While working as an investigative reporter at K108FM, a rock-and-roll radio station in Sacramento, Monica Bay '82, editor in chief of Law Technology News, published by ALM, an Incisive Media company, decided to go to law school.  A graduate of UC Santa Cruz, Bay had already done graduate work in journalism at the University of Minnesota.

"I was tired of being threatened with libel suits by the people I was investigating.  It was like playing Monopoly without knowing the rules. I figured law school would teach me the rules.  I intended to go back into journalism, but I was briefly seduced by the idea of subpoenas, which meant people had to talk to you," she recalled.

Being a part-time student was a "blessing" because it gave Bay the chance to see what she learned in the theoretical world of law school put into practice in the real world.  Her temp work took her to large and small firms in all areas of practice.  "Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that what I learned in those different environments would be so helpful to me in my ultimate career. Seeing law firms through the eyes of support staff - who in larger firms are pretty much invisible - gave me a feel for lots of different law firm cultures," she said. "I also got to experience working in a small firm with a first-class attorney, Albert Abramson, who was my mentor during my last year at USF."

While at USF, she became the first part-time student elected as a national officer (vice chair) of the ABA's Law Student Division. "That really was a breakthrough for USF and for me. I will be forever grateful for the school's support," she said. "And I am pleased that the school continues its involvement with the ABA."

Bay also authored "The Common Scold," a humor column in The Forum. "In Colonial times, a common scold was a vexing woman who could be dunked in water for annoying the elders. Writing that column was so much fun.  People really responded to it.  When I launched my blog in 2004, it seemed the perfect name because I'm still loud-mouthed and opinionated."

And her opinion of USF? "It was an incredibly nurturing environment for a struggling 20-something trying to get her feet on the ground.  It was small enough that I wasn't invisible, but big enough to give me the tools and self-confidence that I needed early in my career."

Read Monica Bay's blog at www.thecommonscold.com.

Next week, read what Bay thinks are the biggest technology issue looming on the legal horizon.