This Thanksgiving, our contribution to the feast was a pineapple chiffon cake. Chiffon is the French word for “cloth” and the cake’s name derives from its light and airy texture. After testing over 400 different recipes, the cake’s aptly named inventor, Harry Baker, discovered the magic formula by replacing butter with vegetable oil. He called the addition of vegetable oil, “a sixth sense, something cosmic.” Mr. Baker held tightly to that secret for 20 years before selling the recipe to General Mills in 1947. Ever-the-salesman, General Mills debuted the recipe with the moniker, “The first really new cake in 100 years.”
Continue readingAuthor: Alex Mostaghimi
A Haunting on the Docket: When Appellants Met Apparitions
In the early 1960s, the children of Nyack, New York spoke of the “haunted” house on the hill. The old Victorian’s newest tenants, The Ackleys, would soon learn first-hand. Phantom footsteps and slamming doors set the supernatural stage. Most mornings, ghosts roused the Ackley children by violently shaking their beds. After reaching into their pockets, they might have found baby rings left by unseen hands. Like many of these “gifts,” they came as quickly as they went: little trinkets, coins, and even silver sugar tongs appearing and vanishing out of thin air.
Continue readingA Sit Down Chat with BC Law Legend Professor Bloom
Generations of BC Law alumni have found common ground in relating their experiences with the institution’s most revered fixtures, names like Hillinger, Brodin, Blum, and Katz. This week, I had a chat with Professor “Bob” Bloom, an alum himself and a remarkable legal educator whose one-of-a-kind style has left an indelible mark on any student privileged enough to take his courses (BC Law Magazine published a lengthy Q&A with him last spring; read that here).
Continue readingFour Notorious 2L Summer Associate Stories
Every 2L summer associate dreams of a smooth path to a six-figure salary. But not everyone makes it to the finish line. For a select few, the summer ends not with an offer letter, but with a quiet email, a closed-door meeting, or in some cases, an HR debrief no one forgets.
Inspired by the most recent crazy case of the summer “Biglaw Biter,” the following are four other infamous examples of 2L summer associates who really went off the rails. All of them, for better or worse, are unforgettable—so unbelievable, you might think I’m making them up (so I included sources for you to prove it).
I probably don’t have to tell you this, but let this be your reminder: Biglaw firms are watching—and they never forget.
Continue readingSeeing What Sticks: Trial and Error in Law School
For many law students, a consistent record of success follows them. A high undergraduate GPA, strong LSAT scores, and glowing recommendations make it seem like aptitude is a given and success is inevitable. Nevertheless, the heavier and harsh realities of law school quickly tear apart fanciful notions of an easy-breezy life. But if there was ever a place to fail, law school would be the place.
Let me explain.
Continue readingFour Things to Know for Those Considering Clerking
A judicial law clerk assists a judge in their most important duties: preparing to supervise an oral argument, drafting opinions, and preparing jury instructions. With direct contact from the arbiters of the law, the value of a judicial clerkship cannot be matched. Not only will a judicial clerk’s writing, reading, and analytical skills vastly improve, their network among members of the Bar, other clerks, and judges will also expand.
Continue readingBuilding the Case: The Thrill of Mock Trial
BC Law’s Mock Trial competition has been an exhilarating part of my law school experience. This year, 22 teams litigated the fictional case State of Lone Star v. Justice Jackson, where the defendant was suspected of felony theft and burglary in a late-night smash and grab of the boutique clothing store, Fox + Cat Vintage.
Our team had to dive deep into the case materials, examining every detail—from the eyewitness testimony to the intricacies of the fingerprint evidence on a pipe allegedly used in the crime. We practiced creating opening and closing statements, each word carefully chosen to create a smooth, coherent, and convincing story.
While each round involved the same case materials, the endings always varied. The name of the game is admitting evidence that benefits you while trying to exclude evidence that harms you. Different teams have different case theories. One team of prosecutors may think an exhibit is crucial to proving their case, while another team may think the same exhibit is irrelevant or bad for their case.
