Book Smart, Brain Dead

The one thing that irks me about Facebook is the tendency for some people to make their lives look picturesque. These people want you to believe that life throws them no curve balls. In all honesty, sometimes I attempt to do this. Maybe I feel embarrassed or ashamed in having to admit a fault, a mistake, or just a bad circumstance that I'm going through.

The one thing I struggle most with is trying to please everyone. "Can't we all just get along!" is my mantra. If peace can be had wherever I'm at, I'm all for it. If someone voices dissatisfaction in something I've done, I can condemn myself to the point where it really starts depressing me.

I know looking forward into my future that this tendency to please people will come to a head. Legal issues  are commonly messy, often solved with a fair dose of compromise. Not everyone gets what they want. Will I be able to accept a client's criticism of an outcome if things don't go as planned?

One thing that's helped prepare me for this is observing my father and how he conducts his practice. He tells stories, I ask questions. I'm fascinated by how he handles sensitive situations while maintaining integrity and the favor of his clients. 

Law school instructs you in what the law is and how to advocate, but "people skills" is a more valuable asset developed by time and experience. 

I am ineffective if I cannot clearly communicate to my future clients and work with them towards a favorable result. 

One day I was browsing through my father's legal materials while I came across a recent copy of the Tennessee Bar Journal. The first few pages were dedicated to listings of practicing attorneys who had been suspended or disbarred because of unethical/stupid behavior in handling their clients' legal matters.

I sat in disbelief as I read how some of these attorneys got into trouble. One attorney failed to notify his client of the result of his case that went on appeal. Another signed agreements with indigent female clients for sex in exchange for his legal services.

Honestly, law school can't change your behavior, morality, character, and overall how you conduct yourself in front of others. It simply provides you with some knowledge and a little bit of know-how. The rest is up to you...

Looking Back on 2010

"There's no way you can do this again"
"You have a wife and a kid, you simply don't have time for this"
"Even if you try, you'll fail"

Rewind to January 2010. These thoughts were viciously swimming in my mind night and day. I knew what I was getting into. Second year if law school is a "slug it out" year. 4 classes, most of them are dense. And they last 9....long...months.

And let's not forget that 3 out of 4 have cumulative finals.

But to any upcoming second year student, I tell you this: it can be done, and done well.

Anyone who knows me closely knows that I'm a perfectionist. It can become a disease if not handled properly. This year I was constantly making sure I had everything down, worrying I might miss something. In the end, I did phenomenal this year. I surpassed the already high bar that I set for myself at the beginning of the year.

And it amazes me at how many students just try to get by. I understand this is simply training grounds, but deep down we are planting seeds as to how we will conduct ourselves as attorneys. I want to be the best. Not so that it leads to a better income, not for the recognition.

But because when I meet with a client, I want them to know that I'm the best. That I'm the most skilled person who can handle their legal needs. And I firmly believe that what I do now in my studies has a direct affect on who I'll be 5-40 years from now.

But, I step down from my soapbox....

My wife, Heather, has given me alot of grace this year. She's allowed me to study late at night while she took care of Violet. There were many Saturday mornings where I was with my study group while she was at home. She directly contributed to my success.

In the end, my formula for doing well in law school is anti-climactic. I don't take shortcuts. I slug it out. I don't back down. I don't let up off the gas. I simply...keep.... going.

I can't tell you how many demons I faced this year: financial, physical, mental, psychological. They became shouting, sometimes screaming, distractions. They were hard to ignore, I learned how to tune them out and hone in.

To any law student, I offer this advice:
Tune distractions out. Hone in on perfecting your craft as a law student. Read and brief EVRY case. Outline class material. It amazes me that some second year students still don't outline. Learn to write well-organized essays that address every possible legal issue. Find a good study group that challenges you. I can't tell you how much my study group has contributed to my success. Finally, think logically. Don't randomly answer a multistate question because your brain hurts. Think through it by process of elimination. That is all.

See you soon, third year