Oftentimes, schools organize various events and functions to bring students together. They provide chances to network and create a level of comfort among students. Some students may think it's weird at first to mingle with the competition, but it can be a valuable play. Some may even think they've grown out of the mingling phase…I mean, come on, is this high school again? Eventually, though, these same cynical students become chummy with their law school peers out of necessity — in order to survive.
The reasoning could be that you are now with these peers a lot more than the other people in your life. To a lot of students, law school is now their life. These are the people that you now sit next to on a daily basis, and after that first study session, maybe you've realized it's not so bad after all to bond with them. Another important thing to remember is that you and your peers now have a common bond: law school. The pain of studying for endless hours is shared.
The problem with these friendships is that you are never quite sure who is truly bonding with you or preparing to backstab you to gain something. It is still a competitive race to get to the top, so you have a right to be wary. But that doesn't mean you need to get dirty.
Networking is sometimes the number-one reason these friendships form in the first place. This can also become tricky, though, because you're not quite sure if you're being used or honestly appreciated in the relationship. It's fine to be pals, but it's not okay to feel like you're a name and number in an individual's personal itinerary. You may even see these "friends" in the future when you are job hunting, so be careful of whose toes you are stepping on along the way to success.
Essentially, it is really important to remember that you are not returning to the high school social scene; instead, you are entering into a similar experience of cliques and study sessions. So keep in mind what kinds of people you want to surround yourself with. You also don't want to leave your other friends — you know, those not in law school — behind. They are the ones who have been there for you sans legal status, so keep your loyal friends near.
It's a balancing act like everything else, but you don't want to look back three years later and have regrets. Who knows? You could create some great relationships along the way.
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