After the fall semester of my 2L year, I essentially decided to stop taking doctrinal courses. I did take Evidence and Corporations — because the bar exam is something that I’ll have to pass at some point — but I spent most of my time in either clinics or in classes focused more on experiential learning than casebook reading. I learned the ins and outs of Lexis and Westlaw in Advanced Legal Research, represented real clients in the Civil Rights Clinic, and practiced my oral advocacy in the Supreme Court Experience, but I didn’t spend many hours briefing cases or creating outlines.

As much as I loved this change of pace after 1L year, when it came time to pick classes for my last semester at BC Law, I knew it was time to get back into the doctrinal mindset. The bar was now looming closer and closer, and I had only taken two exams in an entire calendar year. Don’t get me wrong, I still was going to take Trial Practice, but I was also going to buck up and finally get around to taking Administrative Law and *gulp* Trusts and Estates.

I remember talking to my dad about my schedule before this semester started, and every time I mentioned Trusts and Estates, we’d both laugh. I wanted to take the class, and I knew it was going to be important subject matter to learn, but on paper, it just isn’t my jam! It wasn’t a type of law I envisioned myself practicing, and it was a subject that I found challenging when it was loosely covered in Property Law.

And yet, when I ran into a friend last week who was in Trusts and Estates but dropped the class before the add-drop period ended, I had to take a second to think about my answer when he asked how I was liking the course. My gut reaction was to say, “oh, it’s not for me,” but after a pause I realized that, to be honest, it wasn’t so bad. I don’t dread doing my reading for the class, and in fact, I might actually like it? That can’t be…

It’s not often that a class in law school surprises me in a positive way. Usually, I either know the class is going to be amazing before taking it, or I think it’ll be good, but it’s more challenging than I anticipated. Then there’s the rare class that is as much of a struggle as I think it’s going to be. But Trusts and Estates is one that has broken the mold. It’s incredibly relevant to everyone’s life, the cases often involve interesting family drama, the subject matter isn’t beyond comprehension, and the class sessions are engaging, even late in the day. To my utter shock, I have no complaints.

While I’m entirely pleased with the experiential route I’ve taken in law school, I wish I hadn’t avoided doctrinal courses as stubbornly as I did. You never know when a class might ignite a new passion in you and set you on a career path, or at the very least, just interest you more than you expected. For most of us, law school is the last time we’ll ever be students, so take the opportunity to learn something new and step out of your comfort zone while you can.

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Tess Halpern is a third-year student and president of the Impact blog. Contact her at halperte@bc.edu.