Don't Panic 2Ls

As an incoming 3L I am actually looking forward to the school year. Unlike 1L year I know exactly what to expect and how hard I need to work to do well. Also, unlike 2L year I am not going to be busting my ass to interview with every firm participating in OCIP. Although OCIP wasn't the worst thing in the world, it sure as hell wasn't fun either. I was completely unprepared for how demoralizing it can feel to be constantly judged.

Grades? CLR? Job experience? If you are lacking in all or one of these areas you may worry about whether you will measure up. Don't. You may worry about whether you have successfully distilled how wonderful you are into your one page resume and 20 minute audition. Don't.

Don't get me wrong. I know exactly what its like to feel like the angel of death had come for a visit when I spied Amjur queen on my interviewing schedule. Likewise, it was no help that I had to languish outside in the hall while the person ahead of me was successful in coaxing fits of laughter out of the interviewer either. Still, I survived and so will you. Although rejection is an inevitable part of the process take heart 2Ls. You won't believe me right now, but you will see that *almost* all of you will get a job. Yes, even if you got all Ps and don't have much work experience, you will get a job. It might not be a job at your 1st choice, but you will get something. That said, if you have zero personality or give people the heebeegeebees all bets are off. Try to interview over the phone.

The Salt Mine

Although some people say that being a summer associate at a big law firm is the best job in America because you get paid to do nothing, I have actually been working. I have no idea if my experience is typical, but needless to say it was unexpected. It makes me curious. Did I just pick incorrectly, or are there other summer associates working long hours? In a strange way I am almost glad I have gotten a window into what my life will be like at a big firm. Let me just say, it isn't pretty. The worst is when you are stuck at your desk at some ungodly hour with the empty takeout box in the trash can and the computer screen staring back at you. You wish you were out with your friends for a drink or just at home relaxing. You wish you were anywhere but sitting in that chair mindlessly clicking through Westlaw, scouring the four corners of the universe for some random project that probably won't mean much in the scheme of things. I can definitely see why some lawyers hate their life.