High school-like atmosphere made law school stranger

by Ray Thompson

In the last issue of Inter Alia, the “Most Likely To…” reminded me of observations I’ve been making for awhile: That law school and high school have a lot more in common with each other than undergraduate education.
Here’s why:
• School pride dress-up days.
• Powder Puff football.
• Report cards/Standing cards.
• Assigned seating.
• School dances.
• On-site lockers (carrels).
• Drama, drama, drama.
• Yearbooks / Dogbooks.
• Limited class choices.
• Everyone takes themselves way too seriously.
• Mandatory class attendance.
• Talent shows.
Surprisingly for a profession which stresses confidentiality, the spread of gossip/rumors not only equals but exceeds gossip/rumor levels in junior high/high school, or any other setting I’ve ever experienced.
The entire curriculum is confined to one building, which gives rise to striking similarities in the respective social structures. For instance, when walking through the crowded halls, you are bound to run across many more people you know than you will have time to say hello to. Depending on the ever-shifting hierarchies of social alliances, you have several options for these encounters: 1. Engage in some quick small talk. 2. Say hello. 3. Smile and nod. 4. Just nod. 5. Avoid making eye-contact at just the right moment. 6. (Most commonly employed) Pretend the other person doesn’t exist. 7. Actively scowl at the other person.
In addition, my 1L year reminded me more of grade school than anything I’d experienced since. As in grade school, the class was divided into two sections which were given completely different instructors (although my grade school classes were all in the same room and my 1L classes were confined to two rooms).