I am the founder of Law School Material, a website dedicated to helping law students study and succeed in law school. I have been asked many times how to get started with law. In this blog, I will provide some easy suggestions for how you could easily get started today on researching your entrance exam or preparing for your upcoming classes. [pii_email_b39c8a67883acfba94c6]
Here are 10 simple steps you can take to start now:
1. Make a Plan
Decide now what your top priority is. At the very least you should make a plan with these steps:
a. Get and study your professor’s outline
This gives you a roadmap of the course. It’s your guide to making sure you learn everything required for the course and that it sticks in your mind. Professors’ outlines vary widely, so study multiple outlines of the same class to compare styles and get a better idea how to approach studying for each class. You will find outlines available online at Law School Forums or on PrawfsBlawg or Legal Theory Blogs or in the library at your school.
b. Go over your professors’ outline
This is where your time is going to be spent the most. Make sure you learn the things required for the class and make a list of everything you remember that you need to review. Search for anything on Google. If this is your first time taking a course, don’t get overwhelmed! When we say we can help, it’s because we have studied each school’s specific outline and know what you need to study in order to succeed. This step takes longer than the other two, but it will make sure you learn everything from tests and exams through exams and cover all of law school’s critical information that is required for success.
c. Start a study group/read the materials
The more people you have helping, the better it is. If you have classmates near you who are also preparing for exams, try to form a study group with them. The more people in your group, the better it will be. Create a structured outline of what to study and divide up the work among your group members.
d. Take practice tests or exams
Everyone hates these, but they are an important part of preparing for exams. Use Law School Exam Company’s CALI tests online and take them as practice tests before your professor gives their own exams.
2. Network and Make New Friends
The best way to make friends is to get out there. Go to the law school career fairs, meet people there, go out for dinner or drinks, invite them over to study or invite them over to your apartment! Even if you don’t have friends at the law school you are transferring into, it’s still a good idea to go out and make some new ones early on. For example, mine is one of my best friends I made in 3L because we were both nervous about transferring into the same law school.
3. Try different study groups/read materials at different times
Try different time slots if you need help or something more convenient if you’d rather study at home.
4. Make Connections in Law School
Join one of the organizations or teams of your law school and meet different people through these groups. There are a few around every law school: legal aid societies, legal writing organizations, mock trial teams, ethnic/racial minorities associations, etc. These make up the bulk of the extracurricular life at most law schools and are an easy way to get to know people who are involved in similar areas as you are.
5. Start Your Career Search Early
Some people leave their job search until the last minute and it costs them big time on where they end up working after graduation. The earlier you start, the higher chances you will have in getting a good job.
6. Look for cool opportunities to volunteer or work
Try doing some pro bono work, either at free legal clinics or some other type of organization. This looks great on your resume and is a fun way to gain skills and meet other people in your field. Check out the Pro Bono Scholarships Facebook page for more information on scholarships available for students looking to do this kind of work.
7. Go to Law School Forums Meetups/Events
These are fun ways to get out of the law school and meet other law students/alumni who can share their experiences with you in different areas of law school (i.e. financial aid, admissions, academics, etc.).
8. Get involved with your school’s Career Center or Moot Court Club/Society
Law School Career Centers can be a great way to get help in finding jobs and internships early on from experienced alumni in the field you want to work in. You will meet other students at these meetings who are also looking for internships and jobs and you can get help setting up interviews or getting your resume ready. The Career Center can also be helpful for other things like scheduling appointments with professors. The Moot Court Society at most law schools is a great way to keep your skills sharp and meet people who can show you all the best ways to prepare for exams.
9. Get Involved in Law School
Join a club or organization at law school. These are great ways to meet people from your school who have similar interests and also can give you more time to work on your studies between classes.
10. Take Care of Yourself & Your Legal Studies
Try to get enough sleep and eat well before exams. If you miss class because of illness, be sure to contact the professor as soon as possible with the details of your absence so they can make adjustments on their exam in order for you to improve your grade on that exam.
Conclusion:
These are the basic steps that I have taken in order to graduate. As you can see, it takes a LOT of time and effort but you get out of law school what you put into it. My plan isn’t for everyone but if it helps you to connect with some people who have been in the same situation or has some good advice for you, then I consider this step worthwhile. Good luck! 🙂
