balancing the scales of law and creativity By Zaha Talibuddin
"Do you ever wonder if it’s possible to juggle the relentless
grind of law school with the passion-fueled spark of creativity
- or are they destined to clash like water and oil?"
Sometimes when I sit at my desk, surrounded by case law and textbooks, I can’t help but feel a twinge of longing for my neglected notebook of poetry and short stories. I look at my sketchbook, sitting in the corner of my closet, completely untouched since the semester started. When it came to thinking of a piece to write for the first issue of Ex Curia, I wanted to channel my creativity; however, I soon realized that law school has consumed my life, and my creative pursuits have taken a backseat to the demands of legal studies. I found myself wondering: am I alone in this struggle? Surely, there must be other law students out there who managed to keep their artistic flames burning bright amidst the legal storm. I set out to find and interview four of my fellow law students who somehow managed to juggle their legal studies with their creative passions. Speaking to them was nothing short of inspiring.
Beats Between the briefs
For Devon, law school may be rigorous, but music keeps him grounded. A part-time music producer, Devon creates tracks for local bands, spending much of his summers working in a
converted garage studio back home. Producing music, for him, is a release: a moment to step back from legal theory and dive into rhythm, melody, and collaboration.
During the semester, Devon carves out a small amount of time every day to keep up with his music projects. “I just give myself a little bit of time at the end of the day,” he explained, acknowledging that the demands of law school often take priority. Though he can’t record fully during the semester, he still works on “micro edits along the way.”
But he’s found that making time for creativity isn’t just nice;
it’s essential. “If you don’t do anything creative on the side,
especially if it’s not law-related,” he noted, “you could actually
suffer from that a little bit.” Devon believes that being creative
offers more than just a mental break—it provides a new way to
look at problems, something he says is “a staple of being a law
student. You can’t be an effective lawyer without having a certain standard of creativity.”
To check out Devon’s work, search him up on
Instagram at: @crash_kick_studios.
Crafting art and arguments
Elisar’s creativity finds its home in visual storytelling. A former art student with a degree in illustration, they now juggle law school while working on a graphic novel and freelance illustration projects. While the transition from art school to law school wasn’t easy, their years of illustration taught them resilience and flexibility. Despite their passion, they think law school has made it difficult to keep up the pace. “The amount of time that law school takes is really substantial,” they shared. “The mental energy that law school takes is really drastic.”
When they do feel blocked, Elisar has a unique approach. “I’ll revisit old drawings that I’ve done and just do them again,” they said. “You know, you have these old drawings, but your work has changed since then. It’s kind of like this weird halfway point between doing a study of somebody else’s work and visually logging your own improvement.”
For Elisar, seeing how far they have come can reignite their creative drive, and if that doesn’t work, they know it’s time to take a break. “If none of them work, then it’s burnout, and that just needs rest.”
Elisar sees a natural link between creativity and the legal field. “You’re dealing with so much information,” they explained, and creativity “encourages a kind of lateral thinking that is really useful in the legal profession.” To them, creativity “isn’t just grounded purely in reality,” and having that freedom to explore ideas is an advantage that traditional thinking can sometimes miss.
To check out Elisar’s work, search them up on Instagram at: @ehlihr.
crocheting through the chaos
Jenna, who picked up crochet during the pandemic, has found it to be a calming, hands-on antidote to her screen-heavy law school routine. “Law school takes so much mental energy,” she told me. But unlike her legal studies, crochet is “not mentally or physically taxing.” The repetitive motion and slow progress of crochet provide a meditative contrast to the demands of her classes. “It’s good for the brain to do things with your hands,” she said. “The mind-body connection” makes it both “intellectually stimulating and positive.”
Sometimes, though, it’s tough to balance her projects with school deadlines. “I’ll put it aside when school ramps up,” Jenna admitted, acknowledging that crochet sometimes has to take a backseat during exam season. “School is brain power draining,” she said, so when she’s short on time, she’ll work on “smaller projects” for the satisfaction of finishing something. Crocheting little squares or granny squares, which can be completed in 10-15 minutes, has helped her stay engaged in her hobby without feeling overwhelmed.
For Jenna, the overlap between law and creativity lies in patience and steady progress. “The idea that smaller, tangible goals lead to a bigger project” is a mindset that’s served her well in both crochet and her legal studies.
harmonizing with the law
Selin’s creative spirit first found its home in theater, a passion she’s had since fourth grade. Although law school pulled her away from acting for a while, she recently picked up the harmonica, inspired by a TikTok video. “I realized I don’t have a cool party trick,” she laughed, so she ordered a harmonica online and has been practicing ever since. For her, the harmonica offers a quick, manageable creative outlet, one she can even bring to campus to play for friends. “I always play the harmonica when I’m stressed,” she said. “It’s like a coping mechanism.”
The skills Selin developed in theater also support her in law school. “Improv,” she explained, “only works when doing together,” and it’s helped her think creatively, quickly, and collaboratively. “You’re thinking on your feet and looking at problems from different angles,” she noted, a skill she finds invaluable in studying law. She believes that creativity is essential for legal work. “Law is about storytelling,” she told me, and being creative helps her “see problems differently” and develop persuasive arguments.
After speaking with Devon, Elisar, Jenna, and Selin, I found myself with a renewed appreciation for the necessity of creative outlets in law school. These four students each face the intense pressures of legal studies, yet they carve out time for the art that keeps them grounded and inspired. Whether it’s the meditative rhythm of crochet, the collaborative
spirit of theater, or the hands-on experience of music and illustration, each of these creative pursuits offers its own unique solace and
strength. In their words, I found a reminder that creativity and discipline can—and should— coexist.
For these students, creativity is a lifeline in the intensity of law school. As Devon advises, “you’re gonna be alright… everyone can spare an hour todo what they want at the end of the day.” Elisar, reflecting on the importance of pursuing what you love, shared, “There’s something very human about making art. I don’t think anyone benefits by making law school their entire existence.” Jenna emphasizes the importance of balance, saying “balance is difficult, but making time for what you love—even something small—gives you a sense of accomplishment. “And as Selin puts it, “Life is too short to feel upset and angry”—she believes in finding joy through her art as a way to stay resilient.
As we forge ahead in our studies, perhaps we can all take a page from their playbooks. Law may be demanding, but that doesn’t mean it has to consume everything. Creativity is always worth making time for, and if these students can find a way to balance law with art, maybe we all can too.