Yesterday was the first day of my last term as a law student…
…barring some unfortunate academic implosion or something, I mean.
Suddenly, my friends and I are the “big dogs” on campus, the experienced ones, and the 1Ls seem even younger than last year. In some ways, it feels like I just started law school, but in others I know I’ve already learned so much.
This term is heavy academically for me, but I’m looking forward to almost all of my classes. The one big exception is Federal Income Tax, because no one looks forward to that, but even still I know it will be good for me (and my clients) in my future life as a lawyer. If you plan on doing any business law, you really need to take that course.
My personal life has shifted significantly in my time here at CWSL as well. I started law school married, got divorced, and just recently have someone new in my life (not connected to the law, btw). I am not the same person I was when I started in Fall 2008. The way I think has shifted so much and that shift also is apparent in how I approach personal relationships–friends and romantic–and, really, life overall.
That’s what law school does to you–it changes how you think. For you 1Ls who are just starting down the path, don’t let this scare you off. Changing how you think doesn’t mean your relationships will end or that you’ll turn into some pretentious PITA. It does mean how you look at your relationships and your life will be different than before. It can mean, if you let it, that you can be more open in your life.
For me, it meant being more honest about what I wanted in my life, what I was willing to compromise on and what I wasn’t, and it actually opened me up to being willing to try new things–like riding on the back of a motorcycle or dating people who held different beliefs than I did. I see things as learning experiences in a way I never did before. I have more confidence to give things a shot and my fear of failure is dramatically lower than ever (I think once you face law school exams, and pass, failing anything else seems somehow less likely).
So for you new students, or any of you thinking about law school, know that it will change your life in more ways than you might expect. But if you let go and give yourself permission to enjoy it, it’s a great ride.

