It was law school orientation, and I was dreading the countless speeches that do very little to “orient” one to law school. But I expected it. What I was not expecting was one of the law school Deans to give one of the worst bits of advice I received since my brother advised me to eat the lemon-flavored snow: “Break up with your significant other!” I sat back in stunned disbelief. I was shamelessly single at the time, so I was not in a position to break any hearts, but the implication of the message was clear: give up your life for law school.

What a load of Gobitis (a case widely recognized as wrongly decided). Law school is not a break from life — it is life. You need to get a life during law school. It’s pretty miserable without one. Classes are important (minimally so), but in order to lower stress and prepare for exams better, you need down time. And sitting in your apartment alone is not down time. 

Law school offers a lot of actual experiences. Our musical comedy troupe the Law Revue performs an annual play for which any student can audition. At Lawlloween, our annual Halloween party, we see which of our classmates cannot handle three shot martinis. And at Barristers Ball, we get to dress up fancy and attend our law school gala. And at the Equal Justice Foundations’ Public Interest Auction, we get to spend three thousand dollars bidding on a crab feast with a Living Legal Legend™. That’s what life is about, not the Buffalo Creek Disaster. 

You are now an adult, renting an apartment, and paying bills. Law school is not a magical place where time ceases. You still have to pay your taxes. At orientation, they told us to treat law school like a job. Well, if it’s a job, we need work-life balance. 

Take the weekends off. Skip class to go to a Zara Larsson concert. Drink too much and tell your Dean’s Fellow you love them (they’re trained to deal with that). And yes, hang out with your significant other. Or get one. Or three (rent is expensive in D.C.). 

I don’t remember what was said in every class. In fact, I’ve spaced out through a few and learned it all during the exam period (looking at you Leg-Reg). But I do remember going to the Portrait Gallery during orientation, sitting down with a random group of people, pretending to care about Star Wars, and becoming bonded for life. I remember sitting in the soft lounge in the same seat every day until Professor Schwartz accused me of adversely possessing it. I remember being hungover from Bar Review during every Friday class my 1L year. These are the experiences that leave a mark on you, not your CIA. For this is the stuff of life, which you are now living. Don’t let a bunch of school lovers tell you otherwise.