Law Vibe

From Harvard Law Blog:

“I have now been at Harvard Law School for one semester. It’s funny, because I feel like most people came here with all these ideas of what it was going to be, and most have been knocked off their feet in one way or another by discovering what it actually is. I know I have. So what is this place, HLS?

“The most distinctive thing about it, I believe, is that it’s an incredible experience. Incredibly trying, incredibly moving, and incredibly rewarding. I work hard. Some days I feel completely lost and confused. Other days I’m amazed at how much I’ve already learned. It’s also challenging.

“In one of my classes, we held a lengthy discussion about a particular case, and then voted on what we would have done if we had been the judge in the case. After our vote, the professor told us which political party usually falls on which side of the fence. Murmurs went around the room as many people were surprised they had not voted in line with where they stand politically.

“Our professor then told us that it was good if we were surprised, because that’s what law school is all about. It’s about challenge. Challenging yourself to see the other side of the story, and not only to see it but to understand it in a way that allows you to see how they could be right.

“And it’s also really fun. There’s time for dinners, socials, parties, and making lots of new friends from lots of different backgrounds. One of the really great things about this school is the people.

“Rumors about the competition among students here run rampant. In my experience, they’ve also been completely wrong. I’ve never met a group of people more willing to help each other out, or more caring of each other’s well being. They seem to me in many ways to be the most open minded and non-judgmental people I’ve ever met.

“The faculty is amazing as well. I’m continually surprised at how much everyone cares about you. Professors, advisers, and staff all go out of their way day after day to find out if you’re alright and if there is anything they can help you with.

“For me, this past semester has been a period of dynamic growth and change. It has tried me, it has surprised me, and it has inspired me. It has inspired me to believe in the phenomenal humanity of an amazing group of people. It has inspired me to grow, to think, and to analyze, but also to feel. To hold on to the passion that brought me here and use it to augment the skills that I’m learning every day. I love it. ”