I’ve heard many of my peers say that they think law school should only last two years. I see their point – after all, many of the subjects on the bar are covered in the very first year of law school. But beyond that, it can be strange to go from the classroom, to working in the summer, then readjusting to the classroom all over again. Particularly after 2L summer, when many students take on more substantial roles as summer associates and law clerks, it can feel like a regression to go back to class – especially if you already know where you’ll be working after graduation.

But law school is three years – not two. And although I’ve only just started my 3L year, I’m becoming more convinced that that’s a good thing.

At the end of my 2L year, having taken most of the classes covering bar-tested subjects, I began thinking about how I would make the most out of 3L. That was when I came across the Attorney General Civil Litigation Program – a sort of clinic-externship hybrid offered only to 3Ls. Unlike most clinics and externships, the AG Program lasts for the whole year rather than one semester, giving participants the chance to get more substantially involved in the often years-long litigation process. 

Students in the AG Program get certified under Rule 3:03 of the Supreme Judicial Court (provided they have passed Evidence or Trial Practice), meaning they can appear in proceedings on behalf of the Commonwealth or indigent parties under the supervision of a full-fledged attorney. Students in the program are placed in either the Administrative Law or Trial Divisions and report to adjunct professors from BC, but get to work with many different attorneys in the AG’s Office. The supervising professors also hold a two-hour weekly seminar covering topics relevant to the work that students will undertake during the program. 

Having already accepted a job at a civil litigation firm for my 2L summer, I was immediately interested in the AG Program. While it was tempting to take it easy for my 3L year, I felt that participating in a program like this would help prevent that feeling of regression that many students experience after their 2L summer. It would also keep my skills sharp and help me gain more substantive experience before entering the workforce. The risk seems to be paying off – barely a month into the program and I’ve already been given the chance to conduct a deposition and participate in a case heading for trial, where I’ll get to stand up in court and argue my own motions. 

The 7-credit program makes up most of my course load, but leaves enough room for a couple of classes (a good thing since I may or may not still be shy on some of my requirements). While the AG program is obviously geared towards litigators, BC offers a wide variety of other clinics, some of which prioritize placing 3Ls. There are also externship opportunities and many classes that focus on developing practical skills. So while the desire to skip the last year of law school and get into the “real world” is understandable, there are still plenty of ways to make 3L year worthwhile.

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Eddie Godino is a third-year student at BC Law. Contact him at godinoe@bc.edu.