1. Jobs, Stupid
The universe is 14.5 billion years old (or 6000, if you believe in that sort of thing). Some think that during our meaningless lives on this pale blue dot we are giants, when we are really grains of grains of sand. We only have one shot at our short lives (or eternal ones, if you believe in that sort of thing), so many of us want to make it count. That might mean spearheading a career that will leave a fine legacy.
Maybe I’m wrong and people just want lawyer money, or proud parents. Or they think they’ll like being a lawyer, or people will like them for it. The better the firm, the happier you are?
Whatever. There are a plethora of reasons why law students are insanely obsessed with jobs. Tears. Ecstasy. Changing names on Facebook. Creating twitter accounts and posting some law things on it. LinkedIn. Hardcore brown-nosing. 17 extracurriculars. People talking into their phones really loudly about their job prospects in the Rowel Room. Leaving flawless transcripts up on lab computers for all to see. New haircut. Dissing Osgoode. Talking about firms. Firm tours. Love those goddamn firm tours. How many business cards do you have? Do you think doing the Journal of Saving Broke AIDS Orphans is good for getting into Blakes? Meh, they’re a bizlaw firm, maybe just go for the Law Review.
We talk about jobs a lot. Meh, not surprising. Moving on.
2. Religion
Consider three articles in the last two UV issues about TWU’s “Evangelical Law School”; a riveting chapter in Canadian Constitutional Law, 4th edition; R v Tutton and Tutton (where a woman claimed Jesus told her to take her diabetic son off insulin and he died); and The Queen v Dudley and Stephens (where two men ate another in a stranded boat, and one student in class said, “I think Jesus would do the same thing, in that position.”) As a fun social experiment, stick 600 type-A, politicized know-it-alls into a building and hit them with all those materials. That’s this law school.
Several religious students attest to feeling looked-down on here, and several agnostic/atheist students give substance to these complaints by looking down on them. The law school may seem like a “godless” place. Only a couple of professors practice religion at all. I’ve personally heard one professor call religion “ridiculous” and another say she was “not happy about it.” Don’t listen to them, theists. They’re a bunch of lefty conspirators.
3. Politics
Many law students are politically inclined. The sky is blue. Some students have worked for political parties in quite interesting positions. Personally, I have found the study of law to be frustrated by the political realities of the legislatures. They are driven by politics and power. They are partisan instead of productive. Lots of Ps.
So I have been surprised by the partisanship of some students. My favourite example was when a Conservative student, upon introducing himself, took the opportunity to vilify Liberals through a very long, drunken, and hilarious bout of yelling. That particular student has continued to denounce every mention of the Liberal party to date, and champion every Conservative move. #YOLO, dawg.
Several alumni have taken very prominent roles in the politics of Canada. I have no doubt many students in this school right now will do the same. Go Blues. Okay, next.
4. “I Hate Everyone in Law School”
At my small-group “party”, my delightful professor cheerily asked everyone, “So, what’s the thing that surprised you most about law school?” Awkward silence. Me, blurting, “The people!” A murmur of assent going around. “Yeah, they’re pretty crazy,” someone agreeing. From my experience, the crazier someone is, the crazier they think everyone else is.
I’ll be the first to admit that I wish law schools interviewed applicants. Some students are a bit odd. But that is not to say “I hate everyone.” In fact, I quite like the students here, even if I only know many as they exist within the frigid confines of BLH.
In a pressure-cooker environment such as any law school, some view the feats of their peers with jealousy and antagonism. “She did so well on December exams. I kind of hate her.” I’m not sure I follow that logic. By association, the alma mater is benefited by illustrious and impressive alumni, and that in turn boosts everyone at this school. So no, people who do well are not “assholes.” When they do well, we all do well. Let’s just ride on their fame.
