never give up! Life is full of great opportunities, successes, and surprises!
Stacey Lease
Friday, April 30, 2010
Friday, February 19, 2010
My Favorite Things to do Downtown!
I enjoy doing myriad things Downtown; however, my favorite things to do would have to be going to the sports games or entertainment at Chase Field or going to spend an evening at the Arizona Center!
I look forward to watching the Arizona Diamondbacks games at Chase Field and I always try to attend at least one game during the season! It's much better watching a baseball game in person with all the noise and excitement then watching it on your T.V. screen at home. There are approximately ten games coming up in April so get out and have some fun!
Another event that I attend every year at Chase Field is Supercross!! This event is always keeping me on the edge of my seat the entire time! It's exciting to watch these Motocross riders fighting hard for a spot in the final race! This year I was unable to attend Supercross because I was ill; however, my husband had suite seats to all the action! We were rooting for Dungey to win it all! He surprised everyone by taking the lead and winning Supercross, I heard it was an amazing race! So don't miss out on this event that takes place during the middle of January every year!
Other events offered at Chase Field are musical entertainment by famous artists, International soccer games, USHRA Monster Jam, and more!
Spending an evening at the Arizona Center can also be very enjoyable. The Arizona Center has several great restaurants and AMC Movie Theatres. I love awesome food and a great movie so this is my idea of a fun evening! It's convenient to go to the Arizona Center because you are only traveling to one place opposed to having to go to dinner at one place and then to the movies somewhere else. So when your sitting around at home with nothing to do, get some friends together and have dinner and a movie at the Arizona Center!!
I hope I was able to give you some tips on fun things to do Downtown! Don't miss out on what Downtown has to offer!
Have a great day!
I look forward to watching the Arizona Diamondbacks games at Chase Field and I always try to attend at least one game during the season! It's much better watching a baseball game in person with all the noise and excitement then watching it on your T.V. screen at home. There are approximately ten games coming up in April so get out and have some fun!
Another event that I attend every year at Chase Field is Supercross!! This event is always keeping me on the edge of my seat the entire time! It's exciting to watch these Motocross riders fighting hard for a spot in the final race! This year I was unable to attend Supercross because I was ill; however, my husband had suite seats to all the action! We were rooting for Dungey to win it all! He surprised everyone by taking the lead and winning Supercross, I heard it was an amazing race! So don't miss out on this event that takes place during the middle of January every year!
Other events offered at Chase Field are musical entertainment by famous artists, International soccer games, USHRA Monster Jam, and more!
Spending an evening at the Arizona Center can also be very enjoyable. The Arizona Center has several great restaurants and AMC Movie Theatres. I love awesome food and a great movie so this is my idea of a fun evening! It's convenient to go to the Arizona Center because you are only traveling to one place opposed to having to go to dinner at one place and then to the movies somewhere else. So when your sitting around at home with nothing to do, get some friends together and have dinner and a movie at the Arizona Center!!
I hope I was able to give you some tips on fun things to do Downtown! Don't miss out on what Downtown has to offer!
Have a great day!
Friday, February 5, 2010
My Final Semester as a Sun Devil
This semester is off to an awesome start! All of the classes I signed up for this last semester are interesting and rewarding. I'm excited to learn more about the topics of crime prevention, domestic violence, psychology, community relations, and marriage/family relationships. Each class has started to teach me about many important issues in the criminal justice system and in life. These classes are preparing me for my future as an agent in the system. I can't believe this will be my last semester at Arizona State University before I graduate in May. You guessed it! I am most excited to graduate with my Bachelor's degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice this Spring! In high school, I remember talking about what I wanted to do with my life and how excited I was to go to ASU! Now, my journey is almost over. I believe that I made the best of my college years! I can truly look back after graduation and say that I enjoyed my classes, I worked hard, and I was involved with the university in many ways. I realize graduation is still a little over three months away but when you have been waiting for that day for almost four years, it only seems as if its three days away! The last three and three-fourths years here at ASU went by extremely fast! I have already begun the process of choosing my career and applying for positions in the legal field. I'm most excited to begin my career and make a difference in our society through the criminal justice system! I can't wait!
