Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Brain dump: law students and professors give tips to next year's 1L class at Louisville

When I entered law school at the University of Louisville in the summer of 2009, my expectations were based largely on two books: One L by Scott Turow, and Getting to Maybe. The latter did a fine job of explaining how classes and tests work. The former is described on the author's Web site as a "virtual Bible for prospective law students." It's also nearly 35 years old, and is focused on the competitive and often neurotic culture of Ivy League academia. Louisville, by comparison, has been far more collegial and inviting that I ever imagined. At the same time, parts of the law school experience have been demoralizing and downright terrifying. With that in mind, I have gathered small pearls of wisdom from Louisville law students, members of the faculty, and a few lawyers. I hope they are useful.


If you don't know why you applied to law school, consider not enrolling even though you have been accepted.  If you would rather work for the State Department than write for a living or would rather spend your time outdoors than in an office, then law probably won't be a good fit for you. - U of L law professor 
Find something you are interested in and run with it. I started to attend the Federalist Society debates and got involved and now I'm the President. It is something that really floats my boat and sometimes you need something you really enjoy at the Law School to keep you going when it seems like you just can't take it anymore. - U of L law student  
Law school is a marathon.  If you are diligent throughout the semester with reading, note-taking and critical thinking, you will internalize the material and be better prepared for exams.  If you wait until the end of the semester to cram, you are less likely to reach your potential. - U of L law professor 
Learn to be patient. The LSAT is like a lot of things with the law. You are going to want the answers right away, but you just have to wait. - U of L law student 
Voluntarily participate in class.  Some students feel nervous about speaking in class.  Keep in mind, there is very, very little to lose by participating in law school and very much to gain. It is better to practice public speaking and articulating legal reasoning in law school than in front of judges, clients, opposing counsel, and employers.  Plus, the exam grading is anonymous.   Thus, there are no real or imagined consequences for your grade by speaking in class. - U of L law professor 
Like anything else that you've never done before, the first year of law school requires a complete commitment of time and energy.  Take advantage of your access to faculty, never be shy about asking questions, and stay off the Internet during class. - U of L law professor 
Find something you are interested in and run with it. I started to attend the Federalist Society debates and got involved and now I'm the President. It is something that really floats my boat and sometimes you need something you really enjoy at the Law School to keep you going when it seems like you just can't take it anymore. - U of L law student 
If you do accept the offer (to attend law school), remember how happy you were when you received it.  And remember how excited you were the first week of law school.  It is probably a good idea to write something down about it so you can refer to it later.  You will want to be able to recapture that sense of purpose and excitement in the fourth week of law school when you realize it is difficult, and you are unsure what you are doing or why you are in law school. -  U of L law professor 
Don't blow off Legal Research! - U of L law student  
Focus on learning the material, not on doing what is needed to earn a high grade.  You may actually discover that you love the law.  If, however, you discover that you don't love the law, then focus on learning some skills that you enjoy and will need in the workplace, such as writing, networking, verbal communication, or problem solving.  If you can do that, you will be a good attorney. - U of L law professor 
Remember, for better or for worse, these individuals for the most part will BE lawyers, and they will be your colleagues for the rest of your life. Make friends, or at least don't make enemies. I have been rescued from 1L hell by the most unlikely of people.  - practicing attorney 
Get to know your peers fast, within the first two weeks of school.  Cliques solidify quickly, and you will need a social support system at the law school, even if you have a strong one outside of it. Get to know your professors too, which may take longer but will be well worth it because you will learn about being a professional from your relationships with them, and they will recommend you to others.  It may feel like you have to prove yourself to them, but just be persistent and you will. - U of L law professor  
Learning the law is like learning a foreign language by immersion.  Stick with it and you will be proficient after the first year.  Remarkably, after approximately five years of practice, you will actually be fluent. - U of L law professor 
It is most definitely going to change your day-to-day life. Married-with-kids....beware! Your family will suffer. Help them through as they help you through. - U of L law student
A law school education prepares one not just for the practice of law.  It provides the skills and tools to be a problem solver in a wide array of areas, from political to business to social justice.  Students in their first year need not worry if they don't know what they want to do with their degrees.  The basic tools will be valuable in a variety of settings.  Second and third year of law school is a time to explore and try out different interest areas through courses, research, and internships, which will allow them to apply the analytical and reasoning skills learned in the first year. - U of L law professor   
Realize that there is literally nothing worth stressing out over, so don't: 1) get caught up in it and 2) take it out on your loved ones. - practicing attorney 



1 comment:

  1. The only way to succeed in law school and its unique Socratic method of teaching is to experience it – to invest countless hours with professors in a classroom environment.

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