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In the months leading up to my 1L year, it seemed like everyone in my life had opinions about the “best” way to approach law school. Some of that advice was truly terrible. But there were a few “golden nuggets” that shaped my 1L experience. I loved
Are you feeling a bit nervous about speaking in class? Or getting cold-called by a professor? These tips might help you settle into your new academic adventure, practice amplifying your voice authentically, and ultimately thrive and flourish throughout your law school experience.
It's not easy to successfully get through law school. Do you join a study group? How do you deal with stress? What advice do professors have for you? If you're looking for advice, you've come to the right place. The ABA Law
Thinking about going to law school? Applied to law school, but do not know what is next? Accepted to law school, but nervous about what it will be like? Almost ready to begin your first year of law school and want to get a head start?
It is the beginning of the 1L second semester, and by this time, you have probably received your first semester grades. If it didn’t go exactly as planned, you may be wondering how you’re going to survive the rest of law school. You may have worked harder than
When we started putting this toolkit for incoming law students together, law school looked a lot different. And at this point, the experience for all law students will vary widely from law school to law school as remote, in-person, and hybrid plans are implemented. And
So, you’re starting law school in the middle of a global pandemic. This wasn’t how you pictured it going. You didn’t intend to be part of this chapter in the history of legal education, but here you are. How can you make the most of it? As
Whether they are excellent or less-than-ideal, your grades don’t define you. You define you. You are worthy of this profession and we need you.
This first year is a whirlwind. Someone who’s just been there has some tips to make it a success, and even fun.
In the podcast, I talk about looking at law school exams as a rite of passage and also compare them to the Ming dynasty’s civil service exam.
You will survive your first cold call too, and, believe it or not, you’ll probably make it through the next three years. Here are some tips on coping with the stress from this massive, harrowing journey.
Here’s what you can do to prepare for your 1L year to make your transition into law school as easy as possible. The more prepared you are, the better your law school experience will be.
Should you choose a concentration or specialization in law school? What do they entail? And what’s the difference, anyway? You’ll find answers to these frequently asked questions and more below.
Providing authoritative support for assertions is a key component of legal writing. We learn to read and apply caselaw throughout our doctrinal classes. And 1L legal writing is dedicated to learning how to Bluebook. So does Bluebooking matter outside of law school? Absolutely.
Whether you’re becoming a full-time law student or simply getting ready to take night classes, law courses are a serious undertaking. It’s important to think carefully about and be prepared for the classes themselves, and there’s another whole range of concerns you may need to think about for
Fear not. You have no "wrong" course options. (Perhaps with the exception of taking on more than 20 credits per semester!) Life does not happen in tidy, discreet, doctrinal categories. So do not be too narrow in your course selection when it comes to law school registration time.
One of the most frequently debated issues concerning law school exams is a professor’s decision to make the exam open book or closed book. Students seem to be partial to open book exams, perhaps because they seem less frightening and overwhelming. In this article, we take a look at the
So, you recovered from your 1L fall semester, binge-watched Netflix over Winter Break, processed your first semester grades, and returned to school in January somewhat refreshed and ready to tackle a new semester of classes. You eased into your legal writing class, perused the syllabus, and noticed: ORAL ARGUMENT ASSIGNMENT. Wait, what?
Have you heard the secret to being a brilliant writer? Because there is one. An ancient trick used by all the greats, from Aristotle to Stephen King. Use this device, and your writing will improve tenfold overnight. And it’s so simple: just edit well. That’s it. Learn to edit well,
Many law students have a story about the first time they experienced the Socratic Method. Regardless of whether the student was the target of a professor’s line of questioning or if they were merely witness to another student’s experience, the stories tend to strike fear into the hearts of
If you are reading this article you either read Part One or skipped to this part because the summer is over and you are in the grind. Regardless of how we got here, congrats on going to law school! For ease of understanding, I am going to break first semester
Congratulations! Law school is a big deal, there is a lot of doom and gloom in the media about attending law school based on the market and the employment outcomes. I cannot speak for all my peers, but I am incredibly happy with my decision to take on the challenge
You may be reading the title and thinking – really? Law school administrators and career services already tell us about the importance of networking, and some 1L teachers push us or even require us to interview a practitioner or to attend an event here and there. Still, law school doesn’t teach
I graduated from law school this past May, took the bar in July, and was fortunate to land a job as a federal judicial law clerk that started in September. What this really means: I’m no expert on law school curriculum. I do, however, have some sage advice to give
During my 1L year of law school, I remember walking into the library a week before final exams. I saw a friend from my section. He looked stressed and tired. Normally, he was cool and confident and always had something to say during class. What happened? He looked at me and