T-minus 7 days until our first exam. Torts. I have the requisite intent of making it my b&%ch. The question is whether that intent will be transferred to a C or lower. Ugh.
Actually, during breaks from outlining and when I’m not working, I’ve been thinking more about what I want to do with the law. Not so much: “work at a law firm” or “get up on the Hill” or “make my current job even cooler”. But rather: what area of the law am I really interested in?
I’ll tell you one thing, it’d be a lot easier to answer this question if I would just quit my job like some who shall remain nameless, but who, nonetheless should be waterboarded and then beaten with my torts casebook. But seeing as I have 50(ish) fewer hours per week than my unemployed colleagues to ponder the future (and, oh yeah, study), I’ve returned to a question that helps me get past gut feelings and hone in on the choices at hand: what am I good at?
So far, I’ve been good at Civil Procedure, writing, and oral arguments. I’ve been, and suspect I’ll continue to be, okay at Property and Contracts. I’ll likely be just okay with Torts. So… I can write. I can grasp procedural rules and apply them to hypos in an exam setting. And I can make a judge believe my client should win on appeal. Sounds like I should consider litigation. And for the first time, I’m not opposed to the idea.
I came to law school thinking that, if a career in law meant leaving my current job someday, that it would lead me to a federal agency, think tank, lobbying firm, or the Hill for policy and legislative work. Now… well, I’m at least a little interested in this litigation thing I keep hearing so much about.
So… how do you make the call? Any 2Ls, 3Ls, grads, lawyers out there have any advice? Or is it like most other things: go with what seems best given all the facts you have and trust that it’ll work out?
No related posts.
Damned if I know. I went to graduate school for something that a.) I truly liked, and b.) I was able to do really well. Now, I’m freaking miserable and wish that I could just change careers and become either a drunkard, a gambler, or a drunken gambler.
So, my advice to you would be this: find whatever area of the law requires you to do the most drinking and gambling, preferably at the same time.
That would be Securities law.
As a recent law school grad, here’s my reaction. I’d focus first on your answer to the question “what am i good at?” To me, a lawyer, and more specifically a litigator, is exercising the same analytical process and using the same tools regardless of the subject matter (civil procedure, property, torts, etc..). Essentially, you are always IRAC-ing…with the particular subject matter being the “R.”
So I would ask yourself, why is it that you had more success in civil procedure than torts? To me, that is the first issue…because your results shouldn’t vary based on the subject matter (at least not drastically)…
You are asking yourself a good question young Jedi. It is one that people around the globe ask themselves. I suppose the only way you find out what you are good at is by trying everything and seeing what sticks. You could be a talented monkey juggler, but you will not know until you try. Not that I’m condoning monkey juggling. You are on a quest my friend. Enjoy the jouney.
First of all, love the blog, love it. Second, as a soon to graduate 3L I don’t have any amazing advice, but here’s a shot: litigation is really fun, especially if you think playing games
Also, if you work at a firm that does more than one type of litigation, you’ll get exposed to things you’ve never even thought to think about. My path came after my 2L summer, I found some stuff I loved and then this year I’ve tried to take classes to expand my exposure to that area. For me, my heart beats for IP law, for you… you’ll find it!