Submitting law school applications requires careful preparation. A successful submission requires starting from junior year on.
Law school’s initial year can be quite reading-intensive; students are expected to adapt from lectures and courses towards more participatory approaches such as Case and Socratic learning methods that require constant class participation.
Final Exams
While a law school application timeline may seem daunting, it can be accomplished with hard work and diligence. To keep things manageable, tasks should be broken into manageable chunks rather than trying to complete everything simultaneously.
After a semester filled with note taking, reading, briefing and class discussions under the Socratic Method, final exams become the capstone. Exams may range from short essay questions to complex issue spotters lasting pages long; open book and closed book exams as well as oral examination options are also available.
Maintaining an effective reading schedule and regularly setting aside time each day to read and review cases can be very helpful in keeping on top of all your assigned reading. Most instructors provide students with a syllabus detailing which cases need to be read for each class; other professors require students to attend every class, and missing classes could have serious repercussions for your exam score. If necessary, make arrangements with your professor so you can catch up before your next exam date.
Orientation
Orientation provides students with an opportunity to meet professors, classmates, upper level law students and school staff while engaging in social activities. Students will likely also be provided their class schedules and first assignments (along with any required reading material).
Attending every class as an 1L student is crucial. While it may seem obvious, missing classes could significantly limit a student’s studies and the overall course success.
If an internship or volunteer experience are unavailable during this summer, now is an ideal time for students to begin exploring postgraduate clerkship options and developing their personal statements and resumes for law school applications – ideally by September!
Classes
Law school will require many hours spent in classes. Most instructors will give a syllabus with specific cases to read and brief, making it essential to stay on top of these assignments and manage them well. Furthermore, many professors test on class notes and outlines.
Legal writing assignments may appear daunting at first, but with proper planning they can become manageable with regular effort. Consider your study habits and ideal conditions for working. Be honest with yourself about when and where you find the most concentration. Set aside several hours each day specifically for legal writing tasks.
If you plan to attend law school after college, drafting your resume and organizing internships or student group activities as soon as your senior year begins is important. Also consider letters of recommendation as well as getting acquainted with professors and staff that could act as mentors and role models – talk with current law students or recent alumni for advice during this process.
Extracurricular Activities
Law school may feel like an all-consuming burden at times, yet it’s essential that you maintain a healthy work-life balance and pursue activities that bring joy.
Your first-year courses are intended to introduce the fundamentals of legal study and shift you away from lecture learning toward Case and Socratic teaching methods. This means reading and analyzing assigned cases may take longer than expected and you’ll likely need to participate frequently during class discussions.
Consider joining student organizations and competing in Moot Court competitions to hone your public speaking abilities, earn credit through externships, clerking, clinics, student government or student government positions as ways of earning credit and many law schools offer scholarships to cover these opportunities. Although most organizations require time commitment during 1L year they may not be as demanding than competition teams or journals – see your school website for further details regarding extracurriculars available to you.
