Elizabeth Williams is a first-year student at Loyola Law School focused on exploring the intersection of law and the entertainment industry.
The biggest myth about law school? That it’s always serious. Every single day so far, I’ve found something to laugh about. Whether it’s a professor’s perfectly timed joke or a classmate’s comment, the campus is always filled with laughter. Between potlucks, bar reviews, and the simple day-to-day routine of getting to know your peers, law school is a lot lighter than the reputation suggests.
When I pictured a prestigious environment like law school, I assumed everyone would be intimidating. I was stressed from what to wear to what bag to bring to school. But the reality is that it is really not that serious. From sweatpants to hoodies and ugg boots, comfort is definitely prioritized even whilst learning the hardest material.
What surprised me most is that with this unseriousness, law school can be surprisingly fun. When deciding to go to law school, I wondered if I would have to be a polished, toned-down version of myself. In college I was silly, bubbly, and loved to joke with my friends. But being here has made me feel more like myself than ever. The LLS community encourages us to be our truest selves and to have fun we learn.
In fact, on the last day of my torts class, my entire section pulled off a class-wide prank. Our professor begins each class by saying, “This might be my favorite class of the semester.” So, to show how much we appreciate him, we all wore shirts with that phrase printed on the front. It was a great way to celebrate our section’s hard work and end our last class on a great note.
Of course, there are times when professionalism matters. Networking events, conversations with professors, and general campus decorum all require a level of professionalism and respect. But that’s the balance. Law school is a blend of working hard, being professional when it counts, and finding ways to have fun.
TOPICS: 1L