2L: hating law school

[Anonymous]

Maybe you just don't like drinking, OP.

Stop trying to connect with people at bars. Invite someone on a hike to get out some stress instead.

And honestly, this will sound mean but I don't intend it that way: you don't go to law school to make friends. you go to law school to earn a law degree.

[Anonymous]

I loathed and despised law school. I lived off campus with my BF and never fit into any clique at school. I did a clinic and a journal and had a job...and I'm normally a person who never has any problems making friends.

I was just like you, I had lots of people I said hi to, or perhaps ate lunch with, but I never really found a really good friend.

FYI, I hate being a lawyer, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have never, in my life, felt as lonely as I did in law school.

+100. People, myself included, generally were too stressed out to spend time forming friendships after they got their first or second or third friend.
T14 grad.

[Anonymous]

Ugh, I hated law school. 2L, you sound pretty normal to me. It was so stressful and unpleasant. You've only got a year and a half left (hopefully). Hang in there. Life will get better once you get out.

[Anonymous]

I made one friend in law school and only one. That was all I needed and 12 years later, she's still a great friend. Law school is not for or about making friends.

[Anonymous]

I hate to say it this way, but law school is not about making friends or finding yourself. It is about learning and getting done. Plus, now in my late 40s, I can tell you that substantive friendships are much harder to come by after college. It's partly access and partly because everyone's lives, including law students', go in many different directions. Don't throw out law school, because your problem isn't law school, it's the expectation you'll have a social life and make friends in law school.

You have less than 2 years left. Suck it up.

Also, I went to law school after working for 4 years, like you. I was ahead in my life and my focus was different than the other students. It's just a fact that I couldn't treat law school as an extension of college. I was there to make a career pivot, plain and simple. I have a few friends from law school, but they are really acquaintances compared to my college and high school friends.

[Anonymous]

Isn't it extremely important to make friends in law school for professional reasons? Being a popular kid in law school should help your career.

[Anonymous]

I'm curious where the PPs whose classmates were excessive drinkers/partiers, cliquey, etc., went to law school.

For me, UVA, but this is pretty much the universal assessment of all lawyers I know, who went to a variety of law schools.

[Anonymous]

19:34 here. Also UVA.

[Anonymous]

so surprised by this thread. i loved law school - both the learning aspect and the social aspect. and no i didn't drink excessively or party excessively.

Op - is it just the social aspect that's bothering you? Or do you not like classes, etc.? If it's just the social aspect stick with it. Try to get out a little more - if you have a boyfriend and like to stay home, you're not putting yourself out there to make friends. But don't feel like you have to be best buds with everyone for career reasons if you'd rather not be social.

[Anonymous]

You are having this experience because most lawyers and most people who want to be lawyers are assholes. Consider yourself lucky that you met the two in your program who are not.

[Anonymous]

I had no friends in law school. None.

[Anonymous]

I actually enjoyed law school, went nights at non HYS school, went out after class (9:30) for drinks and nachos. Several of us married each other, get together once a year. None of us took ourselves too seriously. Even though we weren't HYS, we have found paths 10+ years out.

What are you looking for exactly? Perhaps you'd find some more like minded people at a different stage of your career?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:so surprised by this thread. i loved law school - both the learning aspect and the social aspect. and no i didn't drink excessively or party excessively.

Me, too. That's why I asked where the others went to law school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:so surprised by this thread. i loved law school - both the learning aspect and the social aspect. and no i didn't drink excessively or party excessively.

Op - is it just the social aspect that's bothering you? Or do you not like classes, etc.? If it's just the social aspect stick with it. Try to get out a little more - if you have a boyfriend and like to stay home, you're not putting yourself out there to make friends. But don't feel like you have to be best buds with everyone for career reasons if you'd rather not be social.

I enjoyed law school too but then again I did party a lot