What do you enjoy about Law?
TLDR AT THE BOTTOM
I’m almost 30 years old in 2L with one exam left, struck out at OCI’s after 4 in firms but got a summer externship at a legal clinic helping a marginalized community through school which is unpaid (I have to pay tuition for it, but at least I get credits and exposure to what working in law feels like, and I’m hoping the work will feel fulfilling).
I’ve been feeling existentially tired, I got into Law to escape working with my family and to have my own thing and some financial freedom, and now it’s like why am I trying to get good grades?
I got pretty good grades so far, a high B+ average with 3 A’s and two top of class marks at a good school, but after striking out at OCI’s it feels pointless. I didn’t feel great interviewing for big law, and I suspect it’s just because I’m not meant to be in that field. I’m trying to convince myself that it was for the best. But having to still care about my grades, and having the uncertainty of securing an articling position is definitely making that hard. Big law would’ve been a great opportunity for training and opening doors later on and I just have to swallow my pride and move forward.
I know law schools push big law hard, and that there’s so much more outside of big law, and that I could probably find something I enjoy doing. But I also have doubts now about that, my family keeps telling me how lawyers don’t get paid that well (they’re all making 400k+ as physicians and their life looks sweet from the outside now that they’re practicing).
I feel like grades just open the door but the interview is super important and I absolutely hate that. I know I’m super capable at work, I’ve built businesses for my family that bring in 10k+ per month in profit, and I’m just a super calm guy who’s easy to get along with and I’ve been praised as a manager by all my staff. But I feel like I got passed over by people who are just a lot more social and energetic and upbeat during their interviews which feels like the system is just so wrong.
With the amount of debt I got myself into (200k), from being forced out of my parents house due to them not accepting my wife and having to pay rent for these past two years, I feel like a salary of $100-$150k (which I’m just guessing would be roughly what I’d get in my first 1-5 years of practice in the best scenario) is just going to keep me in this financial crisis where I’m always having to nickel and dime and be careful about my money.
The salary range also seems so uncertain, and variable, and I don’t feel like it’s tied to how great of a lawyer you can be. I just want to hear from any of you practicing law or in law school too, what is it that you enjoy about this field? Did your life feel significantly better after law school?
Just feeling hopeless and losing motivation now, sorry for the long post.
TLDR: Almost 30, 2L at a good Canadian law school with strong grades (high B+ average, multiple A’s), struck out at OCIs after 4 in-firms. Got an unpaid summer externship at a legal clinic (paying tuition for it). Feeling burned out and questioning everything — got into law for independence and financial freedom, but now sitting on $200k in debt wondering if a $100-150k salary will even dig me out. Family are all physicians making 400k+ which doesn’t help. I know I’m capable (built businesses, managed teams) but interviews reward a personality type that isn’t mine and the system feels broken. Trying to stay motivated with one exam left and no articling secured yet. What do you actually enjoy about practicing law, and does life get better after law school?