It’s just been two months since my inception into the “law school” and I already feel lost. The title of this blog accurately suggests what I am going through now and I am sure many of you are going through or already have been through this phase in law school.
The most important feature of a law school is cut throat competition (literally!!!) because if you don’t compete you perish. From smallest of opportunities like a mess committee to the biggest like a moot court, law students want everything that adds value to their CV. There is a mad rush to grab everything they get. There are many societies and co curricular activities but one common thing you find in them is that only the so called “bright students” can take part in it. There is no place for average students, in a law school either you raise your standard or you drop out.
Like everyone else I entered my law school with hell lot of dreams only to be dejected. Everything I was good at and proud of before entering the law school seemed futile because everyone I met was better than me in everything I did. I could not moot or debate because I wasn’t good at public speaking, law review- I don’t think I need to explain, I couldn’t even get into cultural committee or sports committee, I had been rejected from all the committees. I felt like a loser and hopeless for the first time in my life and to add on to this I was constantly been thrown out of the class for not reading the cases, in fact even now I have been thrown out of my contracts class!! Things couldn’t get worse than this I just couldn’t cope with the law school environment but I was and I am still determined not to give up because nothing is permanent and nothing is impossible!!! So what if I didn’t get into any of the committees this year? There are so many other things I am good at and I can always do better in things I am already good at. My suggestion to those who are going through the same in law school is try to carve a niche for yourself don’t try to fit into the expectations of a good law student and follow the crowd instead be a trend setter because a CV alone cannot determine your worth!!!!!
Comments
Even I did faced the same situation for the first few months. Then, i guess things started falling into place, completely because of my own hard work.
I am a corporate lawyer and its been almost a decade I have passed out. I can speak from my experience.
I was an avid mooter and faired well most of the times. I am also happy with my work life :-)
But there were a huge number of people who were very average and not very sincere in college days, however, they are doing super good in their career now. These set of people just had fun in college, never faired well in moots, never were a part of any committee, etc, but they are all doing well now.
Life is a huge leveler you see...
Have confidence in yourself and don't try to get into the rat race. Just give your best in whatever interests you. You will always remain unhappy if you compare yourself with others... then there is no end to it. In anycase, you do not have to be a part of any committee, just because your friends do so. Do it only if you feel really interested. At the end of the day, even when you apply for a job, they are not gonna see whether you have been a part of any college committee etc.
So just have fun and enjoy your college days and don't compare yourself with anyone. Its your own journey... As long as you are sincere, things will fall in place…
1.You said youre not good at public speaking ( go for a public speaking class on the weekends)
2.You said you are being thrown out for not reading cases.This is a high level of unprofessionalism that you are showcasing.I am working in a Tier-2 Firm now and let me tell you there are not less than 6 cases(the whole thing) that I have to read everyday to get the point across before replying back to a client.
3.Law is not a profession where you can sit back and everything will come to you.You have to constantly read,push your way through.
One word of advice if you feel everyone else is better than you work towards it and try to beat the others.Giving up is not going to help you in any way.Asking for pity is also not going to help.So buckle up and improve yourself which only you can do and no one else.
I did not come from a "national law school" but I landed the job at the firm cause of the things that I had acheived and also they way I sold myself.
I did 1 moot and 3 debates but it was my control over the English language which mattered more to them than my scores or extracurricular activities.
Don't loose heart, don't be lazy and work hard everyday.You will get everything
You write from your heart.
Forget what people say about being the best,Its being different which counts.
You write from your heart.
Forget what people say about being the best,Its being different which counts.
thank u 4 reading my blog and providing constructive criticism(even though it was as if u were boosting of ur achvmnts:-p)
thank u 4 reading my blog and providing constructive criticism(even though it was as if u were boosting of ur achvmnts:-p)
thank u 4 reading my blog and providing constructive criticism(even though it was as if u were boosting of ur achvmnts:-p)
( DIDNT SEE THAT YOU WERE ONLY 2 MONTHS INTO COLLEGE: THOUGHT YOU WERE IN YOUR FINAL YEAR HENCE THE UNPROFESSIONAL WORD..my bad for that)
There are no achievement to be boasted about here .Im only telling you what firms or lawyers are looking for and how you should go about doing it cause they can tell if you fit the role or not. Reading 6 case laws is not boasting.Its what's needed to be done so that the wrong advice is not given.You will do this even in private practice
There is nothing wrong in joining a firm and you don need to sell yourself to a firm.( its just a wrong notion that everyone has).The firms will come looking for you.The work is good,work is divided so that the client can get an opinion faster and the clients and exposure are good.Its a team effort where everyone learns together everyday thereby bettering yourself.
hope this clears things :)
good blog thats why ive written only on this one cause its touches on a personal note.Just trying to help those who are in college and passing out.
All the best.