I can't say that I am dreading anything about this semester because I'm so close to reaching the goal I have aimed for my entire life! Although it's hard work being a college student, constantly reading, studying, taking tests, and preparing for projects, I have enjoyed it all! It's a once in a lifetime experience that I will never forget! I made the best of my four years in college and I hope you all do the same!
I can't say that I am dreading anything about this semester because I'm so close to reaching the goal I have aimed for my entire life! Although it's hard work being a college student, constantly reading, studying, taking tests, and preparing for projects, I have enjoyed it all! It's a once in a lifetime experience that I will never forget! I made the best of my four years in college and I hope you all do the same!
Monday, January 18, 2010
Update!!
Hi Everyone!!
I just want to update you all!! I apologize that it has been a while since I blogged, my family and I have experienced tragedies over the past three months. We are all doing better and we are thankful to have the Lord in our lives and of course to have each other.
Over the month of December, my husband and I went back to Minnesota to see family and celebrate Christmas! We had an amazing time! It was a well needed vacation, you probably all know what I mean. We spent time playing in the snow, snowboarding, and tubing while we were there. We enjoyed all of the family Christmas parties and spending time with everyone!! If everything goes as planned, we will be living in Minnesota by the end of this summer!! This is very exciting for us; however, it will be difficult to leave everyone here. I have already started applying to several different jobs in the criminal justice system including police departments, law firms, and sheriff's departments. Although I have not quite decided what I actually would like to do! I know and it's so close to graduation already! I am interested in so many different areas of the system! I have recently decided that I may apply with private investigation firms and possibly get my private investigator's license. In contrast, I may just continue to work in a law firm, preferably criminal because I already have a great deal of experience in a civil law firm, while attending law school. Wow! So many different options with this degree. I'll let you all know when I have made my final decision.
I'd like to give you all an update on how my semester interning at the law firm finished. It was an awesome experience where I learned and will continue to learn many things about our law. I have developed myriad skills while interning here. I successfully completed the internship. Moreover, I will continue to work for this law firm until I graduate. My experience with the firm will be valuable to place on career applications. Furthermore, my supervisor can write me a recommendation letter for any career path that I choose to take.
The last semester begins tomorrow!! I can't believe that it's such a short time until graduation! I have a full schedule consisting of the following five courses:
CRJ 441: Prevention of Criminal and Delinquent Behavior
CRJ 442: Community Relations/Justice System
CRJ 461: Domestic Violence
FAS 331: Marriage/Family Relationships
PGS 101: Introduction to Psychology
I set out my classes so that I would be able to choose any two elective classes that I desired for my final semester. The courses that I chose were FAS 331 and PGS 101. I chose FAS 331 because I heard it was a good class. I also thought that would enjoy and gain a lot from it at the same time. I haven't taken psychology yet; therefore, I signed up for the class because I wanted to take it before I graduate.
I will attend classes Monday nights and all day Tuesdays and Thursdays. I will work Mondays during the day, Wednesdays, Fridays and sometimes on the weekends.
Time management is key to being a successful student while managing a job and being married. From my personal experience, I have found that utilizing time gaps between classes for studying and homework is very valuable. I just find a quiet place to work and I always seem to get a lot accomplished. In addition, I study and complete homework during the weekend and when I have any other spare time during the week. I utilize study groups for every class! I believe forming study groups is vital to doing well in many classes. If I am ever having trouble in any of my classes, I email my professor and meet with them during their office hours to get help which has been beneficial to my grade.
If any of you have any questions or concerns at all about the courses, study habits or school in general feel free to email me at scrable@asu.edu and I will get back to you just as soon as I can.
Hope you all have a wonderful day!!
