Why I am Dropping Out of Law...

Summary

In this personal video, a law student reflects on their decision to drop out of law school. They discuss the stark differences between the legal industry in Australia and its portrayal in popular media, expressing dissatisfaction with the corporate nature of law, the focus on prestige, and the lack of purpose they initially felt. The student shares their realization that they were pursuing law for the wrong reasons and reveals plans to transition to studying dentistry in 2025, emphasizing the importance of finding balance between prestige and purpose in one's career. The video provides valuable insights for those considering law as a career.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker reflects on their decision to drop out of law school and shares the journey of coming to this conclusion.
• 😀 The legal industry in Australia is different from how it is portrayed in popular media in countries like Korea and the U.S.
• 😀 The division between barristers and solicitors in Australia creates a more limited scope for lawyers compared to other countries.
• 😀 The corporate focus in the legal industry, with an emphasis on climbing the corporate ladder, made the speaker question their career path.
• 😀 Clerkships are a major determinant of success for law students, but this corporate-oriented approach was not aligned with the speaker's values.
• 😀 The speaker dislikes the sedentary nature of legal work, involving long hours of reading and writing at a desk.
• 😀 An internal reason for dropping out was realizing that the speaker valued prestige over purpose when they first chose to study law.
• 😀 The speaker admits they enjoyed telling people they studied law more than actually studying it, which led them to reconsider their motivations.
• 😀 Prestige and purpose are seen as a balancing act—too much focus on prestige can lead to dissatisfaction, while purpose without credibility may lack impact.
• 😀 The speaker announces their decision to pursue a Doctor of Dental Medicine degree in 2025, marking a significant career shift from law to dentistry.
• 😀 The speaker expresses hope that their story can help others who are struggling with similar decisions about whether to study law, and encourages viewers to engage with future content about their dental journey.

Q & A

Why did the speaker decide to drop out of law school?

The speaker decided to drop out of law school due to a combination of external factors (such as the corporate, commercial nature of law in Australia and the sedentary, reading-intensive nature of the work) and internal realizations (such as the realization that they valued prestige more than purpose in their career choice).

What was the initial perception of the legal industry compared to reality?

The speaker initially had a skewed perception of the legal industry based on portrayals in popular media. Upon experiencing it firsthand, they realized that the legal landscape in Australia was different, with roles such as solicitors and barristers being more distinctly separate than expected. They were also surprised by how corporate and commercial-focused the industry was.

What did the speaker find unappealing about the legal industry's work culture?

The speaker found the emphasis on climbing the corporate ladder, particularly through clerkships, unappealing. They also disliked the idea of working in a corporate setting for an extended period, as well as the sedentary, reading- and writing-heavy nature of the work.

How did the speaker’s decision to study law relate to their desire for prestige?

The speaker admitted that their decision to study law was initially heavily influenced by the desire for prestige. However, they later realized that valuing prestige without considering purpose was dangerous and unsustainable in the long term.

What realization did the speaker have regarding their enjoyment of studying law?

The speaker realized that they enjoyed telling people they were studying law more than actually studying it. This insight led them to understand that their motivation was rooted in external validation rather than a genuine passion for the subject.

How does the speaker define the balance between prestige and purpose?

The speaker believes that prestige and purpose should be balanced. Focusing solely on prestige can lead to chasing external acclaim, which is unsustainable. On the other hand, having only purpose without prestige can lack credibility. A healthy balance allows one to have credibility in their work while still pursuing meaningful goals.

What career does the speaker plan to pursue after leaving law?

The speaker plans to study a Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree starting in 2025. This represents a significant shift from law to dentistry, but the decision was made after careful consideration over several years.

Why did the speaker choose dentistry over medicine or continuing law?

The speaker does not explicitly state why they chose dentistry over medicine or continuing law, but invites viewers to ask about their thought process in another video, indicating they are open to sharing more details on the topic.

What type of content does the speaker plan to upload in the future?

The speaker plans to upload content related to their university experience in dentistry, along with travel videos, which will be the primary focus before their course starts in 2025.

What advice does the speaker offer to others considering studying law?

The speaker advises others who are uncertain about studying law to carefully consider their reasons for doing so. They emphasize the importance of aligning one's career path with personal purpose rather than external expectations or prestige.