How to Prepare for a Triathlon

Recent law school graduate Amy Goldenberg has served as a clerk for the Honorable Dennis F. Carey III and the Honorable Russell J. Passamano of the New Jersey Superior Court, near her home of Closter, NJ. Outside of her work in the legal field, Amy Goldenberg frequently participates in marathons and triathlons.

In a triathlon, adequate preparation is essential. Competitors should schedule training sessions for each section at least twice a week. Including rest days, which allow the body to recuperate and avoid injury, is also important.

Fit competitors may need only two months of training to prepare for a triathlon, but first-timers should begin training at least 12 to 16 weeks before the race. Weak swimmers should work with a coach to build up their stamina and increase their strength.

Having the right gear for each portion of the race is essential. For the swimming component, racers should invest in a high-quality hair cap and airtight goggles.

While most races allow competitors to wear swimsuits designed for triathlons, the wearing of a full wetsuit depends on the average water temperature and race regulations. Other key items for triathletes include a good pair of running shoes and a reliable mountain bike or road bike.

Study Abroad Opportunities for Law Students

Amy Goldenberg of Closter, NJ, earned her law degree after enjoying a successful career in pharmaceutical sales. While she was earning her JD from Touro Law School in New Jersey, Amy Goldenberg participated in a summer study abroad program in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Undergraduates and graduate students studying law can gain meaningful international experience by spending time abroad. In addition to gaining a global understanding of the operation of legal systems, studying abroad can give law students the opportunity to learn at some of the best universities in the world.

Some schools incorporate study abroad options into their law programs. For example, the American University Washington College of Law offers a program on International Criminal Law that takes place in The Hague, Netherlands, the home of the International Criminal Court.

In addition, law students from any university can participate in American Bar Association-approved summer programs throughout the world. Programs lengths vary from two weeks to two months.

NYC Bar Association Serves as Key Watchdog on the Right to Counsel Law

New York City Bar Association pic — New York City Bar Association
Image: nycbar.org

Possessing a JD from Touro Law Center, Amy Goldenberg of Closter, NJ, most recently served as a judicial law clerk with Essex Vicinage. Experienced with performing legal research and drafting judicial opinions, Amy Goldenberg is a member of the Criminal Courts Committee of the New York City Bar Association (NYC Bar).

The NYC Bar formed a civil justice task force to evaluate the Right to Counsel law passed by the City Council in 2017 that ensures free legal representation to eligible tenants facing eviction. Applying to residents in certain zip codes, the law has altered the dynamics of landlord-tenant disputes in one of the country’s most-populated cities, according to attorney and task force co-chair Andrew Scherer. Now that citizens are more informed about their rights and have access to representation, more cases are going through litigation rather than ending in eviction.

Right to Counsel, which took effect in January 2018, is the result of the persistent work of a coalition of fair-housing advocates. The law’s success is evident; around 22,000 evictions have already been stopped and roughly 30 percent of tenants appear with an attorney, up from 1 percent in 2013.

While the NYC Housing Court has become more manageable for residents and the total number of evictions has dropped, some tenants who qualify for free legal assistance continue to fall through the cracks. More outreach and education is necessary to reach everyone who needs help staying in their home. However, by 2022, the law will expand to include all New York citizens with incomes up to double the federal poverty level.

Westlaw, Fastcase, and LexisNexis Rule US Legal Research Databases

LexisNexis pic — LexisNexis
Image: LexisNexis.com

Attorney Amy Goldenberg from Closter, NJ, is a secretary for the Federal Bar Association. Previously a judicial law clerk at Essex Vicinage, Amy Goldenberg of Closter, NJ, conducted legal research using LexisNexis and Westlaw.

According to a 2017 legal research survey by Clio, the U.S. legal publishing market is dominated by three firms: Westlaw (20.58 percent), Fastcase (20.35 percent), and LexisNexis (20.21 percent). Here are some details on each:

Westlaw
Westlaw markets itself as the most comprehensive database for legal information, which includes federal and circuit court cases, statutes, state regulations, bills, treatises, and public records. It also contains litigation resources and practice-area insights.

Fastcase
A relatively new entrant in the legal-research world, Fastcase is a database of legal resources that is big on functionality. It has a simple search application that lets users look up cases they already know about and an advanced search option that combines keyword, citation, and natural language filters. It scores results based on relevance, includes tags to help users look up pertinent materials, and highlights key paragraphs in legal texts for simpler use.

LexisNexis
An established legal-research database, LexisNexis has been around for decades. It has the most recent cases and more in-depth jurisdictional data. It combines these primary sources with secondary ones, like law reviews, to assist in legal research. It also has all Supreme Court cases since 1790 and data on 80 million businesses.