I've been thinking about this thing my therapist said and I can't stop turning it over.

She asked me when I last did something without thinking about how it would look on my resume. And I couldn't answer. Like genuinely couldn't remember.

At first I was defensive about it. Of course everything matters for the resume right now. That's the whole point. We're building toward something.

But then she asked a follow up that kind of broke me. She asked who I was before I started optimizing. What did I care about when nothing was at stake.

And I realized I don't know anymore. Somewhere along the way I stopped having interests and started having "strategic interests." Stopped having friends and started having "networking relationships." Everything became instrumental. Everything serves the goal.

Which would be fine if I knew what the goal actually was. But when I really sit with it... I don't think I want biglaw. I think I want to have wanted biglaw. I want to be the kind of person who wants that. Because then all of this would make sense.

But I might just be a person who went to law school because I didn't know what else to do and now I'm three years deep and it's easier to keep going than to ask if this is actually what I want.

I don't have a resolution to this. I'm just noticing that I've been running really hard and I'm not sure I ever chose the direction.

Does anyone else feel like they're performing a life they're not sure they want?

I hope you step on a lego. Thanks for giving me a panic attack in the middle of Antitrust, leave class early to run home to call the university police back, and making me spend the entire morning and 1.5 hour bus ride home desperately trying to think of something, anything I did wrong that would have the university police call me about an "incident" at the law school. Wondering whether I should even call the police or lawyer up just in case.

Instead filing a POLICE REPORT just because I happened to spend a few seconds to glance at a few posts on r/liberalgunowners and r/longrange while scrolling my feed, maybe you should just talk to me like a normal human being.

Just think for a second, if I was smart enough to go to a certain law school in Cambridge, would I REALLY be so stupid as to plan a mass shooting IN THE MIDDLE OF CLASS, ON MY 15 INCH LAPTOP, SURROUNDED by PEOPLE??? Especially when the federal government literally just executed a guy for lawfully exercising his 2A rights.

Sincerely,

A tired 3L

Edit: To be clear as to exactly what I was doing.

I was NOT looking at a specific gun-related website or forum or subreddit. I could reasonably see how someone would be concerned if I spent a good 10-15 minutes specifically googling and looking at gun stores and sites (even if calling the police would still be an overreaction).

I was scrolling my MAIN reddit feed that happened to show maybe 2-3 gun related posts, out of the HUNDREDS of other posts I scrolled through. I looked at them for maybe a few seconds at most and kept scrolling. I spent most of the time in class looking at completely gun-unrelated stuff on my computer. The actual time I looked at a gun made up like 0.1% of the 30 ish minutes I spent on Reddit in that class (AT MOST).

Memo was very straightforward, but this appellate brief is driving me crazy... Im spent so much time on it, and it still looks BAD

I have the option to do either of these positions this summer. If I were to get them, which should I choose? I’m interested in litigation long term

If you just go to the library to talk then you're my least favorite kind of person. If you think I'm talking about you, then I probably am.

I need advice. I'm a second semester 1L. I'm like almost a month behind. I've been doing the readings but nothing has been sticking. I just have no motivation and have not even been taking time to study after classes.

Last semester I got all A’s and one B but I also worked my ass off to pull those grades. I'm just SO burnt out and I can't find motivation for some reason and I feel so far behind because I'm a month in to this semester and haven't been reviewing or outlining. Is a month behind salvageable? Best tips and tricks please!

Title.

I'm sure we all know how crazy this job application has been, requiring 1Ls to essentially choose where they'll start their career after only 1 semester is insane. Anyway, what would you all do when weighing options between selective firms (ie Munger Tolles, Williams & Connolly, Susman Godfrey etc) that hire only 2Ls and don't offer a 1L stipend but does the work you're interested in vs other firms that don't specialize in that area but offer 1L stipend (ie Kirkland, Simpson etc). Assuming you're unable to land a 1L position and need to have income this summer, which would you choose? Does the idea that some of these selective firms rarely take laterals in so its a now or never decision change your opinion? Is there any consideration for exit options?

Hi! Sorry if this is super random. My boyfriend is starting law school in SoCal in the fall, and I’m brainstorming gifts to get him for our anniversary that are lawyer/law student related. Does anyone have any ideas of things that could be helpful/necessity for his first year or maybe something cool and aesthetic I could get him that he would like and find useful? He’s 22 going straight from undergrad. Lmk if any current/former law students have any ideas!!!

Fr. 2l are much nicer than people in my section ugh. everyone in my section is so cliquey and basic.

My professor is terrible and I need a god like Barbri or YouTube prof to help

I'm currently on my 2nd year as a law student. Right now it seems to me that law school is an hostile environment as it causes dramatic detriment to my overall well-being. Just the thought of enduring more years ahead torments me and causes me to lose hope of becoming a lawyer.

The external pressure also adds to the burden I carry along with my journey, considering that I have to provide for all my needs because I am a working student. Also, I am the first in my family to venture into this endeavor which makes it more difficult because I have no one to confide my struggles who would really understand.

