No Let Up

There is a saying about law school that I heard shortly after enrolling at FSU: "The first year, they scare you to death. The second year, they work you to death. The third year, they bore you to death."

I think perhaps that statement should apply to law school students in a good economy, or maybe to the very top students here right now. It does not exactly hold true for me.

The part about the first year is correct. I had no idea how I was doing that initial semester. Then exam grades posted and I had some notion of where I fit into the scheme.

In the second year, you are supposedly "worked to death" because you become more involved in the student organizations you were selected for in your first year, while also trying to find that summer associate job which will hopefully turn into an offer for full time associate upon graduation. By your third year of law school, you are supposed to be just ready to get out.

The problem, at least for me, is that there were not that many jobs to find during my second year due to the economy. I worked hard and became more involved in the Mock Trial Team, but really my class load stayed the same as my first year- which was plenty. The work load has remained at the same level for my third year as well.

What the classroom can teach me about becoming a good lawyer is reduced from my first and second years, but I am much too busy to be "bored to death." Some of my colleagues have said that they are going to enjoy this last year of law school. These friends of mine are smart enough to be able to work part time for firms during the week, take weekend trips, participate in time consuming extracurricular activities like Law Review, and still make great grades.

I have no such talent. I can not "wing it" in any part of law school. Grades take nearly 100% of my effort. As an example, one of my classes this semester is offered only for a pass/fail grade. We also have quizzes as part of that class grade rather than the entire thing riding on the final exam. For the first quiz, I tried to "wing it," and only studied for an hour. When the grades came back last week, mine was about the second lowest in the class.

So, there is work to be done. Right now, I am set to graduate with honors. I will have to keep my nose to the grindstone to have a shot at maintaining that position. Graduating with high honors is out of reach... And then we'll see what the future holds.

The students set for high honors in my class have certainly earned their spots and done much to further the academic reputation of the FSU College of Law. I was amused by the Facebook post of one a few weeks ago: "When class was cancelled my 1L year, I caught up on reading. 2L year? I applied to jobs. 3L year? I redecorate my bathroom...I'll try to remember that I'm a law school student and not a real housewife of Tallahassee." Several others near the top of the class clicked the "like" button for this post.

As for me, I would just like to have my apartment cleaned. I try to clean a little each day, but it is a losing battle.

Law school is enjoyable, though. I cannot deny it. Tonight I ate dinner at the Suwannee Room and watched a little of the Jets and Dolphins football game in Miami on the televisions. One friend from law school is actually at the game right now. Must be even nicer.

Until Next Time,

Nathan Marshburn