This post is likely best applicable to 1Ls who did not score as well as they wanted on their first semester final exams and in turn are doubting their abilities. However, I think lawyers at all stages need to be reminded that your accomplishments and other peoples’ opinions of them do not define you. The path to becoming a lawyer from start to finish can feel like a conveyor belt of anxiety without an off ramp. There are some inevitable stressors associated with being a lawyer, but these events do not need to overshadow your sense of self that existed prior to your entrance into the legal world. You are the same intelligent and driven person that you were before you received disappointing feedback. Such feedback is just a momentary upset, it is not life or career ruining.
As I mentioned earlier, some of the stress associated with becoming a lawyer, like the LSAT or bar exam, is unavoidable. A lot of the intensity associated with these events can be turned down by maintaining perspective, though. This is something I really struggled with, especially coming straight from college to law school. I got average grades my first semester of law school. I was not used to what I saw as mediocrity and my whole world felt like it was crumbling. I allowed myself a few days to lick my wounds and then directed my energy to working smarter. You can do this too. However, more importantly, even if you can’t, that is okay. You will still be a successful and happy lawyer.
I will use BigLaw as a hypothetical goal because that was the obsession at my law school, but this example can translate to other fields of the law as well. Let’s say you struck out at on campus interviews. Have a good cry and then dust yourself off. You can try again for 3L OCI after your 2L. From what I have seen, many large firms have contracted their summer class size and are taking on more 3L hires due to COVID uncertainties. If that still does not work out, you can apply for an in-house position at an investment bank or in the legal department of one of the large accounting firms and jump from there after a year or two. It is also possible that you love where you end up and decide that the long hours and stress associated with large firm life are not for you. I also want to remind you that most of your classmates boasting about their big firm jobs will not even be there in three years; most leave after three to five. After that, those associates explore fantastic opportunities in-house, at smaller firms or for the government. There is so much more out there than you think. It is crucial that you do not let your sense of self become intertwined with outside forces such as grades or job offers. Make sure you have hobbies and friends outside of work/school. This will lessen the blow if you receive negative feedback in one area; the others will remain flourishing and intact. Remember, you have plenty of time to figure out what you want your career (and life) to look like. This is all coming from someone who worried about these things just as much as you are, probably more.
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