How much longer?

Why is law school three years instead of two? Although life in general is more enjoyable without the intense stress and pressure of being a 1L, wouldn’t it make sense to pack the second and third year into one and make both years as intense as the first year? It seems like a lot of people I know are sorely lacking in motivation at this point in law school. And we’re barely past the halfway point.

I don’t see law schools eliminating the third year any time soon even though I’ve read in other places that people think two years is enough.

I can just see the discussions at a Board of Trustees meeting:

Trustee 1: “Let’s eliminate the third year and make law school a little more practical. Maybe let them do an apprenticeship or something that third year instead of sitting through classes.”

Trustee 2: “Um, you realize they’re paying us $30,000 a year, right?”

Trustee 1: “Oh yeah. Forget I said anything. In fact, strike what I said from the record and burn the record right now.”

Actually I realize it wouldn’t just be one school deciding this. It would take change of the entire institution of law school and the ABA would have to approve it. Anyway, it’s a thought. A good thought for any 2Ls wishing they were 3Ls and almost done with all this…

On the other hand, it's a big, bad world out there, so maybe I should shut up and enjoy my hiatus from reality while it lasts...