Can I be successful in law school? Forum

[garak]

I'm a sophomore in college and I'm starting to think about law school more seriously. I'm taking a business law class and I'm enjoying the class and doing well.

My problem is I really don't know if I can make it in law school. I am a very slow reader and I have a hard time motivating myself to read unless there is a test coming up. I have a terrible memory and if I don't review my lecture notes every day, I forget everything completely.

I have always been the type of person who puts in the bare minimum amount of effort in order to do well in school. Is anyone else here like this, and have you been able to change your ways for law school?

[snowpeach06]

I too always put in the bare minimum of effort. The thing is, in law school, the bare minimum is still 4 hours a day - and even keeping up with your reading seems so important that you wouldn't dare slack off completely. I think that once you get to law school you'll be fine, and even though I'm only a 1L, I'll venture to say that people like you and me might actually be at an advantage because we won't burn out, but will still get the job done. Honestly, the only way to know if you'll make it though, is to try.

[Jackie O]

I can hardly read or write, but when you're truly interested in something you generally won't have to search for extra motivation

that said, I've stopped reading con law altogether

[rynabrius]

You could be successful if you replaced behaviors such as not reading/review with behaviors such as reading/reviewing.

I didn't read much in college, got a low GPA, and was very successful during my 1L year. The difference is that I was more motivated.

[tea_drinker]

I'm a sophomore in college

You're only 20 (I assume). Don't worry too much. Do your best in school to keep that high GPA. Then, when time comes, you'll be ready for law school.

[northwood]

the amount of work that you have to put in depends on what your major is. I put very little work in during ug, but was fortunate enough to get classes with professors who levtured on things you were going to read that week, so i just took tedious notes and outlined them ( and never bought a text book) Got a 3.55 gpa with that approach. As for law school, im interested in the legal aspect of things, and know that I have a lot more riding on my success in school- thus more motivation to study and work hard. Chalk it up to maturity or whatever, but as long as you keep up your gpa and stay out of trouble, you will be fine.

Also- law school is a very self selecting field. Once you are in law school, you realize that this is the foundation for your professional career, and you will work harder as a result.