Is law school REALLY that hard?
ko...@netrax.net
I am considering law as a possible career.
And, I hear talk about how hard law school is. But, I am wondering how
hard it really is.
I understand about relative strengths in abilities. I am presently
teaching adults basic education. And am a certified teacher in Pa.
I guess my question is: to the reasonably intelligent person, who
seriously studies and doesn't try to use law school as an extention of
undergrad parties (etc.), How difficult is it?
Thanks for your input, Bill
GCJoy
You need to define "hard". It certainly is -work-. You need to have
disciplined study habits and a solid work ethic, able to make maximum use of
whatever available time you have.
Tomh...@worldnet.att.net
If you are reasonably intelligent and study hard it is not insurmountable,
but it is hard from the standpoint that it requires a great deal of time and
reading and requires that you learn the proper thought processes and learn to
spot the real issues and filter out the non-issues. It is, however, a
doctorate level course of study and is therefore very intense and
competitive. Also bear in mind that many very intelligent people wash out
because they can't alter their thinking to suit legal thought processes and
some people of moderate intelligence (like me) can succeed by learning to
think like a lawyer and filter out and spot issues. As Shemp Howard once
said: "If at first you don't succeed, keep on sucking":-)
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I agree that it requires a lot of discipline and a solid work ethic.
The concepts are not particularly hard, but you have to be trained to "think
like a lawyer"
The trick is learning the system as fast as possible. The fastest learners
do best.
First year you learn the rules of the game.
Second year, since you know how it works, they pour on more and more work.
Third year you just bide your time and try not to get too burnt out.
I disagree with the "party" comment above -- I, and many others that I went
to school with, had a great time throughout law school. The key
(obviously) is knowing when it is o.k. to let go. Only the extremely
talented can party all the time and still do well in law school -- I only
knew 2 folks like that in my class of 400.
Just two cents from a '95 grad.
Law Talk
People that come out of law school are not trained to function
as lawyers that is why they must intern. Anyone with half
a brian going to a 6 month paralegal course is just as well
prepared. I've seen paralegals eat up the best law firms on thier
own. They should never have allowed paralegals to come into
existance.
On Sat, 31 Oct 1998 11:33:28 -0600, ko...@netrax.net wrote:
-->Hi,
-->I am considering law as a possible career.
-->And, I hear talk about how hard law school is. But, I am wondering
how
-->hard it really is.
-->I understand about relative strengths in abilities. I am presently
-->teaching adults basic education. And am a certified teacher in Pa.
-->I guess my question is: to the reasonably intelligent person, who
-->seriously studies and doesn't try to use law school as an extention
of
-->undergrad parties (etc.), How difficult is it?
-->Thanks for your input, Bill
-->
Get your free copies of the Ferderal Rules of Evidence,
Rules of CIvil Procedure, Uniform Commercial Code and more
From www.uslawbooks.com!
phrades
guess I have at least half a brain. I've been doing legal research on the
side and have also read-up for law school. Anybody who believes a paralegal
can do the work of a lawyer is either a fool or is trying to make you into
one by selling you something. Based on the info at the bottom of your page,
I believe your in category two.
Steve W.
Law Talk wrote in message <363f8217...@news.ptd.net>...
SKier6398
will do during your freshman year in law school. Actually, if you are admitted
to a law school, you should have no problem successfully compleating the three
year course if you apply yourself. You might be interested to know that a
larger and larger percentage of law students are "non-trads" like yourself,
that is, students that have been out of school a few years before starting law
school and they generally do better than the average "trad", probably because
of maturity. Good luck. Steve
Tomh...@worldnet.att.net
the...@nac.net wrote:
> It is a no brainer that is why we have so many lawyers.
> People that come out of law school are not trained to function
> as lawyers that is why they must intern. Anyone with half
> a brian going to a 6 month paralegal course is just as well
> prepared. I've seen paralegals eat up the best law firms on thier
> own. They should never have allowed paralegals to come into
> existance.
While I have certainly seen some very fine paralegals, I totally disagree
with the above. Paralegals are not trained to represent or counsel clients,
but to draft documents and assist in legal preparation. Most law schools are
now training lawyers to practice in the real world, by giving lots of
practical training. Especially Schools like Cooley, John Marshal, DCL at MSU,
Valparaiso, Etc., Etc. are now requiring reasearch and writing, advocacy,
mock trial, etc. to prerpare students for the real world of solo practice.
Sounds like the above poster has a bone to pick with lawyers generally. They
may wish to try their hand at law school and see just what a walk in the park
it really is.
The above is not given as, nor is it intended that it be relied on as,
specific legal or tax advice. If such advice is sought, then you should make
an appointment to see an attorney or tax profesional competent to advise
clients in this matter. This posting does not create any attorney-client
relationship!
GOOD LUCK!
Thomas C. Legg, JD, Esq.
Attorney at Law
THE REAL ESTATE EXCHANGE LAWYER
With INVESTOR’S EXCHANGE NETWORK
A National Network of QI Lawyers
>
> On Sat, 31 Oct 1998 11:33:28 -0600, ko...@netrax.net wrote:
>
> -->Hi,
> -->I am considering law as a possible career.
> -->And, I hear talk about how hard law school is. But, I am wondering
> how
> -->hard it really is.
> -->I understand about relative strengths in abilities. I am presently
> -->teaching adults basic education. And am a certified teacher in Pa.
> -->I guess my question is: to the reasonably intelligent person, who
> -->seriously studies and doesn't try to use law school as an extention
> of
> -->undergrad parties (etc.), How difficult is it?
> -->Thanks for your input, Bill
> -->
>
> Get your free copies of the Ferderal Rules of Evidence,
> Rules of CIvil Procedure, Uniform Commercial Code and more
> From www.uslawbooks.com!
