It started with a cough. Then, the lymph nodes in my neck swelled up and hardened. Over the first half of my 1L year, my condition worsened. Finally, less than a week before my winter quarter finals, a biopsy confirmed that I had cancer.
Though I received support from my friends, family, and oncologist, I didn’t have a clue about what to do about law school. I quickly learned that information and resources for students facing serious illnesses during law school are limited.
Over the past two years, I’ve had to figure out a lot for myself. If you’ve been diagnosed with a serious illness, you’ll figure out what works for you. But based on my experience, I’ve created these steps—that I hope will help you find your footing—anyone in our position should consider taking.
A major part of a dean of students’ job is to support students through difficult times. Start by asking your doctor to write a letter explaining your condition and its potential impact on your studies. Then, share this letter with your dean and schedule a meeting.
Your dean has likely counseled students in similar situations and can guide you through the process of taking a medical leave of absence, applying for accommodations, and identifying additional sources of financial aid. Don’t hesitate to be open and transparent; the dean’s job is to support you, so it’s important that they understand the contours of your situation.
Treatments for cancer and other serious illnesses often cause significant side effects, such as nausea, severe fatigue, and cognitive impairment. Discuss your treatment plan with your doctor to assess its impact on your ability to attend school. Your doctor knows from experience how the average patient responds to treatment and can give you insights into what to expect.
If you have the financial means, take a medical leave of absence to focus on your health. Managing a new diagnosis is a full-time job. Furthermore, learning what your disease and its treatment entails will better prepare you to manage side effects when you eventually return to school.
Be mindful, however, that American Bar Association rules require law students to complete their degree no later than 84 months (seven years) after matriculation.
If a leave of absence isn’t possible, consider reducing your course load. The disability accommodations office at your school can approve you to take fewer credits than the regular minimum without affecting your financial aid. Also, consider signing up for easier or more engaging classes to make school less of a chore when you’re feeling particularly unwell.
Contact your school’s disability services office. With documentation from your doctor, you and a coordinator can determine reasonable accommodations to make it possible for you to succeed at school while undergoing or recovering from treatment. Accommodations can include extra time on exams and flexible attendance requirements.
If you’re working as a summer associate or intern, communicate your needs to your human resources department. Reasonable accommodations in the workplace can include flexible or reduced hours or modifications to your office workspace. Your human resources department can help establish your accommodations while maintaining your privacy.
If you’re comfortable, consider sharing need-to-know information with your direct supervisor. When your supervisor understands that you’re experiencing a serious illness, they’ll be more understanding when you need to take a day off for a scan or work from home when you’re immunocompromised. Of course, gauge whether your supervisor seems like a supportive person. If not, limit your efforts to working with HR.
Managing a serious illness often requires frequent and lengthy medical appointments. Talk to a nurse navigator or scheduler to ensure that recurring appointments don’t conflict with classes and professional commitments. For example, I avoid signing up for classes that meet on Wednesday afternoons and Fridays, and my nurse navigator and I coordinate my recurring check-ups and infusions at those times.
If you have a major event, such as a mock trial competition or the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination exam, scheduled shortly after an infusion or procedure, consider asking your doctor if the appointment can be postponed by a few days. This might be medically feasible and allow you to better focus without suffering the side effects of the treatment.
Applying for cancer treatment deferment on your federal student loans can provide much-needed financial relief. While you’re in school, your loan repayments are automatically deferred. But once you stop taking classes—whether due to graduation or a leave of absence—your six-month grace period begins.
Living with cancer can be financially draining. Fortunately, the cancer treatment deferment option allows you to temporarily suspend repayments on your federal student loans during treatment and for six months afterward. Download the form from your loan service provider’s website. Be sure to set a reminder because the service provider might not accept the form until your in-school deferment grace period expires.
Law school is a marathon. It requires dedication, discipline, and stamina. Even in the best of times, juggling classes, extracurriculars, internships, and social and family commitments is a feat. Serious illnesses demand your time and sap your energy, so you might earn lower grades than before your diagnosis. That’s OK.
You might also need to scale back your extracurricular involvement. Choose one activity that’s meaningful to you and focus on it. For example, when I went through my second chemo regimen and a bone marrow transplant, I limited my involvement to my journal only. As an editor, I could complete all my work remotely, and it provided a welcome distraction from being confined to a hospital bed.
When you’re dealing with a serious illness, it can be tempting to either withdraw and keep everything private or to overshare with everyone. Instead, strike a balance.
Identify a trusted mentor whom you can consult on professional matters concerning your illness. Turn to that mentor for their perspective for questions like explaining gaps in a resume or discussing accommodations at your firm.
But outside of your inner circle, be cautious about oversharing. Preparing for a legal career requires cultivating professionalism, which means not burdening colleagues or peers with personal information unless it’s necessary.
Law school is just a means to an end. Do your best, but don't let the pressure of grades or the demands of the curriculum overshadow your well-being at a time when your health is your priority. If you can strike a good work-life balance now, you’ll be all the better prepared to tackle the stresses of life as an attorney.
