3Ls often find themselves with some time on their hands. The core work completed, the year is theoretically spent trying to learn some of the nuances of the law. If this goal seems a little ephemeral, well, there’s an argument for cutting back law school to two years you’ll likely find compelling. But that last year is still mandatory, so something must be done to pass the time. Some students try to load up their daily schedule with activities that will make them seem more appealing to future employers — at least for those not lucky enough to have a job offer after their 2L summer or just a natural gunner. Others spend the time enjoying their last year of freedom, knowing the golden handcuffs are about to be slapped upon them for good.
One law student has taken a different tack. William “Hale” Kelly is a 3L at Florida A&M School of law by day, and a jiujitsu fighter by night. That’s right, this law student is a competitive jiujitsu fighter with a 21-1 record. Impressive indeed.
Kelly spoke with Highland Today about his unusual schedule:
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Kelly, 30, typically spends up to 12 hours a day studying for his law degree, he said by phone from Orlando.
Then, as many as five evenings a week, Kelly drives to The Jungle MMA and Fitness gym, Orlando, where he spars and grapples with fellow fighters.
“A lot of people would say it’s tough; people love to talk to me about working out and my studies,” he said. “I just say when I have my windows (of time) to work out, I take them. If I haven’t worked out in five days I feel like something is wrong.”
12 hours a day studying? As a 3L? Pfft. Sucker.
Though it doesn’t seem like Kelly has cemented his post-graduation plans just yet, and he is keeping his options open and his fighting skills honed:
He said he’d eventually like become a personal-injury attorney, his father’s occupation in Avon Park, or practice criminal defense, possibly moving back to Sebring.
In the meantime, Kelly said he’s keeping one eye on the books and the other on his opponents. He said people are constantly perplexed by his ability to achieve academically while grappling in the gym.
“There is a stigma about fighters, but there is a way to do both — law school and fighting,” he said. “The experience of doing both has been good; it surprises people.”
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It’s great that Kelly is learning how to multitask. No matter what kind of lawyer he winds up actually being, that’s a skill he can use.
Jiujitsu fighter is law student by day [Highlands Today]