Stacey
I just want to update you all!! I apologize that it has been a while since I blogged, my family and I have experienced tragedies over the past three months. We are all doing better and we are thankful to have the Lord in our lives and of course to have each other.
Over the month of December, my husband and I went back to Minnesota to see family and celebrate Christmas! We had an amazing time! It was a well needed vacation, you probably all know what I mean. We spent time playing in the snow, snowboarding, and tubing while we were there. We enjoyed all of the family Christmas parties and spending time with everyone!! If everything goes as planned, we will be living in Minnesota by the end of this summer!! This is very exciting for us; however, it will be difficult to leave everyone here. I have already started applying to several different jobs in the criminal justice system including police departments, law firms, and sheriff's departments. Although I have not quite decided what I actually would like to do! I know and it's so close to graduation already! I am interested in so many different areas of the system! I have recently decided that I may apply with private investigation firms and possibly get my private investigator's license. In contrast, I may just continue to work in a law firm, preferably criminal because I already have a great deal of experience in a civil law firm, while attending law school. Wow! So many different options with this degree. I'll let you all know when I have made my final decision.
I'd like to give you all an update on how my semester interning at the law firm finished. It was an awesome experience where I learned and will continue to learn many things about our law. I have developed myriad skills while interning here. I successfully completed the internship. Moreover, I will continue to work for this law firm until I graduate. My experience with the firm will be valuable to place on career applications. Furthermore, my supervisor can write me a recommendation letter for any career path that I choose to take.
The last semester begins tomorrow!! I can't believe that it's such a short time until graduation! I have a full schedule consisting of the following five courses:
CRJ 441: Prevention of Criminal and Delinquent Behavior
CRJ 442: Community Relations/Justice System
CRJ 461: Domestic Violence
FAS 331: Marriage/Family Relationships
PGS 101: Introduction to Psychology
I set out my classes so that I would be able to choose any two elective classes that I desired for my final semester. The courses that I chose were FAS 331 and PGS 101. I chose FAS 331 because I heard it was a good class. I also thought that would enjoy and gain a lot from it at the same time. I haven't taken psychology yet; therefore, I signed up for the class because I wanted to take it before I graduate.
I will attend classes Monday nights and all day Tuesdays and Thursdays. I will work Mondays during the day, Wednesdays, Fridays and sometimes on the weekends.
Time management is key to being a successful student while managing a job and being married. From my personal experience, I have found that utilizing time gaps between classes for studying and homework is very valuable. I just find a quiet place to work and I always seem to get a lot accomplished. In addition, I study and complete homework during the weekend and when I have any other spare time during the week. I utilize study groups for every class! I believe forming study groups is vital to doing well in many classes. If I am ever having trouble in any of my classes, I email my professor and meet with them during their office hours to get help which has been beneficial to my grade.
If any of you have any questions or concerns at all about the courses, study habits or school in general feel free to email me at scrable@asu.edu and I will get back to you just as soon as I can.
Hope you all have a wonderful day!!
Stacey
Friday, October 9, 2009
Another look into the life of working in a Plaintiff Attorney's Law Office!
I'm in my second month of my internship in a Plaintiff's Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Law Office.
During this month, I have been working with he attorney in preparing an initial disclosure statement for a wrongful death case in which we have named a second Defendant. We have also prepared a supplemental disclosure statement for both of the Defendants. In addition, both the Plaintiff’s attorney and the Defense attorneys are putting together a stipulation for scheduling. Moreover, the attorney has met with doctors in order to decide whom he will use to testify in this particular case. We have spent time studying and reviewing the medical records continuously for preciseness.
A Plaintiff’s initial disclosure statement includes the witnesses, experts, exhibits, and evidence that the Plaintiff’s attorney is planning to use in the case. The Plaintiff has the burden of proof throughout the majority of the case. In the initial disclosure statement, we included all of the facts of the case, each lay and expert witness, depositions, and the important documents were attached to the initial disclosure statement as exhibits.
