Mental health vs. college: How do you choose?
in Psychology & Therapy ·
It all boils down to your own philosophy regarding the law. Do you actually enjoy what you’re studying? Can you honestly picture yourself working in a high-rise firm or standing in a courtroom one day? It is vital that you get a realistic grasp of the environment—legal practice in America isn't quite like those polished dramas we see on TV, though I suspect you’ve already realized that. In the justice system, "justice" is often the last thing on anyone's mind. Forget the idealism; prepare yourself for a brutal, Machiavellian world that tramples anything in its path.
Another thought occurred to me while reading your post: seriously consider switching majors. I personally know people from the old school who got stuck in their fourth year of law school and haven't moved an inch since, even though they breezed through their first three years without a hitch. I have no idea how they teach Roman Law these days, but it used to be just a single textbook—something like a standard legal primer—that looked laughable compared to the absolute grind waiting for you in your junior and senior years. I am telling you this with the best intentions. Wasting a year or two of your education isn't the catastrophe here; it's the toll this takes on your mental health. The more sensitive types in law tend to crack under the pressure—they always have, and they always will. You're young... think about it.
Another thought occurred to me while reading your post: seriously consider switching majors. I personally know people from the old school who got stuck in their fourth year of law school and haven't moved an inch since, even though they breezed through their first three years without a hitch. I have no idea how they teach Roman Law these days, but it used to be just a single textbook—something like a standard legal primer—that looked laughable compared to the absolute grind waiting for you in your junior and senior years. I am telling you this with the best intentions. Wasting a year or two of your education isn't the catastrophe here; it's the toll this takes on your mental health. The more sensitive types in law tend to crack under the pressure—they always have, and they always will. You're young... think about it.