<p>I honestly never knew you could ask for an extension or to take a make up exam until I got to law school and saw students asking for them for all kinds of things like they needed to go to a child’s school event or on a trip. Even the professors cancelled class for what I considered stupid and unfair reasons. One guy cancelled class 3 times on Fridays (at 10 am) for funerals. How many people does he know who die in one semester? </p>
<p>But learning to be on time, or early, is a good thing. Once I was sent running to the court to file trial points ordered by the judge on July 2, right before the holiday. I ran across town, yes RAN, and arrived huffing and puffing. I had to file one copy with the judge and one with the clerk. I went to the Judge first, had to be buzzed in, clear security, etc.,time was ticking, and I was running out of time. Then I ran down to the clerk’s desk and the big roller thing was down; it was closed. I stood there in shock, not knowing what to do when the judge’s clerk walked out, saw my panic, and took it back into the office and stamped it as received. I was still standing there trying to recover when the low level associate from the other side came running up. The clerk reappeared and saw him and said “Too late, we’re closed” and she walked away.</p>
<p>Two lessons: 1) be on time; 2) be nice to the clerks (she liked me, she didn’t like the other side)</p>