Just DON'T Do It

Okay, so law school is supposed to be this impressive experience.
"Oooh, you got into law school? That's amazing. Congratulations."
Of course, the only people you ever hear that statement from are people older than 40.

At this moment in time, there are more lawyers than ever before in this country. America has turned into one of the most litigious countries in the world. Of course, this necessitates that there be lawyers for all of this action. Well, as long as I'm not being lied to by all the statistics and business information, apparently there are even MORE lawyers or soon-to-be lawyers in this country than America even needs.
Ah the magic of a middle class wit: kids, time, and money on their hands.
So, they say, let's send our kid to law school. That'll make something out of them.
Thankfully there are a lot of people every year who drop out of law school.

I was aware that these people were dropping out due to stress or pressure but have to admit that it never really sunk in.
3 weeks into this endeavor I can honestly say it has sunken in. I spend 14-16 hours a day at this school toiling through the readings and whatnot else.
At this school some of the teachers have decided to be "nice" and give us feedback before taking a final exam which would normally be worth 100% of your grade. Here, some teachers will give you midterms, and not just 1 per class, but multiple.
You could look at this as a positive measure, sure. More feedback, less weight on the final. Or, you could see it differently: more work added to an already strenuous workload with new outlining required for classes you normally wouldn't start outlining til mid-year, new anxieties, and the inability to sleep for any substantial length of time due to an overtaxing workload.

Of course, why do we do this to ourselves? Is it the money? The degree that opens up most avenues of of job prospects so one is qualified for almost any job?
This is a question whose answer seems to elude me. Because at this moment, given the preponderance of lawyer jokes in this world, the propensity towards spitting when most of society utters the word "lawyer", the current lack of jobs for new attorneys and the abundance of movies and tv shows all denigrating the legal profession, it's seeming pretty worthless.

So really, if you're considering law school in any fashion, just stop now. I'm only in week 3 and I can tell you it's long, hard, ruthless, and offers no guarantees as to employment or even that you'll have friends when you graduate.

Have a nice week.