Finding the appropriate balance is crucial for success in all areas of life, law school included. Now that the process of getting into law school is complete having taken the LSAT and been accepted, we must find the appropriate balance between school and life.

When striking this balance try to remember the following:

• Law school is a marathon, not a sprint
• Friends and family will be there after law school - don’t forget about them
• The world continues to spin, even when we are in law school
• Focus on the goal and not on the speed-bumps that may be encountered along the way

Endurance Is The Key

Law school is a marathon, not a sprint. For most, law school is a three-year process during which time the mind is trained to “think like a lawyer.” During this time the workload will likely be harder than expected, at least at the outset and it is important to set a reasonable pace and achievable goals to prevent burn out.

There are numerous outlets that law schools offer to engage the students and in some cases even further develop lawyering skills. For example, moot court and law review are two ways to become involved in extra-curricular activities while honing writing and speaking skills.

I went to law school in a part-time program at night and was working during the day so my time was too limited to participate in many of these activities and I do not feel that my law school experience was slighted as a result. I felt that it was preferable to do two or three things well rather than five or six things poorly.

Family Matters

Performance in law school is indeed important and how well you do in law school can impact employment well after graduation. That said we all need to be sure we keep our priorities straight and not lose sight of what is truly important. Family and friends are a constant throughout life and law school as well.

Family, and for those students who may be married, spouses in particular, are a natural support system for the stresses that law school imposes. It is true that most friends and family members, unless they are lawyers themselves, cannot understand how difficult law school can be. However, they are able to provide support and a “cheering section” if needed.

A supporting cast of family and friends can make the difference during the legal education and we as law students would do well not to forget just how important those relationships can be. For married students, law school means not spending as much time with your spouse and spousal support and acceptance of this fact is critical to success in law school and in maintaining a healthy relationship. Married students may want to sit down with their spouse prior to beginning law school and discuss this issue in order to avoid conflict later.

It’s a Wide, Wide World

We do not go to law school in a vacuum and the student should take some time to keep track of what is going on outside the halls of the law school (besides which bar has the best happy hour). It is likely that the average law student has a heightened level of awareness but as we move through our studies in law school its surprising just how much the law influences society and vice versa.
So read newspapers, magazines and stay current on what is happening because that will be the world that we enter in three years to begin our practice, and that world is shaped, for better or for worse, by the laws of land. For example, how different would T.V. police shows be if the arresting officers did not have to read the suspect their Miranda warnings?

Remember The Plan

This was my mantra during my three and a half year law school career; remember the plan (R.T.P.). The plan was to graduate and find employment and I had to focus on that goal and not the ‘C’ I received in my first semester of Civil Procedure. The goal is what matters and focusing on that will make the little things seem less burdensome.

Remember, we go to law school to obtain a law degree, not for any other reason. Certainly there are other benefits to the experience but ultimately it is to obtain a J.D. and become a lawyer.

Finding balance between law school and life is a necessary exercise in order to be successful at both. By apportioning the workload, staying connected, staying informed and remembering the plan, we may be able to find the balance that is so critical to success and happiness.