running in law school?

Dont even try. Law school is going to kick the crap out of you. You will have no time to be on a team.

well that's encouraging.

Depends how seriously you take law school. I skipped Civil Procedure to take naps in anticipation of workouts. Wouldn't recommend the approach, though, if you actually plan to practice law in the future.

Dan Schlesinger, a classmate of mine at Harvard Law School, finished third in the 1982 NYC Marathon and in the top ten (2:11+) in the 1983 Boston Marathon during his first year of law school. He typically ran very high mileage, about 150 mpw. I'm not sure how it affected his studies.

In my own case, I probably should have spent less time studying and more time running.

For many students, the first year of law school is a strange and disorienting experience. I'm not convinced that it's any better if you stop running and competing.

I do question, however, whether NCAA competition during law school is a good idea. Personally, I prefer the post-collegiate running life, in which your training and racing can be structured according to your own needs and goals, rather than those of a coach or team. Also, NCAA competition typically involves a lot of down time for travel and so on. Besides, as a law student, you are probably not going to be -- and probably should not be -- in the same social circles as your undergraduate teammates.

I would advise consistent training and a very light racing schedule during the first year of law school.

I concur with Chuck d.

Your first year marks are key. Most "top" firms hire summer students based solely on first year marks. As well, you will experience the biggest adjustment to learning law in first year.

I would recommend staying fit, but focus on law in year one and then compete in two or three (these years are very easy).

I had to make an adjustment whereby I had to admit to myself that I was never going to be a national champ, and realistically, I was going to be a lawyer for at least the next ten years. Once I accepted that sad reality, I focussed on school and found that it wasn't that bad. If I had put running first instead, I would have had another year of mediocre success but right now I would be making less than half of what I make now, assuming I even found a job - in retrospect it would not have been worth it at all.

If you are only there for the experience and have no need/intention to actually get a job, then run for sure, Although there is a lot of reading, in general law school is pretty dull - you should be able to fit in a season no problem.

clarence darrow wrote:

it appears likely that i will graduate college with a year of ncaa eligibility left. i've also heard that the first year of law school is hard as shit. if i were to enroll in law school, is it plausible for me to expect that i could train and compete during that year? anyone here done it or know of someone who has?

Geoff Nickerson ran well as a law student a Villanova. I guess part of it may be were you would like to attend? But I have also heard that it is extremely difficult as a result of the reading.

I think Frank Shorter went to Law School while training for 72 Olympics? No?

I attended law school 1992 - 95 and was in the best running shape of my life. Plenty of time to run a lot. Law school is tough, but doesn't detract from running.

Anyone looking for a new associate from a top-20 law school? I need a job.

You should not have any more problem training and staying fit than someone who works a regular 8-6 job. Several of my law classmates had families/kids or part time work. Were they at the top of the class? I don't know, but the fact that people and raise kids and perform competently shows there is time to train if you are focused and efficient.

However, I don't think competing on the team is a good idea. Think of all the time that will be allocated to team travel and general team inefficiency. A regular one hour run on your own becomes an 1:30-1:45 endeavor because the team decides to stand around and BS for 15-30 minutes before heading out and the coach wants to give a speech when everyone comes back. Multiply 30 minutes of social time/waste at practice by 5-6 days a week and you are wasting about two hours a week or eight hours a month. Plenty of studying and/or running could get done in that time. Similarly, unless you might contend for an NCAA crown, is it really worth taking some valuable weekend preparation time to sit in a van for few hours, race for ~25 minutes, and cheer on the opposite gender team? Loading up on the study time on the weekend (when you don't have to sit in class) can give you some more time during the week for a day or two of longer training and will allow you to sleep and eat better M thru F without playing catchup from the weekend race excursion. In sum, you should be able to accomplish quality training, but the time costs of being on the team outweigh the benefits.

law school is not hard, but it requires one to be organized. if you are an organized person, i think you can run. just dont neglect school. you actually use some of that stuff in the real world, unlike, lets say math. :>

One more thing.

You might get advice from a number of "older" lawyers that say that running in law school is no big deal. While I don't think the caliber of law student has changed, I think getting a job has become much more of a game. That game is based on first year marks - I'm not sure that was true even ten years ago. Keep in mind as well, if you want to go to NY (where most of the big firms and $$$ are/is) you are competing against international applicants. Again, I'm not sure that was ever as true as it is now.

Finally, I think because the divide between the top firms and the rest is becoming greater and the financial rewards are higher than ever, you may have to approach getting a job in a different way from that of years before.

Note that I speak only from my recent experience and don't really have anyway to compare it to that of my "elders".

I think the best answer is simply that only you will know if you can (or want) to handle both.

