Questions About What Kind of Lawyer You’re Going to Be
Dear 1L, You really need to brace yourself for this Thanksgiving break.
Aunt Minnie is surely going to ask you,
“What kind of lawyer are you going to be?”
And Uncle Ted is sure to prod,
“Where do you plan to work after law school?”
He may even say something like, “I bet you’re going to be at the top of your class; you were always so smart.”
(—as if the pressure you’re under could get any worse right now.)
👉 How will you answer any of these questions?
Perhaps prepare a little schpiel in advance, so you don’t get rattled.
My main message is this:
It is COMPLETELY NORMAL not to have a clue what kind of lawyer you’re going to be or where you are going to work. And just block all family expectations out.
This is YOUR journey, not theirs.
Fondly,
💌 Amanda
P.S. If YOU plan to see any law students this weekend, please do NOT ask them any of those annoying questions about their future.
🔹 For 1Ls, they likely have absolutely no idea.
Your questions will surely cause great stress. They will remind 1Ls that they actually need to be applying for summer jobs now, or soon (traditionally, most jobs have application deadlines sometime in January). 1Ls cannot take any unnecessary stress right now. They have exams right after the holiday. Please do not add to their stress.
🔹 For 2Ls, many will also have no idea.
They may know what they’d like to do in an ideal world, but law students often have less power over choosing their initial jobs than one might think. The stakes are even higher for 2Ls, too, because they are farther along, which will increase the stress your questions cause.
🔹 For 3Ls, if they don’t have a job lined up yet, these questions will mean MAXIMUM stress.
You wouldn’t ask a jobless person these questions. Please don’t risk it with a law student. (But if you are in a position to help get them a job, PLEASE OFFER to help!)
***
P.P.S. The word on the street is that it’s a BRUTAL world out there right now for all entry-level job seekers. Let’s all be extra sensitive to that.
🗳️ What are some GOOD questions to ask a law student this Thanksgiving break?