Family Time
The first week of "real" classes went well. The reading load has been a lot lighter so far than in legal methods, giving me time to contemplate whether I want to get involved in any extra-curricular type activities. There is a pro-bono activity I am interested in but it requires a 4 hour/week commitment for the whole year and I just don't think I can make that commitment four weeks into law school. The other thing I have been seriously considering is running for the board of my law school's women's association.
One thing I am concerned about in general is that a lot of activities and events at the law school start around 5 or 6, which is prime family time for me. 5 is dinner time and at 6 we start the little guy's bath and bedtime routine. Although it wouldn't be a huge deal to miss a night here and there I wouldn't want to make it a regular thing because that is the main part of the time I get to spend with the little guy. I want to be involved in things that aren't strictly academic while I am in law school, but if I am not going to be at the school between 4pm and 7pm is it even possible to be involved in anything on more than a casual level? I hope so.
4 comments:
I am having the same dilemma. Health issues aside, there are extracurriculars I'd love to participate in but they'd take too much more time away from Pumpkinhead. I just need to decide whether it's worth doing one or two, especially since 2L year is so busy with other things (assuming you get on law review or a clerkship or something). I wish we didn't have to decide so soon into the school year!
I wouldnt do any extracurriculars in the first year if you don't need to. It is ALL about grades and your GPA, and you shouldnt take too much time away from that. Trust me, it gets ALOT worse than the first week.
I'd just acclimate the first semester. Maybe have some participation in the women's law society. My first semester back w/ a baby I did no extracurriculars. My 3L year I worked 10 hours a week and did minimal time commitment things like Peer Mentor or give the occassional law school tour. I was never at the law school past 4:15 and it was a big bummer, but you do what you have to do to have a good family life as well.
Thanks for your comments guys! Luckily I found out this week that the 1L board elections for the women's association aren't going to be until the beginning of October, so I have time to see whether I am really going to have extra time in my schedule for that kind of thing or not. At this point, the women's association is the only commitment I am really considering and even if I decide I want to do it, I might not get it, so we'll see.
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