How to Survive and Thrive the First Year of Law School

College is intended to encourage personal and professional growth for students just past the cusp of adulthood. Thus, colleges students have ample time to explore, socialize, and figure out how to make the best of their experience. Many students change their intended major and end up following new paths. 

In contrast, the first year of law school (called “1L”) is more of a trial by fire. Students learn the basics of law and its teaching methods through large classes with lectures and rapid-fire questions. Most professors grade students based on final exams with a fixed curve, and these grades can determine placement in summer positions, future employment opportunities, and even student journals.

It’s not meant to help you explore who you are. It’s meant to shape you into a legal professional.

No surprise, then, that all too many law students drop out. While some folks leave law school because they’ve found their calling elsewhere, others resign in defeat. Perhaps they didn’t find a school that has the right fit. Or maybe they felt overwhelmed, alienated, or demoralized by the hardships of 1L year. Without a psychological or financial safety net that you can rely on when times are tough, it’s easy to fall through the cracks.

Good preparation can help you stay on track and avoid being one of the overconfident 1Ls who come in hot and get knocked back on their heels. 

The following advice can help you succeed in law school and avoid burning out.

Refine Your Focus in Law School

Most colleges offering liberal arts programs tend to promote experimentation and broad-mindedness. On the contrary, law school is meant to prepare you for a professional legal career. Clear goals for your future can help you make the most of the opportunities offered in the first year of law school.

While there is room for considering various legal paths, or even paths outside of law, specialization will help you build relevant experience and expertise for your career path. Seek out classes, activities, peers, professors, and alumni who can help you build skills and expertise useful to your career path.

Take Good Notes

Law school readings are different from the articles or textbooks that college classes assign. They are too dry and impenetrable to read through and remember. This is why the LSAT reading comprehension section focuses more on annotation than recall.

Because most discussions in law school are centered around the nuances of specific cases, they will likely be incomprehensible unless you keep up with your readings. Stay on top of assignments in preparation for your classes and develop your own strategy to brief cases for easy reference and comparison. Consider forming a study group to compare notes and stay motivated and accountable.

[Next Read: Advice for the Summer Before You Start Law School]

Use Study Tools to Deepen Learning and Retention

While they are no substitute for briefing cases yourself and preparing your own outlines, commercial guides can make essential information easier to digest. These books can be borrowed or bought new or used. 

You should employ these study aids to clarify elusive concepts or cases. Sometimes it helps to have an outside perspective different from that presented by your textbook or professor. However, these aids should be used with care. Since they are intended to apply universally, they are likely to contain a lot of information irrelevant to your class. Commercial guides can help you understand content, but your class notes will tell you what’s likely to appear on exams.

Go to Office Hours With Your Law Professors

Since most law school professors teach their 1L classes using the high-pressure Socratic method of directed questions, they can appear to be unapproachable to new students. However, most professors are more than willing to interact with students outside the classroom setting. 

Attending office hours is a good way to know your law school professors in a relaxed setting and seek answers about areas of law that interest you. These sessions allow you to learn about different ways you can engage in research and other scholarly activities. Having a close working relationship with a law professor can also be useful if you need a letter of recommendation down the line.

Seek Out Meaningful Extracurricular Activities

Participating in campus activities is a great way to complement 1L classes. You can participate in journals, law clinics, or societies to interact with like-minded students outside your class. These activities can also help you narrow your focus regarding future career interests. 

While 1L year is a challenging journey, it can be rewarding and memorable with the right attitude. With the right approach, you may gain confidence, career advancement, and lifelong friends.

[Next Read: Is Working During Law School a Good Idea?]