Law school is like no other academic experience. Everything from your lifestyle to the way you approach everyday problems will change in these next three years. That’s why it’s important to know what to expect before you get started.
Get Ready to Read… A Lot
I’m sure you’ve heard this before, but it’s worth repeating. In law school you’ll read so much you’ll be surprised that your eyes are still working, especially as a 1L student.
Your goal as a 1L is to master the amount of reading that you have on your plate, which you’ll learn over time (or by taking Law Preview this summer). Conquering your reading assignments is all about time management, so try to concentrate on honing your time management skills ASAP.
Start Building Your Supplies Stock Pile Now
Is your birthday coming up? Here are a few things you can add to your wish list to stock up for law school: highlighters, pens, pencils, sticky tabs, notebooks. Sounds fun, right? Probably not right now, but when you’re knee deep in reading assignments, you’re going to wish you were bathing in highlighters (with the caps on, of course).
If you haven’t downloaded our law school supplies list, do so now.
You Can Never Be Too Organized
Law school isn’t built for the lazy student. In fact, most law students are overachievers. That’s why this section almost goes without saying. Because if you’re reading this, you’re probably already a neat freak.
As I said before, time management is crucial, and the only way to get good at managing your time is by staying organized. Keep a planner, open an Evernote account, download a cool app. Do whatever it takes to be as organized as possible throughout law school.
You Might Have Second Thoughts
There will come a time in the next three years that you’ll regret ever stepping foot into a law school classroom. It’s okay. It happens to almost everyone. Whether it’s after being scolded by a professor, or the first time you realize how many hours you’ve spent in the library. The thoughts will come.
At the end of the day, law school is what you make of it. Is it a lot of work? Yes. But if you decide that you will push through and finish, then you will. And if you find that after one year, it’s not right for you. That’s okay, too.
Your Mind is About to Be Blown
Even if you don’t end up practicing law, law school will change the way you see the world. Sometimes even the subjects you dreaded the most might turn around and open your eyes in a new way.
Think about it, you’ll be reading anywhere from 20-40 cases a week (sometimes even more) and taking meticulous notes every step of the way. Law school will teach you things you never thought you needed to know but are crucial to being successful.
Whether it’s in the actual course material or the practices you pick up along the way, law school will blow your mind.
Start 1L With the Tools & Knowledge Needed to Succeed
There are a lot of great things that come with being a law student, but the first year isn’t one of them. In fact, the first year is the hardest year of law school, and the most important.
First-year grades impact everything from academic honors to future career opportunities. That’s why we created Law Preview, the only course built to teach incoming law students the skills they need to conquer law school from day one.
Here’s what you’ll learn by taking Law Preview:
- An overview of core 1L material
- Proven exam-taking strategies
- Note-taking and outlining best practices
- Academic success skills, and more
Learn how to become a top law student before day one with Law Preview.
