The law school experience is like none other. It is intense, it is scary, it is unknown, and it is completely worth it. One of the proudest moments of my life was the day I crossed the stage and was handed my diploma. Another exciting day: the day I received my letter from the Board of Bar Overseers informing me that I was being admitted to practice in Massachusetts after having passed the bar exam. My excitement doesn’t stem from having a specific goal to become a partner in a law firm, or to work in-house for a major company; in fact, I’m not sure either is the right fit for me. My excitement comes from having worked extremely hard toward a goal that I accomplished, all while maintaining healthy relationships with the people I love, and with myself. The point is, it is possible to be a law student, and indeed a lawyer, and still have a life. It’s also possible, and more common than you might think to go to law school, sit for the bar exam, and then not practice in the kind of law firm setting you see on television, or maybe to not practice at all. If it’s right for you, it’s up to you to take on the challenge, carve out the right career path, and see how graceful you can remain under pressure. But the truth is that the education you will get in the process, and the things you will learn about yourself, are invaluable life lessons.
The real message of this piece is that law school seems intimidating, but it’s completely doable. The first year is scary, no doubt about it, but remember that everyone else in the room is in the same boat that you’re in, and no one really knows the right answers yet. You learn how to think like a law student, and ultimately, how to think like a lawyer. You won’t even realize how differently you think until late in your second, or maybe your third year of law school, when suddenly you realize how much easier studying, classes and the whole process seem. The truth is that nothing has gotten easier – you’ve just gotten stronger, more confident, and more capable.
My story is just one of many, but I encourage you to create your own by considering law school and finding more out about the experience. Visit www.lsac.org for important information about law school admissions and the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT), which every law school applicant is required to take. I wish you all the best in your search, and remember: there are a lot of law school graduates out there who didn’t believe they could handle it until they jumped in, tried, and succeeded. There’s no reason you can’t be one of them!
For more information about pre-law advising, please contact the Office of Career Services and Cooperative Education at 617-573-8480. One of the counselors would be happy to speak to you about career options for students interested in the field. , or help put you in touch with a member of the faculty experienced in pre-law advising.
MMIsaacs
