Law students specifically are definitely a bunch that tended to be over-achievers in high school and college. Whether it was worrying about getting my first B in high school or making sure that I was involved in as many leadership organizations in college, I was constantly doing more to ensure that I was achieving as much as possible. Even after success in over 10 years of school, I STILL worried about if I would be able to handle law school.
Luckily, as a law student, I think that we all get over it (to an extent) after completing a couple semesters. Every now and then I worry extra about a final exam and express my fear of failing, but deep down I know that I am in law school because I can handle it.
While getting past the imposter syndrome about learning about the law, a new one creeps in... imposter syndrome about practicing law. I am sure that we have all realized as law clerks, summer associates, interns, etc. that what you do in actual practice varies from what we actually learn in school. We don't sit down in class and learn how to write a motion for summary judgment. It can be nerve-wracking to think about going into actual practice as a brand new attorney. Someone told me recently that if you aren't nervous, then you don't care enough. Nerves are normal and they actually help you succeed in the long run.
The truth to all of this is that while imposter syndrome may feel so real, I have found that 99.9% of the time, it has been in my head. I have gotten to where I am for a reason, and I would not have been able to do the things I have done if I was incapable. Opportunities don't present themselves on accident- they are there for us because we deserve them.
Imposter syndrome is very much a thing that I have experienced along with most people I know. If you don't experience this, you don't care enough to worry that you aren't good enough. Eventually, it goes away though, and that is when you know you really do belong.
ReplyDeleteAs we are nearing graduation, I am feeling this more and more. It is most definitely all in my head, but I am glad to know that I am not the only one that feels this. As we go on and become attorneys, this will fade as we will be right where we are supposed to be.
ReplyDeleteI didn’t feel imposter syndrome until I was in law school because I had also always been the overachiever in the room and now we were in a room full of them. Many times during law school I have had to take a step back and say that everyone has the same worries. Even lawyers that have been practicing 20 years still have some things that they are not perfect at and struggle sometimes.
ReplyDeleteSimilar to what you have heard, one lawyer told me that with a trial “if you don’t get butterflied before hand, find a new career because you should be nervous!” And this was someone who was a prosecutor for 30+ years and had done murder trials!
Once I figured out that we are all in the same boat with nerves and we all worried about the same thing (some of us just hide it better than others) I felt much better so I hope to take this with me in practice.