Third Year

I feel cheated.  Everything I heard or read said that third year of law school was supposed to be really easy.  "After first year you can just coast along," I heard people say.  Yeah right. 

The only thing I will say is that against all odds I think I have become better at managing my time and a bit more organized at this point.  I am a lot better at prioritizing things, which I feel makes a big difference in my overall performance.  I know this sounds nuts to some people, but when the choice is between reading 100 pages for a class you won't get called on in or doing an assignment for a class that will be graded or doing research for a professor you work for-- you are more likely to do the latter two things first and take care of the hundred pages when you find more time.  As Derek said to me, "The secret to law school is figuring out what NOT to do."  sounds crazy to some people, but in my experience it's correct.  There are only so many hours in the day you can afford to work and still have some semblance of a life-- you have to pick and chose at some level.

I realize this page has at times served as my venting mechanism-- and hopefully some of you find that entertaining or at least informative if I never get the chance to call you any more.  As I wrote out my "to do" list for the day today it took up about three pages in my poor man's palm pilot (read: $1 note pad from CVS).  In terms of my sanity, I have to say I am actually really happy though.  Maybe that's being in a really good relationship, maybe it's knowing I have a great family that loves me, maybe it's just that I know that soon school will be over.  For the most part though-- I think there is a more depressing answer that fits a bit better with my personality:  When it comes down to it- I am a realist.  I know there are fights in life that cannot be won and things that simply are impossible to change.  I think somewhere in the last year or so it really set in that as challenging as school is, the level of work I have to deal with is highly unlikely to decrease unless I should become unemployed or win the lottery.  On top of that, I realize that I actually LIKE working hard.  It is true that I would prefer to be more creative, and it is true that I think law school, as a system, is highly flawed, but the reality is that I have no choice but to keep working for now if I want to get anywhere good-- if I want to keep having the opportunities that are probably one of the most important thing to me.

Things aren't getting any easier-- and I doubt they ever will.  But maybe, just MAYBE, I am getting a little better.

Comments

[Matt]

I think your level of sanity is a testament to the fact that it is easier. It may not be less work, but the fear of failure and the pressure that was inherent in everything we did during the first year is gone. Now you know exactly what you have to do to get by.

[Matt]

I think your level of sanity is a testament to the fact that it is easier. It may not be less work, but the fear of failure and the pressure that was inherent in everything we did during the first year is gone. Now you know exactly what you have to or dont have to do to get by.

[Conor]

I think you're ripping off Phil Collins there Mr. Genesis.

[J,P,]

Phil Collins>?????

[J,P,]

Phil Collins>?????

[Wendy]

Hello?! Against All Odds was the reference I believe. Maybe you consider yourself more Mr. Postal Service these days...

[Conor]

Ooh take a look at me now, well there’s just an empty space
And you coming back to me is against all odds and that’s what I’ve got to face

[Derek]

J.P. Truth is, you have been through a lot of poo with law school over the past few years and you have come out a better person for it...able to handle life, school and everything else.

In the end law school is a lot like fight club...It's only after you've lost everything that you're free to do anything.

Crap, I forgot the first rule of fight club.

[Conor]

Hey Confuscious, I've got a word of wisdom for you. Man who walk through airport turnstyle sideways going to Bangkok

[J.P.]

Conor, you are priceless.