Law school is an intense experience. First-year (or 1L) students typically enrol in four courses each semester during their first year (or 1L).
Professors often assign extensive reading lists. Utilizing the Socratic method in class, professors expect their students to come prepared with questions and observations for discussion. Many also join study groups to create case briefs and prepare for exams.
First Semester
Your first year in law school should be spent learning the foundations of legal study and creating a firm foundation for future study. Required classes such as Lawyering and Legislation in the Regulatory State as well as electives that interest you will all provide invaluable education in law.
Your law school will set your class schedule, and it may put you into classes with other students who all take similar courses. Though sitting alongside each other all semester can be daunting, the experience will build lasting friendships and bonds of support among classmates that could last throughout their lives.
Most law school courses feature one final exam at the end of every semester that accounts for 100 percent of your grade in that course. Other classes may incorporate midterm exams, assignments or reading quizzes as additional evaluation methods; all will require you to stay current with reading assignments and classroom discussions if you wish to succeed in them.
Law school readings often differ significantly from textbooks, articles and classics you were used to during undergraduate studies. Law school readings tend to be dense with legal terminology that can be difficult for undergraduates to comprehend at first. Because of this difficulty in comprehending material presented, you should plan to devote several hours outside of class reviewing each course’s material each day – setting aside specific times each day to review case briefs, taking notes or developing course outlines is one way of making reading manageable.
Finding ways to obtain feedback from professors on your practice exam answers is also vital; don’t pass up an opportunity from a professor to submit an early version of your exam answers if offered; this provides invaluable insights into where you stack up against classmates and areas needing improvement for the final exam.
Your first year of law school may include studying and participation in student organizations and extracurricular activities, so be sure to strike a balance between your studies, socializing, exercise and rest to prevent stress and burnout.
Second Semester
At this stage of your studies, it’s time to narrow your focus further and identify an area of law you would like to specialize in. Choose classes in these fields while challenging yourself by enrolling in courses taught by professors who inspire you (if your schedule permits). Participate in any activities or meetings that interest you; just remember not to overcommit yourself – your coursework must remain your top priority!
At this point, it may also be wise to apply for a clerkship with either a judge or law firm – this can provide invaluable practical legal experience while you remain an undergraduate, making you more attractive to future employers.
First year law school can be extremely demanding, and students may struggle with their workload. But remember that your professors, TA’s and campus tutors are there to support and assist with your work; they want you to succeed!
At the end of your second semester, it’s advisable to revisit your application for law school. Be sure to attend and review the Hunter Personal Statement and Application Workshop presented by the Pre-Law office, while beginning to draft applications (including draft essays and resumes).
Consider whether you would like to join either the Eva Kasten Grove Fellowship Program or PPIA Junior Summer Institute at Princeton University. These programs offer excellent opportunities to explore advocacy and policy work, which will increase your resume if you plan on practicing public interest law in the future. It is also a good time to consider doing a summer internship at either a government agency or non-profit. Experiences such as these can significantly expand both your academic background and world view, and help to strengthen any legal skills acquired thus far. Furthermore, now is an excellent opportunity to apply for Columbia’s Mellon Humanities Scholar Program as a graduating senior with an emphasis in humanities if you wish to spend one year conducting research there.
Third Semester
Law school, especially during its initial year (commonly referred to as 1L), can be challenging and stressful, particularly during its first year (1L). Professors expect students to arrive at each class completely prepared; stress levels can become intense. Grades often have an enormous influence over future plans for many students. It is essential to manage stress as best you can; physical activities, sleep and diet all help relieve it while humor can be an excellent stress reliever. Don’t allow extracurricular activities such as clubs and organizations distract you; focus on coursework alone!
Students typically enroll in three classes during the spring semester. Popular choices for 1Ls include Corporations, Evidence and Federal Income Tax – these serve as prerequisites to later courses throughout the year – Torts Contracts Constitutional Law Legal Research & Writing are among others popular choices.
Students interested in improving their speaking abilities might join a moot court or another student club that focuses on public speaking skills development or participate in an externship for credit, while others might begin looking into summer clerkship opportunities. The Pre-Law office can connect you to externship opportunities and law review processes; additionally, Hunter Career Center Student Opportunities pages contain listings of open positions.
Students might consider participating in law review, an esteemed legal journal published by their school. If this interests you, make sure to attend an initial workshop and work closely with Pre-Law office.
Start filling out law school applications early this fall, with an aim towards submitting them by the end of spring semester. Carefully consider application requirements, deadlines and extensions when planning when to submit them. Finally, finish and revise personal statements/application essays early – it’s much better than waiting until the last minute when significant revisions may need to be made quickly!
Final Exams
After months of studying, reading, outlining, classroom discussions and Socratic Method debates, all comes down to one final act – your final exam performance determines your course grade largely, if not exclusively, making this often one of the most anxiety-inducing times for law students.
Final exams typically consist of essay tests ranging in length from one page to multiple pages, depending on your professors and how they grade exams. Some provide single-topic, short answer questions; others pose more complex legal scenarios with multiparagraph responses required; still others give multiple choice or false/true questions that must be answered accordingly. It is crucial for law students to understand how their professors will be grading these exams so that they may properly prepare.
Some professors prefer detailed analysis while others appreciate brief and succinct answers. No matter your preferred format, organization is key when taking law school final exams – ensure you outline your answers according to how a court would address them (jurisdiction first, liability issues next, remedies last) and that each section contains enough material for every possible interpretation of each question.
An effective approach to reading and outlining answers requires setting a schedule. Since it can be hard to anticipate exactly how long reading/outlining each section will take you, set an end time as well as start time so that when you finish with this task you move onto the next one with confidence.
Review your class schedule regularly and stay on top of your assignments, such as required readings, class preparation, and outside research. Keeping on top of your workload is the best way to avoid unnecessary stress and anxiety; keeping track of your schedule helps manage both time and resources effectively so you can juggle all the demands of law school more easily.
