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If you are applying to law school because you want to work for social justice, think carefully about what kind of community different schools offer for you & others who share your passions (students, profs, admins, alumni).
I wish I had weighed that more in making my decision -
I wish I had weighed that more in making my decision -
I had a very rude awakening 1L, seeing just how much law is fundamentally opposed to my idea of what justice should look like. I suspect this is a near universal experience for law students passionate about social justice -
Being at a place where it’s easier to find like-minded people while you are going through this extremely alienating experience makes a huge difference in how you are able to weather that (your mental & emotional health, as well as your grades) -
It also can make a huge difference in how you view what is possible in a legal career, what avenues you pursue, whether you get satisfaction out of your time in school or are just frustrated/demoralized. It is crucial for you to be able to visualize doing work that moves you -
Especially since the legal profession is set up to make those avenues scarce. The difficulty of this is compounded by the self-doubt & process of figuring out what kind of work is a good fit (in many different ways) for your interests, temperament, goals -
(This is one reason I’m a big proponent of taking plenty of time off between college & law school, though that is dependent on circumstances. It gives you more time to know yourself, & trust that knowledge as you make tough decisions on your path through & after law school) -
Think about choosing a place where all of this is easier for you, not harder: lots of courses, professors, & students who will help you learn, not just about what you want to re: the law, but also about yourself & how you want to practice -
Choosing a law school is hard! I think it’s correct (unfortunately) to consider debt foremost. But I worry that not enough people think of the above when they apply & choose (I didn’t). Talk to lots of ppl & really listen to what they say about their experience at X school. -
So natural to be nervous about reaching out to people you don’t know to ask about a school or job or interest you have. My biggest advice for current or prospective students: if you are genuinely interested do your research & challenge yourself to face that fear & do it anyway -
As for @pennlaw, I think I made the best of what it had to offer, but was objectively a bad fit: embarrassingly few social justice courses, very small public interest community - neither were a priority of the admin & it shows (esp given resources it has) -
I did receive some wonderful mentorship there from profs, admin & alumni that I am truly grateful for, & v happy with where I am now after grad. Made some lifelong friends, learned a lot & LOVE Philly. But I suspect I would have had a better experience at other schools -
Spent much energy questioning my place there, battling admin, seeking out what I was looking for. For example, to take a course on Critical Race Theory (none at law school), I had to research grad classes in other departments, talk my way into the class, & apply for law credit-
I ultimately didn’t event take it! Got into our one crim defense clinic & it conflicted with the CRT class. I didn’t know what CRT was when applying to schools, but it’s no secret that Penn’s PI offerings are weak. Just an example! [end]
