Did anyone else hate law school?
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Anonymous
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OP, you sound nice. You can definitely work for a while at BigLaw and then go do something else, and you will not feel like a failure! Lots of people do it, so you may feel like you escaped or like you've won by moving to something you like much more.
But, I would suggest that you figure out some way to do some comfortable networking with your colleagues. It doesn't have to be hanging out at drunken parties, but maybe working on a journal you're interested in, forming a study group, working in a clinic or volunteer organization, forming a film club, etc. You may find common ground with people and get to widen your circle. Depending where you're located, some of these folks will be in your professional sphere, and having those connections can only help you. They don't have to be your BFFs in order to be your acquaintances. Steer clear of the worst of the bunch and try to get to know some of the others. Good luck with your third year! Since you have a job offer already, you can relax a bit and enjoy! |
Anonymous
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hmm. I didn't hate law school at the time, but basically I liked what I was studying and disliked most of the people. I had about 4 good friends, who I am still in semi contact with. I remember going out to dinner the fall after we graduated with a bunch of law school people and I realized that I never ever wanted to see most of them again.
I have been very happy as a lawyer (over 10 years of practice) and really like my colleagues. But I have been gov't the whole time. I have the impression that the biglaw social scene is basically the same as law school. You are just starting your 3L year? I would consider trying to find another job. The paycheck is not worth it. I had huge 6 figure loans, and paid them all off on a govt salary in about 8 years by living cheaply. |
Anonymous
| OP you talk about being an introvert. I work at a law firm and see a lot of introverts, some who seem happier than others. Those that seem happier appear to do it on their own terms. I would read (I know all that free time) a book called Quiet, I read it because I live with and work with introverts and I am not, but the author sounds a bit like you law firm, smart, introvert. I found it useful for understanding how people feel in a situation, rather than my being frustrated with why they were less like me. |
Anonymous
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Go to a big law firm, collect the salary, live modestly, pay down your loans, bank a lot of cash, and once you hit the two year mark, start applying for government jobs. it could take years to get one which is why you should start early.
You don't have to love your coworkers or be great buddies with them. You just have to gt along with them. Don't expect the workplace to be some happy love fest. That is unrealistic for any job. |
Anonymous
| No, I loved it! I think most of my classmates loved it, too. It was very social, not too overwhelming with work, and most of us now have successful careers. I graduated from A.U. in the early 90's. We had super nice, great folks in my class. Only the top few students went into Big Law, but most of us landed in gov't or medium firms or as professors, etc. Everyone is doing well. |
Anonymous
| Hmm, I didn't make many close friends in law school, but I definitely didn't find the people as intolerable as you seem to. I honestly thought most people were fairly nice, even though I didn't have a ton in common with them. Sure, there were a few awful people, but not most. I don't stay in close touch with many former classmates, but when I do run into them occasionally or interact with them on facebook, it is pleasant. It would have been nice to have people I could be close to, but since that didn't happen, I tried to appreciate the people for what they were - someone I could have some fun having a drink with, going to the gym with, joking about awful professors with. |
Anonymous
| OP, you sound far too concerned about the social aspects of everything. With any luck you will find a mate in the next few years, get married, and have a kid or two. At that point your life will mostly revolve around your family and a new set of friends and you won't have to worry about whether you'll find enough BFFs at work. |
Anonymous
| Best years of my life. |
Anonymous
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Law school was a blur. I attended a "prestigious" one in DC (arguably the most "prestigious") and I can honestly say that the ONLY class I attended there that has proven to be of value was appellate litigation clinic.
I wont say it was a waste, but aw school does not prepare you for the bar exam. Law school does not prepare you for the actual practice of law. IMO, law school's sole value is found in it being a necessity to actually get licensed to practice law. When you graduate, you will find that there are plenty of attorneys who actually simply get off a bit on being called an "attorney." There will be just as many (like you, I suspect, who genuinely enjoy the mental exercise of solving legal questions). Gravitate towards the latter (as long as you can pay your bills lol) and keep your head up while keeping in mind that others dont define who you are -- you do. |
Anonymous
typos fixed lol |
Anonymous
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Yes. Went to GW - hated most of the people there, liked the curriculum okay, really enjoy being a lawyer.
And my advice is to save your BigLaw money because chances are that you'll be gone within 6 years. By year 2-3, figure out your practice area, network w/ the women's bar and other bars relevant to your practice area, and start looking for in house or government positions by year 5. |
Anonymous
| I loved it. |
Anonymous
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Loved the intellectual challenge, though not 1st year much. Didn't like many of the people, have just a handful who I am still in touch with at all or care to be.
Totally disagree with the PP who said all after 1st year was worthless, IMO/IME (Top 20 school) 1st year was nearly worthless (other than moot court) as far as translating into the real practice of law (33 yrs. so far, 5 yrs. with non profits (trial and appellate public defense), 2 yrs. private commercial practice, 26 yrs. fed. govt. practice including 23 as a manager) -- it was the moot court experience and the ability to choose courses of interest instead of mandated 1st yr. that made yrs. 2 & 3 more interesting. THere is already too much de-professionalizing of legal practice since I started, the last thing the profession needs is to follow a trade school model. If you want a trade, do something else, there's a difference between a trade (which is a nobel thing) and a profession (which carries higher expectations). |
Anonymous
Oops, typo... a trade is a "noble" thing ... for some it may even be a Nobel thing if they're really good & lucky. 
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Anonymous
| I'm a 1L and while I like the material, I HATE the people! They are terrible, horrible, immoral and just mean human beings. Honestly, they're rudeness is distracting me and most days in class I just keep my head down and dry to zone out. Ill most likely drop out, only because I can't imagine a career surrounded by these people. |