This initial disclosure statement with all of the exhibits (evidence) attached was probably over 1,000 pages just to give you a rough idea about how long it takes to actually put it together and make copies for the other attorneys.
After or during the time we spend finishng exchanging the initial disclosure statement with the exhibits, which we are still in the process of doing, supplemental disclosure statements will begin by both the Plaintiffs and Defendants. These supplemental statements include submitting more discovery and disclosure of witnesses and documents to each side. There is continual disclosure of new experts, evidence, discovery, and exhibits; therefore, we continuously prepare supplemental disclosure statements until the last day of discovery and disclosure of the case.
In order to keep a case on a steady track through the court system, the attorneys are suppose to work together on a stipulation of scheduling for which they will decide the deadlines for disclosures, depositions, discovery, and experts. In addition, the attorneys state, in the stipulation, when they expect to be finished with all of these things so that the court can set a trial date for the case. Personally, I find it interesting that the attorneys work on scheduling together professionally; however, sometimes it is with difficulty because of conflicting schedules. This stipulation for scheduling enables the case to move forward with the attorneys in agreement about deadlines if, after submitted, the court agrees with the proposed stipulation.
Throughout a case such as the one we are currently working on, the Plaintiff’s attorney will normally have meetings with the doctors that they want to testify in the case. During these meetings, the attorney speaks privately with the doctor about the case, gives the doctor medical records to review and asks the doctor his expert opinion based on his work with the patient and the medical records.
When preparing for these meetings with doctors, the attorney and I have spent time reviewing and studying the medical records. We know to look for specific phrases and notes such as SOB (shortness of breath) when studying the records. We have spent time researching different medical conditions such as CHF (Cardiac Heart Failure), its definition, symptoms, etc. This process of learning about medical conditions is important so that you are aware of these conditions when meeting with the doctors. Then, the attorney will have some background information about the condition while the doctor gives his expert opinion. As a Plaintiff's attorney in a case like this one, you are continuously researching medical conditions, cases and more.
I am continually learning more about the skills and practices a Plaintiff's attorney uses in order to develop and settle/take a case to trial. The responsibility of the Plaintiff's attorney is immense in that he/she has the burden of proof. However, skilled attorneys have learned to work well with ideas and arguments when building their cases. They develop strategies for their case that they can use at trial if the case goes to trial.
Like I have stated previously, law may be in my future and I don't necessarily mean law enforcement, could mean lawyer, we will just have to wait and find out.
Until next time, have a wonderful day!
Stacey
During this month, I have been working with he attorney in preparing an initial disclosure statement for a wrongful death case in which we have named a second Defendant. We have also prepared a supplemental disclosure statement for both of the Defendants. In addition, both the Plaintiff’s attorney and the Defense attorneys are putting together a stipulation for scheduling. Moreover, the attorney has met with doctors in order to decide whom he will use to testify in this particular case. We have spent time studying and reviewing the medical records continuously for preciseness.
A Plaintiff’s initial disclosure statement includes the witnesses, experts, exhibits, and evidence that the Plaintiff’s attorney is planning to use in the case. The Plaintiff has the burden of proof throughout the majority of the case. In the initial disclosure statement, we included all of the facts of the case, each lay and expert witness, depositions, and the important documents were attached to the initial disclosure statement as exhibits.
This initial disclosure statement with all of the exhibits (evidence) attached was probably over 1,000 pages just to give you a rough idea about how long it takes to actually put it together and make copies for the other attorneys.
After or during the time we spend finishng exchanging the initial disclosure statement with the exhibits, which we are still in the process of doing, supplemental disclosure statements will begin by both the Plaintiffs and Defendants. These supplemental statements include submitting more discovery and disclosure of witnesses and documents to each side. There is continual disclosure of new experts, evidence, discovery, and exhibits; therefore, we continuously prepare supplemental disclosure statements until the last day of discovery and disclosure of the case.