Perhaps some of you practicing JD's could give me your thoughts on this, as I am contemplating a career switch. I've been toying with the idea of attending law school for the last few years. I am currently a board certified physician in my early 40's and am just getting burned out with medicine. My goal with obtaining a JD would be as an entree towards either a more administrative role in health care or more remotely as a part time practicing attorney with an interest in med. malpractice. With the above in mind, my options on which law school to possibly attend are limited by the fact that I am unable to relocate, and while there is a law school located in my community it is not along the lines of a top tier nationally ranked program. If I were to obtain a JD how much, if any, would the lack of a big name school hurt my chances to fulfill the above ends? Again, I could not envision myself practicing law fulltime. If any of you practice in the above venues I would be grateful for any thoughts. Thanks.

The inability to relocate does not matter because the "local" law school is just as good as a big name if you plan to remain local after getting the JD. In every mid-sized metro area that I have been associated with, the local school alumni always have a strong presence in the legal community. This even applies where there is more than one law school and a great disparity in national rankings. University of "X" will serve the same purposes as a big name degree if you live in "X."

REPLY TO: Perhaps some of you practicing JD's could give me your thoughts on this, as I am contemplating a career switch. I've been toying with the idea of attending law school for the last few years. I am currently a board certified physician in my early 40's and am just getting burned out with medicine. My goal with obtaining a JD would be as an entree towards either a more administrative role in health care or more remotely as a part time practicing attorney with an interest in med. malpractice. With the above in mind, my options on which law school to possibly attend are limited by the fact that I am unable to relocate, and while there is a law school located in my community it is not along the lines of a top tier nationally ranked program. If I were to obtain a JD how much, if any, would the lack of a big name school hurt my chances to fulfill the above ends? Again, I could not envision myself practicing law fulltime. If any of you practice in the above venues I would be grateful for any thoughts. Thanks.

Some thoughts: Financially, may not be the best idea (taking three years out of some of your more productive years to attend law school). Med mal is not a booming area...contrary to what the Bush Administration and Bill Frist like to say. Study the stats: med mal is not where the action is (incidently, one of my more significant clients is a large hospital). Also, if the Repubs stay in power, they will continue to try to limit med mal claims--bashing groups, including trial lawyers, is in vogue with the people currently controlling the Republican Party. On the subject of "big name school"...your combined degrees will outweigh some prejudice about not have a "big name" school degree. And, as another poster said, if you plan to practice or stay in the area you're currently in, it's not a big factor.

The combination JD/MD degree is a great combination. It results in an intelligent person who can actually think! (Winking at the docs right now.) Good demand for forensic pathologists with the double degrees.

You know, if you're getting burned out, could it be what our spouses/girlfriends call a "mid-life" crisis? If that's possible, I recommend to possible fixes before you jump into law school: 1) if you play guitar, buy a nice electric guitar and a big amp and play loudly; or, 2) get a Harley.

I'm speaking from 25 years ago, but first year is by far the most difficult. The work is demanding, and I used running as an outlet, not as something competitive. I started racing again (on my own) in second year. By then the work-load is not so great and you have the confidence of having survived first year.

Great thread with experience behind it. I have a question. Anybody familar with a joint JD/MBA program deal? Know someone who did? If so, how did that work out? Do-able? I'm not concerned about being able to necessarily run, just about the logic and reasonability of a JD/MBA degree(s).

Thanks.

I also graduated from college with a year of eligibility. i ran during my first year of law school. it wasnt too big of a deal. as has been said above, law school isnt that hard, it just takes very good organizational skills. you have to prioritize time and make decisions about what comes first. there will be alot of sacrifices made in other areas, e.g., social scene, if you want to do well in school and run competitively.

in my first year i was running about 75 miles a week and competing while taking the full load of law school classes. it was hard, but it just took alot of organizing and not wasting time. you have to be prepared for class, that is a must.

you can do it if you really want to...

Student First wrote:

Great thread with experience behind it. I have a question. Anybody familar with a joint JD/MBA program deal? Know someone who did? If so, how did that work out? Do-able? I'm not concerned about being able to necessarily run, just about the logic and reasonability of a JD/MBA degree(s).

Thanks.

The University of Toronto (

) actually offers the joint JD/MBA program... a visit to their webiste might give you some insight.

personally, I would think that if you had that degree combo, especially with a CA/CMA type deal... you'd be incredibly valuable.

Student First wrote:

Great thread with experience behind it. I have a question. Anybody familar with a joint JD/MBA program deal? Know someone who did? If so, how did that work out? Do-able? I'm not concerned about being able to necessarily run, just about the logic and reasonability of a JD/MBA degree(s).

Thanks.

i know quite a lot of people who did it. works out just fine. not sure how much of an advantage for working at a firm it is but it's good if you want to get into the management of a company or even in-house counsel with an eye towards management later on. you'll have a definite advantage in certain areas of employment with it.

and, if you want to work in the US, i wouldn't recommend going to law school in canada. basically any law school attached to a university that has a business school will offer a joint JD/MBA program. it's the most popular of joint programs. and it only take one more year than law school (4 years total), so it's very reasonable time-wise.