Comments on: A Lot Can Change in a Year (Alternatively: It’s Never Too Late?)

By: Teri2L

Teri2L — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 16:33:36 +0000

You 2L’s that are questioning whether you should continue after investing major $ and 1 1/2 years are NOT alone and NOT freaks! I am a non-trad student, thought about attending law school for 5 years, and took the plunge in 2010. I have a BS in Dental Hygiene and a minor in allied health sciences, which I haven’t used in years because I got involved in politics. It seemed logical that a law degree would help me solve the world’s problems. The 1st year was as stressful as everyone says, but my grades were good and I thought the second year would be better, so I went back for more. Honestly, I am bored, stressed, and frustrated with NO absolutes in law. I also question if 3 years of out-of-state tuition is worth it when I don’t want to work as a lawyer.
If your school allows it, I would recommend a leave of absence to examine the pros and cons of quitting. So far, I have had no regrets taking a leave this semester and am allowed stress-free time to make a good decision.
T

By: Joshua Auriemma

Joshua Auriemma — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 20:29:29 +0000

@Twisted 2L, I can tell you very few things definitively, but I can tell you for sure that you’re not the only one with those feelings. At this point, I say stop stressing. You have two primary options: get the $160k biglaw job and pay off your debt, or pay down your debt over the course of 20 years and then have it forgiven.

Option #2 is great because even if you decide that you don’t want to practice law, the result is the same. You make small payments for what seems like a lifetime, get boned on a forgiveness tax one day in the future, and try to forget that you dropped $150k to get a law license.

If you do get the $160k job though, keep in mind that Legal Geekery is always accepting donations :P

By: Twisted 2L

Twisted 2L — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 20:19:47 +0000

I just did a search for motivation to finish law school and this thread was the first link. Not exactly what I was looking for but to be a little honest, hearing that I’m not the only 2L to want to drop out (or just drop) has made me feel a little less crazy. I have been sitting here staring down the stacks of readings I am behind on, seriously debating whether I need to see a shrink because I am sooooo miserable. Not that I am glad that other people are miserable, I’m just glad that I’m not crazy. I don’t know if I’ll be able to finish, but I got to a T-14 with 0 scholarship- I need to at least try to finish or my grandchildren will still be in debt.
They should run law schools like the military academies- you get to go half way through and then if you drop out then you have half a degree and an embarrassing story. If you go more than half way then you owe the full cost of your education. That might incentivize them to make law school less like hell and to make more realistic promises to incoming 1Ls.

By: Sally

Sally — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 02:57:41 +0000

I don’t recommend going to law school unless you are absolutely sure what you are getting yourself into. I left 1.5 years through law school. It was not all that it was cracked up to be. The stress was insurmountable. If you enjoy feeling sick to your stomach daily and feeling like there are never any right answers and only grey areas, go to law school. Otherwise, save your money. No matter what, do not go to law school immediately after undergrad. You think you know what you are doing and you are afraid to loose one year. I would suggest going and working in the law as a paralegal or legal secretary or doing some volunteer work at the prosecuting attorney’s office before investing money in this. It’s just not worth it unless you really know what you are about to spend thousands of dollars on!!!!

By: Blackacre

Blackacre — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 15:59:51 +0000

M is being too kind to the sweet, naive 1L’s posting that they “dig it here” and “love their classes”.

Folks… come back in 2 years and tell us what you think. The bloom is still on the rose in the middle of your first year. You still think that you’re going to save the world. You believe that you can make $100K working as a civil rights attorney. You find it funny when the person next to you doesn’t know the facts of the current case your professor just called them on.

Next semester is about to tarnish things a little. You’re going to find the professors a little less charming, a little less amusing… and a lot more demanding. The pace is going to pick up a bit and when you don’t know what’s going on in class in some schools, you are advised to simply stay home that day – because instead of giving you the ability to say “Pass” when you aren’t prepared, the profs will simply sit on you the whole period and make you look like an idiot.

Your fellow classmates will have received their first set of benchmarks – grades. They will know whether they’re in the top 10% of the class (and, mathematically speaking, only 10% can BE in the top 10%, so 90% of the class is headed for a letdown). Those that make it above the line will work harder to stay there. Many that are below the line will either transfer at the end of the first year or will become absolutely rabid trying to make it above.

At some schools, those in the bottom 25% will actually be “counseled” to seek a different career. Why? Because the school has to keep their graduation numbers up with respects to reporting… so they’d rather you drop out or transfer before you get to the 3L year.

So congrats on finishing the first 5 months. Check back when you’ve got 25 under your belt and you’re staring at graduation.

By: Angry Sam

Angry Sam — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 08:35:08 +0000

Currently a 1L. Thus far law school has been more stimulating, more challenging, less boring, and most of the time still less stressful than the daily grind in office jobs. I need to feel like I’m moving forward pretty much all the time, and thus far I’ve felt that each day (and we’ll check back once grades come in).

I go to a T2 school with a crazy-steep curve, but people are friendly nonetheless. Definitely dig it here.

By: M

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 05:00:20 +0000

I think that 1L might be a little too early to claim complete happiness, but not too early to recognize you’ve made a mistake.

Last year I felt happy as a clam, and so lucky to be in school. Now, being halfway through 2L, I think that I’ve dealt with my disillusionment pretty well thus far. I very much questioned my choice all through this past semester, but I think I’ve realized that I really enjoy moots and our legal aid clinic, so I just chalked it up to being unimpressed with law school, not with being a lawyer overall.

I agree with the above posters- I think law schools do a horrible job of explaining the options that aren’t ‘big law’. There are so many options out there, you’re not limited to big law, and if that had been made more clear, perhaps some people would have finished and stuck it out.

I’ve taken to telling people that they should REALLY do their research before deciding upon going to law school.

By: Scott

Scott — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 03:55:26 +0000

Another 1L who just finished their first semester. I think I found a happy medium between the super-intense people and those who could have used a little more intensity. No meltdowns or anything, though I did get quite punchy before the torts exam. Hopefully these were all good strategies for the future…

By: Satisfied1L

Satisfied1L — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 03:37:55 +0000

Well as someone who just finished their first semester of their first year, I can honestly say that I think I’ve experienced every emotion possible and am happy that I didn’t quit when I wanted to. I loved my classes and just had to learn to look past all the crazy, competitive people and remember why I was really there. Maybe I still am naive to reality but right now I am completly happy with my decision to go to law school. And for someone who entered a top 10 law school absolutely terrified of finals, I will say they weren’t as bad as everyone says. But, then again I won’t get grades for another month so I may change my mind when that happens.

By: Blackacre

Blackacre — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 02:49:22 +0000

@Anonymous 3L, What I really find deplorable is that law schools do such a crappy job at educating students as to other careers where your legal education can become invaluable. But career offices are measured on the number of students who go into practice. Non-practicers are non-starters for the career services folks. You’re a non-entity to them.

If you’ve already made the decision to complete your education, I would start looking at ways to maximize your career options using the JD as an added bonus. You’ll face a lot of incredulous interviewers (they all want to know why you’re not practicing law – and are doubtful that you’ll stick around). So practice your answer to the question.

But know that there ARE good jobs out here for folks with a JD who don’t want to practice law.

Good luck!