Life in Law School

Four semesters in law school, and these are what I learned so far. No, this ain’t about the Constitution, nor any Code. This is about life in law school.

1. Law school indeed is a jealous mistress. It’s not going to allow you time for other personal pursuits. The last movie I saw on the big screen is LOTR. Honest.

2. You have to love reading to survive. Not reading the FHM/Cosmo type of magazines, but reading an all-text, 2-inch thick book 75% of the time. That would be apart from at least a foot tall of cases (xeroxed or printed-out) that you have to read for one semester.

3. You have to have a "kapal mukha", so makapal that I should be able to feel it here from where you are sitting now. Some professors do not mince words if you don’t get it right in the recit, which is conducted everyday.

4. A writing notebook is not just for pre-schoolers. Atty. Suarez hates it if you don’t "cross your t’s and dot your i’s" properly. "Preparation for the bar starts now!"

5. Don’t trust the professor who starts the semester by telling "I intend to pass everyone in this class." More than half the class will fail. Believe me.

6. Believe the professor who starts the semester by telling "I pass only two or three students. Last semester, only one passed." Double your prayers.

7. It pays to have friends in the upper class, or at least ahead of you in some subjects. You can always borrow their notes, books, and if you are lucky enough, their exam booklets and case digests. (Thank you, Hjoan!)

8. Lipstick and blush-ons have no use during exams. Trust me.

9. Eyebags are normal. You don’t have it, you ain’t in law school.

10. There will always be "terror" professors, but there are also "mabait na professor" who will not scare you to death. But trust me (again), you will thank and appreciate the "terror" ones  later.