How to Learn the Law Without Losing Your Mind

By Karen Sloan, The National Law Journal

Georgetown 2L Rebecca Stellato, who credits meditation for helping her through her first year, with dean of students Mitchell Bailin.
Diego M. Radzinschi/NLJ

Rebecca Stellato had no idea what to expect when she showed up at Georgetown University Law Center last fall. Her self-described “hippy-dippy” upbringing in Northern California, her undergraduate degree in public policy and a year of international health work hadn’t prepared her for the “shark tank” that is law school.

“It was kind of overwhelming, and I just felt really out of my element,” said Stellato, now a 2L. “There were a lot of Type-A personalities, and they make it so much more stressful than it needs to be. It’s not healthy for anyone.”

Law school has long had a reputation as a grueling experience, leading not only to high levels of stress and anxiety but also elevated rates of depression and substance abuse. Legal educators and students alike report that the dismal job market and growing debt loads have heaped even more pressure onto already taxed students. Some schools are responding with programs designed to help students navigate the emotional and psychological minefield that is law school. . . . Read the full article in The National Law Journal here!