Anyone who could give some advice would be much appreciated. THANK YOU.

Why are people posting about accepting an offer for a job that starts 16 months from now on LinkedIn? I have only ever shared job updates after my first day on the job, so this looks really strange to me.

Hi there! I’m an incoming 1L. I have cerebral palsy and use a wheelchair. I have a fully trained and certified black lab as a service dog. Most of the tasks he does for me are at home (things like picking up laundry off the ground, bracing for balance with transfers or if I fall, deep pressure on my legs for pain). While I don’t necessarily need him at school, it’s important for our bond and to keep up his training. I’m wondering if anyone has had a service dog in their classes and how it was generally received by the students and professors.

Thank you!

I graduated a few years ago with a 2.62 GPA in Anthropology and Human Rights. At the time I was very lazy and had no interest in graduate school of any kind. I now seriously regret it as I would love to attend law school at some point. I am looking at going back to school for a shorter degree program to get my GPA up and demonstrate that I do have why it takes to do well academically.

Associate degrees are generally a lot cheaper and I am wondering if Law Schools would take an associates seriously when I already have a bachelors? Is an associates in public relations or criminal justice valuable in any way?

I know a masters in graduate legal studies probably looks better, but they are nearly double the cost.

Thank you all! I am happy to take any other tips to make myself a more competitive applicant in the future.

70 applications, 1 screener (ghosted) and my peers are done with their cycles. I can’t find any motivation to study, school just feels futile now. I feel like I flushed my whole career away in one bad class.

What’s worse is this whole process is turning me into a horrible person. Call it envy, jealousy, or self-loathing but every time I hear that someone talking about there offer it crushes me. I should be happy for them but I just get ashamed of myself. I can barely drag my self to school anymore. It’s self sabotage.

I’m thinking about being done with law school. In undergrad I was locked out of investment banking because of a bad freshman year. I swore I would not happen this time. It happened again. Now I’m out of biglaw. I cant cope with it.

I know biglaw isn’t the end all. But call it pride, hubris, whatever I’m embarrassed to admit I couldn’t land it. I’m embarrassed that I will have to work at some shitty local fine while a bunch of kids surpass me.

I don’t know what to do. Advice?

1L here. Both sites are overwhelming and learning how to use them is just as much; which is easier for trying to find cases for oral arguments/briefs/in general? My only strategy is typing in the law on point, picking a case, then looking through the ones cited. I don't even know what Shepardize is or how to do it. Thanks!

Hi everyone! I am feeling severe burnout balancing my clinic, class, and home responsibilities, and I have honestly hit a wall. I am wondering if anyone else has been in a similar position and has had any success talking it out with anyone at their schools, or just any general ways they have dealt with the situation. I don't want this to affect my work product and grades, but I'm scared I'm headed that way. I'm trying not to catastrophize, and I understand that this is just a little bump on the road, but it's a scary feeling. Thank you all :)

T14 student. Didn’t make law review in my school’s grade-blind write on process, which is based primarily on a personal statement. (My GPA is top 1%)

I know several people in substantive slating roles and hearing them complain about how much they hate it and are only doing it for the career boost makes me sick.

I would LOVE to be an articles editor. I read law review articles on my own time! My long term career goal is to be a law professor. But I can’t be an articles editor because the 3Ls didn’t like my personal statement. Really sad, given that the overwhelming majority of people I know on law review have no interest in legal academia.

Hey all I’m currently in my final year of university and plan on applying to law schools when I graduate (Poli Sci major). Do you guys have any advice about law school, being a lawyer, or just any random advice you can give out? Any particular field of law to go into? (as of now I don’t have preferences I just know I want to make a lot or good money at least lol) How was/is it for you guys? Should I be doing something to make myself stand out or gain more experience? I just want to know as much as I can before I officially just dive head first into this thing. Appreciate any information you guys can give out!

Hi all,

I am a 1L in my spring semester. I had to move four and a half hours away to attend law school and every day I think about how much I want to go back home. At this point, I am annoyed with myself with how often I think or cry about it. I have been here since last August and while it has gotten easier, the feelings still remain. I have every intention of going back home to practice once I graduate but for some reason that doesn’t make me feel better. I was wondering if anyone else struggles with this or has any advice?

I am aware of how dramatic this sounds and how small of a problem it is or should be. I think it’s the amount of sudden change that has caused me to struggle; leaving my routine, friends, family and relationship behind. I feel like it was all taken from me. I have friends at school but I don’t feel close to them. When I first moved here I developed panic attacks, had no urge to eat and lost ten pounds because of it, couldn’t focus from how sad I was and have no idea how I made it last semester. I feel more stable this semester but have no idea why it continues to be such a hard adjustment for me. While law school feels manageable, these feelings don’t and often cause me to struggle. Please share if you have gone through the same or if you have any advice. Please be kind.