Plan for 3L after an awful 2L Forum

[3Litis]

University of Texas -- top third, Law Review Associate Editor (was top 10% after 1L and then slid during 2L due to an undiagnosed sleep disorder/possible bipolar II according to one doctor). Minimal/no debt.

1L Summer - Bankruptcy Judge, County Attorney's Office (through the fall)
2L Summer -- Working for the U.S. Federal Trade Commission in D.C. They normally hire their summers but have warned us about sequester. Not banking on this. I've gotten good reviews from my mentor there, no idea how, because I am basically a zombie without tons of coffee. lol

Due to my sleep/mood issues that hit after 1L, I basically did nothing during 2L. I did not talk to professors, try to publish anything, or apply to clerkships or law firms. I also was on a medication that made me extremely drowsy during 2L OCI, so I think that may be one reason why I completely bombed there. Not sure. FTC has let me go out and talk to/interview parties/clients, so I don't think my personal presentation is that inherently bad, though I am a tad quirky and somewhat boring when off script.

I am thinking of either (1) taking a leave of absence to work on my sleep/mood disorder (no idea what I'd do work wise); (2) drop outside commitments like law review and see more medical professionals during 3L; (2) something else; (3) apply to NYU's LLM at some point (A in FIT, and taking other tax classes this fall).

I'm also not sure I want to actually practice law, but I would like to do something research-related, possibly with international tax. My bipolar II/irritability/sleep deprivation make dealing with clients and people generally painful as hell.

Oh, and what would be my chances at NYU Tax LLM with these numbers, or maybe LSE's (?)?

[shepdawg]

1) don't take a leave of absence. Just pass law school
2) It sounds like you didn't publish your second year, so LR is really a waste of time anyway. Drop that crap.
3) I don't see why they wouldn't take more of your money so you can waste more of your life.

[c3pO4]

um where in this story did you have an awful 2L? sounds like you got a prestigious federal job and can probably get a good job during 3L (by hustling, not through OCI) either at a med-size firm or fed gov or state gov... what's the problem here?

[3Litis]

The problem is the sleep disorder. My easy, chill federal job has destroyed my health due to needing to get up at 7. I have delayed sleep phase disorder which means I cannot really sleep before 3 am (might have something else too, but this is the main issue according to doctors).

I'm not sure I can work most legal jobs because of the hours. I need a 12 pm to 11 pm (+ or - ) work schedule basically. The "rough 2L" is the huge gpa drop and possible subpar job productivity due to chronic sleep deprivation.

Are there even any jobs that can accommodate my schedule, or should I just take a leave of absence to look into getting rid of this sleep problem? (Or drop out if law is a waste of time with my schedule limitations?)

[Gorki]

The problem is the sleep disorder. My easy, chill federal job has destroyed my health due to needing to get up at 7. I have delayed sleep phase disorder which means I cannot really sleep before 3 am (might have something else too, but this is the main issue according to doctors).

I'm not sure I can work most legal jobs because of the hours. I need a 12 pm to 11 pm (+ or - ) work schedule basically. The "rough 2L" is the huge gpa drop and possible subpar job productivity due to chronic sleep deprivation.

Are there even any jobs that can accommodate my schedule, or should I just take a leave of absence to look into getting rid of this sleep problem? (Or drop out if law is a waste of time with my schedule limitations?)

I think you need to get in touch with some psychology specialists. A lot of this is not as permanent as you might think. What you described in your substantive work for the feds (tackiness, awkward silence) is 100% normal human behavior... The bullshit on Madmen and Suits is just that-bullshit. People, especially lawyers, are not veteran stage performers who can smooth through anything.

I also do not see why you need to drop anything and see medical professionals. TBH, based on my own experiences this sounds a lot more of you having fears coming to terms with the fact you will one day be on your own and not have a school or professors around. I am not a medical professional though, just a lowly forum cur.

Not to be a hardass, but if you want a professional job that is 12 pm to 11pm... telecommute to Hong Kong or something like that. I do not know any job with those hours... Maybe some type of plant engineer work? Do you like working with computer software? I know some coders at the grunt level can basically work whenever so long as the work gets done.