Getting in the right mindset Forum

[maxm2764]

I'm not one to usually start a thread like this but I'm having an issue that I figured you guys might be able to help me out with.

I'm starting law school in a few weeks and, while I am excited, I'm having a hard time getting my head straight. With all of the articles of how bad the economy is and why not to go to law school, all I can think about is what a big risk I'm taking or how ill be in soul-crushing debt the rest of my life without a job to pay it off. It really is all I can think of and I'm starting to worry it'll take away from my focus in law school.

Has anybody else ever experienced these feelings? How did you get past all of the negativity out there and focus on your classes?

A little background info on me: I am attending a school that's relatively well-respected in my home market, which I've grown up in, but it is by no means HYS. I also was able to receive half-tuition scholarship making the cost a little less daunting. I have some pretty solid connections that I hope to take advantage of in my future job hunt.

Thanks for the advice everyone.

[crossarmant]

I can understand that the negativity of the job market can most definitely be daunting. I had a gigantic freak out when I signed my MPN for my Student loans, realizing that I'm taking on more debt in one year than I did for my entire UG.

But I honestly feel having that fear in me will help drive me. I feel worst for the ones who think of LS as a continuation of the party that UG was and that a job should be a non-issue. I also may feel a bit more comfortable due to having a few years WE after UG, been doing some 0L prep, am familiar with LS test style (took some a legal studies post-grad classes and aced them), and have a limited budget with which to fuck around. I also know a few small-town "shitlaw" lawyers, worked with them and it's honestly, not a bad job. You tend to make enough to be the big fish in the little pond too, so no complaints there.

Search yourself and really ask yourself if you want to be a lawyer, if you know the profession and day-to-day well enough to commit yourself to years of school, debt, and a lifetime in that career. Then if you choose to continue onto LS, crystallize that fear of unemployment and use it as your motivation to succeed. If you can turn this negative fear into a motivating agent, it may serve you well.

[maxm2764]

I can understand that the negativity of the job market can most definitely be daunting. I had a gigantic freak out when I signed my MPN for my Student loans, realizing that I'm taking on more debt in one year than I did for my entire UG.

But I honestly feel having that fear in me will help drive me. I feel worst for the ones who think of LS as a continuation of the party that UG was and that a job should be a non-issue. I also may feel a bit more comfortable due to having a few years WE after UG, been doing some 0L prep, am familiar with LS test style (took some a legal studies post-grad classes and aced them), and have a limited budget with which to fuck around. I also know a few small-town "shitlaw" lawyers, worked with them and it's honestly, not a bad job. You tend to make enough to be the big fish in the little pond too, so no complaints there.

Search yourself and really ask yourself if you want to be a lawyer, if you know the profession and day-to-day well enough to commit yourself to years of school, debt, and a lifetime in that career. Then if you choose to continue onto LS, crystallize that fear of unemployment and use it as your motivation to succeed. If you can turn this negative fear into a motivating agent, it may serve you well.

That's great advice, thanks cross. I definitely want to go to law school, I just need to do what you said and turn the fear into determination. I like to think that I'm a relatively motivated person but for some reason I've been feeling defeated before I've even begun.

I need to cut this crap out.

[crossarmant]

That's great advice, thanks cross. I definitely want to go to law school, I just need to do what you said and turn the fear into determination. I like to think that I'm a relatively motivated person but for some reason I've been feeling defeated before I've even begun.

I need to cut this crap out.

Also, I don't know about you, but I fucked around in UG. I didn't really think about anything, didn't go to class, hell I think about half of my classes I showed up only for the exams. I did absolutely terribly because I didn't have an end goal, no idea of what job I wanted or what field was right for me. Now after working in the legal field and having time to grow up I've realized that this is exactly what I want. It gives you a goal to work towards, rather than an ambiguous "Do well for the sake of doing well" that I kept being told in high school and UG.

Another thing that I tell myself, despite never going to a school with the intent to transfer, if you ace your 1L (Or for GULC/Chicago your 1st semester) you can transfer to a T14. Then all of a sudden in 11 weeks you have made up for all the poor grades, LSAT, etc you've ever had and put you in great shape for getting a fantastic job.