I’ve always been entirely incapable of following through with activities, and even commitments, that I don’t enjoy and don’t feel intrinsically compelled to complete. In college I quit a job after being trained because I just couldn’t bring myself to work there despite feeling guilty about being paid for training hours. I struggled with On Campus Interviewing because I didn’t even want to hear about corporate jobs let alone explain why I was “interested.” But it seemed like how I should have been using my econ degree!
Naturally, I’ve been worried about how my lack of a masochism bone will affect the credentials I end up with at law school graduation. Many things in law school sound amazing to me – clinics, internships, research assistantships, seminar classes with amazing professors. It’s the traditional law school “shoulds” however, that I’ve been dreading: Journal and Working for a Firm.
Can I bring myself to do it? Is it necessary?
While I haven’t felt any better about whether to join a journal, working for a firm after my second year has recently made some headway towards sounding like a good idea.
Last week I attended a panel of students who discussed traditional law school routes (being a summer associate at a law firm, being on a journal, etc.) in relation to their commitment to public interest. A number of these students had worked for a firm after their second year in order to make some money. One student, however, had a different reason for working for a firm – a reason that I totally buy.
This student explained that he was completely committed to public interest and wanted pursue his entire career in that field. He decided to work for a firm after his second year in order to learn about how litigation happens when money is no object. He explained that if you know the top ten things an excellent lawyer would do if he or she had any and every resource you will be able to better prioritize your strategies when you have limited resources in a public interest job. Essentially, you should know what REALLY kicking butt looks like before you try to kick butt on a budget.
This statement was exactly what I needed. Intellectual Street Cred 101: get as close as possible to excellence. I’m there. Sign me up.
Wait a second. Will I actually get that experience by working for a firm for a summer? Chances are that it takes more than a summer to figure out what really awesome litigation looks like in full. But hey, it’s a start and worth a try – and a good enough reason to get me to a pay check.
Now I just need a compelling reason to do journal. Anyone?
The question is whether a journal will help with a career in public interest. If you believe firmly enough that it will then it won’t feel so masochistic.
I think it’s an asset that you don’t kill yourself without reason. Do what you want–you’re going to have a great career regardless of these tiny decisions. Sure, it may feel big now…but 5 years from now you won’t be complaining about the time you didn’t spend on a journal that you spent traveling or living your life more fully.
You’re right about never complaining about living life more fully. There is never a reason to complain when you don’t settle for less than intrinsic interest. That’s why if there are reasons I would be interested I want to know what they are. No regrets takes research.
I seem to remember that when Justice Roberts was going through his confirmation hearings there was talk about his involvement in the law review as evidence of his credentials as a Supreme Court Justice. Employers that look for exceptional people often look for people who do something outside of what is required of them (by their job, by law school, you name it). While this could easily be Law Review, it doesn’t have to be. If your goal is to pursue a track in public service then you might want to spend some time in public service. There are plenty of options for that around DC to choose from. What is more important that someone else’s take on gaming the system is what your gut tells you — don’t hesitate to follow what you believe is the right choice.
The sad thing is that like everything else in law school, the answer to these questions is “it depends.” If you end up working as a PD defending a client on armed robbery charges, do you really think the judge will care that you got an journal article published during your 2L year? On the other hand, if you want to do federal appeals work in Environmental Law, such credentials will probably be helpful.
Unless you have some sort of clear, definitive vision of what you want to do after law school, there’s no good answer for these questions. Working for a firm/doing law review will open some doors and close others. Welcome to the cluelessness and indecision that is a legal career.
What is journal? Is that like writing an article for a journal?
Hey Laura! A journal is published periodically with articles written by professors. Students who are “on journal” check citations and write students notes, which are like mini articles, that may or may not be published depending on the journal’s policy. Usually there is a main journal at a law school that is very prestigious called Law Review that publishes articles generally, and then a bunch of subject matter journals, like “Gender and the Law” or “Legal Ethics” that publish more specifically.
Thanks for asking for a clarification! It is kind of different than it sounds.
Thanks Bob and Rob for your comments as well. Other perspectives are so helpful.
Reason #742 to do a Journal: because the Blue Book won’t teach itself.
Reason #981 to do a Journal: because blogging will improve your writing only so much.
Reason #23 to do a Journal: networking, networking, and more networking.
But really, #1 Reason to do a Journal: so you don’t have to explain why you didn’t.
Thanks for the response Li! I do find some intrinsic value in networking, and definitely in improving my writing. I just know that there are also other ways to achieve those things. As for blue booking – while useful, doesn’t intrinsically excite me. And having to explain myself to other people seems like an ok trade for the time I can be spending at an externship or as a research assistant.
Thank you so much for laying these arguments out – it’s helped me to think through them! Conclusions are forming…
While those conclusions form, I think all the legal writing might just kill your writing as much as help it. Blogging can be more challenging and impactful…so while it may sharpen a different edge, you’ll still have a powerful weapon.