I think it's hard when you're a certain personality type (which it sounds like you are) to live a life that isn't frantic.  I actually find myself looking for things to add to my plate when I have too much free time, but then I end up feeling the way you're feeling--it seems impossible to find a happy medium.  The key, for me, is to make sure that I have at least a few hours every week where I have nothing going on, at least one day a week where I can sleep in (probably not possible when you have kids), and enough time to maintain my relationships with friends and family.  It seems like you're at the point where you don't have time for the other parts of your life, and then I think the question is: will it pass, or is it just too much?  If a lot of the craziness comes from short-term things, then you might just want to power through it.  But, if no end is in sight, then perhaps you could quit one of the jobs (especially if the other wants to give you more hours), take one of the classes pass fail (or drop one), and curtail your involvement in at least a few of the organizations.  I understand exactly what you mean. though, and I think it's a continuing struggle that you have to find an internal rubric to balance.

Thanks for for this post. Its nice to know there are others out there like me. I am so tired all the time. I just want to quit everything. I have had thoughts about not being a lawyer now that I am only months away from my JD. I have yet to have a job in which I don't feel trapped and like my freedom is seriously infringed upon.

I do not want a lawyer's life. I want to clean my house, hang out with my husband, have some kids and do some meaningful work that makes me happy.  Oh yeah, but that's not possible because I have a ridiculous amount of loans to pay back. (Sigh)

I completely understand--during these past two months I have been job-hunting, running two student groups, teaching, trying to keep my fiance from forgetting me entirely, and doing my best to keep up with my coursework.  Your schedule is even crazier!

First thing:  before you feel like you're going to crash, take a day off.  Completely.  No answering emails, the phone, whatever.  If you want to be with your family on that day, fine, but don't feel OBLIGATED to.  Do whatever YOU want.  Just for one day.

As for what to prioritize, given your schedule, here is what I would do--and basically what I did when I was in your shoes last month.  Listed in order of importance:

1.  JOB.  Getting a job should be your first priority now that you are a 3L.  I assume you didn't plan to earn a law degree so you could end up at a job you don't want.  Your posts don't say where you are in the job hunting process, but if you haven't identified your ideal jobs and made contacts there, you need to do that IMMEDIATELY. 

2.  FAMILY.  For obvious reasons, and because they can help keep you sane.

3.  CLASSES:   Law school grades will stick with you for a LONG time.  In order to step your best foot forward into the working world, you're right that you should try to end strong.

What to drop (in order of "those I feel most strongly that you should cut" to "least strongly"):

1.  TWO JOBS?!  Having two jobs during law school is absurd.  Frankly, even one can get a bit hairy, but two is absolutely insane.  If one of these jobs could lead to a future offer of employment, okay... if that is the situation, I would put your cards on the table.  Tell them you would love to work there next year, and ask if they would consider you.  If you get a positive response, explain that the job hunting process is cutting into the time you can spend there, and push--gently--for them to give you a timeline.  If these jobs are simply to make money, take out some extra loans to make it through this semester and drop them both. If you successfully find a post-grad job this semester, you can work for $ next semester with your spare time.

2.  GROUPS:  I know that sometimes, after you accept a leadership role within a group, you feel a strong sense of obligation to that group.  However, selfish though it may sound, your first obligation needs to be to getting a job.  You need to sort that out BEFORE dedicating your time to group activities.  if that means handing a board position over to someone else, so be it.  I have been on a lot of boards where the leaders couldn't admit they didn't have time to commit--I would have much preferred they admit this so we could bring in someone who did have the time.  

3.  FRIENDS:  They need to understand that this semester will be very busy until you secure a job.  If they are truly your friends, they will wait for you!  That said, they're last on the list because of course you want to spend some of your being social.  Just keep it to a minimum until you have a job--after which, you can take them all out to dinner as thanks for their patience.  : )

It's good to know I'm not the only one!

 You know, this whole job thing is stressing me out and not just because of the hours I put in.  First off, it's not nearly as bad as it sounds.  Despite the two different commitments, we're talking 6-7 hours a week at each, so I'm really not even up to 15 hours.  I have friends who get dangerously close to that 20-hour ABA cut off with just one job.

Second, these jobs are more about making money right now than anything else.  I am currently waiting to hear about a post-grad fellowship, so the job search is on hold for the next six weeks or so until I hear about that.  If I get the fellowship, good.  Done.  I've got a job.  If I don't, then I am back to square one at Christmas time looking for a job.

Now, one job is at school as a student assistant in an office.  It's convenient (I an do it during shorter breaks between classes), it's money, it's fairly interesting, and it's good for networking.  So that's all fine and good.

The other is my clerk job at a great public interest agency...and in short, they are not going to hire me.  But it's not me, they're not hiring anyone!  They are in a budget crunch and are re-structuring their agency.  So I've known for a long time that I won't get to work there after graduation.  But it's been great experience and I really like a lot of the people I work for.

However, because I am not there during the school year to really work substantial hours, I am no longer able to do the substantive work I did during the summer.  So now I am down to basically glorified file clerk/copy girl.  I am starting to wonder if it's worth it.

So should I stick with it because I like the people?  And it is money.  Or should I cut this out of my schedule because I am stressed, I am not doing substantive work, and they are  not hiring me post-grad.

That is this week's dilemma!

Hi Ladies,

 I too am glad I'm not the only one out there feeling this way.  I am currently writing a 7-page memo for a moot court write-on, and I have to skip a class just to get it done!  

As for the job dilemma, it sounds like your public interest agency isn't doing as much for you as it has in the past, and it's time to let it go.  Even though it's money, your sanity is much more important.  You've already made the contacts.  You can be professional by telling them you need to focus on your classes/job search.  You can be a great networker by stopping by or sending an email to your favorite supervisor just to check in and let them know what you've been up to.  This will let them know that A, it's not personal, and B, you're still interested in what they're working on so that they'll keep you in mind if something does open up.  As for the money, maybe you can increase your hours at your job at school (only a little bit) since it's a better fit for your schedule.

 Personally, I know that my time management needs a lot of help (Gossip Girl v. Evidence homework?  GG wins.), and I am looking for a way to get back on track with everything.  I am planning to take one day off of my upcoming fall break to let my brain unclench, and then create a new plan of attack for the rest of the semester. 

 -ema- 

First, both of these jobs can easily go.  If neither is going to lead to a future offer of employment, they are not worth it (I suppose the "contacts" you mention at the first job might help, but I would need more information).  Again, worry about making money AFTER you have a job lined up.  After all, if you graduate without a job, you'll likely be worse off financially overall (not to mention that having "dead time" after earning your law degree will make it that much harder to find a job).  A sense of duty to your employers is an admirable trait, but at this point you are hurting your legal career to help others.  If ever there was a time to be selfish, this is it!

Second, I don't know what to make of this:  " I am currently waiting to hear about a post-grad fellowship, so the job
search is on hold for the next six weeks or so until I hear about that. "

I don't know your specific circumstances, or if you have some very concrete reason to believe you will get this job, but it seems incredbly unwise to suspend your job search simply because you've applied to a job you want!  Many of the best government and public interest jobs will be gone by December.  One of my classmates is applying for fellowships all over the country, and he has already been interviewing.... why on earth would you wait to apply to the many other fellowships out there?!