Lawyers and law students: When does law school start to suck?

[eyesroll]

I'm halfway through Week 2, and so far, so good. I'm prepped through the end of the week, reviewed up to this point, and my head is not spinning. I've been able to come home and have dinner with my SO (and in some cases make dinner for my SO and myself) every night.

But this can't possibly last, right?

[MrCoffee]

1. It sucks ass the second semester....

I had a friend in law school who nailed it. "First semester they scare you to death, second semester they work you to death."

And the first time you're chosen to analyze a case in class will hurt. It WILL hurt. But you will survive.

Edited to add that it sounds like you're off to a great start. Best of luck!

[eyesroll]

2. I've heard it's 1st year they scare you, second year they work you.

Not so much because the classes are harder, but because of everything else going on -- most 2Ls here have jobs of some sort, plus there's law review or a journal, moot court, OCI, etc.

Only two of my profs are pure Socratic -- and only my Contracts prof will make you stand up. But neither of those two are evil; if it's clear you're confused, they'll let one of the hand-raisers help you. (I've posted this before: I taught high school. Making an ass of yourself in front of 90 people who are just glad it's you and not them is nothing compared to making an ass of yourself in front of 35 15-year-olds who will hold it against you forever.)

I'm not scared (yet).

Oh, and thanks!

[GalleryGod]

3. My Personal Experience : Fall of 1974

I read more pages of TEXT in 1L year:argh: than I did in
4 years of Undergrad combined.:wtf:

Good luck...it's a wonderful advenutre AND well worth the angst and stomach upset. If you don't need reading glasses by now..you will by 3L, trust me !

[eyesroll]

4. I was an English major, so I had a lot of reading, but you're right.

I'm starting to not have to look everything up, so it's going faster.

A lot of my reading is electronic -- cases from Westlaw (I like the reporter .pdfs better than the Westlaw format), articles our instructors put on "e-reserve." It's convenient (and I don't want to print if I don't have to -- I have enough paper floating around) but it can't be good for me.

[MrCoffee]

5. What school?

[eyesroll]

7. Marquette.

I've lived in the Milwaukee area for 9 years, so I don't have the new city/finding my way/homesickness/etc. thing to deal with, which I know adds to the stress for many people.

[dpbrown]

13. Party all you want - you've got bar privilege

Damn Wisconsin lawyers! :-)

:hi:

[Midlodemocrat]

6. If you get in a bind, I have the full Lexis Nexis database

so feel free to PM me to look something up if you can't get to the library.

I've done it numerous times here for folks, no trouble at all.

[eyesroll]

8. I have a password!

I can access it from any internet-enabled computer in the world, too, so no worries.
Thanks!

:bounce:

[Midlodemocrat]

9. Awesome!

I forgot about the web based database. Mine is software based that links to the net.

I haven't mastered the web based at all. Kind of like trying to teach an old dog new tricks, I guess.

[MrCoffee]

10. Plus you get free stuff...

Thank you Lexis-Nexis and Westlaw for building up my movie collection! I'm drinking out of a free Westlaw travel mug right now.

[Midlodemocrat]

11. Hey! I haven't gotten any free stuff!

Where do I sign up?

[eyesroll]

12. You have to be a student to get the free stuff.

I will have a Cuisinart food processor by the time I graduate. (It's ~7,500 Lexis points, so I've got awhile.)

[MrCoffee]

14. Westlaw mailed me a Trek bike...suckers.

[MrCoffee]

15. Which class are you enjoying most so far?

Which one do you dread?

[eyesroll]

16. Enjoying: Torts.

I didn't think I would, but I like torts. It's cold and logical and fits neatly on a flowchart.
Crim Law is OK until we start talking about what the law should be, when it gets confusing.
I have a sense of dread about contracts (it's making the least sense so far, even though it also should be cold and logical and fit nearly on a flowchart).

Legal writing is legal writing -- neither interesting nor uninteresting; I know it's vital to my success as a lawyer but it's just...there...