Now , a year and a half into this law school journey , I ’ m doing quite well . I rank in the top 5 % of my class , am a Teaching Assistant for two 1L classes , work as a Research Assistant for two professors , an a moot court member , have completed a fulfilling judicial externship at a district court , and am the room mom for both of my kids ’ classes . Moreover , I ’ ve managed all this without sacrificing my daily 30-minute nap — a college habit — or working on Saturdays which I sacredly reserve for ice skating lessons , soccer drills , and weekly poker games with friends . How is this possible , you ask ? Well , clichés become clichés for a reason .
** Focus , Focus , Focus **
Balancing law school with parenting means you can ’ t afford to stretch an hour ’ s work into three with intermittent Instagram scrolling . Between housework and kids ’ activities , my undisturbed study time is usually from 8 pm to 11 pm on weekdays and all day on Sundays . With a mountain of reading , writing , and outlining ahead , every minute counts . I find it helpful to break time into half-hour intervals , setting realistic goals for each slot . Productivity and efficiency are my mantras .
But when it ’ s family time , I strive to be just as focused . Whether it ’ s dinner or date nights , I make sure to be fully present , setting aside the looming thoughts of tomorrow ’ s reading or the upcoming brief deadline . I can ’ t count the number of times I ’ ve tried to sneak in reading on the sidelines at my kids ’ soccer games ; I always end up tossing the books aside to cheer them on , like any good old soccer mom does , much to my daughters ’ chagrin and delight .
( In case you don ’ t know , this is a new trend all over the country : a random out-of-school learning day when kids work on assignments from home .)
And when life throws the unpredictable at me , I embrace it . Missing a day of class for sick-cuddle marathons and Harry Potter binge-reading is a sweet distraction .
** Be Appreciative of Your Partner **
MEMBERSHIP
Law school is tough — it ’ s a mental , physical , and emotional challenge , and it ’ s too easy to overlook that it ’ s also hard on our life partners . My husband has taken on the role of primary earner and caregiver . He would take the kids out every Sunday so I could struggle with my memos and briefs in peace . He ’ s ridden the emotional roller coaster with me through embarrassing cold calls and job rejections . It ’ s crucial never to take their support for granted . Regular expressions of love and gratitude , date nights free from the shadow of studies , and hosting friend gatherings keep our bond strong . And for him , an avid tennis player , my unwavering respect for his practice and game times is key .
I love law school ; every day is an eye-opener . But I am also profoundly aware of the sacrifices made by my family . Not many kids dream of law libraries over Disney World for fall break , but such is the life of a law student ’ s children . I remind myself daily to be thankful , to compromise , and to work diligently to honor their support .
** Plan Ahead , But Be Flexible **
No matter how organized you are , kids don ’ t get sick on schedule . When the school nurse calls , I leave class immediately . If a nightmare strikes at 3 AM , I ' m there with comfort . When my children struggle with homework , mine gets put on hold . This means no last-minute scrambles to meet deadlines . As a former construction management professor , I borrow the concept of contingency planning — setting aside extra time for unexpected events , much like budgeting for unforeseen costs in a project . This approach has served me well , especially on those “ asynchronous learning days ” that elementary schools seem to love these days .
My younger girl pretended to read International Commercial Arbitration in the law library when I had to take her with me to school one day .
www . atlantabar . org THE ATLANTA LAWYER 27