It's that time of year again, when fans of the Great American Pastime are filled with promise–as the professional baseball season has just started. As a Yankee fan, it is almost unfair (yeah, I love to annoy), but in all honesty, it's a time for legal academics, especially those that are fans, to be filled with excitement with the coming of the summer. We also tend to be relieved that a long academic year is nearing is near its end, yet we face the reality that once again we did not live up to our resolutions.
What I am talking about here is not the promise many made to lose twenty pounds, to start running, or something similarly noble. What I am talking about is the summer blues! What did I just write? Yes, the summer blues! What blues? If you are anything like me, and have a nine month contract, you promised yourself you would be prudent with your budget and save this academic season when you were getting paid regularly. Somehow you did not do it (again). You find the summer to be a time of penny-pinching. Truth be told, I set up a summer savings account a few years ago, where I put away $800 every pay period during the academic year, and my wife has a flexible work schedule where she can add hours and make up for a good chunk of our typical nine month salaries. Nevertheless, during a time when we have timen– to play, dance, or even take a few days at the beachn– the summer can be tough for the less than prudent, at least with respect to our budgets. Yes, folks, our summer break is fast approaching. Save, save, save…oh two pay periods left? Heck, there is always baseball on the television (well, on cable at least), or there is always time to play with the kids.
Books…ah…the budgetary savior. For many of us, we do receive those summer research stipends as well ($12,000 at FIU). Yes, it helps indeed (but wait, that figure has not changed in ten years—a union strike I say!!! what, no union?)). Seriously, if you are like me, you are tired of a twenty-something year old 2L editor deciding if you work is sound, and now instead focus on writing books. Books do make money after all? Well…by my estimates… typically, not much. Let’s see, I reviewed over 3000 years of history on democratic theory and citizenship rhetoric and application for my last book, and I earned a $750.00 royalty. Hmmm? It must have been the subject—the citizenship dialectic (who would want to read that?). Yes, I have got it; finally…I will write on one of the country’s most controversial subjects—immigration reform. By my estimates, with this book, which will go to the press later today, I have spent at least one thousand hours: reviewing scores, if not hundreds, of studies on the economic effects of immigration and other exciting stuff. And I expect with a good run, I will earn roughly $1000-1,500. What? I better follow my friend jerry Markham, who tells me he does very well with casebooks (anyone need a co-author?). Yes, I need to work on this part of my budget. How about you?
On a slightly more serious note, there was really not much of a point to this essay, other than I have been living in my cave over the last few weeks finishing my final edits, and that in addition to wanting to post something, I realized as I was driving to work this morning, my regular paychecks will soon being coming to an end. Why not post something kinda silly on the Lounge? Yes folks, summer is almost here! If you are anything like me, while in the midst of realizing you are now broke once again, let’s remember what is really important: we have time to play catch, to earn some money for writing what we believe in, and to realize we just finished another largely successful year! I will take a baseball glove with my eight-year old AJ, or just about anything that bounces with my beautifultwo year old Bella, over any Power-ball or Mega-ball Lottery winnings any day of the year.
Yes, summer is near. We may be under slight budgetary strains, but for most of us, we live very fortunate lives. Have a wonderful end of the semester! Signed, only a bit spoiled!
Does your institution not give you the option of spreading your 9 months of pay over the entire year? I've taught at two law schools now, and both have done that, which means the summer research stipend ends up being like a bonus payment.