Don’t Think Yourself into a Loser

Don’t let the bad news get to you. As a law student you’d already be aware that an average law student leaves college with an average loan more than $100,000. You already know that the economy is in bad shape and there are inflated positive numbers all around from employment data to advertisements of earning. You know that students taking the LSAT have reduced by a full quarter, and you might be worrying whether you are in the wrong place at the wrong time. Don’t worry, there are thousands of law students who are in your shoes, and you are not so special that the economy is conspiring to get you personally.

But you can be special. You can be better, and you can join the large majority of successful lawyers who still manage to have a good life, bank balance, vacations, cars, villas and everything you dreamt of. Admitted they don’t number in millions, but they do number in quite a few thousands. And there’s nothing that prevents you from joining their ranks unless you think yourself into a loser.


Don’t deny any opportunity to learn and better yourself, unless a better opportunity is available with a conflicting schedule. Do build rapport with your professors, half of the time they keep track of their successful students, and they usually go out of their way to help those who work hard.

Remember, in the workplace, the brilliant always do not get opportunities, but the reliable and hardworking do. That’s because small and middle sized firms are led by people who are individually brilliant. But the brilliant can’t get everything done by themselves and need lieutenants. They need ‘lieutenants’ but are not amenable to accede entry to another ‘commander.’

The reality is that we have progressed very little from ‘feudalistic’ mindsets, and even in big corporate houses, managers like to believe that they command people with unquestionable loyalty. Only to them, ‘unquestionably loyalty’ usually means people who would ‘never question their authority.’ That is why they look for the silent, hardworking, and averagely intelligent type. Their doors are closed to the brilliant.

So, know this, working hard and smart is going to get you somewhere definitely, but it may not get you anywhere just because you are able to outsmart others. Not at least at the beginning of your career.

So, be sure, there’s a job or practice out there waiting for you, as long as you are ready to work hard and smart. Look for opportunities to acquire complementary degrees or certifications that can substantiate your claim as a candidate. But at the end, remember, the greatest number of recruiters look for candidates who can look them in the eye and talk, but can still be relied upon to obey orders. Recruiters like meticulous and organized persons rather than the eccentric Einstein type, who is always a recruitment risk without a proven track record.

Network, keep track of your alumni, find mentors, work hard and find out how the successful are succeeding. Learn approaches and methods, become better at communicating, develop and exude congenial and positive attitudes and thank your stars that you are still a student and there’s something you can still do about the mess.

Do what you can, and don’t fret about what you can’t. Just focus on the positives and use your time intelligently. Don’t waste your time at law school for anything else but for the purpose you went there. If you are true to your purpose, the world would remain true to you. That’s guaranteed.

Just ensure one thing, don’t con yourself into becoming a loser.