Is Law School Really Hard?

The most frequently asked question law students get from their friends as well as from undergrads who are aspiring to enter hell (a.k.a. law school) is whether it is really as hard as they heard it was. Some would answer that question in the affirmative. Others would just roll their eyes because they’re too tired to say anything. Perhaps others would die inside. Some (those with superhuman abilities) would say it’s really nothing to fuss over.

But is it really hard? If so, what makes it hard? Do you need a super high IQ to make to graduation without going insane and giving up your social life?

I’ve had the opportunity to start law school twice. My first take was in a small state university in our province. There were around 60 freshmen enrolled. We were cramped in our classroom, trying to make do of whatever space was available. The professor came in, and when he introduced himself, I was on the edge of my seat. We all knew him. We’ve heard the stories. He is one of the most well-respected judges in the province and definitely the most terrifying teacher in the JRMSU College of Law. The next day, I was a little worried that there wouldn’t be any chairs left. However, I was surprised when I heard that a lot of my classmates had already withdrawn from the course. A week went by, and more students dropped out. By the time the first semester was over, there were only around 10 left standing.

It is not uncommon for law students to drop out on the first week of classes. Some would even have to be forced out of the program for not making the cut. With this said, it seems that law school is really difficult—and indeed, it is. However, instead of being discouraging, my aim for this article is to encourage the aspiring law students to pursue with this degree. Because however hard law school may be, if you do your best and survive, it will all be worth it.

In his book The Study of Law: How to Conquer Law School, Jim Lopez has a great advice on how to change fright to might. He says that the best way to do it is to be prepared for what’s ahead. Fear usually comes from not knowing what to expect. A student who goes into law school fully prepared for the Socratic Method, who already knows how to digest cases, and who has read even the first few provisions in the codals would be much more confident in facing the dragons than that who comes to law school blissfully unaware of the perils ahead. Here’s the thing about the legal education: Intelligence is less important compared to stamina and determination. Some of the brightest students have dropped out while those who are not that brilliant continue to move forward because of their perseverance.

Here are some of the things that contribute to a law student’s anxiety: (1) work, (2) the Socratic Method, (3) the amount of reading materials, and (4) “terror” professors. The first one requires time and energy management to be overcome; the second through practice. The third is conquered through time management and learning how to speed-read. Finally, the last one ceases to become a problem once you realize that your professors are purposefully making themselves more scary and strict to motivate you to study. You just have to realize that it’s nothing personal if they embarrass you in front of the class. Law school is a training ground. If you squirm at the smallest insult, you won’t be able to handle what’s ahead after the bar.

There are two things you need to accept before entering law school. First, no one is going to hold your hand. Second, you have to study every day.

The first point is important to accept especially if you’re a fresh graduate who has no job experience. In college, you may have had your support group who have the time and patience to guide you. Law school is different. It’s a professional school, and it isn’t a requirement for you to get a job. It’s optional. Most of your friends are busy with their jobs and perhaps most won’t understand just how difficult your ordeal is. Once you graduate from college, you can work or have a family or travel. Instead, you chose to enroll despite the many warnings from friends about how difficult it can be. A lot of students drop out not because it is hard but because they’re taking in too much at the same time. Some are not used to the amount of reading materials assigned. Some would tremble during recitation. Others realize they don’t have enough time and energy to juggle both work and school. The reasons are endless, but the motivation is only one. It’s hard to fight for something you have a million reasons to give up and only a single reason to fight for. This is possible only when you love what you do.

Love conquers all. Yes, even law school. If you love it enough, you’ll see it through till the end. No amount of piercing stares from that terror professor or any amount of reading assignments can stop you from pushing through. It’s a game not only of mental toughness but emotional intelligence as well. You can memorize the provisions all you want and still break down during recitations if you’re emotionally unprepared.

That being said, here are some practical tips that can help you prepare for the first week.

1. Read at least the first 20 provisions of the Revised Penal Code, Civil Code, and the 1987 Constitution.

2. Ask the students of your future law school about the books the professors prefer. Even if you’re not sure which prof you’re going to end up with, it’s helpful to read at least the first 3 chapters of the books to help you understand the codal provisions.

3. Practice speaking aloud. This will be beneficial during recitations.

4. Find the landmark cases for Criminal Law, Political Law, and Persons and Family Relations and read those. At least 10 for each will be enough, just so you could get acquainted with how court decisions are written. Even if there are a lot of terms you don’t understand, don’t be discouraged. All law students go through that phase. It’s better if you tackle them before classes start.

Here are a few to start you off:

People v. Perfecto GR No. L-18463 (October 4, 1922)

Lambino v. COMELEC GR No. 174153 (October 5, 2006)

Gonzales v. COMELEC GR No. L-28196 (November 9, 1967)

Tanada v. Tuvera GR No. 63915 (December 29, 1986)

People v. Que Po Lay GR No. L-6971 (March 29, 1954)

DBP v. CA GR No. 97998 (January 27, 1992)

5. Devise a system that could potentially work for your schedule. Plan your days and weeks ahead. Even if it doesn’t end up working for you, at least you didn’t go in blindly, just feeling your way around and ending up exhausted.

6. Let go. I said earlier that nobody’s gonna hold your hand, but that’s not without an exception. Even if your friends and family are too busy to be there for you, you’ll always have God to guide you. And remember that you’re just doing this for His glory and He’s never going to abandon you. When you have a king by your side, what can go wrong, right?

Good luck on your journey.