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I don't want to weary you, but perhaps a bit of my story will be helpful for you (especially as regards social skill building). One factor that may make it less helpful for you is that the social mobility issues caused by my disability were partially offset by the fact that I come from a privileged background: I attended an independent school (and therefore was educated among people whose backgrounds were like my own) and I come from the sort of family where somebody without (at the very least) an undergraduate degree and an MBA is considered functionally illiterate. Nevertheless, I especially know about the insecurity that comes out of not having friends. I had people whom I considered as 'friends' until about fifth class in school, but after we (that is to say, me and my school contemporaries) turned 11 - always a dangerous age - things began to change. Boys became interested in going out with girls on an ongoing and serious basis and had success in this regard while I didn't; girls became interested in going out with boys, but not with me; people spoke of viewing porn websites while I read Churchill and William L. Shirer; many people engaged in sporting pursutes as extracurricular activities in their spare time while I attempted to learn the works of Bach, Chopin and Mozart by ear as part of my years-long (and ongoing) efforts to learn and play the piano (facilities for blind people like me to learn Braille music in India are hard to come by, and low quality where available); even in music, our tastes were different, for where they listened to heavy metal, I always preferred something like a Strauss Waltz or other classical orchestral music such as concertos (the Blue Danube and Roses from the South have been particular favourites of mine as waltzes, and Beethoven's Violin Concerto in D Major as well)... you get the idea. I was a bit of a weirdo; add that to the COVID-19 isolation period, so come time to transition into higher education, I had some stuff going for me when starting university, but not social skills. When I started at university, I noticed that my contemporaries were similarly placed (if not exactly in the same situation): some were ahead (or behind, as the case may be) in some areas, where others were not. People worked on things they were behind in (while also keeping up their pre-existing strengths and pushing themselves to do new things and gain new ones) as part of a multi-factor learning process. I, for example, worked on various atypical aspects in my behaviour and what felt to me like overwhelming social anxiety because of the many years of having no friends, and now have a circle of friends whom, even if I called at 3 in the morning for whatever reason (not that I would), would give me whatever help/advice needed or do whatever could be done in such an extraordinary situation.
I don't know about me, but the vast (if not the overwhelming) majority of my university contemporaries graduated with their law degrees, more thoughtful, reflective, empathetic, kind people; more willing to try new things and engage with new arguments and perspectives. This is at least in part due to the fact that while at university, I came into contact on a much larger scale with people from economically disadvantaged and/or in other ways marginalised backgrounds. If nothing else, a university law degree should give you those qualities (if you make the most of the experience by taking advantage of opportunities, initially by trying a bit of many things, and later being more discriminating in what you choose to take part in and what you choose to give a miss).
I'm OP of the rant post. I just wanted to say- don't make decisions based on what I said. My experience is just one experience out of sea of experiences. Does not mean you won't do well or wouldn't develop the so called 'people skills' while at university. All I will say is this:- Make an informed decision and be cent percent sure that this is what you want, also take into account that despite performing well and giving your best, you may not get the rewards of your labour, atleast not immediately. If your sole goal is to make good money immediately and decent progression, opt for other alternatives. If you are genuinely passionate about the law and don't have financial constraints go ahead. Best of luck! Don't let my experience colour your vision.
University really transforms you. A couple of years there and you won't know yourself, especially if you end up at an (even relatively good) uni.
Plus, as people are becoming more open about such stuff, let's be clear on this: people who find people skills hard are getting into, and being successful in, the law - including people with autism spectrum conditions and other neurodivergent/specific learning difficulty issues. Some of these types work in some of the world's globally finest and most prestigious commercial law firms, raking in not hundreds of thousands of Indian Rupees in as salaries, but hundreds of thousands of British Pounds and U.S. Dollars. Therefore, contrary to what some nepo types may indicate to you, the most fancy careers within the legal field are 1000% open to you. Is it likely to be more difficult? Yes, obviously. Will there be loads of bumps on the road? No-brainer, there will. Will you maybe get disappointed due to being refused access to some professional opportunities your more socially mobile/neurotypical friends seem to be getting with ease? Again, sure to happen sometimes. Is there a chance law may not work out for you? Again, of course. You may be forced to go to a tenth-rate uni (many of those around). Or you may have toxic partners managing you, perhaps toxic professors marking your work/having power over you, who don't recognise your talents, nepo kids who seem to have all the answers, all the privileges, all the get-out-of-prison free cards for being arrogant pieces of muck while still being rewarded for such behaviour. Trouble is, all these (and many more issues) are equally applicable to other fields, too. But if you can pull through, you may just find that being a lawyer is an amazing thing to have done with your life.
Regards,
A blind lawyer living with total sight loss (a condition resulting from premature birth called Retinopathy of Prematurity) who had zero friends at school and built so-called 'people skills' entirely at university.
Please don't advise me to put myself out there and socialize, I've tried that for 12 years of my school life, peers made a display of liking because I was the top performer, only teachers were genuinely kind to me. I don't think I can change things substantially within a few months.
I'm at the verge and an honest insight can really save me right now. Seniors please help this soul. And please be nice, I'm only 17, please.