Dispelling the Myth that Law School is About Pure Competition

When you think of law school, what comes to your mind? For many the scene they imagine is one of bitter competition and people trying to sabotage each other to get to the top. While that may be reality for some, it isn’t for most, at least it shouldn’t be. Instead, law school should be a place where people help each other to succeed and where students help each other to manage and cope with the stress of law school just as they should do for each other when they are in practice.

Competition does and should still exist in law school, but this should be healthy competition and not a gladiator style battle to eviscerate the competition at all costs. Competition is inherently good and helps to drive us to better ourselves, but this competition should not be so high stakes that the competitors feel that if they aren't at the top then they will be an utter failure and will therefore do whatever it takes to succeed even if it involves tearing others down. Instead, we should help build others up in the preparation for the competition. This can be done by helping others to study, by forming study groups, by sharing outlines, by providing information about classes and exams you have already taken, and in many other ways.

One example of what shouldn't be done is what a 3L at my school told a 1L. That particular 3L told a 1L that someone had to fail each class, a blatant lie that caused great stress and misery as that 1L was in fear of flunking out of law school after working very hard to get here. This is just wrong. What upper level students should be doing is encouraging 1Ls that they can be successful and providing them with the tools they need to do that. The outgoing students should aid the incoming ones, they should not be terrifying them, especially not by spreading misinformation. After all, the practice of law is not segregated by year in the manner that law school is. By saying what they said, the 3L harmed and isolated a future colleague. This is not how we want law students and lawyers to behave towards each other. It is also not how my friends and I engaged with 1Ls and 2Ls (as well as those who are planning on entering law school in the future), instead we passed along helpful information and offer support. After all, if it weren't for the help former 3Ls provided to me when I was a 1L and a 2L, I would not be where I am now. I owe it to my colleagues to pay it forward by giving to 1Ls and 2Ls what was given to me.

Outside of academics, law students should also help and support each other through friendships and social groups. This is necessary to maintain a proper school-life balance, which will hopefully help you strike a good work-life balance when you begin practicing, because this is necessary to success. If your mental health and stress levels are not properly maintained and managed, you will be unable to be successful.

In order to maintain your mental health, you need to make sure you keep on top of your studies and other activities, but you also need to make time for yourself and your health (such as by working out or reading a novel) as well as for your friends. Your friend circle will certainly grow in law school, a place which is most certainly filled with people who share your interests and goals, some of whom will most certainly become lifelong friends and all of whom will be colleagues that you may run into in practice. You can both help grow these friendships and maintain your mental health by setting aside time every week for group activities.

During law school, my friend group did lunch twice a week at the dining hall near the law school, trivia every week at a local bar, and a game night every week (well we tried our best to, but often life got in the way!). This gave us time to catch up, to unwind, to relax, and to strengthen our friendships. It also allowed us to provide each other support, both in our personal and academic endeavors. We also tried and take advantage of the mixers and activities organized by the law school as they are fun and beneficial.

In conclusion, law school is about competition and that is not inherently a bad thing. However, it is possible to compete in a healthy way where we still support and aid each other. This is what we should be doing, after all in practice lawyers help and aid each other, so we should practice doing just that during our preparation to join the profession!