3 Tips to Start Law School Out on the Right Foot
3 Tips to Start Law School Out on the Right Foot
You know the saying, “put your best foot forward.” Well, that is certainly applicable to law school. Your time in law school can feel like one long sprint and it is critical that you put yourself in the best position to succeed right from the start. Doing this can set you up not just for success in your first semester, but your entire time in law school. Follow these tips below to start law school and your legal career out on the right foot.
3 Tips to Start Law School Out on the Right Foot
1. Don’t fall behind on your reading
99% of your homework in law school is reading. You are expected to read the materials and come to class prepared to engage in a discussion about the topics. Typically, you can expect anywhere from 20-40 pages of reading per assignment per class. While you might not get called on to discuss the reading, it is still critical that you read the assignments, because the subjects will be tested later in the year. With such large amounts of reading to do, very quickly it becomes difficult to catch up. Furthermore, if you fall behind on your reading, you may not understand concepts later in the class, and that will hurt your chances of success as well as your confidence moving into the end of the semester.
If you’re falling behind in reading, it may be because you’re not studying efficiently. Check out these tips on how to spend less time reading cases in law school. Additionally, falling behind in reading may be a symptom of poor time management or scheduling. Here are some tips on how to create the perfect law school schedule as well as an example of what a daily law school study checklist looks like. For additional time management tips, check out this post.
2. Attend teaching assistant office hours
Most schools set up office hour sessions for 1Ls for each of their classes with teaching assistants. These students are usually 3Ls who excelled in the class and now get paid to help you succeed as well. Whether you think you understand the materials, or you have no idea what the professor is saying, attending these sessions is a great way to learn the topics covered in class. Sometimes it is helpful to hear another individual explain a topic in a manner different than the professor, thus, helping you grasp concepts you may have struggled with. It can also be less intimidating to ask a teaching assistant all of your “silly” or basic questions than a professor. So take advantage of this resource!
Additionally, these sessions also provide opportunities to learn how to write answers for midterms and finals. Writing answers for tests is a skill in and of itself that needs to be developed, and most classes do not teach students how to write a law school exam answer. Working with a teacher’s assistant can help you develop this skill before your first exam. Remember, they did well on this professor’s exam just a few years ago. The exam format is not likely to have changed so learn from them how they wrote their exam to earn them such a high grade. For more help on law school exams, check out this overview on how to succeed on law school exams.
3. Take time to research clubs and journals
Opportunities come fast in law school, and it is important not to miss them. For example, if you want to participate in a journal, you need to apply for a position by the end of your 1L year. If you fail to do this, you have missed your opportunity to join as the chance only comes once per year. Check out these tips for trying out for law review and a list of pros and cons of being involved in law review and moot court.
As for clubs, you can certainly join them later in your time at school. However, if you want a leadership position, it is best to join as early as possible. Spend time during your first semester, or even a few days before classes start, researching the various clubs and journals. While it is important not to overload yourself with extracurriculars, joining a club or journal that matches your career interest can be an excellent addition to your resume.
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