So, I’m rounding out my first week in law school tomorrow (DU doesn’t have Friday classes, which is both good and bad), and I have some observations on my experience so far:
1) While the material can sometimes be frustrating, it is also in some strange way satisfying. It’s like solving a puzzle every time I figure out how to apply a law, or catch some lingual trick in a Civ. Pro. Rule.
2) The work load is hard to handle, but not overwhelming. Everyone warned my I would be washed away in a sea of legalese, and at times I can feel the undertow, but so far, so good. I’m not totally confused or behind, and that’s good. Of course, it’s only week one…
3) Everyone in law school is smarter, but even here, there is a bottom half to the class. I’m in no position to judge (yet) because I will likely be stumped someday in class, but some people really seem to be struggling with some basic stuff. Who’s to say how I’ll be doing next week or the week after, but I feel like I’m getting most everything, even when some people aren’t.
4) Not everyone in law school is a prick. This is something I actually worried about before getting here. You hear everyone’s competitive, cutthroat, and ambitious. While everybody seems more focused than in undergrad (remember that Wednesday night before the final when…), most of them, not all, seem like good people.
5) There’s a hundred ways to do everything. This applies both to the law and to studying the law. I think I’ve found my system on how to organize the flood of information, but I guess I won’t know for sure until finals. The more interesting part is weeding the crap law out from the good stuff (see: judicial activism).
6) There is free time. Just not much of it. Like a few minutes a day, so far. Having Fridays off of class will be nice, but that just means we squeeze more class time in Monday-Thursday. Bottom line: I still have time to tell ugly truths about Will Crosswell to the entire Twitterverse, but I don’t have time for a nightly bottle of wine and a movie with Jamie anymore. Sad.
7) The sun will come up tomorrow…as long as I do my Civil Procedure reading. If not, brace yourself.
8 ) People seem to be getting used to the reading, but everyone has a quiet anxiety about our first writing assignments. I view it as just something to get done so I can make whatever mistakes I will inevtiably make on my first go-around, and can learn and move on. But yes, I’m a little nervous too.
9) Nothing has been more beneficial to me in establishing some confidence in law school than my last two years of experience running the CRNC out in Washington. I had to interact with lawyers many times, and that allowed me to peer into the legal profession and legal minds before entering law school. Just running the organization taught me to think quickly while also appreciating the need to accurately process the facts in front of me. Nothing prepares someone for life like throwing them in…and then saving them when they inevitably drown…No, no, I meant to say experience is invaluable.
10) Professors are liberals. Lawyers are liberals. Professors who teach the law are…
Overall, I’m happy with law school. Yes, classes are going to be hard. Yes, my professors are liberal, but they seem like great people so far. Hey, some of my really good friends are liberals. We’ll see how these three years go, but for now I’m happy I decided to come to law school. Only about 1,000 days until I know if I pass the bar…
Filed under: Law School
