Marita Zouravlioff (3L)
President Obama famously suggested last year that law school should be two years, not three. He offered this as but one simple tactic to relieve mounting student debt. It doesn’t sound like such a bad idea at first – 33% off your law degree? Hello, bargain!
But is this bargain worth the price? Now, as a bleeding heart liberal, I’m going to say something that’s going to hurt me, both intellectually and emotionally. But it must be said. Mr. President, I think you’re wrong*. We simply need three years of law school. Let me explain to you why.
Firstly, finding a job stinks. It’s easily the worst part of law school. Going through OCIs is an abhorrent process. But eliminating 3L would likely crush large scale recruitment into first year, which would be even more dreadful. Searching for a job and knowing that you are competing with your classmates is awkward and unpleasant as it is. But now imagine you have just met these people.
A solid support system of friends is clutch during a job search, Mr. President! You can test your interviewing skills. You can commiserate throughout. And you’ll have comrades at the end of it, whether they be helping you celebrate or cursing those deceitful in-firm bastards with you. The same goes for upper years. A 3L’s insights and pointers can’t be harvested when 3Ls are fabled creatures of the past.
And talk about getting off on the wrong foot. There will invariably be some bitterness and disappointment during the job search game. This is not the way to start your beautiful law school friendships off. Save the rivalry for 2L when you’ve already got some mutual love and respect to stand on.
Secondly, I think we can all agree 1L is stressful enough. There’s an enormous learning curve that cannot be circumvented. If the frenetic push to find a job was added to the first year grind, it would be catastrophic. I’ve broken into a sweat just typing about it. Who has that kind of fortitude? Like, maybe the President. But we can’t all be like you, Obama! Some of us are weak!
Thirdly, 3L also gives us all an opportunity to rid ourselves of those obnoxious wanderlust enthusiasts for a semester of educational bliss. Exchange programs are such a necessary and delightful reprieve from those unbearable globe trotters. We serious students deserve it.
Fourthly, we are a part of a profession. This isn’t your typical graduate program. Law students become members of a club that necessitates collaboration and camaraderie. The general public identifies us as a group and we have to join forces to uphold our reputation. It’s on all of us to negate all those bad lawyer jokes out there. It is important, then, that we have the opportunity to foster a positive sense of community at the outset of our careers and not be rushed through the process like some common MBAer. Plus, third year grants you the opportunity take bonus classes that help you answer useful questions in real life, as opposed to just helping you climb the old career ladder.
Tuition debt is a huge problem – I’m not trying to downplay that. But this argument ignores the fact that costs are just too high. This is like saying, “Your pants are too short? Well, why don’t you cut off the bottom portion of your legs!” No, Mr. President. I will not do that.
To conclude, let me have my third year. It’s a crucial step in becoming a contributing member of the legal profession. But I’ll still take the 33% off my tuition, thanks.
*Note: Bush family, this is not UV’s endorsement for Jeb. Stop asking.
