And now for our thrilling conclusion on the topic of maintaining a positive mindset in law school. 

• The Power of Mindset in Law School – Part 1

• The Power of Mindset in Law School – Part 2

• The Power of Mindset in Law School – Part 2

• The Power of Mindset in Law School – Part 3

• The Power of Mindset in Law School – Part 3

• The Power of Mindset in Law School – Part 3

• The Power of Mindset in Law School – Part 3

• The Power of Mindset in Law School – Part 4

• The Power of Mindset in Law School – Part 4

• Imposter Syndrome is real: Imposter syndrome is when you have doubts in your ability to do something and feel like you are not deserving of your accomplishments. This is a very real feeling that many, if not all, humans feel at some point in their lives. Law school (and even in your legal career after law school) is a place that you are particularly susceptible to these feelings. You will come to law school and be surrounded by very intelligent and hardworking people.¹Just like you! It is NOT unusual to feel like you do not deserve to be here and to discount all the hard work you put in to reaching this point in your life. I can tell you endless stories of when I felt like that in law school, in my 10 year career as a trial attorney, and even now. I sound like a broken record at this point, but part of being able to quiet this voice in your head that is telling you that “you don’t deserve to be here” is recognizing that you are not the only one to feel this way. Which brings me to my next point…

• You are never alone!: Out of all of the tips we’ve discussed in these posts, this may be the most important to remember. You’re in a new place, with new people, learning a new way to think. It can be extremely intimidating. Law school also has a way of feeling like high school again. You are all in the same classes, you see the same people, you have a locker, and people start to develop friend “cliques.” All of this can be a lot to take in, especially while you are also trying to understand your daily case readings and quell the feeling that you are in competition with your classmates who are all used to getting As in every class.  All of this, combined with that feeling of uncertainty we talked about in an earlier post and the feeling that you may not have what it takes to be a lawyer can leave you feeling pretty down before you make it out of your first week of law school. 

While law school is an amazing way to learn a new profession and gain a respectable education, it can be a very isolating experience. Not only do these feelings escalate as the stress and anxiety of your 1L year increases, but they can also have a negative impact on your studying which can snowball into days, weeks, even months of getting behind in your class work. But it is important to know that these feelings are 100% normal and expected in law school. It doesn’t make them suck less, but at least able it makes your ability to share these feelings easier. Despite what your classmates may tell you, they are feeling the same way too. They are feeling the same stress and uncertainty that you and every law student feels, so you are NOT alone. That also means that you do not have to continue to deal with this stress or these feelings alone either. It is important to know that there are resources within your law school that can help you with these concerns. A great place to start is your Academic Success Office or Dean of Students.

It is also important to note that the legal profession has a higher rate of depression, anxiety, and substance abuse than many other professions. You should never feel alone with these struggles either. Your law school will have resources to help with these issues as well. Again, start with your Dean of Students and any Student Life office that may exist at your law school (or undergraduate campus if your law school is part of one). Many schools even have therapists on campus that specifically work with law students. The most important first step is to reach out. 

• Law School is a “once in a lifetime” experience: Through all the frustration and the doubt while you are knee-deep in law school, please remember it is ultimately a fantastic experience that you will look back on fondly. It teaches you a new way to think that will help you in your career and everyday life. It allows you to build relationships that you will have forever. And it opens so many doors to you as an individual that will allow you to shape the legal system and the world around you for generations to come. Never lose sight of your future goals, these are the things that will help get you through the stresses of law school so you can get to that world changing I mentioned!

That has been quite the journey, but I hope that these last few posts have shown you the important of a positive mindset in law school. But just like law school, your mindset is a roller coaster. It will never be the most positive all the time. When it’s not, try to use some of these techniques to get your mindset back in a good place. You got this!