Three Months In....

I have now been a law student for three months and honestly, time has just flown by. We are just three weeks away from exams. I am hyperventilating a little.

The last three months have been challenging and enjoyable. I have amazing professors who have made the learning process fun. I was pleasantly surprised to discover law school is much kinder than Hollywood depicts. Cold-calling is scary but at the same time there is a sense of support and shared doom that reduces the fear and shame around the room.

My biggest challenge has been learning the precise language of the law. Many people say learning the law is like learning a new language. As someone who learned English in my teens, I have to say this is absolutely true. During the first weeks of school, I just stared at pages for a long time, dictionary in hand sporadically recognizing a few words, and trying to make sense of what was happening. With time, words and concepts are starting to make sense. At this point, I am just trying to make sure they fully make sense by the time exams roll around.

I can also see the new language of law starting to seep into my everyday life. My use of the phrase “per se” has increased to a level that only other law students would be able to appreciate.

Notwithstanding the challenges of law school, I am really enjoying the Loyola community. After being in a large school, I love being in a place where students, staff and professors know each other, and you are not just another face in the crowd. I particularly appreciate that from day one everyone at Loyola, from current students to long-time alumni, have offered themselves as resources and mentors.

The main downside: I wish I had more time and energy to explore Los Angeles. I did not realize the thought of finding parking in the city combined with my sheer exhaustion would eliminate my resolve to explore.

Well, that is all for me for the rest of this semester, I will see you all at the end of the tunnel known as law school exams!