Law school can be challenging. You spend long nights, filling out endless outlines, and learning the names of every library employee at your school.
As tempting as it may be to become an isolated study-hermit and spend all your time reading cases and hornbooks, that would miss the point entirely.
Be proactive.
Due to a variety of reasons, some students opt not to proceed directly from undergraduate college into law school. Instead, they take an interim year off in order to focus on either taking the LSAT exam or strengthening their resume before enrolling. While taking time off may have its drawbacks, taking this route also gives you an opportunity to network in a more personalized fashion – rather than meeting everyone at school events at once, you can attend organizational events off campus that connect directly with legal executives and potential employers.
Be proactive both inside and outside of the classroom. Take full advantage of every resource your law school offers; for instance, when professors offer review sessions for exams be sure to attend as they will offer helpful tips on preparing and taking the test as well as feedback on practice questions you submitted for feedback.
As you are spending a considerable sum of money for law school, make the most of every dollar spent. Avoid overworking yourself by creating and following a study schedule. If assistance is required from either the Academic Achievement Center or Dean’s office, reach out! Additionally, pay attention to your social life, spending time with loved ones. And don’t forget about having fun – many law schools provide social events like proms or free tickets to sporting events!
Be creative.
Legal academia is a small world, so if your goal is to find work that captures your interest after graduation from law school, chances are there will be people in your network who could assist in connecting you. Spending some time networking will not only help you secure employment but may open up other doors you never imagined possible.
Law school can seem like an intellectual test, with reading and writing requirements weighing heavily on you. By investing time into honing creative thinking skills, law students can enhance both critical and analytical reasoning capabilities as well as develop soft skills that could make their careers more dynamic.
As you begin law school, it can be easy to be distracted by all of the clubs and organizations available to you. Just be careful not to overcommit yourself too soon until you’re confident that your workload can handle it; getting involved too much could cause unnecessary stress, distracting you from your coursework that should remain your priority. Outlining is an integral part of learning; don’t waste too much time worrying about its length, color coding or font choices as its sole goal should be internalizing law more thoroughly than creating the outline itself.
Be organized.
Law school requires an entirely different level of organization than that used in daily personal tasks, not only classwork and study but also daily personal activities. Many graduate students find themselves unaccustomed to this level of work and unprepared to manage it effectively; therefore, early organization will help graduate students cope with increased workload and rigor of the program.
Step one is to develop a master schedule that includes short- and long-term goals as well as study hours. A good schedule should be specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and timely (SMART). Note when your energy and productivity levels are highest so you can schedule difficult assignments for this time frame; additionally note when distractions tend to rise so that efforts may be taken to minimize these situations.
As part of their law school preparation, students should practice outlining and studying techniques, especially for courses with intensive reading requirements. Furthermore, it’s a good idea for them to make sure that their writing abilities are strong prior to enrolling; various ways can be done such as taking writing night classes or attending workshops to accomplish this goal.
Students should join student groups so that they can form meaningful bonds with people of similar interests and identities, helping to alleviate stress while socializing and networking with like-minded peers. Joining may also give students experience running an organization – invaluable experience that may come in handy during future professional endeavors.
Be flexible.
Joining law school is an enormous commitment, so law students should carefully consider their long-term goals before making this commitment. Some may opt for full-time study to fully immerse themselves in class discussions as well as interactions with classmates and professors; other may prefer more flexible schedules that fit with work and personal commitments; it’s crucial that all of this be considered before making this choice.
Law students typically devote 30 – 40 hours per week to studying. To maximize your grades and ensure optimal performance, set aside some of your study time each week for case briefing and outline preparation – having these skills under your belt will enable you to tackle reading assignments and final exams more confidently.
Enhancing your law school experience requires diversifying internships, joining a moot court team or participating in legal clinics. Doing so will provide real-world experience while showing prospective employers that you can manage the demands of being an attorney.
Make sure to set aside time for socializing outside of law school as well. Your high school and college friends understand the rigors of law school better than most, so use that opportunity to connect with them and de-stress – you don’t want to exhaust yourself while studying law.
Be a team player.
Law school can be an expensive commitment in both time and money, so making the most of your experience is of vital importance. That means building connections in the legal community to support future job search strategies; getting involved with student groups and volunteering locally to build up your resume so that when job hunting it stands out among competitors.
Some students begin their law school careers thinking they’ll “game the system” by switching schools after their first year, but this may not always be wise. A better strategy may be to focus on just a few schools so you can closely examine each one; while rankings can provide some data points, look beyond them and consider factors such as strengths in particular areas or bar exam pass rates as part of your decision making.
Finally, it is worth taking into consideration the costs associated with attending each law school. Along with tuition/fees, take into account costs such as housing and transportation for each location. Also keep an eye out for any scholarship awards that might apply – these could make a crucial difference when determining which law school to attend; some are awarded on GPA while others on application/interview scores or both!
Be yourself.
Law school stress can be exhausting and take its toll on mental health. Be sure to set aside some time for yourself and spend it with those closest to you as well as pursue activities you enjoy. Also use this opportunity to form self-care habits you’ve long been wanting to incorporate; perhaps going for daily walks or starting yoga practice are ways of taking better care of yourself or simply limiting screen time may work best for you – the key is finding what works and sticking with it! Mitchell Cozad its not too late article might inspire you as it is never about the age or any status that can define yourself in dreaming to graduate in law school.
At first, law school may seem daunting with all its opportunities for socializing and involvement, yet it is essential not to overextend yourself at first. Before making commitments beyond your ability, take some time to adjust to your new routine before overcommitting yourself socially or academically. Avoid teaching yourself material, as doing so may set back rather than advance learning; law professors offer differing perspectives and curricula that would likely only muddy your understanding. Attempts at “learning the law” on your own can become confusing very quickly!
Writing is an integral component of legal studies, so don’t neglect developing your writing abilities before law school begins. Consider attending a writing night class or using an app that can assist in improving both speed and style of writing. Distraction-free reading can also be learned with practice – whether alone or with others to discover which conditions, break intervals, and tools work best for you.
