Law School Myths: DEBUNKED

Hello Jury of Peers!

Welcome back. This week, I’m excited to address a few law school myths to hopefully ease your mind about law school.

Before starting 1L, I remember staying up until the early hours of the day stressing about the many unknowns of law school. Yet, after the first week of classes, my mind quickly eased as I realized law school was not nearly as daunting as I imagined it to be. The law school myths and horror stories I heard through friends, movies, and the internet, differed drastically from my experience. So, without further ado, let’s debunk a few of these myths!

Myth #1: Cold-calling is utterly terrifying and every professor does it.

This is false. Cold-calling may seem scary at first, but after a few times, it gets easier and less stressful. Although I can’t speak for every professor at every law school, from my experience, cold-calling is conducted in a friendly and casual manner. Professors want to help you learn and understand the material. They are not trying to embarrass or chastise you by any means. Do the reading and you’ll be fine.

Myth #2: You must be an extrovert to succeed in law school.

This is DEFINITELY false. As an introvert, please take it from me that you don’t have to be a super outgoing or social person to succeed in law school. My advice is to not compare yourself to others who frequently volunteer in class, or who seem comfortable speaking in front of crowds. We all have our strengths and weaknesses. You were admitted into law school for a reason, and you deserve to be here.

Myth #3: You will have no free time apart from your studies.

This is mostly false. Nobody said law school would be easy, or that you’d have hours of free time each day to do whatever you pleased. Law school is like a job, and you should treat it as such. Nevertheless, time-management is key, so be sure to schedule in additional time for your hobbies. Your mental health will thank you.

From law student to law student, try to not give in to the many myths surrounding law school, or you’ll drive yourself crazy! I hope by debunking a few of these myths, you feel a bit more at ease.

Thanks again for the read, see you in my next post!

Madison