There is something new happening in the Indian Premier League. A teenage boy from Bihar is busily smashing up the toughest bowling attacks. Rajasthan Royals’ Vaibhav Sooryavanshi just became the fastest cricketer to reach the 400-run milestone in a season. He did this in just 167 balls. That is staggering.
So how does a teenage boy hitting sixes relate to your experience of law school? The answer is that there’s more going on than you think. The world of legal education is a high-pressure game that can be mentally taxing. Sooryavanshi offers a live master class in how to deal with extreme pressure that all lawyers would do well to learn from
Start Early In The Game
Vaibhav did not start making his mark on the game at the age of 25. Last year he walked onto the main stage at the age of 14 and hit a hundred. Law students can fall prey to a completely misleading chronology. They believe the work really starts only after they pass out
This vision stunts the growth of many young and promising minds. You can produce serious research papers in your first semester of study. Undergraduate first years consistently win national moot court competitions if they work hard at it. Don’t wait until you have an imaginary licence to practice to start behaving like a lawyer.
Ignoring The Intimidation Factor
When you walk out to the crease and see Pat Cummins at the crease, you know you’re in for a treat. Even the most experienced players would feel a cold chill down their back. Sooryavanshi doesn’t focus on the name on the back of the bowler’s shirt. All he sees is the red leather ball coming straight at him
Junior clerks can experience paralysing fear in a crowded court room. You may be writing a response to a Senior Advocate in the court. The fame of your opponent will not change the laws on the statute books. If your research is impeccable, you can beat anybody.
Facing The Sneaky Bouncers
Opposition captains quickly learned they could not bowl the left-handed teenager up and over the top. They asked their pace bowlers to pitch the ball short and bowl bouncers. Sooryavanshi instead of ducking, changed his batting style. He began to cut the ball above his head with upper cuts.
You will definitely be tested by professors and moot court judges. They will pepper you with questions in the midst of your opening arguments. Don’t freak out or get angry if a judge questions your central argument. Think on your feet and manage to point out your best precedents in response to their questions.
Punching With Pinpoint Accuracy
Cricket in the powerplay is about clear thinking and no doubts. When Vaibhav scored a fifty in just 15 balls against Chennai, he did not question his strokes. He relied on his instincts and played his game exceptionally well. Top level cricket is never played with doubt, or the umpire will call “stumps”.
The same can be said for the preparation of legal documents. A malarkey pleading will be torn apart by the enemy. You have to have a clear idea of what legal relief you are seeking. The greatest enemy to a successful legal document is ambiguity.
The Grind Behind The Highlights
All the world sees the spectacular sixes hit out to the stands. They do not see the countless hours of mundane hitting of throwdowns in empty nets in Samastipur. To make a thousand runs in T20s quicker than anyone else, there is a lot of hard work behind the scenes. The performance on the field is just the final bill.
It’s the same for law school. Who doesn’t want to make that grand finale in a crowded courtroom? No one wants to spend 12 hours in an old library combing through those boring case laws from the 1970s. You can’t avoid the dull research process if you want to win the final argument.
Seeking Out Strong Mentorship
Even a cricket prodigy needs support to withstand the spotlight. Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker said recently that Sooryavanshi is successful because he has good mentorship. Rajasthan Royals coach Kumar Sangakkara allows the teen to play the “big game”. Without this safety net, all that pressure could overwhelm a young player.
The best decision you can make in law school is to find a mentor. You need someone to help you navigate the labyrinth of firm internships. They’ll tell you about the bad career choices and put you in touch with the right people. A mentor will help you not repeat the mistakes they made a decade ago.
Maintaining The Hunger
The youngster could have easily been complacent after posting a huge 103 off 37 balls against Hyderabad. He could have been lenient with himself in the remaining matches in the stressful tournament. Instead, he continued with his fearless onslaught in the next games. He knows that past performance is no indication of success in the future.
You could win a well-regarded negotiation competition in your sophomore year of law school. Don’t allow that initial win to balloon your self-esteem and distract you from your regular study routine. There is always a new case and a new law introduced every month in the legal profession. You need to constantly keep learning and keep up with the game.
