Archive for the '1L' Category

10 Ways to Ensure Success in Law School

Published
by
Michael Law
on March 31, 2008
in 1L, 2L, 3L, Law School and Law Students
. 0 Comments

If you’re considering entering law school or already a new student the intimidation factor can be overwhelming. Anyone who has gone through the rigors of a three-year law school program will tell you it gets less threatening as you advance. In order to get through these three years you’re going to need a lot of help. Here are some tips for you to consider as you begin your journey:

  1. Stay on top of your reading assignments. The workload will be unlike any you have encountered in the past and it’s imperative you do all the assigned readings. It is helpful to refresh with the readings just before you attend class.
  2. Speak up. Class participation is not usually factored into your grades so don’t be afraid to jump into a class discussion. It’s your chance to either strut your stuff or to clarify ambiguities you’ve encountered in the course materials.
  3. Go to class. Even if your professor doesn’t take attendance you should make every effort to make it to class. There are sure to be times when you haven’t done the reading and you feel like taking the easy way out. Avoid this urge and still go to class, at least this way you can hear what the professor feels is most important about a particular case.
  4. Listen to your professor. Only take notes of what the professor says. He or she is the one paid to present the material. Certainly listen to your classmates but don’t take their points and opinions as Gospel.
  5. Reflect on your notes at the end of each day. Take a close look at the notes you took earlier in the day in class when you get home. This will allow you to soak up and reinforce the day’s message. Repeat this process at the end of each week.
  6. Learn the rules. It may sound redundant, but you’re in law school so you should learn to accurately explain legal rules.
  7. Worry about the context. Classes are intended to revolve around discussions to reach a conclusion. Don’t be concerned with knowing the right answer right away - this isn’t the aim of a discussion.
  8. Find a comfortable seat in class. If you’re taking notes the old-fashioned way with a pen and a pad then avoid the guy pounding away on his laptop.
  9. Quality, not quantity. Put in valuable time, not just hours upon hours for the sake of looking good. Only you will know the extent of your effort. Make sure the time you study is done wisely.
  10. Classes are difficult. Accept the struggle that is going to accompany your journey. If one class session has you feeling lost, try to master the material in your own time and be prepared for the next meeting.

Susan Jacobs is a freelance writer as well as a regular contributor for CollegeDegree.com, a site helping students select an online college degree. Susan invites your questions, comments and freelancing job inquiries at her email address susan.jacobs45@gmail.com.

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Law Student Jobs: The Two Paths To Find Work

Published
by
Michael Law
on November 29, 2007
in 1L, Law Jobs and Law Students
. 0 Comments

From Shelly:

Everyone is probably throwing out their 2 cents for the 1L’s. I really do not have many specific advice. Because everyone studies differently and has different personalities, I would say that specific advice would probably not help at this point. After all, law school is an experience that you would just have to find out for yourself.

The best way to come into the law school, I find, is to have a very strong reason to be there. By this I mean to say have a “conviction.” Ask yourself, why do you want to be here? The stronger your reason, the better you can endure the stress that comes with law school. Again, this is a generality. Not everyone who comes in with a conviction will stay — they might change or realize that they simply do not care for law anymore.

There are generally two paths for law students in terms of finding a job.

1. The super student
2. The networking hardworker

The super student is someone who works hard, gets good grades (top 10-15%), make it to law review or some kind of prestigious leadership position (journal board, moot court/trial court team, dean’s list). He or she can study for hours and understand what the professor is saying. He or she is born to study or tries really hard and succeeds in academics. Many law firms, in particular the top law firms, take these people in for the interview.

The networking hardworker is someone who tries hard but simply is not ranked within the top 15%. The networking hardworker should focus on his/her strength (e.g. a specialty, concentration) and find out the key people in this area of law.

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Dawn Amos: Harvard Law Student Shares Her 1L Experience

Published
by
Michael Law
on April 25, 2007
in 1L and Law Students
. 0 Comments

From Harvard Law Blog:

“I have now been at Harvard Law School for one semester. It’s funny, because I feel like most people came here with all these ideas of what it was going to be, and most have been knocked off their feet in one way or another by discovering what it actually is. I know I have. So what is this place, HLS?

“The most distinctive thing about it, I believe, is that it’s an incredible experience. Incredibly trying, incredibly moving, and incredibly rewarding. I work hard. Some days I feel completely lost and confused. Other days I’m amazed at how much I’ve already learned. It’s also challenging.

“In one of my classes, we held a lengthy discussion about a particular case, and then voted on what we would have done if we had been the judge in the case. After our vote, the professor told us which political party usually falls on which side of the fence. Murmurs went around the room as many people were surprised they had not voted in line with where they stand politically.

“Our professor then told us that it was good if we were surprised, because that’s what law school is all about. It’s about challenge. Challenging yourself to see the other side of the story, and not only to see it but to understand it in a way that allows you to see how they could be right.

“And it’s also really fun. There’s time for dinners, socials, parties, and making lots of new friends from lots of different backgrounds. One of the really great things about this school is the people.

“Rumors about the competition among students here run rampant. In my experience, they’ve also been completely wrong. I’ve never met a group of people more willing to help each other out, or more caring of each other’s well being. They seem to me in many ways to be the most open minded and non-judgmental people I’ve ever met.

“The faculty is amazing as well. I’m continually surprised at how much everyone cares about you. Professors, advisers, and staff all go out of their way day after day to find out if you’re alright and if there is anything they can help you with.

“For me, this past semester has been a period of dynamic growth and change. It has tried me, it has surprised me, and it has inspired me. It has inspired me to believe in the phenomenal humanity of an amazing group of people. It has inspired me to grow, to think, and to analyze, but also to feel. To hold on to the passion that brought me here and use it to augment the skills that I’m learning every day. I love it. :) ”

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