I understand that bashing law school is a favorite activity of law students.  As a response to Josh’s semi-joking law-school-bashing post — I present to you the 9 Reasons Why Law School is Great.

9.  You Can Find Cheap Books

Law textbooks may be among most expensive items ever, but crafty shoppers can find used books online — and the sales are great.  Unless you’re like me and have no money until loans come in (after the semester begins).

Other people have reported that they get by without buying books at all.  Since most of the stuff we read is within the public domain, it would be possible to find out the material beforehand and download it all from Westlaw or LexisNexis.  It would take an insane amount of time because you won’t have the author’s excerpts, but it’s doable.  Alternatively, people report not reading at all.  We wouldn’t suggest the latter, though.

8.  You Don’t Have to be That Smart

Gunners will always be there.  Just reassure your self-worth by recognizing they’re still virgins — or that they look collateral issues up on wikipedia during class and then ask a question incorporating their newly found info to prove how “smart” they are.  Seriously, I know a guy.

Here’s an interesting back and forth on the merits of gunning, which cites a funny post “You Might Be a Gunner” (Ava Rice’s Law Sloth) including:

• If you sign your emails with a legal quote (from Holmes, Cardozo, etc.) and update it daily – you might be a gunner
  

  

• If you use a rolling backpack, and you’re a healthy guy – you might be a gunner
• If you bring a textbook stand to class – you might be a gunner
• If your professor has ever stated he will not call on you for the rest of the day – you might be a gunner
• If you sit in the same seat in every class, especially if it’s front row center – you might be a gunner
• If when you talk, you use the biggest words you can think of, and talk slowly so it seems like you’re continually thinking really hard, and you make sure to reapply concepts previously taught by the professor – you might be a gunner
• If you actually read the ’suggested’ reading, and reference the professor’s published articles in class – you might be a gunner

In addition, at a lot of schools, you really have to actively try to fail out.  If you’re satisfied with being average, you could probably have a fairly relaxing law school career.

7.  Law-cest is the Best-cest

Hot, smart, witty women with no time for anyone from the real world, surrounding you all the time?  It really doesn’t get much better than this.

100% of the LG authors have been with their law school girlfriends since 1L torts — so there must be something to be said for law-cest, right?  To be fair, though, we’ve seen some absolutely terrible breakups in law school.  We’re probably the exception to the rule.

6. Caffeine Addictions are Tasty

If you haven’t redeemed Lexis points for Starbucks gift

cards then you’re not living an appropriate law student lifestyle.  You need to know how many shots are in each size,  and you should occasionally plan your day around the information at  and

their caffeine database.  What’s not fun about being caffeine-addled all the time, or making the 9 p.m. Grande Americano part of your every-day routine? Seriously, try telling a normal person (read: not college student either) how much coffee you drink and gauge their reaction from 1 to “what in the hell.”

5.  Drinking As a Leisure Activity

Face it, drinking is the semi-official sport of the legal profession. Like it or not (and regardless of whether you choose to participate), we guesstimate that the SBA spends at least 75% of their budget on “social events” that are essentially frat mixers.  From welcome back parties, football tailgates, Homecoming, Halloween, Fall Formal, Spring Formal to graduation, there’s always plenty to do — as long as it’s standing by the bar.

4. The Promise of Biglaw Dollars

There’s a fatcat Biglaw job out there at just for you! Williams & Connolly raised salaries to $180k! 32 2L Summers!  And everyone’s bound to get hired!

Well maybe that was last years reality. But even in this economy, some people  will win the Biglaw lottery and have the ability to work 16 hour days and make mad cash.  With CEO pay being restricted, this is your  chance to to get that car you’ve always dreamed of. And you know that most guys are daydreaming about that car in torts.

Oh wait, I think I got a letter from W&C that began “Thank you for your interest in W&C, but unfortunately . . . .”  Actually, maybe that was the letter that ended, “We wish you good luck in your life.”  Thanks!

3. Outlines!

Between online outline sites, older classmates, and Emanuel’s all the black letter law is readily available.  Simply add IRAC and maniacal typing and you’ve got it made.  These sites are recommended, but always try to use outlines keyed to your book.

• Outline Depot
• ILRG
• NYU SBA Outlines
• UGA Outlines
• 4LawSchool.com
• Findlaw Outlines

2. Law School Creates Lawyers

Quit whining.  You’re about to be part of a distinguished profession.  By learning the ins and outs of the legal system you have the ability to help people through your job and by doing meaningful pro bono.  Plus you can advise your family and friends about legal matters.  Because you know the rules (or at least know where to access them), this advice consists of manipulating laws within ethical boundaries — tax laws, wills & trusts, speeding tickets, and general advice (usually: call a lawyer).  So suck it up, do your work, and act more like Atticus Finch.

1.  At Least You’re Not At Work!

Have you read about the economy lately?  Law schools aren’t immune from the effects of a recession, but we can at least mostly ignore it (until we go looking for jobs, anyway).  Entire sites are popping up just to track the layoffs.

At its core, law school is just a complicated dance of scheduling.  You’ll enjoy more freedom than will be available in most professions — especially practicing law.  Being able to make your own schedule, dress how you want, and manage your life completely devoid of any rules except for following your syllabus is quite liberating.

Related posts:

1. More Tales from the 1L Underbelly
2. A Lot Can Change in a Year (Alternatively: It’s Never Too Late?)
3. So You’ve Survived Your First Week of Law School
4. Why Law Students Should Adopt Twitter En Masse