PLIGHT OF THE LOLLY SNAKE

CLARE MARY

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a law student with a 6+ GPA and a glowing CV must be a ruthless snake in the grass (and in the Moot Court).

Okay, maybe ‘snake’ is a touch melodramatic. That being said, we’ve no doubt all heard stories about law students

hiding textbooks in the library ceiling during exam block, gatekeeping the precious secrets of establishing duty of care. We’ve all seen the likes of Lewis Litt and Harvey Specter going toe to toe for their client, doing whatever it takes to get the win. And I’m sure that most of us, having told our Aunty Helen that we’re studying law, have heard her say, “Oh, you must love arguing. Wouldn’t want to be on your bad side! Can you please pass the peas?”

While the word ‘snake’ might be a bit harsh, it is clear that our collective understanding of what a law student should look like is often shaped by a fundamental belief that to be this, I’ve found it difficult to find where I fit in law school,

let alone to see where I might fit in the (ahem) Real World once I get there. I remember the first time I tried my hand at negotiation in LLB103 - I had to fight my natural instincts to compromise the entire time. Meanwhile, my opponent

thrived on the challenge, fighting tooth and nail for her client. I was amazed by her grit and ferocity.

I know that I’m not the snake in the grass, fangs at the ready to sink into my learned friend’s submissions. I’m more of a lolly snake - dependable, approachable (and a hit at kids’ birthday parties). But make no mistake - I now understand that there’s room in the law school jungle for sweets and serpents alike. There will always be a need for adversarial

lawyers, ready to go into battle for their clients. There will also always be a need for patient, empathetic lawyers who

can support their clients to understand their legal rights and responsibilities. Now, I try not to worry so much about living up to the textbook-hiders or the master negotiators. This lolly snake is running her own race, as sweetly as ever.