Law Schools

The Most Important Lesson From An Elite Law School: Rock, Paper, Scissors?

Juvenile, but at least it isn't racist.

By  
on

August has begun its inevitable decline and the dog days of summer are upon us. In the world of legal academia that only means one thing — the kids are back in town. At least that seems to be what some administrators think; the reality is that while the the students are indeed back to school, they’re grown-ass adults that may not appreciate being treated like children.

You see, today during 1L Orientation at Columbia Law School all incoming students were asked to participate in an old fashioned, schoolyard classic — a rousing Rock, Paper, Scissors tournament:

Icebreaker
Low Memorial Library
Meet your classmates and test your playground strategies during this old school, round-robin Rock, Paper, Scissors tournament. Prizes awarded!

Well, at least there are prizes.

As we heard from a tipster, not everyone is jazzed about participating in the event:

Please shame Columbia for making a bunch of law students — grown adults! — play Rock, Paper, Scissors as an orientation event.

I sympathize with the tipster, really I do. No one wants to be treated as a juvenile, particularly when they’re embarking on a brand new career path. But here’s the thing: icebreakers are something you’re going to have to continue dealing with in the corporate and law firm environments — and hey, at least Rock, Paper, Scissors isn’t racist. The truth is all icebreakers are just varying levels of suck. But how else are you going to start the awkward process of making lifelong friends?

Sponsored

At least there were no trust falls… yet.

headshotKathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, and host of The Jabot podcast. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter (@Kathryn1).

Sponsored

Topics

,