OP I took a law class at my TTT on a pass fail basis. There is really no way to know if you are prepared for law school until after your first exam. I somehow managed a top 5 score on the test. I didn't deserve it because I slacked off on the readings and attending class. It has given me some confidence in that I know how to handle an issue spotter style exam and use statutes to effectively argue both sides of a point but the most important thing I learned is not really the law itself but how to present your argument in a way that appeases your professor and the only way you can learn that is by going to class. This experience has made me somewhat confident in how I will perform next year but it also served as a huge wake-up call on how to be successful I need to be more diligent in keeping up with the reading and going to class and forming a study group. Trust me the worst feeling I have ever felt in terms of school was reading that first issue prompt on the test and having to sit there wasting 10-15 minutes trying to find a single issue to argue. This site has humbled my original expectations of being an easy top 10% student to now I have a gameplan for my 1st year of giving it my best shot and if it goes bad ill drop out and fallback on getting a decent job with nepotism and my UG credentials and paying back my 10-15k in debt.

Good lawyers are pessimists. /thread

OP, don't let all these tools get to you. The reason they are all mocking your confidence is because they are insecure. The truth is, they think they've worked so hard to "get where they are." They think because they did well on the LSAT and got a decent GPA, they must be really smart, but then they get to law school and realize how tough it is. And then when they graduate and a job isn't handed to them, it must be because the legal market is in shambles.

OP, don't let all these tools get to you. The reason they are all mocking your confidence is because they are insecure. The truth is, they think they've worked so hard to "get where they are." They think because they did well on the LSAT and got a decent GPA, they must be really smart, but then they get to law school and realize how tough it is. And then when they graduate and a job isn't handed to them, it must be because the legal market is in shambles.

Congrats, this is even stupider than the OP

OP wrote: " It just seems like everyone on here is trying to hedge their bets and already terrified of failure before even stepping foot in their first [law school] class."

This is called dealing with reality. Besides, fear is a great motivator.

OP: Law school costs of attendance have skyrocted despite a dwindling market for lawyers. Many need biglaw to pay off big debts. Biglaw is largely open only to those in the top law schools who perform exceptionally well during the first year among classes filled with competitive, brilliant & hard working students.

True. I would like to add that being a law student, much less a lawyer, is a lot like being an actor/actress. (1) The best ones aren't always the most successful (i.e. it's far from being a meritocracy); (2) Geography, timing, networks, and sheer luck can play a huge part in one's success; legacies, family networks, nepotism, racism, gender bias, and beauty bias can also factor into one's success. Added to the above considerations, law students are entering an endeavor in which, no matter how hard they work, their desired success can unfairly elude them - with life-altering consequences.

But I agree with OP's main point: either do the damn thing or don't. Boxers know they can be killed every time they step into the ring; yet they do it fearlessly.

BTW...it's "...believes in 'himself'?"

True. I would like to add that being a law student, much less a lawyer, is a lot like being an actor/actress. (1) The best ones aren't always the most successful (i.e. it's far from being a meritocracy); (2) Geography, timing, networks, and sheer luck can play a huge part in one's success; legacies, family networks, nepotism, racism, gender bias, and beauty bias can also factor into one's success. Added to the above considerations, law students are entering an endeavor in which, no matter how hard they work, their desired success can unfairly elude them - with life-altering consequences.

But I agree with OP's main point: either do the damn thing or don't. Boxers know they can be killed every time they step into the ring; yet they do it fearlessly.

BTW...it's "...believes in 'himself'?"

Here is another problem I have with the OP ( the post not the person). I think the people who aren't mentally prepared for the reality of law school tend to be the people who get seriously depressed. If a student is used to always being the top student and goes into law school expecting to just work hard and landing in the top 10%, then that student may crash mentally when they are median or below. People don't always adjust well to what they perceive as failure. But if people go into school expecting that it may be a gamble and their grade is not entirely in their control, they will be more prepared to cope.

I have seen this happen IRL and there have been posts to this effect on this board. Some people become deeply depressed when they do everything they can and still end up below median. A person who is more aware of the possibility of being median (or lower) from the outset may be more mentally resilient.

The reality of the curve is a hard lesson to learn until you have experienced it yourself and observed the effects on your classmates.

The reality of the curve is a hard lesson to learn until you have experienced it yourself and observed the effects on your classmates.

THIS.

If you aren't at least 90% convinced that you are going to pretty much kick butt at law school or a legal career, what is the point?

I guess my point is, if you don't know yourself and your skills well enough to have confidence that you can make a legal career work you are just throwing away money and time in the hopes that just coming out the other end with a JD from a not awful school will some how magically be better than where you are now.

Don't listen to these haters OP. If you work hard, have lawyers that believe in you (especially in more than 1 state), and have been quizzed by two 2Ls, you are definitely top 10% secure.

OP reminds me of the type of person that is really good at Guitar Hero and thinks that means they can actually play guitar.

OP, don't let all these tools get to you. The reason they are all mocking your confidence is because they are insecure. The truth is, they think they've worked so hard to "get where they are." They think because they did well on the LSAT and got a decent GPA, they must be really smart, but then they get to law school and realize how tough it is. And then when they graduate and a job isn't handed to them, it must be because the legal market is in shambles.

I agree. It's amazing that, for being able to do so well on tests, the morons on this site can't comprehend that it might be them, not the legal market. The groupthink on TLS is appalling sometimes. I take pride in a shitty LSAT score. It means things aren't just given to me, that I'm going to have to actually work my way to the top, unlike these spoiled brats.

Fuck me. I only have lawyers that believe me in one state and have only been quizzed by 1Ls. Is that good enough for top 25%?