>
-----------== Posted via Deja News, The Discussion Network ==----------
SmarTop
>I understand about relative strengths in abilities. I am presently
Anyone who tells you that law school isn't hard either never went or is lying.
I am a 2L, and like yourself I was out in the real world with a career before I
decided to study law.
No matter how intelligent you are it will require a tremendous amount of time
and work. I estimate that I spend 50-60 hour per week on school, and during
finals its about 2 weeks of 18 hour days.
Conceptually, the material is not extremely difficult, but the point of law
school is to be a sort of intellectual boot camp that requires total immersion
if you're going to succeed in thinking like a lawyer.
Good luck. But don't let anyone fool you into thinking that it isn't difficult.
PS: I've managed to maintain a 3.8 GPA
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~SmarTop~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is not intended to be legal advice. I am not a lawyer, but a hard-working
law student. For legal advice consult a local attorney who specializes in the
type of law pertinent to your situation.
SmarTop
>People that come out of law school are not trained to function
>as lawyers that is why they must intern. Anyone with half
>a brian going to a 6 month paralegal course is just as well
>prepared. I've seen paralegals eat up the best law firms on thier
>own. They should never have allowed paralegals to come into
>existance.
>
Anyone with half a brain knows how to spell existence. Those with less are
usually assholes who mistake paralegals for attorneys.
george or martin
>
> >I am considering law as a possible career.
> >And, I hear talk about how hard law school is. But, I am wondering how
> >hard it really is.
> >I understand about relative strengths in abilities. I am presently
> >teaching adults basic education. And am a certified teacher in Pa.
> >I guess my question is: to the reasonably intelligent person, who
> >seriously studies and doesn't try to use law school as an extention of
> >undergrad parties (etc.), How difficult is it?
>
> Anyone who tells you that law school isn't hard either never went or is lying.
> I am a 2L, and like yourself I was out in the real world with a career before I
> decided to study law.
>
> No matter how intelligent you are it will require a tremendous amount of time
> and work. I estimate that I spend 50-60 hour per week on school, and during
> finals its about 2 weeks of 18 hour days.
>
> Conceptually, the material is not extremely difficult, but the point of law
> school is to be a sort of intellectual boot camp that requires total immersion
> if you're going to succeed in thinking like a lawyer.
>
> Good luck. But don't let anyone fool you into thinking that it isn't difficult.
>
> PS: I've managed to maintain a 3.8 GPA
>
> This is not intended to be legal advice. I am not a lawyer, but a hard-working
> law student. For legal advice consult a local attorney who specializes in the
> type of law pertinent to your situation.
people. Among other things it aids in the aculturation process, helping
the layman get a handle on how lawyers think so that the layman (in law
school) can ultimately become a lawyer. There is a relatively large
amount of material to cover in frequently limited time. And those who
believe law school REALLY that easy are cordially invited to apply to
the local law school for the opportunity to slave away for three years
or so for the opportunity to take the bar exam. Take note that failure
at any step along the way results in not getting to be a lawyer.
George in Texas
Stacie
portion of succeeding in law school. To me, commitment is probably more
important.
I, like you, had a job prior to going to law school, and am just slightly
older than my fellow students. I am a 2L, 7th in my class, and my work
schedule is a lot like the person
who told you they work 50-60 hour weeks. For the past few weeks, I have
been up at 5 and finishing around 9:30, and it will get even worse as finals
approach. I have friends who aren't willing to put in that kind of time and
have a lot more fun than I do (their grades are fine, but not as good as
mine). My philosophy is just different than theirs, and I am willing to
give up more than they are. I still
have time for some fun (not as much as I would like) and definitely have
away time from the study of law (going to the gym regularly and one vice -
"Days of our Lives"), but for the most part, my days are spent studying.
That said, I love law school. There are so many things to learn and so many
interesting areas of the law, so I am never bored. I love the challenge -
that doesn't mean that I wake up every day and cheer about working so hard -
it just means that, all in all, to me it is worth it.
Stacie
sbar...@ia-omni.com
SmarTop wrote in message <19981114011411...@ng-cr1.aol.com>...
George E. Kakely
have to be committed to doing the studying and you must do the reading and
the research. But I really don't think it is all that hard. You don't
have to be an exceptionally intelligent person, you must, however, be
willing to make the commitment.
Law school is not about partying. It is about passing up the parties for
now and studying. If you have a sex life, you can pretty much kiss it
goodbye until you graduate. You will not have time for much in the way of
social activities. Do you read for pleasure? Kiss that one goodbye, too.
The question you must answer for yourself is not can I do it, but rather,
how badly do I want to do it.
SmarTop <sma...@aol.com> wrote in article
George E. Kakely
SmarTop <sma...@aol.com> wrote in article
<19981114012327...@ng-cr1.aol.com>...
> >It is a no brainer that is why we have so many lawyers.
> >People that come out of law school are not trained to function
> >as lawyers that is why they must intern. Anyone with half
> >a brian going to a 6 month paralegal course is just as well
> >prepared. I've seen paralegals eat up the best law firms on thier
> >own. They should never have allowed paralegals to come into
> >existance.
> >
>
> Anyone with half a brain knows how to spell existence. Those with less
are
> usually assholes who mistake paralegals for attorneys.
>
Bitz & Clinton, P.S.
Law School is like anything else, you get out of it what you put into
it. Want to be a great attorney? Better hit the books.
I have degrees in Social Sciences, Physician Associate and Law. By far,
Medicine was the most difficult of the three.
Almost everyone that starts in law school will eventually finish. Not
all will pass the bar.
If you're bright and motivated you will do just fine. If you're looking
for an easy way to a big paycheck -- look somewhere else.
mjc
SmarTop wrote: