1/12 the way to being a lawyer

I was reflecting the other day on what one of our professors said. " In two and a half years, you'll have to start interviewing clients and you'll need to know this."
What struck me is that for the first time, we were no longer talking about the 3 year journey ahead of me and my classmates. We are far enough along, 1/12 that is, to start talking about it as less than three years. That said, I feel like I know almost nothing. A conversation with a St. Thomas grad from 2008 who works at one of the biggest law firms in the Twin Cities did little to comfort me about that. She said, "Employers know that after 3 years of law school, you still don't know very much, so they don't interview you about how to write an appellate brief. They just want to make sure you aren't crazy and that you can carry a conversation." Ok, the second part was slightly reassuring, since I am not crazy and can carry a conversation.
So if I feel like I don't know much, and even after three years, my future employer knows that I don't know much, what is the point of me trying to learn all this stuff?
I was letting this kick around inside my head a little bit when we discussed professionalism in my class today. The concept of competence came up and the professor noted that graduating from law school and passing the bar exam are the minimum level of competence required to practice law. We discussed what ways you become more competent, and it seemed to keep coming back to practice and experience. Our professor noted that maybe that's why they call it practicing law, or practicing medicine. You get better and learn and become more competent because you practice, and you have this foundation to serve as that minimum, that platform to build on.
Someone said, "Well then it's just trial and error?" Our professor pointed out that it would be a good idea to keep the errors from creeping into malpractice territory. Maybe the most important thing I'm learning right now is the consequence of incompetence. Perhaps the point of law school is to give you the basics and put the fear of God, and court sanctions, in you so you don't screw it up!
Despite my insecurities about how little I seem to know about the law at this point, I feel like I have learned a lot. I think there's a song lyric "the more I see, the less I know." I am really enjoying all my classes and it seems like each class brings up a thousand new paths I'll need to go down to learn everything there is to learn. Right now, I'm taking the advice of one of my mentors, "This first semester, just let the law wash over you." So, I'm working hard, soaking up all I can, but trying not to drown in the law.
Since everyone seems to enjoy hearing about my wardrobe malfunctions, I'll share that I am wearing a cardigan today that is molting buttons. I've lost two buttons of a 7 button sweater since I put it on.
Oh, and I was told this weekend that I have an accent. I was talking about driving with "blowing snow on the road" and I guess they just noticed that I didn't say "blooowin' snoooow on the roooooad, doooontcha' knoooow?" Then, while sharing this humorous bit with one of my classmates, he said I had a "California accent." What does that even mean?!
All in all things are good. Sending all my love to you,
Kelli