The Light at the End of the Tunnel
I finished my first year of law school last week and I feel like I should have something to say about that. You know, something to sum up what it means, exactly, to spend nine months learning the law. Something profound, maybe, or at least thoughtful.
My eyesight is worse. There is that.
I swore that I was not going to drink anything after my last test on Thursday, but when I went downtown for lunch with some friends, the restaurant had a bottle of wine on special for $10. Somehow, Michelle and I were the only ones who partook of that bottle, polishing it off at 2 in the afternoon. Before I knew it, we were dancing to an 80s cover band in a backyard. It was hot and there was a tub of sangria. The cops shut down the band just after a solid performance of Billy Idol's Dancing with Myself.
Law school is a pretty good time, I guess.
There were some stressful days in there, for sure, some days when I was the teensiest bit afraid that the proctor would place an exam in front of me and I would have no idea what the question was asking, no idea what to type about for two long hours. Thankfully, this did not happen. The words on the exams--exams which account for 100 percent of our final grades--all made sense. Somehow, I knew the rule against perpetuities and preemption and some of the rules of civil procedure, at least the ones that matter.
I don't really have anything profound to say about law school. You read some stuff, memorize some stuff, put some stuff on paper, have a glass of wine, and hope for the best. It was hard, yes. It was a boatload of crap to learn, yes. But it wasn't that bad. I mean, I didn't die. I didn't even lose much sleep.
And, in the end, there was cheap wine and a tub of sangria and five law students playing Billie Jean in the summer sun. Not a bad time at all.
Congratulations on making it through the first year!
Just wrapped up my first semester of my MBA program and it was freaking HARD!
Posted by: Pamela | May 20, 2008 at 07:23 PM
It's awesome that you completed your first year ( only a couple more and you can be a kick ass lawyer!). November 2009, I start my first year at chiropractic college and I'm looking forward to bettering my self and knowing that I'll have a good career when I am finished but I am not looking forward to the loans I will have to pay back or the massive amount of things I will need to know. Sometimes to get what you want, you have to go through hell, but in the end you know it's going to be worth it.
Posted by: Shawna | May 20, 2008 at 07:54 PM
Brava!
Posted by: Alison | May 20, 2008 at 07:54 PM
Congratulations, Janet!!
Posted by: Nicole | May 21, 2008 at 07:29 AM
YAY! Congratulations!
Posted by: Janssen | May 21, 2008 at 07:40 AM
Sun, cheap wine and 80's covers? You could do much, much worse.
Posted by: Chris Cactus | May 21, 2008 at 09:03 AM
[Whoooooossshhhhhh]
That's my impression of you, letting out a big sigh of relief.
I'm so proud of you, girlfriend! I hope you have a wonderful, relaxing summer. :)
Posted by: Zandria | May 21, 2008 at 05:36 PM
Congrats on making it through your 1L-- what an accomplishment!
Also, thank you for giving me hope for my 1L next year ... good to know it's survivable : )
Posted by: Leanne | May 21, 2008 at 05:46 PM
I think you should bring the celebration back to the AV. Sangria and 80s music. F-u-n!
Posted by: sara | May 21, 2008 at 08:14 PM
Haha! Congratulations on your first year over! 2L is easier, but not cake. My now 3L is looking forward to the end soon. His class went from 120 to 74 at the end of 2L how about yours? Enjoy your summer!
Posted by: chronicler | May 21, 2008 at 08:27 PM
Huzzah!
Great news that you made it through 1L unscathed and positive as ever.
Enjoy your break; you deserve it!
Posted by: Debra Sue | May 22, 2008 at 04:41 AM
Yay! Now you have a delicious summer to look forward to, can't wait to live vicariously through your warm weather, mojitos and ice cream blogs while I struggle through a cold and uninspiring winter! ;)
Posted by: Sheena | May 23, 2008 at 07:58 AM
CONGRATULATIONS!!! The next two weeks are much less stressful. Actually, next year may be a little more work, but not because of school work, but because of extracurriculars and job searches and such. Then third year, plan your vacations now.
As for me, bar review is horrible. Can't wait until Cancun (which is AFTER the bar).
Posted by: LPW | May 27, 2008 at 06:19 PM
Hey there!
Came across your blog and when I read this post I couldn't help but smirk!
I just finished up my first year and a half of Law school and can relate!
Although I must admit that I shuttered and felt somewhat sick to my stomach when I read "civil procedure" but yet feel somewhat proud of myself that I actually know what it is!
Congrats! 1 year down! :)
Posted by: jenny | May 30, 2008 at 09:43 AM