Learning the law can be an exciting adventure — and at the same time, it also can be stressful. It is not unusual to have personal struggles, which can affect one’s studies, personal relationships, and health.
Following are examples we’ve heard of the issues law students face. Our organization provides Free & Confidential services to law students in Massachusetts.
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“I am a 3L in a local Boston law school and am worried about my bar application. I was arrested for an OUI over the summer. When I went to court, I pleaded to ‘sufficient facts’ and the prosecutor let it stand as continued without a finding. I am losing sleep worrying about whether I need to report this and how it will impact my career plans.”
“I did not do very well my first year and can not figure out why. I was at the top of my class as an undergrad, but I can’t seem to deal with the competition and difficulty of law school. What’s wrong with me?”
“My boyfriend thinks I have really changed since law school. He feels cheated in terms of not having enough time with me and says I am not the happy-go-lucky person I used to be. He also finds my law school friends boring. I don’t know what to do.”
“I am in the top 10% of my class and feel a lot of pressure to take a big firm job, but what really interests me is non-profit work. My family and friends think I’m crazy. What should I do?”
“I am a 1L and my mother was just diagnosed with breast cancer. I don’t know if I should take a semester off and go home or what to do.”
“Since coming to law school, I feel very depressed and anxious–even panicked about being called on in class. I’ve never felt this way before, but I’m afraid to go to the counseling center because I don’t want it to affect my bar application. What should I do?”