In order to keep a case on a steady track through the court system, the attorneys are suppose to work together on a stipulation of scheduling for which they will decide the deadlines for disclosures, depositions, discovery, and experts. In addition, the attorneys state, in the stipulation, when they expect to be finished with all of these things so that the court can set a trial date for the case. Personally, I find it interesting that the attorneys work on scheduling together professionally; however, sometimes it is with difficulty because of conflicting schedules. This stipulation for scheduling enables the case to move forward with the attorneys in agreement about deadlines if, after submitted, the court agrees with the proposed stipulation.
Throughout a case such as the one we are currently working on, the Plaintiff’s attorney will normally have meetings with the doctors that they want to testify in the case. During these meetings, the attorney speaks privately with the doctor about the case, gives the doctor medical records to review and asks the doctor his expert opinion based on his work with the patient and the medical records.
When preparing for these meetings with doctors, the attorney and I have spent time reviewing and studying the medical records. We know to look for specific phrases and notes such as SOB (shortness of breath) when studying the records. We have spent time researching different medical conditions such as CHF (Cardiac Heart Failure), its definition, symptoms, etc. This process of learning about medical conditions is important so that you are aware of these conditions when meeting with the doctors. Then, the attorney will have some background information about the condition while the doctor gives his expert opinion. As a Plaintiff's attorney in a case like this one, you are continuously researching medical conditions, cases and more.
I am continually learning more about the skills and practices a Plaintiff's attorney uses in order to develop and settle/take a case to trial. The responsibility of the Plaintiff's attorney is immense in that he/she has the burden of proof. However, skilled attorneys have learned to work well with ideas and arguments when building their cases. They develop strategies for their case that they can use at trial if the case goes to trial.
Like I have stated previously, law may be in my future and I don't necessarily mean law enforcement, could mean lawyer, we will just have to wait and find out.
Until next time, have a wonderful day!
Stacey
Race for the Cure is coming up!
Hi Everyone!
The Race for the Cure is a event that is put on by the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and all of those that sponsor it in its mission to end breast cancer forever! This organization helps raise funds and awareness for the fight against breast cancer!!
On October 11, 2009, the Race for the Cure will be held near Downtown Phoenix! The 2009 Komen Phoenix Race for the Cure is going to be in the State Capitol District of downtown Phoenix. The Race activities include the Survivor and Co-Survivor Area (Pink Hat Cafe, Survivor Goodie Bags), Corporate Village (sponsor booths), and Registration and Packet Pick-Up will take place in Wesley Bolin Plaza. Each of the events on this day will start at 17th Ave. and Adams St. We will circle the Capitol Building and head East to Copper Square before returning to the finish line East of 17th Ave. on Jefferson St.
For more information on this event and others in Phoenix, visit www.komenphoenix.org
I will walk Sunday with my family for the loved family and friends that have had and still have breast cancer!
One of my family members has had several surgeries as a result of being diagnosed with breast cancer years ago; however, by God's grace she has survived it all. She is a strong woman who never gave up and I look up to her for that strength!!
So on October 11, 2009, my family and I will walk for her and everything she has come through with having breast cancer!
Will you join us in supporting the race for the cure against breast cancer and if so who will you walk for this year?
Hope to see you there in support of your loved family and friends who have or have had breast cancer in the past!
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Moving this weekend!!
Yay! We are moving this weekend! After getting married in May and house sitting for over three and a half months, we finally get a place of our own!After only a week and a half of looking, we found our new home! It is an apartment, but it's a big one! It's located near the Carefree Highway with a beautiful desert view right outside our patio! This place will be OUR first official place together that is OURS! We get to decorate it together, design the layout of where everything is going to go and shop for furniture! Can't wait!
We have a long weekend ahead, but the payoff will be well worth it!
Email me at scrable@asu.edu if you are looking at moving anytime soon, this place is awesome!
Have a great night everyone!!
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