One memorable part of the Mock Trial competition is questioning witnesses. With each cross-examination, it’s crucial to expose inconsistencies in the story or reveal new facets of a witness’s personality or reliability. For example, I questioned Angel Nguyen, the defendant’s ex-wife and main alibi witness who said the two were watching The Bachelor together at the time the burglary occurred. While you can prepare to your heart’s content, you can never fully anticipate exactly what the witness’s responses will be. Witnesses will squirm and try their hardest to avoid the traps the cross-examining attorney is laying in front of them. That’s the fun of the game.
That process was a mix of adrenaline rushes and critical thinking. It’s public speaking, trial practice, evidence, and thinking-on-your-feet all wrapped into one. Things will go fast and you have to act faster. If you don’t make a timely objection, the judge will tell you, “the horse has already left the barn.” For that reason, knowing the material and concepts well enough to invoke their substance and argue it on the spot is crucial. At the very least, you won’t be bored.
If participating as an attorney isn’t your thing, I’d strongly recommend being a mock trial witness. Not only is embodying a character fun, but there is also a skill component in helping evoke the story your side wants to tell, while making it as hard as possible for the other side to do the same.
I’d like to thank Caleb Brady, Noah DeRossi, and Christian Bilgrien for co-chairing the tournament. Without them, it simply wouldn’t be possible. They put on great presentations teaching the basics of trial advocacy and brought in fantastic judges who provided invaluable advice to our young legal minds, giving us a glimpse on what the real courtroom looks like.
Alex Mostaghimi is a second-year student at BC Law. Contact him at mostagha@bc.edu.
A Tale of Two Responses: 9/11, Ukraine, and the Evolution of International Justice
On September 11, 2001, the world watched in horror as planes crashed into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and a Pennsylvania field, killing nearly 3,000 people. It was an attack not just on American soil, but on the very fabric of international peace and security. The magnitude of 9/11 called for a swift and forceful response, and the U.S. delivered—launching the War on Terror, invading Afghanistan, and eventually Iraq. However, questions about the legality of these actions arose. The legacy of Guantánamo Bay, extraordinary renditions, and indefinite detentions has left an indelible mark on the global fight against terrorism.
Two decades later, another horrific event has sparked the world’s attention: Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. But this time, the international community is charting a different course. Rather than bypassing international law, Ukraine is actively working to establish a high war crimes court to prosecute the atrocities committed in its territory. This pursuit of accountability, while the conflict is still raging, marks a significant evolution in the global approach to justice. It proves that we are progressing in our search for international accountability, contrasting sharply with the path taken in the aftermath of 9/11.
Continue readingHuman Rights Field Trip: From BC to DC
“We of this Western Hemisphere, by movements such as that symbolized by this building, have taken great strides toward securing permanent peace among ourselves.” These were the words of Teddy Roosevelt dedicated to the Pan-American Union Building built in 1910. Only a few blocks from the White House, it now stands as the headquarters for the Organization of American States and was the setting for the BC Law Human Rights Elective and International Human Rights Practicum field trip in 2024.
The Pan American Union, a sort-of United Nations exclusively for the Americas, would transform into the Organization of American States in 1948. All 34 independent nations of the Americas hold membership within the organization and while it does not loom large in the American political imagination, it holds greater significance to Latin and Central American and Caribbean nations.
Continue reading1L Interviews: How to Sell Your Story in 20 Minutes or Less
The most industrious Common Poorwill, a nocturnal bird native to North America, will only hibernate for one month before once again starting its daily habit of hunting moths, grasshoppers, and beetles. So too does the North American law student awaken from their month-long winter break to re-initiate their habits of daily readings, writings, and cold-calls. But the inexperienced 1L also faces a peculiar challenge upon their return: the law school interview.
Just as the prudent squirrel buries nuts for the winter, the thoughtful law student heeds the call of their Career Services Office to send out applications before winter break. Similar to the forgetful squirrel’s nut budding into a strong oak, the forgetful law student’s application can turn into a fruitful 20-minute interview. However, how much ground can be covered in 20 minutes? How simple is it to sell yourself as a professional in an industry you’ve only formally joined three months ago?
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BC Law: Impact 