Photo by Casey M. Duncan-Johnson
Law school is out for the summer already – or if not quite, almost! Can you believe it is already mid-spring? Where I am, today is a beautiful, sunny day – just the kind of day that makes it difficult to study for finals! Depending on where you are, you may already done with that final challenge of the year, for others it is still looming, and still others, you just received your acceptance letter. If you are in one of the former categories – congratulations! You made it through a year of law school – whether it was your first, your last, or somewhere in between, that is still quite an accomplishment!
I remember when I finally finished my first year. By then I felt somewhat comfortable with the exam process, thought I finished out my year strong, and was SO READY for the summer! I would finally get to spend every evening with my family. Though I would still be working during the week, the weekends could finally be devoted to fun times with the kids rather than a full day of homework and a day of rushed fun combined with chores.
I know there are some of you who will be spending lots of time this summer with your kids, remembering what your life before law school was a like, and wondering how you got yourself into this mess. You enjoyed school, but are feeling resentful about what you are missing out on at home, or even worse, you did not enjoy school at all and are afraid the sacrifices will not be worthwhile. If you are unsure that law school is the correct decision for you, now that there is some breathing room, take some serious time for self-reflection. I know many people are concerned that they are already a third or a quarter of the way through, already have debt, so have to keep going. This is not true. If you are not sure you want to actually be a lawyer, quitting now will only mean you only have to pay back one year of loans versus three or four years. If you wait, you may truly end up stuck with large loans and in a profession that doesn’t suit you. Think about it, talk with your school’s various advisors, and make the decision that is right for you.
I am not saying just because you are happy it is summer, or because you have missed your family, you should ditch law school. Deep down, you know if law school feels right or not. Listen to yourself and be happy you are are making a conscious choice to stay, or to move on to something that is a better fit.
If you are someone who has recently been admitted and are wondering if making the decision to go to law school is right for you and your family? There is so much that should go into a well thought out decision! Unfortunately, many of us barely scratch the surface. For lots of tips and stories about what it was like for me, and what I wish I’d done differently, order a copy of my Kindle book on Amazon: Law School Insights: An Insider’s Guide for Non-Traditional Students.
Have a great month, and start enjoying the summer!
Insider advice and insights to help you decide if you should pursue a higher degree while raising children, and tips for being successful if you're already on that path, from a woman who graduated from law school in her early 40's while working full-time and helping raise two young children. While most of the blog posts were originally written several years ago, they have recently been sorted for the most relevant materials, and new content is being added.