Reading report. I finished One L by Scott Turow on Saturday. T lent it to me in anticipation to the hell that I will soon enter (a true friend, indeed). One L was published by Turow in '77 as mostly journal excerpts from his first year at Harvard Law. It's masterfully written (seriously, who writes publishable journal entries?), documenting and describing his 1L experience, which for laypeople, is equivalent to academic hazing.
My father, friends' parents, recent graduates, and law student friends have tried to convey the unparalleled universe known as law school. I admit that it has not fully sunk in, though, One L certainly helped impress on me how I can avoid common pitfalls. The book introduced me to legal-speak and traditions as well. All valuable information.
I regret that Turow prefaced his account by saying that his experience was not very atypical. After all, Havard Law School (HLS) does not seem all that representative. Trust me, I realize that each instution adopts its own traditions and that law school is formulatic at all schools subsuming relatively few changes since 1977, but still it was evident that attending the best law school in the world makes your 1L less comparable. I found this fact mildly irritating, though, forgivable because of Turow's superb writing.
Not much else. I've been mentally preparing for law school for two years. I have read a great deal about debates over legal education to how law school environments often burden blacks and women. I have this knowledge plus the steady stream of advice imparted from friends and family. I'm feeling good and have found myself refining my reasons for enrolling.
Legal education does not seem to be like a lawyer trade school--it teaches you the law (like a scholar) than it does instruct you how to practice (like a lawyer). I've proven to be a sound scholar when I focus so that's encouraging (despite my mid-level LSAT scores). Too, I desperately need a new challenge in my life. I'm a little restless. I excelled on my thesis when it felt purposeful. I'm trying to imagine my potential when I believe that my academic pursuit is tangibly valuable (I'm less so speaking of money as I am that I can see the fruits of my labors). Gosh, potential, that's another blog, too. Brain's on speed this weekend.
It's all just so exciting.
"Do what you wanna do, Just let the sun come shining through--everybody!" - Everybody, Lenny Kravitz.
See ya,
R.
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2 comments:
"One L" is outdated and should be largely ignored.
Law school is fantastically fun and amazing and depending on how you choose to use your time can be a great trade school experience, a great academic experience, or a combination of the two.
1L year is not about academic hazing - it's about learning a new way of thinking and analyzing issues. The problem comes when you try to convince people (who, by the very fact that they are in law school, have clearly done well academically in the past) to change the way they approach issues.
If I had one piece of advice to give you it would be this. Watch a movie, go for a walk, go to a museum, spend time outside, see a play - whatever you do, do not read or "prep" for law school. You will be able to learn everything you need to know once you start, and it will take up plenty of your time then. In the meantime, enjoy all the things you won't have time to enjoy next year.
/steps off soapbox/
Yeah... I can't really give you an advice about law school, but I can say this.
You know you want your
Hotdog in my buns.
That is all.
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