I’m now understanding why everyone says that law school is so difficult. It’s not that the subject matter is inherently difficult (different but manageable), but the work load is crazy. This past week alone, between my 6 classes, we were assigned about 250 pages of reading. And it’s not like the kind of reading we had in business school, where you read/skim the pages and then get into class and have the professor teach the same material to you. With law school, you are expected to read the material, take copious notes, and then demonstrate your knowledge of the material in the next class. You’ve got to perform. The only real teaching that happens is when you screw up, and the professor moves to another poor sap who picks up where you left off. I’ve never had a problem making an ass of myself in front of a bunch of strangers, but some of my classmates are having a difficult time with it.
What I am having a very hard time with is keeping up with the reading. The quantity is so great that not much of it is actually absorbing. When we get into one of these Socratic interrogations, I realize how little I actually remember from the readings. My classmates pick up on really great points that I have totally missed (points, in fact, that I don’t even remember reading, even though I’ve clearly highlighted these sections in my book), and I’m feeling like I’m wasting my time.
I haven’t found a rhythm, yet. The class schedule is irregular, most of the classes are very formal in nature (against my jump-up-and-shout nature), lugging those books around all day is giving me a backache, and I haven’t been able to get to my dance class all week. I’m getting frustrated and trying hard to keep some perspective. A 2nd year student told me recently that everyone in her class considered quitting at least once in the first three weeks. I keep wondering whether I’ve made a huge mistake, but I’m going to trust and wait a month before making any more big decisions. But so far, I can honestly say I am not having any fun.
On the plus side, I’m in a carpool 3 days a week with a 3rd year exchange student from Quebec, Canada and a recently-married transfer student who is commuting from Los Alamos. Very nice girls who have a lot more perspective than I do. I’m hoping some of it will rub off, soon.
jumpercarr 
August 27, 2007 at 6:03 am
Jennifer:
You write: “The only real teaching that happens is when you screw up, and the professor moves to another poor sap who picks up where you left off”.
At the end of three years you will be stunned at how much you have learned from this method.
Your first year will be brutally tough but that is the point. Lawschool is very well designed to weed out those who are not cut out for this profession. I know it sounds harsh.
Remember when you visited me between first and second semester during my first year? I rarely went to sleep before 1 or 1:30. I remember getting all worked up about the reading and viewing sleep as an inconveience and a waste of valuable reading time……
The good news is that you will pass all of your classes and move on to second year. By the time you reach third year you will be bored with the entire process and it will have become easy for you.
PS – Why am I the only one responding to you blog?
August 27, 2007 at 7:10 pm
Ah, Tom. You always seem to bring be back down to the ground – why had we lost touch for so long? : )
I know that this is part of the process. I was warned and spent most of this past summer reading “What to expect when your going to law school” type books and I tried to come in prepared. So I can’t say I’m completely surprised by it all. But for the previous two years, I’ve been working full time, going to school full time (no summers off) and I’ve had a two hour commute each day – I thought that law school (while not being a piece of cake) would be more manageable. I just have to learn that I can’t take a Sunday off and lounge around the house.
Today I’m much more prepared. I’ve completed all my reading and briefing for 2 of my classes this week, and I’ve got a good start on a couple of the others.
I’m going to have a problem with my Torts prof. My carpool was late for the first day of class and I walked in 7 minutes late. Every since then I swear she’s labeled me as a trouble-maker. In all seriousness, her class is more Socratic than the others, and less organized. I keep feeling like there are other voices in the class that could offer a different perspective, but she keeps hammering on one person at a time with little progress. Like I said — Hazing.
Oh, and why are you the only one writing? Because I have alienated all of my friends. No. Really, I think because you are the only one that has insider experience with this. Also, I have some people writing to me offline, which is OK, too. But keep writing. Your comments have been very helpful. Thanks Tom! You’re the best! (sniff, sniff)
August 28, 2007 at 7:46 am
Well, as a graduate of several law schools, I can only say that it’s very difficult and costs tons of cash. However, in the end you will have the almighty piece of paper and the potential to scare most non-lawyers – it’s just like on Boston Legal.
August 28, 2007 at 7:53 am
Jim – I wish you were right. If my life in a lawfirm was half as cool as Boston Legal or Ally McBeal, I never would have left.
Unfortunately, it is not even close. That stuff is pure fiction.
August 28, 2007 at 8:38 pm
I’m just glad he graduated. We were all worried, Jim.
August 29, 2007 at 3:38 am
Worried about what?