Some of you may wonder how do I come up with the topics I write about? I am pleased to share with you, my reader, that each and every word laid down on paper passed through me and I really hope that I can share pieces of my life experiences with you. If you are dreaming about going to Law School then I hope some of my own insight will be of help to you, and if you've been out of Law School for a while, then you will enjoy remembering some of your own experiences.
Aside from Medical School, Law School has always had a reputation of its own. First it sounded cool, then it looked very good on paper, and not to mention all of the other perks that come with it. I have to say that I myself love watching movies with and about lawyers and when you do that it really feels like "the dream job" and it can be if you will really want that.
Law School in Europe and the United States is so much different. At least this was my experience. If you would have asked me about those differences a few years ago, I would have given you a different answer, but today my answer will have the footprint of my experience. Law School as a major and institution is pretty much the same in every country, I suppose. At least, I haven't noticed much difference between the East and the West. However, a few things really made a difference in how things were done and I am about to share that with you.
Law School in Moldova felt more like a community. I remember us studying together in the library, yes we were focused on good grades, but at the same time we were caring about us as a group, something in between the lines of "if I lose, everyone loses". Well, when I look back I can see why that was happening. We didn't expect having a six-figure salary lined up after graduation, being graded based on a curve and many other things that teach you how to always be in a Win/Lose or Lose/Win position rather than Win/Win. There was no shortage of grades and if you did well you could rest assured that you would get the maximum grade. I remember attending some of the Law School competitions and they were a great opportunity for students of the first year to make a name for themselves. Those competitions allowed you to connect with seniors and professors, very inclusive rather than exclusive.
Law School in New York, at least for me, was very different. Maybe because I had a full time job and had to run between the office and class all the time. Yes, we did have networking events organized, and everyone was encouraged to attend. Maybe more than we could make room for on our already super crowded schedule. Thus, Law School will be different for you too as well; depending on the stage you are in life.
For Law School to stay competitive today, they need to transform and adapt themselves to the New Age. Artificial Intelligence has changed, among others: the hiring process, today, the machine screens your profile way before you get to meet, if you will, a human; it also changed how law is being practiced, the salaries, growth potential and even the level of fulfillment. Today, 57% of lawyers claim that they are not happy with their job, many choose to stay unfulfilled while others join other professions and call themselves "recovering lawyers".
Law School will stay competitive as long as they will focus on the quality rather than quantity. Focus on building character and strong principles, rather than a Win/Lose environment. If they will integrate subjects maters that are authentic and adapted to the current life and events; that will train, hire and retain professors that are not only focused on being a channel for information, because there is more than enough out there, but rather educators. Law School will stay competitive as long as they will establish a Win/Win environment. A Law School cannot win today, tomorrow or never if its students lose every single day thinking about a life they worked so hard for and now wanting to give it back. Can you call yourself a fulfilled and happy lawyer?