Garrett Coleman ‘25
Managing Editor
By now, you are all familiar with the word “gunner.” Among us law students, it refers to something of a selfish, ambitious hermit—and it is generally used in a derogatory fashion. I find this both troubling and informative. It is troubling because we all worked hard to get here and ought to continue working hard so that we make good lawyers. And to deride those who do not rest on their laurels while in law school smacks of envy. But its meaning must be more complex, since 99% of you will work harder than ever before, and few will be referred to as gunners. This is where it becomes informative. The textbook gunner is someone who does all that work for himself, and that is the attitude we rightfully chide. My advice, put simply, is to be a gunner for others.
First, collaborate with your peers as you learn the law. The great thing about knowledge is that it crosses borders freely—the effort of explaining proximate cause to a classmate conveys something that I have, yet reinforces its value to me. A study group is the way to harness this benefit regularly, but keep them fluid. No one benefits from excluding their classmates, and some of your best partners may only want to join later in the semester.
Second, participate in some extracurriculars that force you to sink or swim with others. Think softball or moot court,[1] though I suppose there are others. If you participate in an actual moot court competition, like many 1Ls do, then your success will be dependent on another person’s presentation of a legal issue, often quite separate from your own. While that can be frustrating, it is also a good reminder that we always need other people to succeed, law school being no exception.
Third, build a relationship or two with someone in your class who you can lean on when things become overwhelming, as they inevitably will. I am an intensely introverted person, but I was fortunate enough to have people who checked in when I missed class, talked through shared health problems with me, commiserated over the grueling job search, and so much more. You need other people who are experiencing the same discomfort to keep you on the right track. But you only get those relationships if you’re not a jerk! The stereotypical gunner is entirely cut off from these basic human connections that make law school a manageable experience.
The first two points of advice I offer speak to the selfish nature of a gunner. And the third point is meant to undermine the hermetical tendencies that many of us have. But what about ambition? Properly oriented, ambition is a virtue in the legal world. Every suggestion I have made requires the initiative and drive that brought you to Virginia Law in the first place. But ambition can easily become a vice, as well. This will be most evident when exams come around. From what I can tell, there is functionally no enforcement mechanism for cheating on these exams. Similarly, when you try out for journals, the time restraints will be self-imposed...[2]So, the real guardrail lies within. You need to ask yourself what type of lawyer—and person—you want to be. And if you do not already desire to go before your friends and family and God as an honest individual, I cannot save you in this article. So, keep that ambition oriented toward good ends, even when temptation abounds.
A gunner for others does not abandon all self-interest—Heaven forbid, I am going into Big Law, after all! But she does recognize that a law student wrapped up in herself makes a pretty small package, indeed. So, work harder than ever before and lean into the suffering that precedes growth. But encourage those around you to do the same, and find that esprit de corps that makes a place like UVA Law so special. With that, I cannot wait to see what the Class of 2026 achieves!
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jxu6ad@virginia.edu
[1] Or the Law Weekly.
[2] In defense of the school’s policy, it would be incredibly difficult to cheat in a way that would regularly boost performance. This is because the exams cover such a vast amount of material that you cannot authentically answer the questions without knowing what the class is about. So, I respect the school’s position, but still think that the exam setup can support my point on honest living.