Back To Law School ~ Part 1
This is a back-to-school series with a twist. It’s almost
September and everyone is writing about going back to school. But not many are
focused on going back to law school.
People are always fascinated when they learn that I write
about food and that I’m an attorney. But from what I see around me, it’s not as
uncommon as most people think. I believe that many of us may have found that
having a legal background helps us with our creative work as well.
So I’ve been reaching out to people who graduated from law
school, but who also write food and/or lifestyle blogs, are working in the food
industry, are writers, or working on some other creative endeavors.
The label “recovering attorney” may be one that some of us
choose, but whether we practice law traditionally or not, we don’t lose the
knowledge that we gained in law school.
I think that we have an interesting perspective on life, so
I asked a simple question. “What advice would you give to a current law
student going back to school?”
My answer to the question is to believe in yourself. Sure
there is a lot of reading and the work will be challenging, but you can
do the work. The hardest part is keeping a positive mindset and not getting
caught up in the drama.
When everyone around you is freaking out over exams and
buying every study aid that ever existed, step back, take a breath, and figure
out what you need. If you need to take time for your yoga practice or bake
cookies to share with your friends so you can stay positive and focused, then
do it.
What works for you? Figure that out and do it regardless of
what everyone else is doing or what they may say to you. Because come second
semester and second year, some of those people won’t be around anymore.
Below are answers to the question by two other
creative attorneys. Depending upon how many answers I receive to the posed
question, this will be a series of posts through September.
Even if you’re not in law school or going back to school, I
hope that you’ll enjoy this series as well. We all find inspiration in different
places. My hope is that this series will inspire you as much as it is already
inspiring me.
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Marian Klausner, Owner, Shake The Tree
I think that surviving law school gives you a tremendous
sense of self-confidence that you carry with you on whatever path may lay
ahead. I practiced for 8 years and then ended up opening a women's clothing
& gift shop, which I have had for 18 years. Law school and the experience
of day-to-day practice gave me the sense that I could achieve any dream I had,
if I really worked for it. I never thought of myself as exceptionally brilliant
before law school but I did well academically and that made me realize that if
I focused on something I wanted to create, I could really do it! So, my advice
to students is to enjoy the process of learning and keep challenging yourself
to think outside of traditional career routes! You never know where you'll end
up!
First Year: Enter law school with an open mind and embrace
opportunities. Take advantage of free legal research tools, join a club
or two, and make friends. Oh yeah, don't forget to study hard.
Second Year: Don't be afraid to make mistakes. It's
better to make mistakes in law school than in the real world.
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*Updated 9/4/12 * Part 2 is up today!
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Linda